TS C13: Routine

Taking Sides
-Chapter 13: Routine-



Eventually, the lesson ended after around three hours of intensive teaching. Of course, several arguments broke out, when Aurelius dismissed scientific fact as 'pure and utter nonsense', which included Newton’s laws.

Of course, the latter was easy enough to prove, which involved tossing a broken phone at the gold dragon, who batted it aside, sending it smashing into a wall. I accompanied this with the relevant explanation of how this related to F=ma. This, of course, prompted them to clam up and the lesson ran to it's end with a handful of arguments.

At the end, I agreed with Faelius that I would conduct a similar lesson each day at noon, for a class that he would assemble. He even promised to give me a name list.

Once done, Aurelius took his leave, saying that he had to get back to his branch of the council to pass along the knowledge. He also added that he would probably have to return at a later date to learn more. Upon my request, he agreed to give advance notice. When asked why, I replied that I would need to prepare the lesson. Another reason was, of course, to avoid the entire drama that we had in the morning from repeating itself...

Once Faelius left, Aurak's eyes took on a faraway look, as Tyran took control. He flashed a smile. "It is good to see that you're regaining you skills, father!"

I nodded. "Not to mention convenient. You want to change back now? Or shall I drive us back first, though I'll have to bring in some petrol first."

Tyran cocked his head. "Petrol? What's that?"

"Oil. It's fuel for the car. The engine runs by burning that. If you want, I can try explaining in a little more detail than what I did earlier, but I know quite little. My education never went that far." I replied, sighing.

"Why do you sigh, father?" Tyran asked, looking concerned. It felt somewhat awkward, of course, since anatomically, it was Aurak who was making those expressions.

I shrugged. "I could have been doing my first year in university if I hadn't been conscripted. Then, I could have explained things better. My knowledge is very limited, and I know it."

Tyran snorted. "You still know more than most of us. Besides, you can always continue learning when the war ends."

I sighed again. "Perhaps. If the university that I have a place in is still in one piece when this is all over."

Tyran nodded. "Since you'll be busy, I'll resume my own form first."

WIth that, he pulled open the back of Aurak's skin and started to work his way out, while I mulled over on how I was going to go about bringing petrol. I was sure enough that trying to bring in a jerry can would probably bring in one that was either empty or filled with some random liquid, probably water.

While Tyran grunted in the background, having gotten his upper body free, I settled on bringing in an empty jerry can, then filling it with petrol.

There was a slight decrease in temperature I the room when I brought in the can, but it was tolerable enough.

However, upon inspection of the can, I found that it was filled with water. I groaned, and ended up lugging the entire thing out the door and pouring the water over the car, giving it a bit of a wash. I then transported the remainder of the water out of the can, leaving it totally dry inside. I then brought in petrol, and watched as the can filled, and stopped once it was completely full.

It then dawned on me that I should just transport petrol straight into the vehicles fuel tank, and did so, noting that I was once again breathing out mist, as the temperature of the immediate area dropped like a stone in water.

I hurriedly plonked the jerry can in the back, and waited in the vehicle, shivering slightly. Tyran and Aurak both came out soon enough, and hurried their way to the car, and got in, remarking that it was very cold.

Tyran shot me a suspicious look. "Did you draw energy from the air again?"

I nodded sheepishly, and started the car, saying, "I'll have to find a better source. Where to? Dinner, perhaps?"

"Tabalunga did say that he would be at the eating area at sundown. If we hurry, we may still be able to meet him." Tyran replied, shrugging. "Unless you wish to leave something in my den first."

I shook my head as I put the vehicle into gear. "Nah. lets eat and meet this guy properly."

Tyran nodded. "Are you going to be reckless again?"

I snorted, and revved the engine, making the vehicle surge forward. "I'm not reckless. It's called driving fast."

Tyran gave me a look of displeasure as the vehicle accelerated down the path, while the various dragons who seemed to be making their way to dinner stopped to look.

As much as I wanted to give everyone a chance to experience a ride, I was in a hurry, especially since Tyran said that sundown was actually about half an hour ago.

The vehicle sped down the path, and careened into the eating area, screeching to a halt practically in front of a stunned Tabalunga.

Of course, the roar of the engine attracted much attention, and a small crowd of curious dragons gathered around the vehicle as I applied the parking brakes and killed the engine. Already, several had plastered their snouts against the windows, trying to see who was the driver.

At least they had the decency to give us some space as we opened the doors and got out. The majority of the stares were directed at me, as I locked the vehicle and put the key on the table, in front of the still stunned Tabalunga, who looked to be finishing off his meal. I smirked, and said, "Hi. Sorry we're late. Lesson dragged a little."

Seeing that the crowd only looked to be getting bigger, I snorted and turned to address them. "Greetings, everybody. I'm sure you all know who I am."

Tabalunga seemed to have recovered and offered us seats, while the crowd dissipated a little, but in no way thinned out. However, seeing that we wanted some semblance of privacy at least, they went off, seemingly keeping their questions for another time.

"Quite an entrance you made, old friend." Tabalunga remarked.

Tyran snorted. "He seems to like those. He always did, and the contraption over there is his latest toy. Father hasn't changed. He always likes excitement."

I laughed. "You know me too well, son. Now, how does one get food around here?"

Of course, Aurak had hidden himself in the car. He didn't want to be seen in his present state. Besides, he didn't have to eat anyway. He did mention taking a nap too...

Tyran shrugged. "I'll take food for us."

Tabalunga nodded, adding, "None for me. I'm already full."

The conversation mostly revolved around how it was like to be human, and how my life as one went. It then went off on a tangent about how currency had changed, and how the bits of plastic and metals used now as money had any value at all. Tabalunga was a merchant, and still was. He dealt in more or less everything, and could get anything for a price. Of course, his family was well off, and had many luxaries. He was generous, and good to his friends. There seemed to be no change in him, and we talked as if no time had passed. We even spoke a little about economics.

However, we eventually had to part ways, for Tabalunga had his family to go back to. Besides that, i could tell that Tyran wanted to get home. I drove us back, and we flew to the apartment.

Of course, I dumped Aurak into the bath again to rinse, much to his displeasure. He complained alot, and all I did was point out that hygene was important. Of course, the argument was immensely amusing to Tyran who stood at the side, watching and laughing.

After Tyran and I had washed, we sat to talk for a while, trading stories. I told him about the funny things that happened during my life as a human, and how things seldom made sense in the army, while he told me what went on after my death, how the decision was made to return. In fact, Tyran had come through the portal in my camp.

Tyran mentioned that he could vaguely recognise my scent from what he smelt in the abandoned bunk. He had noted the slight draconic quality, but had dismissed it at the time. If I had been there, he would have probably been the one to capture me, rather than Draco.  

I told him how I grew up as a human, and how I learned to use the technology around me. I even learnt to repair computers and phones, and pointed out how expensive repairs could cost outside. Of course, Tyran found it difficult to relate to the numbers, since dollars meant nothing to him. I told him to just look at the difference in numbers, and to relate it to perhaps gold. Then, he got it. When asked about my pay, I snorted and replied, "Peanuts, as in very little. Not actual peanuts." This amused Tyran somewhat, and we chuckled the evening away, having a good time.


--

Over the course of the next few weeks, I found myself falling into a routine, of sorting through electronics in the morning, with help from Tyran, who seemed to be more than happy to lend a hand. Aurak turned up once in a while, but mostly spent his time somewhere else, with the dragon who had turned him into a dragon skin suit thing. Several weeks later, he turned up as a proper dragon again, elated.

In the afternoons, I would teach science to a bunch of dragons, all eager to learn. It eventually progressed on to applying it to understanding technology, along with it's flaws and strong points, as well as how to use magic to exploit the flaws. I had also drawn up some lesson plans, which I held on to for future reference.

The council had cleared the usage of magic to its fullest extent in the war, so that they could neutralise the edge that the humans had gained through the full usage of their technological resources. However, the humans had already begun to push back, regaining ground. The addition of magic, along with a spell that allowed dragons to take human form temporarily turned the tables yet again.

Meanwhile, refugees, dragon and human alike streamed in. It turned out that both sides had their share of civilians, and both sets were affected by the war. Humans and dragons alike were treated equally, and I was thrust in charge of the refugee management council at a moment's notice, the previous leader having left in a huff, not knowing how to manage the humans.

It took a bit of experimenting, but I managed to balance the needs of both sides, and got everyone to live in a small camp some distance from the headquarters as comfortabily as I could allow.