We were flown to Cairns instead of Darwin. Soph, Carla and Ata needed operations. I just had my ribs strapped again and was told not to do anything strenuous. That is my whole aim in life. I don’t want to do anything more strenuous than sex. Gentle sex, for now.

The Vet was puzzled about what to do for Rich. She dug out the bullets and patched him up, but that was all.

The doctors were also puzzled about the three ‘Enhanced’, but Amanda turned up and oversaw the operations. As soon as Amanda was happy, Carla turned back to skin. She and Soph were inseparable.

I was up and around the quickest, but I am pretty sure it is going to be Carla, who will be healed the fastest. She was constantly pulling on my essence.

We spent two weeks in Cairns. I really wanted to go swimming in the Great Barrier Reef, but I was barred from it. It was right there, and we were too bloody injured. Fuck. They did this just to torment me, didn’t they?

I fiddled with Carla’s scales and worked out how to make them into armour. Glue is the answer. Glue all the fish scales on one side to a piece of light fabric, do the same with the Shark Scales, and then join them together with the fabric on the outside so the scales are wrapped in two layers of fabric. I bought some Army surplus camo gear for the outer layer, and as long as the inner layer touched some skin, then there was no problem empowering it. Selective stitching held it together. I will make a casual wear version as well so we don't stand out in public. They look a little bulky, but for a vest or a coat, it is fine. I think a trench coat would look good.

They made us fly commercially back to NZ, so we drove our leisurely way down to Brisbane for a break first. By the time we spent two weeks there, my ribs were mostly healed, and I engaged in some gentle, strenuous activity with both Ata and Carla.

I was a bit concerned with Carla. “How do I know Soph is not looking out your eyes?”

“Would it matter if she did? She watched us back at Bucks Estate.”

I shrugged, “I suppose not. Should I make it instrucional for her?”

“She doesn’t need instructions.”

“No, you are more than capable of instructing her if needed.”

“Too bloody right.”

The problem with flying commercially was Rich and Eliza, but mostly Rich. They all took one look at him and said, “Nope.”

In the end, we charted a flight just for us and passed the invoice on to the Military. By the time we hit Auckland, we were all in pretty good shape.

Of course, there was a problem with Rich and Eliza entering NZ. Australia is full of nasty bugs and parasites and things New Zealand doesn’t want. Added to that, we were in the swamps and savanna of Northern Queensland. We were swimming with the Crocs.

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I then brazenly said what everybody was ignoring: “Soph has more fur than Rich.” Well, they didn’t know what to do with that. We ended up volunteering to be quarantined at the Hardcastle Shack while various tests were done. What a hardship. It wasn’t just Soph’s high profile that influenced them, but the military was trumpeting us as heroes, and there would be an award ceremony, and the Prime Minister and Governor General would present us with medals. Whoop-de-doo.

That all had to wait until the quarantine was over, thank God!

At least the Air Force delivered my truck back.

The minute quarantine was over, I was driving out to Anawhata. It is only vicious rumours spread by the Bitch that say I left before the quarantine was over. I would never.

Driving into Bucks Estate brought back a lot of memories. He was a bloody good dog, that one. Full of energy. There was the ripped possum fur we used to practice his Skill. I will fucking miss him.

I just sat for several days and pottered around sorting things out. I swam- the water was getting cooler now- and walked through the bush. Autumn was approaching. I may have forgotten to charge my phone during that time. I didn’t open my laptop. I just contemplated things and life and something else that was new to me.

I contemplated relationships. That was brand new territory. I didn’t know what to think about it.

A baby. What the fuck? A baby? How far has my life changed? Way too far. It has been good and bad.

My mind kept travelling to Buck.

About a week after I arrived, a fancy silver SUV drove up. Ataahua Wihongi got out. She looked good in normal clothes: boots, jeans, an untucked button-up shirt, and a jacket.

“Can I join you?” She asked.

I nodded.

We sat in silence on the porch for a bit on our camp chairs.

“You missed the ceremony. A few people were upset.”

I nodded. Carla could have pulsed me, but she hadn’t bothered. She knew I would ignore it.

Ata tossed a medal to me. “Congratulations, you are a hero.”

I just grunted.

She went to the back of the SUV and pulled out a roll.

“Here, Carla sent this.” She unravelled a Roo hide carpet. It was about half the size of the pelt she took, so I guess Soph got one, too.

“Thanks.” We took it inside and lay it on the floor.

“Do you want to go for a swim?” I asked.

“Sure,” she said.

We grabbed some towels and walked down to the beach. We stripped off at the beach, neither of us bothered with a swimsuit.

“Your feathers really are beautiful,” I said.

She turned to face me while nude, and the baby bump was very noticeable.

“That is beautiful too,” I said.

“You are not having second thoughts?” She asked.

“I have been having a lot of thoughts. I am capable of more than two.”

“I am about halfway now,” she said.

“I guess we should start a pool and see who thinks it will be a boy, girl, bird, jellyfish, or shark.”

Ata laughed. I have always loved her laugh. It is a full-body laugh, loud and cheerful.

Maybe I could do this.

“It’s twins,” she said.