ASN: Since I am in charge of this fanfic, I am not subjecting the poor innocent readers to rhyming disclaimers at the beginning of each chapter. Like Lessa (AN) does in Artemis 4.
AN: Hey, they liked my disclaimers!
ASN: *blank look* Riiiight. If you are curious, go look at our other Artemis story. But you have been warned! About the disclaimer thing, though: you guys all get it, right? Not ours?
AN: *hysterical sobbing*
ASN: *deep sigh* What I put up with. ANYWAY, here's chapter one...
CHAPTER 1: MEET THE VILLAIN
California Technology Labs, Executive Office
Jonathan Radison Rand, JR to his very few friends (allies), examined the odd magnetic lock on his desk. Apparently, his men had brought it and an "alien" in back from the new lab site. Personally, Rand had a dim view of his surveying section, but these nitwits appeared to be a little brighter than the rest.
"Bring it in." he ordered without looking up. A discreet flurry in his peripheral vision told him that a minion was obeying. Immediately another employee with D. Kale on his security tag brought in the desired object. Rand admired the small, streamlined box. It looked like a silver cassette player, but could open to reveal a small screen and microspeakers.
"Did you have any trouble recovering this from the detective's apartment?" he asked, finally looking up at his employees.
"No, the occupant of the apartment, a Mr. Luc Carrere, is currently serving time for counterfeiting. The dwelling was abandoned. No force was required." D. Kale answered promptly. Rand nodded, his attention already refocused on the item.
"This technology is not human." he murmured under his breath. Kale, having heard the comment, allowed his military-stiff composure to waver.
"Then what is it, sir?" he breathed. Rand slowly looked up, black eyes filled with thinly veiled menace. Davis Kale, 6'2", All State Football Champion, master of three different martial arts, began to tremble under Rand's piercing glare. He had asked a question without permission.
"I'm sorry, sir!" he stammered. "It will never happen again sir!" Rand stared at him in complete and utter silence for two minutes, and Kale saw his entire life flash before his eyes.
"See that it doesn't." Rand said after an eternity, and returned his glance to the unhuman technology. Kale allowed himself to breathe.
"Oh, and Kale?" Kale stopped breathing again. "Bring in the...person from the island." Kale nodded eagerly and fled the dark shadowy confines of the inner sanctum. Rand smiled.
Opal had been sitting in a dark, windowless cell for the last two hours, drumming her fingers on the cement floor. It was true that anything was better than spending centuries bored to death under that palm tree. However, being bored to death in a dark cell simply wasn't that much better. She caught the sound of militant footsteps coming her way, and stood, ready to fight her way back to freedom. True, two and a half feet wasn't that intimidating, but pixies scream real loud.
The door swung open, and two giants to rival that Butler monster stood in the opening. Her scream turned into a stifled gargle as each giant grabbed an arm and picked her up. They started to march back down the hall, holding her in between them, legs dangling at least 2 feet off the ground. Doors flew by as she was hauled down the hall. Opal's frightened squeak was ignored by the two guards. They carried her through a set of black glass doors and dropped her unceremoniously in front of a huge desk.
"Welcome to my parlor. I am Jonathan Rand." came a deep, rich voice. A tall, malevolent figure arose from behind the desk and came forward. Opal stared upwards.
"Thank you. I must say your hospitality is overwhelming." she said sarcastically.
"Ah, yes, so sorry about that, but my men seemed to think you were an alien." Rand said nonchalantly. Opal considered mesmering the human, but knew she could never get all of them under her control before one of the ape-like guards ripped her head from her shoulders.
"I am many things, but alien is not one of them." she said archly, inwardly congratulating herself on her evasiveness.
"Enough beating around the bush. This technology is quite intriguing. I would be interested in seeing more. My men say you can provide. Is that so, Miss...?" An expectant pause filled the room, one that demanded a straight answer. Opal decided to lay it on the line.
"Koboi. My name is Opal Koboi, and that technology you so admire is of fairy manufacture. So listen, Mud Man, if you want to get anything, we'd better get a few things cleared up right now." the pixie said, leaning forward confidentially. Rand raised an eyebrow. A guard stepped forward suddenly, and leveled a .45 automatic at her head.
The boss smiled beatifically. "Is that clear enough for you?"
"Crystal!" Opal squeaked an octave above her normal range.
"Now, I'm going to ask again. Can you provide us with more 'fairy' technology?" the man asked in a deceptively soft voice. "Yes or no?"
"Um, well, no, but..." Opal started to say. Rand made a small movement with his hand, and returned to his chair behind the desk. The two goons grabbed her by the arms again and steered her towards the door.
"Hey, wait!" Opal shouted. Rand ignored her and started shuffling paperwork. The glass doors grew closer.
"Rand, I can't get you the technology, but I can get you the master behind it all." One of the goons opened the door. Opal began fighting, desperately trying to escape their grasp.
"One moment." came the cool voice from the office. "Bring her back." Opal sighed with relief as the guards dropped her again.
"The master?" Rand enquired. Opal nodded.
"Yes, the one person in charge of all the computers and technology in the Lower Elements. He's revolutionized travel, weapons, and communications, and invented more things than you can possibly imagine." Rand smiled, a slow, feral smile.
"And where is this person now?"
South Pacific Fairy Resort and Sanctuary
Foaly lounged on a sunny beach in the South Pacific, near the island of Howler's Peak. Imagine a snazzy little resort exclusively for the People, just fifteen miles away from the prison. Naturally, not many of the People were out during the day, since the sun bleached magic, but centaurs, quite simply, didn't have any magic to begin with. Just beauty. Besides, he had the entire beach to himself, and he imagined Julius envying his tan whenever he returned.
The centaur stretched out on his purple beach blanket, with his hands behind his head, his front legs crossed, and his back legs flat on the sand. His tinfoil hat was tipped over his eyes. A totally defenseless posture, he thought lazily. Good thing there wasn't anyone else around.
Something bit him on the neck. Hard.
"Ow!" Foaly exclaimed, slapping his hand to his neck to kill the nasty insect. Instead of a blood-sucking creature, he pulled away a small tranquilizer dart.
"Uh-oh." he muttered, looking at the dart. Jumping up, he looked around for the culprit. Everything was starting to get hazy.
"Not good, not good." His words were slurred slightly as he sank to his knees. He had just enough time to see a Mud Man with a smiling pixie on his shoulders step out of the woods before the world went black.
ASN: Wow, I didn't realize this chapter was this short. SO, I'll go ahead and put the next chapter up tonight.