A How to train your dragon/ Modern storytelling. Names go as followed:
Hayden "Hiccup" Haddock III, Astrid Hofferson, Fredrick "Fishlegs" Iggermen, Scott "Snotlout" Jorgensen, Rachel "Ruffnut" Thortson, Thomas "Tuffnut" Thortson, Stoic Haddock, Gregory "Gobber" Belch, Milton "Mildew" Fungus
Summary: On the Isle of Berk Haddock industries are the foremost leading company in cyber electronics and has developed a nanobot built to cure the world of disease and by accident annotate the world's scrap metal problems. But as a result, others will stop at nothing to get the tech for themselves, including hiring a band of outcast mercenaries to target what Stoic the Vast loves most, his son.
Project Nano- Chapter 1
Stoic Haddock is the CEO of Haddock Industries, the foremost leading company in cyber electronics. Stoic's company was developing Bio-organic nanobots to heal diseases in the human body by sending them into the bloodstream. But as a result, the nanobots could also break down any metal compound in came in contact with. Perving a very good solution for the island's rapidly growing waste disposal. These nanobots could get rid of the large amounts of scrap metal that was otherwise filling up the dumps.
The council was currently discussing what to do with the nanobots when Milton Fungus one of the senior members of the board spoke up, he was a crusty old man who earned the lovely nickname of 'Mildew' for his charming personality. He was trying to petition Stoic into investing in the military a rivaling company, it would make them rich and would have the greatest impact on the whole of Berk.
"NO," Stoic said, refusing what felt like the 10 times that day, "I will not weaponize this companies' technology. Haddock Industries was created for the good, not to hurt said people or others for that matter."
But Mildew kept pushing the matter. He was in over his head in debt and the rival company he had suggested had approached him with a deal. Get Stoic to sign over the Nanobots to them and they would pay off his debt, or Mildew's dealers would collect the debt from his hide.
"Stoic be reasonable this tech deserves to be shared, expanded upon…" Mildew grounded out, but Stoic wouldn't budge and cut him off.
"My answer is No Mildew! And that's final, I will not sell to anyone who has intentions to weaponize my tech!" Stoic shouted that he had heard enough. Taking a deep breath to calm himself he added "Now on to the next..." but stopped speaking when his phone went off in his pocket.
Stoic pulled the phone out wondering who could be calling him on his personal line. Looking at the caller ID it read "HAYDEN HADDOCK" looking back up at the board members Stoic apologized "Sorry gentlemen, if you'll excuse me I have to take this. It's my son. I'll be back in a minute to discuss the next point on the agenda for the day." and with that said he stood up answered the call and left the room
"Hayden, I'm in a meeting son. Is everything okay?"
Mildew stared off at the large man as he exited the room, almost shocked as he caught a glimpse of fear crossed his face as he asked if his son was okay only for it to relax again as the answer was most likely yes.
Mildew had seen the boy around the office a couple of times but didn't think much of it. He was a runt of a boy always getting into trouble, and arguing with his father, who didn't give him the time of day. Until a little over a year ago, the company was attacked and his son had almost been killed in an explosion. Thieves had broken into the facility and raided the tech labs stealing a lot of valuable equipment, and once they were done they had placed a bomb to cover their tracks and destroy evidence behind. Luckily no one had been killed in the blast and the bomb was contained enough that it didn't damage the surrounding buildings, but several of the technicians were hurt in the blast (cuts, lacerations, small burns from the fires, and a concession or two). But Stoic's son had sustained the worst injuries of them all, as he had been the closest to the blast then it went off, and ended up losing a part of his left leg if Mildew remembers correctly.
Mildew didn't know the details of the accident or what followed but he did know that Stoic had become fiercely protective of the boy after and that he rarely let him out of his sights for long periods.
Then it hit him if Stoic wouldn't say yes to him maybe he would say yes for his son. Mildew's mind jumped into action excusing himself from the other board members to make his own call.
Once in the hall Mildew called his dealer to tell them the news about the nanobot's refusal. Needless to say, they were not happy.
"I don't care for your excuses Mildew. We made a deal with the nanobots for your debt. If you can't get us what we want then we'll just have to collect it from your dead body"
Mildew shuttered at that and rushed forward with his idea about Stoic's son. "I know, I know. But Stoic is a stubborn man and he won't back down once he's made up his mind." A growl sounded from the other end of the line causing Mildew to speak faster "But… I think I found his weakness."
"And what would that be?" they asked
"His son, Hayden. The boy is everything to Stoic, take the boy and Stoic will do whatever you want."
"…" silence hung in the air as his dealers thought it over. Mildew waited hoping that his plan would work, he didn't want to die. Mildew almost jumped when they finial spoke "Alright, where can we find this boy?" The man asked.
His Relief was short-lived as Mildew thought for a minute but realized that he had no idea. He almost panicked as he thought about how little he knows about the boy. He's sure Stoic's mentioned where the boy goes to school but couldn't remember himself. He knew the boy was in his teens and that he didn't get out much. But Berk had all of two high schools to its name so it couldn't be that hard to figure out.
"Leave that to me, I'll talk with Stoic and ask about the boy. Maybe I can find an opening for you to grab him."
"Good…and Mildew? Don't mess this up. This is your last chance." With that said the line went dead.
"Ah, Perfect" Mildew groaned "My life depends on a 90-pound boy" and dropped the phone from his ear.
Hearing the click of a door, Mildew saw Stoic exiting his office, probably just finishing his own call with his son. Well, it's now or never Mildew thought has he walked up to Stoic and plastered a fake smile on his face. He had to take this chance to ask about the boy now or he feared he wouldn't get another for a good long while.
"Hey Stoic, is everything all right with your boy?"
Sigh "Yes, he is thank the gods. He was just calling to remind me about his field trip tomorrow and needed me to bring the permission slip that's on my desk home tonight so he can hand it in tomorrow morning."
"A field trip you say? Where's he going?"
"I think he said it was the University… At the science and engineering building if I'm not mistaken. Berk Academy does it every year, I don't know how I forgot it was tomorrow he's been talking my ear off about it all week."
"You don't say…" Mildew grinned grew 'perfect' he thought then added. "I didn't think the little guy was into that." Trying to play down his excitement at finding out this new information.
"You have no idea – I'm always finding him tinkering and/or coding with something for hours. I've even had to drag him out of the labs on occasion a couple of times when he comes to visit me."
Mildew had been curious about that, he had remembered seeing Stoic pulling the boy out of the tech labs on more than one occasion but didn't think much of it.
Mildew had toned the rest of Stoic's ramblings out as he went on about his son and his interests in the labs. He had to think this through, Stoic had to give him a lot of good information that he could pass on to his dealers.
Let's see he thought taking the boy for here would be impossible since the security guards tracked him to and from the building wherever visited the building and kept an eye on him where ever he went. The high school was useless unless he was on his own outside the building, making it extremely difficult. The University was the same thing too, but doable seeing as it is open to the public, and if what Stoic said about the boy is true maybe he would be distracted enough to take him there or maybe on the way to the university?" Mildew's thoughts were interrupted as Stoic clapped a large hand onto his shoulder almost making his knees buckle under the force.
"Anyway we should probably get back in there and finish off this meeting I'm having an old friend of the family over for dinner tonight and I don't want to be late." With that said Stoic strolled past Mildew and into the boardroom "I'll be right there Stoic," he said. Stoic smiled and walked around the corner leaving Mildew behind. Once he was sure he was gone Mildew shot off a quick text to his dealer before making his way inside as well.
"Burk Academy field trip. B.U science engineering building Friday morning. Tomorrow."
"Well done. We'll take it from here."
Mildew smiled as the text came back, pocketing his phone and all but skipping into the board room after Stoic.
…