In The Archipelago's Secret Service

13: Family Business

Hiccup glared at Snotlout and wondered for the millionth time how he was related to the most self-absorbed, short-sighted stupid agent in the history of the Service. Maybe if the idiot had just tried the door to his cell he could have escaped himself rather than needing rescuing...

"Did you overhear anything?" he asked his cousin directly. Snotlout made a show of thinking and then sneered.

"Nope," he said irritatingly, popping the 'p' in an especially annoying way. "And why am I answering any questions from you, Useless? I'm the most senior agent here!"

"So senior you sat in an unlocked cell until we rescued you," Astrid said loudly enough for everyone to hear. Snotlout glared at her before he scrambled up and walked over to her.

"Dear Astrid," he said in a sickeningly sweet tone, "I can see you struggling with your obvious anger management issues as well as your overwhelming jealousy at my operational status while you failed and are a mere PT instructor. I can appreciate you feel awed by my awesomeness and I am sure I can help you get over it-say over dinner?"

She punched him again and watched him collapse to the floor, clutching his bleeding nose.

"When  Ragnarok happens!" she spat but Hiccup gently rested a hand on her clenched fist and leaned close to her.

"You're worth a hundred of him," he reminded her softly.

"And I'm only still a PT instructor because he was do stupid and lazy to abide by the terms of the test, so he cheated and almost destroyed HQ!" she growled.

"You keep telling yourself that, sweet cheeks!" Snotlout shot back thickly. "The Deputy Commander..."

"Your father, by the way," Hiccup commented bitterly.

"...cleared my performance as valid and reported no evidence of tampering," Snotlout continued triumphantly.

"Nepotism at its worst, dear sister," Tuff commented.

"Useless' Dad could have spoken up for him as well-but he didn't!" Snotlout sneered. Hiccup stiffened and looked at the rest.

"We need to get out of here," he said. "We'll go via the garage. We need to get this hard drive to Fishlegs to see what he can extract..."

"I should be in charge!" Snotlout interrupted. "You shouldn't be here, Useless!" The other three glared at him as he looked back. "What?" he protested as he scrambled up.

"Snotlout, apart from us, only Thuggory and Heather and a couple of low level security are at large," Hiccup told him in exasperation. "We were ordered not to look for you because Heather reckoned Eret's distress call was a prank. Oh, and AI6 has been blown up!"

"WHAT?"

"Yup. Exploded into little tiny pieces," Tuff added.

"Rubble," Ruff added.

"Ka-boom!" Tuff grinned.

"It was awesome..." his twin confirmed.

"They're joking, right?" Snotlout asked with a nervous laugh. Hiccup shook his head.

"We had to crawl out through the ducts to get away," he informed his cousin in a toneless voice. "We were the only ones to get out." Just. Very just. And thanks to Toothless. But why?

Snotlout's mouth worked soundlessly.

"D-dad?" he finally managed.

"The Command staff were in the emergency refuge but all are seriously hurt from the drop," Hiccup said.