The Gentle Sniper

Chapter 30: Contacting the Past

A/N: Thanks to my lack of academic skill, I have some things to address, so this will be the last chapter I write for you fine people until the middle of August.

Woe is me.

...

It was now 1 PM, and Hiccup was sat on his motorbike, on the sidewalk just beyond the ferry dock, watching a few massive cranes, blue in colour, busily at work unloading a ship docked across the harbour from him, alongside a couple of the smaller more mobile versions, yellow in colour, moving around as they carried a cargo container each.

His focus was solely on these, and the occasional seagull he spotted flying past. So much so that he didn't notice the Range Rover pull up beside him until its hazard lights flicked on.

"Hazard lights on a car filled with DDIS personnel. If that isn't a metaphor about you lot being dangerous and to be avoided at all costs, I don't know what is," Hiccup commented with a smile as he turned to face an approaching Sigrid.

"Rude," murmured a bemused Sigrid, followed by the duo sharing a laugh before she placed the folder she was carrying in Hiccup's hands.

"These are the files on those two soldiers you asked about, and Major Hansen is in Aalborg. Set to retire later this year I'd wager though. I believe you owe me five krone now, so pay up."

"You lot do work fast, I'll give you that," Hiccup admitted, as he stuffed the folder in an empty compartment of his backpack, then brought out his wallet and handed her a note. "You wouldn't happen to have my sniper rifle in that Range Rover, would you?"

"No, but it's at the local office. You'll need to come with me; particularly since Viggo wants to talk to you about something concerning Drago - he didn't tell me more than that."

"Okay. You should get some people ready to nab Alvin. He sent someone to find me - who I sent packing - but Alvin will be on his way here expecting to meet me here."

Sigrid nodded. "How fortunate for us. I'll let someone know. Now, follow me please."

A little while later, the Range Rover and Hiccup on his motorbike, drove into an underground car park, complete with a manned kiosk and barrier at the entrance.

"Welcome back, Berkian lot. Still lost I see," the man in the kiosk uttered.

"Just scoping out this city before we invade," came Sigrid's reply. "We've even brought a soldier along with us."

"Aww, and I thought we were getting along, Haddock. You seemed fun when you turned up here yesterday. Should have known you were a sellout though."

Hiccup shrugged. "Still loyal to my hometown, Alfred, even if some of the people who live there are the worst."

The man laughed. "I hear you. Now, head on in."

After parking, Sigrid led the way to a waiting room on the floor above the car park before leaving to seek out Viggo.

Well, I say it was a room; it was more of an area, containing little more than an oak wood bench and serving as a joint between two corridors, with a wall directly in front of Hiccup and the bench he was sitting on and another wall behind him.

Hiccup spent the time waiting for Viggo by taking out his phone for the umpteenth time that day, checking to see if he had received any new texts.

There was nothing, however, not even a reply from Astrid.

I guess the ol' Eret patriarch has her rather busy at the moment.

So with that thought, Hiccup returned his phone to his pocket and crossed his arms as he continued to wait for Viggo.