Author's Note:
I just want all of you to know that the previous chappy came from none other than Identity99, I had some problems and she kindly lent me some ideas, which turned out to be quite good.
This chappy doesn't show too much action, but it's kind of a preparation for the next one, which will be full of it.
Disclamier: I DO NOT OWN ARTEMIS FOWL AND HIS COMPANIONS!!! CAN'T YOU REMEMBER THAT?!?!?!FOWL MANOR (lab)
During the whole time Foaly did the needed adjustments with the various equipment Artemis and Cyrenela avoided each other's eyes.
Foaly noticed this and became rather curious.
"Anyone gonna tell me why those two look like they're going to bite each other's heads off?" he asked the Butler siblings.
"What are you talking about? They look fine to me," Juliet said.
Butler looked over to his charge; Artemis's face was impassive as ever. "I don't see anything wrong..."
Foaly snorted, "Yeah right...anyone could plainly see that Fowl looks a it jumpy today."
"Sorry, but I can't see that," Juliet retorted.
"With all your years with that boy, you never managed to read his mood, did you?" Foaly asked, shaking his head.
"Hey, Artemis isn't a talkative person you know, even his own parents don't know half of him!" Juliet said defensively.
"Yeah, yeah, sure, sure..." Foaly muttered, rummaging through what seemed like a pile of wires and circuits.
"All right!" he proclaimed, "All done!"
Cyrenela and Artemis's head snapped up, both minds thinking, but with different thoughts...
Finally, I can get away from that...boy, all he gave me since the beginning was grief...
I can't have made a mistake, I don't make careless errors, but...why do I feel unsure of what I did?
"Alright, now, Fectnoperi, all you need to do is sit back and relax while we do the rest."
Cyrenela looked around, "Uh, where do I go?"
Foaly pointed at what looked like a small tunnel lined with lights, kind of similar to those in hospitals, the machines that check your body for fractures/injuries/abnormalities.
"Uh, okay..." she said uncertainly.
She climbed slowly into the machine and lied down flat on her back.
"You will be unconscious during the whole time, and there will be small amounts of pain, not to worry!" he added seeing the shocked look of Cyrenela's face, "It's nothing more than compared to a small light pinch, and with the anesthesia we're going to apply, it will be smaller than that."
She relaxed a bit after that, a pinch is nothing, she even had a slight thought that she had experienced much worse pain than that...
Artemis watched Foaly go here and there, flicking switches and pushing buttons, half his brain trying to absorb information, the other half, still doubting his actions.
Do I want her to leave?
No...
But why?
I...don't know...
Does she need to leave?
Yes!
Do you think she'll be safer being alone...away from you?
Of course...she'll be safe from my...ambition
Foaly looked at Artemis thoughtfully, something was obviously troubling the boy, and he was determined to find out what it was.
"Earth to Mud boy, earth to Mud boy!" he said, tapping Artemis's head.
"Yes?"
"Can't help noticing, but you seem a bit...preoccupied lately," Foaly said slowly.
Artemis kept his face emotionless. "It's nothing, Foaly. I am merely worn out because of our recent adventure," he answered.
Foaly decided to rephrase his question, "Something seems to be troubling you..."
Artemis forced himself to not display anything that might confirm this statement.
"You're worrying about nothing, centaur, now, ," Artemis said stiffly.
"Sure..." Foaly muttered gruffly, disappointed that he didn't unearth anything out of him.
He flicked a few switches, "You'll be knocked out, Fectnoperi, tell me when you're ready!"
Cyrenela kept herself calm, the whole test just seemed to make her feel nervous. "Ready!" she finally said.
Foaly pushed a button and the machine whirred to life.
Cyrenela soon found herself drowsy, slowly, she fell asleep.
"Am I to do anything?" Artemis asked.
"Yes," Foaly answered, "Watch that meter over there."
Artemis went over to the computer screen, what was displayed seemed senseless to him.
"See that wiggly line?" Foaly asked. "If it reaches this red line, well...that's bad."
"I see...aren't you going to give me additional information?"
Foaly released a small chuckle before answering, "Nice try Mud boy, but I think you know enough about our technology than what's good for you."
Artemis frowned, the People are still thinking of him as a threat?
"All right then, let's get started," Foaly declared, trotting over to the main computer.
Inside the tunnel, lights flashed, the computer was doing scans of its subject, determining first it's physical structure, in preparation for the more complicated procedures later.
"Everything all right, Fowl?" Foaly asked.
Artemis glanced at the screen, "Yes, everything's fine."
"Good, the first step is a success...now for the second one."
He typed something on the keyboard.
Another scan was being done, this time for the inside, practically the body's content and chemical structure.
Foaly watched the computer screen with focused eyes, after this test was the hard part, the commander didn't want the humans to know that there was risk involved...a very high one actually...they had debated over this for quite a while, Holly wanted to inform them, but Root had disagreed.
The thing is, if they informed the humans, they would probably get all nervous or they might even decide to not let the test continue, tension would heighten the risk involved, making their situation even more difficult. On the other hand, Holly had said that if the humans were aware of this, they'll be able to understand the situation and would've continued with the test anyways, Holly just can't seem to picture the Fowl boy giving up with something like that...well, the boy did display something like that when they rescued his father and at the Spiro incident...
The machine they're currently using has only been tested once, and that test hadn't been actually successful at all. It was made by Frond's command, meant to measure, identify, and discover hidden magical abilities. The first test subject of it was one of Frond's royal advisors, the best actually, he had volunteered to be the first one, since none seemed to want to try for it wasn't tested.
During the test the computers crashed, he was still asleep at that time, at first they thought it was just a small power cut, but then something strange happened...he woke up and then stood. They asked to lie down again, but as if not hearing them he walked away slowly, ignoring the other's constant cries. One of the scientists grabbed his shoulder, it was when the advisor injured him without hesitation that the others realized that something was wrong.
When reports came that there was a disturbance in the vicinity, a LEP retrieval team was sent, on their arrival, every single personnel was physically injured and the test subject was nowhere to be found...
Hopefully, things would be different on the second time...
"Foaly! Something's wrong!" Artemis's voice interrupted his thoughts.
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Author's Note:
Well? What do you think?
Reviews:
S.Bagley
I'm sure! And thank you!
Identity99
Yup, it's your idea, like I said so in the Author's Note before the chappy. Thanks by the way!
cocoaducks
As much as I am itching to answer that question, I'm afraid I have to let it slide for the meantime since if I answer it, the surprise and tension would be gone. Sorry!
READ AND REVIEW!!!!