Hybridization

"If it weren't for his incredibly frustrating ability to get results, I would have had him killed decades ago." Thalla Stormwatch commenting about Jay.

Jay looked around the office he had only seen once before. It was a rather richly decorated affair, of a rather large size. It had a small sitting area with some stylish couches and chairs set around a glass and wood coffee table. Opposite that there was a sizeable table with ten chairs around it that was in the opposite corner with a pair of projector screens on the walls. Then there was the far end of the room.

Some thirty feet away from the door, clearly denoted with a change in the carpet color, was the actual work area for the EVP of Order Operations. It was clever, a way of breaking up the otherwise large, empty room. It was also horribly ugly and off-putting. Yet, despite Jay's opinion, the elf behind the massive desk hadn't changed it in the three decades she had held the position.

Thalla Stormwatch was perhaps the only grey-haired elf Jay had ever seen who wasn't some wizened old master or mage stuck in a research lab or retirement home. While she wasn't old by any measure of elven lifespans, many assumed she was due to that little feature. Besides her hair, her only other distinguishing feature were her violet iris' that always seemed to be focused on something just out of sight.

"Jay, Casitor. Do come in." She said in a rather musical voice that was at odds with her tense body language. Jay smirked slightly as the image of a piano flashed in his mind. Produces beautiful sound but tightly strung and under immense pressure.

"This had better be worth it." Casitor muttered under his breath as they made their final approach.

Jay just rolled his eyes. The old gargoyle should know by now that when Jay pushed for something, it was always worth it. Thalla gestured for them to sit in the chairs across from her desk and stared them down for a moment before speaking.

"So, what is it that I can do for Earth operations command today?" She began in a tone that bordered between friendly and irritated. "Don't tell me it's more of this half-breed schtick that you have been peddling." Or, in this case, was firmly on the side of irritated.

Taking that as his queue, Jay cleared his throat slightly. "Ahem, it's partly related to one of my agents, but it concerns the Order as well as pretty much every realm."

Thalla raised her silver-grey eyebrows at that. "Oh, why haven't I heard of this?" She looked to Casitor. "Is this one of your secret squirrel projects again?"

"No ma'am." Casitor said, his wings ruffling a little as she stared him down. "Jay just brought it to my attention by only saying that he needed to talk to you and that I 'might as well come along for the ride.' Which, I have come to learn, means he will do it with or without my approval."

Once more Thalla turned her violet eyes on Jay. "Explain."

"I would love to, but I think we should have a little more privacy bef-" He didn't even have time to finish his words before Thalla reached down under her desk and pressed a button, sealing the door while making the windows turn opaque.

"Explain." She repeated, this time with a little extra steel in her voice.

"It involved the enchanters guild and their activities." Jay said, not at all phased by the subtle threat. "I am under the suspicion that they are falsely manipulating the market for enchanted items and actively suppressing any enchanters who don't join their guild. And, according to our own intelligence groups, kidnapping and imprisoning enchanters."

"So? That is their business, not that of the Order." She replied.

"Ahh, but what if they were trying to flex their authority while in Order territory? Just last week they tried to strong arm one of our vendors in the bazar and detain her under, I quote 'the authority of the enchanters guild' which is a massive violation of our contract."

"But what does that have to do with your teams?" Casitor asked after a moment of silence.

Jay turned slightly to answer him. "Well, the leader of my first team in the mid-west is an enchanter. He currently has a deal going with that vendor and has also felt a little pressure from guild members regarding his freelancing."

"So, tell your boy to keep his trinkets to himself." Thalla said. "Is it really worth taking on the guild for an unassociated novice enchanter?"

That had been the line that Jay was hoping for. He held out his hand and summoned one of the enhancement bracelets and wands that Kurt had made. He noted the confusion in his bosses' eyes as the items magically appeared in his hand. He passed that first set to Casitor while summoning a second for the elf behind the desk.

"Kurt is the source of these items that I got on contract." Jay said.

"How long has he been making these? I remember that crossing my desk for fifty units of each, or something of that nature." Casitor said while sliding the bracelet on and waving his arm.

"About two weeks ago."

That got their attention as both of them stopped what they were doing and stared dumbly at Jay. "Care to elaborate?" Thalla asked.

"Kurt made fifty of those bracelets in a few days and then made fifty of these paralyze wands in a few more. He also made this ring." He tapped the storage ring and decided to share a bit more as the two kept staring at him. "There is no reason an enchanter should be so limited in what they can make other than their skill, knowledge and mana pool."

"Then what limits them?" Thalla once more asked the question.

"I think it is a pyramid scheme." Jay said and noted the disgusted look on the elf's face. "While record diving over the past couple years, I think I might have stumbled upon a few things that people weren't supposed to know about."

Knowing he had them both on the hook, Jay began to explain his suspicions and telling them about a few of the secret dealings he had uncovered. They listened with rapt attention as he laid out his evidence and also the recent crimes the organization had committed. After several minutes of Jay presenting, his bosses sat in quiet contemplation while digesting the information.

Thalla was the first to speak. "I will grant you a provisional warrant to handle the guild that is within the Order pocket dimension. If that action bears fruit, then we can make plans for the next level up."

Casitor nodded along. "I can divert time and resources your way as needed. When can you start this plan of yours?"

Jay glanced down at his watch. "Oh, about twenty minutes ago." He said with a grin. "It has been an absolute pleasure as always Misses Stormwatch but I must be along to check on my teams. Casitor, I will keep you in the loop."

And with that, Jay swept up the enchanted items he had shown them and vanished through one of his portals. He had summoned the aperture so suddenly and swiftly that neither of his bosses had time to react before he closed their end and vanished.

After a few seconds, Casitor was the one to speak. "That man is an absolute prick but he's a damn effective one."

"How so?" Thalla asked while picking up a pamphlet that hadn't been on her desk at the beginning of the meeting, noticing that one had also appeared in Casitor's hand at some point.

"Each of his three teams of agents outperform his next four closest peers all put together." Casitor answered while opening his pamphlet. "Maybe there is something to these hal- ah, I mean hybrids after all." He murmured the last part while reading. He failed to notice that Thalla didn't respond as she was also engrossed in her own pamphlet.

*****

While Jay was talking with his bosses, Kurt was sitting on a bench in the bazar with Val and Kristi nearby. After their little dinner conversation, they had come up with a plan. Kurt even thought it wasn't half bad, as far as plans went, given the circumstances.

Renee had attracted enough business for non-magical goods after word got out that she was selling them. People had come for a cheap enchanted item but found out they could get other rather nice things from the arms dealer. This extra business had allowed her to purchase one of the storefronts on the outer levels. She had only just finished setting up in her new location and opened to the doors to the waiting line of patrons.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"Good morning. Welcome, welcome." She said after propping open the front doors.

"Any of those bracelets in stock today?" A dwarf called out from the line of people. "I told my brother I would try to get one for him after he spent an hour coveting mine."

Kurt could see a few heads in line nod along while Renee responded. "Not quite yet but let me get your information. I should be getting some today." She said in a voice that was loud enough to carry beyond the line of patrons.

"Ah, I guess I will settle for a few boxes of that pistol ammo you sold me last time. It's really good stuff!" The same dwarf commented while she ushered him in.

Kurt wasn't so focused on who went into the store but on those that left the line. He watched a few of them move off to other shops in the area, some of them pulling out lists to look at. The remainder seemed to go wander off and meet up with a few small groups that were waiting at a nondescript distance.

"One, Two." Came a whispered voice over his radio and into his earpiece.

"Send it." Kurt replied. He didn't have to speak up since the Bluetooth earbud was great at picking up a wide range of sounds.

"The dark elf between you and me." Val began. Kurt knew not to look up and just kept his eyes on the book in front of him. "He has been reading the same page of the paper for the last twenty minutes."

"This is Three." Kirsti began. "There is a goblin loitering around the stairs on the east side that has been doing the same. Plus, both have an awful lot of jewelry on them considering they are men."

Kurt had seen the elf but missed the goblin on his first pass. He mimed looking at his watch before glancing around like he was waiting for someone. "Ok. Let's move." They had stayed around just long enough to let the initial rush clear out before the girls walked around to meet him.

They had a little greeting and some chit chat, just enough to make it look like they were meeting up for the first time. Then they all walked over to the open doors of the shop where Renee was straightening up a few things in the front window.

"Oh, good!" She said in that same loud tone. "I just had someone asking about more bracelets." Her acting wasn't the best, but it also wasn't the worst Kurt had ever seen, not that he was any better.

"Just made a few more sets for you." Kurt annunciated and turned his head slightly, making sure the words carried. "This should last you a little while." He handed her a box that he had been keeping next to him all morning.

Renee took the box, her hands slightly shaking. "Come on in and we can settle up." She said while they followed inside.

"The elf just got up and is moving off around the corner." Val whispered. "I think he is meeting up with the orc and human on the opposite side of the square." She had cast an illusion that made it appear she was looking straight ahead even though she was looking back over her shoulder.

Kurt couldn't help but look around as they entered. The space was definitely larger than the previous short-term stall. It also had proper glass display windows at the front rather than just the roll down security screen. The ceiling was also much taller with decent track lighting installed rather than the poorly hung florescent ones of the temporary stall.

Just inside the entrance was a counter on their right-hand side with a cash register set on it. In the display case built into the counter were a few small items, several of which were pistols that had decoration or unusual colors.

Behind the counter was a slat wall with pegs holding up a few larger firearms and shelves with high value optics displayed on them. Further into the store on the opposite side was the traditional stacks of ammunition with rather nice signage listing the details and the pricing.

Racks and shelves in the middle section held a variety of lower priced weapons and even some soft goods like clothing and pouches that hadn't been there in the previous space. Kurt couldn't help but notice the vide variety of camouflage patterns on the shelves of clothing. The current uniforms of several different countries were neatly folded and clearly unissued.

Everything in the store was nicely and neatly displayed while the lighting was tasteful without being too overbearing with the overhead spotlights. Almost all the store was well laid out to give a feeling of openness without seeming to be low on inventory. It was a fine balance, and Kurt had to appreciate it as they walked to the back wall of the store.

Renee turned back to them after they made it to the back where there was a small office next to a storeroom. "So, w-what now?" Her voice was a little shaky and Kurt noted her hands trembled slightly. That mixed with the twitching of her wigs and tail was more than enough to tell him she wasn't holding it together very well.

"Here are the enchanted items." Kurt began and handed her the box. "Penny will be along some time in the next few days to collect payment from the previous sales and anything else you might need."

Just then, Heinrich entered the store. "Renee?" he looked around a shelf holding a few different rifles and spotted them. "I thought you were going to wait for me before you opened!"

Glancing at Kurt and the girls, she got a nod from him and then turned back to her cousin. "Hey, I thought I would open early. It was just the regulars that came in and offered their congratulations and picked up some stuff."

"Still, you should wait for me since I am security for you." Heinrich huffed. "I can't do my job if you don't let me."

Renee gestured at Kurt. "He was waiting in the wings and wouldn't let anything happen. Plus, I knew you wouldn't be long, and I can handle myself for a little while."

The large male gargoyle did not look to be at all convinced by her words and just clenched his jaw for a moment before agreeing to disagree and moving to take his place near the front door. Kurt watched as he took up his post just inside the doors in a small nook opposite the cash register.

"Well, nothing better to do than get on with it." Kurt said and sent a text to Penny, despite her listening in on the ear buds. The message was actually going out to the group she set up with the three support squads that were skulking in the local area.

Val hopped forward and gave Renee a quick hug. "Bye Renee. Thanks for everything and see you soon."

Renee just looked stunned at the sudden display of affection before gently patting Val on the back with one of her taloned hands. "S-sure. See you soon."

While Val was apparently on hugging terms with the shopkeeper, Kurt and Kristi just gave her friendly smiles and head nods before turning to walking out of the store. On the way out the door, Kurt noticed that Heinrich was watching them intently. The expression on his face was one of concern mixed with a little curiosity.

Kurt and the girls strolled out of the shop, noticing but not making eye contact with the groups of people watching from several dozen yards away. They then began walking back to the guild shop that they had stopped in a while back. It was two levels down but only one side away, so the walk wasn't exactly a long one.

All the while, the watchers were following at the same distance, walking in a cluster like a bunch of amateurs. Perhaps they weren't ignorant on how to tail someone, and they were going for more overt than covert, but Kurt didn't exactly hold them in high regard either way.

When they finally reached the storefront, they entered and began browsing along the cases, ignoring the gaggle of staff at the back counter. Kurt noted that they had turned over a good amount of their inventory since his last visit and there were several new items displayed.

He actually found a few that were rather interesting, clearly specialty, items that were all set out in the same case. One was a box with a series of small coins about the size of a US fifty cent piece. The tag on the coins said that they were 'telepathic communicators' and had a range of nearly a half mile. The cost was also ludicrous at over 300,000 USD but that was to be expected. It even listed a few currencies that he wasn't familiar with but could guess at the conversion rate.

While inspecting a rather interesting dagger of bloodletting, Kurt heard a disturbance from the back of the store and looked up to see the jinn who had talked to them last time shoving someone before turning to approach them.

Seeing them look up, Hassan greeted them. "Good day and welcome back, my friends." He smiled politely at each of them. "Kurt, was it?"

"That's right. And you are Hassan, correct?" Kurt replied with a confirmation question of his own. He wanted to give the idea that he remembered but not that he was there specifically for the man.

"Yes, yes, I am honored that you remember me." He continued, giving off strong used car salesman vibes. "Have you given any thought to my previous offer?"

Kurt looked befuddled for a moment, pretending to struggle with remembering. "About joining the guild?" When Hassan nodded, Kurt continued. "I have actually but I thought it was an offer from the guild and not from you."

"Ah, yes. But of course, the offer is from the guild." Hassan waved off the concern. "I was just referencing that I was the one to extend the offer. As a representative of the guild, I have a duty to seek out other enchanter talents when I can."

Kurt thought for a moment before replying. "Well, I am tempted, and you did make some good arguments last time I was here. Can I see that contract? I would like to give it a read before we go any farther."

"I can get you a copy." Hassan offered immediately. "I will be back in a moment." He stepped away and went to a cabinet in the corner before coming back with a familiar looking stack of papers.

"Thanks, and do I really just deal with you? I feel like I should talk to a manager or something if I am considering joining. No offense." Kurt quickly added after seeing the man wilt a little then went back to reading the contract. He felt a little tap on his hip from Val, letting him know of something and he looked up just as a new person began speaking.

A deep and gravelly voice suddenly interrupted his conversation. "You can talk to me then." Said a man who appeared to be a giant, but Kurt knew was actually a race call Goliath. "I can assure you that you will sign that."

The man did his best to loom over Kurt and the girls, a feat easily done by being over two feet taller than any of them. His bald, tattooed head likely would touch any eight-foot ceiling with ease. He was also flanked by several bruiser types, mostly orc and hob goblins, who had spread out to block the exit.

Kurt stared back at the man, confident that he would be able to take him if push came to shove. "I don't know about that mister…?"

"To' Gal'tra" The goliath rumbled.

"Right, To' ga… whatever." Kurt didn't try to repronounce the name. He was pretty sure he didn't have the right length vocal cords to get the gravely rumble. "Anyway, I don't know about signing, I haven't even read the thing yet. How am I to know if the terms are to my liking?"

Starting to take a threatening step forward, To' Gal'tra was forced to stop as Kristi stood resolutely in his way, an event that he didn't anticipate judging by the frown on his face. "Don't worry, you are going to come and have a little chat until you come to an understanding. Besides, my boss is waiting, and he is even less forgiving than me."

Kurt tried very hard to hide his smirk and ended up turning it into a nervous cough and glance at the girls who both nodded. "Ahem, well, lead the way then." He gestured to the exit.

The goliath turned and strode out the door, being surprisingly silent on his feet. Kurt and the girls followed along and were quickly flanked by the entourage that the goliath had brough with him. He shared a look with Val and Kristi as they walked, seeing they both had adopted stern expressions, but he could feel their amusement and excitement through the necklaces.

Kurt was just wondering how long they would be able to keep their confidence and where exactly they were being led. As they approached a staircase to go down to the main level, he briefly glanced up and saw the security team led by Penny begin to follow after. With nothing else to do, he began to pick out all the enchanted items the goliath was wearing.