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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 hospital reunions, bodies changing, a couple of explanations and some sweaty sex.
Returning Dramatis Personae
House Black
- 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
- Tanaya Airington - Former rodeo barrel racer and native relay rider, Petite and stoic Native, Raven hair
- Gertrude 'Gerty' Swiftwater - Former Tribal police on the Rez, Voluptuous Native, Kara's second cousin, Raven hair
- Kara Swiftwater - Harrison's high school sweetheart, former community leader of the local Native band, Gerty's second cousin, Raven hair
OGA
- Agent Greerson - Senior 'OGA' that negotiated Harri's land deal and dropped Kyla into Harri's life
- Captain Magdalene 'Maggie' Luckey - African-American, Former Air Force (and former Linda's Girl, see Phil's Tale), skilled combatant, mid-recruitment onto Greerson's team.
Military
- 'The Doc' - A female doctor from the Portland Serum Test facility. Was part of Harri's care team when he was shot, and then the emergency response team following the Hostage rescue.
- 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
Other
- Julia De Luca - Helicopter Pilot, former Air Force Pararescue Pilot. Friend and Client of Erica.
Referenced Characters
- Erica LaCosta - Fiancee of Harri, Italian Tattoo Artist, Leo's sister, Dark Brunette
- Ivy Gauthier - Quebecoise stripper, half-tattooed, Dirty Blonde anal queen
- Danielle 'Dani' - Australian stripper, Brunette
- Leo LaCosta - Harri's best friend and former roommate, Italian carpenter, Erica's brother
- Vanessa Peters - Construction Forewoman, Daughter of Brent Peters the head of the construction project, Brunette
- Dylan Taylor - Former Ranger, former CIA, skilled combatant, short with very generic features allowing him to blend into most cultures. Currently runs a Self-Defence Prep Academy and works on Human and Child trafficking cases. Married to Jeanine Taylor.
- Jedidiah Crane - Former Pararescue Operator and combat medic, very tall blonde. Ethnically Amish. Skilled combatant.
- Jeanine Taylor - Looks like a blonde housewife, Skilled combatant, certified psychopath. Currently runs a Self-Defence Prop Academy and works on Human and Child Trafficking cases. Married to Dylan Taylor.
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I was moving before I was really awake, my head throbbing with panic and aggression because I'd been helpless. Something was
wrong
. I needed to
do
something. Someone needed me. My heart was pummeling the inside of my chest and adrenaline was shooting through me. I opened my eyes and was assaulted by white light and hands were on me, pushing me back. I struggled, batting them away.
Kara was panicking. Her voice, calling my name. She needed me. I needed to
do something
.
"Harri, stop!"
My vision was still swirling but Kyla swam into focus, and I wasn't sure if it was because I would always have eyes for her, or if it was because she'd reached in and grabbed me by my face as she glared in a stern panic over a heavy-duty rebreather mask strapped over her mouth and nose. I almost couldn't recognize her except for her eyes.
I was holding someone, my arm around their neck. I was sitting up and had another person by the front of their shirt.
"Mr Black, you're in a hospital," grunted the woman I had by the collar.
I sucked in a massive breath, blinking as my vision cleared some more, and let go of the Doc and then the nurse - a male nurse, thank God. He stumbled away coughing, but the Doc just straightened out her white jacket.
"There he is," Kyla said, letting go of my face and running her fingers through my hair. Her voice was muffled by the filtered mask, which looked like the kind of filtered mask that construction workers wore when dealing with heavy dust or chemicals.
"That wasn't the usual wake-up," the Doc said clinically. "We'll need to update our procedures."
"What happened?" I asked, my heart still beating hard in my chest as I looked around. Kyla was there, so I wasn't in danger, but then why was my fucking fight/flight reaction off the Goddamn charts? The last thing I remembered was... "Where's Kara?"
"Mr Black, everyone is unharmed," the Doc said, her tone commanding my attention. Something in me wanted to ignore her though, to leap out of bed and push past her and
go
. "Following your imprinting of Tanaya Airington, you happened to undergo a process known as 'regeneration' - it is what it sounds like. You've been unconscious for about twenty hours."
"Is Tanaya alright?" I asked, my eyes bouncing from the Doc to Kyla. "Where's Kara?"
"Tanaya is fine, she's already awake," Kyla said, putting her hands on my chest. I was dressed in a hospital gown. The room around us looked familiar - we were in the medical ward of Miriam's skyrise facility in Portland. Where I'd been taken when I was shot. "Harri, you need to focus. For Kara."
"Your partner is correct," the Doc said. "Miss Swiftwater is currently under an immense amount of stress due to the timing of your regeneration. I need you to listen to me for one minute, and then I'll bring you to her."
I sucked in another deep breath and nodded. What the fuck was she waiting for?
"Miss Swiftwater has gone longer than anyone should after the priming until the imprinting. Only one test subject thus far has gone longer than her by choice, and we are unaware of anyone else who has gone this long. She requires your semen
now
, Harrison, but you need to be cautious. Be careful not to hurt her, her body likely feels like it's on fire at the moment."
"OK," I said, taking another breath. "Alright. Take me to her." The Doc signalled to the orderly, who grimaced as he went to open the quarantine containment door for the room. Kyla hovered while I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stood up.
"No dizziness?" she asked. "Do you need water?"