.5

The Quaranteam Universe is the creation of CorruptingPower, used with permission. Apologies to my regular readers for posting this out of order, I only realized I'd missed it after posting chapter 17. I'll put in in the correct place in order after giving everyone a chance to read it.

I would also like to specifically thank Percheron, the author of QT: Aotearoa, for his perspective and story.

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Chapter 15.5: Intermission 3. The Strays

11 December 2020

New Zealand

"GOAL!" The soccer squad might have only had one cheerleader on the field, but the ladies felt that her enthusiasm... along with her arresting beauty... more than made up for any quantity their opponents may have had. Clarise's long blonde braid, bright blue eyes, athletically trim body, and plenty of bounce had long since sent many of the female athletes to play for both teams. And not on the field. The shrill scream of the whistle two and a half minutes later confirmed that the enthusiasm she so effectively encouraged had combined with the team's skill to make something greater, the Typhoons had taken this game 3-1.

Zoe, the team striker and source of that last goal, gave a victorious yell as she took her victory lap. Taller, faster, and stronger than even her peers with her own blonde hair kept in a pixie cut, she got to the end of the lap well before them. Or, specifically, to the cheerleader at the end of the lap. Brown eyes met blue, and she took the cheerleader up in her arms for a huge kiss. There was a reason the cheerleader was with this team and not another one elsewhere, after all. All the usual cheers and jokes came from the others as they caught up, but none of them were really mad about it. Some jealousy? Perhaps, but the two of them (along with the Assistant Coach) had been together since roughly the time they could pronounce the words "I love you" to each other.

Speaking of. The next young woman to walk up had her own shoulder-length blonde hair bound back in a ponytail to keep it out of her hazel eyes. Assistant Coach Mary was easily the curviest of the three, though nearly as fit and tan as the others. "Come on, you two, I'd say you need to get a room, but we already have one."

"You just want us to wait so you can join in," Clarise replied, cutely sticking out her tongue at the third member of their little Terrible Trio. It really wasn't possible to think of one without thinking of all three. Three years into college, heavily involved in soccer, cutting a swathe through their competitors, peers, and classes in more ways than one despite being openly devoted to each other at the end of the day. Nobody could reach them, and nobody was upset about it. A bright and shining future awaited. They just had to get through a couple of years in the way. And another few days at this tournament.

They followed the win with a steamy shower, a steamy cooldown on their bed, another steamy shower because they'd managed to get sweaty again, and finally some really good sleep.

18 December 2020

"DuoHalo Ravages New Zealand Population"

The words on the screen were simple. Easy to understand. Just hard to comprehend. After months of their government telling them they were safe, that they were locked down to save every individual life on the island, that this horrifying disease that had been ravaging the rest of the world could get no foothold here? Gone. Half of their country was GONE. Three best friends were huddled on the couch in the small hotel room, staring in shock at the broadcast. Three friends who had all grown up together in this tiny town in this tiny nation. Three best friends who had just found out they had no family left to come home to.

"It's... it's really true, then, isn't it?" Clarise's normal bubbly exuberance was entirely absent. "We just avoided it because, what, because we were off at a tournament?"

"We tested clear when they came through earlier, apparently," Zoe replied. "So did the rest of the team. So... I guess we're here until they tell us what to do."

Mary was looking at the screen. "It looks like we won't be waiting long for that. Check out the info at the bottom, the government wants everyone who can to go get vaccinated at their closest center as soon as possible. They open tomorrow."

"Then we need to be there as early as possible." Zoe was focused now. It was the same thing that had always made her so effective on the field. "Mary, I need you to do the Assistant Coach thing. Go talk to the Coach and tell him the entire team NEEDS to use the bus early tomorrow to do this vaccination run. Him, too. The Cake Tin is one of the sites, and since we're already in Wellington it's really close to this hotel."

"On it. There's no way he's going to say no to this even if he has to bend the rules to make it work. He's done it before." Mary stood up and started getting changed into something that was more appropriate to be walking the halls.

Clarise stood with her and started getting changed. "Coach Stevens isn't the only one who needs convincing. I'll go talk to the others to let them know there's a plan. Nobody's going to be alright tonight, but I can probably keep someone from doing something stupid."

"Thanks, babe. You're the best." Zoe closed her eyes. "No matter what, we've gotta live. If either of you need reinforcements, call me."

The two left the room they shared, so quickly that they looked like blonde blurs. Zoe had to hope it was enough. They were counting on her, and none of them could call home anymore. There was a "mrow" from near her right hand. Hunter, their unbelievably dumb and unbelievably orange cat. The one they DEFINITELY were not supposed to have out here, but who they definitely made sure to bring. He had decided that the hand being unoccupied meant it was time for it to be petting him. She obliged.

"Here you go. Looks like petting you is the only pussy I'm getting tonight."

19 December 2020, 3:00 PM

There had been 25 people on the bus when they got to the crowded vax center nearly twelve hours before. 23 team members, then the coach and the driver being the only two guys on board when they arrived. Four people from their squad had stayed behind with their new Team Anchor. The two men gained seven partners between them, refusing anyone already on the soccer squad to avoid any appearance of impropriety. Four more guys were on the bus with them, sleeping off their exhaustion. And then... there was Drew and a bleach-blonde half-plastic lady they didn't know the name of, but who Zoe had snarkily nicknamed Bubbles.

There were exactly three conscious women on that bus. The Trio. Clarise was shaking her head. "Okay, so that all just happened. Pull up to the stadium at three in the morning, bus driver had to dodge morons in cars to get to a bus spot, we used team coordination to get into basically a scrum to get to the gate, and then..." she looked around the rest of the bus.

"Then the wild part." Zoe was looking around with the cheerleader. "They separate guys and girls and tell us to go get a shot of a SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED VACCINE, let us loose on the field, and tell us to go through the highest-stakes speed dating round of all time."

"So of course we keep our eyes out for anyone who looks half-decent. We needed someone who at least takes half-decent care of themselves, both for their health and to keep up with three collegiate athletes." Mary sighed. "Some sweaty otaku who lives on microwave meals and dodged infection because he hasn't been outdoors since March isn't going to cut it. The ones we want also tend to look good."

"And you wanted someone hot," Zoe inserted with a grin.

"And I wanted someone hot. Pity the best choice was Drew."

"Then the paperwork, dragging Drew and this bimbo back to a bus orgy, we all make sure we're keeping to separate areas to minimize cross-contamination, then he lasts about forty-five seconds, shoots off quickdraw-style, and they BOTH pass out." Clarise seemed annoyed.

"But not before sneezing and complaining about Hunter. Kind of dodged a bullet there." Zoe looked at the man's unconscious form."

"Dodged a bullet?" Mary looked over at her sharply. "We're kind of still stuck with him."

"No, we aren't. I'm not having sex with that man for any price. Bonding to him isn't going to work for us. Soccer's over and done for a long time, too, and after all of this? College is as well. I don't have anything but ghosts waiting for me at my house." Zoe looked to the front of the bus, the men there clearly in conversation and not listening to the ladies halfway back. "I say we grab what we can that'll be useful and relocate somewhere a bit safer. Home isn't going to be home for a long time. There's nothing left for us."

Mary had an unreadable expression on her face. "And how do you plan to get out of here? Bit of a swim to make it to Sydney."

"That's the easy part," Clarise chimed in. "The Americans are sending flights for refugees and leftover equipment in a couple of days. It was in the pamphlet they handed out. It was even listed as an alternative to getting vaccinated at the site."

"You sure it's going to be that easy? You read the pamphlet, too, we're on a clock to find a cock. They didn't give a specific time, just that the side effects would grow intolerably intense after a few days."

"Clarise said a flight's heading out in a couple of days, so it sounds like we can swing it. We get wherever it's going, find someone better, and join them for safety. Ride out the crisis, get back to school once they're open, maybe do more soccer next year." Zoe nodded at herself. "Alright. That's the call from the field. Get what you need and what you can shove in a couple of bags. Clothes and funds. Link back up at the Uni dorm room, pool up what we've got, and catch the first flight out. Who's with me?"

They both were.

20 December 2020

"Come on, Zoe, I know you're better than this!" Clarise's words were not her normal encouragement to the striker. Then again, she wasn't cheering on the soccer field, either. The two of them were naked on the bed, Zoe's head between her thighs, eating her out for all she was worth.

Normally, this wasn't a drawn-out process. Zoe knew ALL of Clarise's buttons and used them ruthlessly to bring her to screaming orgasm as quickly and often as possible. Today, though? She was fifteen minutes into it and Clarise was no closer than when they woke up horny. What she was doing felt good, but relief eluded the cheerleader.

Zoe stopped what she was doing and stood, pulling her own soaked hand out of her panties. "It's no use. Neither of us is getting anywhere."

Dejectedly, the cheerleader rolled over to start actually getting dressed. "Maybe it's the stress. A lot's happening, and we have a lot to do today. Heck, I hated lying to the team when they called us, but you know they'd try to stop the three of us from leaving if they knew."

"Never stopped us before. Remember exam week last semester?"

"As if I could forget it. That was wild, even for us."

The door swung open. Though she didn't technically live in that two-person apartment, Mary spent enough time there that she might as well be on the lease. "Alright you two, enough fun, we have research to do. I've got my stuff mostly packed, too."

Zoe groaned. "I will never understand how you can be this peppy in the mornings. Alright. I'll swing by my house to pick up what I need next. Critical papers, clothing, small valuables, and travel things." She pulled on her pants. "Be back in a bit."

As soon as she left, Mary spun towards Clarise. "I know I said fun time's done, but I'm so horny I can barely think straight."

Clarise shook her head. "I don't think that's going to work. Neither Zoe nor I could orgasm this morning. I think it might have something to do with that vaccine. Maybe a side effect?"

"Bah. The pamphlet said the next time we have sex will be the best orgasm of our life. Considering a couple I've had, that's a bit of a stretch." Mary walked over to their desk and turned on their computer, quickly pulling up some government information sites. "Looks like the flights begin tomorrow at noon, two of them heading to America. One to LA, one to Seattle. Both of them are supposed to have shuttles for refugees and evacuees on the far side."

Clarise thought for a moment. "All of us are trying to get IT or Business degrees, that sounds like Seattle would be the better choice for us."

"I guess. That one leaves first anyway, so if we miss it we can just get on the other one. Does the printer still work? I want to print out a transcript for my folder."

"It does, and that's a good idea. I'll print mine out afterwards. You all packed?"

Mary hit print on her unofficial transcript. "Yeah. Seattle's right next to some beaches, and it's still summer, so at least we'll have that."

Hunter the orange tabby meowed in agreement.

21 December 2020

"Is it getting hot in here, or is it just me?"

Mary was in the window seat of their row of three. The Trio were all in long sleeved shirts, pants, and masks for the trip, and Hunter was occupying one of their carry-on bags since this flight wasn't going to allow pets otherwise. All it took was a sob story and their passports to get piled onto the plane with the rest of the mass of humanity fleeing the island.

Zoe, positioned in the aisle seat, was also starting to sweat a bit. "I think it's just us. There are so many people on the plane that they've turned the AC as far as it'll go. Look at the attendant, she's shivering."

The conversation paused as the plane leveled out at cruising altitude, the girls trying to steady themselves as well. Mary sighed. "Just gotta hold out until we land. We get to wherever they're processing all of the refugees, let them know we already got the shots but don't have a partner, and they should put us in the front of the line."

Clarise wriggled into her seat a bit. "Fourteen hours to go. I'm going to try to sleep, the hornies are going to drive me batty if I have to be awake for all of that."

21 December 2020

Seattle-Tacoma Airport

Tom didn't exactly enjoy his job. It beat having nothing, barely, but working a gate-area food kiosk night shift at SEATAC because that was the best way to minimize exposure risks wasn't his idea of a good time. Given how low his resistance was at the moment, too, he had to appreciate the extra steps. Even with all that had occurred, he had exactly one person in his Team so far. His fiancée, Alice. They planned to get married as soon as the current insanity settled enough to let them, and to be honest that was one reason he wanted to be here working. Things like rings and weddings cost money. Supposedly, more Team members would come to him eventually, but with the government's usual bureaucratic efficiency... none had as of yet. Supposedly, someone had been matched to him but cancelled on two separate occasions for reasons unknown and a different one was inbound after spending Christmas with her family. Apparently, matching to both himself and his fiancée was a challenge. And so, one tall, slightly-gangly, mid-twenties biology major was standing here guarding overpriced sandwiches and drinks for those who were travelling once again. At least, the ones who were the types to stop for airport sandwiches.

Sure, it was increasing again, but he definitely had more than one night this past week with fewer than ten sales.

The intercom chimed. "Gate A2, arrival." That was a new thing, these days. The announcements might not last forever, but for now there were few enough actual flights happening that they could call them out. It helped people get ready. Him, for example. He was on Concourse A. Given that this was where international flights came through, there was a decent chance that at least one or two of them would be dropping by. Alice sent him a text message as he was getting ready, a heart and a statement that she was going to bed.

His smile and musings were interrupted by an orange blur. Like a fuzzy meteor, it came dashing from the concourse area and ended under his cart.

Tom looked down at where he saw it go, and spotted something adorable. A cat, slightly on the fat and fluffy side, but so cartoonishly bright orange that he'd be visible from Mars. "Hey, little guy, you lost?" It meowed at him. "Alright. Someone will come looking for you, I guess. No lasagna on the cart, but would you like some tuna?" It meowed again, and Tom took that as a yes. He shoved his phone in his pocket then grabbed one of the sandwiches, plasticware, and a paper plate. It took him about ten seconds to scrape some tuna salad onto the plate and put it in front of the cat, who dove right in.

"You've got a collar, gotta wonder who lost you." Tom stood. The cat had been moving a bit too quickly and eagerly for him to be able to read the tag. Almost like he'd been confined for a while, unable to get to food. He looked at the arrivals display, the one that just got here was from New Zealand. "Someone snuck you on board an eighteen hour flight? That'll do it."

"He saved Hunter!" The woman's voice was the only warning he got. Tom looked up, saw three blonde blurs inbound, and suddenly found himself practically carried away. Backwards, towards the unlocked break room.

22 December 2020

Noon

With syrupy slowness, the daylight through the windows nudged Tom back towards something that vaguely resembled consciousness.

It's warm... and something feels like it's massaging my back. Uh, something small. More like a cat kneading. Hold up. I don't own a cat. And I'm not wearing pajamas. Or anything else. Why am I warm?

Slowly, groaning, Tom extracted himself from where he'd been and got his bearings. He wasn't at home. This was the break room, and he'd been passed out on the thicker part of the carpet. Along with three women, all of whom were nude, athletic, blonde, and from what he could see unreasonably attractive. They were all deeply asleep. A bright orange cat was meowing at him, one he vaguely remembered from the previous night. His back, shoulders, and groin were also sore, which combined with the glowing sense of contentment to tell him that there had been a LOT of sex involved in the fuzzy area of his memory.

In order to fly they would have had to be vaccinated... but if they were Teamed they would have been suffering horrible acid burns. Combined with the deep sleep, and it seemed that his problems with only having one partner were officially over. With an exclamation point. Besides that, though, he felt great. All of the little aches and pains he'd been putting up with for a while just vanished.

A chime sounded from the vicinity of a cushioned chair, which led him to find that it was where a lot of clothing had been tossed the night before. A glance over his shoulder showed the break room door was locked. A few steps to that chair and a bit of digging led him to his own pants (and underwear), and his phone was still in his pocket. He took one look and winced.

"Okay, so I have one cat, three hot women, and fifteen missed messages from Alice. Uh. Okay. I can take care of one of these right now." As he clicked to call her, the women on the ground all started to stir.

No time to think about them, though, the woman's voice on the other end of the line was loud and panicky. "TOM! Where have you been? I woke up and you weren't home, nobody at the airport could find you, your stall was abandoned, you weren't answering your phone..."

"Love, I'm alright! Uh. Hard to explain. Short version is that I was in a break room, door locked, and accidentally passed out. I'm fine, don't worry." He looked at the women who were standing up and starting to gather their clothing, which on second glance was grossly insufficient for the winter weather. "I know you like cats, so fair warning that I picked up some strays. Um. One orange tabby and three blondes."