Chapter 8;
LEP Forward Operating Base, Northern Ukraine
"Commander? Commander, do you read me?" Artemis began fumbling with the communicator, overriding its restrictions and adding Foaly to the call. "D'Arvit, Trouble can you hear me? I'm patching Foaly through. If you can hear me, you have to get out of there now. We have new information and we believe you may be compromised. I repeat, you may be compromised. Evacuate your people immediately."
No response. D'Arvit. What if they were too late? He had only been able to reach the commander's in combat communications system – his voice would be emanating from a speaker located somewhere on Trouble's uniform, (if the equipment was still working that was) but he had no way to know if Trouble could hear him, or even if he was still alive. He also had no visuals to tell him what was going on.
D'Arvit, he thought again
Finally, he managed to get the LEP technical consultant into the call. He had already dropped Foaly a message containing some of what Holly had said. Not all though – there were certain details that such a close friend of Holly was probably better off not knowing.
"Trouble for the love of all that is holy, say something!" Foaly's voice was high and panicky. "For goodness sake, all your lives might be in danger!"
Artemis began running through possible scenarios in his head. Apart from the incredibly slim possibility of equipment malfunction, none of them were good.
After what seemed like an age, but was in reality probably only a few seconds, Trouble spoke. His words, however, were far from reassuring.
"I know," the commander mumbled. "I'm sorry. Tell them all I'm sorry."
"Trouble? What are you talking about?" Foaly seemed confused.
Artemis just shook his head. He knows it's too late. For whatever reason, he believes there is no hope of survival. He's remembering all his regrets, all his failures.
"Trouble hold on; there's still-"
"Still what, Foaly? Time?" Artemis's tone was angry now. "Of course there isn't. He can't hear you anymore, he's dropped the mic. And if they aren't already dead, then they will be soon."
Foaly's sharp intake of breath was easily audible. "No… they can't be."
Artemis took a moment to calm down. Biting Foaly's head off wasn't going to be helpful. "I'm sorry for sounding harsh. I'm just angry. This is my fault."
"Don't say that! Don't write them off like that! Hang on, I'm pulling scopes to look at them. I'll have a live feed in seconds. Boot up your laptop, I'll stream it to you."
"I'm not in base right now, I'll be there in a few minutes." Artemis didn't have the heart to tell his friend not to bother. There were several possibilities for what had transpired in Germany, but given the way Trouble had been acting, he had seen something that would kill them. Artemis had a pretty good idea what that something might have been. If he was right and they had been bio-bombed, there would have been no survivors, no hope. It would also open up a whole series of difficult questions, namely: how the hell did someone get their hands on a bio-bomb?
Much like nuclear warheads in the human world, bio-bombs were only available to the government. Only the council and those at the absolute top of the LEP would have access to one. Had they been betrayed? Or were they dealing with someone who was able to construct their own? If Koboi could do it…
Artemis was running now. Hard. If he had been less distracted he might have mentally commented on how unlike him this was, but today was not a day for such trivialities.
He was back at the camp in minutes, and already shouting for his manservant by the time he sprinted through its border.
"Butler," he said breathlessly when he caught sight of the bodyguard, doubling up with his hands on his knees. Artemis was many things, but fit wasn't one of them. "K'Azir. Get Galadhon. Butler. Get ready. We strike tonight."
Needless to say Butler was highly concerned for his young charge, but even as he began to ask what was wrong, Artemis's attention was diverting to his fairy communicator.
"Foaly, do you have the feed?"
No reply. Not good. Artemis grabbed his laptop as he waited and keyed in his ludicrously long password. It didn't take long for a video file to arrive in his inbox. He was fairly sure he knew what it would show, but he ought to watch it anyway. It was the logical thing to do to get all the available information.
That didn't make it any easier to click the link.
On screen a distant, aerial view of a cluster of buildings flickered to life. It was too dark and too low quality to make much out, but it was obvious that this was where Commander Kelp and LEP Retrieval One had holed up to wait for the deadline. Now it will be their grave, he thought morbidly.
By squinting, he could just about identify a shape falling out of the sky into the center of the estate, reaching the ground seconds later. Deadly light flashed, cascading over the desolate landscape. And then, as quickly as it had come, it was gone. The tragic scene lay in darkness.
Artemis sat silently for a few moments, simply staring at the soulless image on his screen. Nothing could have survived.
Nothing living at least. The fairy technology would still be more or less intact though.
"Foaly," he said quietly, hating himself but knowing that it had to be said. "You know you have to self-destruct all the LEP gear, don't you?"
"Already… already done it." Foaly replied after a short pause, his voice breaking. Artemis could almost hear the centaur try and fail to pull himself together. There would be no body to bury or cremate, nothing left of the commander for which to mourn. Artemis himself had only ever had a rocky relationship with Trouble, but he still felt an overwhelming sense of loss and emptiness. He couldn't even begin to imagine how Foaly was feeling.
Somewhere out there was a truly evil fairy. Artemis was sure of that now. A fairy that had brutally killed a little girl to make a point, tortured his best friend and callously slaughtered an entire team of LEP officers. For what? Money? If Holly was right, then they weren't done yet. They still wanted to cause a war that would kill many millions, maybe even billions of innocent people. Cold rage threatened to engulf him. He had never before wanted someone to die, much less to be the one responsible. But that was exactly what he wanted now. I don't care what the cost is. I don't care how long it takes. There will be justice for this.
Artemis tried to take stock of the situation, and the options that remained to him. Trouble was gone. Retrieval One was gone, along with anyone else that Trouble had brought with him from Haven. No doubt the gold had been retrieved by their enemies.
The gold. He hadn't even thought of it until now. He realized with a jolt that he actually didn't care about it. Not even slightly. A part of him was suddenly irrationally angry with himself for ever placing such stock in material wealth and neglecting the people around him.
"Artemis Fowl. Explain." The voice belonged to Captain Galadhon. It sounded like he would brook no argument.
Artemis took a single steadying breath. Foaly is in no state to make any kind of input. I may have failed Trouble, but there is still a life I can save. Holly must live. I will not allow their deaths to be in vain.
And in a heartbeat he was his usual, composed self again. He promised himself he would put all of his feelings to one side until Holly was rescued. Mentally unhealthy, perhaps, but it was the best thing he could right now. I must be strong if we are to save her. I cannot allow emotion to cloud my judgement.
The human calmly closed his laptop and turned to face Galadhon. He and K'Azir stood side by side, wearing equally stoic expressions. It seemed as though while the Major had followed Artemis's instructions to fetch the strike team captain, he wasn't very happy about being ordered around in such a short fashion.
"Very well," Artemis began. "As of a few minutes ago, the LEP company in Germany were bio-bombed. At present we believe that all fairies are K.I.A.; we also believe that whoever was behind this entire affair plans to introduce humanity to the People. It is imperative that we act quickly if we are to prevent further tragedy."
Artemis kept his voice even and his tone matter-of-fact, refusing to allow his pain to creep in.
Galadhon said nothing, his face remaining impassive. K'Azir on the hand grew angry, drawing his Neutrino and levelling it at Artemis.
"Don't even think about moving, Mud Scum," he said, his voice dripping with contempt.
Butler stepped forward, his plasma rifle already pointing directly at this new threat to his charge. Galadhon turned sharply to the Major. "What are you doing?" he muttered in Gnomish.
K'Azir ignored him, instead continuing to speak to Artemis. "This was your plan. You sent them to their deaths. You. From the beginning you've been a suspect in this affair. So give me one good reason, right now, why I should trust a single fucking word that comes out of your Mud Scum mouth."
Artemis stood, seemingly unfazed. "It is of little consequence to me whether or not you trust me, Major. I strongly suspect that in the very near future, Holly Short will be executed. I will not permit this to happen. You may assist me or you may choose to do nothing, but don't you dare think about getting in my way."
Galadhon stepped between the two and placed a hand on K'Azir's gun, pushing it down so it no longer pointed at Artemis. "You have a plan?" he asked quietly.
Artemis nodded. "Part of one at least. It's risky, but it's our best shot. Speed is essential if we are to reach her before it's too late."
Galadhon regarded him briefly, as if making his mind up whether to side with Artemis or K'Azir. "Very well, Fowl," he announced eventually. "Trouble died as part of the operation to rescue Captain Short. I intend to make sure that he didn't die for nothing, even if it's the last thing I do."
Behind him, K'Azir made a noise somewhat akin to a growl. Galadhon turned to face him and spoke quietly in a language Artemis didn't recognize. Vietnamese maybe? He frowned, but then it hit him. I may be able to speak their native language, but with the gift of tongues they still have numerous ways to communicate without me being able to understand. Artemis wasn't overly pleased that he had no idea what was being said, especially given that it was almost certainly about him.
"Let it go for tonight, Major. Just tonight. Trouble trusted that he cares for the Captain and so do I. If we work with him, we might be able to save her."
"He did this. It's the only explanation that makes sense. How else would they know where to find Trouble? He sent them where they would be sitting ducks."
"Maybe. Maybe not. What does he gain? And surely that would make him complicit in Captain Short's kidnapping as well. I doubt he would do that, not a second time."
"Perhaps I don't share your trust of humans," shot back K'Azir, the final word laden with contempt.
Galadhon sighed, exasperated. "Whatever. It doesn't matter right now. I'm not asking you to trust him, just let him do his thing tonight. One night. We owe it do Trouble do complete his mission. Arrest him tomorrow, or shoot him if you must. But we should save Short first."
The silence that followed was intoxicating. You could have cut the tension in the air with a knife. Finally, K'Azir spoke.
"Fine. For Commander Kelp," he said. He turned to address Artemis, this time in English. "Fowl. You had better not mess this up."
Artemis fidgeted impatiently as his communicator ring tried to establish a link with Holly. Normally he wouldn't have minded so much, but he didn't really have time to burn at present.
"Artemis?" came Holly's worried sounding voice. "What on Earth is going on? What call did you have to make?"
Artemis took a deep breath. Courage, he told himself. You know this is the right thing to do.
No! She won't forgive you if you lie to her again! argued his other side.
"I had to contact a colleague elsewhere. In light of your information I decided it would be wise to instruct him to withdraw lest he be in danger."
There. It was done. Holly and Trouble had been very close – Foaly had even told him that the two had been dating at one point. His death would crush her, and that wasn't something they could afford right now. If his plan was going to work, he needed her to be sharp as a hawk. He had no doubt that grief would only make it harder for her to escape.
She'll hate you for it.
Perhaps she would. But at this point, Artemis had already lost too much. He'd rather have an angry Holly than a dead one. She had to live, and if he had to sacrifice their friendship for her life then so be it.
"Oh, OK," she said, seeming to accept the lie.
"I seem to recall you saying something about being able to escape your cell – is that still the case?" He did his best to keep his tone even, desperate not to allow the guilt that haunted him to betray the deception.
"Yes. At least I think so. I managed to mesmerize one of the guards and got him to retrieve some of the things that were confiscated from me – including this communicator. I can leave the cell at any time, but he tells me that there are guards everywhere. I could get out, but I couldn't go anywhere. I know nothing about the layout of the building I'm in either."
"I feel like I should confirm this; you are in Pripyat, yes?"
"That's what I'm told. Are you nearby?" asked Holly, daring to hope that there might be a chance of escape after all.
"Very much so. I have the beginnings of a plan, but as far as we are aware you are being held in the Energetik building," responded Artemis quickly. "The entire structure is built on solid concrete – not even Mulch could tunnel you out. Shielding obviously isn't possible due to radiation, and according to you they would be able to detect a cloaked shuttle. If we're going to come and get you, it's going to have to be through all their defenses."
"Negative, Artemis," Holly said resignedly. "It'd be a bloodbath. Besides, as soon as you started attacking they would probably come and kill me. Maybe it would be best if you focused on finding whoever is responsible before they have a chance to reveal the People."
"No. Absolutely not, Holly." Artemis's voice was sharp, and a little louder than he had intended. He made a conscious effort to continue more quietly. "No. I will under no circumstances abandon you. There is a way to do this, I know there is. All I need is a plan."
"What can I do?" Holly seemed at least partially reassured by his determination. Or perhaps she was just pretending. Not that it mattered much.
Artemis's response was immediate. "Information. Anything you have."
So she relayed everything that Oleksandr had told her, everything she had picked up since arriving in Pripyat and exactly what items her minion had been able to retrieve.
For his part, Artemis just sat in silence with his eyes closed, absorbing every sliver of detail that Holly offered. Slowly but surely, he began to see a way to make his earlier strategy possible.
Wasting no time, he explained to Holly what he needed her to do. Back in her cell, the imprisoned Captain paled.
"You're sure that's a good idea?"
"Not even slightly," came the not particularly encouraging answer. "But I'm not hearing any better ideas from you at the moment. In theory, you should be in very little danger. Simply wait for the sound of explosions, then disappear. It's idiot-proof."
As far as Holly was concerned, the Mud Boy sounded far smugger than one would have thought the situation would allow.
In reality though, Artemis didn't allow his signature self-satisfaction to last. True, he now had a plan, which was a lot more than he had had a few minutes ago, however there were still several things to be organized before it could be put into practice.
He pulled out his phone and selected his bodyguard's number from his saved contacts list.
"Butler? Are you with your contact?"
"I've just left him," came the gravelly reply.
"And?"
Butler's sigh was easily audible to Artemis over the high quality microphone. "And I've had to call in a lot of favors, but eventually I managed to get what you wanted. The contact I just met agreed as well, but only after I promised him ten-thousand US dollars. I hope you have at least some money left in one of your accounts."
"Excellent. How long until you return?"
"An hour at most." Butler paused, seemingly unsure of exactly how to phrase what he wanted to say. In the end, he opted for bluntness. "Artemis… I don't like this."
Artemis was struck by how old his manservant sounded. "Neither do I, old friend. Nonetheless, I don't think we have any other option. You and I both know we can't abandon her."
"I didn't say we should. I would never say that," Butler said firmly. "But with Trouble and everything, I just can't help feeling that we might have run out of luck. I'm a tired man, Artemis. I can't keep doing this forever."
Artemis had had similar thoughts himself. What if they didn't come out on top this time? "One last mission, old friend. I promise."
"I distinctly remember you promising that before. Still, I suppose you didn't exactly ask for this. OK, I'll be back soon. Let's see if we can get her out of that hellhole."
The line went dead.
Artemis let his breath out slowly and took a moment to compose himself, resting his head in his hands. One more person to convince.
The person in question wasn't difficult to find.
"Captain."
"Ah, so the Mud Boy finally shows his face again," interjected K'Azir before Galadhon could respond, even though it was the latter that Artemis had addressed. "Thought up a nice little scheme have we?"
"Yes, actually." Artemis would have loved to rip into the Major with all of his cutting wit, but today he was trying to avoid confrontation. After all, if they fought among themselves, what hope would they have of rescuing Holly? "Captain. Naturally it would not be feasible for your men to mount an assault on the target building, but what if they could slip in unnoticed? Holly will have already escaped her cell and be in constant communication with us, all your team would need to do would be to slip in and provide her with the necessary cover to depart."
Galadhon didn't look convinced. "Go back to the bit where they don't notice us. I'm not entirely sure I follow. We can't shield – they'll pin us down and pick us off."
"Please Captain, have a little faith," said Artemis calmly, his signature smirk plastered across his features. It wasn't that he felt smug, or anything other than sorrow and desperation really, but it was vital to convince Galadhon that he was confident in the plan. "Butler will supply an ample distraction. Trust me, no-one can ever ignore a little fireworks display. Especially when the pretty lights are killing them."
Despite himself, Galadhon actually smiled a little. Artemis may have been human, and little more than a boy at that, but he was a human after his own heart. "That sounds like my kind of distraction. If you can guarantee that they'll be looking the other way, it should be easy for us to get close under cover of darkness. Our suits are insulated; so thermal cameras won't work on us."
"Precisely. As soon as they realize you're there it'll be too late - you'll already be in the in the building. You can easily stun anyone in your way, cover Holly's escape and then it should be a relatively simple matter to clean this whole mess up."
A/N: Not a particularly long or eventful chapter, I know, but I wanted to consciously separate the aftermath of Trouble's death and Holly's rescue. Hopefully the next chapter (which is very eventful) makes up for it. Poor Holly, Artemis just doesn't seem to be able to tell her the truth, does he? I don't think she'll be very happy when she finds out...
As always, thanks for reading :D if you have a spare moment to share your thoughts, reviews are of course appreciated!
