Chapter Eleven

Fowl Play

Disclaimer: See previous chapter. (joke, see chapter eight.)

I've decided, that yes, Fowl will feature, this is so I can nail Itex in later chapters with something big, also hopefully, I can bring the Los Angeles team into this using the same thing.

SPOILER ALERT!: Contains content from The Atlantis Complex.

Chapter Soundtrack: I'd Come For You (Nickelback)

Frank stormed into Walkers office and glared at her.

'Why the hell did you call me off?' He demanded angrily.

Not even a strong bucket of black coffee had calmed him down.

'Because, only three of Gregor's vultures were covering the convoy, you were walking into an ambush.

Frank pictured his force waiting too storm the forensics lab, only too be caught in the firing line of a super-machine gun, a sniper rifle and an M16.

Frank admitted it would've been a disaster, and all Gregor would've had too do was take the girl himself, then walk out.

'What now then?' Asked Frank irritably taking a seat, now he had a good reason for Walker's actions, he wasn't angry, just irritated he hadn't thought of laying an ambush for the upstart bird-kid.

'You're shipping out too Los Angeles, that's where we've sent the Sinovirus vaccine source; You're in charge of security.' Director Walker informed him.

'Yes, madam director.' Said Frank, taking a swig of coffee from a hip flask, one of his own devising:

It had a battery powered thermostat built in, which meant he could keep the liquid it contained,-in this case coffee,- at an ideal temperature.

'You leave immediately.' Stated Walker smoothly, bringing the meeting to an end.

'Send in Fowl on your way out.' Called Walker after Frank.

Artemis Fowl the second was sitting patiently in director Walker's waiting room, his man-servant Butler, was busy keeping an eye on both doors.

'Hopefully, Director Walker will agree too my assuming control of this company without a fuss.' Mused Artemis too his Butler.

'I still don't see what you want with this malignancy of a company Artemis.' Said Butler with quiet distaste as the office door opened and a solidly built man, approximately shoulder-height too Butler walked out.

'Director Walker will see you now,' said the Eraser emotionlessly.

Butler eyed the man warily.

In his many adventures as a mercenary, he'd crossed paths with the savage wolf-men before, and knew how formidable they were.

'After my brush with Atlantis Complex,' said Artemis as he and Butler stood and walked into Walker's office, 'I've decided too bankrupt and bye out this company, then turn it towards saving the planet; as well as cleaning up it's research habits.' Artemis grimaced as he remembered what he'd read in Foaly's file on Itexicon Corporation.

Inhumane experimentation and conditions on human children.

Artemis had actually been tempted too just ask a few of his shadier associates too destroy the company outright, but turning it too saving the world had been the more sensible choice.

As Artemis and his man-servant came through the door, Anne Walker started having misgivings, Artemis Fowl was little more than a teenager, and the colossal Butler looked like he could rip an Eraser in half with his bare hands.

She wasn't too know Butler had actually come off the better in a brawl with a troll.

'Ah, Master Fowl,' said Director Walker smoothly as the pale teenager sat opposite her, Walker noticed that Artemis had a hazel eye and a blue eye, unnerving.

'Good morning Director Walker,' replied Artemis evenly.

'You mentioned in your e-mail you had a business proposition for this company.' Stated Walker, bringing up the relevant document on her computer.

'Yes,' confirmed Artemis, 'I have knowledge of your little world-domination bid, and I know it has gone awry too such a degree, that you have lost almost ten billion US dollars in equipment, supplies and property.' Artemis said blithely, and brought up the relevant file on his phone.

Director Walker was non-plussed, no-one other than a couple of governments, the experiments and Itex employees knew of Itex's motives.

'How did you find out about-?' Walker broke off, and looked confused.

Artemis gave her his vampire smile.

'I've got a friend. He's got all the numbers and e-mail accounts.' Said Artemis cryptically.

Walker thought hard.

She was dealing with a criminal mastermind who was allegedly responsible for toppling Jon Spiro, rescuing his father from the Russian Mafia, and was widely regarded as the most intelligent person on the planet.

After she'd taken control of Itex after Director Marian Jansson's arrest, she'd taken the company's R&D branches underground, consolidating everything, stockpiling and trying too recoup losses while continuing as normal.

Obviously she'd made a mistake somewhere and she now had Artemis Fowl the second sitting across from her with a mysterious proposition.

'What is your proposition?' Asked Walker bluntly, straight too the point was obviously the best course of action in this situation.

Artemis's vampire smile widened.

'I'm willing too purchase Itexicon's Research and Development branches, and all associated assets, for ten billion dollars, which is double what they are currently worth.' Said Artemis, calmly, 'take it, or leave it, that's my ultimatum.'

Walker regarded Artemis with a patronising look.

'That isn't going too happen, young man.' Said Walker with the air of a teacher talking to a very stupid student.

'Well, perhaps you would like me too spill what Itex's R&D branches really experiment on too the media.' Said Artemis smoothly, not missing Walker's tone.

'You wouldn't dare,' Said Walker crossly, 'the resultant frenzy would probably be the death of the experiments, and I'd say you care too much too allow that too happen.'

Artemis stood and looked Director Walker in the eyes, his unnerving mismatched eyes gave Walker the chills.

'If that's the case, then we shall be going.' Said Artemis calmly, and he and Butler walked out, leaving Director Anne Walker more non-plussed than ever.

'Frank, prepare our demands, it's time we gave the US government our ultimatum.' Walker called Frank over his head-set as she sat down.

Artemis Fowl was not the sort of person you crossed.

He had six months previously, brought out a hotel empire that another student at St. Bartleby's college was heir too, simply because that student had teased Artemis about his driving skills.

He had also bankrupted the software empire of a certain crooked businessman by the name of Jon Spiro for nearly killing Butler and stealing a miniature super-computer from him.

After the meeting with director Walker, Artemis had made arrangements for a tour of the facility.

The more Artemis saw, the more revolted he became, horribly failed recombinant lifeforms laid motionless and waited for death.

On one occasion, a winged girl reached out and caught hold of Artemis's arm with a strong grip and pulled him closer.

'Please…, help me…' She begged in a hoarse voice before a whitecoat rapped the back of her hand with a thin strip of cane.

Artemis saw a muscle twitch in Butler's neck as the man-servant resisted the urge too kill the sadistic scientist.

When the tour was complete, Artemis left with mixed feelings, for one, he'd learnt a great deal on the subject of genetic engineering, but still, he felt revolted and angry at the treatment of the experiments, who were obviously human enough too understand that they shouldn't have to live like they did.

And finally Artemis felt an elated happiness.

Artemis grinned as he remembered that the third member of the party had been running a bit of sabotage on the lab.

When they reached the rental BMW, and were headed back too the hotel, Artemis consulted his phone, or more specifically the data he'd hacked from director Walker's computer.

Then he made a call.

'Foaly,' said Artemis as the centaur answered.

'What have you done now, Mud Boy?' Asked Foaly over the line.

'I haven't started anything… yet.' said Artemis truthfully.

'What's this about?' Asked Foaly huffily.

'Have you got a feed from the data-twists?' Asked Artemis professionally.

'Yes, Mud Boy, we have the feed.' Replied Foaly.

'I've got some knew information, can you put me through too NCIS?' Asked Artemis with the same cool tone he spent so much time using.

Artemis's phone rang.

'Of course,' said Foaly as someone else answered the call, and Foaly signed off.

'Hello?' Asked a calm reserved voice over the phone.

'Hello,' said Artemis in his clinical business tone.

'Who is this?' Asked the man on the other end.

'Someone who has information you might find interesting.' Said Artemis cryptically.

'Well, spill it.' said the other man.

'Not over the phone, the line might be tapped,' Said Artemis coolly, 'If you're interested, be at the Vietnam Wall in half an hour, I shall be waiting, and bring the girl known as Wendy.'

There was a moments silence, then:

'We'll be there.'

Artemis hung up.

Time too deal Itexicon a body blow.

Short chapter, but I do have plans for this.

Anyway, please review, and I'm working on chapter twelve

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