Alright! Completely new stuff from here on out! Enjoy!
SECTION 06
THE CHANGING TIMES
DATE: DECEMBER 6, 250 A.D.E.
TIME: 0815 HOURS
LOCATION: ENGLAND, MILITARY POLICE ACADEMY ASSAULT FRAME TRAINING ARENA
"Tadey is about teamwork. The Zippleback assault tank is one of the hardest Dragonoids ta take down. Two turrets give it a three-sixty degree firing angle. The only way ta take one down is ta take it on as a squad."
I only heard Gobber's voice with half an ear as acid green smoke billowed from the Dragonoid doors at the end of the arena. My mind wasn't on the job today, it was still back in the village, wondering what Ruusaan was going to do with a Night Fury that could now only operate on English orders. She'd been less than impressed when I'd told her about the 'problem', but she'd been surprisingly content with a promise to try and to fix it.
"Strafe it. Ruffnut, you're with me on the right. Snotlout and Tuffnut on the left. Fishlegs, Hiccup…stay out of our way."
I smiled grimly as Astrid's cold voice broke my train of thought. Ever since the 'Nadder incident' in the Arena, Astrid hadn't said more to me than she needed to. I was used to it though. Mention Arthur Hofferson to his daughter and she tended to get…moody with you for a while.
As I backed up my machine towards the opposite end of the Arena, I could hear that sound of mechanical legs from within the thick fog. Fishlegs' Viking seemed uneasy, the camera in its head darting from side to side looking for its target as its pilot rattled off statistics in my ear.
"Duel barrelled high power energy turrets, twin plasma mortars and anti-personal machine guns…"
"Yes I know," the camera turned to me, almost as through surprised as I sighed patiently. "I've read the manual too."
I flexed my hands uneasily around the control sticks as the other members of the squad quickly disappeared from view, the greenish smoke throwing up dark patterns and blotting out the artificial lights above.
If Astrid wanted me to stay out of the way, I was more than willing to comply. After all, I just wanted to get through this damn training course in one piece. If that meant pushing my Viking to the furthest corners of the Arena while my sergeant and her real soldiers took all the glory, I was fine with that. But just in case trying to remain as inconspicuous as possible failed miserably, I'd concocted a backup plan that would hopefully save my skin…if Ruusaan's crash course stayed stuck in my brain when it was probably scared out of its' mind.
The Viking's cameras were blind, her radar a mess of ungainly shapes that looked like neither an Assault Frame or a Dragonoid.
But Astrid was calm, her mind focused on the task at hand. Everything was going to plan. Ruffnut was beside her, Snotlout and Tuffnut were on the other side of the Arena and Hiccup was as far from her as humanly possible with Fishlegs keeping an eye on him to make sure he didn't screw up.
"Can't see a fricking thing," Ruffnut muttered quietly.
"Just keep calm and stay close," the sergeant growled. "Use the ceiling markings to maintain your bearings…"
"I would if I could see the ceiling!"
"Then just stay close," she rolled her eyes, trying to keep the venom out of her voice. "Don't do anything until my signal. We time this right, we can use the Zippleback's own smokescreen against it. It's just one Dragonoid. We can handle this."
"It doesn't stand a chance," even though he sounded confident, Astrid could hear the note of uneasiness in Snotlout's voice. "If that Dragonoid shows even an inch of its armour, I'm gonna…there!"
She barely caught the alarm for incoming fire before red paint splattered across her Viking's right-hand counterweight, a second shot from the mists beyond catching Ruffnut's Viking square in the chest, the great mech falling backwards as its computer registered a killing hit and powered down.
Astrid's anger was quietly simmering as the smoke screen lifted just enough for her to catch sight of her supposed comrades across the arena, their smoothbore cannons still aimed in their direction.
"Are you kidding me?!" Ruffnut roared from her down mech, accompanied by the distinct sounds of fist banging against the consoles. "How could you bastards be so stupid?! Do we look like Dragonoids to you!?"
"Maybe not inside a mech, but have you seen the size of your butts lastly?" her brother retorted. "Our cannons must've gravitated towards them or something."
"N-not that there's anything wrong with a dragon-esque physique." Snotlout stammered as Astrid raised her own smoothbore. "I mean a lot of people think it's kinda atrracti…"
His transmission was cut off with a satisfying crackle as her shot splattered red paint across Snotlout's front. Tuffnut staggering away into the smoke as his comrade tumbled to the ground.
Astrid didn't even smirk with satisfaction as she lowered her weapon. She didn't need people who wouldn't follow orders. She could take down the Zippleback by herself if she had to.
"Whoa, tough love eh?" Tuffnut's Viking looked down at Snotlout, almost as though the machine itself was pitying the fallen pilot, his voice quickly turning panicky as Astrid raised the assault rifle towards his own mech's chest, "but hey Sarge, lesson learned, don't shoot ya team-mates! I got-"
It was then the grappling hooks tore through his armour; massive rocket-powered spears slicing through his Viking's left shoulder blade and right leg and locked into place by deployable arms that dug into hardened armour.
"Aw…crap."
Sparks flew and metal screamed as Tuffnut's mech was violently pulled back into the smoke, his cry of surprise drowned by the sounds of energy cannons and plasma fire.
Astrid heard Fishlegs swallow audibly over her headset as silence reigned, "Chances of survival are dwindling into single digits now."
"You mean we stood a chance before?"
"Cut the chatter," the last thing an angry Astrid needed was Hiccup's sarcasm. "Fishlegs, move up. Hiccup, stay back and-"
She barely had time to register the massive leg before it slammed into her Viking, alarms screaming in her ears as her Assault Frame tumbled across the arena. She couldn't breathe, her eyes watering as her mech skidded to a halt. The Viking was lying on its side, the left-hand counterweight crushed under the massive machine's weight. She wouldn't be getting up anytime soon without assistance.
"Dammit!"
Astrid felt pain spasm across her back as her Viking was rolled off its' side, metal screaming as a pointed foot gouged its way through her mech's lower torso as the smoke cleared enough for her to see her attacker.
The Zippleback was considered to be one of the deadliest Dragonoids The Dome was currently faced with. It had no flight capabilities, usually flown in and out by a pair of Nadders, not that it needed wings to devastate a battlefield. Set upon six insect-like legs and cast in heavy sludge yellow armour, it was designed to cause havoc on the ground and divert the enemy's attention from attacks from the sky. Two high powered energy turrets, each duel barrelled and mounting a plasma mortar between them, flanked the large ridge that housed the two-seater cockpit, a pair of anti-personal machine guns mounted to the undercarriage.
Astrid growled in frustration as she tried to pull her Viking out from under the Zippleback, the main camera embedded into the Dragonoid's diamond-shaped main head (the largest of four; one for each turret and a third and fourth mounted to the machine's front and rear) dominated her forward view. But her Assault Frame was stuck fast, pinned by the single leg through the gut. She was going to die here, she realised as a machine gun swung round to aim directly down her camera. Not on a battlefield, not defending The Dome's inhabitants from the Dragonoids, but on her back in the middle of the Training Arena, Gobber screaming in her ear to eject while the Zippleback leered over her.
She knew it was useless. Fishlegs' Viking was taken out without the Dragonoid even looking up by a well-placed shot to the counterweights and Hiccup was nowhere to be found.
Hiccup. She almost laughed; here she was, staring death in the face and her last thoughts were about Alexander McK-
A resounding boom shuddered through the Arena, the Zippleback stumbling away blinded as red paint exploding against the Dragonoid's head.
Astrid blinked in surprise, her mouth going slack as she took in the scene on her cracked screens.
Hiccup was moving forward and engaging the Zippleback alone.
"Remaneo Aranov Mircir'daab. Vaabir naas persequor!"
Continue Defence Lockdown. Do not pursue.
I was repeating the same order over and over again over the private channel I'd established with the Zippleback, trying to blink away cold sweat from my eyes as I unloaded another round from the smoothbore cannon.
The idea was a simple one. Just as the Night Fury accepted verbal commands when the A.I. thought I was injured, so did regular Dragonoids do the same for their alien pilots, albeit in the language I was only just starting to understand. Ruusaan had helped me memorise a series of orders that would help me stay alive by broadcasting them to my attacker over an encrypted frequency.
I knew I was taking too many risks. So many things could go wrong right now. Gobber could pick up the link between me and the Dragonoid. Someone might hear the alien's language over an accidentally open frequency. Worse still, if I miss-pronounced any words, the A.I. was sure to realise the ruse and lock me out, meaning a whole lot of trouble for everyone.
I'd taken every precaution both me and Ruusaan could think of though. Closed off the primary radio, encoded the Dragonoid's channel on the secondary set, etc. As far as I knew, the only audio connection I currently had to the outside world was to the Zippleback, and right now I was focused on ending this fight as quickly as possible. Stuck in Defensive Lockdown, a Dragonoid diverted all available power to energise the armour plating, giving a possibly downed machine an extra layer of defence until help arrived or the pilot could eject.
Now a last line of defence was helping me by keeping the target still…ish, its' only movements coming from staggering as I unloaded shot after shot into its side. Training paint splattered over the Zippleback's yellow hide and turrets as I moved between it and Astrid, my hands physically shaking as I ordered gave the mech its next order.
"Barycir carudha'haase."
Deploy smokescreen.
More green smoke billowed out from the Zippleback's dispensers, thickening the residual mist that had been left from the previous smokescreen as I moved towards the failing machine. I performed a last minute scan as I approached the machine; everyone was clear of me, even Tuffnut, who was currently running away from the wreckage of his Viking as fast as his legs could carry him as he screamed to anyone who'd listen about the massive injuries the Dragonoid obviously hadn't incurred.
I placed my Viking before the Zippleback's head, raising the smoothbore cannon to the Dragonoid's main camera. I'd made too much of a display, I realised. The orders I'd memorised were supposed to be for an emergency, a way to give any attacking Dragonoids pause until Astrid or someone else would probably rush in and 'rescue' me. The rest of the squad was down, and no matter which way I might have tried to end it, I could only see one way of ending this without looking like a bigger idiot than my 'comrades' already thought I was.
"Vhetin nedaab ateas: solus oyayc ca'nara."
Begin shutdown period: one waking cycle.
One of the Zippleback's heads seemed to look up at me as one by one its systems began to switch off. It seemed…to understand somehow.
"Mav gar sushir?"
I frowned as the Dragonoid's words seemed slurred in my ears as the last of the mech's power left it and its entire formed sagged. Even if it was just a machine, I felt dirty using all these tricks to take the Zippleback down. Closing my eyes and looking away, I quickly pulled the trigger.
Astrid heard the shot as she pulled herself from her Viking's wreckage; a bone-shuddering thud of a mecha-sized smoothbore cannon. The smokescreen still hung thick in the air like a poisonous green cloud, blotting out any chance of snatching a glimpse of Hiccup or the Zippleback. Across the Arena, where the smoke was a little thinner, she could make out Gobber struggling into his own Assault Frame, the two yellow civilian Vikings lumbering towards the haze.
So, the simulation was complete. A part of Astrid was relieved her personal nightmare was over, but that didn't stop her heart from thudding painfully fast in her chest.
Hiccup was nowhere to be found, and this wasn't due to his usual evasion to combat. She'd tried to get through to him as he charged into the smokescreen, ordering him to pull back and so on, but his radio had been dead for whatever reason, and that only made her worry even more. After all…having the son of General McKrillen killed in the Training Arena under her command was hardly something Astrid wanted on her record. That was the excuse she was giving herself as she ran towards the edge of the smokescreen. It had nothing to do with them being friends years ago, that much was certain.
"Hiccup!" her voice was barely heard over the clanking of Gobber and the civilian Vikings as they lumbered towards her. "Hiccup, answer me!"
The cloud was silent, giving no hint of anything alive beyond the pea soup before her. She flexed her hands uneasily, resisting the urge to go in and find him herself. A suicidal move, considering she didn't even know what state the Zippleback was in.
"Alex…" her voice was barely a whisper now, afraid any of her squad mates that were convening behind her might hear. "Come on, Alex. Where are you?"
It was then that she heard it; the unmistakable grinding of machinery from within the smoke. She thought she heard Gobber in a panic ordering her to get back at the back of her mind, but she didn't move an inch as a shadowy form solidified against the acid green cloud.
It looked…humanoid.
Her posture relaxed slightly as the bright blue light of a Viking's camera pierced through the smoke above her.
"He's okay," she folded her arms as a grim smirk crossed her face as the Assault Frame pierced the cloud. "Of course he's okay."
Hiccup looked tired and grim as he disembarked his machine, giving his sergeant a wary smile as he found her waiting by his mech's foot.
"Tired of showing off are we?" she asked calmly. "I thought I told you to stay out of the way."
"A Zippleback had an energy cannon pointed at your face," Hiccup's smile became slightly tight. "Did you really want me to just sit around while you got your face fried off?"
"I could've handled it," she was straining to keep her voice calm.
"Of course you could have," the smile was replaced by a scowl as the private swept a hand out behind him. "Sorry, it's been handled for you."
She rolled her eyes and snorted disbelievingly…until the smoke cleared.
Now she saw it, they all did; the slumped form of the Zippleback, legs splayed out in all directions, yellow armour practically dripping in red paint.
"No way…"
"You can check my black box if you don't believe me," she turned back to him in surprise as their squadmates' jaws collectively hit the floor. Hiccup wasn't smiling, wasn't boasting or rubbing it in her face. He just glared at her. No, not a glare. He looked more…disappointed.
And for whatever reason, under all her anger and disbelief, that made her feel very small.
TIME: 1019 HOURS
LOCATION: ENGLAND, SIX KLICKS SOUTH EAST OF DOME TERRITORY, NIGHT FURY LANDING SITE
"Tion'jor vaabir gar hiibir an ibic duse?"
I scowled uncomfortably as I dismounted the motorbike, not in the mood for the amused smirk Ruusaan sent my way. Riding along broken roads had been one thing, but riding with a trailer full of Assault Frame cockpit parts was another entirely. The major problem had been I couldn't go as fast as normal, and even at low speeds, the damn thing kept bouncing everywhere and throwing the cycle off balance. You can imagine the sour mood this put me in, especially after everything that had happened at the training arena.
"It's not junk…duse," I muttered agitatedly, mixing English and Dragonoid with the array of hand signs we'd established. "It's plan B…err…" I pulled the tablet from my rucksack, thumbing through the translation matrix, "backup, backup…ah! norac'laam dajun. I don't know if I can fix the A.I.. I've got all kinds of ideas on what might be wrong…dush, and this stuff is here in case I can't fix it."
Ruusaan gave me a sceptical look, before browsing through the parts I'd 'borrowed' from the AF repair yard. Most of it was standard spare parts for a Viking cockpit; control sticks, operation pedals and such. I'd also included a USB attachment in the hopes of establishing a better contact between the Night Fury and my tablet should I need it. Ruusaan gazed at the assortment of tech, before giving me an unconvinced glance.
"Te duse."
"It's not j…weren't you listening…" I cut myself off as I noticed a sly smirk cross her long features. "You're making fun of me aren't you?"
Ruusaan merely smiled innocently (Or as innocently as you can with a mouth full of sharp teeth) as if to say "Who, me?"
"Great. The extraterrestrial is laughing at me," I rolled my eyes as the Co-pilot devolved into a fit of giggles. "I-I can just leave you here you know! See how well you do by yourself against the…the trees and…crickets…"
I felt my shoulders slump as Ruusaan just seemed to laugh harder. It didn't matter if she hadn't understood me, there was hardly a trace of a threat in my voice.
I wouldn't leave her alone, and we both knew that.
DATE: DECEMBER 13, 250 A.D.E.
TIME: 0903 HOURS
LOCATION: ENGLAND, MILITARY POLICE ACADEMY ASSAULT FRAME TRAINING ARENA
It had just…stopped.
Had Astrid not seen it with her own eyes, she would have smacked the person who told her for lying through their teeth. But she had seen it, and she still didn't believe it.
The Gronckle had just…stopped in mid-flight. One minute it was charging towards Hiccup, energy cannons blazing, the next it was digging a trench across the length of the arena, red paint dripping from its underbelly and wings.
He'd done it again; Hiccup, of all people Hiccup had brought down two Dragonoids single-handedly, his Viking barely scratched and leaving a trail of mouths agape in his wake. And now they were cheering, gathering around the idiot as he disembarked his Assault Frame and bombarding him with praise and questions.
Astrid felt her grip tighten around the control sticks, her eyes narrowing to slits. Just two weeks ago everyone ignored him. Two weeks ago he was bottom of the pile. Even Fishlegs was doing better than him. Now suddenly he was a big celebrity. He was already clear over half the other AF trainees in the ranks and this latest victory of his was only helping him push further.
Astrid sighed, letting the anger flow away with her breath. So Hiccup had beaten two Dragonoids, it wasn't a big deal. If anything, it made Nu Squad look better, and it probably bolstered the private's self-esteem somewhat. His luck could only go on for so long after all, so he might as well enjoy it while it lasted.
TIME: 1233 HOURS
LOCATION: ENGLAND, SIX KLICKS SOUTH EAST OF DOME TERRITORY, NIGHT FURY LANDING SITE
"I'm getting noticed."
"Meg?" Ruusaan popped her head out from under the forward control panel, watching me curiously over the top of my tablet.
"Noticed. Erm…ulur." I didn't take my eyes off the transfer program, the last one we'd agree to try before we tried plan B. My hands still moved with my words though, almost on instinct. "I'm starting to stand out…motir dayn. The other guys are starting to ask questions and I think Gobber is keeping a closer eye on me."
"La meyg dush?"
Not good?
"No, not good." I frowned as I saw another carefully planned transfer route slowly crumble before my eyes. "And this isn't good either." I slumped back in the co-pilot seat and showed my friend the numbers. "Another dush dajun. Something is corrupting the A.I. It might not even be the transferral that's doing the damage. Maybe it's a programming error or something to do with human computers…" I closed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose, irritated. If everything had gone smoothly, Ruusaan could have been flying home weeks ago. But this one problem, this one breakdown in communication between pilot and computer was standing in her way. It had to be a human element. That was the only explanation. I'd written the creation programs in Dragonoid, transcribed the data strands word for word from the A.I. construct protocols section of Ruusaan's manual. At no point had I even considered using the English language in the A.I.'s construction. I mean what would have been the point in using a language the pilot didn't even speak?
My train of moping was suddenly cut short as I felt Ruusaan's hand on my head, twisting locks of my hair between her long fingers. I opened my eyes and stared pathetically at her. She merely smiled encouragingly, her head resting on one arm and cocked to one side.
"Plhan B?"
I smiled in return as I closed down the tablet, "Plan B."
DATE: DECEMBER 20, 250 A.D.E.
TIME: 1933 HOURS
LOCATION: THE DOME, MILITARY POLICE ACADEMY, MESS HALL
Sergeant Astrid Hofferson was in a bad mood.
She was sitting alone, prodding something the chef claimed to be 'Turkey Surprise', scowling at the little gathering across the hall.
He'd done it again. She didn't know how, but Hiccup had managed to take down another Dragonoid without breaking a sweat. That had made him…popular. It made Astrid want to gag, seeing people change their opinions of one soldier so quickly. People like Snotlout and the Thornston twins, who had taken great pleasure in deriding and humiliating Hiccup every day since pre-school were now crowding around him, clapping him on the back and trying to prise tips and tricks out of him. Fishlegs had even deemed his friend worthy of being seen in public with. Girls on the nearby tables, who before would never have considered even giving Hiccup the time of day, were now tittering amongst themselves and sending interested glances his way. Waif, in particular, kept going a deep shade of red and squeaking whenever she actually met McKrillen's gaze, which only annoyed Astrid more for some reason. Even the officers were talking about this one insignificant soldier that they had been so indifferent about only a few weeks before. She'd even heard Gobber giving him a promotion to corporal for his efforts!
All this, all because Hiccup was on a lucky streak. It made her blood boil. The Zippleback had been pure chance. The Gronckle was easy once you got it cornered and the Nadder…well, she hadn't figured out how he'd managed to down it yet, but it couldn't have been that hard. Yet the way the hypocrites were going on about it, anyone would have thought Hiccup (of all people) would end the war all by himself.
Astrid closed her eyes, willing herself not to entertain the thought of throwing her dinner in her subordinate's (probably) smug face. There were still a few weeks to go before the final examinations, and Hiccup was still far down the list. It didn't matter to her though. Even if Hiccup made it all the way to second place (and she scoffed at such a thought), even if it was just him and her one that last leg of the exams (which she really doubted), it wouldn't matter.
Because Astrid knew she was better than him. Better than all of them. And more importantly, when that final exam arrived, she would prove once and for all that she was not her father's daughter.
DATE: DECEMBER 20, 250 A.D.E.
TIME: 1453 HOURS
LOCATION: ENGLAND, SIX KLICKS SOUTH EAST OF DOME TERRITORY, NIGHT FURY LANDING SITE
"Aht bic jii."
Try it now.
"Alright, here we go," I settled back in the newly adjusted chair, letting my feet settle against the control pedals as my hands danced across the various consoles.
No part of the cockpit had been left untouched in our efforts. Entire consoles had to be lowered along with the chair in order to accommodate my smaller (by Dragonoid standards) stature, various labels of translated alien script stuck under their corresponding buttons and switches. The control sticks had been switched out with the ones I had taken from the AF Repair Yard, the pedals slightly raised with the lowering of the chair to meet somewhere in the middle. Everything was almost ready for a test flight…provided we'd hooked everything up properly of course.
"CPG Setting complete, ion concentration nominal, meta movement parameters updated, power source and energy flow normal, systems all green. Alright, so far so good."
"So fah so gud." Ruusaan grinned as she stuck her head through the open hatch. "Naas munit jii staabi?"
"No, it shouldn't be much longer," I agreed. The two of us had already worked out a rough mission plan. Once we'd performed some flight tests and I had accustomed myself to flying the Night Fury, it had been decided I would fly Ruusaan out to the east coast of North America and drop her outside of the radar range of Washington Crater. On the way back I would then dump the Dragonoid mech in the ocean before I hit England and then take an inflatable raft to shore. Theoretically, the plan would commence with the next Dragonoid raid, the idea being I could say I'd gotten myself caught on a Nadder's claw as it swooped in low and didn't manage to break free until I was over the Atlantic (at a safe enough distance from the water that I wouldn't break every bone in my body on impact of course). It might have been full proof…if it hadn't been so quiet on the home front lately.
Gobber thought it was probably Dad's assault diverting their attention, but whatever the reason, no Dragonoids had darkened the skies over The Dome since Dauntless had left port. Don't get me wrong, not having to worry about fighting for my life almost once a week was refreshing, but it made the sudden disappearance I needed to stage incredibly difficult.
I shut the Night Fury down with a sigh. I was starting to feel like rebuilding the Dragonoid had been the easy part of this plan. There was still a lot of work to be done of course, and I was determined to make at least one test flight before I flew as far as America. That was still at least a week away though. In the meantime, I had an all-around different problem to contend with, back at The Dome…
DATE: DECEMBER 24, 250 A.D.E.
TIME: 2022 HOURS
LOCATION: THE DOME, MILITARY POLICE ACADEMY, HAND WEAPONRY SHOOTING RANGE
The Academy was quiet tonight; the sounds of Christmas festivities a long way off in other less military parts of The Dome. The complex's buildings were dark and tranquil, devoid of life save for a few cleaners hurrying to finish their work and get home to their families, and a certain blonde haired Sergeant making her way towards the hand weaponry shooting range.
Astrid felt drained, like someone had lined her uniform with lead. It was the stress, she had reasoned. The pressure of staying in top form, the constant annoyance that came with leading a squad of fools and the sheer insanity she must be experiencing as she watched Private…no Corporal Alexander 'Hiccup' McKrillen's name slowly climb the rankings. Before, the mention of the last one alone was enough to make her blood boil. But tonight, it was as though the wind had been taken out of her sails, and it was all came down to a single comment made by Tuffnut (drunk on mulled wine and festive cheer) over lunch that day:
"The guy's a natural! It's like he's not even trying! I'm telling ya Sarge, he's so much better than you ever were!"
After throwing the inebriated corporal into the nearest brick wall, all of Astrid's energy had just seemed to vanish. Because deep down, as much as she was loathed to admit it, Hiccup had achieved in a few weeks without breaking a sweat what she had pushed herself to gain in years; the respect of his peers as an unmatched (almost, he hadn't taken her top rank just yet) Assault Frame pilot and soldier of The Dome. While she had trained endless hours in AF simulations, honed her skills in battlefield tactics and pushed herself by herself to become the greatest student the Military Academy had ever produced, he had sat shunned by his peers into the corners of classrooms, developing endless new inventions that either failed to work the way he wanted, exploded or both. Now he was adored by everyone he met, praised by Gobber for the flawless takedowns of every Dragonoid he'd ever gone up against since the Zippleback while she became the shunned one. She had been pushed aside by his fans, her own achievements all but forgotten.
If it had been anyone else, even Fishlegs or Snotlout, she might have been a bit more accepting. At least they were proper soldiers, loyal to The Dome and her people. Sure, people like them were idiots, and the likelihood of them ever coming close to surpassing her was remote at best, but they weren't Hiccup. And that was important to Astrid. Because of what he was, because of what he'd done.
As she picked up a pistol and ammo from the racks, the memories flooded back to her against her will; of a rainy night nine years ago. A night of tears and sorrow, the end of the day her life had come crashing down with a harsh reality.
April 3rd, 241 A.D.E.. Before that date, she'd never even considered remaining with the Military Police after her compulsory service. Her nine-year-old mind was filled with thoughts of following in Daddy's footsteps; rubbing shoulders with the political elite and rising through their ranks. Tension within The Dome was at an all-time high with Arthur Hofferson in charge, but Astrid hadn't fully understood why. At least, not at the time. She would later realise it was his policies; the constant pushes he made as Mayor for a peaceful end to a war that had lasted over two centuries, that had caused the rifts to form within Dome society, most noticeably between the Dome Council and the Military Police. Mayor Hofferson's call to try and open diplomatic negotiations had been met with uproar from many of the generals that made up the military brass, understandably so now Astrid could look back with an older mind. After all, what person in their right mind would want to negotiate with a race that had mercilessly almost wiped out the human species? But her father had remained determined. He, as with many of on the Council, were tired of war. They were tired of hiding in shelters while the Military Police and their Assault Frames defended them from an enemy whose motives they knew next to nothing about. The brass, on the other hand, felt such speculations were meaningless. Who cared why the Dragonoids had killed so many? The important thing was that they were, and were continuing to do so if the reports they received from the newest refugees was anything to go by. As far as they were concerned, the best way of ending this war was with a nuclear warhead straight to Washington Crater…if they could ever get their hands on one.
Mayor Hofferson had been stubborn however, and refused to bow to the Military Police's demands. He had kept telling both the Council and his daughter that something must have changed drastically between the Dragonoids and the United States for the aliens to have broken fifty years of peace. And on that day, April 3rd, 241 A.D.E., he made the decision to ask the Dragonoids themselves.
It was decided that her father himself would make the trip, taking with him a small crew and a single Cerberus class mobile fortress, the CMF Paladin.It was hailed as a diplomatic mission; the first step towards ending the war. Astrid remembered as she loaded her pistol with training rounds standing on the observation platform with her mother, Miranda Gothi and the other members of the Dome Council. She could hear the sounds of music and celebration as the Paladin moved away from the harbour. She remembered glancing at the nine-year-old Alex sitting next to his father (the only military presence there on the day now she thought about it) as she aimed down the sights to the target at the end of the range, refusing to smile at faded images of his blushing cheeks and awkward grin that came with the memory.
And as she fired the first shot, she remembered the wail of the alarm klaxons and the first explosions of battle.
Joyful cries and shouts had become panicked screams of terror and fear as the Dragonoids swooped out of the sky, the mechanical roar of the harbour gates rolling shut as the Military Police mobilised and moved their Assault Frames out. She felt her mother's hand slip from her own as Representatives scrambled to get to safety, only for Alex's to take its' place and drag her along towards the shelters. She remembered running through hordes of terrified citizens, the sounds of bullets and energy fire echoing up into The Dome's high ceiling. But most importantly of all, she had turned just in time to see the Paladin-
"You're here late."
Astrid jumped, letting loose a string of silent curses at being snuck up on as she swung the pistol round to the forehead of the intruder. She almost dropped the gun in surprise as she took in who it was, and the realisation only made her tighten her grip.
Hiccup for his part seemed fairly relaxed for a man who currently had the end of a gun barrel pressed to his forehead. Her eyes narrowed.
"What are you doing here?"
The corporal rolled his eyes and pushed the gun out of his face as he walked past her, "It's a shooting range Astrid, what do think I'm here for?"
"It's past 2000 hours."
"You're here aren't you?"
The sergeant faltered as she tried to come up with a counter-argument. To her annoyance, nothing came to mind. She turned her attention back to Hiccup, watching him suspiciously as he loaded a magazine into a pistol of his own. He was still in uniform, the same as she was, rumpled from a day's wear. That meant he hadn't changed, which probably meant he hadn't gone to the Christmas party.
"You're not down in the Mess Hall."
He shook his head as he picked up the safety gear, "Nope."
"Why?"
"I need a reason?"
"If I say you do."
He glanced at her, mid-step towards a free lane, quietly taking in her stony gaze. He sighed.
"I just don't like the attention," he said finally. "That good enough for you?"
"No," the gaze became a glare as continued to walk. "I thought you'd be jumping for any attention that wasn't following something of yours blowing up."
"I guess I didn't realise how much of a pain it would be," he replied neutrally, geared up and aiming down the sights. "I didn't know how annoying Snotlout really was until he had me pinned under his arm, singing my praises to anyone who would listen. I didn't think girls stealing glances when they think I'm not looking everywhere I go could ever get old. Mostly I didn't think the entire Dome would go stir crazy over me just because I'm doing well in AF Training." He smiled wryly, "I never wanted that kind of attention Astrid, that's your department. I just wanted people to know me as more than just a screw-up. I wanted him to know me as more than just a screw-up."
Astrid didn't say anything, not until three shots from Hiccup's pistol had sliced through the paper target at the end of the range. When she spoke again, even she was surprised at how quiet her voice was.
"So, you're not down in the Mess Hall because you don't like to party. I get that. Why are you here?"
Hiccup paused, then unloaded the last of the magazine into the target. He turned towards her slowly, pulling the earmuffs to around his neck and his safety goggles onto the top of his head.
"What do you want me to say, Astrid? I came looking for you?"
"Did you?"
"Yes," the answer came without pause as he set the pistol down. "I mean you've been a bit…on edge lately. Can you blame a friend…"
"You're not my friend."
Her voice was deadly cold and barely a whisper. Hiccup frowned slightly.
"You don't deserve to be my friend," she continued, her eyes never leaving his. "Not after what you did."
The frown became a scowl, "Because I tried to tell you the truth?"
"Because you tried to feed me a lie!" she spat every word out with venom. "Because of what you tried to convince me of! Even now I still can't figure out what you were trying to do, what your motives were…"
"I was nine!" Hiccup threw his hands up in the air, esasperated. "I didn't have any motives! I was only trying to help a friend who was hurting. A friend who was surrounded by bureaucrats feeding her bullshit just to fuel their own agenda. I thought if you knew what actually happened-"
"I know what happened, dammit. I was there, and so were you," Astrid laughed hollowly. "And that's what makes it all so stupid. Because you were there too, Alex. You were right there beside me when the alarms sounded. You saw the Dragonoids attack," she finally looked away. "You saw what they did to the Paladin."
"What I saw was Nadder nose-dive her," Hiccup spoke softly, carefully approaching his commander. "What I saw was the Paladin explode as it flew away. But what I read later made me doubt everything I saw." He was at her shoulder now. When she didn't reply, he continued. "Your Dad…he was hardly a guy without enemies. I mean he was talking about finding a peaceful solution to end a war with a race that almost wiped humans from the face of the planet. The fact he thought the war was all started from a mistake didn't exactly help his case. Most people were amazed he even got into office. A lot of those people were in the Military Police." He paused again. Still, the sergeant didn't speak. She didn't even look at him. "Astrid…even if you don't believe me, you know what I told you is at least possible…"
He cut himself off when Astrid sighed. She suddenly felt very tired, the memories of that damned night beginning to weigh down on her again.
"It was all a conspiracy," she said quietly. "Just a small group of people that opposed my Dad's ideals. They corrupted his communication to Washington Crater, made it look like he was gloating over a nearing victory for The Dome. They knew how the Dragonoids would react. They knew they'd send their mechs. And when one such machine dipped too low, all their agent aboard had to do was flip the switch. The Military Police found out too late. But instead of publishing the findings of the investigation, they used the late Mayor's death to their advantage. They spun lies and propaganda about how the peace-loving Arthur Hofferson had been brutally slain by the warmongering Dragonoids. That's what you told me Hiccup, but even if I knew where you got your information, I'll never believe that."
Her corporal's face fell.
"Why?"
"Because it's easier to hate the Dragonoids. Look at what they've done Hiccup; they've almost wiped out our entire civilisation for reasons we don't even understand. Even if Dad was right, and this whole war was started with a mistake, that doesn't excuse what they did to us. He had to die for me to figure that out, and now I have to prove to everyone that I'm not my father's daughter. I don't support his stupid ideas, and I know who my enemy is. My family's name is mud because of Arthur Hofferson, and I now know I have to surpass everyone around me to ensure only his name is ground into the dirt." She finally turned her gaze back to him, her expression unreadable. "It's easier to hate Dragonoids then believe your theories and things you say you've 'heard', even if that means I have to hate you in the process."
Hiccup didn't say a word, not even as she turned to leave. All he did was watch as she headed for the door.
"The final AF exams are in a few weeks," she didn't turn to face him. She just kept walking. "If you don't like the attention Hiccup, just stay out of my way. It'll be gone in no time."
Dragonoid Translations
"Remaneo Aranov Mircir'daab. Vaabir naas persequor!"
(Continue Defence Lock-down. Do not pursue.)
"Barycir carudha'haase."
(Deploy smokescreen)
"Vhetin nedaab ateas: solus oyayc ca'nara."
(Begin shutdown period: One waking cycle.)
"Mav gar sushir?"
(Will you listen?)
"Tion'jor vaabir gar hiibir an ibic duse?"
(Why did you bring all this junk?)
"Norac'laam dajun."
(backup plan.)
"Te duse."
(It's junk.)
"Meg?"
(What?)
…ulur..
(notice)
"…motir dayn…"
(Stand out.)
"La meyg dush?"
(Is that bad?)
"Dush dajun."
(Bad plan.)
"Aht bic jii."
(Try it now.)
"Naas munit jii staabi?"
(Not long now right?)
Author's Notes
Why yes, I did just make a 7000 word chapter mostly out of a five minute montage in film, thank you for noticing :)
One of the hardest things to write throughout the story was the language barrier between Alex and Ruusaan. Originally, it was completely one sided, with Alex speaking to Ruusaan in her own language or using a Universal Translator-esque device. But I felt this would be boring to read, especially when I'd have had to subtitle everything. This compromise, with Alex and Ruusaan picking up bits of each other's language, hopefully conveys a growing level of equality between the two of them. The translation matrix only translates Dragonoid into English and not vice versa to maintain this gradual breaking down of language barriers for as long as possible. If I'd created my own language at the time, I would probably have made a better excuse that English syntax doesn't translate well in real time into the Dragonoid language, but seeing as most of the alien speak is just Mando'a with English syntax I didn't think the excuse would stick. "Because the plot demands" is the actual reason.
Ruusaan's mangling of the English language was inspired by how the Jägermonsters from the Girl Genius web comic speak. This had a knock-on effect of having Ruusaan's dialogue take on an Eastern European or Russian-esque accent in my head. At time of writing, I would say Ash Sroka (Tali'Zorah, Mass Effect 2 (after she got the vocal nuances more uniform)) would probably be a good to be her voice actress for your internal voice actors to emulate. She's very good at "unidentifiable pseudo-Eastern European".
This chapter showcases my attempts to expand on Hiccup and Astrid's relationship prior to the start of the film, and how it eventually soured. As I said before, I never really saw Astrid as a bully on the same level as Snotlout and the twins, and just felt like there was an interesting story as to why she gave him the cold shoulder. Originally, I think, it was a bit more cut and paste. Dragonoids were evil; Astrid grew up thinking that and got stronger, Alex grew up thinking that and for one reason or another didn't. Astrid in turn began to distance herself from him when she realised he wasn't on her level and abandoned him completely after the two had one of those friendship ending fights. Arthur Hofferson and his part in their split up came with the development of the Dragonoids, but more on that at a less spoiler-y time.
Alright, that's all for today. Have a good Christmas/festive season, every single one of you!