These entrances of mine always start out the same, I need to think of something original… -sigh- It's hopeless…A lot like me. I'm glad I got quite a few reviews first chapter, it was short…to the point, this chapter will be my –first ever- long chapter. Even though I always say that, I reallyyy mean it this time.
Thank you's:
Cocoaducks: I'm not telling, it may. :D
Lemu91: Thanks, keep reading!
VGW: Awwww, I hope you're feeling better now : )
VampirePeaches: Of course he couldn't forget (neither could we ;) Keep reading!
OrlandoObsessed: Thanks so much, that's probably one of the best praises I could get : ) Hope you like this chapter.
Mellabee: Awww Mellabee, don't cry –hands you a tissue- As I said, they may be ; )
Cookiemonster: o0o Thankies : )
Disclaimer: I don't own anything that Eoin owns… (in the books)
Wouldn't mind the car though… Wonder if he has a nice car… Probably, he's rich, or so we'd think…
Chapter 2
Butler was dead, gone to somewhere even humans hadn't discovered yet. Artemis knew this already, just couldn't get over it, even though Butler had grown older over a short period of time, he needed protection, he needed a friend. What would he do if somebody decided to come after him? He was underage to drive, had potentially no athletic ability, his brain came up with the answers, not his body.
Artemis had done faint research on afterlife's, what had come up was faint, information he already knew. Nothing about retrieving a dear companion, he needed to think of something else.
Artemis (A/N: I almost typed Artykins…) sat in his meditating position, trying to clear his mind of the confusion, only thinking of the bare necessities, something unusual for a boy who had thought up of plans that risked almost everything. He tried to think, he really did, nothing came. It wasn't his thoughts that disturbed him, it was his feet. Butler had taught him how to put his feet while meditating, without Butler, he instantly forgot. He tried to feel more airy, as though he were floating, this had sometimes helped, he did try…furiously failing. A loud ring had shattered his concentration.
He stumbled off the chair (A/N: Well it's HARD trying to jump off a chair while your feet are all tangled up like that) and scrambled over to his desk where he dug through his pile of papers until he clamped onto his cellular phone and clicked it open.
"Hello Fowl resi-"
"Hi!" came an extremely perky female voice, cutting him off. "I was wondering if you would like to buy our new inflata-"
"How do you know this number?"
"Lucky guess,"said the voice still high-pitched. "Well we only sell for three hundred dollars each, you get three for 1600, a true bargain."
"Eh…," said Artemis, wondering how many people had actually considered this.
"We sell inflatable toys! But you know," she stopped and giggled. "Not THOSE kind of toys."
Artemis wasn't listening to the annoying telemarketer, a icon flashed on his screen. He had one new email message. He flipped back down his cell, instantly hanging up on the woman. Sitting up on his swivel chair, he untangled his mouse and clicked it.
"Dear Artemis,
Your presence was missed at the last meeting, and now I cannot trust to do business with you. If you wish to proceed with your last chance, you shall meet me in China, exactly a week from the day this was sent, on time. You will fly here, I'm sure as your butler will escort you and seeming appropriate, we will send a helicopter to China's western airport to come get you, if you reply to this message. The location is my own office building, where as you already know, we deal with transportation. From there, we will do business. Reply quickly with your answer.
D.H. Barren
Artemis could've slapped himself. Barren, of course! The man didn't know about Butlers…disappearance, but offered to do business again, at his office, which delt with transportation. Transportation, perhaps not only having to do with airplanes and such...
He spared no time, and quickly typed his answer.
"Yes, I agree."
He clicked send, as he leaned back in his swivel chair, placing his fingertips together and grinning gleefully.
"I have not given up on you Butler, my friend."
Artemis sat on his bed late that evening. He had packed everything he may have needed, Butler normally would have packed for him, knowing exactly what he would want, what he would need, things were different now, he needed to get over it, move on…that was until he got Butler back of course, if he did.
He knew what he had to do the next day; he'd have to book a private jet, and from there, he would comprise a plan together. The transportation industry Barren was part of, may offer him more than everyday transportation. Maybe, just maybe he could come across somebody who knew something of time travel…though his chances were slim. Exhausted, he clicked off the light, closing his eyes, not feeling completely safe.
Artemis slapped down his phone on the table, rushing to gather his last minute things together. There was a bead of sweat dripping down the side of his head. Sweat? From Artemis Fowl? Not something you see everyday, maybe he should start getting out more often…
Finally slamming his trunk closed, he wheeled it down the stairs, wincing at the loud thuds it made. The private plane he had booked would be at the airport, he needed to be there by 8am, it was 7:12. The limousine he had just called would be there in a 15 minutes time. It was a tight schedule, but the thought of walking the three kilometers to the airport nearly killed him (Terry Fox did 42km a day, gosh…).
He sat on a large red leather armchair near the front doors, again, passed down from generations of Fowls. The chair was in perfect condition, and quite comfy, he'd never actually used it, naw, he preferred swivel chairs (A/N:I just like them for the adjuster, ya know, going up and down on them)
As he sat, he thought of what had happened in the past day. Meditation, Barrens e-mail, telemarketer…
The telemarketer made him think back;
"How do you know this number?"
"Lucky guess,"His eyes watered, only Butler knew the number…
There was a loud honk and Artemis could have jumped three feet in the air, he only managed one, but it was enough. He quickly peered out the window and the limousine was waiting there, respectively. The driver was sitting reading the paper, he looked like an airhead to Artemis. Nevertheless, he gathered his luggage, and wheeled it out the front door.
The limousine driver, just now remembering that luggage was his job, set down the paper in between the two front seats and hurried out to help Artemis.
The driver approached Artemis, spitting out the piece of grass he had been chewing and peering at the pale teen.
"You're underage, we don't take minors kid."
Artemis resisted the urge to roll his eyes, obviously this driver didn't know who he was speaking to.
"Perhaps underage, but I Monsieur, have intelligence beyond most adults, certainly one as yourself. I wish you to take my luggage to the vehicle."
The unfortunate man stared at Artemis, confused. Had the boy just insulted him? Ah, he best stay quiet, a kid living in this type of home must have a ton of money. More money meant big tips.
Artemis climbed into the limo, grimacing at the horrible smell of leather. If he was just a few years older he could've drove the Bentley, the Bentley that was now in a junkyard somewhere… Even being in any type of automobile made him feel queasy these days.
The driver finally returned from loading the baggage. He opened the car door and sat, sticking in his key and turned on the ignition.
"So, where are we off to, Mister ah…"
"Fowl." Artemis said as he checked his well-polished nails. "To the airport if your brain cells, or should I say lack of, can process that much information."
The driver's eyes flashed at Artemis in the driver mirror.
"You giving me lip, Fowl?"
Artemis smiled deviously. "No Monsieur, continue driving."
The rest of the journey was silent, and the driver didn't speak until they arrived at the airport and had finished unloading Artemis's bags.
"Don't you think I deserve a tip kid?"
This time Artemis didn't smile. "I don't reward those that are lower than me."
The man stood frozen and watched as Artemis walked away with his luggage. Sure, the kid was a genius, but he could do with some manners. He shook his head and proceeded back towards the drivers door.
"Artemis!"boomed a voice from behind him, and Artemis turned to face the booming voice.
Approaching his was a tall man in a pilot suit, with a rather large bushy moustache and dark brown hair.
"Ah, Henry, we meet once again,"said Artemis, extending an arm and shaking the mans hand. "I'm assuming you're piloting my private plane?"
"Yes, I just came in to get a bottle of water," said Henry peering out the surrounding glass. "It's horribly humid outside, I don't like it, I can sense a storm. On other news, why don't you get your stuff and come out to the plane with me, make yourself comfy, just give me a minute…"
Henry fumbled in his pocket for change to put in the vending machine.
"So where's Butler? He's supposed to be with you at all time isn't he?"
Artemis' facial expressions didn't differ the slightest bit. "Butler will not be escorting me on this trip for certain reasons."
Henry didn't continue the conversation. When Artemis had that cold look, it was time to drop it.
"So Artemis,"said Henry, carrying the boys luggage up the small aircraft's stairs. "pick any seat, we'll be leaving shortly." He tapped a small speaker beside one of the seats. "Just buzz in if you need anything, I'll be back soon, I just need to speak with the other pilots."
Artemis said nothing, but moved towards a blue upholstered seat as Henry dissappeared from the door-frame. Henry was a good man, Artemis had flown with him many times before, never had a delayed ride once.
Artemis gingerly picked up a bag of peanuts that were sitting neat and formally in the drink hole beside him. They still had peanuts on airplanes, typical. Big bold letters on the bag caught his eye.
CONTAINS NUTS
Artemis felt disgusted. A bag of peanuts containing nuts, naw, never…it just proved how low humans were really sinking. He dropped the bag back into the drink holder and sat up, just as Henry reappeared in the doorway.
"Ok Artemis, we're taking flight as soon as I take away these stairs, buckle up."
Artemis didn't need to be told twice, vehicle crash deaths were mostly caused by unbuckled seatbelts. He buckled up as he heard the door slam shut as Henry entered the pilot's part of the plane along with another man Artemis had never seen or met.
"This Artemis, is Roshwell, he's going to be the assistant pilot for this flight."
Roshwell resembled much of Henry, moustache and all, but his hair was white, and he looked much more unfriendly.
The two proceeded to the front of the plane, and soon the sound of the engine starting filled Artemis' ears. The sound would die down in a bit, it always did. He remembered Henry talking about a storm. He wasn't worried about that either. He'd flown with Henry through many storms.
The pale teen stared out the window, his hands in his lap, waiting for take off.
Artemis was busy typing on his laptop, writing code that would take money from Scottish bank accounts and transferring them to an isolated one of his own. It was now dark outside and it was at least 3 hours since they had taken off from the ground. He was sure that if he was outside, he would have been deafened by the howling of the wind. The plane had occasionally swerved, sometimes violently, but no sound came through. All had been silent, other than the clicking of the keys. Now Artemis heard voices from the front of the plane. They were muffled, but sounded urgent.
Artemis closed his laptop slowly, about to work his way to a seat up near the pilots room, but was stopped by a blaring voice from the intercom speaker beside him.
"Artemis! Use the pillow in the back of the chair, and press your face into it. Stay buckled, I repeat! Use the pillow from in the back of the chair and stay buckled, we're making an emergency landi-"
Henry's voice was cut off, and seconds later, Artemis felt a jolt and the plane crashed against ground before Artemis had a chance to grab hold of anything, and he lurched forward, slamming into the seat ahead.
I'm finishheeddddddddd mwhahaha, I'm also very mean :) But I'm finished, finally…
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No sillies, not the fic, just the chapter.
So, how was it? Sorry for the HUGE updating delay, this was and probably will remain the hardest chapter to write. The ideas for next chapter are ready to spill if I don't write them down.
Please Review, it won't take away much of your life, only a minute.
Thanks to all reviewers who reviewed last chapter!
Oh, and sorry for the format, by laptop needs to get a different typing program still.
Till I pluck a chicken,
.::The OddBird::.