The Gentle Sniper
Chapter 1: Loss
A/N: This is something I wrote in the space of about a day. As such, it might not be very good.
Also, as the HTTYD has been slowly leaving following the third movie, I want to see how many people are still around and are interested in something like this.
Also, also, I will be using UK military ranks in this story.
Now, without further ado, let's get this thing started.
…
Two men stood in front of a large floor to ceiling window. The sky was grey and neither could see much of the snowy mountain slopes that the building they were in was built on, despite the fact that they both were on the ground floor of the building.
The room they were in featured a set of double doors on the far side, past two sections of wall with a gap in the middle.
One of them had a broad muscular frame and a high-powered rifle in his arms, while the other was lean and equipped with a sniper rifle.
Both wore white boots, combat trousers and tactical winter jackets of the same colour, complete with a fur lined hood, as well as a white scarf.
For headwear, the pair wore a beanie and black ski goggles, with an earpiece equipped underneath.
Lastly, the lean man had a satchel on.
"What a great foggy morning this is, eh Fury?" The broad man asked his teammate.
"Welcome to south Berk, Alpha Trapper. This is some of our best weather. You should see when a blizzard forms or it rains down hail." The lean man replied.
"I'm sure I'd be fine. I'd bring my umbrella for that. You ready to start the clock on that bomb yet?"
Fury gave a sheepish smile as he produced the bomb from the confines of the satchel he had on. "…Now I am. We should go find our friend."
"Acknowledged, Fury. Sal, how's it looking?"
"Obviously no clear visuals and I think my radar setup is going haywire. No sign of any tangos anyhow, over."
"Copy that, Sal. Guess we're blind. Shall I start the clock, Alpha Trapper?"
*Slam*
Fury and Alpha Trapper spun around to find the double doors behind them had been shoved open and two men were standing there with high-powered rifles.
They each dove towards the section of wall that stood between them and the doors as the men raised their rifles and opened fire.
Alpha Trapper peeked out and fired his own rifle, succeeding in killing one of them while Fury took out the second with his sniper rifle.
"Tangos down. Let's go find our guy before more show up. Then we can leave as we blow this place sky high."
"Copy that."
…
A broad shoulderee body was sprawled on the ground before Fury.
"Sal, this is Fury. Call for medical assistance. Alpha Trapper is down."
Behind an oak desk on the far side of the room lay another body, with two more on either side of the piece of furniture in question.
The body got to its feet.
Fury brought his sniper rifle to bear.
*Bang*
The body's head erupted, spraying blood, brain and everything else over the desk.
"Say again, Fury? Are you under fire?"
"Negative. Alpha Trapper has been shot in the chest. He took a hit from a tango and is in no condition to fight. I have ensured that the tango is dead and the office bears no sign of the target, over."
"Roger that. I can have medical assistance sent your way. ETA 20 minutes. Can you hold out for that long?"
"Negative. Bomb set to blow in one and Alpha Trapper has passed out. I need to move out on my own."
"Roger that. Do you require guidance to get out?"
"Negative. I have my own way out. But I request that you buy a bouquet of black tulips."
"…Roger that Fury. Go with the gods."
"Don't you know? The gods hate me, Sal."
"Acknowledged, Fury. Sal out."
Fury glanced at the timer on the bomb.
'Thirty seconds huh. Guess I'll just have to jump. Good thing the General's office isn't on the top floor.' Thought Fury.
Holstering his sniper rifle on his back, Fury picked up Alpha Trapper's rifle and fired at the single large window beyond the desk.
Then Fury ran towards it and burst through, bending his knees and rolling after landing safely in the deep snow below.
Getting up, Fury observed the slopes that stretched out beyond him.
He wouldn't see the bottom - where his extraction point was - on a day with clear skies, but the fog didn't help at all.
It's going to be a long walk, thought Fury.
He then started jogging, mindful of the explosion that was due shortly but aware that running and tripping as a result would do him no favours.
"Keep the car running, Lieutenant sal. I'm on my way."
"Roger that." The response came just seconds before the building behind him exploded.
"Mission accomplished," Fury muttered drly, looking back before continuing on his way.
…
Now back at base, Captain Haddock was waiting to be debriefed.
The debriefing room sported white tiles on the floor, a table and two chairs, one full and one empty.
Then the door opened and the man of the hour strode inside before he sat down across from him.
"So another man down and no sign of General Hofferson anywhere. Is that correct, Captain Haddock?" asked Major Belch, studying his unofficial uncle intently.
"Yup. Excellent summary there sir," quipped Hiccup.
"Don't sass me, laddie. You're a man down and so you'll be needing another partner."
"Sir, ever since my team was asked to capture or kill Finn Hofferson, each of my partners have died. With all due respect, I never want another partner. At the very least until Hofferson is behind bars or in Valhalla."
"Now I'd agree with you under normal circumstances, but it's an order from the General himself."
"The Grimborns, or Stoick, sir?"
"Your father is stubborn, but not that bad, laddie."
"If you must join the army, then I ensure that you always have a partner. I'm not going to let you get hurt," Hiccup said dryly, imitating his father with near perfection.
"That doesn't sound that bad, laddie."
"He's never said those words in his life, sir. He prefers to use disappointed scowls."
"Point taken, but give it some thought. It might not be so bad."
"You've already chosen my partner, haven't you?"
"Well…"
"Alright, who is it?"
"Lieutenant Jorgenson."
"Snotlout? Seriously?! Sir, he won't listen to me and he'll get himself killed. His ego is taller than most skyscrapers."
"Again, not an order from me. Good luck laddie." The man shuffled towards the door.
"Where's Snotlout?"
"In the mess hall, where else?" came Gobber's reply. He then opened the door. "I'll find Lieutenant Ingerman for your ritual. I saw him walking around with some black tulips earlier."
Then the prosthetic wearing man was gone, leaving Hiccup with his thoughts.
Snotlout. Wonderful, thought Hiccup before his head met the table in front of him and he groaned loudly.