Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Artemis Fowl, those belong to Eoin Colfer. If this story seems to be similar to events in another fan fiction relating to A.F., please inform me via reviews so that the story may be changed and credit may be given to the author… Goodness, that was very serious of me.
Hey, this is my first fanfic ever so please give me some love. If you love my story, then go on and say so. If you don't, try yelling at a walnut for a few hours and go learn to read.
This story takes place 4, count 'em four months after the Opal Deception. So now, enjoy, and read Artemis Fowl: The Encrypted Trouble.
Chapter 1: Cosmetic Development
The J. Argon Clinic/Hospital, Haven City
The Lower Elements; 4 Months Earlier
Dr. J. Argon had seemingly lost everything. His wife had left him, the divorce was final, and she was already engaged. But most importantly, his clinic was in jeopardy. His two best janitors had quit, taking Opal Koboi with them. The Brill brothers had been excellent cleaners, and apparently very good kidnappers as well. Due to Koboi's scheme, Argon had been fooled to believe that a clone with the exact genetic make-up and appearance of Opal was Opal. His great name was tarnished.
On the day that the pompous centaur Foaly had revealed the truth to Dr. Argon, it seemed like all hope was lost. There was no where for him to vent his feelings, for he knew every physiatrist in Haven. Fortunately, for him at least, there was a ray of moonshine through the clouds. A patient arrived, classified as a John Doe, as the Mud Men said, an unknown elf with a blackened face. Dr. Argon took to talking to the fairy during his long recovery and soon made a friend. Then again, the elf was near comatose, and could barely reply, but he was an avid listener. His whole head was bandaged, although the rest of his body was fine.
Since no one had claimed John Doe to pay for the bills, Argon decided to do it himself, just so he wouldn't lose his new friend. It was also for this reason that Argon never tried to find out who the elf was, and almost forgot that the elf wasn't actually a John. There was only one mystery about John that the gnome really cared about, and that was what had happened to his friend to cause him to end up here. The most likely reason, of course, was an explosion of some sort. That would explain the blackened face. But why would the rest of him show no sign of explosions? Unless…
Another oddity of John might answer that question, thought the esteemed doctor. When he came in on the cart trolley, he had worn an odd suit. It had been in tatters, with microfilaments blown all over. The few parts that weren't blown seemed to shift in color. It, along with everything else John had possessed was placed in a bag, awaiting for John to claim it in a storage bin right next to the morgue.
During the weeks to come, some of the other doctors thought that Dr. Argon was wrong for not trying to find John's family, but Argon also believed that he was protecting John. To have been caught in an explosion was a rare thing. To have been wearing a strange, possibly illegal, suit is also a very rare thing. Only two people could have both: an LEP officer or a criminal. Argon knew that all LEP's were required to have helmets, and the fact that John's face had been burned was a sign that there was no helmet. If there had been a helmet John wouldn't be where he was. And, Argon assured himself, the only other way he could have had a helmet and have been burned was if he had, for some unimaginably dumb reason, raised the visor during the explosion. So, by logic, John had been some sort of criminal.
In the second time in so many days, Dr. Jerbil Argon was dead wrong.