Allow me to clear up some confusion over Anna-Maria's eye color. Yes, she does have fairy magic, but from her mother's side of the family she genetically inherited psychic powers. Her eyes turn silver whenever she uses her telekinesis and she also has the power to manipulate and create images; her eyes turn purple when she uses this power. That explains how her reflection (which qualifies as an image) disappeared from Minerva's mirror after her eyes turned purple. Her normal eye color is green. And before anyone asks, yes, Artemis knows of her powers, but he also knows that she doesn't use them often unless she really needs them. This chapter is a bit more about what it's like for Anna-Maria as LEP commander. Read and Review please!

Anna-Maria slipped her LEP uniform on over her tunic and pants and walked into her office. "Hello, Antonio." She told the small robot perched on her desk. "Status report, please."

Antonio's head swiveled around for a moment as he gathered the proper information. "Caballine is working on a new wing design in the tech booth. She says they will be ready by next week for testing."

"Good, anything else?"

"There is a virus going around; several of our officers are out on leave due to illness."

Anna-Maria frowned. "Hmmm… we might have to borrow a few officers from Section Eight if this epidemic continues. What else, Antonio?"

"There was a rogue troll who managed to get to the surface a few hours ago."

"And he has been caught?"

"Sort of."

Anna-Maria looked up from the files she had been organizing. "Sort of? How do you 'sort of' catch a troll?"

Antonio squirmed uncomfortably, for a robot. "The troll was apprehended and brought back to Haven; however… he escaped as he was being transferred from a shuttle to a cell. He is currently wandering wildly in the streets."

"What?!" Anna-Maria exclaimed. "How many officers are handling the situation?"

Antonio did some quick calculations. "Five." He said finally.

"Only five?! How many officers have work during this shift?"

"Twenty-four." Antonio said sheepishly.

"And of those twenty-four officers, only five are going after the troll? This is ridiculous. Where's my neutrino 4000?" Anna-Maria grabbed it and belted the sheath around her waist, mumbling, "If you want something done properly, you have to do it yourself. Why is it always like that?"

"Backup?" Antonio chimed.

"Two officers." Anna-Maria replied. "Make it Trouble and Chix." She added.

Antonio made a nodding motion. "Paging Officers Trouble Kelp and Chix Verbil."

Both officers arrived at the door in seconds. "You paged us, Commander?" Trouble panted.

Anna-Maria closed her office door as she exited. "Trouble, Chix, did you know of the troll that escaped earlier this afternoon?"

Both officers nodded.

"Then why are the majority of the officers on duty still in the building? It takes a lot more than five officers to keep a rogue under control."

"It also takes a lot more than eight." Trouble replied.

"I know what I'm doing, Major." She told him.

Chix winked at her. "Relax, sweetheart. We've got it under control."

Anna-Maria scowled at him. "Chix! How many times must I remind you: I am now your commanding officer and every time you call me 'sweetheart', your job is on the line!"

Chix immediately lowered his head. "My apologies Commander Root, Sir… I mean Madam."

Anna-Maria rolled her eyes. "Never mind. Just come with me." The elf and sprite did so obediently. "Your instructions are as follows: Chix, you will make sure that all civilians are out of the area. Major Kelp, your job is to distract the troll. Any questions?"

"Can't Chix be the distraction?" Trouble asked. "I'd rather help you catch the troll."

"Sorry, Major. I doubt the troll will want to hear stories of Verbil's various girlfriends."

Chix reddened. "How was I supposed to know they wouldn't distract a bunch of goblins?"

Anna-Maria ignored him. "However, Major, I'm sure you can be of assistance. But you need to keep the troll away from me so I can get him in the weak spot."

"Aren't you in more danger than the rest of us? Seeing as you're half-elf and half-human, the troll is likely to find your scent both tangy and sweet at the same time, which is just like heaven for some of his breed." Chix said.

"Don't remind me." Anna-Maria replied as she pushed open the doors of Police Plaza.

The streets of Haven were in utter turmoil. The troll was huge, a fact that was even greater emphasized by all the civilians who were screaming and running away from it as five LEP officers strained to keep it in check.

"Chix, get two other officers and get everyone who isn't authorized away from here. Trouble, come on, we have a troll to apprehend." The group split up.
Trouble followed Anna-Maria as she wove her way through the crowd. It was amazing how someone at least half a foot taller than everyone around her could move so quickly; or at least it was to Trouble. He wrapped his fingers around his buzz baton, prepared to defend himself and Anna-Maria if he had to (and seeing as there was a troll in front of them, he would have to).

Anna-Maria drew her neutrino. "Are you ready, Major?"

Trouble nodded.

"Good. Go on three. One… two… three, go!"

Trouble charged into the troll, aiming his buzz baton at the thing's thighs. The troll roared in rage and pain and turned to eliminate its challenger. Trouble ducked and wove in between the rogue's legs as the animal tried to tear him to shreds.

Anna-Maria turned up the setting on her neutrino and fired a burst into the space between the troll's eyes. The troll was stunned, but only for a moment. Turning in Anna-Maria's direction, the troll sniffed and Trouble noticed the venomous drool dripping from its mouth. Trouble hit the troll with his buzz baton again as Anna-Maria fired two more laser bursts at it. A double assault was too much for the troll and it fell to the ground backwards, its eyes rolling back in its head.

"We need a cage, now!" Anna-Maria ordered. Four officers dashed off to get it, leaving Chix, Trouble, Anna-Maria, and Grub alone.

"Grub, what are you doing here?" Trouble asked his little brother.

"I was at Spud's Spud Emporium for lunch, and the troll got loose as I walked out. Wait till I tell Mommy I helped arrest a rogue troll!" Grub replied.

"But you didn't." Chix said. "You were helping me make sure that all the civilians were gone, and you did that by hiding behind a cardboard box!"

"Well, I don't have to tell Mommy that part." Grub mumbled.

"Corporal Kelp, perhaps you should get back to your cubicle." Anna-Maria interjected.

Grub hung his head sheepishly. "Yes, Commander. But I got some troll spit on my uniform. Maybe I should…"

"File a complaint?" The other three officers finished for him.

Grub looked surprised. "Yeah, how did you know what I was going to say?"

Anna-Maria and Trouble rolled their eyes as Chix tried to hold back a snort.

"Just go in and call Mom, Grub." Trouble told him.

"I'm telling Mommy that you boss me around!"

I hope you liked it! Review please!! If you feel I have Trouble, Grub, or Chix out of character, please let me know!