The Family Name: The Artic Incident

By Elbereth in April

Chapter 2: Holly Picks Up Guys

The MPG was untraceable, whatever that meant. Draco sat in the corner and listened to Artemis throwing ideas at Butler. "Not enough definition to get a geographical fix on location, either."

"How fast can we get to Russia?"

"We can't go by air--the Mafiya will have a presence at every airstrip."

"Are we sure it's the Mafiya?"

Butler nodded. "All kidnappings go through the Mafiya."

"They sort of like Death Eaters?" Draco ventured.

"Well, yes, sort of. . ."

"We can take the International Floo Network. But it's rather limited in places like Russia. Only a certain number of substations. Then you'd have to apparate (which we don't know how to do), travel by land or broom, or switch over to a local Floo system. Russia's Floo network isn't the greatest, to be honest."

"How do you know so much about Russia?" Butler asked.

"One of my father's friends, Dolohov, is from there. He went to Durmstrang. That's where Father wanted to send me to school--that's the main reason I speak Russian. Somehow Mother convinced him to send me to Hogwarts instead. But anyway, Durmstrang's in Russia. It has connections with Bulgaria, Poland, the whole Baltic area."

"How about IDs?"

"It might be better to go native," Butler suggested. "Russians arouse less suspicion in Russia. I have passports and visas."

"For Muggles. When you're around Russian wizards, well, frankly it's better to be a pureblood."

Butler and Artemis exchanged a look. Artemis nodded slowly. "We need to move quickly. We need to find these people before they know we're looking. We'll monitor email as we go. We can switch back and forth between Muggle technology and magic as necessary."

Draco sneered. "Muggles and their guns."

"If they can shoot your wand faster than you can say your spell, you're in trouble, Malfoy."

"They have to know to aim for it." Muttering, he added, "Another reason not to mix the breeds."

"Any Russian gangster will assume whatever you've got in your hands is a weapon," Butler interrupted. "They won't wait to think, 'Oh, that's just a pointy stick.' You'll already have a bullet in your heart by the time they think it through. Unless we're careful, this could get bloody, magic or no."

"So," said Artemis, "we'll be careful."

"You've got a plan?"

"By the time we're there, I will have."

Neither Butler nor Draco were overly concerned. When a plan was needed, Artemis always had one.

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Holly watched the three humans walk out toward the car. The boys got in as Butler went around to the other side. Finding Malfoy and Fowl together was either an incredible piece of luck or definite proof the two were working together against the People.

She sighed and checked her gun one last time. Commander Root had sent her to bag these three and she intended to do so, but it did not do to underestimate Butler.

She came at him from the air, flying via the latest Double Dex wing technology. She was shielded, she was silent--she wasn't even breathing-- but Butler stopped, one hand on the car door, and sniffed the air. And he was carrying weaponry--Sig Sauer, according to Foaly's records, nine millimeter. Dangerous.

Holly scowled and released her visor seals, causing a hissing sound that Butler immediately heard and spun toward. "Fairy, I know you're there. Unshield or I start shooting."

'Great,' Holly thought sarcastically. 'This is not how I hoped this would go.' She unshielded, staring directly into Butler's eyes. "Hello, Butler."

Butler's finger was on the trigger of his gun. "Hello, Captain. What are you doing? Don't try any. . ."

"Put your gun away, Butler," Holly commanded, lacing her voice with the hypnotic mesmer.

He fought it, to her chagrin. It took a strong dose of magic before Butler obeyed, and opened the car door. A moment later, she had him seated.

Holly had reshielded, of course. Now she was staring past Butler into the car, where the two boys sat, silent, and somehow alerted to her presence. How did Fowl always know?

Fowl sat calmly in the seat behind Butler, staring right at her. Malfoy sat next to him, wand in hand. Fowl had his right hand held out in the other boy's direction, as if he had just told him to wait--talk first, hex later. "Captain Short, I presume," Fowl said. "Why don't you settle into the visible spectrum?"

Holly did. Both boys stared at the gun in her hand. "Hello, Holly," Draco ventured. "Are you here to arrest Fowl?"

"How did you know I was here?" Holly regarded them with narrowed eyes. Fowl always had some trick up his sleeve.

"Butler didn't check for car bombs, and he left the door open. Plus, I saw a haze as you entered the vehicle. Simple. Now why are you here?"

"As if you didn't know."

"Obviously something has happened. And despite our recent partnership, it would appear I am being held responsible for it." He thought a moment, then raised an eyebrow. "Humans are trading with the People."

"Impressive," Holly scoffed, "or it would be, if we didn't know you're behind it. If we can't get the truth out of you, I'm sure your computer files will prove most revealing."

"Computers again," Draco mumbled, glancing at the laptop on the seat between the boys.

"Captain. Apparently I'm still unforgiven, but I don't have time for this now. Give me a few days and then I'll answer all the questions you want."

"Right, give you enough time to hide all the evidence, is that what you want? Well, nothing doing. There are a few people underground who would like a word."

"What are you accusing him of?" Draco asked, frowning.

Holly grinned at him. "We're accusing you both. You're coming, too, Malfoy."

"What are we supposed to be trading? And with who?" Draco demanded, brushing this off as inconsequential.

"You already know. Now, be quiet. Drive south," she commanded Butler through the mesmer.

"Taking us to Tara, I suppose," Artemis commented. "I've often wondered where exactly the entrance to E1 was."

"Keep wondering, Mud Boy." Holly settled in the passenger seat next to Butler. "Now sleep. All this deduction is wearing me out."

Artemis did so. Butler kept driving.

"You don't believe in innocent until proven guilty, I see. Don't intend to tell us the charges or let us try to prove we're falsely accused."

Holly whipped back around. "Go to sleep, too!"

Draco held up his wand. "Holly, please. Father taught me his spell against your glamour. Look, I'm not going to make trouble," he hastily assured her as she scowled and raised her gun. "Frankly, I think the odds are in your favor. I'm learning to respect Muggle weapons. Not that I'm happy about it. But I would like to know what's ahead of me."

Holly stared at him for a long moment. He sounded so reasonable and polite. "We're just taking you for interrogation," she offered finally. "We won't hurt you or anything. Foaly has ways to tell beyond any doubt if you're involved in the illegal selling of contraband to the People. He can directly search your memories."

Draco nodded respectfully. "Thank you. I can tell you in total honesty that I am not involved in any such activity. I can't say with 100% certainty, but I don't believe Fowl, Butler, or my father are, either. I don't suppose you'll simply take my word, though." He looked at her hopefully.

Holly's scowl softened into a thoughtful frown. If she had to bet, her instinct told her Malfoy was sincere. "If you're innocent, Malfoy, we'll just release you after your questioning. Like I said, we won't hurt you. I promise."

Draco relaxed minutely. Oddly, Holly felt better after he had done so. She scowled again, then consciously forced herself to stop. "Had any dealings with goblins?"

Now Draco frowned. "At Gringott's Bank."

"No that's an entirely different race." Holly leaned back against the seat, facing Draco. "I know the creatures you're referring to. They call themselves goblins, but they're technically a different subspecies--highly intelligent, resourceful independent. No, there's another group of creatures who also call themselves goblins. They live underground, at least they're supposed to, but recently they have become increasingly involved in smuggling. The criminal element is the B'wa Kell goblin triad. They've been coming aboveground more and more, even building their own shuttles. The problem is goblins are as dumb as dirt. They forget to shield, they get caught associating with Mud Men, and then our secret's not a secret anymore. We can't have that, as you know, Malfoy. Trading between Mud Men and fairies is a serious offence."

Draco listened closely and now nodded seriously. "What kind of things would you even trade?"

Holly hesitated. If Foaly hadn't been busy with the goblin shuttle they'd found, he would have been whispering in her ear by now, "Don't tell!" But her instincts were still directing her, and Holly went with them. "Batteries."

Malfoy continued to stare at her. "Batter-what? Is that like cake batter?"

Now it was Holly's turn to stare. "Batteries. They power things--razors, portable CD players, T.V. remote controls. . ."

"Oh--you're talking about something Muggle, aren't you?"

Holly started laughing. This had been what her inner sense must have realized before her brain did. Of course the Malfoy boy wasn't smuggling batteries--he was old, pureblood wizarding stock. He didn't even know what a battery was!

Of course, the same could not be said for Fowl and his accomplices. "All right, Malfoy. Why do you think Fowl is innocent?"

"Because I've been visiting him the last couple days and he hasn't shown any signs of working on such a project. In fact, he has currently dropped everything to go on another rescue mission, and when he wakes up, he is not going to be happy about the delay."

"What kind of rescue mission?" Holly looked over at Fowl with deep skepticism.

"I--think I'd better let him tell you if he's so inclined."

Holly nodded slowly. "Very well. But I'm still taking the three of you underground for questioning. And I really do wish you'd go to sleep now. And put your wand away."

"I'm not sleepy. And you're still holding your gun."

"Hmm." Could she stun him before he cast a spell on her? Probably. Should she? Especially since he seemed to be innocent? "Want me to show you how Fowl's laptop works?" That should keep him occupied and out of her hair.

Malfoy blinked, then smirked. "Show me."

Butler continued to drive.

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"They're innocent," Foaly pronounced, removing the Retimager seals from Fowl's eyes. "He's never even seen a goblin. Nothing incriminating on his computer files, either."

Commander Root scratched his chin as Holly sighed and nodded.

"I'm afraid the LEP pulled in the wrong Mud Men. Wipe em and send em home," Foaly finished.

"Wait a minute." Root held up a hand. "Since they're already here. . ."

Holly's eyes went wide and her mouth dropped open. "Commander, you don't know Fowl like I do. Mellowed or not, give him an opening and he'll be a bigger problem than the goblins."

"Maybe he could help us with the Mud Man problem."

Holly shook her head vehemently. "Fowl already knows too much about our affairs."

"Someone is arming the B'wa Kell," Root snapped, face turning red. "Someone is powering those softnose lasers. The goblins can't have figured this out on their own--they're just too stupid. I have to learn who is behind this, who is the brains of the operation. If Fowl can help with that, I'll ask him!"

Holly looked down. Sure, he'd help. He'd helped them save Officer Kelp. But what was he getting out of it? What would he want this time? Root didn't understand just how devious Fowl could be!

"Wake up the boys, Foaly. Give them translators. Speaking Mud Man gives me a headache."

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Draco rubbed his face, still groggy. Artemis felt the puffiness of the skin beneath his eyes and glanced at Foaly. "Sedative in the seals? Micro needles?"

Foaly looked duly impressed. "You're pretty sharp for a Mud Boy."

Artemis touched a module attached to his ear. "Translator?"

"Did you decide we're not felons, then?" Draco interrupted. He gave Foaly a slow once-over. "You must be the centaur."

A nod. "Foaly."

Artemis smiled. "And this, Malfoy, is the LEPRecon Commander."

The commander glowered darkly, a cigar in his mouth. "Commander Root."

"Now then, Commander, how may I be of service?"

Root chomped down on his cigar. "What makes you think we need you?"

"I'm awake, here, underground. If you didn't need us, you'd have sent us back up and mind-wiped us."

"True enough," Root replied. "Show them, Foaly."

Foaly loaded a computer file, and the screen in front of them lit up with a series of news clips. They showed reports of the B'wa Kell and their smuggling, their sabotage of Koboi Laboratories, and setting fire to businesses that refused to pay protection fees. Then came a report of an angry mob of citizens storming Police Plaza in a protest over the LEP's failure to deal with the goblin problem.

"We don't know who's organizing them," Root told the boys as Foaly froze the images. "But it keeps getting worse. The B'wa Kell seem to have declared war on the police. Then last night we intercepted a delivery of batteries from the surface. These batteries are being used to power outlawed softnose laser weapons."

"Why do you assume there's a human contact?"

"Because goblins are Just. Plain. Stupid. One of their top generals was caught with a forged credit card, because he signed his own name. Trust me, they have to have a human contact to keep the deals from being messed up."

"So you want me to find out who he is and how much he knows."

Draco watched Fowl think. To Draco's mind, this was all Fowl's deal. It was his father, waiting on the line. But he knew what Fowl must be thinking. A trade-off. . . the fairies could a valuable asset to the rescue.

Meanwhile, Root was nodding. "I can't put my agents aboveground. But you humans could blend in."

"If anyone could track down your rogue trader, it's Butler. But. . ." He paused significantly. Root and Holly glanced at each other.

"But? What do you want in return?"

"I need help to get to the Artic Circle. I need help with a rescue."

"Northern Russia isn't good," Root frowned. "We can't shield there because of the radiation."

"That's my condition." Artemis met Root's eyes. "I'm rescuing my father. It may already be too late. I don't have time to negotiate."

Holly's face scrunched up. "Your father?"

"His father," Draco said. "Artemis Fowl the First. He means what he says."

"Deal," Root nodded again, and held out his hand.

Fowl shook it. Draco leaned back in his chair and glanced at Holly. She still looked skeptical. What did it take to convince that girl they weren't evil?

"Good." Root turned to Foaly. "Wake the big one and get that goblin shuttle ready. And you, Holly—as the best shuttle pilot we have--you're going to Paris."

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A/N: I put a lot of the Artic Incident book in unchanged, which I really didn't want to do. But, certain events (like the whole goblin uprising) would take place exactly the same even with Draco in the mix. Plus, I want to make sure you know what's going on, in case you don't remember how the book goes. I'm trying to balance. Let me know what you think.