Quaranteam - AU Ch. 10

Slowly, Eloise opened the envelope and pulled out the papers inside. Three numbers sat prominently on the documents. 91%, 89% and 96%. "These two I understand, Tiberius. 91% is my compatibility with Jon, and by the looks of it, 89% is Narmada's. But what is this 96% an indication of?"

Ty's grin was back, and he met Jon's gaze as he spoke. "The compatibility between you and Narmada, aunty El. I thought it'd be fun to see how well you two would get along. I learned later that Oracle already takes that into account, but it was an interesting experiment, nonetheless. You're fucked, Uncle Jono."

Jonathan's expression fluctuated between confusion and disbelief for a moment before he resumed his glare at Tiberius. "I'll get you for this, you shit. Now go on and let us old folks get to know one another."

Extending his hands to the two older women, Ty didn't hesitate with his response. "Well, since the only old fart here is you, geezer, I'll take all five of these lovely ladies with me."

Jon just shook his head, a small smile cracking his expression. "Hands off my wife and my prospective partner, boy."

Ty just laughed as he and the three younger women resumed their own conversations.

--

Marshall Household, Melbourne Southeastern Suburbs, Victoria, Australia - November 1, 2020 - 1:48 PM AEDT

--

Lottie and Lettie sat beside their soon-to-be sister-in-law, just chatting away as they ate. Stella, for her part, had relaxed amid the familiar company, and was enjoying the conversation.

"How are you actually holding up, Stel? With all of the stuff that's been dumped on you and Ray?"

She started, not expecting the sudden segue from the otherwise banal conversation. Taking a breath to calm herself, she tried to process her thoughts. "I was scared I'd lose him at first you know? Either to another woman or DuoHalo when he caught it and didn't have enough protection to fight it off."

Lottie leaned forwards. "And now?"

"Now I'm not anywhere near as worried. It finally got through to me that all of the women in his vicinity, at least right now, adore him and are ok to share his time. Am I disappointed that I don't get to have him all to myself? Of course. But does that mean I don't want him at all? Of course not. He's the love of my life. He just happens to also be the life partner of a number of others."

Lettie smiled warmly. "I can tell that they all adore you too, girl. You've got a good family around you."

"I almost lost a lot of them though..." She shuddered as her imagination filled in the images.

"We'll deal with that prick, but if you guys need support, you get it immediately, ok?"

"The last couple of days have let me come down from the tension and chaos, so we'll see how everyone's feeling in a few days."

"Don't let it get away from you, hun. Get on top of it early. If you need, I'll get a list of professionals from Alice. So don't be afraid to ask."

"Thanks, Lettie. How are things with you guys?"

She shrugged. "Similar, honestly. We finally got the big guy to really look at us as romantic partners, and while I might be the first to get a ring, I have no doubts that he's got others on the way. Now we just have to figure out how to get him to stop running at the gunfire."

Lottie giggled. "That's probably impossible."

Stella was curious. "What's he doing now?"

The twins looked around, spotting him laid out in his hammock. They watched, smiling as Zoe padded over, carefully clambering into the hammock beside him and curling up.

"Looks like he's taking a nap."

Stella just smiled. "Aww, Isn't that cute?"

--

Marshall Household, Melbourne Southeastern Suburbs, Victoria, Australia - November 1, 2020 - 2:45 PM AEDT

--

Ty was pulled out of his doze by the sounds of a camera shutter, accompanied by the giggling and cooing of women. Blinking the sleep away, he opened his eyes, only to realise that not two, but three bodies were curled up beside him on the hammock, one rather larger than the other two. Looking up, the twins were taking photos and he could see Zoe's silvery hair draped languidly over his chest as she slept.

Ty's tone was bemused as he whispered to the giggling twins. "Well, this is somewhat familiar."

"Isn't it just? I guess Zoe was feeling a bit tired after lunch so she was going to take a nap when she spotted you sleeping there and decided to curl up beside you. Then the munchkins wanted to join in too, so Juno helped them up. I was a little unsure if the hammock would take everyone's weight, but it seems to be fine."

Ty chuckled. "If there was enough physical space, this thing could take all of us plus the two of you as well. The supports are anchored in the ground and the cables are extra strength. Some of the boys are idiots, so I made sure it wouldn't be a problem."

He looked down at the kids and it took him a moment to realise that he'd seen the blanket they were wrapped in before. Only it had been wrapped around the young woman now curled up with her head on his chest.

"Is that Zoe's blanket?"

Lottie smiled and nodded. "She asked me to get it from her room next door."

Zoe's voice broke in, still slightly muffled from sleep. "I thought it'd be a nice gesture. A blanket that can get handed down through generations. If it tears or gets damaged, I'll fix it myself. And when more kids are born, it can go to them to use. I certainly don't need it anymore, though I love the memories attached to it."

"Me too, sweetheart. And it's a wonderful gesture, thank you."

She smiled up at him, and her face shone with contentment.

"I think the thing I love the most though is sleeping with my head like this. I can hear your heartbeat and it makes me feel so calm. It's nostalgic, for obvious reasons."

The big soldier just smiled, then turned to the twins. "So, where's Juno? Don't think I haven't noticed her avoiding me all day."

Lettie gestured off to one side of the yard. "Sitting at the edge of the property by herself. You need to go to her, big guy. She needs you."

Within minutes, Ty had extricated himself from the hammock and gone to find the wayward mother of his children. She was just where Lettie said she'd be, sitting on an old stone bench seat his grandmother used to love. Wordlessly, he sat next to her and put an arm around her, waiting. It was several minutes before Juno found the words.

"Can you forgive me?"

Ty remained silent for just a moment before he replied. "Yes Juno. I wish you had told me and let us decide together, but I forgive you. Honestly, you never needed my forgiveness."

"Thank God. I'll do whatever it takes to prove that I'm sorry, Ty."

"You don't need to do that, but now I have to ask. I want to raise those rugrats together with you, but are you only joining the family because you feel guilty? Because I don't want that."

She looked taken aback. "No! I told you, Ty, I have been in love with you for years. The children are a direct result of those feelings and a copious amount of liquid courage. And if I'm feeling guilty, it's because I kept them from you, but I'm not joining this Team because of that guilt." Juno turned to look at him, placing a hand on his chest. "I'm tired of being alone, Ty. As horrible as the pandemic has been, it's given me the opportunity to be with you, and, even more than that, I want our babies to truly know their father. Not just through pictures or video. But to be able to wake up and see you; talk to you; hug you, any time they want to. It was something they couldn't have when you were away for nine months of the year. And don't say that you would have transferred. I know you would have, and you'd have hated it. Six years ago, you still had that wanderlust."

That stung, but Ty knew he couldn't argue. It was probably truer than he'd ever admit. So he said nothing, just watching as Juno continued.

"So, it had to wait. For both our sakes. I'm sorry I took the decision away from you, but I had to protect them, and myself. Besides, it's too late. Alice gave me the serum just a little while ago."

Ty nodded, squeezing her gently. "How did Zoe get involved?"

"She ran into me in town early on and saw the kids. It didn't even take her a second to realise who their father was. I had to swear her to secrecy, and she still objected every time we spoke. She said you deserved to know, and I knew she was right, but I couldn't."

"You'd best make it up to her, if anything. She was in quite an uncomfortable position, stuck between the two of us."

"I'll do that, Ty." She snuggled into his side as she finished. "Thank you."

Ty just snorted. "You won't be thanking me once you realise the terrible mistake you've made. After tonight, you'll be locked in, love. You're never getting rid of me."

Juno just giggled as she buried herself deeper in Ty's embrace. "Just what I wanted."

--

Marshall Household, Melbourne Southeastern Suburbs, Victoria, Australia - November 1, 2020 - 2:50 PM AEDT

--

Lettie watched as Ty lumbered over to where Juno sat, her eyes never leaving the big man's back. Their expressions remained complicated, but she thought she could understand both of their feelings well enough.

"What's on your mind, Lettie? It's unusual to see that expression on your face." Hasumi's voice reached Lettie's ears, and the redhead turned to face her, instinctively looking down before remembering that her friend was no longer wheelchair bound.

"Hi Sumi. It's nothing really. Those two are just frustrating, dancing around one another. The kids have just muddled the issue."

"So, it's true? Those little darlings sleeping in the hammock are his?"

Lettie shrugged. "They are. The problem was that he never knew that, so he wasn't involved in their lives except from a distance."

"From everything I know of him, that would have stung."

"Yeah, that big oaf has always been free with his love, though he's no cheater or deadbeat. Juno...was doing what she thought was best for her and the kids, even though it was wrong of her to keep Ty out of the equation."

Hasumi watched as Juno buried herself in Tiberius' chest, and she smiled. "It seems to have worked out in the end."

"Looks like. But enough of the big guy's dramas. How are you? I haven't gotten to talk to you much since you got imprinted, what with all the excitement." She turned towards her friend and gave her a tight hug. "I'm glad no one got badly hurt in all the chaos, Sumi. I don't know how I'd react if anyone else died."

Hasumi felt the tears filling her eyes. "Learning to walk before I run, quite literally, actually. I heard about the circumstances. You tell your colleagues to end that monster. He deserves no less for what he has done."

"I'd love to, but for the sake of security, nobody is being told who is going. Of course, we're all going to know once they leave, but until then...well, never mind that. He'll get what's coming to him. How are things going with Ray? Has he been treating you well?"

"He's the best. I couldn't be happier, honestly. As much as I love him, I adore Stella too, and so I'd resigned myself to spinster status until all of this came into play. God, can you believe that it has barely been eleven days since this was all set into motion? It's all happening so fast!"

"Faster for some than others, Hasumi." A third voice interrupted, the clipped British accent giving away its owner's identity instantly. Victoria joined them, her long legs allowing her to cover the distance in just a few strides. "I had barely made it into the house when some hooligans decided to shoot holes in it. That was quite a bit more excitement than I had ever wanted in one afternoon. Thank God Rayne, Simone and Patricia weren't too badly injured. They're too wonderful to lose."

Lettie nodded and gave her a smile. "You got cut up a bit too, didn't you, Doctor? The fact that you're still here after that experience says a lot about you, too. You weren't bonded to Ray at that time, so you had every opportunity to change your mind, but you didn't. Thank you for staying at his side. He's lucky to have you. All of you."

"Scratches, if barely that. And your brother is a remarkable man, Leticia. I'm the lucky one. You should be very proud of him."

"Oh, I am. So is Lottie."

The three chatted idly for a few minutes before joining the rest of Rayne's family, who were engaged in conversation with Bill Anderson and his partners.

"Do you know who they're sending as your next partner, Dr. Valiant?" Bill's deep voice was soft as he addressed the young scientist.

Rayne shrugged. "They were going to give me a reprieve in the pace after Victoria, since I was starting to come unglued with all the new faces, but circumstances have changed. Another soldier will be joining me. Someone from the SAS this time, I'm given to understand. I believe her name was Evie? She's a Major, like Ty was until recently."

Stella spoke up, clearly having a better knowledge of the subject than Rayne himself. "Her name is Evelyn Taylor. I figured Tiberius would know her and could give us an idea of what to expect, but maybe you can do the same, Colonel."

Bill chuckled. "Just call me Bill. And Major Evelyn Taylor? Our very own Wonder Woman? Well, I can assure you that you're in great hands. Lieutenants, she's very tough on other servicewomen, but that's because she's always pushing them to be better. She's even tougher on herself. Outside of that, she'll be your best friend and biggest cheerleader. Helps that she's tougher than steel."

Both Simone and Trish looked a little apprehensive. "Why do you call her Wonder Woman?"

Ty's voice cut in, and he couldn't suppress the laugh as he and Juno walked back over to rejoin the crowd. "Because the woman is a fucking Amazon War Goddess. On top of basically being a taller, fitter, and downright hotter version of Gal Gadot, she's a much better soldier than me, and the only reason she doesn't already outrank me is because she declined the opportunity more than once. That woman's got bigger balls than any of us."

Lottie poked Ty in the rib as he came to stand beside her and shook her head. "What he's not saying is that Evie is probably one of the best possible additions for your team, both in personality and capability. She's lovely, Ray, and you'll get along like a house on fire."

"Ty nodded. "She really is one of the best. She'll whip your two Lieutenants back into fighting trim once they're healed. She might even teach them how to use a lasso." He paused, grinning. "Hey, Lots, was it Evie or Addie that swore like a sailor?"

There was a nearly manic giggle as she replied. "Both, but you're thinking of Addie, you goof. She is the sailor."

Jon snorted, looking triumphant. "Captain Addison Taylor of the Royal Australian Navy is your next partner, boy. She's quite keen on the prospect. I think her ship will dock in a couple of days, so she'll be briefed and dropped off at your place after that."

Ty gave the man an exasperated glare. "You're taking the piss, right?" The old man just laughed and shook his head. "You know, Uncle Jon, for the head of Australia's Quaranteam project, I seem to have very little say in who joins my Team. I've also accelerated way ahead of the expected partner curve."

He grinned. "It's all by design, I assure you. We need Navy participation. RAAF(Royal Australian Air Force) boys and girls are already in play."

"And just how much more 'good' do I need in my life before you're done? I suppose I should consider myself lucky you haven't fixed me up with someone from the RAAF?" It hit him then. "Oh hell, you don't need to because Grace is USAF."

The old man's grin was telling. "She sure is. Certainly saved me the trouble of matchmaking, and she added another tick to the 'international' box. I'm still working on the Japanese, but I've just about got the South Koreans onboard. A delegation is actually taking the trouble to fly down and talk to us, with the promise that the ambassador, a man named Kang Byung-Chul, will be able to get the serum immediately to bond to his wife and staff. In return, he's offered for his daughter Mi-Rae to join one of our prominent teams as a show of faith. No surprise, I nominated you. Congrats, she's a prominent TV personality over there, I'm told, so she's probably a real looker, son."

Ty couldn't suppress the groan.

--

Marshall Household, Melbourne Southeastern Suburbs, Victoria, Australia - November 1, 2020 - 5:04 PM AEDT

--

"How're things over there, Damo? We're having a bit of a get together and thought we'd give you a call." Ty sat in front of the big screen, having hooked up his laptop to get the Zoom call going with the least fuss.

Damian blinked groggily at his brother for a moment, not sure how to respond to the statement. Eventually, he decided to just go with deadpan. "Well bro, you apparently forgot that it's like 7AM here. That aside, Lou and Amélie were worried, but you seem pretty sprightly for a bloke that's just out of hospital. That bandage from you hitting your head?"

Ty chuckled. "Nah, you know me, I'm hardheaded enough that the bullet they tried to put there just bounced off."

Damian had turned away to look at something off screen, but his head whipped back to face his brother at the words. Louise's face joined him a moment later, her expression horrified. "You're messing with me, right?" Ty chuckled and shook his head. "You got shot in the head, and they let you out of the hospital? You can't be serious."

"It was barely a graze, Damo. I told you it glanced off my skull. And I'm going back for scans again tomorrow just to be safe."

"You bloody well better, bro. I don't have enough brothers that I can afford for the one I do have to die of a fucking brain aneurysm or something." Damian took a deep breath, releasing some tension that had built up after he'd heard of the shooting. "So, there are a few more faces since I last saw you. All of those lovely sheilas yours?"

"No, like I said, there's a bit of a get together happening before we kick the rollout prep into high gear. Right around me are my fam, most you've met before, but you know Juno Claudius, and this is Elizabeth Connors and of course, Captain Grace Lawry. Ray and his Team are just behind us, as are Colonel Anderson, Brigadier Davis and Lieutenant General Hoffmann and their Teams."

Damian's eyes went wide. "Connors? As in Ja-"

"Exactly that Connors. She's his younger sister, but she's also nothing like him. You'll like her a lot once you get to know her. I sure do."

Damian just nodded and greeted Liz, who was somewhat embarrassed at Ty's words. She responded in kind before pinching Ty and running off, her face bright red.

Ty rubbed his arm where she'd pinched him and chuckled. "Well, that was a fresh reaction."

While Damian greeted the other officers and did a brief introduction to their families, Ty felt a small tug at his pant leg and he grinned, reaching down to scoop up the kids. "Oh yeah, I've got a couple more very important introductions to make." He pulled the twins close and pointed to the face on the screen. "Kids, on the screen there is your Uncle Damian and Auntie Louise. My little brother and his girlfriend. Damian, I'd like to introduce you to Mars and Bellona. My son and daughter."

If Damian had been expecting anything, this was not it. "Bro...uh...what the f-" He caught himself before he continued and took a breath to steady himself. "It's great to meet you, Bellona, Mars. I'm Damian, your dad's brother." His gaze shifted from the kids back to Ty. "Look, bro, I know I don't call all that often, but seriously? When did you have kids and how the...heck...did I not know about this?"

Ty burst into laughter, causing the kids to giggle. "That's a story for another time, little brother. I'll call later to have a one-on-one with ya. Suffice it to say I was pretty bloody surprised too."