“What would you do if you couldn’t be Sediment Terri, hardcore rock star babe?” Ferris asked as the two sat having breakfast on their apartment balcony.

It was a gorgeous Friday morning with clear blue skies and the gentle hum of the city below them was a mix of horns, sirens and engines.

Terri took a sip of her orange juice, contemplating her answer. “Why wouldn’t I be Sediment Terri, hardcore rock star babe anymore?”

“I don’t know. Say, you just didn’t want to do it anymore. Or we had a family. Or you were sacked!” he burst out laughing. “If you just didn’t do this anymore. I’d want to be a journalist come columnist I think with a popular podcast series.”

Terri’s heart dropped a moment when he mentioned a family, but she pushed it to one side to consider the question some more. “I loved the idea of working in the research department of the mine I was at, but I don’t think I’d want to do anything serious or heavy like that. It’d be hard to adjust to a normal life… Maybe I could open a bakery and sell those cute British rock cakes I saw on The Great British Baking Show.”

“I am a big fan of your cakes actually,” Ferris teased.

“Well, we’re clearly not talking about the same thing anymore,” she laughed hysterically.

“You need to learn to bake first!”

“What? Me? No, I’ll just hire someone. I’ll be the face and the vision of it... the owner. It’d be great!”

“I’m sure it would,” he agreed, finishing off his coffee.

They shared a warm silence before Ferris filled it again. “I know what day tomorrow is. How are you holding up?”

He was talking about it being the second-year anniversary of Lucas’ passing and the fact that it was Terri who found him.

Terri took a sharp intake of breath. She knew it was coming, this anniversary. It was in the back of her mind, pushing its way to the front, and she just wanted to push it aside. But she loved Ferris for remembering. She’d married a perfect, attentive man.

“I’m... ok thanks. It has been on my mind, if I’m honest. I was thinking though of getting everyone together to go to San Fran tomorrow to mark it in some way. I know it’s a bit short notice but I-”

“I think it’s a great idea. It will be really nice to do that."

“Ok, yeah. I’ll send some messages out. I’m at The Facility later today so I’ll let The Sec know too.”

***

Later. The Facility.

“Ah Terri! I’m glad I found you!” The Secretary said as they nearly collided into each other turning a corner.

“I was just coming to look for you myself.”

“Shall we go to my office then?”

“I was thinking we should do something for Lucas’… anniversary tomorrow. See if we can get everyone to San Fran to mark it,” Terri suggested as they walked.

“That’s a lovely idea. Let me know a time and I’ll be there too,” The Secretary replied, opening her office door and inviting Terri to go in first.

“Oooh, it’s still got that new paint smell,” Terri said taking a big whiff.

“And the carpet is still really soft under bare foot.” The Sec sat down at her desk as Terri sat in the new armchair opposite.

“I’ll take your word on that one,” Terri chuckled.

“How are you doing Terri? It’s a nice thing to do for Lucas’ memory, but I haven’t forgotten how it must be feeling for you.”

“Fine. Thanks. It’s certainly bought all those memories back of seeing him lying there…”

“That’s understandable.”

“But other than that…” she trailed off. “What did you want to talk to me about?”

“Well, I hope you don’t think of me as a bitch by bringing this up, but I thought you’d want to be the one I bring this to first, at least. We received this through our direct channels.” The Secretary slid her a piece of paper which she picked up.

“Son of a bitch. Not you,” Terri assured looking up briefly. “This is a joke, right? Don’s not actually killed himself on the anniversary of Lucas’ death and led us to where his body is…?”

“No, we don’t think he has but it’s our first lead for him since you went looking for him in New Orleans. It one hundred percent feels like a trap but we need to follow it up.”

“He’s a bastard and we do need to follow it up. What do these three words mean? Is it a code?”

“They’re the three words that give an exact location so we… can find him. You’re ok with me asking you?”

“Yeah, of course. I’m just nervous that the stuff about Lucas will come out.”

“Well, like I said. This feels like a trick or a trap, so I’m not sure it will come out. That's all been dealt with.”

Terri considered that for a moment. “So where is it then? Where do these three words take me?”

“An airplane boneyard, Arizona.”

“Ok. Lots of earth to play around with then,” Terri said approvingly.

“And he would know that,” The Secretary said cautiously.

“True. So I’ll need to take someone then.”

“Who are you thinking?”

“Against my better judgement, I think Patty-Sue is my best bet.”

“I think you’re right. I’ll get her in.”

***

“I never thought we’d get the chance to hang out,” Budge said as Terri and her met up in the boneyard.

Terri hadn’t wanted to fly with the largest member of The Collective, so when The Secretary requested her assistance, Terri immediately left herself and waited for Budge there.

The boneyard was huge and where they rendezvoused was still three miles from the exact location Don had given them.

Rows and rows of decommissioned airplanes of all kinds were sat to rust. Military, commercial, large and small were all in various stages of disrepair.

“Don’t get used to it,” Terri muttered under her breath. “This is a trap, I just know it. I don’t expect Don to actually be here, but something is. Of all the planes here, he takes us to the largest.”

“The C-6L Super U Galaxy, I gotcha,” Budge said, showing off a knowledge Terri didn’t think she had. Budge caught Terri looking slightly impressed. “My grandaddy was an Air Force pilot and got me into military planes. I just love ‘em.”

“Right on.”

“What do you think the trap is?”

“Could be mechanical, explosive. Could simply be another note,” Terri explained as they approached the Lockheed plane.

It was ginormous, truly a spectacle to behold. A feat of engineering to create something so big and keep it in the sky. For a long time the C-5M Super Galaxy was the largest plane in the US Air Force’s fleet but this superseded it five years ago when it was made.

“He’s a clever man, and a dangerous one, and I hold him responsible for Lucas’ death.”

“Really?” Budge asked, sounding surprised. “He killed himself and he wouldn’t have needed to if-”

“If what?” Terri demanded to know.

Budge didn’t reply straight away. “Did you hear that?” she whispered. Terri listened intently. “Come out come out, wherever you are!” Budge yelled, making Terri jump.

In front of them and from the side of the fuselage, just above the wing, the metal tore open. A slash from left to right and then diagonally down from the right corner to the left. The two edges were prised apart from the inside, and then looking down at them with a look of blood lust, pure rage and savage hunger, was Terri’s worst nightmare. And soon to become Budge’s.

The pair froze in horror, like they were being hunted by a Tyrannosaurus Rex.

“Holy shit,” Terri muttered, her heart dropping, but then immediately ascending into her throat, causing her to feel nauseous very quickly.

“You never said it was going to be…” Budge managed to say through gritted teeth. “I’d have said you’d need more than just little ol’me if I knew.”

“And if I knew, I would have asked for more,” Terri whispered back.

“What do we do against the Gargantuan?”

“Fight,” Terri said, not necessarily convincingly enough. “Fight hard. And if you feel the earth moving, get out of the way.”

“We can trap it,” Budge suggested.

“Trap it? You’re looking at the same thing as I am, right?”

“Shit.”

The Gargantuan, measuring in at eight feet tall and 480 kg, was pure muscle. He was so large and so ripped in places that his skin had torn to give way to the muscle.

If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

Not much was known of The Gargantuan, but legend had it that he was a slave from India taken to Britain during the early years of the British Empire and was experimented on by his captors.

Whatever was given to him made him the size he was and gave him the rage that fuelled him and dumbed him down to the intellect of a neanderthal. All of which, was a deadly combination.

Passed around from highest bidder to highest bidder, The Gargantuan was nothing more than a pet who couldn’t be managed, and this time, like many times before, had been abandoned. Like he was in this boneyard.

The completely naked beast leapt out of the hole he made in the side of the plane, like a flea, coming into land straight for Sediment Terri and Budge.

Sediment Terri threw up a wall of hard, Arizona desert that The Gargantuan whacked right into. He roared in pain.

On their side of the earthen wall, Terri could see the cracks form and grow from the impact. The cracks became bigger until the wall disintegrated and The Gargantuan fell through.

Terri and Budge ran in opposite directions, making ground. The beast ran for Budge, and when Terri realised, she lunged forward, smacking the ground hard and sending a large crack in pursuit, snaking across the ground for the beast.

The crack reached the colossal brute just in time, opening wide enough to swallow Big G.

Terri closed the crack up, cementing the beast in at his girthy waist.

Budge approached from behind, careful not to be in the way of its flailing arms. With her increased centre of gravity, keeping her unmovable from the ground, she proceeded to repeatedly kick the giant in the head.

He growled and roared, scraping at the ground around him to get him out as Terri’s rotund teammate continued.

“Hey, be careful!” Sediment Terri yelled out. “That is only going to make him…”

Through sheer strength and blind caveman might, The Gargantuan had prised the ground around him apart enough to get himself out.

Budge swore and started to run. But not in enough time. The angry giant grabbed her by the arms and… couldn’t move her. He roared, finding more strength from within to maybe just push her over at least, but Budge just wouldn’t… budge.

Frustrated at his new play-things inability to be played with, Big G whacked down on her head like a whack-a-mole, which caused her to fall, losing her hold on her own gravity enough for the beast to grab and hurl her through the nose of a nearby plane.

Terri watched as The Gargantuan turned to home in on her. She gulped and considered her next move. Less than a hundred metres separated them, and he was soon on the move, stomping towards her.

Terri looked to the plane to her left and manipulated a giant hand of earth to erupt from underneath it, the fingers wrapping around the plane as it if were a toy. The giant hand crashed the plane into The Gargantuan, who hardly flinched as the earth and the plane showered down on it.

Undeterred, Terri did the same with the plane on Big G’s right, again with equally little effect. She was running out of options.

From not that far away, gunshots rang out.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Terri felt the ground under her tremble as a rumbling sound grew louder and louder, coming closer. She was instantly relieved at what this meant, and she threw up tentacles of earth from beneath The Gargantuan, whacking, swiping and crashing into him in a frantic dance.

Just to slow him down, until The Rodeos appeared.

“Yer look like you got your hands full ‘ere’!” Reuben called out as they appeared at Terri’s side, sat on their steeds. “I thought fatty was with yer?”

“She’s in that plane,” Terri said, pointing in the direction. “I’m glad you’re here.”

“I don’t know why you didn’t ask in the firs' place. This is our patch after all,” Effie said as she dismounted her horse.

“Shall we talk about this after?” Terri asked.

“Over the drink you’re going to buy us first in San Frisco? Sure. Punch me in the face first. It’ll get me to rage quicker.”

“You don’t need to tell me twice,” Terri said, punching him square in the side of the head whilst in rock form.

He took the impact with a slight flinch, recovering into his rage mode.

“Let’s get at ‘im,” he said, as the three of them charged.

***

Garlands, San Francisco.

The patrons and staff stopped and stared as the door opened and in walked Terri, Ferris, Dylan, the triplets, Effie, Reuben, Ariadna, Madam Secretary and a fully suited Do’Lânqwa.

“God, this is embarrassing,” The Secretary whispered.

“We just get used to it,” Mindy said to her patting her on the shoulder in a well-intended show of reassurance.

After a few seconds, the crowd of people in the bar went back to their drinks, food and conversations.

“Welcome to Garlands, where no matter who you are, you’re no one special. We’re all just the same!” a voice said. “Holt! You’re here!” A glamorous drag queen with large bouffant wig came running over and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

“Hey Temma! It’s good to see you again! Everyone…” he said, turning to the group. “This is Temma Tation, a friend of Lucas and me!”

“That’s right, you were at his funeral. Are you the one who also saved Brad’s ass against Purists?” Terri asked.

“The very one. Is he not here with y’all?” she asked.

“No, he’s not… Apparently he’s not well,” Holt went on.

“Well, it’s so touching that you all came today. When I saw you on the reserved list, I couldn’t believe it,” she said to everyone. She gestured to them to follow her as she led them to their booth. “Many a night he would be here and we’d chat. Sometimes I’d even have to fix him up. This one though,” she said nodding at Holt, “he was always trouble!” They both laughed.

“He brought me here on our first date,” Holt recalled as they started to shift in around the booth seats. “And then we were sat on top of The Golden Gate Bridge overlooking the city at night. We were there for hours!”

Before Terri sat in, she turned to Temma Tation. “We’re going to have a few drinks and some food here but are you able to join us later when we light some candles and let them float out across the bay? We’d love it if you could.”

“And I’d love it if I did too. Holla at me when you go.” She looked at The Sheriff, sat between Dylan and Reuben. “Honey, are you going to sit in that all night?”

“I do not want my face to be seen.”

“I’m sure it’s not that bad,” she replied with a wink.

“Wha-no, no. It’s not. It’s just…”

“Don’t worry darlin’, you’re talking to a drag queen,” Temma said. “You won’t see me out without my face beat and a wig on. I just hope you don’t get… all sweaty under there.” There were giggles from around the table as Do’Lânqwa shifted uncomfortably.

“The suit has temperature regulation capabilities, so I won’t… get sweaty.”

“Impressive… So, what drinks can I get you all?” she asked, fishing for her notepad.

“The first can go to The Rodeos. They saved my ass today!” Terri said.

“But if I wasn’t watching on the satellite…” The Secretary said, “I wouldn’t have known that you’d need the backup.”

“Ok, fine. She moves up the drink list too.”

“And if I didn’t-” Dylan started.

“Nice try! You can wait your turn… for your soft drink, don’t forget!” Terri said.

They all laughed as in turn the others gave their orders.

For a few hours the group chatted, laughed and drank until it was time to head to The Wave Organ, the spot they had chosen to release their floating candles in honor of their friend Lucas.

It was a stark contrast in atmosphere, from when they were at the bar. It was more sombre, and considered. The lights from the city reflected and danced in the dark water, matching their reflective moods.

Holt bent down first and let his candle go first.

"Does anyone have any words to say?" Terri suggested.

Holt looked back at the group with tears rolling down his cheeks. "I... I don't really know."

"That's ok," Terri assured. "You might have something to say later."

"Can I?" The Secretary asked. She cleared her throat and knelt down to release her candle. "On this day we mark the passing of our dear friend and colleague. Lucas may not be with us anymore, but he is not and will never be forgotten. And wherever we may be on this day, in however many years' time, we will think about our dear Lucas. The life he lived, and what he gave us during that time. May he rest in peace."

Terri blinked back the tears. "Thanks Ma'am. That was lovely."

"To Lucas!"