"I know people change jobs and companies all the time, but this one was a bit unexpected." - Kurt

Ra looked at his meager possessions laid out on the bed of the cheap motel room and sighed heavily. After ten years of loyal service to Terminus he couldn't believe it came…. No, on second thought he could believe it.

After the encounter with Kurt, he and his team had fled, tails between their legs and trying to be anywhere but there. Per protocol, he had made his report to the Agency and was told to stand by. So, they waited for two days until the Agency said they were to try and make contact again.

Naturally nobody on the team thought that was a good idea after the last time and when they expressed their concerns, an ultimatum was presented. They could either succeed in bringing in Kurt Rosk for recruitment, or they could find new employment.

There was a very brief discussion amongst the team. It wasn't about how they would go about bringing him in or even trying to talk to him. No, the discussion was on where they would be seeking employment after they were cut loose.

A quick phone call later and all four members of the recruitment team had told their employers to pound sand. They said that they would leave their gear and car in a public parking lot for someone else to deal with. Apparently, the Agency hadn't expected the team to call their bluff and tried to back peddle before making more threats. None of it was actionable for the Agency and everyone knew it.

While Ra's team had all split and gone separate ways, likely to warmer climates, he had stayed. He wasn't sure why but after the encounter at Kurt's house, he had an instinct to go and meet with him one more time and… and what?

"Come on Ra, get with it." He slapped himself on the cheek. "Ok, we got the bag, a pistol, two mags, wallet, phone aaaaand… that's about it." He surveyed the items on his bed again.

Beside the clothes on his back and shoes on his feet, everything he owned was on that ugly hotel comforter. He had spent the last several days lurking around the few places that Kurt had ties to in the small city. He knew of course about the coffee shop and the building, but he also discovered the games store was apparently a new hangout. He just hoped that he would see him sooner than later.

Heaving a sigh, Ra picked up all his things and walked out the door, grabbing the keys for the rental car on his way. He was off for another fun filled day of waiting in his car for a chance to talk to Kurt.

*****

Saturday was one of those days that Kurt loved and hated. On the one hand, he didn't have any work commitments that needed his attention. On the other hand, he now had personal commitments that needed his attention.

"Right, we have groceries and wood splitting done." Kurt began while going through his check list. "I am going to quickly change the water filter if you guys want to tidy up then we can wash up and go grab dinner on our way to D&D."

"Don't forget we need to prep for the 'company picnic and social hour tomorrow'." Val said while looking at the list on her tablet. "We promised to bring drinks and dessert."

"Well, we have booze a plenty but what should we do for dessert?" Kurt asked, looking from Val to Kristi.

They shrugged. "Want to stop by that bakery downtown and see if they can get us something to bring?" Val asked. "Unless you want to make something."

"Nah, last time I tried to bake, my brownies turned out more like coco briquets." He said. "Val, can you give them a call and see what they have available or can make?"

She flashed a smile and a thumbs up before pulling out her phone. Kurt went down to the basement and began unwrapping one of the sediment filters he used. Since he was on well water, he had a softening system in his house. In order to keep that particular appliance happy, he ran a filter to make sure he caught the larger bits before they clogged up the softener membranes.

It was a pretty easy process since he had put in a couple shut off valves and a bleed valve in strategic locations. He put those in after his first time having to drain the whole system and shut off the well pump to change a simple filter. He liked finding those little efficiencies, not that he did much with the extra time.

Kurt thought about the company event they had been invited to. Penny said that Jay had set it all up, which is to say Jay's assistant did all the leg work after being told to do it. Apparently, they would be meeting the other teams that Jay had under him and getting a little networking in.

He was interested in his peers, wondering what they would be and also how they operate. He was hoping to see some variation in what kind of missions they undertook but also understood that they would have a lot of overlap. Regardless, speculation wouldn't do much and he wouldn't know until he met them.

After putting the new filter in and reopening the valves, Kurt went back upstairs to get ready and pack up. They all hopped into the shower to rinse off the grime from their chores and were out the door in Val's car, making good time into town.

"It's still early, think we can stop to see the kids at Captains?" Val asked as she hit the paved road and slowed to a reasonable speed.

"Praise the lord for hard ball and traffic." Kurt muttered under his breath and letting go of his door handle before speaking up. "Fine by me. Kristi, you good with that?" He asked over his shoulder.

The woman in question had wedged herself into the back seat, using all five limbs to push herself into the seat. "Yeah, sure, that's fine." She said in a shaky voice. "Kurt, can I get my own car?"

"What? Whyyyy?" Val whined.

"Because I want to ride in a car not a low flying missile." She said. "Seriously, where did you learn to drive like this?"

"An Order sponsored evasive driving program last year." Val replied with a matter-of-fact tone. "The off-road handling portion was taught by some guy named Kimi. I guess he does offroad racing or something."

Kurt had no idea who she was talking about but assumed he was a hell of a driver if he managed to impart that kind of skill in a driving class. "Well, maybe we leave the racing to when you don't have passengers." He said.

"Fine." Val huffed then muttered under her breath. "Buzz kill."

A few minutes later they were pulling up to an empty parking space in front of the coffee shop. Naturally it was rather slow in midafternoon on a Saturday but there were some people there.

"Hi Kurt. Val, Kristi, good to see you." Kate said when they got up to the counter. "What can I get started for you?"

"Nothing for me." Kurt said. "Girls?" he looked back to Kristi and Val.

"I would like a cup of the green tea." Kristi said while Val shook her head.

"Coming right up." Kate snagged a pot and got a scoop of tea leaves into it before filling with hot water from the tap. "So, what brings you in, besides one cup of tea?" she asked as she rang them up.

"Just stopping by. I wanted to see if you guys needed anything from me and check in on your little project." Kurt replied in a normal tone while trying to be discrete.

"I think we are good on the store front, but we might want to get some sidewalk salt before the snow begins flying." She said and sighed. "As for the project. We haven't had any movement, but we are ready, just in case."

"That's good. I think I will stop nex…" The words died in his throat as he glanced out the window and saw someone crossing the street, with their eyes locked on him through the window. "Excuse me, it seems I suddenly have an appointment." He said, quickly making an excuse as he went to the door.

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Kurt felt a spell settle on him and realized Val had cast something but wasn't sure what. He didn't have time to find out as he was out the door and intercepting the werewolf he knew as Senal' Ra.

"Glad you could make it." Kurt growled and grabbed the wolf's hand before he could get a word out. He was speaking through a forced smile and clenched teeth, trying to keep his instincts from forcing a shift. "How about we step into my office." With that, he grabbed the man's upper arm and made it look like he was guiding him to the other business he had opened that was actually a front for the Order.

"I-A…" Senel' Ra began but was immediately cut off.

"Shut the fuck up." Kurt hissed through his forced and very fake smile. "You are going to do exactly as I say, or I swear I will dismember you over and over until you stop regenerating." Senel' Ra gulped and nodded, following along swiftly.

They were through the door and into the back room in a flash. The goblin behind the front desk looked as startled to see them as Senal' Ra looked to see a goblin wearing a Bruins jersey sitting at a computer while drinking a Red Bull.

Trotting down the stairs, Kurt found an empty seat in a small meeting room and shoved the other wolf into it. "Sit." He commanded. He wasn't sure why he felt the need to say it as a command, but it felt right.

Senal' Ra was about to open his mouth to speak but when he heard the command, his jaw locked shut and he sat like a statue as he stared at the now looming Kurt. He had just dredged up some courage to once more begin to speak when he was cut off again.

"Why are you still here?" Kurt growled, a deep and resonating sound that a human body shouldn't make. "Better yet why are you following me?"

"Because the Agency…" He began. His willpower was fading quickly, and he struggled to speak the words.

"What? They didn't like that I told them no and are pressing the issue?"

"N-no." The now wilting man began again. "I a-am here on my o-own." His voice was much quieter, and he struggled to make eye contact.

Kurt heaved a sigh as he looked down at the man. He heard steps on the stairs and turned to see Kristi in the doorway holding a drinks carrier with a few cups in it. Val showed up a moment later while muttering something under her breath about goblins.

"Well then, Senal' Ra, why don't you enlighten us as to what you are doing then?" He asked.

"It's just Ra."

"What?" Kurt blinked in surprise at the other werewolf.

"It's just Ra. Calling me Senal' Ra all the time would me like me calling you Rosk Kurt over and over." The man said as his eyes flicked up and then right back down to the floor.

"Fine, just Ra. But answer my question."

"I-I don't know why." He admitted. "I felt… compelled? Ah, fu- I don't know. I just had to see you again for some reason." Ra bent his head and stared at the floor, not even letting his eyes gaze upon Kurt's boots. The tension he felt in him instantly abated and he felt he could breathe again.

"Haa. It's easier not to look at you directly. I am sorry." Ra said. "My instincts were pushing me to seek you out. It ate at me since our first meeting."

"Do you know what I am?" Kurt asked.

"You are A-Alpha." The hitch in Ra's voice was telling of the strain he was still under.

"Besides that." Kurt said. "Does the Agency know?

Ra shook his head. "I cannot be sure, but I think we-THEY wanted you because the Order Stabilitas wanted you."

Kurt sighed. "Tell me everything." He then sat across the table from the still bowing werewolf.

*****

Thirty minutes later, Kurt and the girls had a good idea of how Terminus played ball when it came to their human resources. They were poachers, plain and simple. Their whole play was to offer slightly more in terms of pay, resources or whatever people wanted but then locked them into very demanding and exclusive contracts.

He was rather dismayed to learn that Ra had essentially forfeited everything he had when he quit. The company 'recouped' its losses by confiscating everything that the employee didn't have on their person. Ra thankfully had the foresight to have a bank account they couldn't get to, but that was about it. When the story was over, they were left in a very awkward position. What to do with the former Terminus agent?

Ra had expressed his desire to work for Kurt, admitting to only having just realized that's what he wanted. He seemed rather confused and frustrated with the situation and Kurt couldn't blame the guy after his own recent changes.

Val had pulled out her phone and was texting since the situation went from Kurt potentially killing the guy to them just talking. It was after Ra finished his story that she put the phone to her ear and began talking.

"Hi. Yeah, can you swing by?" She asked. "Yup, at the building. Great, see you soon."

Kurt was about to ask but knew that he would find out soon enough. His little prediction proved right as not ten minutes later Penny walked through the door. This time she was in yoga pants and an oversized sweatshirt which was unusually casual for her, but he also reasoned it was the weekend. She had her hair done while was also wearing makeup and earrings, which he thought was rather strange since he had never seen her wear them before.

Apparently, the look also surprised Val. "Hot date?" She asked, with her smile tinging the tone of her question.

"Yes, now I don't have the time nor patience today so let's get this show on the road." She sounded more than a little irritated. "Since his lordship couldn't drag his ass out of bed, he authorized me to handle the situation."

"Jay?" Kurt wondered aloud.

"Yeah, that guy." Penny confirmed in a clipped tone while looking at Ra. "So, you are without a job?"

"Yes." Ra huffed but quickly fixed his tone of voice when Penny arched an eyebrow. "Yes, ma'am?"

"Just Penny is fine. So here is the deal." She said. "We will offer you an auxiliary role for our operating group. That would support not only Kurt's team but also the two others that we currently have in the field. The position would be variable in its nature and job description."

"What do you mean by variable?" Kurt asked while Penny caught her breath after the rant.

"One day he could be clearing a rift with a team and the next he could be doing surveillance for another. It's still a field position and not back office so the pay is similar but without the added stuff for equipping teams and dealing with property."

"I don't have to house him, do I?" Kurt asked.

Penny shook her head. "No, we have housing in our barracks at the Order. So, what do you say?"

"I can't divulge anything about the Agency's operations even if I sign…" Ra began, looking nervous.

"That is fine, we have other, more accurate means of finding out what they are doing." Penny waved him off.

Ra looked at Kurt who shrugged. "I say you take it. This is the best offer you are going to get since I don't have any way to employ you."

"Where do I sign?" He asked with a sigh. It was clear he wasn't getting exactly what he wanted but also it was better than he had feared.

"Right, this way." Penny said and guided the werewolf out the door and down the hall.

"Have fun on your date!" Val called and waved. Penny gave her a one finger salute over her shoulder. It would seem their handler did not like having her romantic pursuits interrupted for intrapersonal conflict.

*****

Agent Bill Jacobs was seated at a table in one of the FBI conference rooms for his debrief. His team was in separate rooms, likely going through the same process. It seemed that the bureau was not pleased with the results of their mission to bring in Kurt Rosk.

"So, what exactly happened?" Supervisory Special Agent Janic asked for what seemed like the hundredth time in the hundredth 'debrief' interrogation sessions. "You said that he quoted legal revisions to you?"

"Yes, we attempted to enter and perform a warrantless search the premises under the Paranormal Identification Act, but he said that we did need a warrant because of the revisions in an amendment to that act." Bill said.

"Hmm, and you just decided to retreat rather than force the issue and then lawyer it out in court later?" Janic prodded.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because he was right." Bill said, not able to keep the confusion out of his voice. Why would he knowingly violate someone's rights? He knew the laws were there to protect people and himself.

"Still." Janic began. "You were told to bring in Mister Rosk for questioning and if he resisted, put him in custody then search his home. Why did you fail to comply with orders?"

"Because I was pretty sure taking an ass chewing about not getting our guy was better than being gunned down in his driveway and him being in the right." Bill was getting tired of the games and politicking that had been going on since their return to the bureau. "We are not above the law just because we enforce it."

Janic raised one of his perfectly groomed eyebrows. "Really, Agent Jacobs? You deign to lecture about justification and rule of law as an excuse?"

"Yes, I do." He replied, adding as much steel to his voice as possible. "We are supposed to be the FBI. We are supposed to catch bad guys not make them." A sudden knock at the door made him look over as it opened revealing a woman he had never seen before.

She was tall, with light brown hair up in a bun, wearing a black pantsuit like most female agents and had a badge dangling around her neck that read 'Director' right above the name Gretchen Perkins. She spared Bill only a short glance before turning her attention to Janic.

"That is enough. You are excused." She said in a rather lovely voice.

Janic nodded once, scooped up his things and quickly left the room while Gretchen took his place across from Bill. She waited until the door clicked closed and then focused on Bill with a set of the brightest blue eyes he had ever seen.

"Agent Jacobs. I am Director Perkins" She began in a cool and blasé tone. "I would like to ask you a few questions about Kurtis Rosk and his associates that you encountered that day." She pulled out a thin, flat stone the size of a tablet and tapped it, revealing a set of glowing runes that divided it in half.

"What is that?" Bill said while leaning in to get a better look at the magical device.

"This is a Tablet, Memory Recall, Guided mark three." She said while pulling out a binder and flipping through till she found a certain page. The way she intoned the device's name was the exact way it was written in the property logs.

"What does it do?"

She looked back to him with a face that made his blood run cold. "You are going to put your hand on it, right next to mine, and we are going to take a little trip through your memories of the event while I ask questions about it."

Bill nodded and placed his hand where she told him. A moment later she touched the other side, and he felt himself being pulled into the memory. It reminded him of the few times he had had too much to drink and felt the room spin as he fell asleep. A moment later he heard her voice talking to him as he looked at a slightly color warped version of his memories.

"Good. Now, explain to me what happened as we relive your memories of this mission." Her voice came from somewhere he couldn't see.

He had expected it to echo but it was clear as day, almost too clear but he shrugged it off as he began to retell the events while watching himself in a memory that felt like a dream. Bill had no idea what she was looking for but knew that he definitely wanted to cooperate and get out of the situation he found himself in.

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