Linus sipped satisfied on his Mojito and leaned back in his chair until it groaned in protest. A lot more than hundred kilos of live weight were making sure that this particular piece of furniture was suffering eternal torment, which made Fitch's bodyguards - unbeknownst to him - place bets on how long it would take until their boss' chair would cave in and Fitch landed on his fatty butt. Every single one of them hoped to be around when that happened. Fitch payed them well but that was all he did well, to be honest. They did their job, protected him if necessary but none of them actually liked him. Not speaking of respect.

Linus, to be fair, didn't even know the names of the men that wasted their lifetime with standing next to him, not budging, shooting the staff that hurried past them dark looks. He simply didn't care. He was destined to greater things and he simply had no time to care about people that to him were nothing more than a pack of mangy dogs prone to biting. Dogs listening to his command.

Again he took a sip of his drink, enjoyed the cool liquid. Linus adored this special moments in his plans. It almost felt like magic, when everything went according to his idea, to the way he had planned it. Every single person in his game was playing like he had written it in his script, no matter if they were on his side or not. He liked to call himself the puppeteer. And his puppets were dancing, playing just like he wanted them to do. Hairy Diego was on his way to Germany, dreaming of well-filled dirndls. Francis was busy huffing his little, heroic sister words of comfort and silly jokes in her ear, in order to keep her from going nuts or thinking about what just had happened. Ara herself was tripping out of the main gate of Fowl Manor at this very moment, already awaited by Carl, his most reliable driver for difficult cases like this. Fortunately, Fitch's diverse nerds had found a way to override the electronical control of the gate, hacked it and therefore allowed Francis to open the gate for his sister. Still, in Linus' mind it wasn't really their achievement to hack a security system as legendary and advanced as the one of the Fowls. How could you ever praise the puppet itself for its lovely motions? It's always the master pulling the strings behind the scenes.

Not long and the Fowls - or what was left of them - would have to admit, that their own big name was everything that had stayed for them to be proud of. Their whole hybris, their insolent pride for their tradition of submitting crimes and becoming incredibly rich with that, their effrontery to demand a whole family as their personal bodyguards and manservants. All that would crumble in front of their eyes, and especially in front of this boy's eyes. A wolfish smile played around his lips. It wouldn't take that long until Nicholas and his little guest would arrive. He really looked forward to this new acquaintance. And he was curious. Curious on how proud this little Irishman would finally be without the guard of his Butler.

How cocky, Fitch thought disgusted. This man stands at his side since he's been born, always on the run and ready to sacrifice his own life for this boy he hadn't known before. That's degrading.

Of course, Linus Fitch didn't honestly care about anybodys life, not at all about the one of a Butler. He was the most dangerous threat to his plans and their fullfilling. But Fitch loved portraying himself better than others. And, which he would always disavow, he was a bit jealous. There was hardly a better bodyguard than a Butler. He felt mocked by the fact, that he was unable to just buy one - like he probably was able to buy anything and anybody.

But what to do until little Fowl is availiable for amusement?

Fitch downed the rest of his Mojito and banged the now empty glass onto the table. After a short second of thought, he reached for his phone.

The girl answered the call after the third ring. Well, she wasn't a girl in the strict sense of the word. She was young, indeed, something like the first half of her twenties? Still, she had the abilities and the expierience of a person a decade older. That's what happens if you grow up in this kind of business. Linus remembered well picking up the little stray and her brother about ten years ago. They had tried to make a living from stealing people's wallets and sometimes even watches. Kiara was the real talent, to be fair, and she would've made a great living of that if she hadn't tried to steal Linus' wallet. He hadn't recognized (though of course, in his version of the story that was different) but unfortunately, Gibson, his favorite bodyguard was around and before she knew what hit her, he had the girl by her wrist, holding her up. That was the time her brother had come into action, really chivalrous and really stupid. He basically ran right against Gibson's leg, trying to distract him. Linus intervened, rather annoyed than angry.

Long story short, the two of them were highly intimidated by the fact that there were four other men guarding Fitch at that evening. But somebody like Linus Fitch recognizes a talent when he sees it and something about that girl impressed him. If he had had it his way, he would've send the boy packing and take the girl. But Kiara had found a bit of her usual, brave and bold self somewhere deep down in her heart and she insisted on her brother going with her, wherever she'd go. They both didn't know who Fitch was at that time, but he didn't really leave them much of a chance or decision. So he took both of them under his wing, teaching all they needed to know. Ara became a master of lockpicking soon, along with pick-pocketing and everything that went hand in hand with this kind of life: she learned climbing balconies (after a broken ankle) and, against her intentions not to hurt anybody, Gibson taught her how to shoot - against his intention not to teach anybody.

Other than he had first assumed and much to his surprise, Francis had a few hidden talents himself - like the affinity regarding technical questions and the aptitude to cheer his little sister up whenever necessary. They had made Fitch a hell lot of money over the years, worked together as some kind of dreamteam, working their way up from little, minor victims to some of the richest people on earth. And they always succeeded. He had never asked them, where they actually came from or where their parents were. He only had detached some of his men to keep an eye on them and to make sure they weren't missed - they were not - and that was it for that part.

And now, they finally get away with robbing the Fowls. He had made the two of them hell of good criminals, he thought proudly.

Ara didn't sound too proudly as she coughed a "hello?" into the phone.

"Well, that wasn't too bad, girl," Fitch greeted her. "Are you already with Carl?"

"Yes." By the way she talked, she was lying in the seat of the car, looking rather dead than alive. Fine.

"Got the chip?"

"Mhm."

"Perfect. Well done, little one! That was pretty close in there, huh?" Ara made a very unhappy noise and Fitch fought a laughter back into his huge belly. "Well, you're out now, aren't ya? Deserve a break."

His thief huffed slightly. "Thanks."

Fitch smiled in an almost evil way. "After you've done something for me." Ara started coughing in surprise.

"What? Linus, I'm done. I've almost been shot, everything hurts, my legs feel like crumbling as soon as I try to use them again, I tore that damn manor apart and I'll sleep with a gun under my pillow, jumping at every movement in a range of like, a mile? Fuck, Linus, something went fucking wrong with your great plan!" As if you knew my plan, little girl. "Micah has been attacked, and Juliet, too. Butler is as pissed of as possible and at this piont, it looks like I'm the only one under suspect! So whatever else there is you want me to do for you, you can take it and stick it up your arse!"

Fitch knew better than answering her now. Her nerves were raw, for a good reason. And if she would've known how bad it could still get, she might have ordered Carl to turn back and preferred getting shot by Butler in another chase. That's why Linus just waited until her panic had ceased.

And indeed, there was no more cursing after a few seconds past. Fitch, after years of working with this special thief, could easily imagine her sitting in the back of the car, head settled in her hands, biting her lip like she had always done when she didn't know what to say or do. According to the condition of her lips, he was able to tell if a job had went perfectly fine or if things went south.

"Ara, I'm sorry for causing you more trouble than you already had", Fitch lied unblinking. "But the next part is not a problem at all, okay? You'll meet Diego and hand him the chip out. He'll know how to proceed with it."

The girl snuffled. "Diego? Why in the world should Diego know anything?"

Fitch allowed himself a little laugh. Following Diego's passion for good-looking women, he and Ara had had a short time of being a couple that had last about a few months until they broke up. Since that, their relationship had been ... toxic.

"Diego is following my instructions. Trust me, there is nothing that could go wrong."

"Ah, yeah? Like the last time?" she snapped.

"No, not like the last time. To be fair, you knew the risk of breaking into Fowl Manor."

"Linus! According to your masterplan, Butler should be busy picking his charge up! Why did he suddenly show up then? And who else was there?"

Fitch sighed. "I don't know yet, but I'll find that out. Just make sure you get rid of that chip, alright? Try that perspective: Once Fowl found his genius invention missing, he'll concentrate on finding it and getting it back." Not that he has much of a chance to do so. "And since Butler has to stick to his side, they won't likely waste their time hunting you down if you are not the one owning the chip, will they?"

Ara was to clever to fall for that. "How should they know? You write them a letter?"

"Not me in person, but I'll make sure that they'll follow the tracks to Diego and then further on from there."

Kiara found herself hesitating for a moment, he could tell that by the silence that struck.

"Linus?"

"Hm?"

She struggled to find the right words, which was most unusual for her. For a single moment, Linus wondered if he had underestimated her. He was sure that she and her brother were trusting him, but what if they weren't? What if he had made a mistake and they somehow had found out that ...

A deep breath made him trip in his thoughts.

"You're not going to endanger anybody, will you? Like, . . . Diego?"

Linus couldn't help but had to laugh. Okay, she did not trust him a hundred percent - actually because she was to smart for doing so - but neither had she figured any of his plans out. He recovered himself and tried for a paternal tone of voice. "Of course not. Diego will be fine, just like you will be, Ara. You really think that I'd sacrifice my own people - the best I have, on top? I might be a criminal but I'm not dumb."

She sighed and even went for a shaky laugh. "Alright," she managed to say, a bit comforted.

"Fine, fine. Carl will drive you to the airport and you'll take the next flight to Nuremberg. I'll tell your brother the way and he'll lead you from there on. Diego will wait on the campus of an university in a nearby city."

A beat passed. Then:

"Nuremberg? That is - Germany? Why will we meet in Germany?"

"Bavaria, to be precise. They are a bit peculiar on that."

"Bavaria? Linus, what the heck?"

"Hm? Come on, Ara, it's quiet nice there! You know, Oktoberfest and all that." He couldn't stop himself from making that comment and she rewarded him with a frustrated outcry. Seemed like her self-control was vanishing into thin air again.

"Oh, girl, what's the matter? You'll have a nice flight down there, meet your good, old, hairy lover, hand the chip over and have a nice, quiet night in the flat I've reserved for you."

"A flat? What kind of?"

"Remember Franziska? She had a flat there. One of these student apartments you know, but quiet nice, at least if you don't care too much about furniture or a bed."

"Franziska? The one with the cat?" She knew the cat from her time with Diego or at least she knew the kitten that cat had born. Psycho.

"Precisely. The cat is still there, by the way. Franzi's still living in that apartment. However, she'll sleep in a hotel for a few nights, which gives you time to lick your wounds, relax and -"

"And get bitten by an aggressive cat. Thanks. Why won't I go into a hotel?"

"Oh, sure you could. Alas, if I were you, I'd think of the chance that a certain man appears in the doorframe ..." Linus listened very pleased to the frightened huff Ara let out.

"Fine, looks like things are clear. Have a nice time in Germany. Maybe go buy a dirndl for Diego, he'll love it."

With that, he hung up, just in time to hear another call come in.

"Yeah?"

"Ahoi, Captain." Ah, Linus mused smiling. That was Nicholas. "To live up to the cliché: the eagle has landed."

Fitch's eyes started glowing like the ones of a child that had seen Santa crawl up the chimney.

"Is our eagle responsive?"

"Yes, sir. He just came to and wow, he looks kind of confused for being such a genius." Nicholas laughed filthy and for a short moment of time, Fitch worried, if his friend had been able to fight the sadist part in his personality back. Maybe they'd need that one later, but there was no fun in having a conersational battle with a boy that had recently been beaten up.

"Is he fine?"

"Oh, sure he is. Want to change that?" The pleasant anticipation within those words felt a bit disconcerting, even for Fitch.

"No," he said quickly. "Wait. I'll come down." The smile came without him having any control over it. "I ever wanted to see one of these famous Irish eagles."

What plans were for Fitch, with this specific moment of things working together in a perfect harmony, Nicholas found the same feeling in watching a hostage or a captive waking up. He always felt like . . . a kind of god. He knew, that was what his victims felt like in that very moment, a second after opening their eyes, still dizzy and with hell of a headache due to the sedative, and in this short amount of time, something inside them knew that they were not only in trouble but that he was the only one who could help them out - one way or the other. Nicholas was their devil as well as their Messiah, the one person they should try not to mess up with unless they didn't want a foretaste of what hell would be like. Ducks recognize whatever they see after they are born as their mother. They'll follow it and later on, when adult, they will court whatever seems to be like of the same species.

Nicholas was that first thing they saw. And in most of the cases, he made sure that he was also the last thing. Alpha and Omega. Both highly interesting, individual and intimate moments. For him, at least.

Fowl acted a bit different than Nicholas had expected, which teased him in a very positive way. Despite his age of only thirteen - the youngest person Nicholas had ever captured - Artemis was acting quiet quick-witted. He remained silent, obviously in an attempt to hide that he was awake, didn't even open his eyes to see where he was. Nicholas smiled a bit. This one was interesting. He hoped that, whatever Linus wanted to have from this boy, the two of them didn't come to an agreement too fast. Nicholas liked to play before the Omega-part of the story.

Still, the acting skills of Artemis Fowl the Second were not made for an Oscar. His breath had quickened a bit and his body tensed on the uncomfortable-on-purpose chair. Fitch had insisted on not actually strapping the boy but at least tieing up his hands. Empirically, that raised the level of panic, like, a lot. Not being able to use their hand made most people feel helpless and incapable of protecting themselves. In this case, Nicholas felt like that didn't change the situation a lot. Fowl was still a child, despite acting and clothing like an adult, and there was a reason for a thirteen-year-old to have his own bodyguard - surely not because he was in any way able to fight anybody back.

"Hey, sleeping beauty," Nicholas said most gentle and pushed the boy into the side. He did not react. We'll have a great time together. "C'mon, Fowl. I know you're up. Give me the pleasure of a glance out of your wonderful blue eyes, would you?" He waited for a moment and as the boy still didn't move, he slapped his face.

That finally brought Artemis to life. Not really the pain - Nicholas had paid attention to what Linus had said and if the boss didn't want their captive to be hurt, than what could Nicholas do about that - but rather the surprise made the young heir gasp and turn his head towards his new-found enemy.

The Alpha. The duck had seen its mother. Nicholas felt an excited tingling move down his spine, as Fowl's (indeed very blue) eyes gave him a flustered look. The man answered with a shining, bleached smile, causing the boy to tug slightly on the ties that fixed his hands.

"Good morning, Artemis. Slept well?"