Hybridization

Chapter 154 – Patterns of Behavior

Chapter 154 – Patterns of Behavior

“M-mistress… Sorry, Val. Why is this called a tube top? It looks nothing like a tube.” - Rindi

“Alright, have fun, we will be back soon.” Kurt said as he pulled up to the curb of the mall in Traverse City. Val and Rindi got out of the car a moment later, one looking nervous and one looking excited.

Kurt pulled away from the curb, and they began the rather short drive to Hamlets Guns. Kristi frowned a moment before turning to him. “Is it close enough? She has a limited range if I remember right.”

“Yeah, it’s actually only half a mile as the crow flies. I don’t think we will even cross the one-mile mark along the roads.” He had thought about that and did a quick look on Google Maps to be sure that the distance wasn’t too great.

“That’s good.” Kristi nodded sharply. “Do you think she will be alright?”

“Rindi? Yeah, I think so. Why?”

Kristi was silent for a moment before she spoke. Kurt could feel the emotion roiling around in her as she got her thoughts straight. “I feel a sort of kindred spirit with her. We are from the same world after all.” She paused for a moment, grinding her teeth before continuing. “The only real difference between us is that her mother died young while mine was able to raise me to adulthood. If I had-had been left to my own devices at such a young age, I don’t know if I would have ended up any different.”

Kurt reached over and grabbed hold of her hand. She gripped his in return, setting her jaw in a determined expression. “I want to give her the opportunity that I got. A home and a-a family.” She felt Kurt’s unease and turned in her seat to face him. “I am not saying you have to fall in love with her and that she joins us in that way. But I think that she would flourish in the environment that we have made in our home.

“Can you at least show her the same consideration that you showed me and then Anna? While she might be a slave, that doesn’t make her any less of a person deserving of compassion and happiness.” She finished her statement just as they pulled into the parking lot of the gun store.

Returning her stare, Kurt nodded. “Yeah, I think I can do that. You are right, I think. She got a raw deal, and I can’t even hold the whole ‘trying to kill me’ thing against her when she was ordered to do it.” He saw her expression ease at his answer. “I planned to get her set up with some enchantments that will at least help her quality of life. Maybe that will help get our point across that we won’t think of her as a slave?”

Kristi smirked. “I am sure she will take it just as well as I did. Now, let’s get on with it.” She then opened her door and climbed out. She made it all of two steps before she froze in her tracks.

He followed her gaze to see that a police cruiser had pulled up right across from them and a familiar ginger man was stepping out and looking their way. Kurt quickly hopped out just as Chief Henry reached up and took off his body camera, tossing it in the car.

“Morning chief.” Kurt said, ignoring the obvious gesture, that this would be a private, likely unfriendly, conversation.

“Cut the shit, Kurt.” Henry growled. “Why did I wake up to a dozen voicemails and twice as many emails from the Petoskey PD?”

“How am I supposed to know that?” Kurt retorted and crossed his arms, standing his ground against the larger man.

“Like you don’t know what goes on in your city.”

Kurt frowned. “My city?”

Henry snorted then. “Would you let anyone else lay claim to it? any of the territorial paras that is.”

“I am not sure what you are insinuating, but I was in GR until like two this morning when we got home and promptly went to sleep.” Kurt affirmed. To his right, Kristi nodded along, standing and leaning against the bumper with him.

“Fine, but if I hear you had something to do with these missing persons.” Henry pointed a finger at him before sighing heavily and shaking his head. “What’s the fucking point.” He muttered. “Not like I can do anything if it’s Order business. Not that I want to in the first place.”

“Care to share, chief?” Kristi asked. “Perhaps if we know what is going on, we can keep our eyes and ears open for it?”

Henry gave them another onceover before looking around to make sure they were the only ones in the parking lot. “I got tagged in a bunch of missing persons reports from the local PD over there. Turns out over a dozen of those protesters just up and disappeared. Their friends called it in, but nobody has seen hide nor hair of them.

“We asked for their cooperation and if they had any evidence or their personal belongings we could search but they did the normal ‘get a warrant’ BS.” He actually smiled then. “I guess the local chief told the others there was nothing they could do until a case was made and he wasn’t sure when he would have time to get around to it.”

“Bet that made them mad.” Kurt chuckled.

“Furious from my understanding. Punks want it both ways. Hell, a couple years back they were getting on about us, wanting to defund everything and all that, now they want our help, but we barely have the manpower to spare after budget cuts.”

Kristi shook her head. “Your planet is so weird.” She then wandered away, headed for the entrance.

“If I hear anything, I will keep you in mind.” Kurt said, not promising anything because he had some suspicion as to what happened. He would have to read the reports from Ra to be sure though.

“Ats all I can ask.” Henry said then turned back toward his own car.

Kurt called out as the chief was about to climb back in his cruiser. “How do you always know where I am going in this city?”

“You only go like two places.” Henry yelled back. “Not hard to figure out.” he then hopped into the driver seat and firmly shut the door.

Waiting a moment, Kurt watched the chief pull away before heading inside. He didn’t make it very far before hearing his name called and looked up to see Kristi already talking to Alec. Making his way along the cases he eventually reached them.

“Busy in here.” Kurt commented after finally navigating his way around a couple of people standing in the middle of the aisle. “What’s that occasion?”

“Beats the hell outa me.” Alec shrugged. “Turkey season is bout here, but I think it’s just a busy day.”

Kristi gave them a curious look. “Turkey season?”

“The government regulates hunting to certain times of year for conservation reasons. That way nothing is hunted to extinction again.” Kurt provided as Alec waived them toward the back. They made a quick stop for coffee on the way to the office. “There are also limits on how many of a certain animal you can kill every season and fees associated with the hunting license. Its normally pretty effective and other than the various agencies doing dumb shit on occasion, it works.”

“Dumb shit like what?”

“They are airdropping wolves into their former habitats.” Alec said as they reached his office.

Kristi shut the door behind them. “If they were there previously, what’s the problem?”

“Those former habitats are now farms and suburbs and people don’t like their livestock and pets being eaten.” Alec laughed. “Then they deny sightings of some things like mountain lions here in Michigan. They stick to that line no matter what too, even after prints, hair and such are found. Hell, they even denied it when a hunter popped one that was stalking him.”

“I am starting to see a trend with your counties government agencies.” Kristi was wearing an ugly expression now. “They seem too bloated to be effective and too dogmatic to adapt.”

Alec pointed to a stack of boxes in the corner. “Just like those. All the background check forms that customers fill out. I have to hold onto them for YEARS just in case they want to come take a look.” He scowled and took a sip of his coffee. “Makes me wonder if the headache is worth it some days.”

Kurt and Kristi shared a look that the dwarf noticed immediately. “What’s with the faces?”

“How would you like to work in the arms industry but not have to deal with such… restrictions?” Kurt offered.

“I don’t know much about cold weapons.” Alec held up his hands. “No offense but after what I heard about that Order of yours and their less than modern equipment, it makes me wonder how smart they actually are. Hell, they only have one gun shop from what you told me.”

“Yes, one store that is supplying the Order and non-Order customers.” Kurt nodded and looked pointedly at his friend. “One that could use some help in sales and inventory management.”

Kristi sighed when he didn’t respond right away. “Renee needs a business partner. Want us to put you in touch?”

Alec snorted. “I’m dense but you don’t need to be that blunt. I knew what Kurt was gettin at.” He looked down at his hands for a moment, rolling his coffee cup between his palms. “Would I have to live in the Order?”

“You could probably commute. We have portals at my home, the farm and in our building in Petoskey.” Kurt answered, knowing Alec was onboard if they could solve logistics issues. “I am sure we could get you keyed to one or all of them.”

“Then I have to move out and find a place out there.” He sighed. “And I hate apartment shopping.”

“Got any problems with werewolves?” Kurt asked, a plan brewing in his mind.

“Nope, just your furry ass.”

“Well, I have a big farmhouse now that only has two living in it and about a dozen living under it. I could rent it to you really cheap if you don’t mind some roommates.”

Alec’s brows pinched together. “That place around the corner from you? Old beef cattle farm, right?”

“Yup. They retired and sold the property to me. I have a couple packs of werewolves living there but they built a bunker under the barn that they seem to prefer. As far as I know they only have a couple people in the house to keep up appearances.” Kurt looked to Kristi. “I still need to get over there and check that out.”

Looking between them, Alec just shook his head. “I have no idea what you are doing with your life but that’s a ‘you problem’.” He scratched his beard a moment before leaning forward again. “How about I bring Na around and we take a look at the house then I meet Renne and we chat about specifics.”

“Deal.” Kurt grinned. “By the by, is Cavans around?”

“What do you need him for? He doesn’t have any more projects from you, does he?”

Kurt shook his head. “Nah, just wanted to touch base on if he would be available for a project at some point. My boss has me doing some experimenting and I would like some that knows his ass from his elbow about chamber pressures and operating tolerances.”

Alec leaned over and clicked on his computer to the schedule that he kept open. “Well, he isn’t in today, but I can pass a message along. I will have him email you.”

“Text works too.” Kurt said and got a thumbs up from the dwarf.

“Alright, now that’s all dealt with, what can I sell you today while I can still get you a discount?” Alec said and rubbed his hands together.

*****

An hour later Kurt was pulling up in front of the mall as Val and Rindi climbed back in the car. “Girls have fun?” He asked, glancing in the mirror as he pulled away from the curb. They didn’t have any bags, but that was to be expected given the storage ring that Val had.

“Sure, and we learned a few things today. Isn’t that right, Rindi?” Val said with a humorous grin.

The mountain of a woman nodded demurely. “We learned that we just buy premade clothes and don’t have to have them tailored.”

“And what else?” Val fished.

“Umm, that the little red sign on a door means employees only or emergency exit?” she paused for a moment before continuing. “And if I break it, I buy it?”

“Yes, and?” Val pressed, making Rindi muttered something under her breath that even Kurt didn’t hear. “Speak up, dear.”

“That we need to wait till we are in a changing room before trying something on?”

Val chuckled. “Yes indeed. Also, we need to use the large or handicap changing rooms in your felitaur shape. I was waiting patiently outside when there was a rather loud crunch as her butt forced the door open and broke the latch.”

“Sorry.” Rindi muttered.

Kristi must have taken pity on the woman because she instantly proposed a change in topic. “Ever had fast food, Rindi? Kurt can take us to one of our favorite places for lunch while we are here.”

“What is fast food?” Rindi asked as Kurt changed lanes to head to the restaurant they normally went to.

They did their best to describe the culture around fast food in America but figured it would be best to just let her experience it for herself. This time, they remembered to warn her away from eating a lot of deep fried food, not wanting to have a repeat of what Anna had done.

“Kinda like our own little tradition.” Val hummed as they took their order number to a table and waited for the food to start coming out.

“How’s that?” Kurt asked while passing out the sodas and waters everyone ordered.

“Well, we find a cute girl in some strange situation and rescue her, bringing her home like a lost puppy… or kitten in this case-“

“I’m not a kitten…” Rindi muttered under her breath in a tone not befitting her rather imposing human shape.

The Kitsune continued on like she didn’t even hear her. “- then we take her to TC and get nice, new clothes while you go gun shopping. Then we come here for lunch before heading home.”

“You forgot about the part where the police chief comes to interrogate us.” Kristi groused while stabbing a straw through the lid of her Coke. “That was a new one.”

“What did he want?” Val asked

“What is a police?” Rindi also asked at the same time.

Kurt sipped his water before replying. “Police are like town guards or constables and enforce laws and respond to crimes. Chief henry leads the local police forces, remind me to explain that at some point because there are a lot of overlapping agencies and it can be confusing.

“He wanted to know what happened while we were gone, apparently some protesters just up and vanished.” He finished, turning to Val. “He didn’t seem to upset, more like he was going through the motions but it’s a good reminder that he is still law enforcement.”

Kristi tapped the table with her index finger, denting the epoxy surface slightly and making a ‘Tunk’ sound. “When you look at it in that light, I think his actions are commendable. Now that I consider it.”

Val tilted her head in her questioning way. “How do you figure?” She then had to lean back as their trays of food were dropped off.

They quickly passed things out and pointed things out to their newest party member. She seemed to be taking in the sights and smells of everything before putting her hair up in a ponytail. After tying it with a leather band she decided to start with the burger.

Snagging an onion ring from the basket, Kristi pointed it at Val in as menacing a way as possible. “Because he knows exactly what Kurt is and what he could do to him but still had the balls to get up in his face about it because it is his duty. I-“

Kristi was cut off by a loud but mostly muffled moan that came from her right. They all turned to look at Rindi who was happily chewing on a mouth full of burger, eyes squinted nearly closed as she hummed happily to herself. She then swallowed and immediately took another bite, repeating the process.

“I, uhh, right. I think that tells a lot about his character.” Kristi finished before taking a bite of her chicken wings.

That gave Kurt ideas. Interesting ideas.

He immediately pulled out his phone and began texting. Val noticed and tapped the top of his screen with a rather thick fry. “Who you textin?” She asked in a singsong tone.

“Jade. I want her to go feel out the chief and get a read on if he would be a good candidate for an alpha.” Kurt responded before putting his phone away and grabbing his Reuben.

“Why don’t you do that yourself? You would have to do the deed anyway if she approves.” Val asked before going for her own burger.

Kurt chewed and swallowed, appreciating the lightly toasted bread they used and the extra tangy sour kraut. “Because that should be part of her duties as my-“ He paused to turn to Rindi who had moved on to her milkshake and was enjoying it even more loudly than the burger. “Aasss my saint.”

Rindi’s eyes snapped open and she made a very unladylike noise and clutched at her throat. She swallowed and gasped a moment later while Kristi thumped her on the back. “S-saint?” She asked before coughing again and readily accepting the water Val handed her.

“Yeah, I kinda made one on accident in a rift we cleared not long ago.” Kurt admitted, feeling his neck flush at the incredulous look she was giving him.

“Don’t worry, Jade is super nice.” Val added while passing her some napkins. “We can introduce you later. I don’t think you met them properly when we were leaving GR.”

“Jade? The fem wolf leader with the hollow, glowing soul?” Rindi took the napkins while staring at Kurt. She absently tried to wipe the little spilled bits of milkshake off the table while she held his gaze.

“Not sure about the whole soul thing but sure.” Kurt shrugged and went back to his food.

Rindi just looked around the table at the three people who were so unconcerned with the information dump they just casually brought up. They knew a saint? No, they are personally friends with one. Wait...

Her mind blanked for a moment as she replayed the words Kurt had used. He made a saint… Did that mean he helped make one? No, he is very specific about his word choices. If he made a saint, then that means he is a… not a god… but not far off either. Feeling like she wouldn’t be getting any answers any time soon, Rindi went back to her food only to be stunned a moment later by her master’s next question.

“So, Rindi, what kind of enchanted items did you want me to make for you?”