Author's Note
It's finally over.
After three years of writing like a maniac at times (the word count will attest to that) it's finally over. I can't really find the words to explain what I feel. Mostly because I'm so relieved that I don't have to write this shit anymore, but at the same time this has been such a big part of my life that I'm not really sure that what comes next will be any close to how good this is. I am supremely proud of what this has become. Some of you should be proud, too, sticking with me through the horrible, horrible first part of this until you could finally get to the good part. A few of you brave souls somehow managed to be a part of The Life for almost as long as I have been.
From the first reviews that both inspired me to keep going and creeped me out more than just a little bit the the guest that very rudely bitched about the time it was taking me to post the final chapter I am happy for every single one of your reviews and you should be as well, they're most of what kept me going for such a long time, dragging on battles for additional awesomeness and more kickass scenes that you appear to like so much.
Special thank yous go to my various beta readers, many of whom you bitched about and many of whom you didn't, but all of them helped make this story a little bit better. Sniper Fodder, SilasWhitfield, Alshep, SpartaLazor, defarcher, Colonel-Commissar2468, and General TheDyingTitan. Their proofreading was invaluable to me throughout the writing of this fan fiction. A fan fiction that wouldn't have been possible if not for Bungie and 343 Industries and the wonderful universe that their hard work created for me to play with.
I don't know what else there is to say, sometimes my author's notes at the end of chapters go on for a while explaining what I liked about the chapter and what I didn't as well as whatever reason it took so long to post or whatever. Here I won't bother with that. This is all about what The Life has become. I know that I did all the heavy lifting, I won't be modest about that, but I will admit that none of this would've been possible without every single one of you. From the million and a half words (1,621,654 per last count) to the 2,185 reviews, to the 604,819 views that this fic had, from the 429 favorites and the 406 of you that put me on your alerts to the four communities that deemed my story great enough to be inducted. Every last one of these things made The Life possible. Without you I would've skipped half the war and ended the story a year and a half ago as a less experienced writer with readers that would not have been anything close to what I have now in terms of satisfaction.
I did this, but you helped. I want each and every one of you to remember that just like I want each and every one of you to remember the trials and tribulations of Frank and Co. Whenever you hear the word reaper I want you to think about Reaper. I want you to look at a train set and think about Grigori Konstantinov when you see the caboose. I want you to remember that grass stands for great ass and that Pavel was too good for a stupid nickname. There are many things that I don't want you to forget and there are many things that I certainly won't forget.
This has been an experience, ladies and gentlemen. I can say with full confidence that I am happy. Happy with my story and what it became. Could it be better? Absolutely, but does that really matter at this point? Hell no, The Life is what it is and it is fucking great.
Stay strong, for you have kept me strong. It's finally over.
-casquis