The Gentle Sniper
Chapter 27: I'm coming for you
A/N: Here we go.
Review Responses
CajunBear73: On that, we agree. A quick death is too humane for him.
Scrumblenut: Prepare for continued darkness. All I will say.
…
"You look terrible. May I ask why you have two black eyes?"
"A one-sided fight."
"You lost a fight with someone?"
Yeah, because I didn't intend to fight her.
"I did, yes," he responded, then quickly moved on. "Is Fishlegs here?" he then asked Erica, who was standing by the window of the guard kiosk by the entrance to Sølvbånd base while he sat on his motorbike.
"Not yet, which is weird. Did something happen between you two? You usually arrive within minutes of each other."
Yes, something happened.
"No, I'm sure he's just late. I'll tell Mogadon not to worry."
"Alright then. In you go."
Driving through the raised barrier and parking his motorbike, a brisk walk through the base followed, ending with him knocking on the head of security's office door, which was conveniently directly across the hallway from his own.
"Fishlegs won't be coming in today, I wager, so don't go looking for him," Hiccup said curtly to the man when the door opened, then turned and stepped into his office.
Taking out his notepad from the inner pocket of his coat, he tossed it onto his desk then hung up the coat on the hook on the back of his door, before slumping into his chair with a sigh.
Opening the drawer below the desk surface, Hiccup took out a pen as he opened his notepad with one hand, then started writing.
Drago Bludvist Info Sheet
Large and muscular; around the same height and build as one Stoick Haddock.
Scarred face with black dreadlocked hair.
Current owner of DB Security; an international private security company owned by the Bludvist family. Was renamed from Bludvist Security several years ago, if I remember right.
Has clear military experience and is a Jaeger, but unknown for how long.
Responsible for the recent near-death of a friend, the mother of said friend was not pleased by this. Refer to my face for further details.
Hiccup snorted to himself at that, then sobered up and continued.
Current status of target: unknown, but possibly escaped. Hopefully K.I.A, but not, knowing my luck and the habits of certain deities to intervene in my life.
If the DSIS SWAT team ambush/shootout was indeed unsuccessful, propose a solo mission to Gobber, along with necessary leave to hunt down and pick off the target at as long a range as possible, for the sake of discretion.
Post proposal goals: reestablish friendship with Lieutenant Ingerman, if such a goal is possible. Likewise, talk with one Astrid Hofferson and Bertha herself.
Not looking forward to it, if I'm honest; particularly talking with the last subject. My eyes still sting.
Hiccup then rose, put away the pen, picked up the notepad, then left the room searching for his commanding officer.
Finding Gobber at a table in the cafeteria, coffee in hand, he slid into a seat across from him.
"Hello. What happened to your face?"
"Bertha happened," Hiccup slid his notepad across the table. "Read that. It'll explain better than I can."
"So I take it you're not mad anymore, considering you're here?" asked Gobber, as he scooped up the notepad.
"Not mad at you. Still plenty mad at someone."
"Who?"
"Read the last page. I'm sure you'll figure it out."
So Gobber flipped to the last page, then passed the notepad back to Hiccup after reading it. "You're going after Drago? After what happened last night?"
"Yep. He needs to be stopped, so I'm going after him alone this time. Your DDIS buddies happen to know where he is?"
"Skagen."
"So he's alive then. I was hoping otherwise."
"That's why I think that you should go with Fishlegs if I can't convince you not to do it at all."
"Go on a mission with someone who doesn't like me very much right now? Not a great plan."
"He'll come around, laddie. What you did isn't that much different from the whole Finn business."
"Will he? I wouldn't if I were him. So he's staying here. I don't need another dead or incapitated friend."
Gobber sighed. "Stubborn as a yak still I see. Well then good luck I guess."
"I'm going to need lots of it, I think. See you around, or not sir."
Leaving the cafeteria thereafter, Hiccup made his way to the armoury.
When he got there, he paused the door before slamming the door open and barging in, with Dagur looking his way as he approached and passed the older man.
"Well hello to you too. Nice eyeliner," Dagur snorted.
"Not the time to chat, Dagur. Sorry to disappoint," Hiccup's reply as he made a beeline for the nearest USP9. "Also Bertha gave me the black eyes. Feel free to forward your thanks to her."
USP9 in hand, he then approached the closest table and set it down, before heading off to find his main weapon.
"You mind at least telling me what this is all about?" Dagur inquired, watching as Hiccup paused by the rack of various shotguns.
"You and I both know that I can't," said Hiccup before glancing around. "Where's the SPAS-12?"
"Got rid of it. That thing is ancient and the ugliest shotgun I've ever seen."
"Sellout. You have a point of it looking terrible, but still. Respect the classics."
"Sorry not sorry."
"Sellout."
"And proud of it. What do you need next?"
"Sniper rifle," said Hiccup, as he moved to the correct section. "Where is… aha!"
Hiccup picked up a Sako TRG42, which he brought to the table. "Can you get the TRG42 sent to the safehouse, Dagur? I'll be around getting a knife and a holster for the USP9 and some ammunition."
"Sure thing. I'll handle that for you, for old time sake, but you've got things to make up for."
"I will do my best, if I get back here intact. Now, last but not least…"
A short while later, the auburn-haired soldier left the armoury, wearing a holster for the USP9 on his left hip, in addition to an MP7 that was strapped to his right thigh. Lastly, ammunition for the submachine gun and USP9 respectively, plus the combat knife he had selected, were strapped to, or in pouches on a belt that encircled his waist. "Catch you later, Dagur."
"Likewise."
Outside the armoury, Hiccup frowned when his ringtone started up.
Who's calling me? He wondered as he fished out his phone, while simultaneously hoping it was one of the two conscious blondes he knew personally.
"Who is this?"
"Your mother in law, if you play your cards right."
Hiccup rolled his eyes and sighed, disappointed to find it to be neither Fishlegs nor Astrid. "Do I have to add 'invasion of privacy' to the things the DDIS is good for? How did you get my phone number?"
"Your mother gave it to me, when I asked earlier this morning. Anyway, I'd like to invite you for lunch at my place; get to know each other some more."
"I'd really rather not. I have places to be."
"Do this and I'll speak to my daughter on your behalf."
"Done. But answer me this: does Astrid know you work for the DDIS? She didn't seem surprised when you showed up at the hospital when Oswald died."
"She knows, yes. But not what I do."
"Sounds about right. Where is your house?"
"20 Raven Point Way. See you there," was Sigrid's reply, before she hung up.
Guess I'm going out for lunch, then.
…
When noon arrived, Hiccup pulled up outside the house on 20 Raven Point Way and cut the engine on his motorbike.
Right, meeting with Sigrid for lunch. Wonder what she wants to talk about with me.
Walking along the front lawn path to the front door, Hiccup rang the bell and waited.
When it opened, Hiccup blinked. "Astrid?"
"Ingrid, actually," said the Astrid look-alike, with the only difference being her hair was in a ponytail instead of a braid. "My sister and I get mixed up sometimes. Who are you?"
"Hiccup Haddock. Astrid's boyfriend," he introduced with a smile. "Nice to meet you, Ingrid."
"L-likewise," said Ingrid, looking down at the ground and seeming suddenly bashful.
Hiccup nodded. "Tell me, what is she like as a sister? I don't have any siblings myself, so I'm curious."
A grin slowly blossomed on Ingrid's face and she looked his way again. "I want to know what she's like when she's with you as well. That and what it's like being a soldier. Trade stories?"
Hiccup nodded, smiling in turn. "Deal. I have a feeling I'm going to like you."
"Likewise," she repeated, then turned around, beckoning him to follow. "C'mon. Mum said you'd be coming for lunch. She's great at cooking, but Astrid isn't."
Hiccup shrugged. "Can't say I'm any good either."
"Huh. Anyway, get inside."
So Hiccup followed Ingrid through the hallway and into a dining room that was already set for lunch; with a large pot in the middle of the table and four plates waiting, three of them filled with steak, roast potatoes, carrots and gravy.
"So good of you to join us," said Sigrid, as Ingrid and he entered. "Please make yourself comfortable here."
"Thanks," he said absently, his attention mostly drawn to another individual who sat at the table watching him in turn. "Nice to meet you…?"
"Call me Mr Hofferson lad," said the man, as Hiccup and Ingrid sat down at the table. "Stoick's boy, correct?"
"Yes sir, Mr Hofferson."
He nodded, leaning forward a little. "What is being a soldier like?" he inquired, waving a hand at Hiccup's uniform.
"During basic, it was quite hectic; with people ready to yell at you for any mistake you made. But past that, it is quite calm. Comparatively so at least," Hiccup explained.
"Have you been on tour before?" Ingrid asked then, her eyes laden with interest.
"Once, in Afghanistan. My friends and I almost got killed by an IED."
Bjorn and Ingrid both looked shocked, with Hiccup noticing Sigrid did not while her husband seemed to deflate.
"I was about to do the whole 'what are your intentions with my daughter' spiel, but if you've survived that, nothing fazes you, right?"
"You'd be mostly correct; I can think of one thing that fazes me, or rather one person."
Bjorn winked. "This person wouldn't happen to be my eldest now?"
"No, but she does have a mean right hook, I'll say that," smirked Hiccup before he looked over at Ingrid and winking conspiratorially. "Maybe one day I'll tell you more about how I found out."
"I look forward to it," grinned Ingrid.
"Good, because you'll have to wait until after lunch to talk some more. It's why Hiccup is here after all," stated Sigrid.
So the four of them finally began to eat, then conversation resumed once they were done.
"I would like to speak with him alone before we have some fun revealing childhood stories involving Astrid," Sigrid announced, as 'mealtime' ended.
"Alright," Hiccup rose and Sigrid did the same before they left the room.
Sigrid then led Hiccup to the living room, which was directly across the hallway from the dining room.
"I know you want to take down Drago still," she began, after closing the living room door.
"If you're going to tell me to stop, don't. Save your breath."
She shook her head. "Quite the opposite. I'm going to suggest you change your appearance; and ensure you have some form of will, on the off chance you don't get back from Skagen."
"You told Gobber to tell me where Drago is hiding, didn't you?"
"I did, after Viggo told me to make sure you found out."
"Okay. Speaking of Viggo, I want to know why he breached black ops conditions."
"What do you mean?"
"Once upon a time, I performed a mission. A black ops mission. Such being that nobody besides the officer who briefed me and myself are supposed to know about it. Drago found out and told my friends last night; meaning the DDIS told him willingly, or there is a mole in your organisation. Either way, someone is in trouble. Possibly someones. You ought to get on that."
"So someone spilled the details about your second visit to Afghanistan. I'll take that under advisement," Sigrid typed something out on her phone, then focused on him again. "Not hearing a will from you, yet."
"All the things I'd like done kinda involve me being alive to see them through. But I guess if I do pass away, I want you to give my pet cat to Fishlegs. He's great with animals, and his pet bulldog and my cat are friends. Other than that, I intend to come back and talk with him and Astrid both about some stuff."
"An admirable answer, I suppose. I'll make it happen; you have my word, for whatever it's worth. Also, if you want, I can put you in touch with Valka - that is, if you want to speak to her."
"I don't, but I might change my mind later. I'll give you my phone and you can add her to my contacts."
"Okay. Now you go and have fun talking to Ingrid and Bjorn. I'll need a minute to tell your mother what you have in mind."
Hiccup nodded, then unlocked his phone and handed it to her before returning to the dining room.
…
"You're telling me she really did that?"
"She did, yes. She called it Yaknog. Guess she didn't tell you, huh?"
"She told me recently, but I didn't fully believe it. So it was a Snoggletog thing?"
"Mhm. She's a terrible cook, like I mentioned earlier. Always has been, which I can say because she's not here."
"Hmm, so you're a gossiper then? How naughty of you. Don't change though. Feel free to tell me all her secrets. In the future that is. I should be going right around now."
"Leaving so soon, lad?" asked Bjorn. "What's the rush?"
"Army business sir. They're not fond of delays. But this was fun. We should do it again sometime; maybe with Astrid as well."
"Alright, well make it soon, yeah? I'd like to see my eldest visit; she hardly ever does. I'm holding you to that by the way."
"Yeah, she's usually busy," added Ingrid.
Hiccup chuckled as he stood up. "I'll drag her by the ear if I have to, don't worry you two. Bye now."
"Bye!"
"Come again soon!"
Stepping into the hallway once more, Hiccup almost bumped into Sigrid. "All done now?"
She nodded, then held out his phone. "She's waiting for your call; if you do plan to make one today."
"Alright." He pocketed the device. "If I get back, I'll call you to arrange a shared lunchtime here. I seem to be quite popular."
"Good, good," she nodded. "Now off you go and be a hero, soldier."
…
Next, Hiccup headed home to obtain his wallet before leaving his apartment just as quickly as he had arrived.
Seeking out the nearest barbershop, Hiccup entered and sat down in the waiting area.
"Full shave please," he said, once a barber approached a few minutes later. "Eyebrows as well; I've been dared to do it," he lied.
The barber stared at him oddly for a moment, then shrugged. "Alright. If you will follow me, sir…"
Quite the opposite. I'm going to suggest you change your appearance
Let's hope it works out then eh, Sigrid?
Once this was done, Hiccup left again, and one motorbike journey and fingerprint scan later, Hiccup was in the safehouse's armoury, in which resided a gun case by the door, delivered courtesy of Dagur.
Ignoring it for the moment, Hiccup grabbed a backpack which he then opened and filled with more ammunition for each of the guns he had on.
Once done, he put on the backpack before picking up the gun case and taking his leave.
Now to get ready for my next journey…
…
Anne observed her motionless colleague through the window into the ICU room.
If only I knew how it happened…
No sooner had she thought this, did she hear footsteps some distance away but quickly getting nearer.
Anne chose to ignore the sound since she didn't want to respond to another doctor who was bound to look at her with pity.
But when the person who was walking towards her stopped after reaching her and didn't say anything, the DSIS agent's irritation spiked.
"What do you want? Whatever it is, I'm not in the mood, so please leave," she said without looking at the doctor.
"I'm here for the same reason you are, Anne."
Her head snapped to the guy. "How do you know my name?!"
Then she froze, surprised by his appearance; he had a complete lack of hair and two black eyes below a baseball cap and sunglasses that were folded and held in place by the neckline of the guy's soldier uniform.
In addition, she noted he was armed; with two guns and a knife plus ammo on his person, while wearing a backpack and grasping the handle of a case in his left hand.
"I know your name because you know mine. I'm Hiccup," he waved, then stared past her at the inert form of Cami. "Nice to meet you."
She blinked. "Hiccup?! What-"
"Bertha took care of my eyes. A barber took care of the rest. Don't ask why I wanted that done, please. It's better you don't know."
"Wow," was all Anne could think to say.
"Yeah… Anyway, Eret Sr, do you know where he is exactly? I need to find him."
"He's in Aalborg. Why do you need to find him though?"
"So I can kill the person who did this to Cami."
"Ah. Can I come?"
"Depends. How angry will Bertha be?"
"Very. I'll be fired for sure for not guarding Cami."
"Does that bother you?"
"Yeah, but doing nothing to help my friend bothers me much more."
"Then what are we waiting for?"
"What indeed?" Anne smiled. "C'mon, I'll pay for our ferry tickets to Skagen."
…
A police BMW M5 came to a stop at a set of traffic lights and the driver, one Astrid Hofferson, sighed to herself as her thoughts drifted back to the night before, for the umpteenth time that morning.
'We should talk. There's something I once did that you should know about…'
'Okay… that sounds foreboding. Should I be worried?'
'Depends, I guess. Anyway, once upon a time I was asked to kill some people who went AWOL.'
'Oh…'
Their conversation had ended then, and Astrid wasn't sure what to think.
Later, Astrid. You can talk to him some more later. Focus on your job for now…
Shaking her head to regain focus, Astrid glanced to her left to check for any cars besides her own. There was one; a police car much like hers but with Sven at the wheel.
They made eye contact with each other, nodding in turn. Then the light turned green and Sven drove off, with Astrid following suit, even as a flash of blue from his car drew her attention.
As she was focused on looking ahead, she failed to notice the oncoming Renault Traffic van until it was too late.
Crash!
As a result of her BMW M5 being rear-ended, the car was flung forward and into the middle stretch of the road just ahead of the traffic lights. Concurrently, Astrid's head collided with the steering wheel - as the airbag deployed - and remained there for a few seconds, resulting in the horn of her car piercing the air and giving her a concussion.
Disorientated as she was, she lifted her forehead, leaving a bloody streak on the airbag as she scrambled to reach for the USP9 strapped to her right hip.
But as she was suffering a concussion, she was in no state to defend herself and missed her shot at the first of the group of men who emerged from the van and approached the driver side window.
This same man reached in through the window; able to do so as the glass was broken because of Astrid's shots. Taking a handful of her braid, he then proceeded to hit her forehead against the steering wheel, knocking her out and rendering her entirely helpless to her would-be captors.
She was then plucked from the BMW M5 and stuffed into the back of the Renault Traffic van, before her captors took off, leaving no sign of Astrid's possible whereabouts behind.
…
"How much stuff have you brought in that backpack of yours, and what's in the case?" Inquired Anne, watching Hiccup as he took out Bluetooth headphones and put them on.
They were now on a ferry headed for Skagen, and both were on the top deck, with Anne leaning on the railing and Hiccup sitting with his backpack on his lap and a case beside him on the bench.
"My sniper rifle and ammo for it and my other guns. Plus my bluetooth headphones. I brought them from home after giving Toothless some extra food to eat, and asked my neighbour to keep an eye on him. He's a nice guy. And you obviously know about my motorbike."
"Yeah, not a huge fan of your driving, Hiccup. Who's Toothless?"
"Too bad, you're stuck with me. Best suck it up. My pet cat. Got him shortly after I met you."
"I think I can manage that, but I'm just putting it out there. Is he nice?"
"A black furball of sass and comfort, and I wouldn't have it any other way. It's good you can handle my driving. Means I can go even faster once we get to the mainland."
"Please don't."
Hiccup simply smirked at her. "Anyway how have you been in the years since we first met? That whole restaurant breakup thing notwithstanding."
Anne grimaced. "Sorry about that by the way; for whatever it's worth, that was cruel."
"Please don't remind me."
"Sorry. Well life is life. Had a few breakups, got involved in Cami's mess, got hired by the DSIS… the usual."
"More pleasant decade than mine then."
"Seems that way."
A pleasant silence formed between them, and Anne took the opportunity to turn and appreciate the view; water that stretched beyond the horizon combined with the sound of seagulls and the smell of the salty body of water itself.
As a child, you would wait
And watch from far away
But you always knew that you'd be the one
That work while they all play
"Fan of Imagine Dragons, huh?" she muttered, turning to face her companion.
Hiccup blinked at her. "You can hear that? Guess these headphones aren't that great then."
Anne laughed. "I wouldn't say that. Great for letting a friend listen to your music without having to take them off."
"That's a bug, not a feature."
Anne simply shrugged. "Best suck it up," she said, sending his words from earlier back at him.
"Whatever."
In youth, you'd lay
Awake at night and scheme
Of all the things that you would change
But it was just a dream!
"What do you know how to do?" Hiccup asked suddenly.
"In general?"
"No, as a DSIS agent. I can speak three different languages, and can fight quite well. What can you do?"
"Well I'm good as a hacker, and a decent shot. Almost certainly not as good as you though, sir sniper."
"A hacker huh? That's convenient."
"It's why Cami and I are colleagues. She can break into physical locks and I can handle digital locks with almost the same amount of skill."
"Huh. I know someone who can hack as well. Maybe you and him could become good friends or something."
"I'd like that. So a soldier, a Jaeger and a glorified policeman will be working together. Should be fun."
"Two Jaegers actually. I'm one of them as well."
"No way."
"It's one of my hidden talents."
"Lucky."
"I guess."
More silence fell between them.
Here we are, don't turn away now,
We are the warriors that built this town
Here we are, don't turn away now
We are the warriors that built this town
From dust.
"If you hadn't found me at the hospital, what would you do now?"
"I'd go to deal with Drago by myself. He's the person who put Cami in a coma, if you don't already know."
"I didn't. Where is he?"
"Somewhere in Skagen, in the company of two undercover DDIS agents."
"Naturally. Do they know what you're going to do?"
"They will, if they don't know already. But I'm not a big fan, so I couldn't care less if I get in trouble with them."
"Understood. Just don't be reckless."
"Methinks this whole plan is reckless. But I'll do my best to make it not so."
"Thanks."
Merry Christmas you filthy animals!
Hiccup took off his headphones, leaving the song playing as he then took his phone out of his pocket.
"You used that for a ringtone?"
"Yep," he smiled, but his smile disappeared soon after responding to the call.
Once the call ended, Hiccup pocketed his phone and looked out to sea with a thunderous expression. "Death by gunshot is too good for him. Far too humane for someone like him."
"What happened?"
Hiccup didn't say, instead continuing to watch the horizon with the same furious gaze as he put his headphones back on.
You've crossed a line, Drago. You ensured all my friends are gone in one way or another, and now you've brought Astrid into your sick game. I will end you. Make no mistake.
'Cause this will be
The labour of my love
How fitting those words are
"From this point onwards Anne, call me Fury. It's my callsign and what I'm feeling at the moment."
…
A/N: The power of two, soon to become three.
(And maybe four, if what I have planned works out how I want it to.)
Let's hope that things go smoothly when they meet up with Eret Sr and go to take down Drago, shall we?
Hiccup could do with some good fortune for a change.
Watch out Drago, Hiccup is pissed and coming for you. Best get ready.
Also, another M rated TGS'verse chapter to come soon. Perhaps as a bonus for this week. We'll see.
B/N: Beta-read and approved for publishing by CommanderGreya.