Skan went home after that. "Home" was actually a three story, massive bricked house. Not quite a mansion, but very impressive.
It was quiet, though. Skan heard nothing, but the faint 'pat, pat, pat' of something being punched. Skan snatched his gun, and walked down the spiral staircase. The patting got louder as Skan went further down the stair, nearer the source.
The downstairs was nothing more than a long hallway. A dozen doors were on either side, and between each door was an onyx pedestal and a seemingly expensive painting. On each pedestal was a bonzai plant.
Skan held his gun out, finger on trigger and ready to shoot. He put his hand on the door knob of the first door to the left, and slowly began to open it. It creaked loudly, and Skan grimaced. He threw it open all they way and swung his gun from left to right. Nothing. Damn.
Skan turned around and tried the second door to the left, gun still ready to fire. It opened swiftly and soundlessly. Good. Because someone was in there!
In the center of the room, there was a black punching bag. Back turned to Skan was a large man, though the same height of Skan, with broad shoulder, and blue hair, cut short. It looked to have been shaved once, but a few weeks had let it grow a little. This man thin, light gray pants. He wore a long grey shirt of the same material, and on top of the shirt was a sleeveless, darker gray vest. It had black stripes running down it. The man was pounding the bag with a vengeance.
For but an instant, the man froze in mid ounch, then he whirled around, grabbing a cannister rifle from the desk next to him as he did so. He pointed it at Skan's head. It was only inches away, it couldn't miss. But Skan's pistol, now very small and feeble seeming, was aimed at the other man's throat.
Both of them hesitated. They saw their OWN face on the body of the other, and surprise passed over their face. For a moment. The moment that passed, surprise mirroring their identical faces, guns aimed at a fatal area, was only a second, but felt like an hour. Finally, both of their surprise was replaced with recognition.
"Tad!" said Skan. "I didn't expect you here so soon! You're two months early!" Skan scratched the back of his neck. He put his gun away. Tad didn't. "...Or late. Whichever."
Tadrith Erreden scowled, the exact same scowl that Skan had used. "I'd expect better from my own twin!" He scratched his head-with the barrle of his rifle!-and added, "'sides, if this is the welcome I'll be getting, why did you give me the key?"
Skan shrugged. "I dunno. You should at least call me on my cell phone, you know! Let me know when you're here! You half scared the shit out of me!"
Tad pointed his gun at Skan. Not in a hostile manner, but he used it like someone would use a pointer finger, to emphasize or better express their point. Skan shifted to the side to get out of the rifle's way, but Tad didn't notice. "Skan, you never even gave me your damn number!"
Skan grimaced. "Touche. Well, while you're here. you might as well get something to eat. I can-"
Tad grinned. "I know, I know. You can cook. That's OK, I already ate. By the way, we need more milk."
Skan forced a smile, and left Tad's room. The one next to it was his. He opened the door and flung himself onto his bed. A bulge came up in his coat, kicking, and it travelled to the front of Skan's coat. It reached the opening, and out came a very small black dragon. It's head was the size of an egg, and it's wings were too small and thin to fly. The dragon lay down on the bed by Skan's head and snuggled into his shoulder. Skan opened his eyes and looked at it.
"Oh...hello Velociraptormongoliensis." (that was the scientific term for 'Raptor', the dinosaur) Stay there!" Raptor didn't need to be told twice, it was fast asleep.
Skan got up and sat on a heavily cushioned chair. He needed to think, without Raptor interupting his thoughts. He closed his eyes and thought of his conversation with Neisemeisho eariler on, at the Guild.
"Konnichawa...Skan...I have an idea." said Neisemeisho.
"Yeah?" said Skan. "What?"
"We can take back our archaeological dig sites, the one Bart Rudvich XI took, and by force."
Skan stared at Neisemeisho for a second. "You mean we actually ATTACK him? Literally?"
Neisemeisho nodded, gravely serious.
"Nise, that....that isn't legal!" Skan said.
Thom broke in here. He leaned forward. "Actually, Skan, it is. In this part of the world, there isn't yet a law that states we cannot challenge Bart's Co., as a major company, for his land. The only problem is, as a major company, the Engineers Guild could also be challenged." Thom said, as he leaned back into his chair.
Skan looked up, closed his eyes, and thought. The he looked back at Neisemeisho. "You know, Nise, you may have a great idea going on here! Just...let me think about it for a while, OK?"
"Of course," said Neisemeisho, to both Skan's question and his compliment. IT was neither joke nor boast, just the truth.
Raptor fluttered over to Skan's shoulder. A jump, actually, flapping it's wings uselessly. It pushed it's head against Skan's neck, very much like a cat. Then it playfully nipped Skan's ear before quickly crawling/slithering back into Skan's trench coat. It again flattedn itself to be inconspicuous. Most people did not like dragons.
After a fre minutes of speculating, Skan reached his decision. He grabbed his multi-phone, his own invention, and pushed three autodial buttons. Thom, Neisemsiho, and Teron. They all picked up ont the second ring, except Thom, who picked up the third ring. They all said hello in almost perfect unison, however.
"Teron, Nise, Thom," greeted Skan. They could all hear him.
"Skandranon," Neisemeisho said. "Have you come to a decision?"
Before Skan could get anything out, Teron said, "Just know I'm in this WITH, or WITHOUT you! So you'd better come!"
After a short silence, Thom said, "If you go, Skan, then I will." Thom and Skan had a lot in common. They gave up their life as soldiers and took up being scholars. So they were not as good as fighting as Neisemeisho and Teron, but a good deal smarter. This great similarity caused them to act always together. "If you don't, then neither will I."
Skan grinned to himself. "I was planning on going anyway, guys. Yeah, I'm in. Meet at my place. Bring your battle Gears!"