Project Nano Chapter 5

Stoic massaged his temples in the board room as the last member of the board left the room. It had been a long day and that sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach still hadn't gone away yet, something bad was going to happen he just didn't know what. Stoic heard the sound of someone sitting down next to him and dropped his hand from his head to see who it was? He had no more meetings for the day and was looking forward to leaving early today to see his son, he should almost be done with his trip to the university soon and heading back home.

Mildew had sat next to Stoic and across from him, Stoic noticed another board member from a rivaling Corporation. "What are you doing here?" Stoic had to admit his tone was not as pleasant as it should have been while greeting another company representative but he was tired and waited to go home to his son and Mildew was not on the list of people he wanted to talk to right now.

"Evening Stoic, I've come to see if you would reconsider my offer to purchase your nanobots" the Rep smiled up at Stoic.

"The answer is still no I've I have told Mildew this before I will not have my technology in the hands of people who wish to harm" Stoic was getting frustrated with Mildew's persistence. Why was he pushing this so hard and to go behind Stoic's back and bring the Rep here hoping to back Stoic into a corner was unacceptable, the court knew his stand on violence especially after what happened to his son last year.

…

Mildew had glanced down at his phone checking his text messages and grinned as he saw the response yet been waiting for.

"It's done"

The Text come through about an hour ago so the call would come through any second now. He nodded to the man next to him giving him the single to begin their plan.

"Stoic- I really think you should reconsider our offer, it is a more than generous amount and with our added resources we can do great things for this country. Think about the children, I hear you have a young boy of your own… It would be a shame if something were to happened to him before these nanobots became public because of you refusing another company's help."

"Is that threat?!" Stoic yelled angrily

"Just stating facts, nothing more" the man's smirk grew wider as Stoic's phone began to ring "go on Stoic you really should get that, a busy man like you I'm sure it's important."

Stoic glanced down at his phone next to him on the desk seeing the caller ID readout his son's name. "Well I am sorry you had to come all the way down here but my answer is still no, now if you'll excuse me..." Stoic stood up and began to walk away from the table answer his son as he went.

"Hayden? Is everything alright?" Silence rang out on the other end of the phone making him panic "Hayden…?" He called out again pulling the phone away from his ear to check the call hadn't got dropped, but it didn't. Stoic could hear a small nasally groan and scuffling sounds on the other end of the phone followed by muffled voices in the background.

"Hayden, what's going on are you alright? Answering me?!" Again silent as dread crept in the Stoic's thoughts, then he got his answer but it wasn't the one he wanted.

"Hello Stoic… It seems I have something that belongs to you."

"Who is this!? Why do you have my son's phone? Where is he!?" Stoic's heart leaped into his throat.

"All in good time. But first, we have some business to discuss…" The man carried on like this was an everyday conversation, the thought of it just pissed Stoic off.

"I'm not discussing anything until I know what you've done with my son!" Stoic was panting his son was supposed to be at the University field trip right now safe with Seven keeping an eye on him. What happened to his son that this man now had his phone? He thought

"Very well…hey bring the runt," the stranger said voice faded at the end as he must of lower the phone from his mouth to shout to whoever else was with him. Stoic could hear shuffling as people moved in the background and the phone was handed over.

"… Dad?" Stoic's heart soared as he heard his son's voice.

"SON! Thank Thor! Are you hurt?"

"I'm...I'm okay dad, b-but Seven…" Stoic waited as his son paused as he struggled to get control of his breathing "t-they shot… I – I don't kn…" Stoic could hear Hayden's breathing picking up like he was hyperventilating.

"Shh… it's okay son, breathe" this was killing him hearing his son's condition. "Hayden everything is going to be all right okay get you out…" Stoic stopped as he heard laughing.

"Awe isn't that sweet, daddy is coming to rescue you." The man mocked in a cruel tone.

"BASTARD!"

"Language Stoic, you wouldn't want that temper of yours to get your son hurt would you," the man said as he heard his son yelp as someone must have grabbed him causing him to cry out in surprise.

"Stop! Don't you touch him! What do you want?!" Stoic was nearly crushing the phone in his hands from anger at these men hurting his son. It was taking everything in his power to stay calm right now, so he took a deep breath and forced himself to loosen his grip on his phone or risk losing his only connection to his son.

"What we want Stoic… Are the nanobots"

"How do you –?" Stoic was shocked. How did they find out about the Nanobots? No one outside his company knew about that project.

"That doesn't matter. What matters is that you are going to hand over those nanobots and all the material that goes with them. And don't even think about encrypting those files, I want you to bring the head technician with you to the drop."

"WHAT!" Stoic panicked, the head technician too? But that wasn't possible.

"You heard me, I'll give you 8 hours to get what I want, Stoic. Oh and don't think about involving the police or your son's dead" and with that, he hung up the phone.

Stoic stood there in shock well after the call had ended, a million questions ran through his head. How were they able to grab Hayden when Seven was watching him and was this his son saying about him being shot? How did they know his son was going on that field trip, to begin with, or get guns past campus security? How did they know about the nanobots, or would they be encrypted and need the head technician to do it when only four people know of it? Stoic's thoughts were swirling in a never-ending loop only getting more and more questions.

"Is everything alright Stoic?" The man sitting beside Mildew asked, and for a minute Stoic had forgotten where he was and turned to the man anger burning at the smirk that hid on the corner of the man's lips.

"My son was taken…his kidnappers want the nanobots and all the blueprints you are currently asking for" Stoic paused putting the accusation out there. He knew this man had to be behind his son's kidnapping he was the only outside source he had all but implied earlier that Stoic son could be hurt.

"I hope you're not suggesting that I did this?" He said with fake insult. "I would never hurt a child, I'm just a businessman trying to make a deal with another company."

Stoic growled he didn't have time for his political crap "just get out of my site I have worked to do!" Stoic stormed off heading to his office and was about ready to slam the door when his secretary came running up to him.

"Mr. Haddock a detective Mala is waiting for you downstairs. Does she say it's about your son? Should I send her up?"

Stoic's eyes nearly popped out of his head, 'great Odin's ghost' the police were already involved what was he going to do the kidnappers were very clear no police. But he can't just send her away. "Tell the security team to send her to my office," he said turning back to face his door as his secretary ran back to her desk.

Stoic walked around to his chair and sat down heavily, nerves shot. How could this happen? Where'd he go wrong? Signing Stoic dropped his head into his hands, moments later desk phone rang.

"Haddock speaking?"

"Sir Detective Mala queen from the berk guard is here."

"Let her in" Stoic hung up the phone and waited, seconds later his secretary opened the door and ushered the detective in. "Please sit" the detective nodded and made her way to the leather armchair stationed in front of his desk.

"Thank you, Mr. Haddock. As you know I am Detective Mala queen from the Berk guard and I'm sorry to say that I have concerning news about your son… Hayden haddock"

"Yes, I know" Stoic said his throat closing upon him. God's he didn't know if he could keep himself together, he didn't know if he wanted to be alone to cry or scream out loud and hit something or someone.

"You know?" The detective asked confused.

"Yes, kidnappers called not 10 minutes before you using my son's phone."

"Oh, did they tell you what their demands were, if I know what they are after my team and I discuss the next course of action to getting your son back…"

"No, they said no police or they'll…" He couldn't say it he couldn't say that the kidnappers would kill his son if the police showed up.

"Sir please reconsider? Your son deserves all the help he can get."

"I can't…"

"Sir what did they ask for?" she asked causing Stoic to pause he knew what she was doing trying to get him to talk even though he didn't want to put his son at risk he had no choice he was in over his head.

"They wanted the new prototype that my company has been developing long blueprints that go with it, and…" Stoic trailed off not knowing how to fraise the last demand.

"And…" Mala asked looking up from her notes

"Saying that the head technician was the only other person allowed at the drop."

"This Nanobot that the kidnappers what it wouldn't happen to be the project your son was working on?"

"How did you know that?"

"I interviewed your son's friends at the scene, they mentioned he was working on some top-secret project with two other technicians and that you were worried about his safety and hired a bodyguard. They were really upset about what they saw and I was hoping to get more information from you about the other technicians and anyone else that many know about the project?"

At the mention of his son's friends, Stoic nearly jumped out of his seat "his friends?! Are they already what happened?" he didn't know what to expect he didn't think his son's friends had seen his son taken, he thought that maybe Hayden had got distracted and fell behind or something and was grabbed.

"The bus they were on was hijacked on its way to the University by ravens' point just past the railroad crossing. Two armed men stop the bus and took Hayden away. Both his teacher Mr. Mulch and Seven tried to stop the abduction but were unsuccessful."

"Are they okay did they get hurt?" He thought he remembered hearing his son saying someone got shot.

"Yes, there were some injures but they will be alright," Detective Mala said in a sad voice "Mr. Mulch he took a blow to the head from one of the gunmen, just bruising nothing more."

"And Seven?" Stoic's chest felt tight.

"Seven's the man you higher to watch your son Hayden right?"

"Yes, that's right. Is he okay? They didn't kill him did they?"

"Oh no… He's alive, the same gunmen that hit Mr. Mulch shot him…"

"WHAT!"

"It's alight Mr. Haddock, calm down. The bullet through his shoulder clean. He's recovering back at Berk general. I have a uniform officer with him now who assures me he is doing just fine."

"… He saw that?" Stoic asked referring to his son seeing Seven get shot. Detective Mala merely nodded "and the kids too?"

"Unfortunately yes… But your son has very brave friends Mr. Haddock. Miss Hofferson was the one who saved Seven's life. She and Mr. Ingermen called the police while she kept the pressure on the wound until the paramedics arrived."

"A-Astrid did that?"

"Yes, she said she couldn't sit back and do nothing after watching your son get taken. I fear she was too hard on herself for not doing anything to help your son."

Stoic made a mental note to thank the girl and his son's friends when this was all over. She must be a mess after seeing all that she and the others. "…" Was the only response he could give?

"Now it must be said, do you have any idea on who would do this?"

"I have my suspicions? But the whole project was kept under lock and key. No one knew about it outside my company and the details were only shared with myself and the other two technicians."

"Yes, Mr. Ingermen mentioned that Hayden's name wasn't on any of the blueprints and only the technicians knew about him being on the project. Is it possible your son was targeted as a weakness to you rather than he being part of the project? "

"I don't know maybe? There is a member on my board Mildew he brought in an outside source this morning and he implied that it would be a terrible thing if my son got hurt because I refuse to sell the nanobots to his company. He denied any involvement of course and it's all speculation I can't prove anything."

"Alright, would you be able to get me those names of your board members and everyone involved in this project? As well as anyone else you might suspects could be after Hayden."

"Of course. But my men wouldn't have done this. They would never put my son in danger like this he's only 15 still just a boy."

"I know it can be hard to believe Mr. Haddock but people can be terrible selfish individuals and will do anything for money or power simply just to benefit themselves."

Stoic just nodded still looking at his desk fists clenched trying to contain his anger.

"Now Mr. Haddock would you be able to tell me what the Kidnappers said exactly all their demands and the time frame they gave you for them, we'll need to get started right away so stay ahead of these men.

Sighing Stoic looked up into the detective's eyes seeing the determination in their depths, so he decided he'd tell her he could lose his son and hated to admit it, but he needed the help. "Only what I told you about the nanobots, material, and the lead technician to de-encrypt the files, and they only gave me 8 hours to get it." Stoic looked at the clock hanging on his wall seeing that this talk was burning up that small amount of time he had to quickly as 30mins had already gone by. He rushed through the last of the explanation as he really needed to get moving "the head technician is the only one allowed with me at the drop sight and there is to be no police involvement. Which I've already broken by talking to you."

"What about the drop? Did they tell you where they wanted you to go?"

"…" Stoic blinked for a few seconds as he thought back to that horrid conversion, fear creeping as he realized they didn't tell him. "No…they didn't say," he told her. How was he supposed to give them what they wanted to get his son back if they didn't tell him where? How is he supposed to get back his son now?

Mala must have seen his panic because she reached across the table and placed a reassuring hand on his arm to call. "Don't worry Mr. Haddock, it meaning that they will call back. Most criminals do this so the police don't have time to surround the building/area before the deal is done."

"That's not very reassuring" Stoic growled he knew she was just doing her job but this was his son.

"I know but it means we have another chance to catch these men at the drop. We can set up a trace on your phone when they call back and if you can keep them talking we can use the call to track their location."

"And if that doesn't work?" Stoic already didn't like that the police were involved the kidnappers were clear on that policy.

"You said they used your son's phone, right?"

"That's right"

"Well that's good news then, I'll get our cyber team to ping his phone, and hopefully if the phone is still on we can trace it. But if it's off we can ping the last call it made off of the nearest cell tower it hits to narrow it down to a 3-mile radius and go from there. It's not perfect but it's one step closer to finding your son."

Stoic nodded again "okay… But please don't do anything to endanger my son. These men were very clear that I go alone."

"Of course, but what about the technician they asked you for. Maybe can replace them, for an officer."

"No, absolutely not!"

"What do you mean?"

"I will not take the risk that whoever leaked this information has informed them about my employees and what they look like. There aren't enough technicians on this project to do that, and it would be too easy to identify them. I will not my son at risk."

"Alright. What is the name of this head technician of yours?"

"…"

Stoic froze just now realizing the situation he was in. His son was kidnapped and these men wanted the very same project his son was working on with all the blueprints and the head technician to decrypt it. But there was just one problem, they already had him.

"Mr. Haddock?" Mala asked concern in her voice seeing if the large man in front of her face was white as a sheet at her question. "Mr. Haddock, who is the head technician?!" She asked again a little louder now to get his attention.

"H – Hayden… My son" he stuttered out dropping his head into his hands.

Mala froze at that, she had heard from the other teens that Mr. Haddock's son was working on the project with the two other technicians and that they came to him for help at times. But it never occurred to her that he would be the one leading it. These complicated things she thought.

"Don't worry Mr. Haddock we'll figure this out but for now I'm going to need all of those names of the people involved and whoever used suspect. I have an Officer waiting for you outside that will take you home and will set up the phone tap to track the Kidnappers next call."

"Okay… It'll take me a couple of hours to get all of that." Stoic looked back at the clock he only had 7 hours to go, would it be enough time?

"No worries, I'll just take your son's cell number now and have my team, work on that until you get the rest. What time did the kidnappers call you at?"

Stoic glanced at his phone and pulled up his son's contact information and call history for the detective and passed the phone over for her to see it. "Please find my son Detective, he means everything to me."

"We'll do everything we can to find your son Mr. Haddock"

...

Hey guys, thank you so much for your support it means a lot to me. I didn't think I would get the response that I did for this story, and I'm glad you like it. It may still be a little rough but I'm still working out my writing style.

The idea came to me over two years ago, I had it written it out on a loose piece of paper with bulletin points of where I wanted to go with the story but could never get it going. Then next thing I know I find that paper years later and go to rewrite it in a new booklet when out of nowhere I've written out the whole story in two days and only have the last chapter to complete. So this story is going to go up pretty fast as I'm just finding time between work to edit it, and then it will be completed in about 8 chapters. anyway enough of my ramblings I hope you enjoyed this chapter with Stoic but the next we'll get to see what happened to Hiccup...