June 25, 2013
After two years I'm finally finished with this story. I started writing this story in August 28 - September 7, 2011. First time the chapters were really short and crappy, so I rewrote it and the story remains immature with my bad 12 year old humor. I will be ending this story in this chapter, in chapter eight. Yes, it is really short but then again I lost my muse. I even planned to rewrite the story again to see if I could get my muse again, but no such luck. So I decided to squish two chapters together and finish it here.
Lots of brotherly love in this chapter, some probably out of character, but I'll try to stick to character as much as I can. This ending perhaps won't do any justice to the story. There is still a lot of things that are left unsaid, Beckett and Myles still need to grow a bit and Artemis needs to be fixed. That will be left for your imagination.
Yes I know it's rushed but I just wanted it to be done.
Thank you so much for reading Simpleton and sticking to it even after my one year absence from it. Thank you for your kind reviews and for taking my immaturity. With young age comes arrogance.
This chapter was edited by me so there will probably be a lot of errors. Please excuse that.
Doubt is a pain too lonely to know that faith is his twin brother.
- Khalil Gibran
When Beckett and Myles were born, they were very different from the moment people looked at them. Beckett has curly blond hair with wide blue eyes, looking beyond to the world but necessarily looking further. He has Myles for that.
Myles, on the other hand, has straight black hair with blue eyes darker than his brother's. They were all knowing yet yearning for more.
Their personalities were also very different. Beckett cares for the more simpler things in life while Myles scoffs at this, caring for the more grander things that were out there. But while Myles wants to know how, and Beckett wants to know why.
But they share one similarity. Both were curious, curious enough to care and listen. Beckett's attention span reputation made this hard to believe, but he does indeed listen.
The people he listens most to are his brothers. He has this undying love for Artemis and Myles, even if he no longer demonstrates it to Myles. Even if Artemis barely cares for him. But he feels happier when he has a civil conversation with them.
Sometimes the things they tell him are big things he can't understand. His brain processes it, but for some reason he couldn't comprehend. But even if he can't understand, he just smiles and listens, since he knew that Artemis and Myles like to be listened to.
When Myles listens, he analyzes and tries to learn. He can stay still to listen all day in the same position with an attention span that never wanes. He would question and show facial gestures, such as a smile to show he's fascinated or a frown to show he didn't quite agree. And just like Beckett, he has an undying love for both his brothers, even if he never really showes it.
And the twins did used to listen to each other. Beckett would always stop from what he was doing to hear what his brother had to say, even if he didn't understand. Myles listened to Beckett and even comment sometimes, even if it was stupid things such as how he caught worms.
They used to be never too far apart for too long. If Beckett was outside playing and Myles was inside experimenting, Beckett would go inside every fifteen or so minutes to check on his brother. Myles would look out the window to watch Beckett run around and smile, even if he himself couldn't be bothered to run with him.
There was this fond memory Myles has, one that Beckett couldn't remember because he has terrible memory. One time when they were six, Angeline had sent them both to bed earlier because of the company party they were going to have downstairs.
It was an hour earlier. Obviously they weren't asleep, because "we're not tired!". Myles was staring up at their starry glow in the dark ceiling and Beckett was turning and shifting too much in his bed because he wasn't one to stay still for such a long time.
He turns to look at his brother. Myles was too still, he actually did look asleep. To confirm this, he stood, tiptoeing to his brother's bed.
"Myles, are you asleep?" whispers Beckett, shaking him slightly.
Myles turns his head to look at him. He shook his head. "No."
Beckett smiles, even if the room was dark Myles could tell. "Can I sleep with you?"
Myles frowns, Beckett could tell. "Don't tell me you're scared."
Beckett shook his head furiously. "No! Beckett isn't scared. I just want to sleep with Myles. Just this one night, please?"
Myles sighs and scooted over. Beckett crawled in quickly and pulled the covers over them. "I'm not sleepy," he whispers to Myles.
"Neither am I," says Myles. "It is too early for me."
"But mama and papa are having their grown up party downstairs right? They don't want us there," Beckett says.
"It's not that," says Myles. "We just can't play with so many adults down there."
"Do you think Arty is down there?" Beckett asks.
Myles nods. "Most probably. He's an adult now."
"He didn't say good night..." he pouts. Beckett always notices. He made himself act like he didn't, that he didn't care, but nothing passes by him. "Hey Myles, when you're an adult, what will you be?" Beckett asks.
"Like Arty," Myles whispers, eyes drooping. "I want to be as smart, powerful and successful as him."
Beckett smiles. "And have adventures like him?"
Myles nods. "If that's what it takes."
"Then I want to be like Butler when I grow up. I want to be big, strong and fast like him. So when you have your adventures, I'll protect you. I want to protect you, Myles," Beckett says, turning to Myles.
Myles glances to him. "You promise?"
Beckett nods. "I promise."
"Then I promise to protect you too," says Myles. With those promises, they both fell asleep.
"Holly?" Artemis calls out
"Artemis," answers Holly, appearing in front of him. She closed the window and took her helmet off. "You're lucky this thing has a heater installed or else I would have strangled you. You know how much I hate the cold."
Artemis ignores her. "Now, for the plan."
"Oh yes, do tell your marvelous plan," grumbles Holly, sitting down.
"This isn't too much of a complex situation," starts Artemis. "Not really life threatening. The only difficulty is that there will be too many people and I can no longer go unnoticed by the media."
"And? It's not like you don't like the attention."
"I don't like it. At least not this kind of attention. If I get noticed acquiring the Dish will be even more difficult. But that's why I'm not getting it."
"Oh you're talking about me?" blinks Holly.
"Yes. I've hacked into the program of the fair and the Dish is supposed to be the grand finale, at about 9:30 P.M. The fair starts at seven, we have two hours and thirty minutes to get the dish. I will distract the media, and you can go for Dish while Butler covers you."
"That's too simple for you, Artemis," Holly says, straightening a bit.
"It is for a simple, none too threatening situation. Unlike the C Cube heist, there isn't a mafia and an insane businessman involved," shrugs Artemis. "A simpleton could do it."
Beckett connected his charger to the wall jack. "So do you have a plan ready?" he asks Myles.
Myles types into his computer. "I'm hacking into the museum's computer program. From what it says here, the Dish will be presented at the end. Apparently they liked it so much that they're making it the grand finale," murmurs Myles, with a tint of envy. He looks up to Beckett. "How?"
Beckett frowns. "How what?"
"How did you make such an invention? What did you use?" Myles asks, taking off his glasses. Without them, and if you peer closely, he has the same face as Beckett, sharpened by some similarities to Artemis.
Beckett gave a sheepish smile. "You want to know? It's not really great."
"Tell me, Beckett, I really need to know," Myles insists.
"Well...have you ever gone to Artemis's closet? You know, the walk in closet where he keeps all his suits?"
Myles nods. "Once when I had to fetch something for him."
"Well...there's this button on the upper left corner on the door, really up high. You press it, and it opens a secret door. It's been there since we were kids. In there he keeps weapons. It's really weird, it looks kinda like NERF guns, but they're real. And really powerful. He doesn't use them anymore though because they were dusty when I opened it last time. I just pulled it apart and researched blueprints on the internet, combined some and poof. There was the Beckett Dish. Wires are really hard though, especially when they're so little and tangled. I almost cut myself once by how thin they were too."
Myles stares at him, even Ailward stopped from what he was doing to look at Beckett. Beckett gave an uncomfortable cough and then an embarrassed laugh. "Such things in the world, huh?"
Myles closes the laptop and stands. "I'm not going to help you anymore on this Beckett. You don't deserve it. You cheated!" His voice raised a bit there. "How could you?"
Beckett stands as well. "I'm sorry! I was..." he stares at Myles's angry face. Beckett's hands were trembling, Ailward stood as well just in case he started hitting things. Instead, he walks past Myles and leaves.
"Beckett!" calls Ailward, then looks at Myles. "Please help Beckett, Myles. You're already here. Just this once." Myles didn't answer, and Ailward sighs. "Please stay here. I'm going to go looking for Beckett. Do not move."
Myles nods to that, and Ailward leaves to search for Beckett.
Myles's hands had been trembling too.
-oOo-
Beckett never felt scared. He drilled it into his head a long time ago: FEAR DOESN'T EXIST. Of course it doesn't, not in his world.
And not many things scared him. Not really. He loves bugs, supernatural things fascinate him, he has faith in his brother's technology for cures for diseases and he awaits death patiently.
But he found something that really scares him. That left him trembling. The anger of his brother Myles.
He's seen Myles angry lots of times. Myles often gets angry with himself and it's not new to see him mad at Beckett. But he's never seen him this mad.
Just how jealous were you to take his dream away? Is what he just realized. That Myles had the right to feel angry. But Beckett felt too scared to apologize right on the spot, so for the first time in his life, he ran.
He ran to the roof of the hotel, no matter how cold it was and no matter if it was restricted to visitors at this time of the year (it had a pool, but no point in getting in while it's snowing). He exploded there, stomping and screaming and pulling on his curly blond locks.
Beckett sat down and pulls on his hair, no longer having an episode but he was taking deep breaths to calm himself down.
He heard a sudden noise, but he never heard the door open. He looks around and saw nothing.
"Frond, why do I let him do this to me?" whines a voice. It sounded feminine. "It's so cold."
"Who's there?" calls Beckett, looking around.
There was a silence, but Beckett swore he heard swearing in another language. "Your conscience!"
"My conscience...are you mad because I cheated and lied to my brother?" he says aloud.
"Why did you lie to your brother though?" the voice says softly, now somewhat closer.
Beckett looks down. "Because I wanted Artemis and him to notice me. I just got them into problems," he sighs.
"Well what are you going to do to fix it? Tell them the truth and do your best to fix your own problem, then you can apologize."
Beckett looks up to the sky. "If you think that's best. Thanks, conscience." He stands, and runs back inside.
Once he left, Holly Short took a deep breath. "I can't believe he fell into the conscience trick," she shook her head.
-oOo-
Ailward found Beckett downstairs looking at the aquarium again. He tapped his shoulder and Beckett immediately looks up. He gave a small smile and looks back to the aquarium. "Hey."
"Don't run out like that," says Ailward. "You could be taken away."
"You taught me how to defend myself," Beckett mumbles.
"Yes, but that doesn't stop some people," says Ailward. "People your age are often underestimated."
"Artemis wasn't," Beckett says gently. "Neither is Myles."
Ailward looks at him and heaves a great sigh. The boy has a hard time seeing his capacity. He put a hand on his shoulder. "Perhaps you should tell him how you feel."
"What about the truth?" frowns Beckett, looking up.
"That's what I mean," Ailward gave a nod. "Just be completely honest."
Beckett looks back at the ugly looking fish that was staring at him from the corner. "Fine. I know what to do."
When they returned to the hotel room Myles was on his computer. "So I have a plan ready," he says, looking at the computer. He couldn't look at Beckett right now.
"No need, I have one ready," says Beckett.
Myles looks up at Beckett now. "What kind?"
"You'll see," nods Beckett. "But what I need you and Ailward to do is..." he paused for dramatic effect, "just to walk around and enjoy the show."
"What?" says Myles and Ailward in unison.
"You guys heard me. I dragged you guys into this, but this is my fault, I'll solve it by myself." Beckett turns to Myles. "I'm sorry, okay. I didn't want to cheat and take your spotlight away. I just wanted you and Arty to notice me." He gave a smile. "`M sorry."
Myles's anger suddenly diminished a bit. "It's fine," he says softly.
The Strothom museum was quite big and elegant, but not for Myles's tastes. Too futuristic, he decided. He liked the museums that look castle-like.
Beckett loved it. Full of glass and shiny metal. When they were inside it was full of people in elegant dressing and experiments all around, things flying around and others exploding.
Ailward didn't like the idea of 'walking around'. He knew Beckett had something planned. There was no wide smile to show he was plotting, but something twinkled in his eyes. And the plan was too 'simple'. For his role, anyways. He was used to the harder work, this was too easy. Walking around and looking at experiments. Sounded boring, actually.
"Oh, I almost forgot!" says Beckett. "When I finally end my presentation, put some sunglasses on, alright?"
"Why?" frowns Myles.
"Just listen to me! Trust me, you'll see," grins Beckett. "And I gotta go off now, see ya!" he waves off, leaving.
"Wait, Beck-" Ailward groans and walks off with Myles.
Artemis Fowl II enters the building with Butler right behind, at the moment he stepped out of the vehicle there were people coming up taking pictures and many asking questions. Some thing or two about the model Greta was mentioned but he didn't answer any of those questions.
"He wasn't kidding about the suffocating attention. Humans are annoying," thought Holly, flying in.
While Artemis distracts the press, Holly went backstage.
"A dish, a dish..." she murmurs, looking around the many projects. She saw the white Frisbee type of thing with an incandescent white light emanating from the center. As she approached it, she stopped when she saw a tall boy approach it.
"Are you sure you're Beckett Fowl?" asks the backstage manager, frowning in disbelief.
Beckett nods. "Mhm. You can check if you like, I have no reason to lie."
The man kept frowning. "Alright, you can present it."
Beckett glances at the man and gave a smile. "No one can control this thing like me anyways. I'll leave them in awe."
Holly curses and rose up to the ceiling. "Only a Fowl can flaw a Fowl," she grumbles. Foaly had installed a caller that connected also to Artemis's ring phone. She calls him from there.
He took a long time to answer. "What is it?" he says in a slight hiss. There were still people asking him questions in the background.
"Your brother is here. Beckett's his name right?"
"What? He's supposed to be at schoo-" Artemis seems to take a pause. "Alright...wasn't expected but that's just fine. I'll just have to go in personally now."
"And what about the press?"
"They can wait if they want. I stop my priorities for no one. Meanwhile make sure Beckett doesn't leave."
"You should really stop giving me orders as if you're my boss Artemis. You're pushing my buttons."
Beckett was patiently waiting, sitting down and holding the dish tightly on his lap. Many people asked him if he really is a Fowl, he just gave a polite smile and a 'Perhaps'.
And as he waited he heard loud voices. They finally stopped when the backstage door closes. He glances over and saw his brother come in. He took a deep breath in and smiles over and waves. "Arty!" he yells.
Artemis went directly to him, his pace rushed and he was expressionless, but Beckett could tell he was nervous. Artemis stops in front of him, about three feet away.
"What are you doing out of school?" he asks.
"I'm going to present my invention," Beckett answers quickly.
"With who's permission?"
"No one's. Mine."
A vein throbbed. Artemis hated backtalk. And this is the first time Beckett does such a thing.
"But I have a plan," Beckett says afterwards. "I'm sure it will work."
"I prefer to go with mine," Artemis says. "Just listen and-"
"But I'm sure it will work," Beckett says again. "Please. This is my problem and I need to fix it. Trust me, Artemis."
Artemis's mouth became into a grim thin line. He's never seen Beckett so determined. The Fowl determination was a force to be reckoned with.
"I'm sorry I took your things without your permission, Arty," Beckett continues. "I'm sorry I cheated in the competition. I'm sorry I messed up big things big time. Please let me fix things on my own account."
Artemis relaxes. "Are you sure it will work?" he asks, looking down at the blond boy.
Beckett nods. "I've never been more sure. But if it doesn't work we'll go with your idea all right?"
"Fine," sighs Artemis, rubbing his forehead.
"I can't be a nuisance to you and Myles anymore," says Beckett softly, setting the dish down. "I was desperate but I made things worse."
"Desperate for what?" Artemis asks, frowning.
"For attention," Beckett smiles sadly. "For yours and Myles attention. You guys left me out, and I just wanted you guys to look at me. This was the only thing I thought of and it was a totally bad idea."
Artemis was shocked. Poor boy felt ignored by his brothers. Artemis hadn't noticed, but then again he's hardly at home.
"I'm sorry," says Artemis, he could say a sincere apology to his brothers without much difficulty. "I didn't realize that I was ignoring you."
Beckett shook his head. "It's fine. That's just how you are with everybody."
Artemis blinks, but didn't say anything.
"Beckett dish presentation in twenty minutes!" calls the backstage manager.
"Here's the plan," Beckett says, and laid it out to Artemis.
Artemis called Butler and Butler went looking for Ailward and Myles. They were taken to the auditorium, which was full already. Myles sits besides Artemis, avoiding any conversation or even directing a word to him. Artemis instructs them to put the sunglasses on once Beckett strolled onto the stage.
Beckett changes onstage. He is gracious, with a wide beautiful smile that he could give so easily. His movements were timed, and even if he was nervous he wouldn't show it. He gave the public the same presentation he gave at school, perhaps with more demonstrations and examples but it was the same.
"When I made it," starts Beckett. "I reused old technology, old technology from my older brother's storage. They were strange little things that looked old and dusty but they were actually newer and better. So I took them apart and created the Beckett Dish. But other than something that has entertainment purposes, I wanted to make it something more. So what I did," says Beckett, as he worked around the dish. "Was combine that old technology. That old technology was weapons. Weapons that were probably more powerful than the ones we have now."
Beckett paused and looks at Artemis and Myles for comfort. He puts his sunglasses on and then looks back to the crowd. "There was this arrow head type of thing. But when I turned it on, it detonated, and I fell unconscious for nine hours. I have a feeling that the arrow head thing could've done much more, but it was too old to. So I put it into my dish, and so the Beckett Dish is not only something to get rid of boredom, it is also a weapon!"
Weapon was the key word. Beckett threw it into the air and the dish self destructed, and a blue light was emitted from the dish as it exploded, and the people in the audience and backstage fell unconscious.
"I also combined it with your old memory wipe thing," says Beckett. "So it will set back their memory to two hours ago. They will not remember anything."
"How useful," murmurs Artemis. "Even the light went out."
Beckett grins in the dark, Ailward and Butler turning on flashlights they carried. "I wanted to make my Dish really badass."
"Sure you did," sighs Myles, and they walked out by the backstage door.
"So the dish is destroyed?" asks Holly.
"I saw it with my own eyes," answers Artemis.
"And there will be no memory of it?"
"No. The Beckett Dish was never presented. If the museum claims to hold such a thing it will be called as a lie and a fraud."
Holly sits back. "And your brothers?"
"Being sent back to school at this moment. Both are bitter."
"Understandable. Did you at least apologize?"
"You know my apologies are never taken seriously," Artemis says, looking out the car window. "When have you taken them seriously?"
Holly hesitated. "At the very end."
"Exactly," sighs Artemis. "I don't expect them to forgive so easily. We Fowls aren't forgiving creatures by nature."
"Typical," grumbles Holly. "Runs in the Fowl blood."
-oOo-
Back at the airplane, Myles was trying to go back to sleep but Beckett was looking out to the starry sky. "Are you awake Myles?" he whispers, glancing at his brother.
Myles looks at him. "No," he says, leaning his head back.
There was a long silence, and then Beckett whispers, "I did tell you I'm sorry, right? Before going to the museum."
Myles closes his eyes. "Mhm."
"I'm sorry for taking your dream away," says Beckett. "I'm sorry for lots of things."
"Such as?"
"For being an envious jerk. For being jealous of something that doesn't exist. I thought you were really close to Artemis, but I forgot that Artemis only lets people close enough to an extent."
Myles opens his eyes again, but leaves them half-lidded. "You are right about that."
"And for breaking our promise. I didn't know you were suffering."
"I was trying not to make it noticeable," whispers Myles in a bitter tone.
"I'm your twin," laughs Beckett, trying to make it quiet because other people are sleeping. "I notice a lot of things. I just have to...look farther."
"I haven't been keeping up in our promise either," sighs Myles. "We were both being selfish. But that's just how the Fowl's are."
"We can break that, right?" whispers Beckett. "We don't have to be like Artemis or the other Fowls before us?"
Beckett expected an answer. Myles just closes his eyes and says, "I don't know."
End. I hope you enjoyed it and thank you so much for reading and your kind reviews.
