-o-o-o-0-o-o-o-
It had stopped snowing at last. The sky that night was perfectly clear; a few stars twinkled brightly like gems across the evening sky as the moon bathed the world below with its radiance.
Artemis Fowl II heaved out a deep sigh as he stared at the night sky through the huge glass window near his bed.
It was such a peaceful night yet he couldn't find the will to rest despite of such serenity. The turn of events that day was far from Artemis's own definition of interesting and that is saying something. As far as he is concerned everything was just as it should be. He felt like he did the right choices but somehow he felt like something is not right.
Artemis leaned on one side and sighed once again.
Normally when he can't sleep he would look for something worthwhile to shift his attention to. It was rare for him to be wasting valuable mind space thinking about something not related to his great schemes.
When he was about to close his eyes and force sleep to come, someone knocked on his door.
"Artemis?" he heard his mother call, "Are you still awake dear?"
The Irish genius heaved out another mental groan. Somehow, though he couldn't seem to figure out the reason, his mother always knew if he had trouble sleeping. Most of the time she would just let it slide, but on rare occasions, like this for example, she would go to his room and ask him what's wrong.
"Yes, moth - Mom?" Artemis answered, correcting himself at the last second.
Angeline Fowl, in her beautiful lilac colored dressing gown that made her look like an empress, came in the room. Artemis immediately sat up from his resting position as his mother made her way to him, sitting on the edge of the bed. Artemis was about to ask her what is wrong when his mother beat her to it.
"Is something wrong Arty?" she asked
"I should be asking you the same question Mom," Artemis answered, remembering to add the word Mom on the last part of the sentence.
Angeline looked into her son's mismatched eyes then glanced away as she sighed, worry evident in her eyes, "I know there are things that I am not allowed to know but pray and tell, my dear, what is going on?"
"Mother," Artemis began ready to go on full-acting force to reassure his mother that he is fine but Angeline shook her head as she continued to speak, ignoring her son's gaze.
"I'm worried, dear." Angeline said, taking her son's hand, "I've never seen you so stressed out since that big PROJECT of yours,"
Then she let out a dejected sigh, "I don't know how long can I stall your father about this either. He is getting suspicious, as you already know." She added before looking back at her son's eyes, "I want to help Arty,"
Artemis blinked twice before shaking his head, "Mother I don't want you to get -"
"Arty, please." Angeline said with determination in her eyes, "Think of it as reliving the times I've neglected you when I was sick,"
Artemis felt a pang inside him; though he wasn't sure what triggered it. Maybe it is because of that incident with Opal a few years ago and that instance with his Atlantis Complex. As much as Artemis doesn't want his mother to be involved again, he can't bear lying to her in that state. Sure he keeps secrets every now and then but sometimes a part of him wants to just let it go. For some years now, the family is changing from the cold money-loving criminal mastermind family to everyone's typical loving family.
It seems like he is the only one at that moment who is still having a hard time to let go.
Artemis sighed in defeat before smiling warmly at his mother, "Very well then."
And he began the story upon Temmy's arrival up to the present. Of course, he did leave out a few parts like the part about Holly leaving his future-self behind. He didn't have the heart to tell his mother about his future broken family and since Artemis can't give any logical reason as to why he would tell so he choose to kept that part a secret for the time being.
"Oh Arty…." Angeline began as she covered her mouth delicately with her hands in mild astonishment. Soon tears began streaming down her eyes.
"Mother, why are you crying?" The Irish genius asked, half of his great mind wondering what to do. Artemis often sees her mother cry in his years of existence, most of it when his father disappeared years back, but for this situation, however, it was different.
It was not the tears of grief he often sees when his mother cried; it was something else.
"Because…." Angeline began but paused right away when she can't stop the tears from rolling down her cheeks. When she finally got a hold of herself and wiped her tears away, she continued "I can't explain this. It's pure motherly intuition, I presume."
"Oh, Arty…." Angeline said as she pulled her son into a hug, "Despite of what you're going through… "
Then she pulled away from the hug to look at her son, holding him firmly on the shoulders, "I'm so proud of you," Then she frowned, "But you don't have to face this alone,"
"I know. That's what friends and family is for," Artemis answered with a smile, a genuine smile that a few people are privileged enough to see.
"That's right," Angeline beamed, nodding. Then a thought popped in her head and smile grew wider, "So that means….Timothy is actually my -"
"Your Grandson, yes" Artemis interjects with a small blush, which he quickly hid as he added in his usual a-matter-of-fact tone, "And his name is not Timothy, actually. It's Artemis III,"
"Oh, another Arty…or maybe I should call him Temmy since your father is Timmy and you are Arty -" Angeline stopped her ramblings, looking at her son with big innocent eyes, "Wait, he's already called that, right?"
Artemis nodded, "Yes he is mother,"
Angeline frowned, "Stop being so formal once again, Arty." She said, then another light bulb moment "And Holly is your - Oh Arty!"
Artemis mentally gawked at his mother's reaction. Mentally, since he never shows such vulgar reaction in front of a living soul, not even if his life depended on it. This is the first time in years since he last saw his mother in such state. The last was when Beckett announced during dinner table that he had a crush on one of his classmates. Their mother was so overjoyed to the point that she took them out for a day-out in Disneyland France and invited the girl's family to dinner that night.
Artemis never dared to know what is going on inside her mind right now but for some reason, his stomach keep doing flips; making him feel funny.
Thankfully before Angeline could say another word, there was a knock on Artemis's door; a rather shy knock at that so Artemis assumed that it is a female.
"Come in," Artemis said, a part of his mind was wondering why someone was up at this time of the night.
Slowly the door opened and in came Cerise, looking guiltily for some reason. When she saw Angeline she immediately bowed in recognition to both Fowls.
"May I help you, Miss Cerise?" Artemis said, earning a look from his mother, probably mentally scolding him for being so formal, but Artemis brushed that aside, "Is there a problem, Miss Cerise?"
"Sorry to interrupt, Master Artemis." The Butler girl answered sheepishly, "Uhm, have you seen Temmy? I can't find him anywhere,"
Then, as if on cue, Butler entered the room. For normal people, no one would notice but for Artemis Fowl, he knew there is something else behind his bodyguard's mask. The Irish boy knew there was something wrong; out of the ordinary.
Since he doesn't want to infuse panic to his mother, he just cleared his throat and asked calmly, "Problem's Butler?"
"Something doesn't feel right," the huge manservant answered.
"What is it Butler?" Angeline said, standing up immediately in such authority that people might mistake her for someone with a noble - if not royal - blood.
"I'm not sure Mrs. Fowl." Butler answered. That immediately made Angeline Fowl tense; her eyes instantly became alert and serious, making the huge manservant tense slightly. There are very few people who can render the huge manservant speechless and slightly edgy at the same time (which many people find impossible), and one of them is Angeline Fowl.
"I'll check on the twins," Angeline said and left without waiting for someone to answer her back.
Artemis looked at the huge manservant and the guard immediately caught the message in his employers gaze. He gave a curt nod at the Irish youth.
"I'll do a quick patrol inside the manor," he said and with that he left. Cerise followed her father, closed the door behind her as she went out, leaving the genius with his thoughts.
"Did something just happen?"Artemis mused
-o-o-o-0-o-o-o-
Meanwhile in a different time zone:
It was now or never.
He can't bear it if Opal made a move on his sister again like he did earlier.
FLASHBACK:
"YOU PATHETIC FOWL!" Opal screeched as she pulled Riley by the hair and tossed him hard to a shelf. The impact caused the laboratory apparatuses displayed on the shelf to fall on him, earning a few cuts from the broken glasses. Her actions weren't much of a surprise to Riley, after all she found out about the device. It was just an expected reaction.
"You think you can outsmart me," the pi-man continued, tossing a couple of books at him.
"I already did, didn't I?" Riley answered with an annoying smirk as blue sparks healed his wounds.
In her rage, Opal took a knife from who knows where and threw it at Riley's leg, burying deep in his skin. At the sudden force of pain, Riley didn't have the time to control his emotion; he just yelled in pain.
"Riley!" Angel shouted trying to get free from her captor's grip, "Let go of me"
"Stop moving or you'll have the same punishment as your brother," the red-haired woman said.
Angel stared at her for a moment; eyes full of contempt and anger.
"Leave Angel out of this!" Riley shouted to Opal.
The deranged pi-man, however, was smiling like a complete idiot. She pulled the knife off Riley's leg and in a blink of an eye; she left a long gash on Angel's arm. The young girl, of course, didn't know what else to do so she just cried and cried as blue sparks mended the wound.
By that time, Riley was no longer thinking, he let out some colorful words then when he tried to attack Opal the red-haired woman shot him on the shoulder.
But, fortunately, before any attack finds its way to the Halfling's body, one of Opal's minions burst through the door. Opal was about to yell at him but the minion spoke immediately preventing the yells, much to Riley's relief. That woman was such a pain in the ears.
"She's back mistress," the minion said.
Opal's expression changed from angry to an eager looking one; as if the result of an awaited lab test has come at last.
"Lock them up," she told the red-haired woman and with that she left.
END OF FLASHBACK
That's why he asked the LEP to do whatever they can to rescue Angel. He knew it would take much force and attention if all of them were rescued so he just decided to let Angel go first. His father is already two days unconscious so it will be hard to let him escape. Plus it would be obvious.
So right now, they are headed for the basement of the mansion. Opal, her trusted minions, Pandora, and the Halflings' mother were all asleep due to the knock-out gas he sent earlier. Riley didn't bother knocking out some of her minions because majority of them were dimwitted so he just knocked down the one who was in-change with the surveillance. The gas will give them a maximum of fifteen minutes before it wears off.
"Riley?" the little girl in his arms asked, slightly hesitant.
That brought Riley's thought back to the present, "Yes, Angel?"
"Where is Temmy?" the girl asked. Riley sighed as he set Angel on the ground.
"Don't you worry about him. He is perfectly safe," he said trying to sound reassuring
"I miss him," Angel said as she hugged her stuffed bear in her arms tightly.
Riley momentarily paused to think for a moment before smiling a little to himself, "It's hard to admit but I miss him too," he said.
Silence enveloped the two siblings as Riley cleared the door way, getting all the huge boxes out of the way so that they can open the door. It was already arranged; the rescue, that is. Since that door leads to an underground path to the mansion gardens, Riley made arrangements to Cythus to help him in slipping Angel out.
When the final obstruction is gone, Riley pushed the door open.
"Riley, I'm scared." The girl said.
Riley sat down so they were on the same eye-level, "You're a big girl now, Angel. It would make me and Temmy extremely grateful if you are safe and sound,"
"But -" the girl started to protest
"Angel…." Riley said, a little sterner then he intended it to be, causing the girl to wince. Riley sighed and touched his sister's cheek lovingly and added, now in a gentle voice, "Angel, you know what the situation in our midst is about. You are a Fowl; I know you figured it out earlier than Opal assumed you would. I need you to be brave, okay? For me. For Temmy. For Dad. For everyone, okay?"
Angel nodded but her eyes were still doubtful, "What about daddy?"
"Daddy will be fine. I'll protect Daddy," Riley answered, trying hard to sound reassuring
"And Mommy?" Angel asked, eyes filled with something Riley didn't want to see; anger and fear. Riley opened his mouth to speak but closed it again when he can't find the words to say as Angel continued, "Mommy is that red-haired woman, isn't she?"
Riley looked away. Yes, Angel may not an obvious genius like he and Temmy were but since she is a Fowl, she too has their father's genes even if she looks more like their mother; she's smarter than she looks.
"Yes, that's Mommy," he answered
"Then why did she -"
"Shhhhhh….." Riley said, stopping the young girl from her protest. Then he smiled, "Everything will be fine. I promise."
Angel stared at him for a moment then she smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes.
"Will you protect her too?" she asked, "Even if she tried to hurt us?"
Riley patted her head affectionately. "Yes. I will protect her too,"
"But why?" Angel asked, clearly a little confused. Riley smiled and pulled her sister in a hug, as if this is the last time they'll see each other again - which probably is as much as the turn of events is concerned.
"Because family is everything, Angel. Family is everything, and don't you forget that." Riley said then he pulled away, "Someday I hope you will find it in your heart to forgive mother for what she did,"
Realization soon crept into Angel's features as she nodded and hugged her brother once again. Recovering from their emotional state, Riley turned serious again.
"Now I want you to follow the tunnel's path. When you reached the gardens run towards those patch of trees," Riley instructed, looking at his sister in the eyes, "Camzee will be there to meet you,"
Angel raised both eyebrows, "Miss Camzee?"
"Yes, Miss Camzee." Riley smiled as he kissed her sister in the forehead, "I'll see you later,"
"Four more minutes," a voice from a small device said.
"Go," Riley said and with that the young girl went off.
"Never thought you to be so dramatic Ry," Cythus said from the device.
"Oh shut up," Riley said rolling his eyes as he started fixing things so it won't be obvious that he did that mess. He returned the boxes to their original position and placed any spilled content back to their respective boxes.
When he was on the last box, he noticed a hardbound covered book near it with the title "PROJECT PANDORA" printed in gold letters in front. Without a second thought, Riley took the book after placing the box back to its original position. Having a photographic memory helps sometimes.
Now back to the book. Somehow, he felt that this book is important but what lies inside will have to wait because he was sure Opal will not be pleased when she found out that Angel is gone.
-o-o-o-0-o-o-o-
Meanwhile in another different time zone:
"D'Arvit!" Temmy said for the nth time, and it was starting to annoy his companions.
"Say it again and I will stuff your mouth with garbage," Holly interjected
"Sorry," Temmy muttered, not really paying attention to what the elf said. He was busy fiddling with the gadget in a desperate gesture to get home.
"Argh! What is the point of giving a device if no one explained how it works? Oh that guy is going to hear it from me…." The Halfling trailed off and began fiddling with it again that Holly had to roll her eyes in exasperation.
"I think my nose is shutting down completely with the stench," Minerva said all of a sudden to no one in particular. She was getting bored each passing moment.
"At least they are not letting out a search party for us," Holly said without her realizing it.
Temmy paused for a moment to look at his companions before continuing with whatever he is doing. It's amazing what depressing situations can do to people.
Since he had nothing else to do, Temmy just continued to experiment on the watch. There were so many hidden buttons so there is no doubt that the watch is capable of something more than what Riley told him. There was a button on the upper left of the watch, which he pressed without thinking. A green hologram screen appeared a few inches above the watch. The words were written in Gnommish, as Temmy expected it to be. Displayed on the center of the screen was an image of the time machine with all of the possible important information flashing on the upper right side of the screen. On the side of the screen is some sort of number pad, which Temmy immediately recognized as the number pad of the machine.
His heartbeat started to go faster.
Exploring a bit further, he finally found the main controls on how he can open a vortex using the time machine in the future. It was like he is partially borrowing the energy, the syntax and pretty much everything from the machine and transfers it to the watch; thus allowing him to open a portal to whatever timeline he wishes.
Though he may not admit it in front of their faces, Temmy is mentally impress and in fact praising the genius work of his brother and Cythus.
They could go home, at last.
"Aha!" The Halfling shouted in triumph as he jumped up, startling his two companions in the process. If Artemis was there to see his son's behavior, he would have blushed to the roots.
"Holy Frond! Don't do that!" Holly shouted. Half of her was about to hit him with something for that but the other half tried to keep her calm. That sudden outburst, however, brought Holly some memories. Artemis II did the same things when they were in that shuttle during their adventure when they first discovered his Atlantis Complex.
"I'm under the impression you figured it out," Minerva said walking close to the Halfling.
"Yes," Temmy answered but his eyes were still doubtful, "Though I'm not sure…but hey what fun is that."
Both his female companions gave him a look at that last statement. Temmy was about to laugh and tell that it was a joke but seeing that this is not the best course of action at the moment since both of his companions are already pissed off and one is capable of inflicting numerous ways of pain, so he decided to just let it slide.
"Ready?" he asked, not really sure why he said that but it wouldn't hurt if he gave them a heads up.
"Like we have a choice," both of his companions said simultaneously; one was rolling her eyes and the other was glaring.
Now it was Temmy's turn to give them a look, "Would it kill you if you play along?"
But before either of the girls could answer back, Temmy already pushed the button and in an instant a vortex already appeared a few meters away from them.
"Ladies first," Temmy said
His two female companions eyes each other doubtfully but nevertheless stepped in the vortex. Soon after, Temmy followed them, praying to any deity that heard him, that he did the right thing as everything was covered in darkness.
-o-o-o-0-o-o-o-
"Did we make it?" Temmy heard Minerva ask. He immediately opened his eyes to study his surroundings.
"You better have a good explanation for it too." A familiar voice said with only a few hints of relief evident in his tone.
Temmy looked and found himself looking at his father's mismatched eyes. Temmy knew right away that they were back. His mind was so busy making mental notes and praises that he failed to notice Artemis's piercing gaze; obviously wanting answers.
Unfortunately, both his companions noticed it, making Holly flinch and Minerva immediately tense.
They can't blame Artemis for being like that. After patrolling the manor earlier, Butler reported that Holly and Minerva were missing along with Temmy. Who wouldn't be worried at that? He was about to let Foaly know about their disappearance when they suddenly popped out of nowhere.
"We're back," Holly said weakly. Temmy seemed to return to the world he knew.
"And we are not dead," he added, beaming in triumph as he stood up then he heaved out a relieved sigh before collapsing on the foot of the bed, completely unconscious.
-o-o-o-0-o-o-o-