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> A second hum joined the first, coming in at a higher, quieter pitch.  It was a sound all three had heard at some point or another, but one that only Keedle recognized for what it was.  He shuffled his feet, heavy leather boots scraping against the grimy cement floor.  Looking out into the darkness, the goblin tried and failed to pinpoint the drone that was cruising in their direction, its whirring blades as irritating to his giant ears as the drone of a mosquito's wings. "[b][i]Yeah, yeah, have a look-see.  It's just us three.[/i][/b]"  
> 
> Erathun felt his skin crawl at the sharp, pitched noise.  He wanted to shuffle his feet too, but resisted the urge by curling his toes down against the thin slippers he wore, as if he were a tree trying to ground its roots into the earth for stability.  The kid focused instead on the goblin's voice, and the hotly muttered words he'd breathed out, while wondering just how much of this was planned out between the goblin and these... scientists, was it? Laboratory workers?  Keedle really hadn't bothered to give he or Zhenn'arh many details this evening, and the unknowns were beginning to test the young dragon's nerves.  Without moving his head, Era shifted a quick side-eye to Zhenn'arh.
> 
> The troll's gaze was for the long driveway that rolled out beyond the cement lip of the garage, winding through the dark meadow before eventually connecting to a series of quiet, backwoods gravel roads.  He could hear the slow crunch of tires rolling over them, barely creeping along for several minutes.  Whatever tension might be riding in him, he didn't show any outward sign of it; his broad, two-toed feet were motionless against the cool floor, and his hands held loose and idle at his sides.  But he was alert, this much Era had noted, as he followed the painfully slow approach of the vehicle somewhere beyond the veil of darkness.
> 
> And then two beams of lights cut through the meadow.  They bounced slowly as they moved, then grew brighter as the headlights veered towards the buildings, and a Chevy Tahoe of undecipherable color appeared beyond the final bend in the lane. All three squinted, with Zhenn'arh raising an arm above his eyes as the glare of light all but blinded them.  
> 
> A low noise, something that wanted to be a growl, escaped from Erathun's throat.  A tingle ran through his hands and feet, and he felt like he couldn't quiet get enough air into his lungs. It caused each breath to tremble, despite his best efforts to control it.
> 
> "[i][b]Steady.[/b][/i]"  It was Zhenn again, and Era wondered how the troll could sound so calm in a moment like this. The SUV had rolled to a slow stop, only a few yards from the garage. "[i][b]Trust da plan.[/b][/i]"
> 
> -[i]What plan?[/i]- Era thought with heightened irritation, yet found himself turning a quick, acknowledging glance to Zhenn'arh anyway.  Two of the vehicle's doors were opening now, and the kid felt a rush of heat crawl across his chest.
> 
> Keedle shifted his weight from one foot to the other, then slung the backpack of his shoulders and plopped it onto the ground in front of him, green fingers curled into the pack's top handle. "[b]Evening, fellas.[/b]"  He then called out, before the first polished shoe even hit the ground.  Small as the goblin was, his voice -just [i]slightly[/i] pitched - held out over the low growl of the idling engine.
> 
> From the front passenger side, a tall, rotund fellow in a dark sweater and sleek jeans stepped out.  From the door behind him, a shorter, stoutly muscled woman followed, and Keedle was the first to recognize the dart gun she carried.  Both people appeared to have holstered pistols as well.  The goblin, squinting his eyes against the onslaught from the headlights, scoffed, "[b]Oiy, what's with all the heat?  We're just here to do a little business, right? Look, I held up my end - just me and my bodyguards, no weapons.[/b]"
> 
> The man took a few steps forward, bringing himself flush with the front of the vehicle, with plenty of space between him and Keedle's crew, "[b]Consider these our bodyguards.[/b]"  His words were heavy and dismissive, "[b]And you won't have to worry about them as long you don't try anything, goblin.  Now, bring your supplies forward, and drop them in front of the car, and we'll go from there.[/b]"