Dreams
Chapter Three, Late
Disclaimer: I don't own Artemis Fowl. There I've said it, are you surprised???
A/N: Ok, this chapter was originally half of chapter two, but I decided to edit it and form a new chappie. Hey I'm the author; I can do what I like.
Replies: Red water rising: Too late, Holly's already left!! I'm glad you like it. Keep Reading.
Laughing dragoness: Thanks. Hopefully it'll still be good at the end! Updating.......
Niki Pound: Thanks for the constructive critism. It's really helpful. I will proof read my stories and alter any errors. Sorry about your relatives. In one of the books I can't think who, but someone (a fairy) definately says 'oh gods', like we say 'oh god' they must have more than one god, I guess. Keep Reading.
VampyGenieWitch: Here's your update...
Tara Shuttle Terminal, Ireland
Trouble, followed by the five other retrieval members that had been selected for the first three months surveillance, filed neatly out of the Shuttle. Simultaneously the group pulled on their helmets and slid down their visors with a pneumatic 'hiss'.
They passed through customs, flipping their badges when necessary, even the likes of Commandment Terryl couldn't refuse the Lep's finest access above ground. They were all handed the latest wing rigs, designed by Foaly. Shaped for extra speed, they could accelerate from 10 LSM/H to 275 LSM/H (LSM/H is the shortened version of Land Speed Miles Per Hour. If there is such a measurement, sorry for confusing you!) In seconds. They were the best yet, even topping the Koboi DoubleDex. Foaly was incredibly proud of them, and when Foaly's proud of something, everyone knows about it!
The minute the gates opened, exposing the views of Ireland, Retrieval were out there. No security breach would get in their way. Of course, they had to reach London first, but with their new wing rigs, it was easier done than said.
Haven city
The metropolis was packed. Tourists wandered around aimlessly, getting in everyone's way. It was typical, on the days that Holly actually wanted to get to work on time; something always stopped her.
"Excuse me! Coming through." Holly tried the polite approach. It failed, miserably.
"You lot!" she bellowed, "Out of my way or I will buzz you for obstructing a Lep officer." Her hand gripped her buzz baton, the crowds seemed to part in front of her, as she progressed towards Police Plaza main steps.
"Thank you," she said, curtly, heading up the main doors.
As usual, the booking line blocked her access to the lift so she had to use the stairs that Foaly had insisted were installed for safety reasons. Paranoid centaur. It was a shame that her cubicle, along with the Commander's office was situated on the fourth floor. Four staircases to ascend. This might not sound to bad, but when each staircase contains twenty-five steps, that's a lot of effort (and a lot of steps!).
By the time she'd reached her level, she was fifteen minutes late. That was enough for the commander to give her an unpaid extra shift. Great.
She knocked quietly on the commander's door, hoping he was out. He wasn't.
"Short! Get in here!" His voice was so loud; the door seemed to vibrate as she pushed it.
"How did you know it was me, sir?" Holly asked, genuinely curious.
"Two reasons." He said, bluntly. Ushering her into a corner with a wave of his hand.
"One, only two officers haven't reported in yet, one is quite reliable, and the other is you."
Charming thought Holly. Fire me now, why don't you?
"And two," the Commander continued, "I've just received information from Foaly, that you've been threatening civilians in Police Plaza's forecourt. Is this true?"
Holly groaned; she should've known Foaly would've seen that.
"Yes, it's true. But I wasn't really threatening them, they were obstructing me."
Root raised his eyebrows, "Never mind that now. I wanted to speak to you about your home life, Captain."
Holly was puzzled. "Sir, I think what I do at home is private."
"When it's mixing with your work it's not. Anyway, I was talking to Trouble earlier; he said you're having a hard time with Amber. Is that why you're always so late for work?"
Holly nodded, reluctantly. "Yes. But it's not Amber's fault. She keeps blacking out and having strange dreams. Only this morning she told me to phone in sick because something awful would happen otherwise."
The commander looked concerned. Holly was shocked, she didn't know that he cared so much about his officers.
"What did you do? She's been right before, hasn't she?"
"Yes, but that was years ago. She was only a baby. I gave her some sleeping liquid and then came here," replied Holly.
"Very well, go to your cubicle, but promise me one thing, any more predictions and you'll tell me?"
Holly nodded and walked from the room. Her cubicle was just around the corner, which was a good thing, as all she wanted to do, was relax in a chair and sort her head out, uninterrupted.
But she was out of luck. No sooner had she sat down, Foaly stuck his head round the door.
"Got a job for ya, Cap'n," he whinnied.
"Oh yeah?" Holly replied. Foaly had taken to calling her Captain or Cap'n instead of Holly or Short or even Kelp, (which she wasn't called at work because there already was a Captain Kelp [Trouble], so to make things easier she remained Short) just because she hadn't been promoted yet. It annoyed her, but there wasn't anything she could do about it.
"Yeah. We got a dwarf topside, no visa no nuthin'. Could be Diggums." The convict had escaped from his cell yet again, much to the Commander's distress. "We need you to do a full reconnaissance and retrieval. You up to it?"
Holly nodded, getting up. Any excuse to get some moonlight. "I'll do the ritual while I'm up there, I need more magic."
Foaly raised his eyebrows. "You got enough to shield?" he asked, quizzically. Remembering one of her previous disasters.
"Yes. Frond put some trust in me will you?" Holly was fed up of everyone doubting her. Didn't she deserve some respect?
"Follow me. You'll have to take the shuttle I'm afraid, the flares are down." Foaly tactfully ignored her last argument.
It was Holly's turn to raise her eyebrows. "Typical! Where am I headed?"
They walked out of the cubicle and into the waiting lift.
"Tara." Foaly replied, as the doors closed. Holly could've throttled him.
"TARA!" She repeated, "It's a full moon, it'll be jammed!"
"You're a trained Lep officer, you'll cope."
The lift glided to a halt. "Right, you need a Neutrino 3000." Neutrino 3000 blasters were another of Foaly's successes. So called because it fired 3000 laser blasts before needing to recharge. Recharging only took 30 seconds, but when caught in a cross fire, being unarmed for 30 seconds could be deadly.
They reached the operations room. Holly marvelled, as she always did, at the equipment hanging on racks.
"Captain!" Foaly, interrupted train of thought. "Stop daydreaming, we're on a schedule. Take these." He handed the neutrino 3000 and a set of Hummingbird Z8's. The next model up from the Z7's.
"Get to it. Tara Shuttle Port, hurry or you'll miss the incoming shuttle."
A/N: Is this chapter long enough for you? Let me know what you think of the story so far. Just press that little button marked 'Go'