ASN:  It's me again!  See, I told you I would update soon!

AN:      She can do things on time when she really puts her mind to it.      

CHAPTER 5: OPAL'S NEWEST

              INVENTION

California Technology Labs, "Guest Suite"

            Foaly had struggled into a sitting position by the time Opal returned.  The door in the wall opened, and a man strolled in, Opal following. 

            "Well, you must be the infamous Foaly." the man said.  His voice was low and cold.  The man scared Foaly almost as much as Artemis Fowl had the first time Foaly had seen him.  He had light brown hair, and black eyes.  There was no sign of compassion or mercy in those eyes.

            "I am Jonathan Rand, owner of California Technology Labs.  Opal here told me you are an inventor I would like to... see.  Is that true?"

            Foaly ignored the Mud Man, looking to Opal instead.  "Opal, isn't this a little elaborate for a scheme just to get revenge on me for always beating you in the science competitions?"

            Opal's eyes widened with anger.  "What do you mean, you worthless donkey?  I was always better than you.  Always.  No one wanted to believe it, though.  Face it, you were just favored because you were male!"

            "Ahem," Rand said.  "A very touching reunion, I'm sure, but I have business I need to attend to."  The Mud Man bent down, staring into Foaly's eyes.  "I wish to see more of this astounding fairy technology.  Can you do such a thing?  Show me more of this...?" he gestured, pointing to the lock that had trapped Koboi, and a com-screen.  Foaly frowned. 

            "Where did you get that?" he said, shrugging one shoulder in the screen's direction.

            "Answer my question and I'll answer yours." Rand responded.

            "I can." Foaly said promptly.  "That doesn't mean I'm going to."

            Rand frowned and straightened.  "In that case, you can stew down here for awhile.  Maybe Opal can try to convince you."

            The pixie smiled, showing pointed teeth.  She would gladly take Rand up on his offer.  And Foaly knew it.

            The centaur gathered his courage and shrugged nonchalantly. "Whatever."

            Rand left, taking the ferocious pixie with him.  The thugs went back to the door, and slammed it loudly.  Foaly groaned.  Great.  He had been kidnaped for his brains.  Then the centaur grinned.  Julius would be so jealous!

Chute E1, Tara, Ireland

            Holly and Root had convinced Artemis and Butler to let them be blindfolded on the way to Chute E1.  It had taken a lot of work, and a bit of mesmer on Butler's part.  Artemis didn't seem to mind too much.  After all, he was going to be allowed to crack into the heart of the fairy's technology center.  He didn't have to see where they were going. 

            It had taken even longer to go through the paperwork at the shuttleport.

            "Look, civilian, we need through.  I know that you haven't gotten confirmation from the Council, because the lines just went down, but we need this place empty for awhile.  And we need the Terminal clear when we get there."

            "Why is that?" the gnome on duty said with a pout.  Root started caressing his buzz baton.  When he spoke again, his voice was dangerously low.

            "Never mind why, you idiot, just get this place cleared out and do it now."

            The gnome nodded very very fast.  "Yessir."

            The shuttleport emptied fast, and the LEP officers were able to bring in Artemis and Butler without any hysteria.

            "Everyone aboard," Holly said, gesturing to the shuttle in front of them.  "We think the next flare's in a few minutes."

            Suddenly Root stopped dead.  "You think?" he repeated.

            Holly winced at the rage in his eyes.  "Yes, sir." she whispered.  "You see, the flare prediction computer has been having some problems..."

            Root clenched his fists as he gingerly walked onto the shuttle.  "I'm going to kill that centaur if he ever MENTIONS a vacation again.  I'll make him eat the request form!  I'll-"

            Holly climbed into the cockpit and shut out the Commander's threats.  Artemis removed his blindfold and came into the cockpit as well, escaping the noise.

            "Better buckle up, Arty." she chirped as she prepped the ship.  She could feel his stare on her back.

            "Look fairy-"

            "Oh, fairy now, is it?  Whatever happened to Captain?  Or Holly?" she said, sparing him one glance.  His eyes caught hers, and he began again. 

            "Look, fairy, only my mother calls me that.  Only my mother."

            "Really?"  Holly teased, unable to resist.  "I could have sworn she said something about friends.  What do your friends call you?"

            Root, having finished his spiel about incompetent centaurs, was listening to the conversation as well.

            "Through years of long, hard work, I have no friends.  Only allies." Artemis said matter-of-factly. 

            Holly took off, heading toward the chute and letting the flare, which popped up as predicted, carry them down.  As she heard his response, her face softened slightly.  "No friends whatsoever?  That's sort of sad..."  An evil grin crossed her face.  "...Arty."

            "Captain," Root interrupted before Artemis could say anything, "stop abusing the human."

            Artemis nodded to Root.  "Thank you for your professionalism, Commander.  Now may we continue covering the areas I need to handle in Haven?"

            Root nodded as they coasted up the landing platform in the terminal.  No one was there.  Obviously, that gnome had done his job. 

            "Of course..." Root said, following Artemis into the main shuttle, towards the door. "...Arty." he whispered quietly.  Holly snickered, almost missing the platform in her mirth. 

            Artemis's shoulders stiffened, but he ignored the comment, deciding not to say anything.

California Technology Labs, "Guest Suite"

            Foaly was sulking.  No food yet, and no water.  He guessed that was what Rand had intended by 'stew.'  He could have said starve; that meant the same thing.  The centaur had spent the last hour racking his brain for ideas.  But what could you do with black?  You couldn't escape with it, and you certainly couldn't use it to contact a fairy.  Well, Koboi was here, but that was a whole problem in its own.

            The door opened, and Opal strolled in.

            "Speak of the devil." Foaly muttered.  "What do you want now?"

            Opal's smile was wide.  "Why, I'm taking you on a tour.  Do you have a problem with that?"

            "Going anywhere with you is a problem." Foaly said snidely.  "And you actually plan to untie me?"

            "Of course not." Opal replied.  "Do I look stupid?"  At that question, Foaly grinned and opened his mouth.  She held up a hand.  "If you even think about saying it, I'll have the Mud Men drug you senseless."

            "So," Foaly said, ignoring her last comment, "how am I going anywhere if I'm not going to be untied?"

            A large Hover chair was propelled through the door.  His eyes widened. "No, I refuse to pushed around like a cooked pig."

            Opal laughed.  "All the better."

            The two apes heaved a protesting centaur onto the chair.  Then they headed off. 

            "This is California Technology Labs." Opal said.  "A fine place, and quite up-to-date.  In the human world anyway."  She frowned as Foaly ignored her, humming tunelessly.  "Foaly, if you want to keep that voice, pay attention." she said, steel underlining her voice.

            Foaly turned back, eyeing the pixie haughtily.  "Yes, Mother." he said.

            Opal's eyes narrowed.  "Now, Foaly, this is the newest project.  I'm helping them on it."

            "They'll never get it finished." he answered instantly.  She growled low in her throat, then sighed deeply. 

            "You see, this is using the mindwipe technology you discovered, but with a bit of a twist.  You see, taking your technology and JR's, we have made a mindwiping machine.  Quite simply, we put you in it, wipe your mind, and the information from your mind is transferred to a computer, leaving you with the mental capabilities of a potted plant.  A dumb one."

            At Foaly's terrified look, she continued.  "I know, why not use truth serum to get our information?  Well, I dislike it, too boring, and besides, you may have built up a resistance.  Lastly, this is much more painful.  And permanent.  Another plus."

            She turned to the guards.  "Take him back, let him consider that." Foaly was carted down the hall.  "Think about it, Foaly," she called, "I'll be back for your answer in a day."

ASN: Yes, we are aware of the fact that Opal's mindwiping machine does sound an awful lot like the contraption used to wipe     Artemis and the Butkers minds at the end of the Eternity Code.  As stated in the intro, and a previous chapter, we DID     write this before the EC ever came out.  It's coincidence. 

AN:      A really really freaky coincidence.  Or maybe Eoin Colfer just thinks like us.

ASN:   Poor guy.