Disclaimer: I guess you people know by now, but only the plot is mine, the rest is Eoin Colfer's. Thanks!

Thank you: very, very much to Wing Pikepaw: (thank you for reviewing again, you rock!) and yes I agree the chapters are too short, so this new chapter is actually chapters 3 and 4 combined. Thank you! maddisonavenue: well actually I'd never considered Root being naked so I added a bit that says he's wearing his underwear –after all if he was naked, like you said it wouldn't be a very nice situation to visualise! Thanks! Harryzgurl: Hey, thank you R! And the person who cantered into the middle of the room was Foaly, 'cause he's the only one with hooves! Also thank you to: Trouble Kelp and Titanfan. Thanks!

Everyone else: Please review and make me so happy!

Recap: "Holly zoomed off into the chutes. The race was on."

And if you don't know what's happening, read the previous chapters! ;)

Here you go: This is the new chapter, please review as it makes me really cheerful and I go around all day with a big smile! Tell me what you think and I'll try to improve the next chapter for you guys (Yes you, Wing Pikepaw!), and girls! ;)

"Did you know Holly was planning to go?" Questioned Artemis to Foaly. It was kind of hard to speak with a tissue clamped over your nose. A bloodstained tissue may I add.

"Maybe," Foaly smiled.

"Well you know, Foaly," said Trouble Kelp, who had come in to help Butler break up the fight, "you know Holly better than most of us. You're her best friend. Maybe you're more than just friends." He added, after a seconds thought.

"Oh no no dude." Our four-legged friend stepped backwards, tripping over Mulch, who was out cold after a blast from Trouble's neutrino. "We're just friends." He continued. But in his head he wished he could have given a different answer.

The sub soared neatly into the shuttle port. Holly stepped out and looked at her watch, she had 7 ½ minutes. The fairy shouldered her wings and flew off; Holly didn't even know what she was looking for. A body? A pile of bones? And should she call out? Suddenly she spotted something, zooming down for a closer inspection revealed that it was the commander's suit. So, either this was all that was left of Commander Julius Root, the LEP's greatest commander, or Foaly was right and the commander was alive and well. The suit was making a dull buzzing sound….or was it the suit? Holly suddenly noticed a shadow near the chute wall. She took a deep breath and stood up, drawing her weapon. Holly gasped.

The occupants of the room were clustered around the screen at the back. Static for the longest time, then a buzzing sound, quickly followed by a gasp.

"What have you got Holly?" Foaly trembled. His theories did not usually scare him, but then his theories did not usually include his best friend flying through a tunnel without knowing what she would find; when a flare was coming, and soon.

"Who is it?" Holly said. "Come on, show yourself." The shadow stepped out of the darkness. Captain Short stumbled in shock, her neutrino slipped from her hand. In the burst of light that followed –when the gun's trigger came into contact with the ground and the neutrino was set off- Commander Julius Root's face was illuminated –his face was bruised and battered and he was covered in burns and scars, not to mention the fact that he was just in his underwear, but it was the commander, just the same-

"Commander!" Holly whispered in delight. She ran forwards and threw her arms around his neck; leaving them there for a few seconds until the commander cleared his throat. Holly suddenly realised what she was doing. "Commander sir…." Holly drew away in embarrassment, she could just see the headlines now: 'Short sacked for being too emotional. Captain dumped for hugging her superiors.'

Julius Root looked down at the tiny elf staring back up at him. As her deep hazel eyes filled with tears he swallowed, as if to pacify his conscience and then wrapped his arms around Holly comfortingly. They stood there for a few minutes as Holly cried for joy.

"How?….I mean….how? I must be dreaming ….surely!" Suddenly she came to her senses. "Frond, there's a flare due in 3 minutes! We'd better get out of here!" As they ran along the tunnel as fast as Root could go, the commander remarked

"I knew the new emotional Holly was too good to be true." He smiled.

"So you're not going to sack me then?" Asked Holly worriedly.

"Sack you? Whatever for? You saved my life." As they climbed into the sub the commander glanced back at the tunnel through which magma was now flooding dangerously. "If it wasn't for you I'd be fried to a crisp right now. Now let's get this show on the road."

"What show?" Said Holly as she started the ignition. "Where are we going?"