Fifteen: Rescue Mission

Astrid was a demon driver. It wasn't such a surprise, given her natural aggression and her excellent physical strength and co-ordination but as Hiccup clung on for dear life, he found himself wishing he had taken the wheel.

The Land Rover fishtailed as they drifted round a corner and across the scrub before hitting a slope. Astrid was smiling as she shifted down and floored it, the wheels biting into the slope and the car lurched. She swiped the wipers across the windshield, smearing the drizzle over the glass.

"This is good-handles really nicely," she commented as they jolted and jounced up the slope. "Never tried one of these before..." Hiccup braced his arms against the dashboard and the roof and stared forward, trying to minimise the jolting. He honestly still wanted to just curl up and sleep for maybe another week but instead, they were being chased by the Hunters.

"Maybe you could organise a team building exercise," he suggested wearily. "Though the twins would almost certainly crash and burn..."

"Or blow up the vehicles before they could even get into them," she added.

"Forgot that," he murmured, his eyes fixed ahead. She snatched a quick look at him, seeing his eyes unfocus.

"Are you alright there?" she asked, jerking to the right and accelerating down a scree-slope. The Land Rover slid and skidded and he winced.

"Just thinking that we are trying to escape on Hunter's Isle when we have no clue where we are going, if there is any way off here and how close they are after us," he admitted.

"Not in sight," she reassured him.

"I have no clue-and no plan," he said anxiously. "Oh Thor-they'll recapture us and then I'll be taken back to Viggo and Ryker..." There was a slight hint of panic and she hummed as they lurched round a corner.

"I meant to ask you about that big guy..."

"Ryker."

"Yeah-what was going on there?" she asked him directly, missing his flinch. "I mean, I didn't know you were into guys but that's cool, I'm not prejudiced, each to his own but there is such a thing as time and place, you know?"

"Um...not into guys," Hiccup told her urgently. "Nope. Girls. Blondes, actually." His eyes flicked up and she almost-but didn't-miss the unspoken word. You. Then he looked away, embarrassed. "But when they tortured me, um...Ryker...the big guy whose ass you kind of kicked...well, he kinda said he wanted to...well, you know...but I really had no intention whatsoever. Nope. NEVER. But if they get their hands on me...he will anyway...no matter what I want..."

There was a real edge to his voice and she looked at him. He was taut as a bowstring, embarrassed and scared. And that struck her because this was Hiccup, who had got them out of the collapsed disaster that had been AI6, been calm and cool-headed in the shoot-out and on the bus and even faced by Toothless. Ryker must have treated him really badly to shake him so much.

"Good thing I stopped him then," she commented briskly, trying to take the emotion out of the situation. He groaned.

"Yeah, thanks. Way to make me feel like a total damsel in distress," he managed sarcastically. Then he sagged. "What was I thinking? I mean, these guys are serious and they were threatening you and all I could think of was keeping them focussed on me so they wouldn't hurt you and...and I never did Resisting Torture Training because they only give that to operational agents so I guess I really did it wrong and annoyed them and that will be why Ryker wanted to..."

"Hiccup Haddock!" she began shortly in an exasperated voice.

"You forgot Horrendous," he interrupted.

"What?"

"Horrendous. It's my middle name. So if anyone really wanted to tell me off or just generally shout at me-thanks, Dad-it's 'Hiccup Horrendous Haddock'. Great, huh? Wonder if I can involve Child Services for abuse on the grounds of being landed with a really dreadful name?"

"HIccup Horrendous Haddock!" she snapped.

"Ah, here we go," he murmured as she tried not to smile. He was sounding more normal now.

"You are a great guy and you don't need to worry about being a damsel in distress because so far, I have been more of a damsel than you and if you tell anyone this, I will kick your ass and dump you in the ocean!"

"Um...not seeing it," he admitted, turning his emerald gaze on her as they shot into a spruce forest. Astrid slowed as they began to bounce over moss, fallen branches and small streams and gullies.

"Do you really want to risk this?" she asked him tartly. "A contest in who's been the most damsel in distress?" He smirked and she scowled.

"No, I defer to your superior qualifications for being a damsel," he told her lightly. "But you really really saved me when I needed you most back there and I can never thank you enough..." Suddenly, she gave a brilliant smile.

"That is what partners are supposed to do," she reminded him more gently. "HIccup-you can always rely on me-because I know the truth." His emerald eyes widened.

"Oh?" His voice was suddenly very wary.

"You are a great guy: decisive, brave, smart, inventive and you are someone I am proud to call my friend," she told him. "I will always have your back." For a moment, he stared at her and then he managed a small smile.

"And I will always have yours," he promised. "No matter what..." She grinned at him, then gave a loud curse and wrenched the wheel. There was an enormous jolt and the car lurched sideways , ending up halfway into a ditch. Astrid sighed and switched off the engine. Hiccup unfastened his seat belt, peering down into the mossy bog they were stuck in. "So what now?" he asked. Astrid opened the door.

"Now, we walk," she said.

oOo

'Bread Making Vikings' was quiet this time in the morning with a lull before the lunchtime rush. Toothless peered up at the signage with the logo-a grinning Viking in traditional garb and horned helmet wearing an incongruous frilly apron and waving a loaf of bread-and winced. The twins were already inside, eating subs and lobbing gherkins at one another but there was no sign of anyone else, so he wandered into the shop, bought a vanilla slice and a coffee and settled down two tables over from the Thorstons in the little primrose-painted cafe area.

"Hi T," Tuff said cheerfully, lobbing a gherkin at him. Toothless immediately caught in and laid it flat on the waxed pine table. "Can I have my gherkin back?"

"Have you checked for tails?" the Dragon asked, exasperated and Tuff immediately peered worriedly at his own rear.

"Ruff told me I have an invisible tail but I can't see it," he murmured, turning round and round like a dog trying to catch his own tail. Toothless began to rub his temples: he could feel a headache coming on.

"Have you not noticed Snotlout lurking behind the tourist map out on the street?" he asked in a tired voice. Predictably, the twins both snapped their heads round and stared directly at the stocky young man who was failing to appear inconspicuous. Ruff waved cheerfully at him.

"Heya! Snotman!" she shouted and he tried to duck back behind the sign, tripping over an old woman walking her Chihuahua. Tuff fell off his chair laughing and Toothless closed his eyes.

"Iggy, if you can hear me, how long until we have clearance?" he muttered into his com.

"Good to go, T," came the reply. "Have we got a course?"

"Hunter's Isle and...what the Helheim have those idiots done now?" Toothless sat back and watched as Snotlout stomped in, his face locked into a scowl.

"How did you detect me?" he snapped as the twins high-fived.

"Well, it really wasn't hard," Ruff explained. "Not when you fell over that old woman. Especially when she hit you with her purse..."

"Hah! Well that was just blending into the normal street life of Berk..." Snotlout began but the twins just roared with laughter.

"Was that why you were crying?" Tuff asked him.

"Was not! There was dust..."

"BUSTED!" Ruff scoffed and fist-bumped her twin. Snotlout scowled and then stalked up to the counter.

"Triple shot caramel latte, banana muffin, custard donut, millionaire's shortbread and a strawberry eclair!" Snotlout ordered loudly, handed over a fifty dollar bill and staggered back with his change, drink and multiple snacks. The twins stared as he planted himself on their table and began to tuck in then both folded their arms.

"Snotdude-what are you doing?" Tuff asked him suspiciously. Unselfconsciously, Snotlout chewed his muffin and took a slurp of his latte.

"Watching you, obviously," he mumbled through a spray of crumbs.

"Very obviously," Ruff grumped. "Do you actually know how covert surveillance is meant to work?" The jet-haired man rolled his eyes and began on his eclair.

"Duh...eeel' agen'...." he mumbled with his mouth full.

"Field support do covert surveillance as well," Tuff grumbled. "And we didn't sit in an unlocked cell for hours without trying the door.!"

"Yeah-we try doors, windows, air ducts, cupboards..." Ruff confirmed, finishing her sub.

"Well-I have the benefit of having worked with VA1!" Snotlout said superiorly, jam dribbling down his chin. Tuff leaned forward.

"And what exactly did he say?" he inquired.

For the Gods' sake, don't let on you're an agent, idiot!

"Classified," Snotlout lied, recalling he had gotten drunk and completely failed to obey the only order he had actually been given on his covert mission. "V'you seen Useless?" The twins shared a look.

"No," Tuff said. "He's missing."

"And seriously NOT useless," Ruff snapped. "Got us out of HQ, saved our lives, awesome shot, came up with a reckless plan to evade Dagur and rescued you!"

"Useless shooting? Are you sure he didn't shoot himself in the process?" Snotlout scoffed, finishing his latte as memory treacherously returned: his own shooting assessment where he was disqualified despite a decent score because he was showing off and broke the strict safety rules of the range. His Dad had overridden all standing orders and a dozen regulations to allow the score to stand so he could apply for active duty this year-and at the same time, he had seen Hiccup's score-which had been legal because the young man always adhered carefully to the rules. And because it was 99%, almost 20% better than his own son's shoot, Spitelout had deemed it to be impossible and therefore illegal and had disqualified his hapless nephew's excellent performance. Even though Snotlout knew the shoot had been legal...

He frowned: there was a prickle on the back of his neck. He rubbed the area with a frown, inspecting his fingers and seeing the tiniest trace of blood. And then his eyes rolled back in his head and he landed face down on his donut. Toothless walked over, shaking his head.

"Do any of you people have a clue what covert means? Or stealth? Or maybe confidentiality?" he asked in an exasperated voice.

"T-did you stun him?" Tuff asked in an admiring voice.

"Oh master-show us your amazing tech!" Ruff added. Pointing to the slumped shape, Toothless scowled.

"Bring him," he ordered. "Since you've told him most of what's happening, we can't let him betray us to the remains of AI6. Especially Heather..." Sharing a look, the twins nodded.

"Okay-but I'm taking the feet," Ruff challenged her brother. "Where to?"

"Out back to the alley-and then we head for the seaplane port," the Dragon told them. "We have a Shellshocker Class Flying Boat waiting for us." The twins grabbed their erstwhile tail and grinned.

"Lead on, Maestro," Tuff invited him, ignoring the fact that Snotlout's face was covered in custard and pastry. "Let's go after our missing lovebirds..."

oOo

Aware he wasn't moving half as fast as Astrid wanted, Hiccup put every ounce of effort into trying to speed up as they scrambled through the densely packed fir forest, feet sinking into damp, boggy moss and tripping over fallen branches, dead bracken and small streams. As he picked himself up for the fifth time, he leaned his damp and muddy shape against the nearest tree and tried to get his breath back. He was really running on empty and he was sure it was his imagination that had the echoes of dogs coming through the trees. Astrid's head snapped round.

"Pursuit!" she hissed and he sighed, his head bowed with exhaustion.

"And I'm slowing you down," he said tiredly. "I can't go any faster, Astrid. I..." He took a deep breath. "Go ahead. I can try to hide and..." She marched back to him and punched his shoulder. He groaned and swayed at the impact.

"Mutton-head!" she snapped. "If you think for one minute that I'm leaving you here to those evil, sadistic, vicious, perverted..." He managed a very small smile.

"You do know that a proper agent would put the mission before a wounded colleague?" he suggested. She grabbed his arm and began to drag him along.

"Depends on the mission," she said smugly. "Our current mission is Rescue Hiccup and Get Hiccup and Astrid Off The Island!"

"Ah."

"And leaving you behind to be recaptured and...well, hurt...wouldn't really achieve that, would it?" He leaned hard on her as they scrambled over a log and then both slid down a muddy slope, ending in a heap in some brambles.

"Owww. But no," he admitted as Astrid clambered off him, then stuck out her hand and dragged him up. He grimaced but resisted as she grabbed his hand and started to haul him over a small rise. "Wait, wait, wait!" he mumbled, limping up the little slope. "Look-do you know where we are?" She frowned and stood beside him, shaking her head.

"Haven't exactly got a map or satnav," she pointed out but he frowned, peering at the thinning clouds and the distinct disc of the partially-obscured sun. He frowned and checked his watch.

"Well," he began, muttering calculations under his breath, "that way is north, meaning Trapper Bay is...that way." She stared at him as he pointed to the northwest.

"You're not telling me you memorised the map of this Island..." she began then stared at him and threw her arms up. "What am I saying? Of course you did-and all the other major islands as well, no doubt, because you have no social life!" A brief flash of hurt crossed his weary emerald gaze then he nodded, dipping his battered face.

Of course she would bring that up. Not that it's not true but I had hoped maybe...she knew it wasn't funny...

"Yeah-well, VA1019-most useless agent in AI6," he mumbled but she caught his hand, feeling horribly guilty.

"I'm sorry," she said genuinely. "I didn't mean to make fun of you-because you have worked harder at being an agent than the rest of us put together!" He shrugged. "So why Trapper Bay?"

"There's a Seaplane Port there," he explained. "There are no conventional airports on Hunters' Isle. That may be our best way off of here..." Astrid nodded-then grabbed him and pulled him down into a gorse bush as two Hunters on motorcycles raced by. Astrid scowled, pressed a warning hand on Hiccup's shoulder, then dashed out. The nearest one saw her but she leapt and took him off the bike, slamming his head against the ground and knocking him out. His colleague skidded round to help but she had already snatched the Hunter's gun and she shot out the front tyre. The second Hunter was pitched furiously over the handlebars and crumpled into a ditch. Astrid dashed over and punched him out, then dragged him back to hide under a bush, using his belt to tie him up. The second man was secured similarly as she righted the first bike and checked it over. Then she climbed on.

"Come on!" she urged Hiccup and his eyes widened in shock.

"You're kidding?" he gulped. She kick-started the motorbike and his eyes widened.

"I trust your knowledge," she told him, azure gaze almost pleading. "Trust me?" His heart jolted at the soft plea, the first he had ever heard from her. Even when they had stood before the Commander, castigated and utterly shamed, she had stared back proudly, refusing to justify herself and her actions. It had been Hiccup who had argued and taken the heat for the disaster that had seen Snotlout excused and promoted and the two others-who had actually saved the day from the selfish, reckless and utterly incompetent third party-blamed. But Astrid had been saved by Hiccup more than enough and the brave and capable woman needed to know he trusted her to repay the favour.

He nodded. She was the girl of his dreams, after all, and though she would never see him like that, she had rescued him when he was really, really desperate.

"Always," he promised her and warily he stumbled forward, swinging a leg over the bike and taking the pillion seat. He sat very stiffly behind her. "Um...and now I am officially the girl..." he added self-consciously. She grinned widely.

"Hang on, babe!" she teased him. "Did I tell you I do Motocross as well?" She revved the motor and he wrapped his arms tightly around her slender, taut form in a flat panic.

Aargh. I am literally hugging Astrid Hofferson. Tightly. And she feels and smells...wonderful. I must have died under torture. Or maybe I've been drugged and I'm hallucinating...

Is it wrong to not want to wake up if that's the case?

"Now that doesn't surprise me either!" he grumbled as she let out the clutch and they roared forward. "Definitely the girl," he added as they fishtailed round a stand of spruce and accelerated across the bumpy ground, bouncing painfully over the uneven rollers. Astrid was leaning forward, her face twisted in a grin of delight as she drove them at insane speed-while Hiccup hung on for dear life, every jolt seriously painful. All he could do was grit his teeth and trust Astrid was as insanely good at Motocross as she was at off-road driving as they sped towards Trappers Bay.

oOo

The Shellshocker was a heavy duty flying boat, the hydrodynamically optimised hull made of an ultra-lightweight metal that meant that it was also heavily armed. And Toothless was flying the bulky twin-engine aircraft because he was the best pilot and it kept him away from the twins who were slowly driving him crazy. They were currently poking Snotlout and trying to wake him up.

"How does Hiccup manage them?" he asked Fishlegs, who was hiding in the flight deck as well, staring anxiously through the cockpit window. Meatlug, Hookfang and a small redheaded guy named Iggy were sitting grumpily in the main cabin, trying to ignore the chaos.

"I think they respect him," he said thoughtfully. "He saved their lives and they recognise that. And he kind of just...directs them so they cause mayhem...but in the correct direction." Toothless flicked his brilliant green gaze at the husky hacker and sighed.

"You're worried about him, aren't you?" he realised. Slowly, the florist nodded.

"I mean, I am mad at him for getting me mixed up in all this and shot at and chased and...argh! All of this unnecessarily dangerous stuff that no florist should ever have to face..." Fishlegs admitted and then he went quiet for a long moment, his blue eyes looking guilty. "But I don't think I wholly believed how tough his life really was. I mean, I've never been to his apartment before because I always like staying at home so he always comes round to mine-and I'm shocked how small and awful it was...and the others are hideous to him. The more I saw of the people he worked with-including his own cousin-the more I realised he probably understated how horribly they treated him." He paused. "And yet he could probably have got a lot of respect by bringing me in-but he didn't. He became my friend and he was a really good friend."

"He's still alive," Toothless told him evenly, adjusting the course slightly. Fishlegs shrugged.

"I mean, I have to hope but..."

"No-he is alive," Toothless repeated, more sternly. He pressed a button and a Head's-Up display was suddenly projected on the forward window. "When I first met you, I jabbed him with a tiny implanted tracker-just in the shoulder. It shows he's alive and on Hunters' Isle."

"GET OFF ME!" Snotlout yelled from the main cabin and there were crashes.

"Not cool, Snotman!" Tuff protested.

"Why have you shaved a word on the back of my head?" Snotlout demanded.

"Because it's really funny," Ruff replied, as if it was obvious.

"What word?"

"Muttonhead," Tuff admitted with a snigger.

"Well, actually MTNHED as your head is really small for such a buff guy," Ruff amended, laughing.

"Iddy bitty pinhead...." Tuff managed, choking with laughter.

"That's it-I'm killing you!" Snotlout swore and began to struggle, managing to get an arm free and grabbing Tuff's wrist.

"Get off my brother!" Ruff yelled and threw herself on him. There were more crashes and Toothless rolled his eyes, then ripped his headset off.

"Hold that!" he growled, indicating to the harness. Fishlegs gripped the controls and didn't dare move as the Dragon rose lithely, walked into the main cabin and paused.

"SHUT UP!" he roared and there was the sound of three shots...followed by three thuds. Silently, he walked back into the cockpit-to see Fishlegs staring at him in shock.

"Did you just shoot them?" he asked tremulously. Toothless gave a half-smile as he resumed his seat, grabbed the harness and pulled his headset back on.

"Stunner only," he reassured the big florist. "Conventional guns and pressurised aircraft-not the best idea...unless you like crashing..."

"Oh Thor," Fishlegs whimpered and stared at the Head's-Up display on the window. "Um...should Hiccup's tracker be off the edge of the island?" Toothless leaned forward, his eyes narrowing.

"No," he growled. "Loki damn it-what the Helheim are they doing now?"

oOo

After a painful age, they shot round a small hillock and paused. Astrid killed the engine and kicked the stand down, then stared at the little seaplane port. It was scarcely more than a rackety dock, a small pontoon and a couple of scabby warehouse-hangers on the edge of a small and uninspiring rocky bay. There was one small Scauldron-class seaplane moored, gently bobbing on its floats. Astrid gestured to Hiccup as they left the bike and sneaked closer, then pointed.

"Can you fly that?" she asked and he sighed.

"No, but I know the theory," he admitted. She stared at him. "I have to understand how planes fly for the aeronautical engineering parts of my degree...including instrumentation..." he said defensively. "How about you?" She shook her head.

"Better at jumping out of them," she admitted. "Parachutes, wing suits...you know...crazy stuff..." And her eyes were sparkling brilliantly with exhilaration. Astrid was at her best when she was doing something physical and was in control of her destiny. "What's the plan?" Hiccup paused and his brow furrowed.

"Um...see if the plane has fuel and if it has, we steal it?" he suggested. She stared at him. "I didn't say it was a good plan but not feeling great at the moment. Um...shall we?" Astrid nodded and sneaked lithely behind the warehouses, Hiccup limping behind her. They sneaked round the back of the office and located the man on duty. But as Astrid peeked round the door, he saw her and grabbed for his gun. Shots zinged past her head and she ducked back.

"Go and check the plane!" she hissed. "I'll keep him busy!" Emerald eyes widened, his battered face briefly concerned.

"Don't get killed," he murmured. "Because that would really ruin the Get Hiccup and Astrid Off The Island mission..." And my life. Well even more than it is so far. She smiled at him.

"I won't if you won't," she grinned at him and he ducked away as she pulled out the gun she had stolen from the Hunters and returned fire. Ducking low, Hiccup limped across the rackety dock and scrambled over onto the float and then into the cabin of the seaplane, sitting in the pilot's seat and checking the fuel gauge. The needle was resting on '1/2' which meant maybe a hundred miles of flight-more than enough to get to another island. He cast around and found the checklist and slowly began to go down the preflight.

Shots zinged around the cabin and he glanced up in shock-to see motorbikes and a couple of jeeps cresting the low rise that overlooked the Bay. The black helmeted shapes of the Hunters zipped down on their bikes while the jeeps held more men-and the horribly familiar shapes of Ryker and Viggo Grimborn. Panic gripped Hiccup and he stared at the console for a long second, before urgently flipping switches to prepare for takeoff. Then he muttered a small prayer to Odin and pressed the ignition.

The engine coughed and then suddenly thrummed into life, the prop whirring ahead of the windshield. Hiccup glanced up as he saw Viggo yelling and gesturing-and saw Ryker's jeep roar down the slope towards the dock.

"ASTRID!" he shouted and she looked at him. He pointed and her eyes widened. Determinedly, she slammed the door and fired aggressively through the window, causing the man to duck behind his desk-and in that moment, she was away. Hiccup watched her sprint towards the seaplane, unhooking the rope from the mooring point as bullets zipped around her. She leapt onto the nearest float as the plane began to move.

"Go!" she yelled, overbalancing and dropping her gun, hanging onto the stanchion desperately. Hiccup saw her and pointed the plane out across the Bay. He knew vaguely that to take off, they needed to head directly into the wind to achieve maximum lift but at the moment, all he needed was a long run so he could grab Astrid. So he headed the plane out across the longest stretch of the Bay then shoved the door of the cabin open, clamped his hand as tight as he could around the frame and leaned right out, stretching had towards the blonde who was hanging on against the spray, the bouncing motion across the waves and the increasing wind.

"Take my hand!" he shouted urgently. "Astrid!" She blinked against the spray and her hand slipped. She shook her head.

"Who's driving?" she shouted.

"Take my hand!" he insisted, edging through the door, his foot braced against the fuselage. He was hanging out of the door, his hand inches from hers. "Astrid! Trust me!" Azure eyes flicked up and her hand slapped round, gripping his wrist fiercely. He pulled her up until she was able to stand and slide into the cabin with him. He collapsed into the pilot's seat and breathed a sigh of relief as she slammed the door.

"Now what?" she asked, clambering into the copilot's seat and pulling on a headset. He stared at her and then warily took the controls, turning them as they bounced towards the lip of the Bay and heading back across the broadest part of the bay towards the shore. "Um...Hiccup-we're going the wrong way..." He shook his head, pointing to the wind sock. They were now heading straight into the wind.

"Actually, we're going the right way now," he murmured. He had done one session on a flight simulator because he had always wanted to fly but this was very different to sitting in a clean, warm room with no one shooting at you. Bullets began to zip around the little seaplane and he flinched.

"There were no bullets the other way," Astrid pointed out as he accelerated and gunned the engine, eyes flicking over the dials.

Thor, please help me now. Don't let me crash Astrid!

"We need to take off," he said, ducking as bullets zinged off the fuselage. "Hang on..."

Something swooped overhead, something large and black and they ducked instinctively as a large flying boat strafed the Hunters, machine guns raking the jeeps and sending them careening for cover. Astrid gaped as she recognised Toothless and Fishlegs in the cockpit-but then she grabbed on as their little plane bounced faster and faster over the choppy water. Behind them, the Seashocker swooped round and strafed the Hunters again, exploding a jeep and sending Viggo diving into a ditch.

"I think this is the time to see if Thor likes us or not," Hiccup mumbled as he pulled back and the nose lifted. They bounced once more and then the ride became smoother as the floats lifted away from the cold waves and they continued to rise into the grey sky. Astrid grinned.

"I think that's yes," she commented, inspecting the radio and fiddling through the channels. "Um...hey...? Toothless? Are you there?"

"...cup, do you read? I repeat..."

"Thank Thor," Hiccup breathed. "Toothless? Thanks for the save. Is everyone okay?"

"If you count stunning the twins and that Lout idiot, then yes!" the Dragon replied. "What are you doing in a twenty year old Night Terror seaplane?"

"Escaping!" Astrid cut in. "Though neither one of us is a pilot so this could be a very short escape..."

"How much fuel do you have?"

"Just below half full," Hiccup reported. "Um...not sure how to land but I think I'm okay on going straight..." There was a pause.

"The Hunters will likely come after you, since they went to the trouble to kidnap you," Toothless mused. "So stick to us. We're armed and we can guide you in. Just follow us. We're banking right, Hiccup. Follow us. Keep your groundspeed at 185 and talk to me."

"185. Got it," Hiccup murmured. Even to Astrid, he sounded exhausted.

"Hiccup-are you and Astrid okay?" Fishlegs asked over the radio.

Astrid stared at the auburn-haired shape, his bruised face locked in concentration, brows dipped over his emerald eyes. He looked at her and shook his head.

"We're good, Fish," Astrid answered, seeing Hiccup grimace. "Just really tired. It's been a busy day..."

"Well, we may have some good news," the hacker reported cheerfully, accepting the reassurance. "Alvin Forraeder has flown out of Berk for a meeting with some 'business contacts' on Bog. His private plane has already landed in Bugla airport-with an entourage. That's where we're heading now. I've booked us rooms in Bertha's Casino and Resort." Hiccup flicked a glance at the blonde who was suddenly glaring at him.

"Casino?" he repeated. "Um...please don't tell me we'll be infiltrating there. Please..."

Or Astrid will kill me. And I can't see her in a posh frock. Well, I can imagine it...and have, to be honest. Probably more than once. But if I mention it she's gonna kill me. Probably several times. Oh Thor...

"Oh-there was one other thing," Fish announced as they levelled out. "When he arrived at the Casino with his entourage...Eret was with him."