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QT:NW continues the official Spin-Off for the Quaranteam universe originally created by CorruptingPower. You do not need to have read the original series to enjoy this one, but you really do need to start with Chapters 1-4 (I really suggest you read the original though, it's great!). Fans of the original should be pleased to know CP has approved the story and the continuity.
In this chapter you can expect a hunt, an attack, a gunfight, and bringing the family to safety.
NOTE: This chapter contains a fairly violent scene, as well as a character relating the details of a sexual assault in their backstory. Reader-be-warned.
Returning Dramatis Personae
House Black
- Erica LaCosta - Fiancee of Harri, Leo's sister, Italian Tattoo Artist, Dark Brunette
- Harrison 'Harri' Black - Sheriff of Black County, 'Jason Momoa-looking motherfucker' mountain man (mixed heritage), former Army MP
- Kyla Bautista - Trained dancer, Phillipino Spy, Harri's Deputy Sheriff, Raven hair
- Vanessa Peters - Construction Forewoman, Daughter of Brent Peters the head of the construction project, Brunette
- Ivy Gauthier - Quebecoise stripper, half-tattooed, Dirty Blonde anal queen, Member of House Black
- Macho - Rescued daschund puppy, named for his big balls, mascot and beloved pet of House Black
House LaCosta
- Leo LaCosta - Harri's best friend and former roommate, Italian carpenter, Erica's brother
- Danielle 'Dani' - Australian stripper, Brunette
- Aria - Girlfriend of India, Stripper/Sugar Baby, Ginger
Valkyrie Falls
- Josie 'Joss the Boss' Draper - Professional Wrestler, Athletically Trim Blonde
- Melina Sanzo - Harri went to Eugene for her, Professional Fitness Model, Muscular Curvy Blonde
- Abigail 'Abi' JΓ³nsson - Harri's Personal Trainer, Co-owner of Valkyrie Falls women's athletic retreat, Icelandic Personal Trainer and Crossfit Competitor, Tall Athletically Muscular Blonde
- Spencer - Professional Fitness Model, Apprentice Personal Trainer, Athletic Curvy Blonde
Other
- Captain Laura Bloomberg - Air Force JAG serving as Miriam's second, Blonde
- Lt Col Miriam Abarbanel - Military friend of Harri's, Air Force Lt Col, Jewish heritage, Commanding Officer for Valhalla Hills construction and the Oregon Quaranteam research project
- Brent Peters - Vanessa's father, the Project Manager for the Valhalla Hills construction project, very overweight
Referenced Characters
- India - Girlfriend of Aria, Hippy Stripper/Sugar Baby, grew up in a commune, Brunette dreads and braids, Member of House LaCosta
- Patrick - Deceased construction worker, used to work the gate for the site. Died during the Duo Halo outbreak on site.
- Sara Sigurdsdottir - Co-owner of Valkyrie Falls women's athletic retreat, Icelandic Personal Trainer and Crossfit Competitor, Tall Athletically Muscular Blonde
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"Harri, there's nothing you can reasonably do!" Erica said loudly. "You're fucking shot, and you don't have any of that equipment that Miriam sent you. It's the risk-reward thing all over again."
"What am I supposed to do then, Erica?" I asked. "I get it, but this is what I'm
supposed
to be doing. Everything else was meant to just be extra."
"Fuck, I know!" Erica grunted. "I just don't want you to fucking die."
"I don't think you guys should rush into this either," Dani said.
We were still on the drive back home from the Falls - a drive that usually took 16 minutes but that we were probably going to make in 10 the way that Kyla was driving. As soon as Vanessa had hung up with us to keep trying to hold things together back on the site, I had called Ivy while Erica had been calling Leo. Everyone
other
than Vanessa was currently safe and keeping an eye out for people trying to get into our Compound, though my first worry was that could change at any moment.
Men with guns were attacking the construction site. That's all that Vanessa had really been able to tell me. Multiple vehicles were reported over the worker radios across several locations. And people had heard gunshots.
"I'm not saying you're not
capable
, Harri," Dani continued. "But we just finished a workout, and you
are
recovering from a gunshot. Kyla, tell him this is a bad idea."
"Did you put both of the M4s in the back?" Kyla asked me.
"Only place we had for them," I said.
"Kyla!" Erica said.
"He's not going to
not
help, Erica," Kyla said sternly as she gripped the steering wheel hard and continued to drive. "And arguing with him is going to mess with his head."
There was a long moment of silence in the truck. "Fuck," Erica said. "Fuck. Fine. Yes, you're right. Harri, you be fucking
careful
, OK?"
"As I can be," I said, turning in my seat to look through the plexiglass into the back. "And you know, I bet if Ivy was here you would be the one telling her to stay calm and let me do this."
Erica blew out a breath and narrowed her eyes at me. "Maybe," she said.
"Dani, can you do me a favour and freak out more so that Erica can calm you down?" I asked.
"Asshole," Erica sighed, smirking at me a little.
I winked at them both.
My phone rang as we were about two minutes out, based on Kyla's speed, from the driveway to the site.
"Captain," I answered.
"Sheriff," Captain Bloomberg said, her voice tense. "The Colonel is spinning up an emergency response. What's your status?"
"I was off-site when I got word. We're about a minute out," I said.
"The boundaries of your land are a military installation even if there isn't much there yet, Sheriff. You have Shoot-to-Kill authorization for anyone threatening the project. This is a matter of national security."
"Fuck," Dani said in the back seat.
"Am I on speaker?" the Captain asked.
"Sorry, I'm in the truck with Kyla, Erica and Dani," I said.
There was a beat of silence and I could tell I was going to need to get her a gift basket or something. "Hello, ladies," she finally said. "And yes, 'Fuck' is an appropriate response. Sheriff, we can't lose any more workers,
especially
the men who are currently vaccinated and partnered."
"Fuck," I said, taking my turn to curse. I hadn't even thought about the fact that we had a lot more people vaccinated around us now than just our little families.
"Your first priority is to save lives. Your second is to find out who the hell these people are and put them in the dirt," the Captain said. "And that's me using legal-friendly terms, Harri."
"Understood, Captain," I said.
She hung up.
"I don't know what the fuck is going on in the military," I said mostly to myself. "But the Captain is performing way outside a regular JAG's role."
"Did I miss something, or did Harri just get a James Bond license to kill?" Erica asked.