Chapter Nine
A/N: Before I forget, I DO NOT own Woonsocket (Ugh, who'd want to?), it is a real city. I DO NOT own MSC (although it'd be cool to, and I'd lower the tuition price). Eric is my own creation, if you want to use him you must ask me. Oh and by the way, Eric Champlain is EC. Get it? EC, Eternity Code? * Looks at room of baffled people * Ahh, never mind.
Eric was startled at the sheer volume of files in Artemis' mainframe. It would take days to read all of it. He required speed, or Artemis would catch him in the act. However, there were priorities. First of all, he needed to avoid or disable his security. Doubtless another time he would derive immense pleasure in doing so, but for now it was all business. No one did something without a price, leastaways the Fowls. Eric wanted something to pay that price with. And another thing, he was curious. What on earth could have compelled Artemis to reinforce that door so solidly?
The blueprints for the house were under an additional layer of security. It was something Eric had never seen before. One program tracked Artemis' movements. Unless the program registered Artemis as being at the computer, he couldn't get in, even with the correct password. He pinched his lip. This would be one of his most challenging tasks yet.
First, he accessed the video file program. Again, there were unusual modifications not keeping with traditional security systems. Artemis had placed some cameras purchased from ILM around the entrance to the manor. It seemed that every ten seconds the computer would take a freeze frame from each camera and compare it to a video image file. Eric licked his lips. This was certainly interesting. The video file no longer existed. Ergo, the program was useless, but Artemis was still running it. Artemis hated waste, he knew. So why use a redundant security system?
The system was also hardened against loops. That was fine with Eric. He didn't want a loop, he wanted an artifact. As he suspected, the date/time stamp on all video footage was not protected. It was a simple matter to change some footage of Artemis at the computer to today.
Now he could access the blueprints. He immediately noticed that the small cement 'storage room' he had noticed on his tour of the house was a recent addition. Apparently the Fowls had 'convinced' someone to stay awhile. This whole mess was getting more confusing instead of less.
However, we have been neglecting our genius centaur, Foaly. He had just arrived at the local pound when we left him. Now, he was frantically racking his brains for a way to escape the Animal Control van. All it would take was one picture, and the secret of the People would be out. That was irony for you. Julius and him had always been on Holly about Artemis, and now he would be the one who blew the lid off of the entire mess.
There was, however, a bright side. The animal catcher had left a bag of carrots just within reach. Mmm, yummy delicious carrots...but no, he was supposed to be escaping. The last time he checked, carrots were not on the LEP Standard Issue Lockpicking Gear List. Although, come to think of it, his multidriver was. Foaly's own little stroke of genius, the multidriver contained miniaturized Allen head, Phillips, flat-blade, and magnetic screwdrivers all in one. If he could reach it, in his shoulder bag, he could get out. Foaly sucked in his breath and slowly began to stretch his hand out through the bars...
"I still haven't found anything to indicate where Foaly went, sir," Holly reported.
"What? You've been up there for three hours, Short." Root bellowed. "I want answers, and I want them yesterday. Damn that centaur for not filling me in on his plan..."
"Don't worry, sir," Holly said. "I may have a lead. An Animal Control van stopped here about the same time as Foaly. It could be worse, at least we have an idea where he might be," she added hurridly.
It did no good. In a deadly whisper that was somehow worse than his bellowing, he said "Did you say...Animal Control? As in Mud Men experimenting on animals? Locking them in cages?"
Holly gulped. She had a lot to deal with, and Root wasn't making it any easier.
A/N: Before I forget, I DO NOT own Woonsocket (Ugh, who'd want to?), it is a real city. I DO NOT own MSC (although it'd be cool to, and I'd lower the tuition price). Eric is my own creation, if you want to use him you must ask me. Oh and by the way, Eric Champlain is EC. Get it? EC, Eternity Code? * Looks at room of baffled people * Ahh, never mind.
Eric was startled at the sheer volume of files in Artemis' mainframe. It would take days to read all of it. He required speed, or Artemis would catch him in the act. However, there were priorities. First of all, he needed to avoid or disable his security. Doubtless another time he would derive immense pleasure in doing so, but for now it was all business. No one did something without a price, leastaways the Fowls. Eric wanted something to pay that price with. And another thing, he was curious. What on earth could have compelled Artemis to reinforce that door so solidly?
The blueprints for the house were under an additional layer of security. It was something Eric had never seen before. One program tracked Artemis' movements. Unless the program registered Artemis as being at the computer, he couldn't get in, even with the correct password. He pinched his lip. This would be one of his most challenging tasks yet.
First, he accessed the video file program. Again, there were unusual modifications not keeping with traditional security systems. Artemis had placed some cameras purchased from ILM around the entrance to the manor. It seemed that every ten seconds the computer would take a freeze frame from each camera and compare it to a video image file. Eric licked his lips. This was certainly interesting. The video file no longer existed. Ergo, the program was useless, but Artemis was still running it. Artemis hated waste, he knew. So why use a redundant security system?
The system was also hardened against loops. That was fine with Eric. He didn't want a loop, he wanted an artifact. As he suspected, the date/time stamp on all video footage was not protected. It was a simple matter to change some footage of Artemis at the computer to today.
Now he could access the blueprints. He immediately noticed that the small cement 'storage room' he had noticed on his tour of the house was a recent addition. Apparently the Fowls had 'convinced' someone to stay awhile. This whole mess was getting more confusing instead of less.
However, we have been neglecting our genius centaur, Foaly. He had just arrived at the local pound when we left him. Now, he was frantically racking his brains for a way to escape the Animal Control van. All it would take was one picture, and the secret of the People would be out. That was irony for you. Julius and him had always been on Holly about Artemis, and now he would be the one who blew the lid off of the entire mess.
There was, however, a bright side. The animal catcher had left a bag of carrots just within reach. Mmm, yummy delicious carrots...but no, he was supposed to be escaping. The last time he checked, carrots were not on the LEP Standard Issue Lockpicking Gear List. Although, come to think of it, his multidriver was. Foaly's own little stroke of genius, the multidriver contained miniaturized Allen head, Phillips, flat-blade, and magnetic screwdrivers all in one. If he could reach it, in his shoulder bag, he could get out. Foaly sucked in his breath and slowly began to stretch his hand out through the bars...
"I still haven't found anything to indicate where Foaly went, sir," Holly reported.
"What? You've been up there for three hours, Short." Root bellowed. "I want answers, and I want them yesterday. Damn that centaur for not filling me in on his plan..."
"Don't worry, sir," Holly said. "I may have a lead. An Animal Control van stopped here about the same time as Foaly. It could be worse, at least we have an idea where he might be," she added hurridly.
It did no good. In a deadly whisper that was somehow worse than his bellowing, he said "Did you say...Animal Control? As in Mud Men experimenting on animals? Locking them in cages?"
Holly gulped. She had a lot to deal with, and Root wasn't making it any easier.