"I'll ask only once more Deadly Nadder. WHERE. IS. NIGHT FURY?" Hunter-mind repeated. He was clearly out of patience with the heroine's silence, but he wouldn't like her answer anyway. They had come for the same reason, a fact she'd tell him if the immobilization cannon didn't prevent her from talking! Fury had mentioned it once before things had fallen apart, he designed it for capture and interrogation; but he hit a snag as the immobilization was complete, meaning the jaw won't move while effected. It was probably the reason the device was in this storage hideout.
Heather was grunting besides her as the raven haired girl tried to move, Astrid had the benefit of knowing the device was considered a failure and wasn't bothering to waste her energy. At her continued(albeit unwilling) silence, Hunter-mind growled in irritation and tossed the handheld cannon aside. Unfortunately the release button was not hit as the contraption slammed into other inventions that Night Fury had stored there, and fell to the ground with a clunk.
Hunter-mind rubbed his eyes trying to calm himself as much as possible, sadly this meant when he opened them again he noted the light from the computer screen behind the pair of frozen females. Taking the time to move them out of the way he claimed the seat at the desk and looked over the designs for the Empath Ray. "Hmm, this was the most recent project Night Fury was working on when he went missing...". The villain spoke to himself, he backed the page up to the list and 'hmm'd again when he saw it was listed as missing. "Missing, not incomplete. That means the device was finished beforehand..." Hunter-mind scratches his chin, not caring that he left his goatee a frazzled mess. "Something must have happened when he went to field test it! It's the only feasible reason for him to be gone this long."
While the villain was making these deductions, a small drone flew in from somewhere. It was shaped like a dragon, only with a small monitor where the face would go. It flew silently to the heroines and scanned them.
Identified, Deadly Nadder Razorwhip.
The screen displayed before the drone turned and approached the discarded immobilization cannon, a small arm popped out and connected with the weapon and moments later the pair were free to move again.
Hunter-mind seemed too engrossed in his musings about what happened to Night Fury to notice the women moving behind him, and was therefore incredibly surprised when two pairs of hands grabbed him by the arms and shoulders before tossing him bodily across the floor. The drone that had freed them flew up into the darkness that covered the ceiling, disappearing from view; but Astrid and Heather had more pressing matters at the moment.
Hunter-mind staggered to his feet and drew a flaming sword from its place on his back, Astrid knew from times when she and Heather worked together that Hunter-mind wasn't much of a fighter in and of himself; he preferred to leave that to his elder brother: Hunter-blade. The younger sibling was the brains of their brotherly villain cartel, so for him to be willing to fight for this information meant it was important to him. Having once been partners with Heather, the two had developed a near telepathic communication in battle. Astrid feinted an advance and when Hunter-mind turned towards her, Heather struck. Her power was similar to Astrid's, only her spikes were more metallic and lacked the option of poison in them, and they also came from her legs instead of her hands. The raven haired beauty had taken every dance class she could find in order to have every possible move that could be put to practical use in combat, like the midair twirl she flawlessly performed to become a spinning kick machine of death.
The spikes were mostly blocked by their opponent and he was quick to reassess the situation. He was clearly outnumbered and outclassed in terms of fighting prowess, he hadn't anticipated heroes actually finding Fury's storage pit. Every device here was a potential weapon against them and only he knew its location in the villain cabal, so something wasn't adding up.
"Well... I know when I'm outmatched." Hunter-mind said while he put his sword away after dosing the flames. It had been a gift from Night Fury after their first victory over a couple of heroes, some loudmouth braggart that could set himself on fire and a pair of crazy siblings that had powers that worked in tandem to create explosions. "I'll withdraw for now, but I will find Night Fury. And when I do, we will be coming for the two of you with a vengeance!"
He grabbed a device beside him quickly and pulled the trigger, causing a large number of streamers and confetti to explode all over the heroines. They heard him laughing as he vanished into the piles of abandoned creations, but not his usual villain laugh; this one sounded more like actual laughter.
Astrid looked at the flare gun-esqe device that had been used on them and rolled her eyes, 'party in a gun' the label on the side read. Under normal circumstances she'd find it funny as well, but right now it allowed a top villain to slip through their grasp; as well as a possible lead on Night Fury.
The drone from earlier glided back down to hover in front of her. Once again she was scanned, not that she was too worried since it freed her last time. After confirming her hero identity once more it displayed a message, only five words: 'Please stop looking for me.'
The sender was painfully clear, the small symbol in the bottom corner of the screen was familiar to anyone from Dragon's Edge: Night Fury. The message had to be automated, otherwise there would be no need to scan her. The only positive she could take from this revelation was that before he went to ground, Night Fury had taken some the time to program a drone to ensure his tech couldn't be used against her. However there was also the matter that he had known she'd come looking for him and didn't want to be found, the day they last saw each other flashed through her mind's eye; he was hurt but still chose to protect her. She resolved herself once more, she couldn't honor his request; she would find him and explain everything before begging him to give them a real chance. A chance at happiness without the masks.
Later that evening found the friends entering Heather's apartment, and much to their surprise a public acceptably dressed Dagur. The man was wearing a collared shirt and light brown jeans, it came as a shock since his former life as a villain who didn't hide behind a mask made his transition to civilian life difficult. "Sis! Other sis! I didn't realize you'd be back so soon. I was hoping to have good news for you when you got back, but I'm only just about to head out myself."
"Well you surprised us just by wearing something other than sweats and wife beaters for a change Dag. What's the occasion?" Heather asked.
"Oh a friend of mine from before the villain days is coming into Berserk, said he wanted to meet up for dinner and that he had something he wanted to discuss with me." The elder sibling answered while he patted himself down to make sure he had his phone wallet and keys(men reading know the process). "I'll let you know how it goes when I get back! And don't worry, if he wants me for anything even questioningly legal I'll keep my promise and turn it down!" They heard him shouting back down the hall as he left.
—————
"Brother!" Dagur exclaimed as he swept Hiccup up into a hug, the pair had met years ago when the younger was pursuing an engineering degree(which he got). "So what brings you to Berserk? Last I heard you were now 'mr. fancy gadget man' for the heroes."
Hiccup chuckled and rubbed the back of his head as he responded, "Yeah I am, and it's been interesting. However it also gives me an opportunity to make connections with other tech people that work in other cities; and a recent one has need of someone that I think you're a perfect match for." The two put the conversation on hold while they ordered a couple drinks and sirloins to eat.
"Wait... is this a job offer?" Dagur said when the waiter walked away.
Hiccup nodded, but elaborated. "It's more of a job opportunity, I don't make the final call. But this woman is in charge of a very high end tech firm and she is looking for someone that knows how to handle themselves in a fight. Despite your... background, I think you could do this job fairly well. The heroes won't trust you due to The Chief's rather rigid belief that 'once a villain always a villain'. But Ms. Queen is more flexible with her way of thinking. She's agreed to meet with you if you're interested, the pays good and it comes with benefits. You mentioned that you're still living with Heather and this could either help you move out or afford you two a nicer place if you want to stay together."
Dagur simply looked at his friend, Hiccup had helped him a lot in the time they'd known each other, but this was huge. For months he'd been secretly leaving while his sister was on patrol, trying to find work so he could contribute to their lives. Heather made plenty as a hero, but he hated feeling like a burden on her.
"If she's aware and still willing to meet with me then I can't afford to turn her down; but I need to know Hiccup. This is on the up and up right? I gave Heather my word that I was done with the whole villain life and I am NOT breaking that promise." The carrot topped man told Hiccup, he used to be known as deranged, but for his sister, his only family left, he would do anything.
"I wouldn't have brought it up otherwise Dagur. Defender technology is 100% legit and even sponsors a few heroes. This is simply private security, you'll be watching monitors most of the time and watching over the CEO when she has meetings, some thugs have tried robbing them in hopes of becoming the newest villain in town; so you're job will be to stop the ones dumb enough to try. Non-lethally of course." Hiccup explained, while lifting a box and pushing it across the table. Dagur opened it to find a three piece suit and tie neatly folded, his measurements written down so he knew it was tailored for him. He looked back up at Hiccup with a questioning gaze. "You'll want to look the part, this has all the fashion of a dress suit; but all the functionality of the heroes latest costumes. Bullet, fire, and even stab proof; you wear this and you are the best security that money can buy."
He put the box in the chair beside him as their food came. They switched to lighter topics while they ate, Hiccup knowingly giving him time to consider the chance he was being offered. Hiccup insisted that he pay the bill, and the pair walked to the nearby bus stop for Dagur to take home. They shook hands before Dagur took the smaller man into his arms for a hug; a hug that had Hiccup reminding the man he still required the ability to breathe. They then parted ways, a smile on Dagur's face then entire ride back to the apartment he shared with his sister. He couldn't wait to tell her the good news as he looked down at the suit he'd been given, he'd probably omit the bit about their tech guy being the one he met with and giving him hero class gear.
When he got back Astrid had left, but Heather was waiting for him with a cup of cocoa. Hearing that his friend had possibly found him a job brought such a look of excitement to his sister's face that Dagur couldn't help but wish he could tell her the whole truth, but Hiccup had his reasons for keeping their connection quiet. His association with even a former villain would bring him a lot of headaches with The Chief and Dagur owed him too much to cause him any undo stress. Perhaps this job could show he truly had left the life of an evildoer behind him, after all... its not like he's the only one to do it.