Chapter Two: Effects
~LEP Plaza, Haven City~
Time Stops are okay. On a small scale they can aid the LEP capture or debilitate a fugitive. On the other hand, a huge twenty-five cubic mile of hazy blue time-stop quickly made some people ill and others just uncoordinated.
You see, some people don't like Time Stops, some people get sick in them, some people are even terrified of them, people like Foaly. Once everyone had left the conference room in the LEP Plaza, he hurried back to his office and slammed the door. 'What am I going to do?' Foaly thought, 'I need to get out but I can't.' Foaly looked up on his notice board and saw his motto in big red letters: WHEN IN DOUBT, INVENT YOUR WAY OUT Foaly brought the specifications of the Time-Stop up on his screen, if he could create a reverse effect to a time stop in a localised area, he could coon himself and wait for the time stop to subside. In theory, perfect, in practise, who knows?
~Somewhere In Haven City~
Artemis wasn't entirely enjoying the hunt for Holly, though he was starting to. His aim with the Neutrino 2000 was slowly improving, Butler kept giving him tips and pointers on the proper way to hold and fire a weapon; this was something he'd never even dreamt of doing. Artemis was thrilled with the power that was in his hands; whenever a gang of goblins stirred he was first out of their LEP vehicle and first to be squeezing off shots at the gang. Butler was highly impressed with Artemis as he dived and rolled to avoid fireballs, soon butler didn't even have to get out of the car. 'This is quite fun!' Artemis said as he leapt up onto the vehicle and fire off several shots at one Goblin who keeled over backwards. Butler picked up a communicator and called the neared LEP squad who said they would arrive in a few minutes to pick up the goblins. 'How many is that now, Butler? Artemis asked as he closed the door, shuffling in his seat to get comfortable. 'Around forty, Artemis,' Butler smiled, 'for you, that's it, I'm still on twelve.' Butler sounded mockingly sad as Artemis grinned. 'You ARE getting slow, old friend.' 'I'm just fine watching you have fun for once.' Butler responded. Artemis, having fun. This was a first, he thought, how long would it last? There was no time to finish the thought when two fireballs hit the side of the car; once again Artemis was first out of the car and first to face at least twenty Goblins. 'Uhh...I might need help with this one Butler.' he said, Butler stood up slowly to face the Goblins. Artemis smiled and raised his weapon, 'Come on guys, we're all friends here, lets just settle this peacefully.' he said, the Goblins looked puzzled. Artemis was using words that weren't monosyllable; they looked at each other with wide eyes. All of the had two fireballs blazing in each hand, that was at least forty fireballs.
It didn't take a genius to do the math on this one.
As Artemis and Butler ducked for cover, an LEP Police Wagon flew past, its rapid-fire Neutrino Cannon picking off most of the Goblins as it went by. Artemis could see it coming back for another pass, he also saw the Goblins scampering away. He fired a few rounds but didn't make any special effort to subdue the fleeing fugitives; Butler stood next to him and sighed. 'Out search for Holly isn't going as well s we'd planned, Artemis. we need to look harder and faster than these troglodytes.' Butler said, getting into a car. 'Butler, it isn't hard to look for Holly better than these Goblins. I expect their race's collective IQ doesn't raise above room temperature,' another joke, Butler laughed, Artemis smiled, 'Come on, I think I have an idea.' They made they way through empty streets, (the general public had fled to their homes during the new goblin threat) and towards the tunnel entrances. Holly had gone through these tunnels before, her search for B'wa Kell Goblins with Softnoses had familiarised her with these derelict, troll- ridden caves. Butler took their vehicle in as far as it would go and when it was stuck in sufficient mud as to immobilise it completely, Artemis got out, drew his Neutrino and started walking into the cave. Thermal scans from Artemis' helmet told him there were few beings in his immediate area, apart from a few dwarves and a rambling troll he and Butler were alone. Butler walked past him, suspending a luminous torch above their heads, the cold red clay ground squelched under their feet. 'I have a feeling she's down here, she doesn't have much LEP equipment but hopefully she has her helmet and Neutrino.' Artemis whispered, walking past a Dwarf who was busy taking slivers of gold from his mouth. 'Disgusting.' Artemis said slipping past the Dwarf who grunted in his general direction. Butler was walking silently, his eyes manipulating the HUD in front of him. 'She's here, Artemis, I have her DNA pattern on the scanner but she's far away and.' Butler paused, thinking for a moment. 'What?' Artemis asked 'Nothing, lets get moving.' 'Tell me, butler, don't keep secrets from me.' 'She's hurt, weak lifesigns.' This hit Artemis like a brick or two, he looked around then broke off at a run. Butler jogged beside him, Artemis felt mocked that he was sprinting and Butler was only running slowly. 'Artemis, even at a run we wont get there within a few hours, she's deep in the tunnels.' Artemis wasn't listening, though he did stop running. He knew he couldn't run forever so he'd conserve his energy. Butler patted him on the shoulder. 'She has magic, Artemis, she can look after herself.' Artemis knew this; he just had a very strong urge to be at her side. He couldn't walk happily through these muddy caves whilst Holly lay somewhere bleeding to death or something. The fact she was an elf and that her whole body was teeming with magic didn't occur to him.
~LEP Plaza, Haven City~
Root sat behind his desk, staring at Anthony. Words couldn't express the anger he felt for bringing this whole thing to happen. Anthony couldn't bring himself to look at Root at all; he eyes fell on the Neutrino 2000 that was on Root's desk, dangerously close to his hand. 'Short, we need to talk about your position in the LEP,' Root said, his calm tone of voice was scary, 'Lets just say, when this is over, you wont be directing any more recon missions, rather, traffic' Anthony winced, traffic duty. that's worse than being kicked out of the LEP completely. He was the border-age for joining the LEP, and younger and he wouldn't have been accepted in the first place. He was two inches taller than Holly, which made him, luckily, above average. 'Now, you get out there and you help your fellow LEP officers stop these raving mad Goblins.' Root opened his drawer and took out a fungus cigar. Claws left before he could light up.
Meanwhile, Foaly was sweating profusely. His design was perfect but the pieces he needed to finish the egg were missing, he only needed one more piece and Root had it.
~LEP Plaza, Haven City~
Time Stops are okay. On a small scale they can aid the LEP capture or debilitate a fugitive. On the other hand, a huge twenty-five cubic mile of hazy blue time-stop quickly made some people ill and others just uncoordinated.
You see, some people don't like Time Stops, some people get sick in them, some people are even terrified of them, people like Foaly. Once everyone had left the conference room in the LEP Plaza, he hurried back to his office and slammed the door. 'What am I going to do?' Foaly thought, 'I need to get out but I can't.' Foaly looked up on his notice board and saw his motto in big red letters: WHEN IN DOUBT, INVENT YOUR WAY OUT Foaly brought the specifications of the Time-Stop up on his screen, if he could create a reverse effect to a time stop in a localised area, he could coon himself and wait for the time stop to subside. In theory, perfect, in practise, who knows?
~Somewhere In Haven City~
Artemis wasn't entirely enjoying the hunt for Holly, though he was starting to. His aim with the Neutrino 2000 was slowly improving, Butler kept giving him tips and pointers on the proper way to hold and fire a weapon; this was something he'd never even dreamt of doing. Artemis was thrilled with the power that was in his hands; whenever a gang of goblins stirred he was first out of their LEP vehicle and first to be squeezing off shots at the gang. Butler was highly impressed with Artemis as he dived and rolled to avoid fireballs, soon butler didn't even have to get out of the car. 'This is quite fun!' Artemis said as he leapt up onto the vehicle and fire off several shots at one Goblin who keeled over backwards. Butler picked up a communicator and called the neared LEP squad who said they would arrive in a few minutes to pick up the goblins. 'How many is that now, Butler? Artemis asked as he closed the door, shuffling in his seat to get comfortable. 'Around forty, Artemis,' Butler smiled, 'for you, that's it, I'm still on twelve.' Butler sounded mockingly sad as Artemis grinned. 'You ARE getting slow, old friend.' 'I'm just fine watching you have fun for once.' Butler responded. Artemis, having fun. This was a first, he thought, how long would it last? There was no time to finish the thought when two fireballs hit the side of the car; once again Artemis was first out of the car and first to face at least twenty Goblins. 'Uhh...I might need help with this one Butler.' he said, Butler stood up slowly to face the Goblins. Artemis smiled and raised his weapon, 'Come on guys, we're all friends here, lets just settle this peacefully.' he said, the Goblins looked puzzled. Artemis was using words that weren't monosyllable; they looked at each other with wide eyes. All of the had two fireballs blazing in each hand, that was at least forty fireballs.
It didn't take a genius to do the math on this one.
As Artemis and Butler ducked for cover, an LEP Police Wagon flew past, its rapid-fire Neutrino Cannon picking off most of the Goblins as it went by. Artemis could see it coming back for another pass, he also saw the Goblins scampering away. He fired a few rounds but didn't make any special effort to subdue the fleeing fugitives; Butler stood next to him and sighed. 'Out search for Holly isn't going as well s we'd planned, Artemis. we need to look harder and faster than these troglodytes.' Butler said, getting into a car. 'Butler, it isn't hard to look for Holly better than these Goblins. I expect their race's collective IQ doesn't raise above room temperature,' another joke, Butler laughed, Artemis smiled, 'Come on, I think I have an idea.' They made they way through empty streets, (the general public had fled to their homes during the new goblin threat) and towards the tunnel entrances. Holly had gone through these tunnels before, her search for B'wa Kell Goblins with Softnoses had familiarised her with these derelict, troll- ridden caves. Butler took their vehicle in as far as it would go and when it was stuck in sufficient mud as to immobilise it completely, Artemis got out, drew his Neutrino and started walking into the cave. Thermal scans from Artemis' helmet told him there were few beings in his immediate area, apart from a few dwarves and a rambling troll he and Butler were alone. Butler walked past him, suspending a luminous torch above their heads, the cold red clay ground squelched under their feet. 'I have a feeling she's down here, she doesn't have much LEP equipment but hopefully she has her helmet and Neutrino.' Artemis whispered, walking past a Dwarf who was busy taking slivers of gold from his mouth. 'Disgusting.' Artemis said slipping past the Dwarf who grunted in his general direction. Butler was walking silently, his eyes manipulating the HUD in front of him. 'She's here, Artemis, I have her DNA pattern on the scanner but she's far away and.' Butler paused, thinking for a moment. 'What?' Artemis asked 'Nothing, lets get moving.' 'Tell me, butler, don't keep secrets from me.' 'She's hurt, weak lifesigns.' This hit Artemis like a brick or two, he looked around then broke off at a run. Butler jogged beside him, Artemis felt mocked that he was sprinting and Butler was only running slowly. 'Artemis, even at a run we wont get there within a few hours, she's deep in the tunnels.' Artemis wasn't listening, though he did stop running. He knew he couldn't run forever so he'd conserve his energy. Butler patted him on the shoulder. 'She has magic, Artemis, she can look after herself.' Artemis knew this; he just had a very strong urge to be at her side. He couldn't walk happily through these muddy caves whilst Holly lay somewhere bleeding to death or something. The fact she was an elf and that her whole body was teeming with magic didn't occur to him.
~LEP Plaza, Haven City~
Root sat behind his desk, staring at Anthony. Words couldn't express the anger he felt for bringing this whole thing to happen. Anthony couldn't bring himself to look at Root at all; he eyes fell on the Neutrino 2000 that was on Root's desk, dangerously close to his hand. 'Short, we need to talk about your position in the LEP,' Root said, his calm tone of voice was scary, 'Lets just say, when this is over, you wont be directing any more recon missions, rather, traffic' Anthony winced, traffic duty. that's worse than being kicked out of the LEP completely. He was the border-age for joining the LEP, and younger and he wouldn't have been accepted in the first place. He was two inches taller than Holly, which made him, luckily, above average. 'Now, you get out there and you help your fellow LEP officers stop these raving mad Goblins.' Root opened his drawer and took out a fungus cigar. Claws left before he could light up.
Meanwhile, Foaly was sweating profusely. His design was perfect but the pieces he needed to finish the egg were missing, he only needed one more piece and Root had it.