AN: Well, I have to admit I thought we'd get a lot more reviews threatening our lives if we didn't update.
ASN: *Rolls eyes* And you sound so depressed.
AN: I am. I look forward to those. Anyway, here's the new chapter.
Chapter 26 Heroics and Villainy Impulsive Stupidness
Trouble waited until Mulch emerged from the tunnel before giving the order to move out.
The shuttle had been left in the nearest fairy fort, which was conveniently at the far end of a green field bordering the complex. Unfortunately, neither Juliet nor Mulch could shield, and it was all open area to the fort. They bolted for the field.
Just as a guard came around the corner of the fence. "I found them! Hey, stop!" he shouted, swinging his gun up.
Needless to say, none of them stopped. Grub and Trouble shielded as bullets flew over their heads. Juliet ran faster, but slowed a tad as she felt a blast of wind go past her. Towards the guard. She turned just in time to see the guard trip and fall over an unseen obstacle, gun flying out of his hand. As it hit the ground, the barrel mysteriously bent at a 90 degree angle, rendering it most definitely unfireable.
Trouble reappeared next to Juliet a second later, just in time to open the entrance to the fort. As they all slowed to a stop next to the shuttle, breathing heavily, Juliet tapped Trouble on the shoulder.
"Hey, Captain?" she said, regaining her breath.
Trouble turned. "Yeah?" he asked.
Juliet grinned. "I like your name. It suits you."
***********
Without ever making a conscious decision, Artemis dove for the elf silhouetted in the door. He slammed into her hard, knocking her off her feet as something hot hissed over his head. The force of his tackle sent them both skidding across the atrium and slamming into the wall.
Artemis found himself lying sprawled halfway on top of Holly. The teen squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head, trying to figure out what had possessed him to dive in front of a laser. He opened his eyes to find Holly's face a mere six inches from his own. She was rubbing her head from where she'd bashed it when they hit the wall. Her eyes, still flashing with pent up, murderous rage, were now focused solely on Artemis.
He quickly rolled off the infuriated elf.
"And just what was that for?" she snarled, sitting up.
Artemis didn't answer, but stood, brushing himself off. He wordlessly gestured towards a large, smoking hole in the wall directly behind where Holly had stood. It was squarely between Root and Foaly, and they were both gazing at the hole with wide-eyed consternation.
"Oh." Holly whispered, and then stared up at the Mud Boy. "Uh, thanks."
Artemis turned away. "Don't mention it." he muttered. He could only imagine what the Butlers would do if they ever found out their charge had done something so reckless... "Please."
Holly stood and said nothing. Root came up stomping up and yanked the tiny, single-shot laser out of its housing on the ceiling.
"That's it." he growled. "I'm going to send that centaur to Howler's Peak for the rest of her natural life. And may she live for centuries with only goblins for company."
Foaly approached him gingerly. "Isn't that a little harsh?"
Root turned back to him. "No." he said calmly. He then turned to his officer. "Holly, are you okay?"
"Yes sir." the elf said simply, checking her Neutrino. "I'm going to rip off Defea's hooves and make her eat them. Then I'll kill her." With that she stalked into the next room.
Artemis eyed her rapidly receding back uneasily. "Commander, are you sure it's wise to let her go in first in that state of mind?"
Root nodded once and drew his own laser. "At times like this, it's safer to be behind her than in front of her."
He stepped into the room, and Artemis and Foaly followed close behind.
The room was definitely Defea's lab. There were shelves filled with components and wires, and half-completed projects littered a large table. A purple and orange couch added to the décor. At the far end of the room was a large computer terminal inset into the wall. A large neon pink swivel chair faced the terminal. There was no one else in the room. As the group approached, weapons drawn, the chair turned to face them.
"Hi." Simone grinned.
***********
"Simone?" Holly asked incredulously. "Where's Defea?"
"Oh, she's not here right now." the girl said airily. "Can I take a message?" Before they could respond, she frowned. "Let's see. You must be Arty's girl." Holly reddened with anger. "And you must be that crazy commander, and Defea's ex, and you…" Simone's eyes widened fractionally. "Arty?"
"Simone." he responded impassively.
"I didn't know you would come!" she chirped. "Nice to see you!"
"Arty?" Defea's voice came suddenly. "You mean the Artemis Fowl? Nice to meet - well, nice to hear you, anyway. I'm not too surprised, actually. I was wondering who the brains of your little group was."
"Defea, where are you?" Root demanded. "Show yourself!"
Artemis frowned. "She's using speakers and broadcasting her voice from another location." he concluded, pointing at tiny speakers hidden in the corners of the room.
Simone laughed derisively. "Of course. I'm surprised the great Artemis Fowl didn't figure it out sooner."
"I had." Artemis assured her emotionlessly. "The volume and quality of her voice never changed no matter what room we were in. Rather careless of you not to have taken that into account."
"Oh. That's very impressive for a Mud Man. Apparently you're not as primitive as a species as Kegel made you seem." Defea sighed. "I'm sort of disappointed you didn't bring your pet dwarf though. I went to all the trouble of lining my lab in asphalt so he couldn't come through the walls, and for nothing."
"So, you knew the entire time that Defea wasn't here?" Root bellowed, spinning to face Artemis. "Why didn't you say something?!"
"It wouldn't have done anything. The main goal was to find Simone and get her away from Haven. If I had told you earlier that Defea was gone, you would have lost your temper and been too upset to focus on the house and its traps."
Root's face purpled. That was most likely what he would have done. When did the Mud Boy get to know him so well?
"Fine, Fowl. Forget it." he ground out between gritted teeth. "Defea, do you have any idea what's going to happen to you when we find you?"
"Well-"
"Defea, come on!" Foaly interrupted. "You can't run forever. No matter what you think, we'll find you, and then evading custody will be added to your list of crimes."
"Look," Defea said, her voice suddenly meek, "I've realized what a huge mistake all this was. I know now that kidnapping Simone was a stupid idea. I am utterly ashamed of my behavior."
Holly wasn't buying it. "So why run? Why set the booby traps and pull that sunlight trick?"
"Those were all pretty dumb too." Defea said, avoiding the question. "Anyway, about all the smuggling and dealing with Mud Men and kidnapping and stuff. Well, I was wondering if we could sort of put this behind us. Just view it as…oh, temporary insanity and forget it ever happened?"
"And why should we do that?" Holly snapped. The elf was certain Defea was lying through her teeth. "You are a criminal on the run."
"Um…for old time's sake?"
There was a minute of silence as Holly and Foaly looked at each other. Then Holly snapped her laser up and put two smart shots into the speaker. It sparked and died.
Defea sat back in her shuttle seat as the speaker system went silent. "I guess not."
Now she'd have to always be on guard. A small grin stole over her face as the shuttle flew on towards Atlantis. Maybe she'd take a few of Foaly's security ideas and upgrade them. A plaid plasma floor would be effective...and attractive….
******************
AN: All right, everyone, now that the story's over, we have an announcement. We think we have decided on a title!!!!
ASN: Finally.
AN: Shut up; it's partly your fault we didn't come up with one immediately.
ASN: Anyway, we will tell you all who won…
AN: Next time. Just to keep the tension up. (Also, Ryn there is still not sure…)
ASN: You liar!! You're the one not sure!
AN: *Smiles innocently* Me? Why, never.
ASN: *Glares* So, you will be informed the next time, we promise. Now for the preview.
"You seem entirely too comfortable there. Why aren't you trussed up in some corner?"
"Simple." Simone answered, leaning back in the chair. It was built for centaurs, but Simone did look very much at home. "In order to keep Defea from losing her nerve and just flat out killing me, I teamed up with her and assisted a little."
Four pairs of eyes stared at her. "What?" Holly whispered. "You helped her?"
Simone shrugged. "Why not?"
AN: Now, I can guarantee more people are going to ask for Simone's head after they read that.
ASN: Most likely. But they'll have to wait to see what Simone has to say for yourself. Bye-bye!!