Disclaimer: All characters, settings, etc. belong to Eoin Colfer…

Chapter Two: Remembering and Riots

LEP Headquarters

"Holly!" Foaly's voice rang out. "Holly, I have an update on the current mission."

Holly pointedly ignored him, as she had been for the last two days, ever since he'd made her lose her temper and admit in front of the whole cafeteria that she liked Artemis.

"Holly, come on. This is important. It's the whole future of our civilization at stake here."

Still no answer. Foaly sighed.

"Commander!" he called. "Holly is ignoring me again!"

Commander Root groaned and came over to them. "Captain Short. What did I tell you the last time?"

Holly remained silent, instead turning on him the most furious glare she could muster. Which was pretty furious, considering that she was livid about the whole situation.

"Captain Short!" he said, his face beginning to turn red. She rolled her eyes and said, in a tone highly resembling a frustrated teenager's, "You told me to cooperate."

"And?"

"And to talk to Foaly, because if I didn't, this "Destroyer" person would not be caught in time, and we'd probably die. Still…"

She was cut short by a furious commander. "YOU HAVE THE GALL, THE…IMPUDENCE TO JUST SIT THERE AND SAY 'STILL' WHEN OUR WHOLE RACE COULD BE DESTROYED! I AM YOUR COMMANDER, AND I WILL NOT STAND FOR IT! YOU WILL WORK WITH FOALY ON THIS, WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT! AND THAT'S FINAL!

Holly blew up right back at him. "OH YEAH! WELL, MAYBE IF YOU TOLD HIM NOT TO TEASE ME ABOUT…THAT, MAYBE IF YOU DIDN'T TEASE ME ABOUT IT YOURSELF, THEN YOU MIGHT GET A LITTLE MORE COOPERATION! I CAN'T HELP IT! IT'S NOT MY FAULT!

A slightly stunned silence greeted these words. Then Commander Root began to smile.

"Well," he said. "I have to admit, you have some gumption to be screaming in your commander's face. I ought to fire you. But, as much as I hate to say it, you're right. It isn't your fault, and we shouldn't be teasing you about it. I could order you to work with us no matter what, but I've decided to be generous, because of…ah…the present circumstances. So, let's make a deal. We won't tease you if you will work with us on this. Agreed?"

Holly sighed. It wasn't what she wanted, but…what else could she do? It was better than what had been going on before. "Agreed," she said, shaking Root's outstretched hand.

"Good," said the commander. "Now then…"

Foaly interrupted him. "But, Commander…"

"No buts," growled Root. "Now, let's get to work. What have we got so far?"

"Well," Foaly said. "I…"

He was interrupted by the lights going out. Except for a red glow from the window, there was just darkness. However, it wasn't by any means silent. There were screams from outside, and the sounds of running.

"What's that?" Holly said nervously. It sounded like…well, she wasn't sure what it sounded like, but whatever it was, it didn't sound good.

"I don't know," said Foaly. Commander Root was too busy giving orders to answer her.

"Nobody panic," he said loudly. "It might not be anything, and even if it is, we'll take care of it. Captain Kelp!"

"Yes, sir!" said Trouble's voice from in front of the commander. He must have found his way into the room when the lights went out in the first place.

"Take the Retrieval team and find out what's going on. Captain Short and myself will accompany you. Foaly, you will stay in the Ops Booth as usual."

"Okay, Julius," came Foaly's voice. Holly covered her ears to block out the yelling she knew was coming. She was not disappointed.

"DON'T CALL ME JULIUS, CIVILIAN!"

"Okay, sorry, Julius," said Foaly. You could hear the grin in his voice, even if you couldn't see it on his face. Holly had half a mind to smirk, and the other half told her to groan. She settled on smirking while groaning. No one would be able to see how weird it looked, anyway. Meanwhile, Root was still yelling at Foaly.

"DONKEY BOY, YOU ARE IN BIG TROUBLE THIS TIME! I WOULD FIRE YOU IF I COULD, BUT YOU'RE NEEDED RIGHT NOW, SO JUST SHUT THAT BIG MOUTH OF YOURS AND HELP US!"

"Okay, okay, sorry! Gee!"

"Thank you. Now then, let's get out there and see what's happening. Captain Short, are you still with me?"

"Yessir," said Holly.

"Good," Commander Root told her. Then Holly heard him move, and a second later, his voice came much closer to her ear, but much more quietly. "We can't lose you now, okay? Please try to control yourself, and don't do anything like you have been the past few days. I know it's hard, but we need you."

Holly was astonished. He had never done that before. Nevertheless, she tried to sound professional. "Yes, sir. Okay, sir."

"Right, then. Move 'em on out!"

They went outside. People were running all over the place, screaming. Commander Root's voice sounded in Holly's earpiece.

"Move toward the red glow! I repeat, move toward the red glow! Foaly, are you with us?"

"I certainly am," came the reply in all their ears.

"Good. What have you got for us?"

"Well, I…"

"You? You what?"

"I…er…"

"Spit it out, before I come and do the Heimlich Maneuver on you to get it out of you."

"I can't really find out anything about it. I'm afraid you're on your own, at least until you get closer."

"WHAT! AFTER ALL THE MONEY WE PUT INTO YOUR BUDGET…"

"We've been through this before," interrupted Holly. "Come on, Commander, let's just move on."

Root was speechless for a moment. "What… I should fire you for that. But, once again, you're right. Okay, move on." However, he couldn't resist muttering, "Next time, though, I will fire you." Holly made a face, then grinned. Then she frowned. He wouldn't do that…would he?

The attic of Fowl Manor

Meanwhile, Artemis was trying to find something he needed for his recent plot, which was to duplicate a rather expensive fountain, made by a famous sculptor, called "Fairies and Humans," and sell it to someone. He didn't usually mess with clay, but he had a recent fascination with things that had to do with fairies, and that was about the only thing available. Unknown to him, however, he was not going to find that, but instead he was going to find something which would cause a total recall of the People and all his adventures with them. He rummaged through boxes, looking for his mother's old pottery things. There was some really interesting stuff up there, and he wondered why he didn't come up more often. He came upon a cardboard box labeled, "Belongings of Artemis II," and curiously opened it. There were a few things in there, mostly old baby relics—blanket, teddy bear, bottles, etc.—but only one thing that intrigued him. A smaller box, thin and white. It was not labeled. He carefully peeked inside. There, on a cushion of cotton, was the medallion Holly had given him after they'd rescued his father from the Arctic. The real one, not the disc he had sprayed with gold leaf (which was currently still in Mulch's possession, since it had only been a year since the mind wipe). Seeing it brought back memories. Literally. Artemis looked at it for a second, then suddenly pain crossed his face for an instant. He remembered. Everything. Holly, Commander Root, Foaly, the Arctic, Mulch, Cudgeon, Opal, the kidnapping, the goblins, the C Cube, Spiro—everything. It was a strange feeling, suddenly having all those memories wash over him, each clamoring for attention, for reflection, for…just remembering. But the thing he remembered most was not an old memory, it was the dreams he had been having lately. Now he knew where he had met Holly, but there was no question that he liked her. He had known that soon after he had begun having the dreams, before he remembered anything about her besides what she looked like and her name. Well, he thought. I had better go tell Butler.

Outside LEP Headquarters, Haven, heading toward the red glow

They were still trying to find out what was going on. The only way of doing that now appeared to be going up to look at the glow, so that was what they were doing. It appeared to be coming from a "skyscraper," although technically there weren't any skyscrapers underground because you couldn't see the sky. They were still called skyscrapers, though.

"Keep going," ordered Commander Root unnecessarily for about the millionth time. They were still walking and hadn't slowed, but Holly decided not to comment. He had said he'd fire her, and…well, you couldn't be too careful.

They finally got to the glow…or, more precisely, the crowd outside it. Root shouldered his way through the people, turning his badge side to side so everyone who objected could see it, although not much of anyone was paying attention.

"Come on, let me through, I'm Commander Root of the LEP, no, let my team in too, Retrieval One, come on…" he said, until at last they got to the front and could see what was going on. Holly took one look and gasped in surprise and horror.

It was a fire.