(A/N: Sorry it's been so long since I've updated.
I think you'll notice a pattern with my recent updates. I will always update the story that I haven't updated in the longest time. After this, one, I think it's AFSC.
Enjoy!)
"Are you sure?" Andrew asked. "You'd leave your life, and your friends and family."
Amelia put a hand on Andrew's shoulder. "Andrew," she said, "Other than school and work, I really don't have that much of a memorable life. And you're the only friend I've ever had."
"What about your family?"
Amelia smiled sadly. "I don't think they'll miss me. You know my mom and dad."
Andrew nodded. Amelia's mother never paid attention to her, and neither did her father, when he was home. And none of her siblings listened to her. Ever.
"Well," Andrew said, "Worst comes to worst, we can mesmer them into not remembering you."
"What about school? And work?"
Andrew smirked. "Remember what I said about how I can 'hack like nobody's business'?"
After Andrew and Amelia had finalized their plan and worked out all visible kinks, they went downstairs to find Artemis and Holly eating and talking, though fortunately not at the same time.
Artemis looked up from his conversation when he saw Andrew and Amelia walk in.
"Hey," he said. "Where have you two been? We've been waiting for you guys forever."
"For what?" Andrew asked.
"Artemis is getting registered in Haven," said Holly. "Would you like to come along?"
Andrew and Amelia glanced at each other for less than a second, but the message they conveyed to each other was clear as day.
Let's get used to Haven before we live there.
"Absolutely," said Andrew.
Artemis stood, and Andrew had to bite back a laugh at the height difference, or lack thereof, that resulted from Artemis getting out of his chair. Even so, he let slip a little smirk. Artemis didn't notice.
"Let's go then."
Andrew sat in the cabin of the Sikorsky, and was starkly reminded of the last time he had been in it, when Artemis had performed the Ritual. Now, they were going to Haven, which was twice as exciting.
Butler (because who else could fly the Sikorsky?) touched down in the middle of the McGraney farm, where the shielded fairy shuttleport was housed. Instantly, six or seven LEP officers surrounded the craft, but none of them had their weapons raised. one of them, clearly in charge, lifted his visor when Artemis exited the helicopter.
"You're in my world now, Fowl," he said. "So act like it."
Artemis, smug as ever, had a witty comeback supplied for just about every insult there was to throw at somebody.
"Am I in your world, Commander?" he asked snarkily, "Or are you in mine? I plan to replace you within ten years."
Andrew heard Artemis say this, and was surprised at the wealth of information that sentence contained. First, this Fairy was apparently the Commander. Commander... Trouble Kelp, if he remembered correctly. Second, Artemis planned on joining the LEP. Trouble also realized this.
"I doubt it, Fowl. I can already tell you're all skin and bone. No muscle whatsoever."
"Of course, I plan to change that, and possibly beat you in an arm-wrestling contest. Or possibly just a wrestling contest."
Now, they could have continued their banter, but Holly stepped in.
"Boys, stop." she said. They stopped. "Commander, the verbal sparring can wait until after Arty's registered and enlisted."
Commander Kelp raised his eyebrows at Holly's 'Arty' line. He hoped that there wasn't anything between them. Well... a wall would be fine.
"Fine," he muttered. "Come on." He motioned with his hand and the seven other elves and three Humans followed the Commander into the shuttleport.
"This is Haven's largest shuttleport," Commander Kelp said, mostly to Andrew and Amelia who, at the moment, he was being very friendly to. "Over thirteen thousand tourists a year come through here. That's a lot, considering the overall population of Haven barely exceeds ten thousand."
"Interesting," noted Andrew as they walked past two goblins who were tussling, and things looked like they were going to get hot. Not the good kind. Commander Kelp casually cuffed them both on the ears.
"If you're going to fight, you can do it in Howler's Peak," he warned. "Otherwise, you can act like civilized beings."
The goblins looked none too happy about being told to stop, but that changed when they saw Butler glowering at them from on high. After that, they scurried away like the reptiles they were.
"I hate goblins," Trouble spat. "Should be put in Howler's Peak, the lot of them."
From what Andrew saw, he agreed, and the revolted look on Amelia's face told him that she agreed as well. Andrew leaned over and whispered in her ear,
"I'll make sure we stay far away from them."
Amelia nodded, still wearing the same expression. She thought that they would have trouble getting through the crowded shuttleport, but with a flash of Commander Kelp's LEP badge, they were waved through, Humans and all. The gnome at the desk, a true professional, did not look twice at the massive Mud Giant that struggled through his gate.
Within minutes, the group was assembled outside a massive building that Andrew assumed - correctly - was Police Plaza.
"Welcome to LEP headquarters," announced Trouble proudly. "Or, as it's more commonly known, Police Plaza. This is the heart of our entire species' police system. Every arrest down to every little ticket goes through here."
"Impressive," said Amelia.
Commander Kelp laughed. "Just wait 'till you see the inside."
Artemis furrowed his eyebrows. Commander Kelp, he knew, did not act like this. Ever. He wondered what had provoked this change in demeanor. Definitely not the presence of two more Humans in Haven. If anything, he would be more angry than usual.
The commander walked through the glass doors, with the three Humans and two elves following. The inside, as the Commander had claimed, was even more impressive than the outside. Dozens of LEP officers bustled around their business, hauling paperwork or fugitives. Barely any of them spared a second glance at the massive Mud Man who had just walked in.
"Fowl, if you want to enlist in the Force, then you're going to want to go to that desk over there and get registered in Haven first." Commander Kelp indicated said 'desk'. "Holly, you go with him, make sure he doesn't mess anything up."
Artemis rolled his eyes. "Honestly, Commander, it's not like I have any sort of malicious intent, joining the LEP." he said. "However, I will take Holly with me, just in case." he added under his breath. He didn't want Trouble forcing himself onto Holly, especially now that she and Artemis were engaged. And besides, he might need her help. He had no idea how things in Haven worked.
While Artemis got registered to live in Haven, Andrew, Amelia and Butler were given a mini-tour of Police Plaza. Basically, Commander Kelp pointed out various sections of the complex and people that worked there. One Fairy in particular caught Andrew's eye. A centaur, just over a meter tall, and toting a cart full of electronics. He assumed this was Foaly. His suspicions were confirmed when the centaur noticed them and trotted over.
"Commander, why are there Mud People in Haven? Who are they? And where is Artemis?" he demanded. "Hello, Butler."
Butler nodded once, his version of a hello.
"Artemis Fowl is currently getting registered to live in Haven, Foaly," Trouble said. "And he brought these Mud People along, for some reason that I don't know."
Foaly looked Andrew and Amelia up and down. "Judging from their body language, I don't think they know either."
Andrew chuckled. "You're absolutely right. Artemis said we were all coming down here, and Amelia and I were like, 'Great!' So... now we're down here, and I, for one, have no idea what to do."
Foaly examined the Mud People some more, and saw from their body language that they were close, romantically. Very close. The basics of a plan began to form in Foaly's genius brain. It was obvious to him that Andrew was part Fairy because he was Artemis' brother, and Artemis was a Fairy now. The girl, Amelia, however... he would have to run some tests.
Andrew saw Foaly's eyebrows furrow in thought and he could only guess what the centaur was up to. Then he saw his fingers unconsciously drift toward a handheld DNA analyzer and Andrew knew exactly what was going on in Foaly's mind.
Andrew decided then that he would have a private conversation with Foaly about this later.
(A/N: Hmm, what plan do you think Foaly has? And what's the 'private conversation' going to be about?
Artemis is getting registered to live in Haven! I wonder how that's going to go, psychologically. As for joining the LEP, that means Arty might finally get some meat on those bones!
Review please!)