Vienna, Austria. September 1, 2010 11:08 AM

Butler had checked the entire block for anything dangerous, but it seemed to already have been done. If he wasn't so sure, he'd have sworn he'd come back in time and made the necessary arrangements prior to his visit. It appeared as though Artemis' associate was as paranoid as he himself was.

Despite Butler's small relaxation due to security, Artemis seemed particularly frustrated and short tempered. It seemed that his tolerance for anything particularly cold or hot was no better than it had been almost nine years earlier, respectively. The pale youth shivered slightly and sighed heavily, casting the frosty ghost of his frustration to the whipping wind just before entering their destination. He really did despise the snow.

Artemis and Butler stepped out of the cold and into a small cafe in North Vienna. Those nearer the door drew back from the cold and grumbled about the weather. Artemis quickly took in the profiles of every attendant in the room and continued to the back where a blond haired teenage girl sat in front of an inactive chess board. Artemis quickly took in the authentically elaborate imperial Romanov coat, white cashmere sweater, and Armani shoes.

She tucked a curl behind her ear and gestured for the two to sit down across from her. Artemis took a seat without hesitation and removed his gloves. Psychologically, a gesture to show that he was confident in his power over the meeting. Though neither had ever met in person, both had agreed to meet in a place far from home that would give no advantage to either.

Artemis had never really felt this leery of a meeting before in his life. This girl, Claudia Meduare, had been a challenger on Artemis' website. she'd even played a virtual game of chess with him and kept him up nearly all through the night.

After Artemis had returned home from Hybras and settled with his family again, he'd ceased his criminal acts for the greater good. So, through his need to manipulate and succeed, he began a website where all of the students at St. Bartleby's could log on and compete in chess matches for the top places. Of course, Artemis didn't completely overlook his ability to hack the computers of every person that logged on. His project reached a new elation when a foolish teacher logged on from a main frame computer on campus instead of a laptop. Suddenly, Artemis had access to everything in the school's mainframe.

Not long after the summer holidays started, the website attendants began to include people all around Ireland and quickly spread with the boys as they went on Holiday all over Europe. That's when this girl beat everyone in the running all the way up the charts to challenge the moderator of the website. Artemis, unable to turn down a challenge, took her up on her offer. That one game lasted six hours. Afterward, he had traced her computer, curious as to her level of intelligence. Much to his dismay, however, the laptop proved to be brand new with no meaningful documentation on it what-so-ever.

"You start, Bashkir." she stated simply, her accent untraceable to him. Artemis quickly adopted his Russian mental persona and moved his first piece, careful not to make the same first move as he did when he first challenged this girl. Several moves were made and unmade, creating distress in both teens. Though neither showed it. After a couple of hours, Claudia blew a warm breath into bony hands. Even Artemis had noticed the temperature in the room drop steadily as they played, and the color had visibly risen in her cheeks. It was a bit endearing.

"Check Mate." She said, breaking the two hour silence between them as she moved the last piece. Artemis stared for a moment at the board, then at her, utter awe in his face. she smiled at him slightly, then pulled a small box out of hr coat pocket. She slid it across the table to him and wrapped her scarf around her neck.

"Arrivederci, and a happy Birthday to you, Stefan." She said, then left the cafe in a gust of freezing air. Inside were two green shamrock cuff clips nestled onto a small piece of paper. He gave Butler a confused look and, after tugging the paper out from under them, showed Butler the cuff clips. Butler examined them closely while Artemis unfolded the note.

Artemis,

A very well played game, but a hacker can be traced, no matter how precise the break in.

The words were written in a very professional cursive. Clearly she had the confidence to show her handwriting, and the words screamed for a decent challenge. Artemis crushed the paper into his fist tightly.

"This is far from over, Butler." He growled.

"Of course, Artemis," Butler replied as they left the cafe, "After all, it isn't Stefan's birthday."

--------------------------

Commander Trouble Kelp was a well renowned officer of the Lower Elements Police with countless decorations and high honors. At the moment, the proud Commander was locked in fierce battle... with the upper left drawer of his desk. A difficultly inconspicuous Major Short stood in the doorway, leaning on the frame and trying her damnedest not to laugh out loud. After a while, she had run out of her clichéd luck.

"War wages on, eh Commander?" She asked through her laughter. he shot up with a start and slammed his head into the underside of his desk with a resonating bang! He cried out as he got to his feet and fell into his chair. He rubbed the back of his head, his fingers getting a bit lost in his out of regulation length hair and pale blue sparks dancing around his skull and neck.

"I don't get it, Major. The drawer opened just fine when I opened in this evening, now it won't open for anything." He said. Holly smiled.

"Julius prized that drawer. he thought he was the only one who knew how to open it. I guess he never thought I'd matter." Holly walked around to the drawer and fell to her knees to reach it. She grabbed the handle, thrust the drawer up with all of her strength, then to the right, and threw all her weight into it. With a simple tug, the drawer slid open on it's wheels. Holly gave Trouble a look of smug satisfaction.

"I hate you." He said with a smile. He reached into the drawer as she got to her feet. Foaly's face appeared on the opposite wall as he paged the Commander.

"Were you planning on having that situation in Scotland handled before dawn, Commander?" He asked.

"Do you talk to every Commander like and understudy, Foaly?" Trouble responded. Holly smiled.

"What situation in Scotland?" Holly asked, looking between the two.

"Just a bunch of tourists in the Loch Ness aqua tunnel. It's supposed to have been blocked off because of instability. If it surfaces again, we'll be faced with another mass mind wipe. I don't think I've been commander long enough for the council to overlook a mass mind wipe with a simple reprimand. They'll chew me out until there's nothing left." Holly sniggered.

"I'll do what I can, Commander." Holly said. Trouble looked back at her.

"Who said I needed you to do anything, Short?" Holly blinked, momentarily unable to think of anything. Trouble smiled. "Get your gear, Major. I'll get rid of the crowd, and you do what you can to stop that tunnel from going topside."

"Yes sir," Holly responded, "But I'm driving."