Doctor Nero found Artemis Fowl closely observing the H.I.V.E. students play basketball in the distance. Now that a ride was definitely on the way, Nero had given his wards permission to kill time however they saw fit.
"You know, I'm sure they'd be happy to have another player," Nero said. "I don't imagine you could do much worse than Franz."
On the court, Franz ran after the wildly bouncing ball, colliding with Laura and falling flat on his bottom. Artemis smiled, but shook his head.
"I'm afraid that interacting with my peers is one of my weaker points. Are there many of them?"
"Students?" Nero asked, and raised an eyebrow. "Oh, it varies in number. Up to two thousand at most, but the numbers usually hover somewhere between a thousand and fifteen hundred or so."
"Initially I thought it was only a training ground for brute force, but you have proven me wrong. They're unusual."
"I value them for it," Nero replied. He forced himself to pause. "You could join them, you know."
"Go to H.I.V.E.?" Artemis mused, seriously considering the notion. He looked around, the options physically manifested before him.
"As an Alpha you would be trained to become a leader," Nero said. "You would have the opportunity to strengthen your mind and body, and learn to hone your individual skills, and I know there are many, among many other like minds."
Artemis perked, but another thought struck him. "Would Butler be able to come?"
"I'm afraid not," Nero said. "Unfortunately there are no exceptions: all personnel are to be left behind."
"I understand perfectly," Artemis nodded. "I can't go. Butler is more than personnel."
"It was worth a shot," Nero laughed. "But I'm not surprised. The Fowls and the Butlers are nigh on inseparable, so I'm told."
"And we wouldn't have it any other way," Artemis lilted, a note of pride in his voice. "Besides, I'm afraid I might be a little too involved with the LEP for me to ever turn to G.L.O.V.E."
"Perhaps." Nero glanced over at his own students, then back at Artemis. "Nevertheless, I fully expect you to continue reaching your full potential, Mr. Fowl. I do not tolerate slacking."
And with that, Nero left him.
The Shrouds arrived in due time, forcing both parties to finally bid adieu.
"Are you sure there's no contact off the island?" Juliet asked Shelby. "Because I could totally send you pro-wrestling clips you would just adore."
"No, no contact," Shelby shrugged. "But look me up in a couple of years—I'll be free then."
Juliet grinned. "I'll do that."
Across the room, Otto and Laura spoke quietly with Artemis.
"It's been a complete pleasure," Otto said. "This was fun. We should do it again sometime."
"Definitely," Laura agreed. "Keep yourself out of trouble, Fowl; we're going to have to arrange a play date in a few years so you can show us all your toys."
"Only if you bring along some of yours," Artemis said. "Keep doing what you do best."
"We will," Otto said confidently, although he had no idea what the next few years would bring. Regardless, their next meeting would be an event to remember.
Giving each other a soldier's nod, Butler and Raven herded their charges into the proper vehicles, where they waved at one another until the Shroud sealed shut. Another moment and the helicopter flickered into stealth mode. They were gone.
"Well that was fun," Shelby said. It was evening, and she had just enjoyed a lovely shower that had maintained a consistent temperature the entire time—a rarity now H.I.V. was gone. She flopped onto her bed.
"It was," Laura agreed. She didn't look up from her computer, her fingers blurring as she messed around with the machinery.
"What are you working on?" Shelby asked.
"Oh, just a bit of code Otto gave me," Laura replied. Shelby raised an eyebrow. "He swiped it off of Foaly; he thought we might play with it for a while."
Shelby grinned. "So much for pretending they don't exist."
The doorbell rang. "Come in!" Laura called.
Wing and Otto walked in.
"You have to see this," Otto said. The girls swiveled, giving Otto their full attention immediately, already aroused by the gleam in his eyes. Wing opened the library book he was carrying, and turned it around for all to see.
"It occurred to me that Gnommish resembles ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics," Otto said. "I started looking through a few books, just to confirm my hypothesis, and you'll never guess what I found there."
Wing slid his finger down the glossy page, highlighting Otto's find.
"No. Way." Shelby gasped, and Laura let out an excited squeak, for there on the decorated wall, chiseled thousands of years ago into sturdy rock, there was an image of a crown. A diadem, in fact, woven with gold and topped with glowing stones. Otto smiled, looking each of his comrades in the eye.
"Well then, ladies and gentlemen," he said. "Who's up for a fairy hunt?"
Artemis Fowl knew his recent acquaintances would not feature much on the Internet, but using a few of his father's old resources he was able to gather some information about them. The mysterious moon of Britain's previous PM, the Wraith, the Darkdoom family. They were real people with incredible accomplishments. He found himself impressed.
"What are you looking at, Artemis?" Butler asked, coming up behind him.
"Just admiring some work of the H.I.V.E. students," Artemis replied. "They were a very interesting bunch."
"You did seem to enjoy meeting them," Butler said. "Especially Otto and Laura."
"Yes," Artemis nodded. "They were completely on the same page as me, and they… cared, I suppose. Not just about what happened to each other, but also about me. What I had to say. A genuine interest, as equals. Is that what friends are like, Butler?"
"I believe so," Butler said, a slight smile on his face. He scanned the screen himself. "Where did you get this information?"
"I spoke with one of my father's old underworld contacts," Artemis replied. "So he gave me a few back doors into a few intelligence systems to find some reading material."
Butler was going to inquire as to exactly whose intelligence did he just break into, then he saw the flag in the upper left hand corner of the screen.
"Artemis," Butler said, just one breath away from scolding.
"Don't worry," Artemis said. "Thanks to Foaly they won't find out."
Butler sighed. "Very well."
Artemis was quiet for a bit, scanning through the short biography of Doctor Maximilian Nero.
"He offered me a place at the school, you know," he said.
"Really?" Butler said. "And you declined? I think you would have done well."
"I know," Artemis said. "But I think I've just dug deep enough into the LEP to start getting somewhere, and I wouldn't like to sacrifice that just yet."
Besides, he thought to himself. Where would I be without Butler?
"But you're still keeping tabs on them?" Butler asked.
"I've never had friends before, Butler," Artemis replied. "It would be a shame to lose them now. I intend to keep a close eye on them, and when they're next available we can invite them over to have tea and plan to annihilate mankind."
"Is that… wise?" Butler said carefully, knowing if they wanted to the H.I.V.E. students could indeed do as Artemis suggested.
"Come now, Butler, don't be such a downer. We have to entertain our guests somehow, and human annihilation is one of my favorite games."