<meta name="LineWrap" content="true"><TITLE>SR_Bk1 0067</TITLE><A HREF="SR_Bk1-0068.txt">Next (Page 68)</A><BR> Dubbed Greatwall by some long-forgotten commentator, this structure now stands as a marvel of engineering and faith, and all the shopowners and workers and administrators and fools and pets await the day Toal Tarby returns to walk through this immense tribute to his journey.<P><P>Of course, most people don't believe in Toal Tarby anymore. Greatwall itself is now a legend, and it's said people have been born, lived, and died without ever leaving its walls.<P><P>And it is here, at Greatwall, on Mate Pavement Earth, where Overwhelm Associates has its base of operations, and where Daptin Gone has now returned to after months of being AWOL.<P><P>"Hey, who's this sneakin' around here?" said Granticaine Chug Perion, spotting Daptin Gone lurking near the entrance to the Overwhelm Associates administrative offices.<P><P>Daptin turned to face Granticaine. At least six-foot-six, Granticaine sported long brown hair which fell halfway down his back, and wore a blue and brown variation on the uniform he had worn in war. <P><P>The guy was smiling, but all Daptin could think of was the videotape Granticaine had shown him once. It showed him slaughtering enemy troops with an enormous chainsaw, and then, after his chainsaw had run out of gas, how he faced President Emmerdine and took 30 rounds in the chest from the President's semiautomatic pistol. <P><P>After that, he grabbed the President, and with horrific grace spun him around and ripped the leader's left arm off, then wielded the arm like a baseball bat and bashed the President in the head. The fury went on for several minutes, and all that was left after that was a room full of blood and body parts. Breathing heavily, Granticaine slowly turned around and faced the camera. <P><P>"Next," was his only utterance. The camera hit the ground as the camera crew turned and ran. <P><P>This was shown live across the world, and though condemned by some, Granticaine's rage against this dictator was the rage of the world, and his actions were a hearty catharsis to the long war. At that moment, his prior nickname, "Good Ole 494" was superseded by "Splatterlord".<P><P>"Huh?" Daptin said.<P><P>"Speak of the Devil!" Grant said. "We were just talking about you the other day. We wondered whatever became of our favorite Quality Scout, Daptin Gone."<P><P>"I uh, I've been around, y'know," Daptin said. <P><P>"I gather you have," Grant replied.<P><P>"So how're things around here, Grant?"<P><P>Granticaine clasped his hands together in front of himself and looked around.<P><P>"Oh, good. Good. Fife's still not a very skilled strategist, but that's forgivable. You missed another recruitment round, a few weeks back. And there were a few babes you really missed, eh? Nice ones. Maybe you'll encounter 'em in your next round."<P><P>Daptin leaned against a wall and sighed.<P><P>"I uh, I don't, I'm not sure if there'll be any more rounds. At least not for the time being. I mean, I'm not really here for, y'know, like to come back into full service or anything, I mean--I have some stuff to sort out back..."<P><P>Granticaine took a few steps toward Daptin.<P><P>"You quittin'?"<P><P>"Huh? No. I'm just in the middle of like a vacation, but I'm back here just for a little while. I mean..."<P><P>"So you're still on our side, then."<P><P>"Yes, Definitely. My current, uh, concerns have nothing at all to do with Aconck."<P><P>"Oh no? What have they to do with?"<P><P>"Nothing."<P><P>Granticaine turned away from Daptin.<P><P>"I don't want to intrude in your affairs, Daptin, but you've always seemed a decent fellow. If you need some assistance, you need but ask."<P><P>"I, uh, appreciate that, Grant."<P><P>Granticaine turned back to face Daptin, and unclasped his hands.<P><P>"In truth, it's gotten very tedious and boring here at Greatwall. Fife's got his head up his ass and he's stalling, while Thewsike gobbles up Earths all on the outer. I want some action, man.<BR><A HREF="SR_Bk1-0068.txt">Next (Page 68)</A>