"This is the future, ladies and gentlemen," Viggo Grimborn CEO of Grimborn Inc. declared to the crowd. "Commercial human cloning."
Holograms of the concept was shown on the stage, eliciting a surprised gasp from the audience.
"This will not only reduce the numbers of deaths from organ failure and transplant rejection, it will also increase the patients life span and improve their quality of life," he explained. "The possibilities are endless. Endlessly creative and unlimited."
Hiccup felt Astrid shift beside him and he stifled a smile. He had brought her with him to work today to show her around. It just happened to be that his boss was holding a presentation on possible future developments, however unethical and futile they may seem.
"We are not only looking at the medical benefits here, but also.. companionship," Viggo continued with a smirk. "Imagine being a single man with no time to set aside all the while yearning for someone to keep your bed warm at night. Imagine having someone specifically designed to fulfill that need, without any further demands or commitments. They are just there for you and your pleasure alone."
"So a human slave basically?" Astrid whispered to Hiccup. "Charming"
Hiccup shook his head, letting out a dry laugh. "Tell me about it."
T
After the presentation was over, Mr. Grimborn walked around to converse with the members of the audience as well as his guests of honor.
Hiccup and Astrid looked around at the exhibition by themselves while sipping on expansive champagne. They weren't as impressed by the project as some of the other attendees despite Hiccup's possible future involvement.
"Imagine if this sort of thing becomes legal one day," Astrid mused. "These clones would be like pigs raised for slaughter.. or children groomed to be sexually exploited."
"I try not to think about it," Hiccup sighed, "It would be a grave violation of human rights."
"Only if they were considered to be human.." Viggo interjected from behind, making both Hiccup and Astrid jump in surprise. "These clones will be like mindless machines at most. They will not be capable of emoting or feeling anything beyond what they were designed for."
Astrid glared at him through narrowed eyes. "How is that any better? They would still be alive and we would be taking advantage of them."
"You got fire in your eyes, I like that," Viggo chuckled. "Mr. Haddock, why don't you introduce me to your beautiful lady companion over here."
Hiccup cleared his throat and placed a hand on Astrid's waist. "This is my wife, Astrid Haddock. Astrid, this is my boss.. Viggo Grimborn."
Viggo held onto her hand a little longer than Astrid was comfortable with. Astrid forced a smile. "Pleasure."
"Oh, no," the older man murmured, staring at her with intrigued eyes. "The pleasure is all mine, my dear."
5 years later
There was a loud knock on the door and Hiccup groaned from the couch, not in mood to greet any unexpected guests. It was his day off and he wanted some peace and quiet.
When he didn't answer, the banging grew louder. "Hiccup, if you don't open the goddamn door, I will have to break it down, I swear!" Snotlout bellowed angrily.
Hiccup sighed, almost forcing himself to stand up. He ran a hand through his shaggy, unkempt hair before greeting his obnoxious cousin from hell. "What do you want?"
Snotlout pushed past him, and Hiccup rolled his eyes as he followed him into the living room. "This place looks like crap and you look like hell."
"Thank you, Snotlout," Hiccup replied sarcastically. "Was that all?"
Snotlout spun around and regarded him with furious eyes. "No, it's not, Hiccup," he said through his teeth. "You know it's not."
Hiccup stared down on the floor and Snotlout's expression softened a little. "Why did you break if off with Callie? I thought you liked her!"
The auburn haired sank down on the couch. "I only went out with her to get you and everyone else off my back."
"Hiccup.." Snotlout groaned in disapproval. "This is what, the fifth girl you have blown off now? Please tell you at least spent the night with her or else I'm not speaking with you ever again."
"That would be relief," Hiccup muttered under his breath. Snotlout shot him a glare, making the taller man wince inwardly. "Alright, fine. Yes, I did. Happy? "
"Not quit. What about Alice, Madision, Maja, Holly-"
"Yes, all of them. Will you leave me alone now?"
"No."
Hiccup sighed to himself, closing his eyes.
"I'm not.. I'm ready to be in relationship yet, okay? I can't.. I can't.." his voice trailed off, eyes looking misty.
Snotlout sat down beside him. "It's been two years now, Hiccup. She would want you to move on, she would want you to be happy!"
"I know!" Hiccup fired back, his voice cracking slightly. "I'm-.. I am trying, what else do you guys want me to do? To just forget her? I can't... do that. I refuse to do that."
Snotlout shook his head, smiling sadly. "Of course not. That's not what I meant," he sighed. "I.. miss her too, and I want her back as much as you do but.. we both know that's not possible."
Hiccup swallowed. "I loved her all my life.. and it's not something I can just.. stop... all of the sudden."
"And we don't want you to," Snotlout murmured. "But we also don't want you stay stuck in the past. You need to live, Hiccup. You need to open up, let happiness into your life once again..." Snotlout trailed off, making Hiccup look at him. The shorter man had odd expression on his face.
"What is it?"
His cousin took a deep breath and shook his head. "Nothing. I.. Can I use your bathroom?"
Hiccup stared after him with a slightly perplexed expression.
T
Hiccup entered his workplace and stared at the dusty Grimborn Inc. billboard that had yet to be removed. After being five years in high debt, the Grimborn brothers finally sold their company. Hiccup fortunately managed to keep his job during the merging but any previous projects that had the Grimborn stamp on it, were laid to rest. This included the Commercial Human Cloning program that had long ago been deemed too inhuman and unethical to be funded. The Grimborns had changed their course then, placing all their bets on a Cryonics Institute, which fundamentally ended up being their downfall. With no money left to fund, they had no choice but to the sell their entire company to the highest bidder, which turned out to be a Modern Surgical Unit that specialized in robotics.
Hiccup being an engineer quickly found himself at home in this new environment. To keep himself distracted from the painful loss, he threw himself into work, distracting himself in any way he could manage. He would often volunteer to work overtime and into the late night. Which eventually let him straight into rabbit hole..
T
...It was late into the night when Hiccup heard some strange sounds coming from the underground while he was down to check on one of the machines. He usually remained on the upper floors but there had been some problems with the signal lately, which led him to investigate the problem further.
Hiccup frowned at the faint screaming and crying. It appeared to come from behind the white wall he was currently facing towards.
Removing his gloves, he traced his hands against the solid surface and knocked on it. Someone screamed again... almost as if they were calling for help.
Hiccup looked for any sort of doorway to the other side but found none.
For a moment, he wondered wether he was imagining this whole thing. He was tired and sleep-deprived, it wouldn't be the first time since he lost her that he lost touch with reality.
But then he heard it again... A shout for help. His eyes suddenly fell on something he had previously overseen. There was a cabinet to his right with a lock hanging from it.
Hiccup ventured upstairs to the stockroom where he found a hammer, and after some afterthought, he also grabbed his gun from his office on the way down.
He stared at the cabinet for a moment before smashing the hammer against solid rock with a force beyond what he thought he was capable of. Just as he suspected, the illusion of a wall disappeared and he was now looking through a transparent barrier.
The sight that met him made him drop down on his knees.