Heyo again!  Thanx to all my reviewers, my Internet decided not to be buggered up again, so here are the reviews that were not anonymous….

Reviewers for Shiver, A Foaly Story: Holly Rox, lutefa, Red Water Rising, Nieni Woodland, Ethiopia Fowlsoner, soap sudd, Egleriel, minya, La Cramento.

Reviewers from the Original Shiver: crap!  Lost them! So sorry all!  sends a sympathy kiss

Thanx everyone.  Please read on.  I know this is a Foaly Story, but Artemis is the focus in this next chapter.  looks apologetic  I had to include him somewhere.  Sorry.  Anyways, please read on!

Disclaimer:  Eoin Colfer owns all Fowl stuff.  Not me, you (unless you are Eoin), your best friend (unless he happens to be Mister Colfer), your enemy (again, unless he is Mr. Colfer, who is all young Artemis Fowl lover's nemesis for thinking of such an ingenious story), or anyone else I have failed to think of (excepting Eoin Colfer, who I have mentioned, I believe?)

Shiver Chapter 3 Blackout

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            The white letters glowed on the computer screen owned by a certain pale, raven-haired teenager.  Artemis Fowl II paused a moment, staring at his reflection on the monitor.  Just over fifteen, he had grown tall and lanky, but still had boyish features: pale skin, wavy, black hair, and a round chin.  His facial features weren't mature yet, and he had grown no facial hair.  But he was not vainly admiring his reflection.

            He was pondering over his dream.  That strange, recurring dream which he always had trouble remembering.  Ever since he woke up nearly a year-and-a-half ago with reflective contact lenses in his eyes, that dream had kept returning.  Last night, he woke up sweating with excitement.  Or fear.  He couldn't tell which.  Artemis had remembered more of his dream.  Something about a short, red- haired woman and a horse.  No, not a horse, because whatever the thing was, it had a man's face.

            Centaur.  That single word seemed to trigger a forgotten memory in his brain.  For a moment, his consciousness tried to grasp the thought.  But, as quickly as it had come, the thought fled from his mind.  Interesting.  Shaking himself mentally, Artemis glanced at the screen.   

            He was just about to download information off a NASA computer he had successfully hacked into.  These files had been heavily guarded, with many passwords, etc.  Artemis had met with, and intimidated, many hackers who had tried and failed at breaking into the files.  Most of them said it was impossible, and recommended he try something less challenging.  But Artemis enjoyed a challenge, especially illegal ones.  So, these 'hackers' had been laughed at and thrown out with a warning from Butler to stay quiet or become permanently quiet.

         Meanwhile, Artemis's fingers hovered above the keyboard, shaking with excitement and fatigue.  After many months of careful research, hacking, chatting with aeronautic scientists on the Internet under many pseudonyms, and Butler intimidating one or two NASA members, he was ready.  Supposedly, the information could be worth billions if sold on the black market.  There was always the chance of being caught, but that always made the thrill more exciting when completed.   Of course, not everyone thought that stealing information from a secure NASA computer with a chance of being caught and put in jail was a thrilling experience.  In fact, Butler seemed deathly afraid of the consequences of Artemis Junior's plan, and seemed constantly tense, although he had slowed down considerably.  He avoided telling Artemis of his fears for many reasons.  The main reason was that Artemis could throw out barbed insults that even caught Butler off guard.  The other main reason was that Butler trusted Artemis, and Artemis had never failed him yet.

         So, he thought it was best to leave the boy be.  After all, he was a genius.  Geniuses generally know what they are doing.

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            Artemis smiled and quickly punched the y-key, acting more confident than he felt in his heart.  Although he would never admit it, Butler's warnings had succeeded in alarming him.  Of course, he had felt quite alarmed ever since he found the semi-corroded, reflective lenses in his eyes.  Ever since the discovery, he felt beaten.  Outmaneuvered.  Obviously, someone was either trying to manipulate him or was trying to warn him of something.  He had searched for an answer, visiting one of his bodyguard's friends who experimented in eyedrops and lenses and that sort of thing.  What vexed him the most is that he found out that those lenses were supplied from the same man and that they were ordered by…

            Me, thought Artemis.  I ordered them, but why? Why can't I remember?  After pondering this odd comeuppance for a few fleeting moments, he turned his attention back to the matter of the illegally retrieved data that was flooding his screen in binomial nomenclature.  (Computer language consisting of the numbers zero and one.)  He stared with acute smugness, brushing a hand through his hair.  Fairly soon, two wonderful words were pulsing on his screen.

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            A few seconds later, the computer stated the words on the screen in a seemingly haughty manner.  Quickly, he saved the information to a laser-disc and printed out several hard copies in code.  Keeping himself busy, he took the small disc out of his computer and placed it inside a plastic case, wrapped the case in Styrofoam packaging, and placed the bundle in a small, padded box.  Perfectly safe, if not over the top. 

            A stabbing sensation was welling up inside of Artemis.  He decided the feeling was simply burning curiosity.  Of course; he wanted to view the information that he had retrieved more than anything.  He tried to convince himself, as he opened up the data to a viewable form, that he was merely going to see if any top-secret programs were readily available for him to copy and sell to the highest bidder.  But he knew the truth; he was interested in what the oddly secured information withheld.  So he waited with contained anticipation, his heartbeat quickening as the program loaded.

            It opened, and he gasped.  So did Butler and Juliet, who had quietly entered the room.   Artemis was home for the summer holidays, and Juliet had taken a break from her wrestling tour.  Artemis decided against turning and glaring at the pair for not knocking.  Since he had arrived back home after a miserably boring year at St. Bartleby's, they had rarely let him out of their sight.  Butler spoke up.

            "Artemis, what is that?" he stated in transfixed awe.  For one of the few moments in his young life, Artemis said the three words he only heard himself say in his nightmares.

            "I don't know," The two siblings nearly died of shock at his words then and there.  Artemis continued, "although it looks like the aurora."  Juliet approached the computer, her blonde-haired head craning over his shoulder.

            "But Artemis, it looks…solid," Juliet spoke up, looking at the screen open-mouthed.

            Silence filled the room.  It seemed comical; the great Artemis Fowl the Second, capable of breaking into top-secret NASA computers, forging priceless paintings, and (although he didn't remember,) stealing fairy gold, had had the words "taken right out of his mouth".  By a blonde.  There hade to be something he could salvage from this.  Quick wit seemed the solution.

            "Well, of course that is what it appears," snapped Artemis, "any common moron with a first-grade education could describe what it looks like."  Juliet flushed, black-blue eyes flashing.  Artemis smiled in satisfaction, frightfully similar to how a vampire would look before draining the blood from his next victim.

He scrolled down the screen.

            "But what this is seems to be quite an enigma," he muttered, reading the script on the screen faster than most people can think, "even to these supposed 'NASA intelligences'." Artemis frowned, his premature crow's feet darkening around his cold blue eyes.  Artemis felt the familiar comfort of Butler's hand rest on his shoulder.

            "I have never seen anything like this before, even in Russia," Butler spoke, his deep voice etched with gentleness, "but you can figure it out, Artemis.  I know it."  Artemis nodded, grateful for his words, even though his self-confidence was lessening more and more by the minute.  Butler was a reliable man, not just because his powerful, nearly seven-foot-frame intimidated those Artemis wanted intimidated.  He had traveled all over the world in his middle-aged life, and had experience in many areas: politics, geography, literature, exotic forms of intimidation and giving extreme beatings.  Useful stuff.

            But now, Artemis had no leads.  He was completely in the dark.

            A second later, he literally was.

            Every light and electronic appliance switched off.  His computer, the lights, lamp, and mini-fridge light Juliet had been opening to sneak out a snack.  Everything.  Of course, it wouldn't have been so bad if it were morning.  All they would have to do was pull back the shades Artemis closed for security reasons.  But, naturally, it was the middle of a cloudy, moonless night. 

            A light came on.  Butler, ready and alert as always, had carefully strode over to a cabinet containing various 'emergency supplies'.  It contained various weapons: Sig Saurs (Butler's personal favorite,) a fancy sniper- rifle, two tommy guns, Ninja throwing stars, stun grenades, mace, and even a tazer.  It also contained supplies people who did not commit criminal acts would use in an emergency.  Flashlights were included.

            "Here," said Butler, handing extra flashlights to Artemis and Juliet, who immediately turned them on.  Butler's flashlight was already on, obviously, and he turned the light towards the curtain.

            "Perhaps there is some reasonable explanation for the blackout," muttered Artemis. 

            "There's a fire!" exclaimed Juliet, slightly nervous at the suddenness the mini-fridge's light had shut off.  The three strode over to the drapes, pulling them back.  As soon as the curtains were spread, however, all three companions wish they had stayed closed as a nearly- blinding light filled the room.  All shielded their eyes as the brightness flooded in.  The tremendous light seemed like it would have outshone the sun if it were daytime. 

            Recovering from the shock, Artemis opened his eyes, squinting and blinking to adjust to the light.  As soon as he did, he gasped in wonder, for the second time in the uncanny evening.  He told himself mentally to be prepared for more strange happenings, and not act too surprised later on.  Meanwhile, back to what Artemis saw outside.

            Brilliant colors seemed to dance outside the window.  Artemis concluded that if the glass pane wasn't tinted, they all would have been blind at that moment.  Shades of lavender and crimson arched and bent outside, near enough to touch had there been nothing separating the room from the outside air.  It looked as if sea waves made of sunset were flowing gracefully past the window.  Intense aqua and rose shadows faded in and out of the brilliant light, like stars in the coming dawn.  It was one of the most beautiful things Artemis had ever seen, and for several moments, Artemis could only stare, spellbound, at the seemingly natural laser-light show.  Finally, his reason turned back on, and he alerted Butler and Juliet to the spectacle.

            "The aurora," he rasped.  He saw Juliet and Butler unshield and open their eyes, and they responded just as he had; they stared at…whatever it was… with open-mouthed absorption.  Suddenly, another strange thing happened.

            This aurora (if that's indeed what it is, thought Artemis) seemed to respond to the attention.  The way it responded was nearly indescribable, for Artemis sensed more than saw the response.  There was a feeling of intelligence surrounding the light, as one can sense when babies smile at their mother; that certain awareness all humans possess.  Visually, there was hardly anything to alert one to a response, as an animal would.  Perhaps a quick brightening of the light, or a slight change in the movement of the bending light was all, but the feeling of the humanity it possessed was undeniable.  Artemis was not the only one who realized it as well.

            "This is impossible," said Juliet, anxiety and amazement tinged in her voice.  She walked closer to the window, watching the peculiar movement.  Artemis and Butler moved closer to the window as well, as if drawn in by an invisible string.

            Artemis would never know what caused him to do what he did.  He certainly stepped out of his usually calculating, careful character.  If he had a chance to replay the situation, he would have restrained himself from the sudden impulsive and outwardly innocent action.

            He slowly reached out, thin fingers splayed out.

            He touched the window, gently.  It was cold, but he, again, could sense the response from the light.  He spoke.  For whatever reason, he spoke to the light.

            "Hello," he said, smiling slightly, knowing the light was responding somehow.  So alien, yet so human as well.

            "It's friendly," whispered Butler.  There was an agreeing hush around the room, as everyone watched, perceiving a response, visual as well as sensual.  They were not disappointed.

            The light seemed to condense and turn solid, taking on a familiar shape.

            "An arm," said Juliet excitedly, "it's an arm!"  And it was.  The fingers reached out towards the window in slow, twitching movements.  A great ball of light was condensing around the arm, forming a sort of a large, asymmetrical ball.  The hand was inches away from the window.

            Suddenly, all the light vanished, and the lights inside the house turned back on.

            Artemis shouted with unconceivable rage and sadness, and Juliet gave a small scream and, at the same moment, a sob.  Only Butler was silent, but he seemed more tired and old looking than ever.  No one knew why they were reacting this way.  A collective anger and sadness accumulated among the three.  But the strange emotions quickly vanished.

            "Look!" shouted Juliet, pointing at the path leading up to the Fowl Manor's main doorway.  Butler and Artemis strained there eyes to see what she was looking at.  Finally, their eyes focused at the strange figure wandering up the road.

            It was a young girl, about twelve, wandering up the lane.  Well, wandering was the wrong word for the way she was moving.  She was stumbling drunkenly, hardly able to stay on her feet.  She had long, tangled black hair, and she was completely naked.

            Hardly pausing, the threesome ran out of the room and down the steps.  Juliet stopped to get a blanket for the girl, whoever she was.  Butler was first to reach the door, nearly yanking it off its hinges as he sprinted outside.   Artemis followed behind quickly, and Juliet was closely behind.  They could here the girl muttering and staring at things that were obviously not visible.  Her whole body was shivering, as if with cold.  In the dim light from the doorway, they could see her eyes darting every way, hardly resting on one spot long enough for Artemis to see what color her eyes were, and they were extremely unusual in color.

            They were violet, a pale, lavender-violet.  She looked half insane.

            "Holly!" the girl cried suddenly, "Holly, you have to get him!  Find Fowl!  Oh god, he is the only one who can figure it out, he'll know!  Holly, I…can't… move!"  The girl screamed and collapsed onto the ground, sobbing and shaking.  She convulsed, her back arching, limbs quaking in some sort of internal agony.  As soon as the fit started, however, the young girl passed out.

            Artemis, Butler, and Juliet all stood around the still body, not knowing what to do.  Then, Juliet draped the blanket around the small girl's frame, and Butler gently lifted her into his arms.  He walked inside, followed closely by Juliet.  Artemis stood outside, paralyzed with the mixture of many emotions he felt in that single moment.  He stared at the cloudy, empty sky.  After several moments, he walked inside as well.