Moments of transition inevitably leave, in the wake of their passing, the opening of the new chapter, the tiny drops of the coming storm, the first stone of the avalanche.

Thus it was that just minutes after Nope and Vesper’s return, the War Council attacked, striking first at J Street and then, with the fall of the JSDF, at Earth A. In the crisis, the Pantheon reformed. Eventually, they saved the day. The Exile was over and J Street had its heroes again. Among them, some of the fallen, those supposed long since dead and gone: JYu, Squirt --

-- And one Joseph Douglas Grendel, Esquire.

"I walked clean through the party
Without a sin put to my name
Then they got to know me
Then all the sins they came
To fruition’s visibility
I suppose them always there
Back when no one knew me
I saw no need to care

"But now such luxury is gone
And I’ve got to do my part
And the faces that I know, know me
Have laid claims to my heart
Like speculated real estate
Their investment should do well
But me I’ve bought a ticket
An express train straight to, well...

"Well perhaps that is self pity
But I’m remembering a dream
Some damn thing about lost love
How foggy it does seem
So now I wade in muck and mire
And they tell me that it’s fun
But all it does for me is make me ask
When will it all be done?

"Please don’t be mad I’m sorry
And it’s just the way I feel
But it’s hard to spot the lie
And figure out the real
So I maintain and ply my wares
And have my goods to sell
And say to those who gawk and stare
I’ll see you all in hell
...I’ll see you all in hell!"

‘Bullshitter’s Lament’
Lyrics © 1993 J Popper