Lorne: The Music of the Spheres

"Lorne: Music of the Spheres" was a comic book one-shot from IDW Publishing.

Synopsis
While out slaying vampires, Illyria is confronted by a creature who identifies itself as Discord.

Earlier that day, Groo was at the beach with Cordelia the Dragon to medidate. LAPD kept curious bystanders at bay, but one girl, Carol Anne, managed to get through and ran up to Groo and planted a kiss on his lips. The crowd then all broke the barrier trying to speak with him, but when he warned them they might cut themselves on his sword, this was misinterpreted as a threat and the crowd panicked. To get away from the fray, Groo held tightly to Cordelia's claw as she took flight. Carol Anne, being infatuated with Groo grabbed onto his boot, but midflight it slipped and she fell. Groo dived after her and Cordelia saved them both, but somehow gravity reversed for a moment and Cordelia crashed into a house immediately after.

Later that night, Angel too went out patrolling. He faced a Krathlak Demon, but during the fight gravity reserved for a moment again. Although Angel was able to slay the demon, he injured himself too.

Nineteen days earlier, at nine in the morning, Lorne was found on the floor of his bathroom by his servant. At the hospital, a doctor told him he had cancer and just six more months to live.

Nineteen days later, Lorne decided to visit his friends at the Hyperion Hotel. Angel relayed recent events to Lorne, when again gravity tilted. After it had passed, they went outside as they had heard screaming and found it had affected a whole block at least. At that time Groo and Cordelia the Dragon also arrived, carrying an unconscious Illyria.

After Illyria had awoken, she revealed the details of her encounter with Discord, which made Lorne realise recent events were related the the Music of the Spheres. The Three sought to disrupt the Music of the Spheres, which would destroy the entire multiverse. Angels had Groo take him and Lorne to the spot where Illyria was found to investigate; Illyria stayed behind in fear. At that spot, reality indeed seemed to be disintegrated. They were confronted by Cacophony.

Meanwhile, Carol Anne, who had appearantly broken her leg, was released from the hospital and found out Groo's address so she could thank him.

At the same time, Groo, Angel, and Lorne faced Cacophony who revealed the temporal fold used to reverse the Fall of Los Angeles allowed The Three to initiate their plan. Cacophony began to sing and reality began to tear apart. She was joined by Discord and Disharmony, the latter seemingly swallowed the heroes. The Three revealed that they wanted their song to be the only one in the universe. Lorne accused them of being to late and said that their time was passed, upon which they attacked again.

But they were interrupted by Cordelia the Dragon, who was carrying Illyria and Carol Anne; this caused the attack, which had been an illusion all along, to fail. Cordelia. With the illusion broken, Angel, Illyria, and Cordelia attacked. The Three realised their plan to conquer had failed and thus began a song that would disrupt the Music of the Spheres and destroy the multiverse. Lorne realised someone would have to take a place at the centre of the attack to restore the Music of the Spheres. Angel volunteered, but Lorne pushed him out of the way and jumped into the centre; sacrificing his life restoring the balance.

Later at the Hyperion Hotel, Spike, Gunn, Groo, Illyria, Kate, and Angel lamented the loss of Lorne, with Angel expressing his believe that Lorne was now one with the universe and that he could still hear them. Lorne, albeit unknown to the others, confirmed this.

Continuity
The exact timing of the story is unclear, but it had to be set after "The Crown Prince Syndrome" (Gunn had awoken from his coma and returned from Texas), but before "Cats in the Cradle" (Spike, Illyria, and Groo had not left yet).

Individuals

 * Lorne
 * Winifred Burkle
 * Illyria
 * Discord
 * Angel
 * Groosalugg
 * Cordelia (dragon)
 * Carol Anne Stoga (aka Charity)
 * Fifi
 * Wesley Wyndam-Pryce
 * Cacophony
 * Disharmony
 * Spike
 * Kate Lockley

Organizations and Titles

 * Angel Investigations
 * The Three
 * Los Angeles Police Department

Species

 * Deathwok demon
 * Old One
 * Vampire
 * Half-demon
 * Dragon
 * Human
 * Krathlak Demon
 * Unidentified Demon
 * Pylean Bogbeast

Locations

 * South Central, Los Angeles
 * Santa Monica Pier
 * Malibu, Los Angeles
 * Silverlake, Los Angeles
 * Hyperion Hotel
 * Downtown, Los Angeles

Trivia

 * The book was a tribute to the Andy Hallett and his character, Lorne, who had recently passed away.
 * Also reprinted in the book was the Lorne segment from After the Fall, Part Seven (aka First Night, Part Two).
 * The book also included a three page letter from actor Mark Lutz, who played Groosalugg and was a personal friend of Andy Hallett, as well as a number of photo's of Andy Hallett from Mark's personal collection.
 * The book ended with a one-page letter from IDW's editor-in-chief, Chris Ryall.
 * This was the first time the term multiverse was used by a character.

Pop Culture References

 * At the beach where Groo and Cordelia the Dragon were meditating was a protestor among the crowd holding up a sign with John 3:16 on it; this was a bible verse reading "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
 * Aristotle appeared in a flashback teaching the theory of the Music of the Spheres.
 * Before sacrificing himself, Lorne said "Don't cry for my Transylvania" a reference to a song from the musical Evita and the region in Romania.