AN: Yes, it's the big 2-0! And in celebration, we made this chapter a little longer than usual!
ASN: So impressive.
AN: In other notes, this story is now over 100 pages long! So, be expecting quite a few more chapters.
ASN: Since this is only up to page 59, we still have a lot more to post.
AN: Oh, by the way, we survived! Aren't you happy?
Chapter 20 Sulking
Grub sat sulking in his closet. It was taking the LEP a lot longer to come rescue him then he'd thought. After all, since he was the only one trusted to this secret mission, and the only fairy ever to stand up to a Mud Man, you'd think they'd hurry a little.
"So, how's it going?" Kegel said without opening the door. Grub frowned and ignored the voice. Maybe if he kept quiet long enough, the Mud Man would open the door to check on him, and he could shield and slip out.
"Your helmet has proven quite interesting so far. I especially like the different filters. With some modifications, I could make a killing selling them to arms dealers."
Grub bit his lip. Great. He'd involuntarily given LEP equipment to a psychopathic Mud Man. Could you be demoted from Corporal?
"I know you must think I'm a horrible person who'd do anything for money, but…" Kegel started, sitting down on the floor outside the door. Grub could see the break in the light shining under the door. "…actually, only the money part's true. If Defea had just given me the technology without hiking her prices, none of this would have had to have happened."
"Prices??" Grub echoed in shock.
"Oh, you are alive in there."
Grub decided to try one more time. "Look, Kegel, you said your name was? If you let me go right now, I can probably convince the LEP to leave you alone." Which was, of course, not true. The LEP mindwiped any Mud Person who knew of fairies. The whole Fowl situation had made that clear.
"Look, what did you say your name was, fairy?"
"I didn't."
"Fine. I want that technology. And Defea's going to get it to me. Or I will splash your secrets all over world television. And believe me, you don't want that to happen."
Grub sighed. "Don't say I didn't warn you."
"Ah, yes, your vicious older brother will come get you, right?" Kegel snorted.
"That's right." Grub stated in a voice that held no doubt. Whatever the truth was, this fairy certainly believed in his brother.
And that belief was starting to worry Kegel.
"Whatever you say, little man." Kegel said shortly and moved away, leaving Grub in the dark with his thoughts.
What did the Mud Man mean, 'prices'?
**********
"All right." Artemis said. "Juliet, Mulch, and Captain Kelp. You will be in charge of breaking into Kegel's laboratory. It is a logical assumption that Grub is there, since Kegel has not returned home for days."
"Excuse me?" Root interrupted, "I didn't hear my name."
"That's because you're on the other team, Commander." Artemis replied. As predicted, Root lost his temper.
"WHAT!! You mean to tell me you're planning on sending that convict out into the human world without my supervision?! Just how did you come up with that?"
"Because from what you've told me, Defea's going to be the more dangerous of the two."
"Fine." Juliet jumped in while Root looked thoughtful. "So why are you going there and I'm not?"
"Because I'm going with him." Butler stated calmly. The group turned to Artemis for confirmation. The pale teen looked uncomfortable.
"Actually…"
Butler suddenly looked twice as foreboding as usual. "Actually what, Artemis?"
"Actually, I'll tell you about your specific assignment after this." Artemis said smoothly and continued. "The other team will be composed of Commander Root, Captain Short and myself."
"And me." Foaly interjected.
"What do you mean, 'and me?' You have to stay in the Operations Booth and do your techno-centaur thing." Root said. "You can't skip out to go bust an old girlfriend."
"With two simultaneous operations going, there's not much I can do except sit back and tell you what you're doing wrong." Foaly said shortly. "And as much as I enjoy doing that, I'll be more help assisting with Defea's security defenses."
"That's what we have Fowl for!" Root answered.
"With all respect to the Mud Boy, he doesn't know Defea like I do."
"Foaly," Root said very calmly. He folded his hands together and set them on the table in front of him silently. All the fairies, and the Butlers, took a step back. "YOU ARE TOO EMOTIONALLY INVOLVED WITH DEFEA TO BE OF ANY REAL HELP!!"
"Wh-what about Trouble?" Foaly responded. "You're sending him after his own brother. Isn't that emotionally involved?"
"Fowl is sending Trouble because Holly and I are needed here. You, on the other hand, are needed in the Operations Booth."
"Actually…"
"I really hate that word." Holly muttered.
"What, Fowl?" Root asked in exasperation.
"If we can synchronize the operations over the comm system, Foaly can come with us. And if he believes we will need him, it's not really a good idea to leave him behind."
"Thank you, Fowl, I knew there was a reason I liked you." Foaly muttered.
"Uh, hello?" Holly said with sarcasm. "Do you have any recollection of the word viper?"
Foaly looked at her with a completely innocent look on his face. "No?"
"Anyway," Artemis continued, "If Foaly is going to be with us, we will need to keep in contact with each other at all times. That means Juliet and I will need communication equipment also."
"Should I really trust you with fairy technology, Fowl?" Root asked rhetorically.
"Do you really trust the operation's success without our help?" Artemis countered simply. Root's face purpled.
"The last time I checked, we were the police. We can perform simple rescue operations without your assistance."
"Yes, but this isn't simple."
"But how do we know it'll work, if it's not so simple?" Root snapped back.
"Commander, if you can think up a plan half as good in twice the amount of time, I will be impressed. Until then, can we please continue with my plan?"
Root's eyes widened in enraged shock. "Why you-"
"After what happened with the Cube, I think Fowl will be very respectful of fairy technology." Holly interjected. "We really can't afford to delay much longer."
"All right." Root snarled. "For now, Foaly, get the Mud People gear and let's get ready to move out."
"Gear for three?" Foaly asked.
"Yes." Butler said firmly.
"No." Artemis said just as firmly. Foaly hesitated.
"Butler, can I talk with you for a moment?" Artemis asked softly. The bodyguard nodded.
"I think we'd better."
**********
The two moved away where they wouldn't be overheard as the others began to gather their equipment.
"Artemis…I am going with you." Butler stated immediately.
"I will perfectly safe with Commander Root and Holly." Artemis said.
"Artemis, Holly has been gunning for you since day one, and Root doesn't like you that much either. How are you going to be safe without a bodyguard?"
"I was fine when we confronted Spiro."
"Juliet was with you when you confronted Spiro, and I had a hard enough time leaving you then, under her protection. Now you want me to leave you in the sole care of these fairies, who have already mindwiped us once?"
"I trust them." came the simple answer. "Don't you?"
"I find it safer not to trust anyone, no." Butler replied immediately.
"But you trust Holly."
"Yes. I trust Holly not to let you get hurt; she wouldn't want anyone else having the fun."
Artemis raised an eyebrow. " Butler. Truthfully."
The bodyguard paused and thought for a moment.
"I do trust Holly, yes. The others I do not. Especially Root. He's not as dumb as he acts."
"It would be hard not to be." Artemis smirked.
"He wants us mindwiped, Artemis."
Artemis immediately became serious. "I know. I'm working on that."
Butler seemed almost hesitant to continue the conversation. "I don't usually question you, Artemis, but making him mad at every turn does not seem like a good plan."
"I'm working on that, too." Artemis said dryly. At Butler's frown, he continued. "I'll be fine. I need you at home. Even if we got Simone out safely, if her father found out where she was or who had her, things could go very badly for all of us. They wouldn't believe Juliet, but they will you. Also, if my parents return to find and empty manor, they would be...upset. I need you there to convince them that everything is all right."
"So you want me to abuse your parent's trust in me?" Butler asked emotionlessly.
Artemis sighed. "If you told them the truth, what would they do? Besides enroll you in my counseling sessions."
Butler shrugged in response. "Well, Mr. Badeau would think we're hiding his daughter from him, and quite possibly throw your father in jail."
"Exactly. If everything goes well, this shouldn't be a problem. But you may need to stall."
"But can you take care of yourself?" Butler asked again, insistently. Artemis studied Butler. Even though the fairy treatment had altered Butler so he didn't look older, he could see the years in his eyes. Years that Artemis had been responsible for putting there.
"I think it's about time I learned."
**************************
ASN: And so, Artemis realizes he needs to stop putting so many people in danger.
AN: *Sniffs* My little Arty is all grown up! *Ryn beans her over the head with the keyboard* Sorry.
ASN: Oh yes, we have an announcement to make.
AN: Ahem, ahem.
@$@$@$@$@$@$@$@$@$@$@$@$@$@$@$@$@$
*********COME ONE, COME ALL!!!!!*********
@$@$@$@$@$@$@$@$@$@$@$@$@$@$@$@$@$
ASN: *Stares* Impressive.
AN: Thanks.
ASN: Dumb, but impressive.
AN: *Evil glare* Anyway, we have a contest for all you faithful readers. You now know the story enough to catch the plot *laugh*. So…
ASN: While we are talented enough to make up this story, we cannot think of a title.
AN: So, if you come up with a snappy title, we'll dedicate an entire chapter to you!
ASN: *Raises eyebrow* How rewarding.
AN: Well, it might be the chapter when Simone is killed-
ASN: HUH?!? We don't kill her!
AN: Shhh!! It might be the chapter when Kegel's killed-
ASN: We don't kill him either.
AN: SHHHH!!! They aren't supposed to know that. Anyway, think up a title, and the best one will get recognition, we promise. Now, for the preview:
"Have you been teasing Fowl like that all week?" When Holly smiled, Foaly rolled his eyes. "Are you trying to make him add homicide to his list of crimes?"
The smile grew. "Of course not. I just want to see the great and grand Artemis Fowl Junior snap."
"Make sure he doesn't snap you in half while he does it." he muttered, turning back to his computer tools, but studying Holly out of the corner of his eye.
Holly simply laughed and twirled her Neutrino on her finger. "I'd like to see him try it. The Mud Boy doesn't stand a chance against me."