Tarrasque is at the gymnasium in just gym shorts, socks, and shoes. He has Vespertine at his side as he leaps as far as he can, lands, and instantly blasts into a vertical jump. He repeats this several times. 

Vespertine - Good! It’s good to do a bit more than lifting weights. This will help increase your leg strength. You won’t be able to match Madd’s speed, but you can get up there if you work hard enough. 

Tarrasque - Me work hard, fight harder. Me will go fast. 

Vespertine - That’s the spirit! Someone has to be able to beat him! Now, let’s do this three more times before we get out the medicine ball.

Tarrasque - Yes. 

Tarrasque repeats the jumps. Leaping as far as he can before landing and jumping as high as he can. He does this two more times. He finishes up and walks over to the medicine ball, picking it up. 

Vespertine - Now, you are going to pump-fake high and then slam violently to help build rapid core contraction. You’re going to do three sets of five. 

Tarrasque - Yes, coach. 

And Tarrasque does just that. He pump-fakes high and then slams the medicine ball down to the floor before wrenching the heavy medicine ball back into the air to do it again. He goes through three sets of five quickly, sweat starting to form across his body. Vespertine watches him with a small smile before consulting her notes on her phone. 

Vespertine - Now next. We are going to get you onto the push press. It’ll be more your speed, except you’re going to do a lower weight quickly.

Tarrasque nods, putting the medicine ball away and walking over to the leg press. Vespertine sets the weight, and Tarrasque begins to quickly push the weights overhead. 

Vespertine - Remember, you’re not trying to outpace Madd. All you have to do is catch him and ground him. We increase your speed so that you can do just that; you will have the match won. 

Tarrasque grunts in agreement as he finishes his sets with relative ease. He sets the weights down and stands up with a grin, wiping sweat from his brow with a towel. 

Tarrasque - Me will catch Madd. Me will break him and him no longer fly. 

Vespertine claps him on the shoulder with a bright smile and lets her hand slide down his arm. 

Vespertine - That’s the spirit, Tarrasque! We should make sure that Madd Morales can never terrorize anyone ever again with his high-flying antics. 

Tarrasque - Yeah, because him beat you. Twice. 

Vespertine - Yeah, but who’s counting? 

Tarrasque - You are.

Vespertine - Point taken.  Yes.  I am.  NOW we are going to finish out the workout with single-leg chaos jumps. We will do three sets of five reps per leg. We will use soft pads to help train ankle stabilization. As you know, your ankle snapping during the match will ruin your entire offense. 

Tarrasque - Right. 

Tarrasque goes through the exercise with a stunning quickness, surprising even himself. He goes through the sets, hitting all of his marks surprisingly well. Once he stops, Vespertine places a palm on his sweaty chest over his heart, feeling the heartbeat. 

Vespertine - Well, that was fun, and it actually got your heart going. Now, let’s do the whole series of exercises over again? Sound good?

Tarrasque grunts with a wide grin, knowing that repetition builds muscle memory. 

Tarrasque - We do it!

Over the next hour, Tarrasque goes through the rotation of exercises several more times until he is drenched in sweat, his muscles quivering from the work. Vespertine walks over to him and runs her hands across his sweat-slicked chest with a seductive grin. 

Vespertine - Wow…you smell bad. Hit the showers? I’ll clear up here and then join you. 

Tarrasque - Me like it! 

Tarrasque picks up his sweat towel and heads to the locker room while Vespertine clears up and off the equipment used during Tarrasque’s workout. Once she is finished, she makes ready to head to the locker room as well to join the beast when she sees someone standing in her way. 

Marcus Anderson.

Vespertine recovers her shock quickly with a Cheshire grin. 

Vespertine - Marcus, how good to see you! Checking up on us I see?

Marcus shakes his head with a frown, looking Vespertine over from head to toe. 

Marcus Anderson - No. I have come to take him back from you. You drugged an entire crowd? You’re bringing him into your little cult in the CWF? This is unacceptable, Vespertine! I need you out of his life! 

Vespertine - Well now? Isn’t that cute my sweet?  Someone who actually cares for him.   And . what pray tell, what do you think Tarrasque will have to say about this? I’ve been getting him more wins than you ever had. I’ve also been giving him…other things. 

Marcus’ eyes go wide. 

Marcus Anderson - I have heard reports, but I didn’t know what to believe. You’ve been fucking him in public! 

Vespertine - And that’s something that you cannot give him. Unless you swing that way? Hey I don’t judge.

Marcus Anderson - I’m not gay! I’m like his brother! He will want to go with me instead of you. You have nothing that he can’t get somewhere else! Where is he? I’m going to go tell him so! 

Vespertine -Did you try the girls locker room?  He sometimes can’t get enough from me.   I was just working out on my own. 

Her eyes flit to the women’s locker room door, then to the men’s locker room. and that’s all that Marcus needs to know. 

Marcus Anderson - Liar! I’m going to go tell him as such! 

He begins walking toward the men’s locker room when Vespertine steps into his way.

Marcus Anderson - Out of the way, Vespertine! 

Vespertine - And what if I don’t.

Marcus Anderson - I’ll force you out of my way…

Vespertine - You can’t force your way out of a wet paper sack, or else you would still be a wrestler! You couldn’t hack it as a wrestler. You couldn’t hack it as a manager. 
Admit it, I’m doing a way better job than you did.  A manager with benefits.  

Marcus grits his teeth, caught between the desire to not hit Vespertine and the desire to save Tarrasque. 

Marcus Anderson - I will knock you down! Don’t think I won’t!

By now, this has started gathering watchers from all ends of the gymnasium where the sounds of their argument have carried to. They have not gathered around the pair, but watch silently from where they are exercising to see what happens next. Vespertine sees this and smiles slowly. 

Vespertine - You would knock down little ole me? Why don’t you knock it off and accept that Tarrasque has what he needs now? 

Marcus Anderson - Stop lying! 

Marcus lets out a roar and strikes Vespertine in the side of the head with a punch before shoving her to the side. Vespertine is caught off-guard by the attack. She staggers to the side from the punch and falls to the floor when she is pushed. Marcus starts walking toward the locker room again, but is blocked by several people, including the gym manager, John Harris. 

Marcus Anderson - Let me through! I need to talk to Tarrasque! 

John Harris - As much as Vespertine made some of the gym-goers uncomfortable. She does not deserve to be assaulted like this. You need to go before we call the police. 

Marcus Anderson - What? What’s happening right now? Did you not hear what she was saying to me?

John Harris - Reports came to me that you were mad at Tarrasque’s new girlfriend. That you later assaulted. Miss Vespertine? Are you alright?

Vespertine gets up and dusts herself off, her expression one of mock theatrical pain. 

Vespertine - I’m alright. I just don’t understand how he could be so jealous of his brother’s happiness. 

John Harris - You know you could press assault charges on this man for doing what he did?

Vespertine - Oh, I’m sure it will be fine. Just fine. If he leaves now, we don’t have to involve the police…  Or I can sue for emotional damage.

John Harris:  Is that a thing?

Vespertine:  It is in California.  

John Harris - And there we have it. Mister, you had best be leaving now before we call the police anyway. You can call your brother, but you won’t be confronting him at my gym! 

The other people around cheer him on and Marcus shakes his head. 

Marcus Anderson - You don’t understand. This is the woman who drugged an entire wrestling audience in Bentonville, South Carolina, during the CWF PPV, Civil Warfare. She pulled a knife on Steve Murdock as they were wrestling in a Falls Count Anywhere match.  She’s capable of bad things. I need to talk to Tarrasque now! 

John looks at Vespertine as if trying to compare her face to that of the wrestler Vespertine that he saw while watching the show.  She flashes pretty eyes at him.

John Harris - You do seem familiar, Miss Vespertine. Did you do this heinous act?

Vespertine begins walking toward the gym manager, her hips swaying as she walks ever so elegantly towards him.. 

Vespertine - I’m just a little girl who is seeing his brother in a relationship while helping him become the best wrestler that he could be. Is there something wrong with this?  I swear everything else he is telling you is a lie because he doesnt want his brother to be with me.  

John Harris - Did you drug the bleeding crowd?

Vespertine is about to answer when Tarrasque bursts through the door. He is dressed in a pair of purple jeans and an Eternal Grove T-shirt. His gym bag is slung over one shoulder. He looks around at the gathered crowd before his eyes settle on Vespertine and then Marcus Anderson. His face brightens up like seeing a long-lost family member. 

Tarrasque - Marcus! Been some time. What doing here? Everything okay at home?

Marcus Anderson - Everything is fine at home, Tarrasque. Mom is doing great. I came here to collect you from all of this chaos. Vespertine is using you, man. 

Tarrasque’s expression turns cold while he listens to Marcus’ explanation. It’s almost as if he has heard all of this before. 

Tarrasque - The Eternal Grove wants to make me a powerful soldier using methods that are far nicer than what Warhammer did to me. 

Marcus Anderson - Then why not advertise and bring in volunteers? This was wrong, man! The FBI is involved in this case now. You should distance yourself from her and join me. We can both retire from wrestling!

Tarrasque - And retire from the thing that makes me feel alive, Marcus? Leave the woman who is taking me there instead of leading me on her own agenda? Go home, Marcus. 

Marcus Anderson - But…Alex…

Tarrasque holds out his arm, and Vespertine walks over so that Tarrasque can put his arm around her. She looks at the defeated Marcus and winks and tries for a different strategy.

Vespertine - It’s over, Marcus. You have lost. You don’t have to like it, but you do have to live with it. It’s sad to see you that get over me because I chose your brother.  

Marcus Anderson - This isn’t right, Vespertine. I will show my brother the truth, and he will see you for the slime that you really are. 

Vespertine - You’re just angry that he’s getting a boost in his career like you could never do and is getting his dick wet. More than you ever did for him or me.  You just couldn’t get over the fact that after you dumped me he chose to be with me instead of you.

Marcus Anderson - Tarrasque, are you hearing this?

Tarrasque - Me am. She right.  Goodbye, Marcus. 

John Harris - I need you to leave now, sir. 

Marcus Anderson - Fine! I’m going. 

Marcus stalks toward the entrance to the gym, wiping at his eyes as he walks away. Tarrasque’s expression softens until he sees the bruise forming on Vespertine’s face. 

Tarrasque - Him hit you?

Vespertine places her hand on the bruise that’s forming and pretends to cry. 

Vespertine - It’s alright. Stronger men have hit me in the past, but I’m still here.   But his was a knife to the heart.  

Tarrasque grunts in agreement, but then frowns. 

Tarrasque -  Real actual knife?

Ves:  No, that’s just a figure of speech.  Like when you break a heart into a thousand pieces.

(Tarrasque nods as if he understands but really he doesn’t.)

Tarrasque: Him come bother you again, me break him. 

Vespertine - Aww, Tarrasque…my hero. Let’s get out of here while we still have the chance. 

Tarrasque nods with a big grin. 

Tarrasque - Food and then sex?

Vespertine - (in bubble blond mode) Anything for my hero.

Tarrasque - Me love it! 

They walk out of the gym and into the waiting limo.

**********
At a local hotel, after they have eaten at a buffet to get Tarrasque his fill of food, Tarrasque is lying on the bed in just a pair of boxer briefs. Vespertine kneels on the edge of the bed in panties and not much else.  She has her phone out; and is guiding it to FaceTwatter Live and pressing record/go live. 

Vespertine - And you are on, Tarrasque. 

Tarrasque - Madd Morales. Seems like you have been going through some trying times. Your Conquest dreams were shattered by your private army of freaks. You know you were going to use them once the Valor championship reign was done. Pity they did not know this. But you did tell them enough, I heard, in order to keep them in the palm of your hand. Too bad they didn’t see it that way. 

But you have Graves and Rook by your side. You may need every lick of them during our match, Madd. Me will catch you. Me will snap your running little legs like they was twigs. When me lift you by your family jewels…you will know that you were devastated by the beast. When I snap Graves and Rook for interfering in the match, you will know your destiny to come, Madd. You will know that me come to win. You will know for all you bluster that you are just small, weak man. Me am Tarrasque! Me am strong! Me am fast! Me fly…somewhat… But all me need do is catch you and send you to the mat. Me will pull your wings and see what happens, Madd. 

The phone dings and Vespertine turns FaceTwatter Live off for a moment and switches to her text messaging app. Her face lights up. 

Vespertine - We should get dressed and call the driver! My people have found one in the hospital! 

Tarrasque - Oh yeah? But the sex…

Vespertine - Can wait until we talk to this guy in the hospital. 

Tarrasque - Fine. 

**********
At a hospital someplace off the East Coast…

Tarrasque and Vespertine walk into a hospital room and stand by the man lying in the bed. He had been beaten to within an inch of his life by someone. Vespertine places a hand on the man’s shoulder, causing him to wake up. He looks up at Vespertine and Tarrasque, barely able to open his eyes from the swelling. 

Tarrasque - Gus. Tell us about Madd Morales.

Gus - Why would I do that for you?

Vespertine - I assume that he put you here in the hospital? You should tell us so we can get revenge for you. 

Gus - We…will get revenge for ourselves. 

Tarrasque - Who we? You are the last. 

Vespertine - And you’re barely there at all. No shape to avenge anything. 

Tarrasque - So…tell us. What makes Madd weak?

What follows is a ten-minute explanation of what Tarrasque could do to defeat the “Airdevil” Madd Morales. At the end of it, though, Gus laughs. 

Vespertine - What’s so funny?

Tarrasque narrows his eyes while looking at Gus. 

Tarrasque - Him not the Airdevil anymore. Is him?

Gus - No. We killed the Airdevil at that moment. He is something different, someone different. He will take me back. I will tell him you wanted intel, though. He will be pleased with me. 

Vespertine - Well, that was helpful. So, we got nothing useful from you. Let’s get out of here. 

Tarrasque - Me would like word with Gus alone. You go ahead. 

Vespertine pauses and looks at Gus for a moment before nodding. 

Vespertine - You do you, whatevs.. I’ll be in the limo.

Vespertine walks out of the room while Tarrasque walks over to stand by the head of the bed. 

Gus - I have nothing else to say. You should go…

Tarrasque - Oh me know you say nothing. Ever again.

Gus - Wait! I’ll tell you what you need to know! I’ll talk! I’ll talk! 

Tarrasque reaches out with a large hand and pinches Gus’ nose while holding his mouth shut. Guy weakly fights back to try to knock the beast’s hand away, to try to breathe, but no dice. He fights for a few moments before he starts to get sluggish and passes out. Tarrasque holds his hand there a few moments longer to make sure that the man is dead before he leaves the room. As he does leave the room, we see on his shoulder blade, the same patch that Vespertine put on him a few shows ago.  It’s new but there seems to be a black smoke coming out from under it.  

He gets into the waiting limo with Vespertine. 

Vespertine - He say anything else?

Tarrasque - No. Let’s go. 

Vespertine - Driver? Take us to the hotel. 

Satisfied, she knows exactly what Tarrasque did up there, but she isn’t mad he didn’t tell her, rather proud of what he did to Gus.  Seems the trick is working.

End