Ascension II: Halfway to Heaven

Yrtl's vision bloomed into whiteout, everything dissolving in a blizzard of fizzing, luminous pixels.

Light surrounded and permeated all, radiating from some distant source. An incredible sound - a billion angels, singing harmonics - flooded his senses. He felt blissful, euphoric release.

_What's happening?_ he asked.

_Physically or metaphysically?_ Akin replied.

_Uh - physically?_

_Massive release of endorphins. The brain's response to imminent death._

_And metaphysically?_

_How the hell should I know? Ask a priest._

_Is this - Heaven?_

_No, but close. And this is where we say goodbye._

_Huh?_

_I travel solo from here. See you on the other side._

The glorious vision faded; the dingy reality of Tony's swam back into view. With a lurch, he found himself back in the booth, staring at a bill.

A waitress stood by. He gave her a questioning look.

"The lichuor ain't free," she said, brusquely. "And there's a surcharge for the corpse."

Yrtl noticed the Doc, slumped, opposite - very obviously dead.