I've managed to shift my writer's block at last sorry it took so long. Please review it makes it easier to write the next chapter.

Thanks to those who have reviewed.

Anyway onto the chapter.

The Signal

Artemis' shift was just coming to an end. They had decided to set up a watch as soon as they landed on the waves. Well technically they hadn't landed, the pod was hovering about a foot above the water, it wasn't meant to be a boat. The first few tries in the water had been both uncomfortable and wet so they had decided to leave it hovering.

Artemis scanned the radar, radio and all the other fairy devices for anything unusual. The engine was ticking over all right; the radar was picking up only a small amount of fish and the radio just sat there quiet as the grave. Artemis yawned and started to fall into a meditative coma.

How had Opal been able to control the vampires?

How could she of created a trap in the day she had been away?

Did Hol…

A hand on his shoulder broke in on his thoughts. Turning he saw it belonged to Holly.

"My shift now Artemis."

Artemis grinned. "You know it's supposed me who wakes you up."

Holly shrugged. "Couldn't sleep."

Artemis stood up but made no motion to leave. There was a rather awkward pause.

"Artemis"

"Yes Holly"

"How do you think things are at home?"

"Well, we closed the easy way through to our world so less vampires will be getting through."

Holly gave him a sideways look. "What do you really think, not a theory."

Artemis held her gaze before looking away. Thinking of his family, Butler, Mulch Diggums and then of the vampires. The monsters that tore people apart for fun. That watched people die for comedy. That had the power to bring the world to its knees. "I really don't know."

"Maybe Foaly will tell us if he makes contact." Said Holly reaching out again and putting her hand on Artemis' shoulder (she could barely reach). Artemis put his hand on top of Holly's. She was very close now. Artemis could see her mismatched eyes looking into his.

Artemis had never had this kind of experience before. Saving the world didn't allow time for romance not unless you believe in those lying James Bond films. But this wasn't a film.

It's a book. And I'm the narrator and I can do whatever I want. Like this.

Artemis leaned in closer to Holly.

The intercom on the controls of the ship started to crackle.

"Holly, Holly. Can you read me? Please respond. Repeat Holly, Holly please respond."

Foaly's voice cut through the atmosphere almost as affectively than someone breaking wind. Almost.

D'Arvit

Both Artemis and Holly thought this at the same time.

Holly snatched up the intercom while Artemis sank down in one of the nearby seats.

"What is it Foaly we read you loud and clear."

"Just giving you an update on what's happening here and checking up on you."

"Oh we're fine." Said Holly very sarcastically. "We arrived in ruined version of New York, got chased by twenty vampires led by Opal Koboi, had a rotten cheese for supper and got interrupted while…" she glanced at Artemis who had gone into pout mode that made him look adorable. "While in the middle of an important discussion."

"Ah yes about the rotten cheese."

Despite the crackling of the radio Holly could hear Foaly scuffing his hooves.

"WHAT ABOUT THE ROTTEN CHEESE??" Holly shouted.

"Wellllll. Its erm…"

"ITS WHAT??"

"Wellallyourfoodisrottenoutofdaterubbishthatwasputinyourshipinsteadofthebin."

Holly frowned. "What?"

"Allyourfoodisrottenoutofdaterubbishthatwasputinyourshipinsteadofthebin."

"I can't understand a word. Say it slower."

"All your food is rotten out of date rubbish that was put in your ship instead of the bin."

"Great. Really great and how did you manage that?"

"I sent the wrong forms to the wrong people." Said Foaly sheepishly (centaurishly?).

"So what are we supposed to do about food?"

"I don't know."

Holly saw out of the corner of her eye Artemis burying his face in his hands.

Holly turned back to the intercom. "Well now you know how bad it is our end. What's happening back home?"

Foaly sounded brightened at this. "The vampires have stopped coming through and the mud men haven't discovered us. Haven is getting itself back together again. But that's not the best bit."

"What's the best bit then?" Sighed Holly resignedly.

"Well you know that vampire I was dissecting. It's giving off a signal that connects all the vampires together. When I looked at the brain of the vampire I found a tiny Nanobot that's giving off and receiving the signal. The Nanobot then controls the mind into doing what the signal says. This signal I have traced to a location in your world and I'm sending the co-ordinates now.

"In Gnommish Foaly."

"Tiny robots are connecting and controlling the vampires. The orders are coming from the blue marker on your radar. And if I understood you correctly Opal Koboi will probably be there."

On the radar a blue dot appeared pointing north.

"Thanks Foaly." Holly seemed to of got rid of her temper. "Sorry about shouting earlier."

"I should think so. After all the trouble I went too to pinpoint that location. I had to awake the unused satellites in your world to find it, which isn't as easy as it sounds. Then I needed to find…"

Artemis heard no more; Holly had turned off the intercom.

There was a very awkward silence. In fact since I've got a moment. It was even more awkward than the beginning of an awkward party, with the top 100 awkward people invited who don't know each other and don't share any interests.

Artemis stood up.

"Goodnight." He couldn't think of anything else to say.

"Too late" thought Holly. Never the less she said the same.

As Artemis turned to go he nearly walked into Charlie. She looked tired and her hair was dishevelled.

"Did someone say something about rotten cheese."

The next day the rotting food was dumped in the sea before they started travelling north. It was all biodegradable so wouldn't affect what life there was. The sea itself was as calm as a millpond while the sun beat down upon the tiny blip that was the ship. It was late afternoon before they landed on a plain just beneath a mountain by which time everyone was very hungry. Luckily before it got dark Charlie and Alpha went out and caught some rabbits, which were then cooked over a small fire.

The only problem was Holly's dietary requirements.

Will Holly bring herself to eat meat? Will they get to Opal Koboi or will some random character get in the way? (I'm the narrator I can do that).

It's in the next chapter. Please be kind and Review.