Chapter Two

"What? No hug and kiss?" the man snickered unattractively.

Artemis puffed his chest out. In two in a half years, he had grown much taller, but was still his thin and pale self. He did have a few fans before he left boarding school. But that was one thing he didn't understand. Females are so different than males, he realized. You don't threaten them to get them to do what you want. He wished there was someone who he could trust on the subject, someone who wouldn't laugh at his questions. He was humiliated every time he thought of the time he casually asked his mother. Oh well. That was something he could think about later. Now, with his parents on their little vacation, he could deal with things more his way.

"Who are you and why are you here?" said Artemis directly. He could have been much more subtle; after all, he had convinced his mother to let him come home from boarding school, and made her believe it was all her own idea in the first place. He was very convincing. He just didn't feel like being convincing today. He was on the verge of discovery, and he was loosing precious time.

"Mulch Diggums, at your service." Mulch said, bowing mockingly. "As to why I'm here, well, you'll see soon enough." With a flourish, or what he probably thought was one, Mulch brought out what Artemis had seen on his security camera.

He leaned forward, and took it. It appeared to be some sort of a coin, though none Artemis remembered seeing. It had a hole in the middle.

"What is it?" Artemis asked suspiciously.

"Oh, come now," Mulch sneered. "The infamous Artemis Fowl doesn't know a medallion when he sees one?"

Artemis's expression didn't change, but there seemed to be a small tinge on his pale cheeks. He looked even more closely at the medallion.

"It seems to be a...a disc of some sort." He mused.

"That, too." Mulch amended.

"So? Why do you think I would want it?" Artemis asked.

Mulch rolled his eyes. It would actually be a bit frightening if Artemis had cared.

"It has some information that might, let's say, benefit you." Said Mulch.

Artemis appeared to be thinking for a few moments, after which he abruptly strode to the door. "Are you coming, Mulch Diggums?"
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A little time later, Artemis sat at his computer, and for a couple minutes, brought up a few programs to help him break the encryption he assumed was on the diskette. After all, it was of high quality, and had obviously been made by a master.

Then, something surprising happened. Artemis realized he recognized the code. He typed speedily. Images popped onto the screen, and for once in his life it took Artemis a second to register them.

Unbelievably amazing, Was his first thought. Not disbelief, because when had that gotten him anywhere?

More images appeared, along with words.

Then, with a shuddering force that caused Artemis to gasp, memories that lasted at least three years poured into his mind in the space of 5 seconds. He had time just enough for one more thought, So that's where the lenses came from.

Then Artemis Fowl slumped to the ground.