AUTHOR'S NOTES

The chapter titles in this segment were:

Shine On You Crazy Diamond from Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here album (1977, I believe... good year)

Spread Your Wings from Queen's News of the World (1977 again!)

Brighton Rock by Queen from Sheer Heart Attack (1974, though)

Prayer for the Dying by Seal. That's from his second album.

Killing the Dragon from DIO's album of the same name

Brain Damage and the Part Title are Pink Floyd's. Dark Side of the Moon, baby.

The interlude is named after Inner Garden 2 by King Crimson.

Anyway...

147 pages. Congratulations everyone who read this far. You've read over 248 pages of storytelling. I'm amazed myself. And this Author's Note sit down period I'm going to mention a few things. Reviewers. I adore you, all of you. Is it happening? I hope so. I enjoyed this part massively because I got to play around with several things I doubt anyone noticed. Evil Robin, Evil Raven, and BC. BC has been a delight to write. And if anyone's curious, the mathematical formula he gave off was actually one of the possible mathematical phenomena that the Cheshire Cat was meant to represent. You see, Charles Dodgson was don of Mathematics at Christ Church, Oxford. He told the story to the Dean's daughter, Alice, and there are many little mathematical quirks present if you look closely. Took a class on it last semester. I was so inspired by the concept that I actually worked BC like that.

I want to take time to mention to several of my reviewers that I can't contact.

Preventer Squall: You hate my teasers? Luckily, there won't be one this chapter, because I'm writing a whole interlude as a teaser for Chapter 11.

Katylar: I am good at that, aren't I? Ain't I a stinker.

Showstopper: ... I hate you for mentioning that Specter thing. Now I can't get the image out of my head. Starfire Specter, Spirit of LOVE AND PEACE! And I'm overjoyed that you said you should have known about Death. I'm glad too, means you noticed my subtle clues and inspirations. Like, for example, Deathwing?

Dangerproneredhead: Yes. It's a startling thing, ain't it?

It's Him: This is a challenging read? Geez. I'm sorry, everyone. Didn't know. I'm just writing what I'm inspired to. I'm glad you find it a rewarding read, however. I'd hate to be writing another Ulysses.

ChocolateCurlz: You know I do.

Sweet is the voice from far away

That speaks sotto voce

And is lingering there in the golden air

To quiet the day

Interlude 2: Inner Garden

There was a garden here that the children played in. They were young and innocent, and they beckoned Mad to come play with them. He smiled and danced happily among them. Robin saw beyond the garden's recesses Starfire, looking angelic in her casual demeanor, telling a young girl a story.

"Who are all these children?"

"They died when the world collapsed on itself," Mad said. "When the world ended, many of the continents began to shift and take shape in the manner that the demon in control did command." Mad shifted nervously. "Your hospital lost power almost immediately, sending your all ready critical condition into a point where you have to make a decision."

"What kind of decision?"

"Come with me," he said. He led Robin to a small wading pool where some ducks played happily. He dropped a stone on the surface and let the ripples bring into focus what was going on down below.

The Earth was shaking, the very surface of the planet was cut in twine by some unseen force. The oceans bleed into this hole, filling it. Science itself was being shaken apart and a great tempest was washing over the plains.

The people of the Earth watched in rapt horror as these images were transmitted to them, live, by unseen and unholy agents. They couldn't do anything to respond.

The ripple changed, and so did the image. Looting and chaos filled the streets as the fires raged on within a great city. A plague had come upon another location, leaving many sick and dying. However, within this mess, the tower had not been touched. The world began to move around the tower, and focus itself there.

Robin turned his gaze away and looked at Mad. "What's causing all this?"

"The world's end came, er, differently than usual. There is usually a definite ending and beginning. But, instead, the demon is doing this to better himself and not gain Heaven for his own taking. It's confusing me. This isn't what's supposed to happen at all."

"Don't worry. I'll put a stop to this."

"I knew you'd say that. However," Mad said, warily, "It's a bit more complicated than that."

Mean while the winged Haralds by command
Of Sovran power, with awful Ceremony
And Trumpets sound throughout the Host proclaim
A solemn Councel forthwith to be held
At PANDAEMONIUM, the high Capital
Of Satan and his Peers: thir summons call'd
From every and Band squared Regiment
By place or choice the worthiest; they anon
With hundreds and with thousands trooping came
Attended: all access was throng'd, the Gates
And Porches wide, but chief the spacious Hall

-John Milton Paradise Lost

The form had forgotten how to feel. It wasn't that emotions were suspect to her, and her body once having had bodily lust that she did combat, by memories that remained in her brain, she was certain that once she did feel.

And what love she felt, and what hatred. But that was but a distant memory now that the time had come. Her body torn asunder by the destruction besides her. She gave herself to bore Death to the world, and in his power's destruction she found herself partially destroyed. That face was now half complete, those lips now have torn. The rightmost side of her face she felt compelled to mask in a painted white mask.

It created a smile that her withered lips no longer could contain.

And she cried out in a horse whisper for more than merely memories of what she had once felt.

For those who hear it, mark my words

Listen to the good plan!

MADE IN HEAVEN