Reviews For A Hero's Heart
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Title: The Missing Piece (Part IV)

Is this complete? Please tell me there is more. I love it.

Reviewer: Jillian Signed starstarstarstarstar [Report This]
Date: 12/05/23 07:53 pm
Title: The Missing Piece (Part IV)

Amazing 🤩 I hope you will update this and all of your stories. You've been away a while. Are you ok? Just at least say hi to let us know you are ok please. You have to keep writing and being a bad ass! You have to meet Michael T Weiss if you haven't already and tell me all about it...tho I think you have already and won't share the details!! Take care of yourself. Wishing you great hols. ..and free time to write and share. I need more of your writing..am addicted.

Reviewer: Lorraina Signed starstarstarstarstar [Report This]
Date: 07/12/22 04:53 am
Title: The Missing Piece

Please continue. Are you so reluctant to write a happy ending? Please do it.

Reviewer: richie Signed starstarstarstarstar [Report This]
Date: 10/11/22 11:47 pm
Title: The Missing Piece (Part IV)

Hey there, do you have any plans to update this? Please?

Reviewer: Contessa Signed starstarstarstarstar [Report This]
Date: 18/01/21 11:19 pm
Title: The Missing Piece (Part IV)

OMG! So amazing Mirage. I love your writing. The way you bring them in gahhhh I'm envious. She puts her hands on the table kind of aggravated and Jarod just covers her hands... so simple and so beautiful. I need more. I got some questions about The Pretender in general if you can asnwer them.. like why did Jarod run if he was a genius and could have exposed the Centre? I already emailed you but no response yet. Please. Or check your email..



Author's Response:

Why did Jard run? Jarod's creators are far better equipped to answer that one than I. I assume you're writing a story and want to brainstorm with someone? And you couldn't find anyone else and have settled for me? I'll bite.

The most obvious the reason that instantly comes to my mind is Jarod knew, considering the nature of the simulations, that certain powerful entities (CIA, NSA, DOD) with dubious histories were well aware of the Centre's existence and probably held contracts with them and that they perhaps even conceived the Centre or some aspect of the Pretender project (not as far-fetched as people want to believe it is) and would likely have done anything (including kill) to ensure that the Centre and its misdeeds escaped scrutiny and evaded accountability.

Jarod maybe didn't know who to trust or he deduced (correctly) that most authorities couldn't be trusted or perhaps that certain low level or ignorant law enforcement officials could be trusted but would likely be promptly assassinated should they learn the truth and be naive enough to try to expose the Centre.

Jarod would have been risking the lives of innocent police officers and Federal agents. (Another thought: he felt guilty and feared the world would consider him culpable as well- victim blaming is real; victim self-blaming is real.)

Jarod might have shared the information he had with the world via livestream, etc. on his own, risking only himself, but that might have endangered Sydney and Miss Parker (or at least resulted in them spending the remainder of their lives in prison) - I believe he had some complex feelings for them and that maybe his feelings sometimes guided his decisions.

Also, even if Jarod had 'leaked' the information to the world the Centre had their well-established narrative-- "he's a mental patient"; "his parents were killed"; "the poor orphan" (people love to smear the truth-tellers-  as I type this people are smearing a woman for finally speaking her truth) and they likely have decades of documentation to support that narrative (because they are, after all, the Centre) (you know they have decades of video that can be cleverly edited and it would have enabled them to easily dismiss his claims). Jarod then would have been considered dangerously unstable and EVERYONE would have been searching for him in some massive clusterfuck of a manhunt and that would have made it impossible for him to remain free, find employment, find his real parents, answers, etc..

I've wondered before if Jarod wanted to maybe slay the beast from within or was coerced to infiltrate because none of the above avenues were attractive. It's a relatively easy theory to float after all Sydney, Angelo, Miss Parker (people INSIDE the Centre) often help Jarod find the answers he seeks. Of course, with Miss Parker it's usually a quid pro quo-- Jarod, I believe, anticipated Parker's unwillingness to help him do anything (except return to his cell) and found and raided all of Catherine's strong boxes. Why else would Jarod have raided Catherine's strong boxes? He certainly didn't hand over to Miss Parker the diary he found. He gives her just enough to keep her absolutely starving for more.

Why?

Because he needs leverage---- I guess (and I know that sounds horrible but only if you consider Jarod a "good" person, someone that would never ever be similar to Lyle, a guy who is despicable and removes people's organs from their bodies---- but then we recall that, like Lyle, Jarod straight up abducted, sedated, and removed a man's kidney despite the man's pleas. I don't like good/bad labels. If we use those we have to face some hard truths: Either Jarod and Lyle are both incredibly bad. Or Lyle and Jarod are both good).

The information Jarod collects and parcels out to Miss Parker is the quid in the quid pro quo, the something Jarod can offer Miss Parker for the something she must discover for him from within the belly of the beast.

Another thought is we know that he discovered pretty early on that the Centre lied about the identity of his parents (episode one) and maybe he assumed that if the info wasn't in the stolen DSAs it might be inside Raines' head or somewhere else. He had a lot of questions whose answers might have never been revealed by legally and successfully exposing the Centre.

Rather than face prison Raines might have ended his life taking answers to his grave- those bible-tapping types love to imprison others, but, hypcocrites that they are, become terrified by the prospect of being locked up. Those are my initial thoughts on the matter.

Also, Miss Parker did say that Jarod enjoyed the drama.

I know you can probably think of a hundred more of these that are more plausible and intriguing and I'm sorry to cut the brainstorm short.

I look forward to reading your fics and theories, Chloe.

Reviewer: Chloe Signed starstarstarstarstar [Report This]
Date: 24/06/19 07:18 pm
Title: The Missing Piece (Part IV)

Please say it's not all there is to this. I could go on reading this for hundreds of chapters. I want more and more. It's nice to see Jarod a little behind the curve and not sure of himself. It's more realistic and fitting with what's happened. more please if I have the right to ask?



Author's Response:

Ah- well, there won't be hundreds of chapters. There will at least be one more. Thank you for reading and your lovely reviews.

Reviewer: Chloe Signed starstarstarstarstar [Report This]
Date: 12/06/19 12:11 am
Title: The Missing Piece (Part IV)

The man, the myth, the legend. Ooh so many feels Mirage. This is perfect. This isn't the last chapter?? Please say it isn't.



Author's Response:

It isn't. Thanks for reading and reviewing.

Reviewer: Leslie Signed starstarstarstarstar [Report This]
Date: 11/06/19 04:24 am
Title: The Missing Piece (Part IV)

Jarod is like a jack hammer that won't stop hammering away at Miss Parker. He was like that on the show. Insistent and passionate. You didn't change him. I can almost sympathetize with how exposed she must feel around him and how he doesn't quit until he gets at the true heart of the matter. Him issuing the challenge "you can't kill the little girl unless you kill me" and her response that it isn't fair. I saw someone say your writing is emotional and I didn't know what that meant until I got all the way to this chapter and all your words crushed me. The characters are emotional so writing about them must be emotional. I feel sparks of this or that and fury when Miss Parker is talking about videos those traffickers made her watch. There was anticipation when Miss Parker felt Jarod nearby and some laughter when she called him an asshat. When the writing is well done it is emotional. I can feel Jarod's confusion about everything too not knowing why he feels or what she has done to him but really Jarod has done all of this to himself and Miss Parker invites him to do more. I hope this isn't the end yet. If it is thank you for sharing your gifts with us. I have thoroughly loved this story and won't forget it. It meas so much that the series is still living here in this corner of the internet. Thank you.



Author's Response:

A jack hammer. It's going to be difficult to unsee that one. Thank you for all the truly generous reviews. It's not the end yet (wishful thinking). I really love when it's all over. Thank you for reading and reviewing.

Reviewer: Kyle McLane Anonymous starstarstarstarstar [Report This]
Date: 11/06/19 02:46 am
Title: The Missing Piece (Part III)

Kirkland took a weird cocktail of drugs and alcohol. He's stressed and seems genuinely concerned. You assure us he's the good guy in this and I thank you for that. The Italian island is beautiful. Your descriptive work is spot on. I can tell you're a traveler. Justice is hard to find. The world is darker than ever now. I like how Jarod wanted to let the death go and then couldn't. I like that Jarod took care of her, that Parker chose to go to him. The writing continues to be consistently brilliant.



Author's Response:

Kirkland is one of the good guys. No, I actually haven't traveled extensively and haven't traveled at all in quite some time. I love earthlings, their cultures, languages, beautiful places, new experiences (who doesn't?) but I sorta feel guilty if I can't reach the desired destination on foot or by bike. And it sucks so hard that all of the places I most want to see can only be reached by plane. The world isn't all that dark; certain people in the world, however--

 

Thanks for reading and reviewing.

Reviewer: Kyle McLane Anonymous starstarstarstarstar [Report This]
Date: 11/06/19 02:34 am
Title: The Missing Piece (Part II)

Miss Parker tries to lighten the mood. Jarod doesn't seem convinced. I don't blame him. The realization that comes for Jarod when he discovers what we've all known since season one when she shot the envelope instead of him. He WOULD be rotting in a Triumvirate prison if she'd ever really wanted to capture him. It was immersing the way  you took us into that trunk with Miss Parker. We get insight into Jarod's simulations. Stunning work Mirage. The end scene brought a new tear to my eye. No one can stop her. Not even Jarod. I'm glad he laid his soul out to her.

Reviewer: Kyle McLane Anonymous starstarstarstarstar [Report This]
Date: 11/06/19 02:30 am
Title: The Missing Piece

Nothing could be gut wrenching that reading Miss Parker is dead. You had me worried but you redeemed yourself quickly. Jarod didn't give up. You took us on an international journey and gave us a snapshot of the culture. I have cardomom on the grocery list. I'll be treating my wife to a recipe I found after reading this earlier. I wasn't as offput by the intimacy as I thought I'd be. They had respectable, tasteful relations. I think it was time.

Reviewer: Kyle McLane Anonymous starstarstarstarstar [Report This]
Date: 11/06/19 02:27 am
Title: Gone (Part IX)

Welding and you know about forensic sciences. I do too. I work with law enforcement. You get an A. You tied the evidence to the suspects and crime scenes and the stash and back to the victim with a substance that Jarod thought was blood. It explains why Magdelena/Misha was chainsmoking a variety of cigarette brands and that had seen so innocent and harmless aside from cancer and emphysema. I like how you tie St. Anthony and Catherine's religion into this and with Jarod as being lost or trying to find his missing family. You know the show well and are fond of it. I feel the same. You're doing right by the series.

Reviewer: Kyle McLane Anonymous starstarstarstarstar [Report This]
Date: 11/06/19 02:22 am
Title: Gone (Part VIII)

The chapter notes tehehee. A lot of minds go there in this fandom. It's so funny. Ok a woman that knows about welding, the uses, the products involved, the dangers. I think I'm in love. I can confirm a smoldering lawn as a consequence of arc cutting. My wife can too. You threw in another twist. Jarod assuring someone he will save someone and then narrating that contrarily Jarod's not doing anything because Jarod is dying. I would pay to read this. I think you need to know how good you are. I've read some of your review responses and chapter notes and you don't seem to get that you are a brilliant author. You are brilliant.

Reviewer: Kyle McLane Anonymous starstarstarstarstar [Report This]
Date: 11/06/19 02:17 am
Title: Gone (Part VII)

She was never "lost to him only concealed." I never was on the ship. I liked the show for what it was and didn't think they'd end up together until that kiss that was interrupted by Ocee. I do like the history they share and you seem to pay homage to that repeatedly and I appreciate that so deeply. The way you put his memory back together, the way Little Miss Parker put those pieces back together for him was plausible and not some leap of logic pulled out of the air. There is plausibility is every line. I like that Jarod goes back even though he doesn't know why.

Reviewer: Kyle McLane Anonymous starstarstarstarstar [Report This]
Date: 11/06/19 02:11 am
Title: Gone (Part VI)

Your notes. So funny. Little Miss Parker torments so well. I like how the child scolds him for considering violence towards Rachel. Jarod arguing with his delusion is the most Jarod thing ever, calling her Nancy Drew. She returns his jabs calling him Einstein. I was happy to see Jarod take an iniative and handcuff Rachel to the bed so he could leave. Even though I know how this goes it's still able to cause me anxiety that Miss Parker is out there. That's because you write and you write possibly too well if that's possible.

Reviewer: Kyle McLane Anonymous starstarstarstarstar [Report This]
Date: 11/06/19 02:07 am
Title: Gone (Part V)

The moment it began clear that Jarod was dreaming and something had gone very wrong was bracing. You pulled one over that I wasn't expecting. You deviated from the flow and it is genius. I expect directors and film writers to change things up but you allowed me the reader to get comfortable and I was lulled right in. You fleshed Little Miss Parker out brilliantly and gave her the innocent outspoken snark we saw on the show. I've never seen it done so well as you do it. You wrote Jarod's disorientation stirkingly well too. I'm impressed as hell. Those are four words I don't say often.

Reviewer: Kyle McLane Anonymous starstarstarstarstar [Report This]
Date: 11/06/19 02:03 am
Title: Gone (Part IV)

Jarod getting down to the philosophy of salad on Miss Parker's behalf. Her words to the waitress tehehee. Crude but I can hear Miss Parker say that. They grow closer here, go back to the beginning again in a way and her calling him a drama queen is spot on. Miss Parker is imparting some wisdom based on experience am I right? The choice to leave the Centre or work with Jarod was never obvious so she awards that same understanding and mercy to others. Your ability to develop the characters into something that looks more functional is amazing.

Reviewer: Kyle McLane Anonymous starstarstarstarstar [Report This]
Date: 11/06/19 01:58 am
Title: Gone (Part III)

You injected some humor again with the DJ losing the plot, wanting to play music he likes and not the easy listening tehehee. Even kids your age recognize a good song in Cat Stevens' how can I tell you. Right?  This song would work for a Pretender vid too. Jarod. Always hungry. Screaming microwaves. Tehehee.

Reviewer: Kyle McLane Anonymous starstarstarstarstar [Report This]
Date: 11/06/19 01:55 am
Title: Gone (Part II)

The talk of possible conspiracy is always exciting. Immediately I like Kirkland. I like his saving Miss Parker from the office coffee. I like that he worries because he recognizes something in her, probably the hero in her after that fight with the abusive mother. He knows it pose problems. He's right in hindsight. You don't stray from the original series and the characters we know and love and what makes them them and the proof is in this chapter too and this conversation::

"It wasn't your decision to make Jarod."

"You're right.. it was your mother's."

I think Miss Parker reacted appropriately to Jarod's love declaration.

Reviewer: Kyle McLane Anonymous starstarstarstarstar [Report This]
Date: 11/06/19 01:51 am
Title: Gone (Part I)

Have you ever made a grown man cry? Yes, Mirage, you have. You went deep here. So deep. Describing the properties and then describing Pierce Livingston, his clothes too large for him because he's lost weight and Joana Livingston. She's abused her husband and is losing her mind. The entire chapter is heart shattering. When I thought I was done crying I cried some more. And that final kick in the chest the closing scene. Jarod was glad Miss Parker hadn't heard him lie. How do you write like this? How do you go this deep? Do you ever resurface? It's so tragic. I know that some families live this tragedy. I never thought about telling their stories, the agony of it all. There are no more words.

Reviewer: Kyle McLane Anonymous starstarstarstarstar [Report This]
Date: 11/06/19 01:46 am
Title: Traffic

I read this in its entirely before reviewing and now skimming over this chapter again I'm going "ooohhhh." The flashdrive. Parker's absorption in the storm drain gutter. You had all the outlines in place and just needed to add color and shadowing... the art metaphor again if you don't mind. Brilliant. This is some elevated fiction writing.

Reviewer: Kyle McLane Anonymous starstarstarstarstar [Report This]
Date: 11/06/19 01:40 am
Title: Recompense

There is no brightside. That's the most Miss Parker thing ever.

Reviewer: Kyle McLane Anonymous starstarstarstarstar [Report This]
Date: 11/06/19 01:35 am
Title: Demons

I have to say it. I didn't foresee this twist Mirage. But it works. Jarod's brother and Miss Parker are uniquely and similarly broken.

Well written. Please tell me you aren't a young kid. Those songs are so youthful. You write intimate scenes brilliantly. I don't go in for that kind of thing but this is tastefully done.

Reviewer: Kyle McLane Anonymous starstarstarstarstar [Report This]
Date: 11/06/19 12:57 am
Title: Tension

Thanks for not having a cat fight. These are mature woman. I'm a man and believe me, we're not worth fighting over and something, Mirage, tells me that you know that already. Miss Parker is in so much pain.. we can tell by the proportion of anger she reveals. Miss Parker likes animals well done. Tehehee. That's our Miss Parker all right. Salty. But we love her.

Reviewer: Kyle McLane Anonymous starstarstarstarstar [Report This]
Date: 11/06/19 12:54 am
Title: Unfinished Business

Tehehee your mind woke you up with petuary? It's so funny that Jarod was inspired by Miss Parker's threats to up to terrorizing game with the baddie of the week. That's an episode I would like to see.

Unfinished business. I hope you will finish this. You're on a roll.

Reviewer: Kyle McLane Anonymous starstarstarstarstar [Report This]
Date: 11/06/19 12:51 am
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