1
The Accident.
It was 8:00 am at the house of the Blaise brothers.
Kenai was youngest. He was finishing high school, while Sitka was finishing university and Denahi was starting it. The three brothers had been on their own since the death of their parents years ago in a plane crash, but they loved and took care of each other, so they were happy.
Even if they teased each other all the time. Especially Denahi and Kenai.
On that day, Kenai was going on a school excursion to the Haddock's laboratory, owned by Stoick, (called The Vast by his rivals), father of Hiccup, one of Kenai's friends.
Hiccup usually helped Kenai with mathematics and with physics, while Kenai helped Hiccup with sports, since Hiccup had lost his leg in a car accident years ago. He regularly received help from Kenai and his brothers, and from Astrid, Fishlegs, Camicazi, Pocahontas and Nita, some of his friends, as well.
"Hey, want a ride?" asked Sitka to Kenai while they were having breakfast. Sitka was drinking his coffee and Kenai grabbed a piece of bread.
"No thanks, Hiccup is going to give me a ride," responded Kenai.
"Uh, your boyfriend is coming for you." said Denahi, entering the kitchen.
Kenai was about to punch him in the face but Sitka stopped him.
Sitka sighed.
"Knock it off, both of you," he said.
"He started it!" Kenai protested.
"Denahi, stop making jokes like that, please."
"Forgive me, wise big brother," answered Denahi, a wide smile on his face.
"Oh, you never learn," Kenai said, annoyed.
Kenai wasn't too excited about the excursion. He liked to go out with his friends, but he wasn't very good at science and besides, an demonstration about radioactive waste wasn't his idea of fun.
Unlike Hiccup.
Hiccup was dying to go; he was the smart member of the group, and he loved the scientist in charge of the exposition, Doctor Otto Octavius. Doctor Otto was the partner of their science teacher, Gobber. He was a good teacher. Crazy, of course, but good. He'd lost a leg and a hand during the war.
After the demonstration, though, Kenai would be free for the rest of the day, and he could go out with his friends in the city, so it wasn't too bad.
Twelve minutes later, Hiccup arrived in his car, and Kenai said goodbye to his brothers. He got in the car and they drove to the Haddock's laboratory.
"I guess you're pretty excited, huh?" said Kenai.
"Yeah, if I'm honest. I've always loved Doctor Octavius's work since, like, forever. Have you read his book?" Hiccup gushed.
"It´s not my style."
"Well, you should. It's really interesting."
"And you think he's sure about his radioactive experiments?" Kenai said skeptically.
Hiccup rolled his eyes at Kenai's doubt.
"He's a genius. Of course he knows what he's doing, Kenai. He isn't going to blow up the whole city or anything."
…
When the pair arrived, the other students were already at the building.
"Hi, boys!" called Nita once she look them.
"Hi Nita! How're you doing?" Kenai.
"Awful. Atka's been following me to my house again." She replied, annoyed.
"Have you told your dad yet?" said Hiccup.
"I have, but he still won't listen to me. He thinks Atka's perfect. You know how he is..."
"Then let me take care of him!" said Kenai. "I'll give him a lesson he won't forget."
"No, Kenai. Please, I don't want to get you in trouble. I'll talk to him, and if he doesn't listen, I think I will have to call the police." Nita said.
"Alright, well, whatever happens, remember that we're here for you, Nita." Kenai said, looking at her steadily.
"Thanks, guys." Nita responded, smiling.
She had been Kenai's best friend since childhood. They weren't in love, but Kenai took care of Nita like a brother, and the pair was nearly inseparable.
Soon Astrid arrived. She said hello to everyone, punched Hiccup in the arm, and gave him a kiss.
"Lovebirds," Kenai smirked.
"Oh, shut up." Astrid was about to punch him and Kenai held up his hands in defense, still laughing.
Next to arrive was Fishlegs, who talked with Hiccup about how excited he was; then Camicazi showed up, and finally Pocahontas. The normally quiet girl walked in grinning and announced, "They found a bear cub last night!"
Kenai rolled his eyes. "You should know I don't like bears that much." He said.
"Why not? They're wonderful creatures." Pocahontas protested.
"All they do is eat and steal food and roar and, uh... eat, that kind of stuff." Camicazi said.
Pocahontas shook her head at her friend's ignorance. "They do a lot more than that, Camicazi." She said, and was about to continue when Gobber announced, "We're about to enter, so listen very carefully. You will stay with the main group, or else I'll send you home. No couples, no trios, no groups of five: main group. Got it?" Everyone nodded quickly. "You won't touch anything and you'll follow both my instructions and Stoick's. Am I clear?"
Everyone yelled yes.
"Perfect. Follow me."
Everyone entered to the building, not knowing anything of the change that was about to occur.
…
Once they were in, Gobber led them through the laboratories, presenting each experiment.
"They use animals here. This is a crime against nature." whispered Pocahontas.
As he showed them the mechanical armors and the weapon designs, Gobber said, "Amazing, isn't it?"
"Yes," said Hiccup, eyes wide.
Kenai smiled fondly. "Nerd."
"Arrogant idiot." Hiccup shot back.
After about fifteen rooms, they finally reached the exposition.
Hiccup's father was there, as well as Otto, and an electrician tweaking the last details of a machine.
"Good morning students! My name is Stoick, and I will be your host today. Now, as you may now, at Haddocks Industries we're very concerned about the future of the human kind, and that's why - "
"Stoick! Stoick!" interrupted an old man with a short white beard and tattered clothes.
"Oh, not him again..." Stoick sighed.
"I want my money you thief. You owe me money!"
Stoick replied, exasperated.
"Mildew, for the last time, I don't owe you any money, now get off my property before I call the guards."
"Bullshit, Stoick! You and your company stole the designs of my glider! At the very least I want the money for that!" Mildew insisted.
"I already told you that our glider's design has nothing to do with yours, Mildew. I mean, come on, flying like a bird... That's mad even for you." Stoick said.
The security guards came in and seized Mildew's arms.
"Get him out of here." Stoick said.
"No," said Mildew, glaring, "I'll show myself out of this thieve's den."
He stomped out, while Stoick apologized for the interruption. But before Mildew reached the door, he released a spider from his pocket, unseen.
"Fix this for me, old friend," he whispering, letting the spider scuttle to the ground. Mildew laughed like a madman as he watched the spider's progress through the laboratory, and finally exited, a satisfied smile on his face.
"As you know, for years we've been experimenting with the manipulation of highly radioactive materials," explained Doctor Otto as he put on a device with four robotic tentacles coming out of the sides.
"He uses does robotic arms to work with dangerous materials. Isn't it cool?" Fishlegs gushed.
"They look cool, I admit." Said Kenai.
"Before we start, I want to thank Stoick and his company for making the dream of a life time come true," said Otto.
"It's been a pleasure, Otto." Stoick said, smiling.
"And also, our electrician, Max Dillon." Otto finished.
Max waved, and the experiment began. At the beginning, everything seemed to be going well. Hiccup and Fishlegs were paying attention to every detail, but Kenai was looking around for something more interesting to do. He received a punch from Nita.
"Pay attention, Kenai." She chided.
He complained, "But this is so boring, Nita."
"Maybe if you pay attention it'll be less boring." She said.
But out of nowhere, an alarm began to blare. "Alert! Radioactive waste has escaped! Repeat, radioactive waste has escaped! Evacuate immediately. This is not a drill!"
You see, the spider that Mildew had released got into Otto's radioactive box, triggering a radioactive explosion.
"TO THE EXIT NOW!" screamed Stoick; everyone began to panic and crowding the exit.
Max was about to leave, but he was pushed to a giant tank with European eels.
Max was about to leave, but he was pushed into a giant tank with European eels and electrocuted. The Doctor Otto was trying to get things under control again and Stoick ran to help him but it was useless.
Gobber and the others students had gotten out, except for Nita, who had fallen and sprained her ankle.
"Help me!" she yelled, terrified.
Kenai was nearly at the exit when he heard Nita's scream. Running on adrenaline, he turned without a thought to come back for her.
"Come on, we're gonna make it, we're going to - " said Kenai, voice cracking.
But the doors were closing.
"Go, save yourself!" Nita sobbed.
But Kenai had other ideas in mind. With all his strength, he carried Nita and pushed her through the doors just as they slammed shut.
"No!" yelled Nita, but it was too late. The doors were closed, and now Kenai, Stoick, Otto and Max were stuck inside, a radioactive explosion about to happen.
"This is it," thought Kenai, strangely calm. "I'm going to die." As he stared at the door, unseeing, the room exploded in light and heat. He passed out, fortunately unable to feel the pain of the explosion and of the bite of a newly radioactive spider.