Hawks was flying over San Francisco and was currently talking to Diablo on the phone.
"Hawks, what happened the other day was unfortunate," Diablo admitted.
"Yeah, agreed. Most of the problems could have been avoided, though, if you had just given me a heads up. I get the plans to change, but I would have liked to have dealt with things a little more efficiently."
"You're talking too much; they can trace this call."
"Give me a break; you've got to have more faith in me than that," said Hawks as he landed on the top of a building.
He then heard several screams and looked down to see many people, a number of them young girls, waving at him.
"Look, Hawks on the phone!"
"Who was he talking to? His girlfriend?"
"It's a secret!" Hawks yelled down.
"Who is she, Hawks!"
Hawks merely smiled and turned back to the phone. "All I want is for you to believe in me. I work with pros every day, and there's one thing I know for certain. The professional hero needs to be done away with."
Hawks' expression changed to a more dark look. 'No way you can catch me aside. You're reaching out to me like this because you know how much I'm worth to you. For now, I'll keep playing the fool, then you can focus more on how I can help you and the risks I may pose. It's in your interest to make good use of me."
"This is your last chance," said Diablo after a long silence.
Hawks smiled, 'knew it.'
"I'll have you show your loyalty, not just to the League of Villains but the entire anti-establishment cause. Make it someone other than the number one hero this time."
After his conversation with Diablo, Hawks then made contact with the Public Safety Commission.
"Diablo contacted me again," said Hawks. "He's still not convinced I'm on his side. My guess someone is observing me and my conversations. It'll be smart to send everything in code from now on. I'll pinpoint the locations of the Red Deaths as soon as I can. That's all; I'm off."
Hawks then made his way to Boston, where Best Jeanist was getting unpacked after his operation, which resulted in him using a lung.
"It is unusual for you to come to visit me," said Best Jeanist.
"How you holding up these days?" Hawks asked.
"Much better, thanks."
"Why didn't you just ask that ancient nurse at Berk to help out with your recovery?"
"She can't restore what's been taken away, and I lost a lung in that battle, but fortunately, it is possible for humans to live on with only one of them."
"What about your hero work?"
Best Jeanist then turned his back on Hawks."I plan to return to the public eye soon; there are many eager for me to return to the streets again."
"You don't say," said Hawks as he spread his wings into a pair of feather blades. 'I'm sorry to hear that.'
Hawks then returned to San Francisco; he was sitting on top of the tall building, trying to contact Diablo.
'This doesn't feel right,' he said anxiously. 'It's past our meeting time, and I still can't get a hold of him. There's been nothing on the Hero Network about the League being spotted, so there should be a hold-up or anything. Did something happen? Did I do something wrong? This change in behaviour is unnerving; I don't like it.'
He then flew over the city carrying a large duffel bag.
'I can't start doubting my resolve, not when I'm so close.'
A few weeks later, Hawks arrived at a large mansion where he met Slide-And-Go at the entrance.
"What's up!" said Hawks as he landed.
"Oh, I didn't realise you had flown off somewhere, number two," said Slide-And-Go.
"Yeah, sorry. Went and grabbed a coffee; stuff here tastes like sewage."
"You keep on coming and going as you like. You should get permission for whatever you do."
Hawks sighed heavily.
"Don't forget that I outrank you here, Hawks," Slide-And-Go reminded him. "Got it?"
"Sir, yes, sir!" Hawks saluted.
"Outrank? Are you sure about that?" said a deep calculator voice. They turned and saw a man with long black hair leaning against the arch with a laptop in his hands. "It's my first time hearing such a thing. Then you must also be in a position to acquire classified information from influential heroes."
Slide-And-Go looked at him nervously. "Well, sort of."
"Current locations, call records, real-time feed of conversations… Hawks provides these. Thanks to the countless micro devices installed in his wings, we'll expose everything about the heroes. A grunt like you can offer a peak of the Hero Network at best, but as the number two, hero Hawks can go much deeper. He is a valued asset."
He then turned and looked at Hawks curiously. "I was watching you the whole time. You almost brought back coffee and freaked out."
Hawks shrugged. "What can I say? I like it sweet.
With the holidays now starting, Class 1-A were now heading out of the respective agencies across the country. Hiccup travelled with Snotlout and Ranger all the way to San Francisco, where they met up with Hellfire.
"Welcome to the Hellfire Agency," he said with a small smile and then suddenly looked at Hiccup and Ranger with an angered expression. "I can't believe I have to train you. I gave my permission reluctantly as a favour to my son, but I wish that he had come on his own."
"It's already done, so don't complain about it," Snotlout grunted.
"Snotlout," Hellfire glared.
"We're more than grateful to learn from you, sir," said Ranger.
"And we will endeavour to listen to whatever you say carefully," Hiccup added. "I'm sure that we can learn a lot from the number one hero."
Hellfire and began escorting them down the streets towards his Agency. Hellfire looked back at Hiccup, whom he had already seen in action in the Thawfest Festival, where he battled against his son. He had lost, but it was a close fight, plus he could tell that he had gotten much stronger over the past few months since the last time he saw him.
"You've gotten stronger, haven't you," said Hellfire.
Hiccup looked at him, taken aback, not sure how to respond.
However, Hellfire suddenly came to a stop and then ran off. "Sorry about this, but I only intend to look after my son!" He then dropped his suitcase, and flames began covering his body, burning away his clothes. "If you want to learn, then stand back and watch."
He looked back and saw Hiccup and the others had now jumped into action, putting on their support gear.
"What are your instructions?" Hiccup asked.
Hellfire then looked away from them. "Like I said, just stand back!"
Somewhere in the city, the glass from car windscreens and windows was peeling off the cars themselves. People began running away, screaming as an old man was hovering above them, sitting upon a floating orb of glass.
"I have received a divine revelation from the universe!" he announced as he began pulling glass from everywhere around him, creating more orbs of floating glass. "Run! Flee this place, citizens! The corners of Pluto's mouth twist with loneliness. The hour of your demise is nigh in hand!"
Hawks was on a nearby building reading a book and observing everything. "Well, dang. This is crappy timing."
Hellfire, Hiccup and the others were making their way to the scene as quickly as they could.
"He ordered us to hold back," Ranger reminded them.
"We can't watch as we don't follow him," Hiccup pointed out. He then turned his eyes to Hellfire. 'He started running before the sound of the impact. It's not just a matter of being fast.'
Hellfire burnt away his clothes, revealing his superhero costume. He then quickly launched himself into the air towards the incident.
The old man was still floating in mid-air as it absorbed glass as he floated down the street.
"The universe has whispered into my brain!" he announced. "The wicked stars are colluding; they must be stopped at once!"
Several people in an office building watched as he floated by.
"As a servant of the Stars from the Second Ward?"
"What are you yelling about so early?"
"This land… will soon be devoured by darkness!" the old man yelled.
He then began absorbing the glass in the nearby buildings, causing the current around the skyscrapers that entered the buildings.
"He's sucking up all the glass! Are there any heroes around to help us?"
"Run, citizens! For it is I who must act and destroy the source of this rotten pestilence!" the old man announces he created a giant orb of glass above his head. "No more hiding! Come for! Show yourself messenger of Pluto!"
He then swung the giant orb of glass down towards the city street, where there was still a good number of people trying to get away.
However, before it hit the ground, Hellfire crashed into it and slammed the burning fist into it. The heat from his fist immediately melted the glass down onto the street harmlessly.
"You control glass, old man," said Hellfire. "You show great skill. Why create such chaos? I'm afraid I can't let you get away with this."
Flames then erupted from his body, increasing the heat around him. The heat struck the old man, making it difficult for him to breathe.
"Argh, my throat is burning!" he yelled.
He then immediately retreated and flew down an alleyway.
One of Hellfire's sidekicks then arrived.
"Hellfire!"
"Handle evacuation!" Hellfire ordered and immediately flew down the alleyway.
The old man saw the Hellfire was gaining on him and tried to push him back with shards of glass. Hellfire dodged them all and burned through the rest of them with a powerful flame fist.
"Do it!" the old man ordered as he reached the end of the alleyway.
"Sir!"
Three thugs appeared out of nowhere to hold an array of weapons just as Hellfire exited the alleyway. It was at that moment that Hiccup and the others jumped in to intervene, but before they could land an attack, Hawks swooped in. He said a few feathers flying at two of the villains and swung a powerful kick to the third.
"What's this?" said Hawks as he noticed Hiccup and the others. "You have yourself some followers."
"It's Hawks!" Hiccup gasped.
"Sorry, I was just a little faster than you," he then landed in front of them. "I thought Hellfire needed a bit of help out here."
Hellfire had already apprehended the old man. "Doesn't it look like I was in trouble?"
"I mean, kinda," said Hawks and looked at Ranger. "Would you think, kid?"
Ranger looked at him, stunned. "Oh, hmm…"
"I said to warn me before showing up," Hellfire glared.
Hawks shrugged. "Didn't have time. I was already in the area."
The police arrived to apprehend the villains, though the thugs tried to weasel their way out of it.
"We were just following Star Servant orders!"
"We couldn't disobey him!"
"Let go!" Star Servant commanded. "If you do not release me to my duties, all is lost!"
"Don't worry, take over from here," said Hellfire's sidekick.
"Sounds good," Hellfire nodded.
"Him! He is the source!" Star Servant cried. "The fire that he gives off blinds you! He'll be the demise of our world!"
The police then dragged him away.
"You got it done with no casualties again," said a police officer as he approached Hellfire. "As long as we have you to protect us, this city will know peace, sir."
Hellfire remained quiet as he watched the police driving off with the villains.
Hiccup then looked at Hawks. "The pleasure to meet you, sir. I'm Hiccup Haddock; I'm from Berk Academy Hero Course from Class 1-A!"
"Yeah, you're Skullcrsuher's kid, ain't you," Hawks smiled. "Graviton speaks highly of you. Man, I was hoping to work with him soon, but not today."
"Where is Fishlegs? Isn't he continuing his Work Study at your Agency?" Hiccup asked.
"I pawned him off with my psychics to train for the moment. I feel bad, but I've got a ton of stuff on my plate and no time for him."
Hellfire then approached Hawks. "What is it that you want, Hawks?"
"Oh, nothing much. Actually, I do have a question," said Hawks as he pulled out a book. "You happen to have read this book?"
"'Meta Liberation War?'" said Hiccup reading the title.
"What is this about?" Hellfire asked.
"It's gotten really popular recently, I was reading it awhile back, but it has projections about the future that seems pretty relevant today. Like this passage…" He then opened the book and began skimming through it. "'…you grant freedom to a limited number of people, and the burdens of the world will go to the others.' I'll highlight some parts if you don't have time to read the whole thing; I suggest you read those. The leader of the Meta Liberation Army was named Destro. What he wanted was a society upheld by personal responsibility. Trendy idea lately…"
Hawks smiled. 'Sorry to beat around the bush here, man.'
"And your point is?" Hellfire pressed.
"If that comes to prohibition, we'll have too much time on our hands.'
Hawks looked at him seriously. 'I'm probably being watched. So I can only tell you like this. Please, understand my message Number 1.'
Hellfire did notice that something off about Hawks' expression, the last time they saw each other, he was rather carefree. Now he was looking rather serious.
'Why do I feel as if there's something not right,' he said suspiciously. 'That look on his face… what does it mean?'
Hawks then handed him the book. "Make sure you read through it, okay."
Hiccup frowned. "I think my dad mentioned Destro once. He was against the Meta-Human Registration Act; he wanted absolute freedom for all metas."
"Then why would Hawks recommend reading that book?" Ranger wondered.
Hawks immediately spun around and smiled with a goofy grin. He then quickly pulled out three copies of the book. "Why don't you find out yourselves? Now you guys train hard, and his little advice for you." He then quickly handed them each a book. "The power speed is predicting what comes next."
"Uh, thanks," said Hiccup.
"You really love this book, I guess, huh?" said Ranger. "You got so many copies of it."
"I think he's trying to spread the word," said Hiccup.
"That's right," said Hawks as he spread his wings. "I've been recommending it to heroes across the country. You watch; by the time I'm through, there will be a groundwork for the liberation ideology." He then turned his eyes to Hellfire, looking at him seriously. "You should at least turn to the highlighted ones. Read them closely; I recommend the second part."
Hawks then flew up into the sky. "Take out the Work Studies… all four of you!"
"He may seem super carefree, but I guess he's socially conscious and only 22 years old," said Hiccup.
"And already the number two here," said Ranger.
"That guy is annoying," Snotlout huffed.
"Yes, he is," Hellfire agreed as he opened the book.
They then made their way to the Agency, where they were greeted by Hellfire's sidekicks. His second in command, a flame-haired young woman, greeted them.
"Welcome to the Hellfire Agency," she said.
"Call us the Flaming Side Kickers!"
"That's Burnin; she's a very famous sidekick," said Hiccup looking at the burning hard woman.
"First work-study, the two of you, huh?" said Burnin looking at Snotlout and Ranger. "We'll get you whipped into shape in no time here. You're going to learn a lot; this Agency is totally different than the classroom you're used to. This is a gigantic operation that has more than 30 sidekicks employed; in other words, you're going to have to work hard to shine here."
"Snotlout, you should expect special treatment just because you're the boss's kid."
"Just try to keep up with us as you can."
"There's a new dispatch request!"
"Where is it?"
"Area 37!"
The three of them just looked as all the sidekicks began responding to calls.
"There's so much going on," said Hiccup.
"It is the number one agency; never a dull moment around these parts. We get dispatch calls, patrol jobs, not to mention events. 100 different requests come into this office any given day."
"Then why are we just standing around here when we could be working?" Snotlout asked. "I'm still annoyed that damned bird rushed in and stole my thunder."
"We can't do anything yet into we get the green light from your dad," said Hiccup.
"The kids, right? Hellfire calls the shots here."
Snotlout narrowed his eyes. "You said there were over a hundred requests, right? Send it out somewhere!"
"Do you really need to act this way on our first day?" Hiccup asked.
Hellfire was currently in his office looking through the book Hawks had given him.
'It makes no sense,' said Hellfire. 'Why did he sound so different? It was like he was completely negating everything from before? He usually has that vapid smile, saying whatever comes to mind, but earlier… he wasn't joking around at all. Why the change?'
He remembered what Hawks had said to him in its hand as if he was trying to give him a hint. So he looked through the highlighted lines in the book.
'He didn't even sound like him. There was something that he can't say, so trying to get information across another way. "The second part."' He looked at the second word on each highlighted parts and then noticed that they formed a sentence when he put them together. 'That's it! The second one for each highlighted part they're connected!'
Hawks was now flying out of the city. 'I'm sure the Committee has discovered my encrypted code. I just hope that Hellfire picks up on it. Maybe I should have figured out something easier for him. With the number of heroes secretly joining the Liberation Front, the commission won't want anything I discover to be made public. Can't believe I made serious eyes at him to try to get him to pay attention. I had no choice, though; I don't have too many ways I can communicate right now.'
Hellfire quickly began piecing together Hawks' message.
'The enemy… is the Liberation Army… they number… over 100,000. In four months… to action.'
Hawks was now flying directly over the clouds. 'In four months, we need to be prepared because that's when they'll strike.'