Sorry this chapter took so long ot get out - this story's getting really intense - and I have to make sure everything fits. Not to mention the added complication of about 10 different POV's.
A big thanks to my reviewers!
Amanda - Your review was one of the most confusing things I'd ever read, too. It took me a while to understand it. Maybe I shouldn't check my stats so late at night? About the general chaos, never fear, all will be explained in due time… :)
Maybeso - happy now? Lol…
The Fiddler - Who/What is ebil? To your questions: I actually am planning on a possible romance, but if I decide to add it, it will be very secondary to the plot itself. And yes, I am going to try to keep the chars as IC as I possibly can.
Neutralgal - er… checks Ah. You're right. I'll remember that. Thanks!
Demon - Um. No. Keep reading. I'm warning you, the plot I have as of now is very intricate - and it's just getting more complicated… rubs hands together Enjoy!
Chapter 3: The Submarine
xXx
Strong arms gripped Artemis and pulled him out of the water, into the motorboat.
"That was ridiculous!" he spluttered wetly to his rescuers. "You ought to take more care to make sure those things are not loaded before you send people up in them. I could have been killed!"
The rescuers just ignored him, exchanging sly grins.
"Aren't you going to get everyone out of the water?" demanded Artemis.
One of the crewmen turned around to look at him. "But that's where you've got it wrong, sonny," he said, grinning toothily. "All we need is you and him." He pointed to Harry's prone figure on the floor.
Before he could respond, Artemis was grabbed from behind his back, and a gag was stuffed into his mouth. Another man tied his arms and legs.
"Don't get too worried, sonny," leered the thug. "It won't hurt. Not too much..."
Who would want to kill us, indeed, thought Artemis bitterly.
"Can I go home yet?" the man asked. Hopefully he wouldn't be too late to miss 'Home Invaders'
"But, you see, there's a problem there," it said, sounding oddly elated. "If I let you go, you might accidently tell someone what you just witnessed. So, you see…"
It pulled out the Softnose Laser from its belt, and fired, and, with a groan, the man slumped over, dead.
The motorboat zoomed down the Thames, easily breaking all the anti-speed laws in the book. It passed the port of London at full speed much to the dismay of several sailors trying to dock their boat. It wasn't until they had reached the open sea that the boat spluttered to a stop.
"What are you doing with us?" demanded Artemis, at last seeming to have regained his faculties.
"You'll find out soon enough, sonny," promised the the thug, baring his rotten teeth in a nasty grin.
The captain pressed a flashing red button and suddenly something very odd began to happen. Walls of glass began to climb up the boat, creating a capsule of the inside. As soon as the boat was completely airtight, the rushing sound of oxygen canisters releasing their loads reached Artemis' ears.
Ingenius work, thought Artemis, impressed in spite of himself. The technology required to create such a contraption was extensive. Obviously, whoever had kidnapped him was no amateur.
The captain pushed another button, and the boat dove underwater…
Holly followed the motorboat, wings spluttering along at full throttle.
xXx
"Looks like they're heading for open sea," she commented into her earpiece. "but unless they're planning to go to - D'arvit! They've got a submarine…"
"The motorboat, a submarine? I didn't know Mudmen had that kind of technology."
"I don't know, Foaly - but I'm going down - I need to get on that boat."
"Holly, you are Recon, you can't…" A pause, and then, "Ah. Julius…"
"What on earth is -"
"Artemis Fowl and a suspect for counterfeit magic have both been kidnapped by the same party, and we suspect that it might be something more than just another Mudman spat…"
"Foaly, that's speculative!" Root snapped.
"Maybe so, but the whole thing's pretty weird…"
"Short! Whatever crazy stunt you're trying to pull off now, I demand that you stop immediately!"
There was the sound of scraping, and then a muttered curse from the other side of the connection. "Too late anyway… They've sealed themselves in. If only-" Suddenly the was the sound of static, then complete silence.
"SHORT - D'arvit! She's taken off her helmet…" He glared at Foaly as if it were all somehow his fault.
"It's all right, Julius, it's only temporary. In a second -"
"Sorry about that, Commander," Holly apologized, not sounding too apologetic. "I had to get at my locator device somehow…"
"HELMETS ARE NOT TO BE REMOVED WHILE ON DUTY! DO YOU UNDERSTAND?"
"Yes sir, but-"
"NO BUTS ABOUT IT, YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE NOT-"
Foaly elbowed him and pointed to the largest of the many screens in the room, effectively interrupting his tirade. "Look Julius, it's not going to France after all…"
"I don't care, centaur, I have an insubordinate captain here -"
"It's going back up the river… While we track it, should Holly go and check up on the scene of the crime."
"Er, right… SHORT!"
"Sir?"
"Go back to where it all started."
"Yes, sir."
xXx
Ron and Hermione sat dejectedly in the empty common room of the Leaky Cauldron, waiting. Above them, the poster on the wall reading, "Welcome Back Harry!" hung limply, listing slightly to one side, Ron's bad Spellotape job beginning to show itself.
"It's no good, Hermione," he told her gloomily. "The Muggles probably had a change of plans -- he's not coming today."
"You can't say that…" she reminded him, although, she, too, was having the same doubts. "Well - all right… Let's clean up this mess…" she said finally, motioning vaguely at the large cake and party hats that had been placed on the table.
WHUMPH!
"That would be your poster, Ron," she added, pointing towards the fallen object.
Ron grunted, and stooped over to pick it up.
"I wonder where he is, anyway," Hermione mused, gathering up the hats. "This really isn't like him…"
"Oh, I dunno… maybe he got lost, or maybe the Muggles wouldn't let him come… Or maybe their train was late - Wait! That can't be right! He wrote us right after he arrived! What does the letter say again…" He fished a crumpled piece of paper out of his pocket and began to read. "Uh… The Durseleys have decided that they want to do some sight-seeing while in London. I think they mentioned the Eye… Hermione, what's the Eye?"
"It's a ferris wheel, Ron…" she replied long-sufferingly.
"What's a -"
"Ferris wheel? You get into a little compartment and go up and down in the air."
"That doesn't sound very exciting. Isn't that what they have airplanes for?"
"It's not the same, Ron."
"Well - ok… But - get this! Maybe their compartment got disconnected from the ferris thingy and-"
"Ron, that's really not funny…"
xXx
Lol, no cliffie this time…
Review!
PS:I'm having some trouble making lines... is this something new they've done now? They have something against asterisks - they all went away when I tried to upload, and now I'm stuck with these pathetic little xXx thingies... It looks so bad, and it's really confusing... Help, anyone?
