Disclaimer: Much to my, and the rest of the fanfiction community's dislike, we do not own Artemis Fowl or any other associated characters. Ok that disclaimer is very messed up. Ignore it.
A/N: The depression is over! Yay! Ok I am at home sick, so I decided to post. Please please review!
Abbitha- Thanks for the support! Nice in-character review right there! :p
Cookie Monster- This isn't really a funny fic… I'm confused about what you mean about me "not being mean to my characters"…. Oh well… thanks… I think.
Mad Sam- Thank you! A futon is what they sleep on in Japan. It's like a roll-up mattress thing. It says in the first book Holly sleeps on one. So does John Spiro come to think of it…
Soul-in-Stichys- I'm going to update now! Thanks for the in character comment, I do try, but sometimes I fail miserably : )
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Holly woke up with a start. Panicking, she checked the clock and saw it was seven am.
Sighing, the previous days events sunk in, whilst she pulled herself out of bed and went into the bathroom. Realising she was still wearing the uniform jump suit, Holly quickly took it off , threw it into the dri®40c then jumped into the shower.
She tried not to think about the roaring that awaited her in just over and hours time.
Shoving two pieces of toast down her throat, she ran out of the door and jumped onto a tube train from the station a few streets away from her flat.
Holly stood outside the headquarters twenty minutes later breathing deeply. She was ten minutes early to avoid the mainstream of workers entering the building, but it seemed everybody had decided that the day's events would be worth the lack of sleep.
She pushed the door open and stepped in confidently.
The lobby was fairly empty, except for the receptionists and inquiries desks. A few of them obviously knew, because they stuck their heads round their computers and nodded in a knowing way.
Ignoring them she went down a said corridor into the recon and retrieval areas. Much to Holly's frustration, Root's office was located inside the room that held the many desks and cubicles belonging to the captains and officers.
The room sounded with quiet chatter, but the second she stepped inside it went silent. The blunter workers peered over the tops of their cubicle walls to get better views. Everybody stared, some looking amused, others interested.
Pretending not to notice, she strode across the room. Whispers followed her. She knocked on the door and the echo bounced around.
"Come in!" said Root's grunting voice.
Holly breathed deeply and went in.
She heard the scurrying as more than one pair of feet crossed the room behind her.
Root looked at her for a while, obviously not knowing where to start. It would be any second now though, Holly thought.
"What- were- you- THINKING!?" he roared.
Holly had long ago learnt how to block out Root's yelling, but this was beyong blockage.
"HIJACKING THE SHUTTLE! I WANT AN ANSWER SHORT, NOW! WHY? WHY DO SOMETHING SO OUT OF LINE AFTER YOU HAD BEEN WARNED REPEATEDLY!? NOW THE COUNCIL WANT A HEARING, AND I'M GOING TO LOSE MY BEST SHUTTLE PILOT! YOU BETTER HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY! TELL ME, NOW!"
Holly stood for a few seconds, gathering her defense together. She didn't know if Root had proof she had been aboard yet, but it was useless lying now.
"I- I don't know sir"
It was pathetic really.
"HOW CAN YOU NOT KNOW WHY YOU DECIDED TO CROSS INTO AN UNAUTHORIZED AREA AFTER TAKING STEPS TO GET THE SHUTTLE THERE BEFORE I GOT TO IT!?"
"I felt it necessary I was on the mission"
Holly wondered how long she'd be there.
"STUBBORNESS SHORT, THAT'S WHY!" Root was reaching shades of purple never seen before.
He sighed and slammed his fist onto the desk, causing a mug of coffee to topple.
"I don't understand you Holly! I give you EVERY CHANCE to prove yourself! Yet you STILL go ahead and so something stupid like THIS!" he said angrily.
Holly silently knew he was right. Everything she did was spur of the moment- and sometimes it had serious consequences.
"I'm sorry sir" she said quietly.
"SORRY!? YOU MESSED UP TOO BADLY TO BE SORRY NOW! TELL ME! WERE YOU SORRY WHEN YOU FLEW THE SHUTTLE TO TARA? WERE YOU SORRY WHEN YOU BROKE INTO THE MANOR AND YOUR LITTLE REUNION WITH FOWL?" Root was off again.
Silence. So the commander didn't know what had happened to Artemis. Holly felt spiteful. She wouldn't tell him- yet.
"I suppose he told you his latest plans to destroy us" Root coughed. "I bet you and the body guard had a right old laugh!"
"Sir-" started the captain.
"So what's it like? Betraying your world?" Root taunted.
"Sir I-" Holly tried again.
"Did they offer you tea and crumpets!?"
"SIR I HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT FOWL!" she yelled.
Root looked shocked that somebody had actually shouted at him. It rarely, if ever, happened. Without warning he jumped out of his chair in rage, sending the desk flying. He suddenly grabbed a neutrino from his belt and held it up, aiming at Holly.
So this was how it was going to end? Root was going to shoot her in his office? Would it be covered up? Probably.
She tried to think of an escape route. The door was directly behind her, but it would take far too long to open and escape. All this processed in milliseconds.
Root aimed and fired. In a flash Holly had thrown herself flat on the floor. Looking up she saw Root cross the room and inspect a newly made hole in the wall.
"Foaly that's a weeks pay" he said peeling a way a mic/cam set's remains.
He looked down at Holly.
"Get off the floor Short!" he said. "Did you really think I was going to shoot you?"
She jumped up but didn't reply. It was enough.
"D'arvit! That's going to be broadcasted to the entire staff any second now" he muttered.
"Not when you've cut his pay sir" Holly said.
Root snorted and kicked his upturned desk.
"Hearing a fortnight today. 9 o clock. Until then consider yourself fired. It's over for you, Short!"
Holly felt terrible. She had expected less then immediate job loss. The hearing was almost worthless now. She opened the door, and no less than fifteen offivers fell inwards, landing in a large heap on the floor.
"Er…hi" said Lilli Frond from the tangle of arms and legs.
Holly could see a hint of green which counted Chix in, and several other familiar officers who were also visible.
"OUT!" Root roared.
There were scattered apologies as the group began to pull themselves apart.
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