Side Quest 7:Vintovka Dragunova
General's Office, 0845hrs
Cpt. Jack Haddock
I wait in my father's office; he called me up for a meeting this morning, here, to discuss some issues regarding the development of my squadron of dragonback combatants.
I'm early, the General is probably just finishing his breakfast. Twiddling my thumbs, I sit there in the chair, bored out of my mind. Training has started already; Astrid is handling that while I'm unable to supervise for the moment.
The door opens, and he steps in. "Ah, Jack, you're here early, I thought we were only meeting at 9?"
"Well, Dad, it doesn't hurt to be early, right? Plus I don't have anything else to do at the moment."
Nodding with a smile, the General takes his seat across the desk. He reaches for a folder under his desk, brining it out and opening it, browsing through its contents. I look on curiously, awaiting my instructions.
"Right… Jack, as you know, Odin Squadron is steadily growing; recruits are warming up to the concept and beginning to sign up with their own dragons. With only the two of you commanding almost a hundred of them, even with the help of your small group of specialists, it's bound to get a little tight on you, am I right?"
I nod in agreement, it has definitely been getting tougher and tougher to handle the fast-expanding unit.
"As such, I've sent scouts across the world to search for talented guns-for-hire, to put them within your unit as commanders to assist you and Lt. Astrid, as you may know."
"It's been rough, though. Our search has turned up a few names; only one has accepted our offer so far, and it was only after much negotiation on our part that we managed to acquire her services. She will be joining us as of today; you will probably meet her later at the training complex this afternoon."
The General hands a brown, thin folder to me. I open it, and read the personnel case documents filed within.
"These are her details. Vladilena Ivanova, 25. Ex-Spetsnaz GRU commander, and underground Russian Mafia leader. Imprisoned upon the discovery of her abuse of her position in the Special Forces to cover up her criminal activities and empower the Mafia within Moscow. In fact, under her, the Mafia grew so strong, it took the combined efforts of the KGB and the Spetsnaz commandoes to incapacitate them in order to capture Ivanova. So many lives were lost to her hands, she was nicknamed 'Bloodhound of Moscow.'"
"Veteran of the battlefield, she has taken part in several covert and black operations, specialising in sabotage as well as frontline combat. A skilled strategist and well-rounded fighter, combined with the cold, calculating mind of a criminal – the perfect soldier."
Shocked by her… horrific résumé, I give my father an incredulous look. "Why then, are you assigning her to my unit and not, say, our SpecOps troops? I'm sure she'd be more suited there!"
"I knew you'd ask… It's because she has her own dragon."
I am stunned. I knew dragons existed all over, but it was the fact that we weren't the first to physically own them surprised me.
"Apparently, according to what we know, she has owned her own pet dragon since young, a gift from her Mafia parents. With regards to the species, we have yet to find out ourselves."
"Uh… okay… so when is she coming?" Taking a deep breath, I steel myself; There's no helping it, we are going to need all the help we can get, criminal background or not.
"Well, she should be arriving later, ETA 1200hrs. You are to rendezvous with her at 1230hrs, I've instructed her to meet you at the Dragon Combat Centre."
My mouth goes dry, "Huh?"
Me? Meet up with a feared, hardened Russian Mafia ringleader? I'm already crapping in my pants just facing up against a pre-menstrual Lt. Astrid Hofferson, and you expect me to smile and say 'Hi!' to a high-profile gangster and killer?
The General is adamant, "Yes, I suppose as her commanding officer, it is your duty to welcome her, right? Son, it took us real pains in negotiating with the Russian government to release her from the death row. Please don't screw this up."
This day just can't get any better, can it?
Dragon Combat Training Centre, 1235hrs
Cpt. Jack Haddock
I'm pacing about nervously outside the block, wondering when the new rider would show up. She was already five minutes late. Checking my watch, I tap my bionic foot anxiously. In my mind, vivid imagery was cropping up all over.
I wonder what she must look like, and what kind of dragon she owns. The image of a scarred, tall, dark woman in a business suit came up, hiding a Desert Eagle under her blazer, smoking a Cuban cigar. My wonderful imagination didn't help at all, only serving to heighten my suspense.
I wait a little longer; after a few moments, I give up. Alright, she's not coming, all the better for me.
As I turn away, I hear a young, feminine voice.
"Excuse me?"
Back stepping, I look around, to see a woman, standing there. Tall, slim, similar in stature to Astrid, except with longer, strawberry-blonde hair… and a much larger… chest area. She is dressed in military fatigues, carrying a brown duffel bag slung over her shoulder. She seems nervous, and a little lost. I offer a helping hand, "May I help you? Are you looking for anyone?"
"Yes… I am looking for this… Cpt. Jack Haddock?" Her voice has a distinctly Russian accent.
"That would be me." I introduce myself.
"Ah! Kapitan, I was instructed to meet you; I apologize for being late. I am Vladilena Ivanova, at your service."
My warm smile freezes on my face. What did she just say?
Stammering, I try to regain my cool, "Ah… sorry, I… I didn't catch your name…"
"Ivanova; Vladilena Ivanova." She gives me a smile, extending her hand.
My mind must be playing tricks on me. This beautiful lady in front of me can't be the prolific serial gangster, can it? Not knowing what else to do, I return her handshake.
"… Your hands… they're shivering. I thought this place would be hot?" She narrows her eyes, her voice suddenly wary. Shit… that's not good!
"I… ah, I'm… sorry…" I'm stuttering, losing it in front of her.
She gives me a smirk, which grows into soft laughter uncharacteristic of what her history shows, sounding more like a laughing high school girl than a cackling villain.
"Don't worry, kommandir, I left Mother Russia with a clean slate. No longer am I leader of Hotel Moscow. I serve the Kremlin no more, and my connections with the Mafia are severed. With my release from the gulag, the deal was that I renounce Mother Russia as my home. Here, I am merely Ivanova, soldier of the ATF, serving under you, Kapitan. The Bloodhound's guns are yours to command."
Her statement is strangely calming, and despite the remaining reservations inside me, I am thankful, speaking smoothly, now that I know she is on our side, for now. Heaving a sigh of relief, I continue our conversation.
"Oh yes, I heard you have a dragon of your own?"
"Da!" Excited, she calls to the skies in Russian, "Prihodit!"
Upon her summons, a wind whips by, and in a flash, before us is a large dragon. I am awed by its presence; while not much larger than the dragons we see here, it is much sleeker in shape, its wings bat-like and leathery. Its horns are slicked back, its jaws forming a streamlined shape. Most striking and dazzling of all, its scales are opalescent, shimmering in a variety of colours.
"This is Stormfly. She is a Nastroenie Drakona; a Mood-dragon."
"A Mood-dragon?" I am taken aback. These are extremely rare, and number less than fifty throughout the whole world! Few have ever seen one, much less own one! Shocked, I ask, "How did you get her?"
"Stormfly has been with me since young. My father came across her egg in smuggled treasures. He gave it to me, and it hatched to give me her." Her eyes shine softly, as she seemingly reminisces about her childhood days; the more I speak with her, the more unbelievable it is that this woman is the Bloodhound of Moscow.
"She's beautiful."
"Spasibo. I love it when her scales change colour with her moods." The smile on her face is soft, gentle, completely unlike that of a criminal. I approach the dragon slowly; almost immediately, its scales shimmer pink and it draws away from me; laughing softly, Vladilena explains, "She's shy."
Sighing in disbelief, I officially welcome Vladilena with a smile, "Well, Ms. Ivanova, I believe we should get along just fine; I'll introduce you to the rest of the unit tomorrow. As commanding officer of the unit, I welcome you and Stormfly to Odin Squadron."
Giggling, she replies, "Thank you, kommandir. I look forward to fighting and training alongside you."
Suddenly, she leans near; her warm, sweet scent fills my nose, her hair brushing against me. Her pose greatly emphasises her… assets. I blush. Winking, she continues, "And please,call me Ilena."
"KEH-HEM"
A loud cough breaks the awkward silence that follows. Pulling away from me, Ilena turns around to face a very… suspicious Lt. Astrid. She is not pleased.
"You must be the new rider." There is a mildly haughty tone in that voice. "Impressive dragon, but I don't know what you can do with it yet."
"Lt. Hofferson. A pleasure to meet you." Without skipping a beat, Ilena coolly offers a handshake. Astrid hesitates, before returning it.
"Vladilena, is it?"
"Ilena is fine."
"I'll brief you on our training schedules. Follow me, I'll show you to your quarters. By the way, your callsign from now on will be 'Camicazi'."
"Sounds good. I like it."
The two ladies turn to face me; Ilena gives me a friendly farewell wave, and I wave back sheepishly at the striking beauty, her dragon at her side.
The other one, though, doesn't look too happy. Shooting me a piercing gaze, she gestures at me behind the Russian's back.
You're going to get it from me later.
What did I do?
I saw you staring at her chest, you pervert.
… Shit.
A/N – Camicazi and Stormfly © Cressida Crowell. Both are characters from the original How To Train Your Dragon series of childrens' books. Something interesting to note, though; some say that Astrid was based off the character of Camicazi, also a fierce warrior girl who is Hiccup's friend.