I would like to remind everyone that I am working in eight-hour shift which means updates will be slow. So would you please be patient as I am writing as quick as I can.
Ragnar was currently working on a new set of equipment for the Rangers and the twins were testing them in their own way. The twins were riding a set of motorcycles around the course with a lot of flair.
"This is totally awesome!" Tuffnut yelled at the top of his lungs.
"I could do this all day!" Ruffnut cheered.
"Just focus on testing the motorcycles," said Ragnar shaking his head as he took notes. "If the Rangers are going to be using these, we need to make sure there are no faults."
"Stop being a wet blanket and have some fun," said Ruffnut.
"Yeah, you've got to go with the flow," said Tuffnut.
However, at that point the motorcycles short-circuited and the twins found themselves unable to control the cycles.
"This is awesome and scary!" Tuffnut screamed as he tried to regain control.
"Watch out!" Ragnar yelled.
Too late, the twins crashed into the barrier and were flown off the cycles.
"You guys all right?" Ragnar yelled dashed towards them.
"We could have died," said Ruffnut breathlessly.
"Yeah, want to go again?" Tuffnut asked.
Ragnar then turned his attention on the cycles which were badly damaged.
Two hours later, Ragnar was reporting on his latest experiment to Stoick, who was reading the report.
"Another explosion?" Stoick asked.
"At this time the cycles went out of control," said Ragnar quickly. "I believe the fault is with the navigation software, I've got experts looking into it as we speak."
"Good, but tell me how hard is it to build five motorcycles?" Stoick asked as he looked up from the report.
"We're installing new equipment which would make them even faster than the regular motorcycles, not to mention lasers for defence," Ragnar explained. "Plus were also installing transport software's of the cycles can drive themselves and join of the Rangers anywhere in the city. Installing all that software will have some backlashes, and not to mention where adapting it to use a new form of fuel."
"What kind of fuel?" Stoick questioned.
"An experimental one, one that produces no carbon emissions and can easily be replicated," said Ragnar.
"Wouldn't it be easier to use petrol?" Stoick questioned.
"Easier, yes," Ragnar nodded. "However, since were floating city we would have to import this oil to other countries. Not to mention it would be a good idea that we don't damage the earth ourselves while we're trying to save it."
Stoick nodded. "I can respect that, that if it becomes too much of a problem I'm going to have to ask you to use more efficient fuel sources."
"I assure you, sir, that I can get them to work," Ragnar promised.
"Very well, I'll trust you for now, but if these failures keep on happening I might have to rethink," he said as he handed the report back to Ragnar.
Up in space, Drago was trying to devise a new plan to attack Berk.
"I want to launch another attack," he said to his generals. "I expect a good idea from one of you."
Viggo stepped forward. "If I may, I may have a suggestion my lord."
"Please enlighten us, Viggo," Drago offered.
"Our last few attacks have been nothing more than brute force, might I suggest a different tactic," Viggo offered.
"Such as?"
"Allow me to introduce to you, Speedfreak," said Viggo as a new alien entered the room.
This alien looked more like a racer than a fighter, you was heavily armoured and had a rider's helmet over his head. Also strapped to his waist were pair of pistols and even by looking at him you could tell that he would be able to draw them in under five seconds.
"Not exactly an impressive alien you have there Viggo," Krogan smirked.
"He may not look like much, but he has one more than a fair share of galactic races and he is known of leaving his enemies in pieces in the dirt," Viggo smiled.
"No one has ever beating me in a race that lives to tell about it and those that lose most of them can't either," Speedfreaks smiled.
"Put him into the test, we'll see how things go after that," said Drago as he leaned back on his throne.
"Of course, my lord," Viggo bowed respectfully.
Viggo and Speedfreak then left leaving Drago with the rest of his generals.
"Do you really think that Viggo can fare better than the rest of us?" Johann questioned.
"Viggo, is an excellent strategist that I highly respect, if the Ranges that he wouldn't defeat him then it proves that it's not just dumb luck that have won all of the fights," said Drago. "If so then we're going to have to rethink our strategies in the future."
"What do you suggest?" Krogan questioned.
"That is something that neither you or Ryker should worry yourselves about, I wish to discuss our next plan with Johann," said Drago.
Krogan and Ryker bowed respectfully and left the room leaving Drago to discuss his future plans with Johann.
On Berk, Ragnar was still going through the test results on the motorcycles hoping to find the bug and corrected.
"What are you working on?" said a voice.
Ragnar turned and found Heather standing there looking at him curiously. "Oh, Heather, I didn't hear you come in."
"That's all right, it looks as if you're quite busy," she said gesturing to the computer.
"I'm working on new forms of equipment to assist you in the Ranges," Ragnar explained. "It's proven to be a bit more complicated than I imagined."
"Need help?" Heather asked.
"Do you have a degree in engineering?" Ragnar asked.
"I've done some maintenance in my time," Heather smiled.
Ragnar shrugged. "Close enough, have a look."
Heather made her way to the computer and saw the schematics for the motorcycles.
"You're building motorcycles?" she frowned.
"I called and the Dragon Cycles, I've outfitted them with the state-of-the-art technology," Ragnar explained. "These are probably the fastest motorcycles ever designed, built in with homing technology that will allow them to drive themselves until they reach your respective positions. I've also installed weapons to help you find your enemies and a new engine."
"They look awesome," said Heather star struck. "When will they be ready?"
"I don't know," said Ragnar rubbing the back of his head. "The fact is we've then having problems getting them to work. We believe the new engine is the cause of the problem."
"What exactly is wrong with the engine?"
"The Dragon Cycles are not fuelled by petrol, rather a new energy source that we're able to create with very little cost and does not damage the environment," Ragnar explained. "Unfortunately the engine does not seem to be compatible with the motorcycle itself. The easiest solution would be to replace the engine with a petrol powered one, but I'm reluctant to do so."
"Why?"
"Well, partly because getting the fuel would mean we have to rely upon other countries, but mostly it's because I don't want to damage the environment any more than it should. If I can get this to work it might be the first step for cleaner fuel for not only us, but for the entire planet."
Heather looked at him. "And I thought it was us Rangers who are meant to save the planet."
Ragnar shrugged. "At the moment the general his allowing these tests to proceed, but I fear that soon he would want me to redesign the entire thing for a more efficient means of transport."
"I can see why you want this sorted," Heather nodded.
Then suddenly are alarms rang across the entire room and Heather immediately used the communicator on her Morpher.
"Hiccup, what's going on?" Heather asked.
"There is any movement in the racetrack, get there as soon as you can," said Hiccup's voice.
Heather looked at Ragnar. "I guess that I'm going have to help you a bit later."
"That's quite fine," Ragnar assured.
Heather soon joined up with Hiccup and the others at the racetrack and so far there was no sign of any enemy presence.
"I thought that there was someone on the racetrack," said Snotlout.
"Someone just teleported down recently," said Hiccup.
Astrid frowned as she heard something. "Do you guys hear that?"
Everyone listened to what sounded like an engine then suddenly turning round the corner was Speedfreak on his motorcycle which was quite fiendish looking.
"So these are the famous Ranges I've heard so much about, I'm not very impressed," he sneered.
"And who would you be?" Hiccup asked.
"The name is Speedfreak, on the 10 times winner the Galactic Race Cup and anyone who has ever faced up against me never get back up again," he said.
"Then we'll be the first," said Hiccup and he looked at everyone. "Ready?"
"Ready!" they all nodded and they raised the Morphers.
They then immediately swung their fists forward. "Unleashed the dragon within!"
Upon saying those words the flames from the Morphers covered their bodies and the immediately transformed into the uniforms.
"Now that you have your game faces on, let's see how well you do against my ride," Speedfreak smirked and immediately revved up his engines.
Before any of them had a chance to do anything Speedfreak zoom towards them and they quickly jumped out of the way before he hit them.
"No fair," Snotlout growled. "We don't have any bikes."
"Sorry, pal, but in this race you need to bring your own toys," Speedfreak smirked as he immediately turned around and charged them again.
Hiccup looked at Heather. "Heather, do you think you can snag them?"
"I can try," said Heather as she immediately pulled out her whip.
Speedfreak kept on speeding towards them and Heather waited for the right moment and immediately fling her whip. The whip wrapped itself around Speedfreak's waist, but he was moving so quickly that the momentum caused her to skid across the racetrack.
Speedfreak smirked as she found herself being dragged across the racetrack. "I hope you enjoy the dirt, because you're bound to get a face full of it."
Speedfreak then suddenly veered off and immediately entered the track that was designed for mountain bikes. As a result Heather found herself being dragged across the dirt and it was quite painful for her, eventually she lost her grip on her whip and skidded across the ground.
"Enjoy your dirt nap!" Speedfreak laughed.
Hiccup and the others had rushed over towards the dirt track and saw the entire thing.
"The guy is just as good off road and he is on it," said Astrid.
"There's no way we can catch up with him on that thing," said Fishlegs.
Snotlout then pulled out his mace. "I have an idea to get him off his bike."
He swung his mace into the air gathering as much energy as he could and then slammed it on the ground sending a powerful shock wave. Unfortunately, Speedfreak must have sensed the vibration as he immediately drove off a ramp and was now 20 feet in the air.
"You really think you can knock me off my ride with cheap tricks such as that?" Speedfreak laughed.
He then immediately pulled out his pistol and fired several shots and dealt a lot of damage to Hiccup and the others. The moment he touched the ground the Rangers were battered and bruised, not to mention ill-equipped.
"Any more bright ideas?" Astrid asked.
Hiccup was annoyed. "We're not going to beat him by just standing around here. We need to find some way to get him off his bike, it's the only way we can fight him on even ground."
"How, we can barely touch him?" Astrid asked.
Hiccup began pondering then an idea popped up in his head and he turned to Snotlout. "Snotlout, do you think you can use the same attack as you did before?"
"What good will that do? You just saw him counter it with these?" Snotlout asked.
"Just trust me," said Hiccup.
"Fine, but don't say I didn't warn you," Snotlout grumbled.
Snotlout then slammed his mace into the ground once again sending another shockwave.
"This again?" said Speedfreak shaking his head. "Try some originality."
He then immediately drove towards the ramp and immediately launched himself into the air to avoid the attack, but this was all part of Hiccup's plan.
Hiccup pulled out his sword and held it like a javelin. "How's this for originality?"
He then tossed his sword with all his strength and it causing to the front wheel of Speedfreak's motorbike. This jammed the wheel and the moment he landed on the ground his bike when out of control and he struck the ground.
"My ride!" Speedfreak roared.
"Nice shot," said Astrid impressively.
Hiccup shrugged. "I do what I can."
"Then allow me to do my thing," she said as she pulled out her axe.
She then immediately charged at Speedfreak, who was still recovering from that little surprise and he looked up in time to see Astrid jump into the air with axe hand.
"Viggo, I'm in trouble!" Speedfreak yelled.
"I'm teleporting you back," said Viggo from the spaceship as he immediately pushed the button.
Speedfreak then teleported just before Astrid struck him with her axe.
"Damn, he got away," Astrid cursed.
"Not good, because I doubt you'll fall for the same trick twice," said Hiccup.
Once they were back at headquarters, the immediately briefed Stoick on the encounter and he wasn't too pleased.
"So this cyclist made fools was out of you," he simplified.
"I wouldn't say that," said Snotlout. "We started to get the upper hand when he ran away."
"I would call it a strategic retreat," said Stoick darkly.
"The problem is we can't keep up with him while his on his motorbike," Hiccup explained. "And stopping him while he's on it is hard."
"I've got the bruises to prove it," Heather winced.
"The fact is, Sir, we need a fight on even ground and that means we need rides of our very own if we stand any chance of beating him," said Astrid.
"Ragnar has been working on that for quite some time, but I think given the circumstances we need to take more drastic measures," said Stoick.
Krogan was enjoying the fact that Viggo's recruit had been trounced by the Rangers and he wasn't shy to express his feelings to Drago.
"So after all that talk, you still haven't been able to destroy the Rangers," Krogan smirked.
"Like your one to talk," Ryker growled.
"I won't deny that Speedfreak failed to accomplish his mission, but the fact that he was able to return at all his an accomplishment," Viggo pointed out.
Drago just sat there narrowing his eyes. "Granted, but this strategic retreat has hardly helped us."
"Once I get my bike fixed up I'll go straight back out there, I can assure you my lord that I refuse to be second in this race," Speedfreak promised.
"See that you don't, because if the Rangers don't destroy you I certainly will," Drago growled.
Stoick was in his office as Ragnar entered.
"You asked for me to see you, sir," said Ragnar as he closed the door behind him.
"Please sit down," said Stoick gesturing to this chair in front of him. Once Ragnar sat down Stoick went down to business. "I'm sure you've probably heard about the latest attack and how the Rangers barely managed to survive."
Ragnar nodded. "I have, I take it that you want the Dragon Cycles to be operational sooner than expected."
Stoick nodded. "I haven't given you a lot of time to fix the issue out and now time is nearly running out. I'm sorry Ragnar, but I'm afraid your new engine has to be replaced with one that we know will work."
"Sir, I've nearly got all the bugs sorted out," Ragnar assured.
"So you can get the bikes operational in the next two hours?" Stoick questioned.
"I need a few more days at the very least," said Ragnar.
"We don't have days and I want the Dragon Cycles operational in the next two hours," said Stoick strictly.
"I'll get right on it," said Ragnar as he closed his eyes.
He then got of his seat and exited the office very disheartened, waiting for him outside was Heather, who could tell immediately that something was wrong.
"What happened?" she asked.
"Stoick has ordered me to get the Dragon Cycles operational in the next two hours," Ragnar explained. "And that means I'm going have to use petrol engines rather than my own in order to meet the deadline."
"I'm so sorry," said Heather apologetically.
"It's not your fault," Ragnar assured.
"If we had done our job, you wouldn't have been pressured by the general," Heather reminded.
"Your opponent had you outgunned, because you didn't have the right equipment. I am not going to put you and your team in danger just because of my principles."
Ragnar then walked off, but while he had given up Heather was not going to cave in like he did.
Heather immediately went to the others and explained the situation with Ragnar to them.
"We get to have our own motorbikes," Snotlout beamed.
"Yes, but as I just said Ragnar is being forced to use petrol engines rather than his clean efficient ones," Heather reminded.
"So what? We still get the bikes," Snotlout pointed out.
"Ignore him," said Astrid.
"If those engines of his actually work we could save the environment and the entire planet," Fishlegs beamed.
"But as I said the engines have problems and his lost his drive, if you pardon the pun," said Heather looking at them.
"I'm sure we can put our heads together, we can figure out what's wrong," said Hiccup.
"What do we have to lose?" Fishlegs asked.
Snotlout shrugged. "So long as I get a bike I don't care either way."
"It is disobeying the general's orders, but I doubt there would be any harm of fixing an efficient engine that would give us a strategic advantage," said Astrid.
Immediately they went their way to one of Ragnar's labs and began looking at the blueprints for the engine. They had only two hours, before Ragnar could present his work to Stoick, selective them very little time.
Fortunately, Hiccup had a degree in engineering and he was quite familiar with Ragnar's work. They worked on the problem for quite some time, but even the five of them together could not figure out the fault.
"It's perfectly designed, by all indications it should work," said Hiccup shaking his head.
"But it doesn't," Snotlout frowned.
"That's what I don't understand."
"Are you saying that we can't fix the engine?" Astrid asked.
Hiccup shrugged. "I don't know. I don't even know what the fault is."
"I would have thought that it was obvious, brother," said a voice behind them.
"Indeed sister," said a second voice.
They quickly turned and saw the twins standing there.
"What are you two muttonheads doing here?" Snotlout asked.
"Saving the day apparently," said Ruffnut.
"You two?" Snotlout snorted.
"Yeah, we've been on those motorbikes more times than I can count," said Tuffnut.
"So 11 times," Snotlout smirked.
Hiccup looked at them. "So will you tell us what the problem is?"
"You're seriously asking them?" Snotlout asked.
Hiccup shrugged. "Perhaps we've been looking at a too complex problem. Usually a complex problem can easily be sorted by the most simplest solutions."
"And boy is it simple," said Tuffnut.
"Don't keep us in suspense, tell us," Heather pushed.
"Keep your hair on," said Ruffnut holding her hands out. "The problem with the engine is that the fuel is not going into it."
"Come again?" Astrid frowned.
"The fuel is going to the wrong place," said Tuffnut.
Hiccup frowned and looked at the schematics and his eyes widened. "Their right."
"You can't be serious," Snotlout stared.
"I am," said Hiccup as he pointed at the blueprints. "Whoever designed this engine made a mistake. The fuel isn't going into the engine at all and where it is going is causing feedback with the electronics."
"Resulting in an overload," Heather stared. "We need to tell Ragnar, now."
They didn't waste any time and show their findings to Ragnar who just sat there in disbelief.
"How could I have missed something so simple," said Ragnar in annoyance. "I've been looking at the wrong problem. I thought it was the engine itself that was the problem, not the way it was constructed."
"Well, now you know, can't you fix it?" Heather asked.
Ragnar looked at his watch. "I'm gonna need some help."
"We're your pit crew," Hiccup smiled.
"Then let's get to work," said Ragnar.
Stoick was waiting at the testing track for Ragnar, who appear to be a bit late.
"He's running a bit late, that's not like him," Stoick frowned.
"He must have his reasons," said Gobber.
They then heard the sound of an engine and then suddenly riding onto the racetrack with a Rangers on the new Dragon Cycles. The Dragon Cycles were heavily armoured and each representing each Rangers colour and the armour made the bikes dragon-like, representing the different dragons.
"Sorry we're late," said Ragnar as he approached Stoick and Gobber. "We've been doing some last-minute adjustments."
"Surely doesn't take that long to insert a petrol engine into a motorcycle," Stoick frowned.
"Then petrol engines, it's my new specially designed engine," Ragnar explained.
Stoick turned on him. "I thought that I gave you an order."
"Actually, you gave me two hours to fix my current engine," Ragnar reminded. "I regionally believe that it was impossible, but the Rangers prove me otherwise and now it's fully operational. The only snag is that we haven't tested it yet."
Stoick was trying to hold back his anger. "Well, for your sake I would hope that the test is successful or else I'm going have to choose a new head scientist."
"I'm sure it will, sir," said Ragnar confidently.
Hiccup and the others looked at one another, knowing that this was doom or die for Ragnar.
"Okay guys, no fooling about, remember Ragnar's reputation is on the line," said Hiccup as he looked at the others.
"Don't worry, Hiccup, if there's a problem it won't be down to the engine," Astrid assured.
Ragnar was about to start the test, but then suddenly there was an explosion and Speedfreak zoomed onto the track on his motorbike.
"Guess who's back," he said and then he saw the Ranges new rides. "And I see that you've decided to find me on equal ground, let's see what those pieces of junk are capable of."
"He chose now to attack," Heather whispered.
Hiccup looked at her. "I'm sorry to say that this is now the test."
"Then let's burn rubber," said Snotlout as he revved his engine.
The others followed his lead and immediately they zoomed off and began chasing after Speedfreak, who was now racing down the track.
Stoick, Gobber and Ragnar quickly ran to cover as quickly as they could.
"This is not quite the test I had in mind," said Ragnar.
"Looks like were skipping the test entirely," said Stoick as he looked at Ragnar. "Please tell me that the Ranges stand a chance."
"They do," Ragnar assured.
Speedfreak looked behind him and saw the Rangers close behind, those new bikes of theirs were indeed fast.
"So, they're not pieces of junk after all," he said with a smile. "But let's see if the riders themselves up to snuff."
He then pulled out his pistol and began firing at them.
"No fair, we can't fire back," said Snotlout as he swerved to avoid the shots.
"Oh, yes, we can," Heather smiled and then pressed a button on the handles.
Immediately firing out the dragon's mouth in front was a beam of concentrated energy which caught Speedfreak offguard. He quickly swerved out of the way in order to avoid the shot which took out a piece of the track.
"So, they're not just the show," he said and then looks down at his bike. A holographic image of Viggo appeared in front of him. "Viggo, the Ranges abroad around some new toys that have shift the balance. I'm going to need something to turn the odds in my favour."
"Very well," Viggo nodded.
Then suddenly appearing on the racetrack were several squads of Drakenoids.
"Can't fight your own battles, huh?" said Astrid.
Speedfreak smirked. "You're the ones that are outnumbering me, love."
Hiccup knew they needed a new gameplan in order to deal with the Drakenoids. "Okay, which one of us is the most experienced rider?"
"That would be me," said Heather.
"Then you go after Speedfreak, the rest of us will handle the Drakenoids," said Hiccup.
Fishlegs raised a hand. "Hmm, can we fight on our bikes?"
"Just watch and learn, Fishface," Snotlout smirked as he immediately charged towards the Drakenoids.
Snotlout then waste any time firing the lasers at the Drakenoids, which caught them offguard. He then drove straight into them knocking them into the air as he drove by. The Drakenoids, quickly regrouped and began to surround him only to be broken by Hiccup and the others as they charged in.
Hiccup slowed down so that he could strike them with a few powerful kicks, four Drakenoids try to get him from behind, but he saw them from behind his mirror. He then quickly performed a wheelie and spun around striking them with the front wheel.
Astrid decided to bring out her axe and was now clashing with several Drakenoids while still riding her bike. She struck several of them knocking them to the ground and when one tried to jump on her, she quickly grabbed it and tossed it over her shoulders causing it to crash into a group of them.
Fishlegs was panicking slightly and was driving around fearfully, but despite his fears he kept on firing his lasers. Finally enough it was his erratic behaviour that was giving him the upper hand as the Drakenoids couldn't figure out his barrel plan and were getting overwhelmed by the firepower from his bike.
Speedfreak was still driving around the racetrack and looked at his mirror seen Heather directly behind him. "So, it's just you and me, huh?"
"Don't sound so confident, any one of us can beat you now," she said plainly.
"The last time we met I remember you wiping the floor with you, quite literally," Speedfreak sneered.
"Not this time," said Heather and immediately fired upon him.
Speedfreak quickly turned to avoid the blasts and jumped off a ramp, he then immediately pulled out his pistols and fire down at Heather, who quickly followed him. Heather however brought out her whip and spun it over her head and it immediately deflected the shots.
Speedfreak had been taken completely by surprise and the shots struck his bike. As a result, he lost control as he landed and fell off it hard. He got to his feet and looked up in time to see Heather directly above him.
"I'm not going down like this!" he yelled and began firing his pistols.
However, the shots just went past Heather as she positioned herself directly above him. She then immediately fired her lasers and scored a direct hit and seconds later there was a huge explosion as he fell to the ground.
Heather soon touched the ground and looked at the scorch mark "Looks like you've just ended up in last place."
Up in space, Krogan was quite pleased to see the destruction of Speedfreak and he looked at Viggo.
"So much for your master plan," he said with a sneer.
Viggo just remain silent and walked off.
"I wouldn't boast if I were you," Johann pointed out as he folded his arms. "Your record hasn't exactly been stellar lately. At least Viggo came close to destroying them."
Krogan growled. "You'll see why I'm second-in-command here once I destroy the Ranges."
"A contest which is getting tiresome," said a big booming voice.
Krogan immediately turned and found that Drago was standing there. "My Lord."
"I will not tolerate any kind of weakness in my ranks and my patient is growing thin," Drago growled.
"But Viggo was the one that failed today," Krogan reminded.
"True, but he at least acknowledges his defeats and learns from them," said Drago as he leaned in towards Krogan. "Viggo is the best strategist on this ship and he is getting beaten so what chance do you stand?"
"I am more proactive then he is, I would rather be on a battlefield rather than watching from afar," said Krogan.
"Be warned Krogan, that if failure continues by anyone we'll be taking action personally and I will punish those that fail me," Drago warned.
Krogan just remained quiet as Drago left the room.
Back at Berk, Stoick was sitting at his desk facing Ragnar.
"You disobeyed my orders," he said.
"Technically, you asked me before if I could get that engine operational in two hours? At the time I thought it was impossible, but the Ranges proved me otherwise," Ragnar reminded.
"It was still a big gamble, but it paid off so you won't be penalised for it, but don't do it again," said Stoick.
When Ragnar left the office he found Hiccup and the others waiting outside.
"Well?" Heather asked.
Ragnar smiled. "I'm off with a warning."
"What a relief," Hiccup sighed.
Ragnar looked at them. "I want to thank you all for helping me out, if it weren't for you guys and who knows what would've happened."
"Actually you should find the twins," said Astrid. "They were the ones that figured out the problem."
Ragnar blinked. "Really?"
"Hard to believe, isn't it?" said Snotlout.
"I should give them a pay rise," said Ragnar scratching the back of his head. "There again it might go into their heads and they might do something dangerous and destructive."
"Don't they do that on a regular basis?" Hiccup asked.
"Yes, but if they level we might not have city to stand on," said Ragnar.
They all laughed and began walking down the corridor.