I wonder how you'll react to this one.
"Hiccup, what's so urgent?" Jack walked into a board room, to find him, Tooth and two other people looking at a video on a large screen. Jack stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the images playing on the screen. Behind him Elsa, Merida and Anna all stopped as well. Anna gasped and covered her mouth.
Jack's jaw clenched, as he watched the twenty or so people on screen screaming in pure agony, trashing around a dimly lit room.
"Shit," Merida muttered.
"Oh god, what is that?" Elsa asked.
The others turned to look at them.
"This, dear children, is undoubted the effects of Black Dust." A short and skinny man, with salt and pepper hair, and round frame glasses said seriously, "Welcome to DreamWorks ladies. My apologies that our meeting has to be sullied by this grave development. My name is Peabody."
"Anna, Merida and Elsa," Elsa introduced themselves quickly.
"When this come in?" Jack asked, walking closer to the screen.
"It was uploaded to the internet a hour ago." Hiccup said.
"From where?"
"That is what we're still uncovering," Peabody said, "The encryption on the video is high level. We'll break it, we just need some time."
"But look at the time stamp," Tooth said.
"Yesterday," Anna said, looking at the numbers at the bottom of the screen.
"Those could be put there just to throw us off," Hiccup said.
"Or it could have been left there to give us a message," Jack said.
"Either way, this has happened, and recently." Tooth said.
"This the second attack."
"We to need to look at those documents. See, if there is anything that can help us figure this all out."
"Right," Hiccup nodded, and indicated to the papers on the desk, "They seem to be a transport transaction. We don't know for what, it's coded. It says for marshmallows, but I think it's safe to assume it isn't that. Unless your weapons dealer has a craving for half a million s'mores."
"It's bullets." Merida replied.
"Excuse me?" Jack asked.
"Bullets," Anna explained, "Hans likes to use codes. Marshmallows are bullets, specially shrapnel or canister bullets. You can tell the difference by looking at the type of sugar listed."
"There are also colour text-codes for food colouring that they use to further identify the type of material they are moving. If it's AP, API, BT, FMJ, so on." Merida added.
"Um…" Hiccup glanced down at the pages, "There wasn't anything on sugar."
"Can I see?"
Hiccup passed the papers for her. She quickly scanned the pages, "He's right. It doesn't say here."
"Most likely canister then, if there isn't speciation." Merida said. "Buck shots, maybe."
"But who orders so many bullets and know guns." Elsa said.
"There is a serial code," Anna said.
"Getting cracking then."
"Hey, want to include us in the conversation?" Jack asked.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't aware it wasn't any of your business." Merida replied.
"Merida, please," Elsa said sharply.
"Ladies, we only want to help each other." Peabody said, "We let you come into our headquarters, and allowed you access to information we procured."
"But we would have gotten this information if you haven't interrupted our investigation." Merida said.
"We were conducting our own investigation." Hiccup said.
"We're aware of that," Anna said, placing a hand on Merida's shoulder to pacify her.
"That may be, but from what the snowflake told me, you got this information because you were chasing a scrap lead." Merida said, ignoring Anna's mummers to soften her tone.
"A scrap lead?" Jack fumed, "What's that supposed to mean? You got in our way. And you shot me!"
"Merida is right," Elsa said in a serious tone. "From what you told me, the reason you went after this information was because it came from an old associate of the man who created this Black Dust. A man who is imprisoned. For all you know this is a coincidence that they were making a move today. It could have nothing to do with Black Dust."
"You jumped at the first lead you saw, not even knowing if it was viable or not. A scrap lead." Merida said.
Jack opened his mouth to retaliate but he couldn't. They were right. They had jumped on this without much second thought. He ground his teeth together.
"This black dust thing is worrying, obviously," Anna said indicating to the screen, "But we already have our mission. We can get some of our people on it, if you want."
"No thank you." Jack growled.
"Jack," Hiccup shot at him.
"That's quiet alright ladies." Peabody added, "You've brought up a viable point. We apologise once again for getting in your way."
"We have to go." Merida said, "Hans has probably already moved up his time table. We don't have time to waste here."
"Agreed," Elsa replied, "Thank for sharing the information. Now if you'd excuse us."
"Wait, you're just leaving?" Jack asked.
"Black Dust is your mission. Not mine. I'd like to help, but I have to put my mission first."
"Hey, maybe when we finish our job we'll come an' solve yours for you." Merida smirked. Elsa glared at her and pushed her from the room.
Jack growled and slammed a fist on the table.
"Hey!" Hiccup said, "Cool it."
"They're not wrong."
"You don't have to take it out on the furniture." Tooth said.
"We're right back where we started."
"No we're not. There's this new video that we're tracing. We'll know where it originated from soon enough."
"But we wasted all that time today."
"We don't know that. That information could still be viable to us, we just have to figure out how."
"So what now!"
"Jack calm down."
"What now?"
Hiccup frowned, "I'm going to work with the tech boys to find out where, and from who this video came from. You go cool off somewhere."
Jack huffed, and turned sharply, leaving the room.
"Mr. P, sorry you had to see that."
"No, no. I understand. Frost will have an adjustment period. We can't expect him to just get back into the groove of things."
"Yeah, I guess you're right." Hiccup sat down.
"I'm going to see where they are in finding the source of this video," said Peabody.
"I'll join you in the hub in a moment."
"Right." He left with a curt nod.
Hiccup sighed. He could feel Tooth's eyes on him.
"Say it." He said with a forlorn sigh.
"Say what?"
Hiccup gave a half amused snort, "I shouldn't have brought him back."
"I wasn't going to say that." She said, sitting next to him. Hiccup look at her.
"You know him better than anyone. Even better than me. What do you think?"
"He's changed."
"That's an understatement."
"I think he'd forgotten who he used to be. That it is possible to be happy even while living this life."
"I don't even think he was happy with that life he had."
"I only knew of his moments. You actually saw him."
"Tooth," Hiccup shook his head, "He started driking. Looks like it's a regular thing. I found him hammered, and some random girl who just came up to him, he took her home."
"Jack did that?"
"Yea,"
"Our Jack?"
"It surprised me too."
"You know can't help but think the one person who'd be able to talk some sense into him is…" She trailed off.
"The one person who caused him to get like this." Hiccup finished.
"Yeah."
They both sighed.
"Why don't you try talking to him? You're about the other person who can give him some hard love." Hiccup suggested.
"I'm not sure if he'll listen to me. If North and Sandy weren't on a mission I'd ask them to talk to him."
"What do you think of the Disney girls?" Hiccup asked suddenly.
"The red left an impression."
"That she did."
"Seemed like good agents, from what I could tell. Their body language said so. Also seemed liked a good team."
"Have you ever run across any Disney agents?"
"Once, on assignment in China. You?"
"Three times, three different cases."
"Wow,"
"Yeah, our parts seem to cross more often than not."
"Organisations as large and far reaching as ours, it's not a surprize."
"Shame theere couldn't be better modes of communication between our organisations. It could save us some headaches."
"Or just cause new ones."
Hiccup snickered, "That's a possibility too." He knocked the table lightly, "Alright, I'm going to see where the techees are at."
"I'm going to find our boy."
They both stood, leaving the room. Hiccup travelled one floor up into a large room, filled with people and computers. There was a large screen on the far wall, and lines of code were running up the screen.
Peabody was there, talking quickly with a talk man, with starling blue eyes, and a large head.
"What's the work Docs?" He asked them.
"This encryption code is remarkable." Peabody said.
"The cypher we need to crack to access the source of the video. It changes every three minutes and 15 seconds."
"Did you try the password 1-2-3-4?"
Both men stared at him, "I can assure it isn't as simple as 1-2-3-4." Peabody said.
"It was just a joke." Hiccup said lightly.
"Not a good one."
"Megamind, come on, I know you like to laugh."
"Yes, but that wasn't very funny."
Hiccup frowned, "Tough crowd. If any can crack this, isn't you two."
"We're working on it. We assure you."
"I wish I could I help. But the virtual world is where my skills lack."
"Perhaps you can be assistance to Mr. Oh,"
"Oh," Hiccup smirked a bit, "Sure, what's he doing?"
"He's trying to enhance the video and sound." Peabody said, "To help us pinpoint where it was filmed. The lad is tech a genius, but when it comes to practical things, he lacks. You can help him identify what's important and what isn't."
"You mean things in the background, or hidden in the audio."
"Exactly."
"Sounds good," Hiccup nodded, "Hey, Oh, need some help man?"
"Since when do you drink straight up, and not even with ice?" Tooth asked, taking the seat next to Jack.
"Did you follow me?"
"I didn't have to. It was all too obvious where you would go. I'm surprized you could make in here even, considering what this place means."
"Yeah? And what's that?"
"This is the celebration bar. It's were we come to celebrate after a job well done."
"You saying I shouldn't be here?" Jack finish his drink with one swing.
"No. You can come in here whenever you want. It's not like the bar is reserved for our use. I just thought…"
"You thought I wouldn't want to come in because of memories." Jack cut her off.
"Looks like the pull of alcohol is stronger, yeah?"
"I'm not going to get drunk, if that's what you're worried about."
"I think you already are. I'm worried about you Jack."
"I didn't ask you to worry."
"You're my friend Jack. I'm going to worry."
"Then you're wasting your time and effort on that."
Tooth frowned and grabbed Jack by his arm.
"Ow, hey. Let go."
She twisted his arm behind his back.
"Get yourself out of this and I'll let you go."
"Tooth, what the hell? Don't make me hurt you?"
"Try. Go ahead."
"Ow. Ow. Tooth!"
She slapped money down on the counter and marched Jack right out of the bar, his hand still pinned behind him. He fought and argued the whole way, but he couldn't escape. She took him to the beach. It was late at night and it was mostly deserted. She let go of him when they started to walk on sand, pushing him forward. He stumbled and fell into the sand.
"The hell Tooth!" He got his knees, spitting out sand. "The fuck is wrong with you?"
"What's wrong with me? What the fuck has happened to you?" She shouted, "I'm trying to help you. We're all trying to help you!"
"Don't bullshit. I didn't want to be here. Hiccup made me."
"Hiccup didn't make you do shit. You came because you wanted to."
"No I didn't. I was happy where I was."
"Do you really believe that? Have you said that to yourself so many times you've started to think that's true?"
"It is true. I was happy right where I was. I didn't need to come here and be reminded of all this. Of everything that happened. I didn't need to come here and see you again."
"Me? So I'm the problem?"
"You say you're here now! But where were you then!"
"Where was…Where was I? You must have some balls asking that Frost. You weren't the only person who lost shit that day. We were all hurting. But you were the only one who choose to run and hide."
"I left because this life was killing me."
"You can say that. You can shout it to the heavens for all I care. But that won't make it true. Because I know you Jack Frost. And I know you loved this life more than anyone. You ran because you though it was your fault and you didn't want to face that. Just like with Ellie!"
"Shut up," Jack snarled, swinging his arm. Tooth grabbed his wrist before he hit her.
"No. You know you left her. You just don't want to face that. Just like you couldn't face what happened last year. We all had to deal with it. And guess what we are all still agents. Yeah, it's hard sometimes. There are days were I just sit down and cry. But I remember the good times too. I make myself remember. Because the days aren't all bad. And Jack, an agent who is as good as you were, they have more good days than bad. You just don't want to remember the good days."
"What good days?"
Tooth slapped him. Hard.
"You ass. What good days? Don't seriously stand there and ask me 'What good days?' We had good days. We all did! We still do! But to even think that you've forgotten, or worst, don't want to remember. That's the worst thing you can do. You're spitting on the memories, if you choose to only remember the good things."
Jack didn't respond.
"Hiccup thinks he made a mistake bringing you back."
"What do you think?"
"I don't know. You're a good agent, I won't deny that. But a shit ass friend."
"I couldn't watch it happen again."
"I don't know if you're aware of this, but if you're there, then there's less chance of it happening again. If you want to leave, then go. You for sure won't see it happen again. But thing about this. If you are there, you might be able to stop it."
"I couldn't last time."
"We can't always win. But one lose don't mean we give up. Like he would have said 'get off your freaking tail, there's a world to save'."
Jack didn't say anything.
"Cool your head," Tooth said softly, "Go for a swim and sober up, or a run. I'll call when Hiccup finds something."
Nardragon~ until the next page.