Chapter 1 – So It Begins

Artemis Fowl grinned vampirishly at the increasing number of computers affected by W32.Blaster.Worm which he released onto Windows. All around the world, one by one, people's computers were being forced to shut down while the worm causes rampage, duplicating and infecting, clamping to servers of important websites. While the programmers at Windows try to settle the problem, Artemis went in through the security system, hacking his way to the mainframe.

"Password?" the screen enquired. 'Not a problem' he thought as a few seconds later, he got through to the place he wanted. Hacking his way into a system was nothing new to this precocious boy, for Artemis isn't like any other. He is in fact a brilliant criminal mastermind since the age of 12. His intelligence would scare away most if they knew how clever he really is.

Now at 18, the once lanky, pale-faced boy is replaced with a well-built, tall young man who still needs to be out in the sun more (with constant nagging from his mother and his butler eerrr… Butler). Despite that, Artemis gets along fairly well with his parents, butler/bodyguard and the staff at his home, Fowl Manor.

It's only with the rest of the world does Artemis have a problem with, inclusive of his latest endeavour.

When Artemis was 14, his father returned from being captured by the Russian mafia, a changed man and very much interested in keeping to the right side of the law. Artemis didn't fully understand how it happened but instinctively, he felt that since his father's appearance and the strange objects he found planted upon him, there had been an empty space in his mind.

The space kept niggling at him about an experience that had happened to him but he just couldn't solve it yet. He had flashes and dreams on fairies, centaurs and dwarfs; whom he still hadn't manage to decipher. And that bothered him a LOT. Artemis has never been unable to solve anything his life before.

(A/N: Mulch Diggums still has not made contact with Artemis due to his stint in jail and to some other problems with Julius Root.)

"Arty-darling!" called his mother, from the adjacent room.

"Yes Mother" he replied, pushing a button on his computer, shutting off the screen and to whatever he had been doing. Calmly he stood up, brushed away the imaginary lint from his clothes and strode out to greet his mother.

"Ah, there you are. Your father and I have something to tell you."

"Oh really? What might that be Mother?"

"We have planned to have a vacation in the Mediterranean Islands. Would you care to go with us?"

"Personally, I'm very busy at the moment, you know, school work and all. But I do wish you all the fun."

"Darling" said Angeline Fowl persuasively "You are still young and good-looking, though a tad pale. There'll be time for you to do work there and enjoy yourself, have some sun… meet new people maybe?"

"MOTHER! I am really busy and I don't need to meet any new people. I have all the people I need to know here."

"Oh Arty! Come with us."

"I really can't. Why don't you and Father go and have fun, without me spoiling it for you?" Artemis moved forward to give his mother a reassuring hug. Dejected, Angeline hugged her only son tightly, a sad smile upon her face 'He's grown so much. My little boy is now a young man' Stepping back, Artemis tries to squelch the guilt he feels at the look on his mother's face without much success. Outwardly, he smiled and said "Don't forget to bring Juliet along and I promise… I'll spend an hour or two everyday outside."

"Alright… we'll be off tomorrow morning and away for 2 weeks. Do look after yourself. Don't forget to have your meals and spend time outside." Angeline replied, giving a kiss on her son's forehead "No matter what, you are still my son and I love you" before turning to go to her room and resume packing her bags.

'What was that all about?' Artemis thought with remorse. He walked back to his room but his initial zeal has left him so he took a sharp u-turn and went out to the garage. Somewhere in his 18 years, Artemis had discovered the beauty of cars; fast, beautiful and classic. His collection ranges from Alfa Romeo to Ferrari, Lamborghini, BMW, Porsche and many more. But his favourite is a classic Aston Martin Vantage Volante which he drives whenever he feels the need to vent his frustration.

Later in the evening, he returned in time for dinner with his parents but excused himself before dessert was served. He met up with Butler to get updated on any latest development and then went off to bed. In his room, Artemis removed his clothes (and subconsciously folded them before placing into the laundry basket) and slipped bare underneath the covers as sleep and weariness soon overcome him.

Early the next morning, Artemis woke in time to see his parents off on the family's jet. Artemis Fowl the First looked at his grown son and gathered him into a bear hug.

"Take care of yourself while we are gone."

"Yes Father, don't worry. I've got Butler here with me." Holding him once more, Artemis was then relinquished to his mother, who hugged and kissed him as well.

"Remember your promise to spend time outdoors. I want to see you with at least a tinge of tan on that pale skin when we return."

"Yes Mother. Have a wonderful and safe journey."

"We'll bring you back something. Au revoir, Arty-dear." Angeline said as she stepped into the jet. Artemis waved back until the jet took off.

Then turning to Butler, he announced cheerily, a difference to his usual wintry self "Well old friend, it's time to start with the next plan. What do you say?"

"As you wish, sir."