Project Nano - Chapter 3

*Warning mild violence ahead in this chapter

Morning came too fast in Stoic's opinion, he got so few chances to see his friend lately that it was nice to catch up, as they had stead up late talking until well after midnight before he had to call it a night. So here he was sitting at the kitchen table nursing his coffee in hopes that it will wake him as he read the morning paper.

Stoic's ears picked up the sound of his son's uneven footsteps as he moved around upstairs quickly before racing down the stairs, followed by a thud and a muffled curse as his son most likely tripped on his prosthetic on the last step. Stoic shook his head at his son's clumsiness as he finally rounded the corner into the kitchen. "Whoa! Slow down there son."

"Sorry, dad. Morning" Hiccup smiled brightly placing his school bag on the chair next to his usual spot and moved to the counter picking up a glass and opened the fridge to pour himself a glass of milk.

"Ha-ha, well aren't you in a good mood this morning, excited for the trip today?"

"Oh, definitely it's going to be great, they so many new exhibits, and there this one wing that's internally dedicated to the engineering of aerial mechanics!" Hiccup gushed he didn't know what it was about airplanes but he found their overall mechanics fascinating. Or maybe it was just the thought of flight that excided him.

"All right son calm down" Stoic chuckled at his son, his excitement was contagious. "Eat your breakfast and I'll drive you to school." Hiccup nodded and plopped down into his seat and dug into the bacon and eggs Stoic had made them this morning.

Once breakfast was done both father and son got into Stoics tan SUV and made their way towards berk Academy. "Now remember son Seven will be following behind you on the bus today!"

"Oh come on… really?! The university has its own security team, Seven doesn't need to be there."

"I know son, but none of them will be there to watch you they're only there to watch the exhibits. So it's either Seven goes or you miss out on the trip entirely."

"That's not fair! No one even knows I'm working on this project besides you and the two other technicians. Besides that, they all signed confidentiality forms so they won't talk."

"Look Hayden" Stoic rubbed his head with his right hand trying to ease the stress headache that was coming on while the other gripped the steering wheel tightly "I get you don't like this but we've discussed this already..."

"I remember that conversation being very one-sided" Hiccup crossed his arms over his chest. "Look at it from my point of view. You're making me feel like a prisoner, I haven't been able to hang out with my friends outside of school in weeks" Hiccup slouched further into his seat pouting about the unfair situation.

Stoic tried to hide a smile that crept up from his 15-year-old son scowling like a little child. "I get that son, just please hang on a little bit longer Hayden. Magness has the specs you gave him and he should have the prototype finished by the end of the week. Then I can hold a press conference and announce our findings, just give me two more weeks I promise."

Hiccup grumbled something under his breath that Stoic didn't hear, most likely sarcastic.

Stoic sighed as he saw he wasn't getting anywhere with his son in this mood, maybe if he could reason with him he'd see why he was doing all this "Son look… I know I can be overprotective sometimes…"

"Sometimes?!" Hiccup snorted in a low sarcastic voice.

"What was that?" Stoic whipped his head to look at his son.

"Nothing… Y-you were saying?"

"Right…" Stoic raised a bushy eyebrow at his son choosing to ignore the comment "I only do these things to keep you, safe. You know that right?" He said while pulling in front of Berk Academy putting the car in park to look fully at his son.

"I know dad, and I get. But it can be a little suffocating at times."

"And I will try to ease up, but not before these nanobots are done. Now you better hurry or you'll miss the bus." Stoic nodded to the buses that were already upfront waiting along with his son's friends waving at them to hurry.

"Now remember what I said Hayden, stay with the group and insight of Seven at all times. Seven will be in the silver SUV behind."

"I got it." Hiccup said giving his father a small smile making his way out of the car and collecting his bag from the rear seat.

"Alright then be safe and have fun."

"Don't worry dad nothing going to happen" Hiccup smiled brighter at him and waved goodbye as he took off at a run-off to meet his friends.

Stoic watched as his son ran up to his friends greeting them and almost face-planting into the pavement as his foot caught on a raised sidewalk tile. Stoic nearly jumped out of his car to help but stopped as Fishlegs hand flew out to grab his son's arm and pulled him back up onto his feet. His son laughed it off running a hand through his messy auburn hair.

Seeing that his son was okay he turned his sights towards the parking lot making sure Seven's car was there. Once he found him he waved at his staff member and drove off to work, sighing to himself as he hoped he had done everything in his power to protect his son. It was just a school field trip, so why couldn't he get this feeling of unease out of the pit of his stomach that was telling him something was wrong.' He thought as he took one last look at his son as he climbed onto the bus and out of his sight as he moved the SUV back into gear and drove away.

…

"Hey, guys…Ah!" Hiccup's greeting was cut short as his foot snagged a raised portion of the sidewalk. It threw off his balance he tried to throw his arms out to help to at least cushion his fall when he realized that he was going down. But it never came, just as he thought he was going to wipe out Fishlegs large hand grab his forearm, and pulled him up.

"Whoa!" Fishlegs jumped as he held firmly onto Hiccup's arm. "I got you Hiccup," Fishleg's said as he righted him back on his feet and didn't let go onto hiccup raised his hand in thanks to saying he was good.

Hiccup took a second and glared down at the sidewalk behind him 'seriously two falls in one day?' he thought darkly, is the world out to get him.

"Are you okay?" Ruffnut asked followed quickly by her brother "What's with the death look H? I mean you did almost become a pavement pancake." he chuckled at his own joke.

"Ha-ha Tuff. But no, I'm good" Hiccup shrugged waving the boy off, while running his hand through his messy hair. "Thanks, Legs I owe you one" Hiccup added turning to the large husky boy to his left.

"No Problem."

"You really need to watch where you're going" Astrid smiled at him.

"Thanks I'll keep that in mind."

"Hey, where's Snotlout?" Hiccup looked around for his older cousin.

"The knucklehead failed his midterm, so Mr. Mulch said he couldn't come on the trip this year until he got his grades back up." Astrid laughed filled him in.

"Oh…"

"Mr. Haddock!" Hiccup turned around searching out the person that had called his name and spotted his Science teacher, Mr. Mulch waving him towards the bus door he studs next to. "May I see you for a moment?"

"Coming!" Hiccup called back as he and his friends made their way over.

"Yes Mr. Mulch, what can I do for you?" Hiccup greeted his kind-hearted teacher.

"I just wanted to make sure you had your father sign that permission slipped I gave you?"

"Oh, Ya I almost forgot." Hiccup opened the flap of his messenger bag up and pulled out the previously mentioned slip. "Here it is, he had in on his desk at work all week." He stated as he handed over the slip.

Mr. Mulch took it and looked it over, seeing that everything was in order he smiled and stepped aside while gesturing towards the bus. "Alright then Mr. Haddock why don't you and your friends make your way on the bus, they're seats for you in the back."

Hiccup sighed and thank him as his friends and he climbed on board. Leave it to his Father to call his teacher and have him place him at the back of the bus so Seven could see him while he followed behind.

The teens made their way to the back of the bus to take their seats before Mr. Mulch climbed on board a few minutes later to do a headcount of all the students. Once everyone was accounted for he sat down himself and told Mr. Bucket to start the bus. Cheers shouted into the air as the bus moved out of the academy's parking lot and onto the road.

10 minutes into their drive Astrid had looked behind them and noticed a large sliver SUV following them, she turned back to Hiccup who was sitting across from her in the aisle seat, and tried to get his attention as he was geeky out with Fishlegs beside him.

"Hiccup, there's an SUV following us, is this guy one of your father's security guards?"

"Huh?" Hiccup turned around in his seat and followed Astrid's eyes, where he spotted the silver SUV and sighed "oh um…yeah that's Seven." Waving at that man as he turned the corner with them, and have him wave back in return.

"You weren't kidding about the whole bodyguard thing were you?" Astrid said as she looked behind the bus again.

"Sadly I was not" Hiccup sighed turned back around in his seat.

"I think it's cool. I feel like a celebrity" Tuffnut said.

"Idiot Hiccup's the celebrity, not us" Ruffnut countered.

"Um... No, no actually I'm not" Hiccup waved his hands looking between the twins hoping to stop any fighting that would break out.

"Relax Hiccup your father said it would only be two more weeks right?" Astrid leaned into his shoulder and gave him a light nudge causing him to smile.

"Yeah!" Fishleg blurted out "and then we can all celebrate at my house. My mom said she'll make all your favorites Hiccup!" Fishlegs was bounced up and down in his seat with excitement.

"Haha" Hiccup laughed with his friends feeding on their excitement and letting it cheer him up. "Thanks, Fishlegs that sounds ama-AAhh!" Hiccup never got finished his sentence as the bus jolted and screeched to a halt, throwing the students forward in their seats.

Hiccup while sitting sideways in his seat had pitched forward prosthetic leg slipping on the smooth flooring and almost fell out of his seat into the open aisleway.

"HICCUP!" Astrid cried out catching the back of his shirt and pulling him back to the safety of the seat.

"T–thanks," he thanked her before turning his attention to the front of the bus "what happened? Why did we stop?" said while looking around some kids like him had cried out in surprise before standing up and looking out the front window to see what had happened.

"I – I don't know?" Fishlegs answered a little shaken from the sudden stop.

"We don't know either but it was awesome!" the twins high-fived each other.

Just then there was a knock on the bus's front door and the whole front half of the bus filled with gasps and panicked cries as the knocking got louder almost threatening to break the glass.

"OPEN UP!" a loud guff voice spoke up from the front, Hiccup wasn't sure but it sounded like it came from the outside of the bus.

Hiccup didn't know what was going on but he knew it couldn't be good. He looked over at the bus driver and saw him raise his hands and then slowly opened the door. The action surprised Hiccup bring forth a small amount of panic as few actions warranted that response. He risked taking a quick look behind him seeing if Seven was still behind him but froze as the only thing he saw the Berkian express train flying down the tracks and no Seven insight. 'Oh no' he thought 'he must still be on the other side of the tracks. Seven could see what was happening to them.

As the doors opened more cries ran out causing Hiccup head to whipped back to the front in time to see two large men wearing black ski masks climbed on board, one moving up to stand at the top of the stairs while the others stayed further back where Hiccup could only see from his shoulders and up as he lend on the wall.

Mr. Mulch half raised from his seat behind Mr. Bucket, both their hands raised in the submission. "What do you want with us? Please don't hurt the children, we have nothing of value."

"Relax! We're only here for one thing and one thing only. Then we'll be on our way" he glared back at him before turning to the rest of the bus "HAYDEN HADDOCK where you are?!"

…

Hiccup froze at his name was called feeling his blood ran cold, breathe catching in his throat as he tried to remember how to breathe for a second. 'No, he couldn't have heard that right. There was no way his name was just called." He argued with himself thought running wild in his head. He could see Astrid stiffened in front of him and could feel Fishlegs shaking next to him. The twins seem unfazed by the situation as they scuffed and said "Hayden? Who's that and why does he have your last name Hiccup? Ruffnut snickered.

"Do you have a twin too Hiccup! Why don't you tell us!?" Tuffnut gasped in excitement turning sideways in his seat.

"That is his name, Muttonheads!" Astrid whispered back harshly shooting them a deadly glare before looking at him. "Hiccup?" she said trying to get his attention but not getting it as his eyes were locked ahead on the armed man.

Mr. Mulch's question broke through the noise of mumbling students "M-Mr. Haddock?! What you want with him?!" He sounded scared and Hiccup didn't blame him it was taking everything he had not to freak out at the moment.

"That is none of your business old man! Now, I'll ask again WHERE. IS. HAYDEN. HADDOCK?!" the Large man shouted punctuating each word. "If you don't show yourself in the next five seconds I'm going to start shooting!"

Inaudible screams sounded out around the bus as he raised the gun up to the ceiling and started to count "FIVE…FOUR…THREE –"

"STOP!" Hiccup screamed shooting up in his seat fists clenched at his sides, before his brain registered what he was doing he took a step forward. Faintly hearing the sounds of his friend's voices trying to stop him.

"Hiccup no" Fishlegs whispered, while Astrid tried to grab him but he stepped out of her reach.

"Ah, there you are" the first gunman smirked as he moved towards him. Hiccup's breathing came out in short iritic breathes as he tried not to panic as the man walked closer to him, he wanted to run but there was nowhere to go and even if he could this man said he would shoot his classmates.

"Come here!" the words reached Hiccup's ears a moment too late as he felt the large meaty hand of the gunman grab his upper arm grabbed and pulled him into the man's chest.

Panic hit him full force as he tried to pull away "No! Get off of me!" he shouted but his struggles did nothing as the man only squeezed his arm harder causing him to hiss in pain as his arm felt like it was almost yanked out of its socket while he was turned around to face the front of the bus and lead to the open doors. Hiccup tried to dig his feet into the ground but his sneakers just couldn't find the traction he needed, and the man pushed him on with ease. It's not like it would have done much good seeing how the man was at least 4 times his size.

Just as they reached the front of the bus Mr. Mulch stood up throwing his arms out in an attempt to block the gunman's passing. "I will not let you take that child" spreading his arms even wider.

"MOVE!" the Gunman brought up his hand the one that still holding the gun and smashed the barrel of it into Mulch's temple causing him to fall back into his seat clutching his head. Students began to scream again in wordless shock as the Gunman moved on without looking back.

"No! Mr. Mulch" Hiccup tried to struggle out of the man's grip to get back to his teacher "let go of me!" Hiccup shouted as he started to pry at the fingers around his arm in hopes of freeing himself from the large gunman's bruising grip clawing at his fingers doing everything he could to get out. But he couldn't get out, and the next thing he knew he was weightless flying through the air down the staircase and into the waiting arms of the second man.

"Gotcha!" he cried out a large smile spreading across the man's evil lips.

"LET GO!" Hiccup fought even harder if that was possible. He was starting to get really scared now, he didn't know why these men were taking him or what they were going to do with him once he was away from the others, and he didn't want to find out. Then he heard a shout.

"HAYDEN!" Hiccup looked up in time to see Seven pushing his way past the bus's back bumper and stop holding out a gun of his own pointing it at the gunman holding. Hope-filled him as he saw the man for ones thanking his father's crazy abstention for his protections this past month. "Drop your weapon and step away from the boy!" Seven shouted to say he was shocked by the scene that was in front of him would be an understatement. Who would have thought that all this could have happened from just a few short minutes of him being caught behind the train as it finally passed him?

…

The man holding Hiccup re-adjusted his hold on him and took a step back pulling Hiccup into his chest and wrapping a strong arm more securely around the boy's chest while his other hand with the gun laid loosely on Hiccup's shoulder. Hiccup froze as he now felt the gun resting on his shoulder, he let off a small unavoidable whimper at the closeness of the gun making his breath catching in his throat making his chest feel tight. He felt the man take a step back the moving throw him off slightly as he stumbled to catch his balance while the man pulled him further away from Seven.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you? Don't be a hero" is all gunman said taking another step back pulling Hiccup with him.

Hiccup didn't know what to do he wanted to struggle, to try to get free but he couldn't move and the gun was so close to him. Then it was like everything was going in slow motion Hiccup watch as the first Gunman stepped out of the bus aimed his gun at Seven and fired without even a seconds hesitation. The bullet sailed through the air hitting Seven in the chest, and the man stumbled and dropped to his knees swing slightly before dropping onto his back clutching his chest high on the right side.

"SEVEN!" A scream ripped its way out of Hiccup's throat his lungs burning at the intensity of it. Eyes wide and his ears ringing from the shot of the gun. He was grabbed at the arm around his chest stopping his knees from buckling out from underneath him. The world seemed to stop all at once before it felt like Thor's hammer its self was thrown into its gut making the world move forward again at high speed. He felt the tug on his body as the man holding him dragged him back, he pushed himself to his feet all safety for himself forgotten as he threw all of his strength into getting to Seven.

"NO! No, please! You can't leave him like that! He needs help! SEVEN! Seven!" Hiccup cried out desperately as the hold the man had on him continued to drag him away. His mind was reeling not able to process what he was seeing; all he knew was that he had to get away, he had to get to Seven, he had to stop the bleeding.

"He's already dead boy, stop your fighting!" the first Gunman yelled backhanding him across the face slowing his struggles in the force the hit caused, just enough to pull him closer to the waiting van.

"Let's get out of here I can already hear the sirens" the first Gunman spoke directing the second to the white van parked just up ahead. Hiccup kicked and screamed as they gave up dragging him and picked him up throwing him over their shoulder and carrying him the rest of the way to the van.

"Nooo! Put me down! Let go of me! Let GO!" Hiccup continued to scream as he pounded his fists against the man's back kicking his legs out trying to slow them down as best he could. But it was no use the next thing he knew he was being thrown off the man's shoulder and into the back of a van watching helplessly as the two gunmen followed behind him and slammed the door closed.

"Go, go, go!" The first gunman shouted to another sitting in the driver's seat. The third man nodded and took off racing down the street.

Hiccup struggled with the two men in the unmarked van trying to pull his arms free as one man grabbed them and pulled them behind his back, causing him to flinch as they began rapping course rope around his wrists.

"Get off of me, let go! Hmmph" Hiccup's last words were muffled as one of the men placed a hand over his mouth silencing him.

"Dammit," the first gunman cursed "get his legs will ya the brat won't stop struggling," he said as he struggled to keep a hold on Hiccup.

"Mmmph!" Hiccup screams into the hand covering his mouth trying to kick the other man in front of him. He knew he couldn't overpower them especially now with his hands tied behind his back but he wasn't going down without a fight. But most of all Hiccup wanted that man away from THAT leg.

"Huh..." the second Gunman paused in confusion as he looked down at Hiccup.

"What is it? Why did you stop? Just hurry up and tie his legs already!"

"Leg…" he laughed

"WHAT are you talking about!?" the first one yelled angrily as he fought to keep the boys in his arms.

"Haha" the second gunman laughed as he saw the look of horror on Hiccup's face as the man grabbed his left leg, making Hiccup scream and increase his struggles even more as he tried to remove his left leg from the man's grip. "The kids only got one leg."

"What are you talking about?" the man holding Hiccup grunted with the effort of keeping Hiccup still.

"Here take a look" the second gunman went to pull up Hiccup's pant leg earning another panicked cry from him.

Hiccup's thoughts were screaming in his head "no, don't look. Don't look! Get off of me! Please" Hiccup was in full-blown panic mode now as he watched the second Gunman push the pant leg all the way up to his leg and past his knee before he finally stopped and laughed at the ugly scar just below the knee.

"Well damn kid! That's a new one?" The guy reached down to touch it but stopped as Hiccup screamed even louder causing the man to pull his hand back.

Both men were in shock as Hiccup flailed around in a blind panic no longer in control of his own body as he kicked and scream bloody murder making it extremely difficult to keep a hold on him.

"Forget the legs just give me the rag. We need to get this done before all of Berk hears him!"

The second Gunman nodded and grabbed the chloroform-soaked rag and handed it to his partner where the man removed his hand from the struggling boy for only a second.

Hiccup took his chance and screamed at the top of his lungs "HELP SOMEBODY PLemmmph!" His cries were cut off as the sickly sweet rag covered his nose and mouth making his vision blur from the toxic smell. Hiccup's increased struggles and cries for help only made the drug work faster, making his limb go weak/numb as black spots swam into the edges of his vision. Dizziness filled his head then nothing as unconscious took him.

…