Chapter One: Headline News
~LEP Headquarters, Haven City~
'The latest reports from the surface indicate that the entire city of Haven is surrounded by a huge time-stop field, the Warlocks in conjunction with this field are ex-members of the League of Warlocks and are the subject of an LEP search as I speak. Confusion ripped through the city today as the power leading to Howler's Peak Prison was cut. Police say there is no need to worry and the escaped criminals will be taken into custody again soon. In related news, the LEP test subject and the first female LEPrecon agent, Holly Short, is the subject of a criminal manhunt today. The goblins that escaped from Howlers peak, known members of the B'wa Kell, are hunting down the LEP officer in a crazy and wild frenzy. The city is being torn apart in the search for Short. Public opinion is that Short should be turned over, this is backed my LEP Commander Root.'
'D'Arvit!' Swore Commander Root, 'I said no such rubbish!' he bellowed, clouds of Fungus smoke obscured the vision of all the occupants of the room. Artemis Fowl, Butler, Foaly, Captain Trouble Kelp and Root sat around the Captain's table. Artemis was closest to Root and was soon coughing as the thick fungus smoke scraped his lungs. Butler was next to speak, past the fumes of the cigar and the fuming Root. 'What's our plan of action? Obviously we need to save Holly,' Butler said, his eyes beginning to water, 'and we need to capture the escaped goblins, again.' The table nodded in agreement. 'Any ideas Kelp?' Root said after a long drag on the cigar, extinguishing it on the desk, 'Where are the other Captains?' 'Well, Uhh. Sir.' Kelp babbled, 'the other Captains are all out trying to capture escapees.' Butler looked round to Foaly who was scanning the city. 'They haven't made a move on LEP HQ, Julius.' Foaly said, his fingers moving swiftly over several keypads. 'They're looking for Holly, we're looking for the Warlocks and the LEP are searching for escaped prisoners. the only people we have to save Holly are.' Root stopped, Artemis sat gloating, Root had to ask him another favour. 'Us,' interrupted the teenager, his eyes flashed with excitement, 'we are the only free people that can save Holly. this is absolutely delicious.' Artemis was beaming; a chance to embarrass Root, win back Holly and go on another adventure was rising ahead of him. 'Alright, Fowl, suit up, and you Butler.' he said as Butler shuddered. The LEPrecon suits said, "One size fits all" not "one size fits Butler." The last time Butler had to wear LEP outfits was embarrassing; skin-tight did not suit the seven-foot manservant. Artemis nodded and stood. Butler rose next to him and they were ushered into an equipment room. 'Kelp, I want you back on the streets.' Root sighed, 'Keep our men informed, supported and armed. I don't want a repeat of last time.' The memories of which Root spoke referred to the last B'wa Kell uprising. Led by the tactless ex-Commander Cudgeon and the brilliant Opal Koboi, the LEP had been completely disarmed thanks to the fact that Opal had produced every one of the LEP weapons. The goblins were also supplied with their own new weapons, the outlawed 'Softnose' laser which used revolutionary bio molecular technology which led to the weapon being deemed illegal in Haven. This combination of disarmed Police forces and well armed terrorist factions led to the assault on the LEP Headquarters; the whole building was being swarmed with angry Goblins until Artemis and Butler restored power. Power meant weapons, weapons meant DNA Cannons. Many goblins regretted that night, some however, lived for their revenge. 'Sir, yes sir' Kelp replied and ran off to support his fellow troops, especially his brother, Grub. Root turned round and looked deep eyed at Foaly. 'What have you got for me, genius?' he asked (there was a muffled whooshing noise as the sarcasm sailed over Foaly's head). 'Get this, Julius, portable, yes, PORTABLE, DNA Cannons. well, DNA pistols really.' he said, showing the design to Root, who looked wide-eyed at the screen. 'Though the screen says nothing to me, your words excite me, horse boy,' he grinned, 'portable you say?' Root asked, Foaly smiled. 'They can go into production now and we can have a hundred out within the hour' Foaly said, his finger hovering over the 'return' button, Root nodded and Foaly pressed.
~Entrance to LEP Headquarters~
The duo looked oddly heroic, like two super heroes in Lycra. Artemis, with his LEP helmet, gloves, boots and toolkit. Butler, his Lycra suit stretched to the edge of elastic tolerance, his normal boots (it was hard to get size 14H boots underground where the average adult size is Elf) and a wraparound HUD which at least helped Butler scan further distances. Artemis looked up at butler, grinned under his helmet and said in a 1960's accent: 'Golly, Batman, what's the big plan?' Butler looked down at Artemis and could hardly contain his stifled laugh, that was the first time Artemis had told a laugh-out-loud joke. Artemis was proud of himself, he and Butler were now friends more than employer-employee. 'Butler, are you going to be alright? I'm sure that new Kevlar chest hair of yours will hamper your efforts on this mission.' Artemis asked, Butler looked away to survey the unnaturally light streets. 'Yes, I may be slightly impaired but the only alternative is you going alone and well. no offence. but you cant do this alone' butler said, turning to smile down at Artemis. Artemis silently agreed. There was a time for jokes, friendship and familiarity and there was now.
~Disused Koboi Laboratories, Haven City~
Where else to plot a revenge act? The site of the last uprising. A group of Goblins surrounded their new leader, looking down at him cautiously. 'So, right, what're we gunna do when we get this. Short?' a particularly dumb Goblin said, this question was followed by a rather dumb sounding echo of grunts from the others. Their leader sat in a slump on an old hoverchair, bored by the dumb ramblings of his troops. 'Gentlemen, gentlemen, we are going to kill her, of course!' said the new leader, a rather loud and strong voice. The new man stood, towering over his companions, his bright green eyes shining in the dark. The goblins around him took a few steps back as their boss stretched.
You couldn't really see in the dark but the Elf that stood there had a dark, almost black complexion, his eyes were like green fire which bore through those who dared to look into his eyes. The muscles on his forearms rippled as he moved and the armour which covered his legs and chest were ancient.
'Kill 'er Dyxs?' asked the Goblin, snorting loudly in the air, 'Why? We kud get munny for 'er!'
The Elf looked down at the Goblin, his eyes ran over the creature's frame. 'That's an idea, Kruch, but not a good one, why would you need money?' Dyxs growled and punched the goblin who fell silently to the floor, 'I need to kill her as she threatens my legacy and your freedom.'
The goblins never quite knew when they were being manipulated but when such a prominent power like Agamemnon Dyxs goes to all the trouble of breaking you free, you don't say no.
~LEP Headquarters, Haven City~
'The latest reports from the surface indicate that the entire city of Haven is surrounded by a huge time-stop field, the Warlocks in conjunction with this field are ex-members of the League of Warlocks and are the subject of an LEP search as I speak. Confusion ripped through the city today as the power leading to Howler's Peak Prison was cut. Police say there is no need to worry and the escaped criminals will be taken into custody again soon. In related news, the LEP test subject and the first female LEPrecon agent, Holly Short, is the subject of a criminal manhunt today. The goblins that escaped from Howlers peak, known members of the B'wa Kell, are hunting down the LEP officer in a crazy and wild frenzy. The city is being torn apart in the search for Short. Public opinion is that Short should be turned over, this is backed my LEP Commander Root.'
'D'Arvit!' Swore Commander Root, 'I said no such rubbish!' he bellowed, clouds of Fungus smoke obscured the vision of all the occupants of the room. Artemis Fowl, Butler, Foaly, Captain Trouble Kelp and Root sat around the Captain's table. Artemis was closest to Root and was soon coughing as the thick fungus smoke scraped his lungs. Butler was next to speak, past the fumes of the cigar and the fuming Root. 'What's our plan of action? Obviously we need to save Holly,' Butler said, his eyes beginning to water, 'and we need to capture the escaped goblins, again.' The table nodded in agreement. 'Any ideas Kelp?' Root said after a long drag on the cigar, extinguishing it on the desk, 'Where are the other Captains?' 'Well, Uhh. Sir.' Kelp babbled, 'the other Captains are all out trying to capture escapees.' Butler looked round to Foaly who was scanning the city. 'They haven't made a move on LEP HQ, Julius.' Foaly said, his fingers moving swiftly over several keypads. 'They're looking for Holly, we're looking for the Warlocks and the LEP are searching for escaped prisoners. the only people we have to save Holly are.' Root stopped, Artemis sat gloating, Root had to ask him another favour. 'Us,' interrupted the teenager, his eyes flashed with excitement, 'we are the only free people that can save Holly. this is absolutely delicious.' Artemis was beaming; a chance to embarrass Root, win back Holly and go on another adventure was rising ahead of him. 'Alright, Fowl, suit up, and you Butler.' he said as Butler shuddered. The LEPrecon suits said, "One size fits all" not "one size fits Butler." The last time Butler had to wear LEP outfits was embarrassing; skin-tight did not suit the seven-foot manservant. Artemis nodded and stood. Butler rose next to him and they were ushered into an equipment room. 'Kelp, I want you back on the streets.' Root sighed, 'Keep our men informed, supported and armed. I don't want a repeat of last time.' The memories of which Root spoke referred to the last B'wa Kell uprising. Led by the tactless ex-Commander Cudgeon and the brilliant Opal Koboi, the LEP had been completely disarmed thanks to the fact that Opal had produced every one of the LEP weapons. The goblins were also supplied with their own new weapons, the outlawed 'Softnose' laser which used revolutionary bio molecular technology which led to the weapon being deemed illegal in Haven. This combination of disarmed Police forces and well armed terrorist factions led to the assault on the LEP Headquarters; the whole building was being swarmed with angry Goblins until Artemis and Butler restored power. Power meant weapons, weapons meant DNA Cannons. Many goblins regretted that night, some however, lived for their revenge. 'Sir, yes sir' Kelp replied and ran off to support his fellow troops, especially his brother, Grub. Root turned round and looked deep eyed at Foaly. 'What have you got for me, genius?' he asked (there was a muffled whooshing noise as the sarcasm sailed over Foaly's head). 'Get this, Julius, portable, yes, PORTABLE, DNA Cannons. well, DNA pistols really.' he said, showing the design to Root, who looked wide-eyed at the screen. 'Though the screen says nothing to me, your words excite me, horse boy,' he grinned, 'portable you say?' Root asked, Foaly smiled. 'They can go into production now and we can have a hundred out within the hour' Foaly said, his finger hovering over the 'return' button, Root nodded and Foaly pressed.
~Entrance to LEP Headquarters~
The duo looked oddly heroic, like two super heroes in Lycra. Artemis, with his LEP helmet, gloves, boots and toolkit. Butler, his Lycra suit stretched to the edge of elastic tolerance, his normal boots (it was hard to get size 14H boots underground where the average adult size is Elf) and a wraparound HUD which at least helped Butler scan further distances. Artemis looked up at butler, grinned under his helmet and said in a 1960's accent: 'Golly, Batman, what's the big plan?' Butler looked down at Artemis and could hardly contain his stifled laugh, that was the first time Artemis had told a laugh-out-loud joke. Artemis was proud of himself, he and Butler were now friends more than employer-employee. 'Butler, are you going to be alright? I'm sure that new Kevlar chest hair of yours will hamper your efforts on this mission.' Artemis asked, Butler looked away to survey the unnaturally light streets. 'Yes, I may be slightly impaired but the only alternative is you going alone and well. no offence. but you cant do this alone' butler said, turning to smile down at Artemis. Artemis silently agreed. There was a time for jokes, friendship and familiarity and there was now.
~Disused Koboi Laboratories, Haven City~
Where else to plot a revenge act? The site of the last uprising. A group of Goblins surrounded their new leader, looking down at him cautiously. 'So, right, what're we gunna do when we get this. Short?' a particularly dumb Goblin said, this question was followed by a rather dumb sounding echo of grunts from the others. Their leader sat in a slump on an old hoverchair, bored by the dumb ramblings of his troops. 'Gentlemen, gentlemen, we are going to kill her, of course!' said the new leader, a rather loud and strong voice. The new man stood, towering over his companions, his bright green eyes shining in the dark. The goblins around him took a few steps back as their boss stretched.
You couldn't really see in the dark but the Elf that stood there had a dark, almost black complexion, his eyes were like green fire which bore through those who dared to look into his eyes. The muscles on his forearms rippled as he moved and the armour which covered his legs and chest were ancient.
'Kill 'er Dyxs?' asked the Goblin, snorting loudly in the air, 'Why? We kud get munny for 'er!'
The Elf looked down at the Goblin, his eyes ran over the creature's frame. 'That's an idea, Kruch, but not a good one, why would you need money?' Dyxs growled and punched the goblin who fell silently to the floor, 'I need to kill her as she threatens my legacy and your freedom.'
The goblins never quite knew when they were being manipulated but when such a prominent power like Agamemnon Dyxs goes to all the trouble of breaking you free, you don't say no.