0isclaimer: I do not own the rights to Artemis Fowl. All rights go to Eoin Colfer.

Well, I'm back! Here's chapter 4 of Encrypted Trouble.

To : Yeah, I know it was kind of early for a kiss, but I figure that with everything Arty's been through, he needed to relax. (She came on to him as well, and he can't fight a girl. He'd lose too badly.) : )

Chapter 4: Diggum' Up

En route from Chute Terminal E1, to Tara Ireland

Mulch Diggums was trying to concentrate on the statistics that Foaly had given to him. He really was. It was hard to do with a group of his brother dwarves sitting two seats away and singing his school's fight song. He looked at his partner with envy. She was just sitting and relaxing while he had to try and learn. Once at Fowl Manor Foaly would give a briefing to everyone, but Mulch was the only one unfamiliar with most scientific terms. Well, Butler might also not understand, but the body guard still knew more than him. And Foaly wasn't even here to explain things to him either. He was sitting at the back of the shuttle in a special area for centaurs. Nice big cushy seats, not like the one he had been stuffed into. He looked up from the confusing Gnommish and was relieved to see the shuttle port lights through the view port.

Twenty minutes later, the fairy, dwarf and centaur were on their way to Fowl Manor in the back of a sleek Bentley. Butler was driving while Artemis sat and watched the group, with particular interest in Foaly. The scientist was having a hard time finding a way to sit, and was constantly shifting. Every time Artemis tried to speak, Foaly world move about. It was distracting to have a mythical creature pawing at the expensive upholstery. Instead, the Mud Boy had settled for taking Mulch's papers and studying them, getting through the whole pile in then short drive to the manor. Holly cast Mulch a burning look, knowing that he had only gotten to page three. He avoided her gaze and simply looked out the window, humming a little tune.

"You'll have to e very quiet. My parents are home but will be leaving shortly for a weekend seminar in Dublin. We'll have three days to solve your little problem." Artemis explained. "You're all invited in, of course, and Holly, you can just shield, but Mulch and Mr. Foaly…"

"I'll take care of that Artemis," Butler said from the front seat. "You two just stay in the car with me, got it?"

"Yessir, Butler sir," Mulch said mockingly. Butler pulled the car in front of the main doors and cast Mulch a withering glance. "Don't look at me like that. If it wasn't for me, trolls would still be plucking Arty here out of their teeth."

Artemis chose that moment to leave the car, hiding the grimace on his face. He waited for the shielded Holly to step out, then closed the door. He walked up the front steps, and cautiously opened the door. If his parents were still packing they mightn't notice the shimmer following him. Unfortunately, both were standing at the bottom of the stairs.

"Oh good. You're home just in time to see us off," Angeline looked up from her suitcase to smile at Artemis. "Once we get these bags to the car we'll be gone. Are you sure you'll be alright without us?"

"Mother, of course I'll be fine. You just enjoy yourselves.," Artemis senior nodded at his son, lifting one of the suitcases and heading towards the garage. His mother gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and followed her husband.

As soon as he heard the garage door close, he gave Holly the all clear. He was surprised to see her staring at him with s grin on her face.

"What?"

"Do you always call her 'mother'? Or just when fairies are around?" She asked, a mischievous look in her large hazel eyes.

"Always. What else would I call her?" Before Holy could respond, she heard a clicking on the marble tile floor. In a moment, Foaly, Mulch, and Butler stepped out into the hallway.

"Alright, let's go to the study," Artemis said. He paused, as if in thought. He shook his head. "This way. The group started up the stairs, Artemis and Mulch whispering in front, and Holly and Foaly whispering in back.

"Why does the study have to be on the second floor?" Foaly moaned. He could get up steps easily in Haven, but here the stairs were farther apart, made for large humans, not hooves. This was the reason he had failed gym class, the only class he hadn't passed in his whole life. His gym teacher had said his hooves were weak, but his mother insisted that they were dainty. He had always been an inventor, and didn't work out. He was very healthy though, even with grateful LEP officers forcing carrots on him. Well, only one grateful officer. But it was the thought that counted.

At the top of the stairs, Foaly imagined what technologies would await him. To his surprise, only a handful of computers and a few television screens. He could only hope that the information was worth it.

Artemis sat down, gesturing for everyone to follow. Foaly went to the nearest computer and uploaded the data he'd collected. Then he had Artemis hook it up to the projector. In moments, everything was on the screen.

"Now, before I was suspended, I was helping the LEP with this case. However, Sool didn't like my harmful jokes and kicked me out,"

"What exactly did you say to get suspended. It's not like you're easily expendable," Fowl asked. Finally, Foaly thought, someone who really understands me.

"All I did was send a letter to a couple of fairies at a website. It wasn't my fault that they published it." Foaly quickly changed the subject. "There have been a series of robberies in high security compounds. Each item hasn't been released to the public or has been patented. That means whoever took them could claim it as their own invention. At first, it wasn't a big deal. At Police Plaza, that was for sure. But one of the companies hired Holly and Mulch to investigate in a more thorough manner. When I was suspended, I found that Holly was on the case and decided to team up. It took a few days to get all the information I had since I had to avoid Sool, but I got it. Our reports didn't contain information as detailed as Holly's, but we managed to compare notes." He paused, puling up the information on the computer. "It appears that the B'wa Kell is back."

"How did you reach that conclusion? From everything I've heard, there were only scattered remnants after foiling the rebellion." Smart Mud Boy, Foaly thought to himself.

"Well, that's what we thought as well. But the triad took a few centuries to gain power. Even our efforts were only a minor setback. In fact, there a more goblin smuggling rings than I can count," Holly explained. "Most of the larger groups started fighting for power after the B'wa Kell's fallout. But it appears that they may have united and are following the tactics of the original triad."

"And now, they've had an example of a rebellion that failed," Artemis mused. "They could simply copy the same rebellion technique but without the traitorous elf and pixie. Is that what you've come up with?"

"Yes, it just took us a bit longer," Foaly muttered. "Except, they might have a traitorous pixie or elf with them."

"Not Opal? Surely behind bars--" Artemis started, but Foaly interrupted.

"Her trial is in three days. And she's on bail. As long as she doesn't leave haven, she can do anything."

"But shouldn't the LEP have frozen her accounts?" Butler asked, but Holly was already shaking her head.

"Before the rebellion, she began siphoning money into personal box accounts. They're similar to the Swedish banks famous here, she can put anything in and the government can't touch it. The system is meant for personal effects such as heirlooms and stuff like that, but she put gold bars in. Opal isn't as rich as she was, but she is still rich enough to get goblins on her pay roll. And Koboi Laboratories still belong to her, even though it isn't making much of a profit, it can still be a head quarters."

"Do you know that it's her for a fact?"

Holly and Foaly glanced at each other.

"Well, not really, but if she is found guilty she's going to Howler's Peak. A rebellion would get her out." Foaly said. Holly nodded in agreement.

"And, goblins on the street think that Cudgeon betrayed her as well as the triad. They think she was with them all the way."

Artemis, focusing his thoughts, then noticed something else. "Only the goblins in Howler's Peak could possibly know that she also betrayed them. And they would be her cellmates. I doubt she wants to be with them after what she did."

"Exactly," Foaly said. "Now, I've devised a plan to catch Opal, but I needed a powerful computer to do it. That's why we're here and--"

Foaly didn't get to finish his statement, because the proximity alarm had just gone off, and Butler and Holly had gone over to the security monitors. Mulch ran to the window.

"Hey Arty! We've got company!" he cried, slamming the window shut.

"If it's a fairy they're not invited!" Artemis called.

"It's not a fairy!" Butler said. Now it was time to do his job. He grabbed Artemis by the shoulder, ready to throw him from the room when something burst through the glass and fell on the floor.

Okay, that's chapter 4. If you liked it please tell me!