- Underground on the outskirts of Freiburg, Germany -
Artemis wasn't sure whether to laugh at the absurd notion that Kip had created him or cry at the equally absurd idea that she had truly, completely deceived him. "I thought she was American, sort of," Holly whispered, trying to keep her tone light. Kip had been speaking with a flawless, lilting Irish accent.
Root, however, had other things on his mind. "Foaly, did she just tell me what I thought I heard?"
"Commander, I -"
"Because, if we heard that, the entire Council did, too."
The centaur mutely shook his head, eyes wide, but he had nothing more to say.
* * *
Lou was all amazed, but Greg wasn't about to buy into it. "You created Artemis Fowl, the greatest enemy of the People."
Kip shrugged. "Well, that 'greatest enemy' bit has some clearing up to do. You see, it's hard to just sort of pop in and create an entirely new person, especially one with the power and status I desired. So, when Artemis Senior set off for Russia, Foaly paid of the Mafia to make sure he wouldn't come home anytime soon. Then it was my job to cause the mental collapse of his mother, simply so no one would question the long absences of the real Artemis Junior and Butler."
"How long of an absence are we talking about?" Greg asked slowly.
"A couple months. Five or so before we'd worked all the bugs out of our new models and done as much as possible to replicate physical features. It's a long and tricky process to create them - I won't bore you with the details - and only a small window of time where features can be manipulated before the accelerated growth kicks in. Then it's all be-on-the-ready-with-the- needle, since they have to be injected at just the right age."
"Wait, wait - you actually grew them? From embryos."
"Yes. You see, my plan had been to use the DNA from both a Mud Man and a fairy in order to create a new pattern so the resulting being would have magical powers, as I do, but my half-sister actually proved to me that magic is not always apparent in children of such matches. Otherwise she may have been my partner, not something to be eliminated before I proceeded."
"So they're human."
"Eh . . . I wouldn't go so far as that, really. We tinkered a bit too much, I think. I mean, seriously, did you think his IQ was natural?" Kip laughed. "No, they're about as un-natural as they come."
"But the business with him stealing the Book, the business with Holly . . ."
"A diversion provided by Foaly so one, the pair could be introduced to their future allies - namely, the People - and so there would be a reason they could understand for Angeline regaining her memory. You see, this pair" - she indicated the bubble again - "have the memories of the real Fowl and Butler, just with the few months missing. Still, we managed a way so they wouldn't question it -"
"I didn't think you and Foaly worked together," Greg cut in, but he was leaning more and more to her side of things.
"Not on the design, no, but on common factors: memory transfer, aging problem, basic procedures. Still, in the end, I think Foaly had to admit the kid with brains was a great deal more affective than the muscle man with - well, muscle." She smiled falsely, twinkling her fingers in Foaly's direction. "I swear, he's more jealous of me than he was of Opal Koboi, and that's definitely saying something."
Greg tapped his chin thoughtfully. "So they don't even know they've been created by you and a centaur."
"They didn't, no. And they won't necessarily have to remember finding out, either." Kip's grin was malicious.
"Then you could make us an army, and army full of - what are they, exactly?"
"Yes, I could make you an army. Call them what you will." Kip waved a hand. "Actually, I'll need the captain, too, since I used the Mesmer on her in the first infamous Fowl incident. She'll just have to forget it again."
Lou's mouth was hanging open. "Wow! You're amazing!"
Her smile turned smug. "Thank you. I just wish some other creatures would have the same appreciation for my genius." The look she shot at Foaly was anything but discreet.
* * *
Artemis was, quite frankly, scared. There was no way to prove what she was saying was wrong - a memory transfer? He'd have no recollection of ever being anyone other than who - what - he was now. And this was a reason why, with his father gone, his mother had suddenly collapsed mentally when she had otherwise been a strong woman. Granted, she loved his father very much, but just losing someone like that - could that cause a mental breakdown?
Except Artemis realized he already knew the answer. Yes, it could. If what Kip was saying were actually true - if she were a murderer, and planning on many more murders before she finished, if she had been using him, had never loved him - then he knew he would drop more than a few IQ points just from the knowledge.
The knowledge. His lips curved into a painful, sardonic smile. She'd wipe his memory, and he'd never know. It would take him a while to figure out whether that was any sort of consolation.
* * *
"So it surprised me when I came in here and my life's work was just sitting there with Foaly. I mean, talk about a chance to do a little unethical research."
"Captain never told us this was his plan," Greg apologized. "We assumed he was thinking more along the lines of blue rinsing -"
"Blue rinsing the entire world? Without causing us any harm? Sorry, but that fell though when we lost the other two. We could contain it in a time stop, yes, but not otherwise. I'd thought about that, perhaps plunging the world into total chaos by using that over Buckingham Palace, Washington, D.C., perhaps UN headquarters . . . but we're fairies, right? Long life spans, enough to create such an army, watch it work, and sit back to enjoy the benefits."
Greg was trying to be discreet as he fiddled with something in his pocket. Fairy, huh? Well, they were fairies, too, and she wasn't showing much drain from the power cells. "You have magic."
"Fluke, really. Unless you want to crate more half-and-halves and kill off the ones who don't, but that seems a lot of work for who knows how much gain?" Kip looked thoughtful. "We might be able to manage a couple straight off, though. And, with research . . ."
Greg's hand moved faster than Kip could react and the knife he held cut a slash in her forehead. After a moment of stunned silence, Kip laughed. "Not very trusting, are you?"
"It was a test," Greg said simply, putting the knife away as the wound healed itself lickety-split. "I wasn't sure whether or not to trust you."
"And now you do?" she quirked an eyebrow.
"It's a partnership," Greg declared, holding out his hand. Kip took it, and they shook on it. "Now, a toast - to us." He turned to the table where a flagon of wine and three frosted glasses were sitting.
"But there are only three cups," Lou pointed out, he and Jack having kept silent for fear of being beaten if they spoke.
"Then she can have the bottle," Greg said, pouring three cups full. "That is, if she doesn't mind."
"Not at all." Kip reached for it, studying the label. "Ah. Good year."
"I thought so, too. A toast." Greg raised his glass. "To us."
"To us," the other three echoed, clinking glasses - and bottle - together before drinking deeply.
* * *
Butler put a hand on his employer's shoulder as they watched Kip drink with the warlocks. He wanted to say, "Artemis, I'm sorry, even I didn't see it," but that might have pushed Artemis over the edge, either into a ranting and raving fit, or into hysterical tears, and neither one sounded all that appealing to him at the moment.
"If I had the strength, Foaly, I'd wring your neck," Root grunted.
"Yeah," Chix said.
"And you." Holly rounded on him. "Two of them? You're the reason that - that monster exists! We're here because of you!" She was close to crying herself, her tears from anger.
Artemis shook his head stiltedly. "No. I can't believe it."
Rot was intent on strangling the air in front of him. "We trusted you, Foaly," he said tightly. "We trusted you."
Foaly said nothing.
* * *
Lou smacked his lips. "Tha's a good wine," he slurred.
Jack laughed. "You're already drunk," he giggled, sloshing a bit down his shirt. "Whoopsies. Least it's not red wine."
"Another toast," Greg declared, raising his glass high. It wobbled slightly in his hand. "To . . ."
"To wine!" Lou giggled, and once again they clinked drinking vessels.
It took only a few more toasts until Lou and Jack were sprawled on the table. "Well," Greg said jovially, "guess we know who can't handle their alcohol, right?" he asked, raising his glass in another toast to Kip.
"First off, it's 'who can't handle his alcohol,'" Kip corrected icily in a simple American accent. "And secondly, you killed them."
"Killed them?" Greg's smile started to look a bit fake. "What are you talking about?"
"The fact that they're not breathing." Kip slammed the bottle down and stood.
He was definitely nervous now. He'd been watching her closely, making sure she really swallowed at every toast, unlike his fake gulps. "Oh . . . really?"
"Don't play dumb with me, warlock," she snarled, knocking his glass form his hand. As she had suspected, it was still full as it smashed against the wall.
"Hey, that was an antique!"
"That's no longer your problem."
The poor guy didn't even see it coming. A couple strategically placed jabs and he was on the floor, writhing in pain. "But you - you and Foaly are taking over the world!" he gasped, tears of pain in his eyes.
She paused. "So it worked, huh? It was so far out you actually believed me." It was then her boot connected with the back of his skull, plunging him into unconsciousness.
* * *
Artemis was on his feet, hands pressed against the orange wall. "Come on," he urged quietly. "Come on!"
But Kip wavered on the spot. After kicking the last one - Greg - she stumbled forward, clutching her stomach a moment before straightening. Her breathing was stilted as she made it to the control panel, grasping the edge with one hand before finding the right button and pressing it. She was in Artemis' arms before she hit the floor.
* * *
Someone was holding her . . . She caught a faint whiff of cologne, the expensive stuff Arty wore. Kip forced her eyes to focus. "Arty."
"Kip." His voice shook.
He had figured it out. No doubt about it; he was smart enough. How Kip had taken the sleeping powder and, shielded, rubbed it on the inside of the three glasses before performing her charade. All she needed was for them to drink. And it didn't matter if she had to use the bottle; she hadn't done anything to that. She just hadn't planned on Greg.
Well, her prayer had been answered. The "Please, God; let me save Arty, even if I have to sacrifice myself to do it."
Greg had poisoned the wine. He was the backstabber, as she had guessed, and she had felt the bite the moment she took her first swallow. She also noticed how closely he was watching her, how she could not fake it the way he was doing. It had started burning her mouth, her throat, her stomach . . . And she had no magic to counteract it. Being around those orange walls, shielded, and scared had taken up most of her power, and healing that cut like normal had taken the last.
Kip took a labored breath. "I was scared," she whispered, and he held her tighter. "I was afraid . . . it wouldn't work." She was shaking, that's how much damage the stuff was doing.
"You saved us, Narda," Artemis assured her, then bit his tongue. Anything else and he'd be screaming "Oh, God, why?" Vaguely he registered the fairies running around, begging for anyone with a drop of magic left, going above to see if the moon had somehow changed its phase just for her. None of it was going to help.
A shudder ran through her and she pressed her face into his shoulder. It took the last of her strength with her as it passed. Pain shot in sparks along her entire body as she gathered herself for four final words: "I love you, Arty."
He was crying openly. "I love you too, Narda." And she was gone.
Artemis wasn't sure whether to laugh at the absurd notion that Kip had created him or cry at the equally absurd idea that she had truly, completely deceived him. "I thought she was American, sort of," Holly whispered, trying to keep her tone light. Kip had been speaking with a flawless, lilting Irish accent.
Root, however, had other things on his mind. "Foaly, did she just tell me what I thought I heard?"
"Commander, I -"
"Because, if we heard that, the entire Council did, too."
The centaur mutely shook his head, eyes wide, but he had nothing more to say.
* * *
Lou was all amazed, but Greg wasn't about to buy into it. "You created Artemis Fowl, the greatest enemy of the People."
Kip shrugged. "Well, that 'greatest enemy' bit has some clearing up to do. You see, it's hard to just sort of pop in and create an entirely new person, especially one with the power and status I desired. So, when Artemis Senior set off for Russia, Foaly paid of the Mafia to make sure he wouldn't come home anytime soon. Then it was my job to cause the mental collapse of his mother, simply so no one would question the long absences of the real Artemis Junior and Butler."
"How long of an absence are we talking about?" Greg asked slowly.
"A couple months. Five or so before we'd worked all the bugs out of our new models and done as much as possible to replicate physical features. It's a long and tricky process to create them - I won't bore you with the details - and only a small window of time where features can be manipulated before the accelerated growth kicks in. Then it's all be-on-the-ready-with-the- needle, since they have to be injected at just the right age."
"Wait, wait - you actually grew them? From embryos."
"Yes. You see, my plan had been to use the DNA from both a Mud Man and a fairy in order to create a new pattern so the resulting being would have magical powers, as I do, but my half-sister actually proved to me that magic is not always apparent in children of such matches. Otherwise she may have been my partner, not something to be eliminated before I proceeded."
"So they're human."
"Eh . . . I wouldn't go so far as that, really. We tinkered a bit too much, I think. I mean, seriously, did you think his IQ was natural?" Kip laughed. "No, they're about as un-natural as they come."
"But the business with him stealing the Book, the business with Holly . . ."
"A diversion provided by Foaly so one, the pair could be introduced to their future allies - namely, the People - and so there would be a reason they could understand for Angeline regaining her memory. You see, this pair" - she indicated the bubble again - "have the memories of the real Fowl and Butler, just with the few months missing. Still, we managed a way so they wouldn't question it -"
"I didn't think you and Foaly worked together," Greg cut in, but he was leaning more and more to her side of things.
"Not on the design, no, but on common factors: memory transfer, aging problem, basic procedures. Still, in the end, I think Foaly had to admit the kid with brains was a great deal more affective than the muscle man with - well, muscle." She smiled falsely, twinkling her fingers in Foaly's direction. "I swear, he's more jealous of me than he was of Opal Koboi, and that's definitely saying something."
Greg tapped his chin thoughtfully. "So they don't even know they've been created by you and a centaur."
"They didn't, no. And they won't necessarily have to remember finding out, either." Kip's grin was malicious.
"Then you could make us an army, and army full of - what are they, exactly?"
"Yes, I could make you an army. Call them what you will." Kip waved a hand. "Actually, I'll need the captain, too, since I used the Mesmer on her in the first infamous Fowl incident. She'll just have to forget it again."
Lou's mouth was hanging open. "Wow! You're amazing!"
Her smile turned smug. "Thank you. I just wish some other creatures would have the same appreciation for my genius." The look she shot at Foaly was anything but discreet.
* * *
Artemis was, quite frankly, scared. There was no way to prove what she was saying was wrong - a memory transfer? He'd have no recollection of ever being anyone other than who - what - he was now. And this was a reason why, with his father gone, his mother had suddenly collapsed mentally when she had otherwise been a strong woman. Granted, she loved his father very much, but just losing someone like that - could that cause a mental breakdown?
Except Artemis realized he already knew the answer. Yes, it could. If what Kip was saying were actually true - if she were a murderer, and planning on many more murders before she finished, if she had been using him, had never loved him - then he knew he would drop more than a few IQ points just from the knowledge.
The knowledge. His lips curved into a painful, sardonic smile. She'd wipe his memory, and he'd never know. It would take him a while to figure out whether that was any sort of consolation.
* * *
"So it surprised me when I came in here and my life's work was just sitting there with Foaly. I mean, talk about a chance to do a little unethical research."
"Captain never told us this was his plan," Greg apologized. "We assumed he was thinking more along the lines of blue rinsing -"
"Blue rinsing the entire world? Without causing us any harm? Sorry, but that fell though when we lost the other two. We could contain it in a time stop, yes, but not otherwise. I'd thought about that, perhaps plunging the world into total chaos by using that over Buckingham Palace, Washington, D.C., perhaps UN headquarters . . . but we're fairies, right? Long life spans, enough to create such an army, watch it work, and sit back to enjoy the benefits."
Greg was trying to be discreet as he fiddled with something in his pocket. Fairy, huh? Well, they were fairies, too, and she wasn't showing much drain from the power cells. "You have magic."
"Fluke, really. Unless you want to crate more half-and-halves and kill off the ones who don't, but that seems a lot of work for who knows how much gain?" Kip looked thoughtful. "We might be able to manage a couple straight off, though. And, with research . . ."
Greg's hand moved faster than Kip could react and the knife he held cut a slash in her forehead. After a moment of stunned silence, Kip laughed. "Not very trusting, are you?"
"It was a test," Greg said simply, putting the knife away as the wound healed itself lickety-split. "I wasn't sure whether or not to trust you."
"And now you do?" she quirked an eyebrow.
"It's a partnership," Greg declared, holding out his hand. Kip took it, and they shook on it. "Now, a toast - to us." He turned to the table where a flagon of wine and three frosted glasses were sitting.
"But there are only three cups," Lou pointed out, he and Jack having kept silent for fear of being beaten if they spoke.
"Then she can have the bottle," Greg said, pouring three cups full. "That is, if she doesn't mind."
"Not at all." Kip reached for it, studying the label. "Ah. Good year."
"I thought so, too. A toast." Greg raised his glass. "To us."
"To us," the other three echoed, clinking glasses - and bottle - together before drinking deeply.
* * *
Butler put a hand on his employer's shoulder as they watched Kip drink with the warlocks. He wanted to say, "Artemis, I'm sorry, even I didn't see it," but that might have pushed Artemis over the edge, either into a ranting and raving fit, or into hysterical tears, and neither one sounded all that appealing to him at the moment.
"If I had the strength, Foaly, I'd wring your neck," Root grunted.
"Yeah," Chix said.
"And you." Holly rounded on him. "Two of them? You're the reason that - that monster exists! We're here because of you!" She was close to crying herself, her tears from anger.
Artemis shook his head stiltedly. "No. I can't believe it."
Rot was intent on strangling the air in front of him. "We trusted you, Foaly," he said tightly. "We trusted you."
Foaly said nothing.
* * *
Lou smacked his lips. "Tha's a good wine," he slurred.
Jack laughed. "You're already drunk," he giggled, sloshing a bit down his shirt. "Whoopsies. Least it's not red wine."
"Another toast," Greg declared, raising his glass high. It wobbled slightly in his hand. "To . . ."
"To wine!" Lou giggled, and once again they clinked drinking vessels.
It took only a few more toasts until Lou and Jack were sprawled on the table. "Well," Greg said jovially, "guess we know who can't handle their alcohol, right?" he asked, raising his glass in another toast to Kip.
"First off, it's 'who can't handle his alcohol,'" Kip corrected icily in a simple American accent. "And secondly, you killed them."
"Killed them?" Greg's smile started to look a bit fake. "What are you talking about?"
"The fact that they're not breathing." Kip slammed the bottle down and stood.
He was definitely nervous now. He'd been watching her closely, making sure she really swallowed at every toast, unlike his fake gulps. "Oh . . . really?"
"Don't play dumb with me, warlock," she snarled, knocking his glass form his hand. As she had suspected, it was still full as it smashed against the wall.
"Hey, that was an antique!"
"That's no longer your problem."
The poor guy didn't even see it coming. A couple strategically placed jabs and he was on the floor, writhing in pain. "But you - you and Foaly are taking over the world!" he gasped, tears of pain in his eyes.
She paused. "So it worked, huh? It was so far out you actually believed me." It was then her boot connected with the back of his skull, plunging him into unconsciousness.
* * *
Artemis was on his feet, hands pressed against the orange wall. "Come on," he urged quietly. "Come on!"
But Kip wavered on the spot. After kicking the last one - Greg - she stumbled forward, clutching her stomach a moment before straightening. Her breathing was stilted as she made it to the control panel, grasping the edge with one hand before finding the right button and pressing it. She was in Artemis' arms before she hit the floor.
* * *
Someone was holding her . . . She caught a faint whiff of cologne, the expensive stuff Arty wore. Kip forced her eyes to focus. "Arty."
"Kip." His voice shook.
He had figured it out. No doubt about it; he was smart enough. How Kip had taken the sleeping powder and, shielded, rubbed it on the inside of the three glasses before performing her charade. All she needed was for them to drink. And it didn't matter if she had to use the bottle; she hadn't done anything to that. She just hadn't planned on Greg.
Well, her prayer had been answered. The "Please, God; let me save Arty, even if I have to sacrifice myself to do it."
Greg had poisoned the wine. He was the backstabber, as she had guessed, and she had felt the bite the moment she took her first swallow. She also noticed how closely he was watching her, how she could not fake it the way he was doing. It had started burning her mouth, her throat, her stomach . . . And she had no magic to counteract it. Being around those orange walls, shielded, and scared had taken up most of her power, and healing that cut like normal had taken the last.
Kip took a labored breath. "I was scared," she whispered, and he held her tighter. "I was afraid . . . it wouldn't work." She was shaking, that's how much damage the stuff was doing.
"You saved us, Narda," Artemis assured her, then bit his tongue. Anything else and he'd be screaming "Oh, God, why?" Vaguely he registered the fairies running around, begging for anyone with a drop of magic left, going above to see if the moon had somehow changed its phase just for her. None of it was going to help.
A shudder ran through her and she pressed her face into his shoulder. It took the last of her strength with her as it passed. Pain shot in sparks along her entire body as she gathered herself for four final words: "I love you, Arty."
He was crying openly. "I love you too, Narda." And she was gone.