A police helicopter hovered over Grand Avenue as it surveyed the massive damage to the commercial skyscrapers. The fading sunlight cast an orange glow over the reflective windows of the California Plaza buildings, with the white circle of a spotlight shining over the whole of it in broad, sweeping lines. The pilot of the helicopter shook his head solemnly as he looked down at the darkening scene below him. He had been called in about an hour earlier but it had taken longer than usual to prepare his ride; all of the other helicopters were either down for repair or on patrol in other sections of Los Angeles.

  The Water Court was in ruin. The bridge that had run over it between the two highrises of the plaza was gone. Pieces of it were strewn about from the patio all the way into street. Plaza One, the building closest to Grand Avenue, had been heavily damaged. One whole side of it was missing from the lowest floors all the way up to about the twentieth. The remaining thirty or so floors above that were littered with broken windows and deep cracks in the steel and concrete siding. A few floors around the rest of the building, particularly those between the fourteenth and seventeenth floors, were also destroyed; as if something had physically scooped out two huge chunks of the material. Debris was everywhere, along with what appeared to be large strips of colorful plastic and bits of broken rope.

  A secretary, who had lost her job when Plaza One lost a good portion of it's structure, was by herself at a metal table in the patio of the Water Court. She was an attractive woman but refused to give a statement to any of the officers that questioned her. She also refused to go out for drinks afterwards with any of the young men on the force assigned to discover what had happened; she said that, after today, she had been changed forever. They apparently discovered in what way when they found her making eyes with Detective Noyes, a tall brunette woman who had just transferred into the department

  They've scheduled a date for tomorrow.

  The pilot pushed the control stick and the helicopter veered away. As he turned, he saw the I.B.M. Tower across the street. What was left of it anyway. While the buildings of the California Plaza were still standing, so to speak, this building had been brought down to the ground. A firecrew was below doing what they could to stop an electrical fire that had just broken out.

  He flew onward, past the untouched, giant tower of the First Interstate World Center, to the Westin Bonaventure Hotel. Both skybridges, that connected it to the Citibank Plaza, were destroyed. Again, one whole side of the building was in ruin. Of the four outer towers flanking the central tower of the Bonaventure, the two facing Flower Street had taken heavy damage. The inside of it was exposed through shattered windows and missing walls.

  The black glass shimmered in the spotlight and the pilot grimaced. He had always liked that hotel.

  The buildings of the Arco Plaza were in slightly better shape. Whatever had hit Downtown L.A. had only damaged the first few floors of both buildings. The street below it, however, was severely damaged. Holes were carved out of the asphalt and sidewalk. He could see the still lighted sign of the Taco Bell Express that lay battered in the depths of the Arco Plaza Mall beneath the street. The bank between the two skyscrapers had also been damaged, the roof had been caved in as if something large had been dropped down from above. Smoke billowed from the interior, and water flooded the outside as the fountain in the front of the square spilled it's contents from a broken main.

  The pilot spotted a policeman or two below him. None of them were quite sure what had happened. Most of the people they had talked to were fairly tight-lipped. Most of them just wore strange smiles on their faces as they walked away to wherever they chose to go. They had pulled one of their Sargents out of a crushed black and white about thirty minutes prior; had to use the jaws of life too. But he had obviously gone insane, babbling about a pack of giant, rampaging, communists. His partner Jimmy, a newcomer to the force, said that the Sarge had been traumatized by the falling debris of one of the bridges that had collapsed on the squad car while he was in it. They sent Sargent Mazatowski in for psychological evaluation.

  As for Jimmy, they had found him taking a nap in the plants around the ruins of the Westin Bonaventure Hotel; a strange look of contentment on his face. His body was drenched in a cooling sweat, but he seemed happy and calm. The only explanation he would give was that an earthquake had struck the area. Other bystanders around them just shrugged and agreed with Jimmy's story. Currently, they all went as a group to buy pizza somewhere on Santa Monica Boulevard; many of them smoking a lone cigarette as they chuckled to themselves with secret jokes.

  The strangest thing of it all, however, was a Metro Bus that was on it's side in the middle of 5th street. Sure, there were other buses around; but this one looked as though it had taken a turn in a junkyard compacter. It was about three feet smaller than it should have been around all sides and the surface of it was moist and slightly sticky. No one knew what to make of it. There was also a young man lying down on top of it; the Levis he had on were stained a darker shade and his shirt was no where to be found. He was smiling with folded hands underneath his head as he stared off into the sky. He didn't seem to be paying attention to anyone as he seemed lost in his own thoughts.

  The pilot took one last look around. Cars were flipped over, cracks were strewn about the streets, there was an occasional hole. But no one said anything; not one thing. He shook his head and pushed on the control stick again; picking up speed as he began to fly away from the scene.

-     -     -

  Far away, on a secluded stretch of pure white sand, sat a handsome, three story beach house. It was at the center of a few miles of private land that was owned by Katie's family and they had given her free use of it whenever, and for whatever, she pleased. Cliffs towered around it, stretching hundreds of feet into the air, and they echoed the soft lapping of the crystal blue water against the dusty shore. The whole of it glistened in the quarter moonlight as six beautiful giantesses stretched out before it.

  Their bodies ached from the strenuous passion they had indulged themselves in for the better part of the day. They lay in each others arms, cuddled in loving pairs as they laughed and talked of their lives. The breeze was cool as it blew off the flowing tides, a welcome change from the heat of the day.

  It hadn't taken them long to walk there, much to their surprise and growing sense of wonder. They slipped out of downtown, many of their voyeurs too tired or incapable of following. The path they chose was secluded, making their way towards the open hills of Palos Verdes as they searched for the coast. From there, they moved through the waters of the Pacific northward until they found their sanctuary. Giggling as they waded through the swimming pool like ocean, they moved through the over one-hundred feet deep water as if it were only five; their heads, and occasional shoulders, bobbing over the surface.

  A few of them wanted to stop along their journey. Wendy had pointed towards Redondo Beach as they passed, remembering joyful memories of fitness competitions and sporting events that her and Kristina were fond of attending. They all took pause as they gazed upon the twinkling lights of the Santa Monica Pier and it's rows of carnival games; the ferris wheel spinning quietly as Lisa and Rachel kissed.

  Now, drying happily under the gentle moonshine, they each held their lovers close; coming to the end of a perfect day. They weren't entirely sure of what the next day would bring; but they would be together and that's all they needed, or wanted.

  Wendy opened her eyes and felt Kristina's fingers drifting through her hair. She raised her head and looked at her friends as they began to sleep peacefully; their nude bodies a work of Nature's art. She smiled and gazed at Kristina with a glance of overwhelming affection.

  "I love you."

  Kristina kissed her gently on her forehead.

  "I know."

  Wendy closed her eyes and sighed happily. Her hand was draped over her lover's chest as she was lulled to sleep by the steady beating of Kristina's heart.

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