"That's not our game. One of us has to die."
"
No-one has to die."
"Somebody always has to die!"
- Castle 2x17- Tick, Tick, Tick...

The trip to the final room, Command and Control, was short, but Holly knew that whatever they were going to face, it was in there. And, as much as rational thought told her that there was still a chance this was an elaborate hoax by Kevoor, deep down she knew it wasn't. Which was why she really didn't want Artemis going in first. But, he had already set off, so Holly had to walk fast to catch up with him.
"So, this is where we see what Flower Kevoor has in store for us" He said, then motioned for Holly to help him with the door. She grabbed one side, and hauled it open, whilst Artemis did the other. As soon as they were open, Holly felt a rush of air hit her. Except it wasn't air, it was something she couldn't quite put her finger on, almost like a rush of pure energy. Her radiation monitor suddenly spiked, but as soon as it had, it had died again. Her helmet felt like it had been fried, and as she tested out the systems, she realised something- it had.
"Clever" Artemis grinded out with an irritated grin. "She knows my playbook, and she's countering every point."
"We still have to go inside" Vinyaya said from behind them. Holly knew that, but she didn't like how this was going so far. If anything, Artemis' lack of confidence gave her a lack of confidence. Infact, even though Vinyaya had said they still had to go in, he didn't move.
"What is it?" Holly asked.
"I'm used to having a plan for everything. Right now, Flower Kevoor seems to have a solution for every part of my plan. She knows how I work and that takes a level of dedication and skill I've never seen before. If we go in, then I might not be able to get us out."
"That's not your job" Holly said, and walked inside. As soon as her foot touched the floor, a siren started, splitting the air with its harsh noise. Behind her, the blast doors were starting to come down, and fast. Vinyaya just about managed to drag Artemis through before they crushed him.
"I was talking literally" He said once he'd brushed himself off.
"Of course you were" said a sudden, sharp voice. Holly jumped to alert, gun out and ready, but she couldn't see anyone. "Artemis Fowl, Holly Short, welcome to Haven's Geo-Thermal plant. It's nice to see you accepted my invitation. Commander Vinyaya, we are already well acquainted, but it's nice to see you again."
"Kevoor" Vinyaya replied, her voice stone cold.
"I would like to thank you all for attending this demonstration" Kevoor continued, though she did acknowledge Vinyaya. "And walking straight into my perfectly laid out trap, one not even the great Artemis Fowl could avoid."
"I see what Vinyaya meant about her liking to boast" Artemis whispered to Holly under his breath, then straightened himself out to show off his full height. Holly realised just how tall he really was, not that she hadn't noticed before. Then Artemis began to clap, slowly and sarcastically.
"Congratulations" He said mockingly. "This is a nice setup I will admit. The Gamma Ray Pulse was a nice touch, so that you could fry all of our equipment and cut us off. Just like purging all of the Security footage, so that you can be one step ahead all of the time."
"You are much the same" Kevoor replied, "You always have to be one step ahead too, that's what makes you so good. So, how does it feel to no longer have that advantage?"
"Who says that I'm not?" Artemis quipped. "I know that there's no bomb, that would have been too easily detectable. You already made your big show at Arlington Rise. This one is more... delicate, more of a personal touch. Tell me I'm wrong."
Holly was watching Artemis as he spoke. He was slow and methodical, taking his time to get the words out. Then Holly realised exactly what he was doing. Suddenly, one of the monitors in the centre of the room burst into life. Holly had to say, Flower Kevoor looked every bit the evil narcissist her profile had made her out to be. This time it was her turn to slow clap.
"Congratulations, there's no bomb. Though I suspect you already knew that before you came in here anyway. Which makes me wonder why you came in here at all."
"I'm wondering why you suddenly decided to show your face" Vinyaya butted in. "Getting ready for your spot on the 6pm news?"
Kevoor didn't answer, she just laughed. It was a laugh that send shivers straight down Holly's spine.

Whilst Flower was busy laughing at the 3 of them, Holly performed another scan of the room. It was the first time she had done a proper, full scan. The room was unnaturally dark, mainly because they hadn't had time to turn on the lights, but the screen that Kevoor was using to transmit cast enough light for them to see. Because of that, the corners of the room were masked- but, just a glint in the corner of her eye, Holly spotted something. It was a camera. From the looks of it, it wasn't a base model either. Carefully, she nudged Artemis to look in that direction. He smiled when he spotted the camera, and Kevoor made him.
"Ah, I see you've found my little party piece." She cackled. "I was wondering how long it would take you."
"Filming us for your own sadistic enjoyment?" Vinyaya asked sarcastically, but Kevoor didn't react. Not initially.
"Oh no Raine, it is something far more important than that. See, this camera is currently broadcasting live to Police Plaza, and to every electronic display in Haven. You're on camera to the world, I suggest you make the most of it."
"First mistake Kevoor" Artemis cautioned her. "Because now the entire population of Haven knows your face, your voice, how you act. Now there's nowhere you can hide."
"I don't need to hide, I am more than powerful enough to look after myself. But you 3 are helpless, and I am going to use this demonstration to send a message to the people of Haven. I have here 2 of the most decorated LEP officers and The People's favourite mud boy, all of whom have saved Haven numerous times between them. Yet here they are, trapped under my imprisonment, and one of them is going to die! Yes, one of them is going to die, and there's nothing they can do about it." She turned her attention back to the 3 of them. "Whether the people believed it or not before, now they will know that you cannot save them this time."
"Some speech" Vinyaya muttered.
"Infact!" Kevoor bellowed into the camera. "The great Artemis Fowl is going to be the one who decides which one of them dies. And I already know who he's going to choose, even if he doesn't."
Holly scanned Artemis, who himself was frantically scanning the environment. She saw him fixate on something in the background, then she too saw what it was. It was the camera Kevoor had installed, but instead of staying in its fixed position, it was swivelling towards them.
"EVERYBODY DOWN!" Artemis screamed as loud as he could, with a force that surprised even Holly. He quite literally jumped on her, flattening her to the ground, but in the last seconds before she was smothered, Holly just about made out the gun that was strapped to the bottom of the lens. Vinyaya, who didn't have the help of Artemis jumping on her, couldn't react at the same speed. She dropped to the floor, but the dart struck her in the neck just before she hit the deck.

"D'Arvit" Vinyaya cursed as she pulled the dart from her neck. Artemis, confident Holly was OK, rushed over to her. Holly soon followed suit.
"So there we have it, our lucky winner this week was Wing Commander Raine Vinyaya."
"Go to hell Kevoor" Vinyaya spat, just before her back arched violently in spasm. Holly had to steady her, and soon she came down out of it, but her eyelids were fluttering and she was beginning to lose consciousness.
"Don't bother trying to use your magic to save her" Artemis said dryly, holding up the dart. "Cobalt-60. Dirty radiation. One thing that not even magic can cure."
"Clever girl" Vinyaya managed to get out before she went into a coughing fit. Holly leaned in, trying to provide whatever comfort she could. Artemis stood up, and Holly could see the anger in his eyes.
"You've crossed a line Kevoor" He said, looking straight into the camera. "You are going to regret what you've done today, I will make sure of it. Everybody knows your face now, and the entirety of Haven has been given a reason to hunt you down and end you. And, I promise you, I will be leading the charge."
"Oh I'm so scared" Kevoor replied sarcastically.
"You should be, because right now a few of my friends are coming to find you, and drag you out of there in a body bag."
In the background, Holly could hear a faint knock at the door. Not their door, but Kevoor's.
"How!" She screeched. "How did you find out where I am?"
"One step ahead" He said, and ended the transmission.
Holly turned her attention back from Artemis to Vinyaya. She looked so pale, the life draining out of her.
"I like him" She said, smiling at Holly. "We could have done with someone like him before."
"Hey, hands off. He's mine" Holly joked, trying to keep the mood light. Raine raised one of her hands, and placed it on Holly's cheek.
"I know Holly, my girl. Make sure you look after him. You have somebody very special there. But more than that, make sure you look after... yourself. You have such an amazing future ahead of you."

Her hand dropped back down, slowly, and then Wing Commander Raine Vinyaya closed her eyes for the last time.

And so there we have it, our first victim. But just because one person has died, do not think this is anywhere close to being over...