Chapter Eleven: Decisions

Author Note: Oooh, what's gonna happen? Just so you know if I've confused you, Yetty and Artemis are only friends. Well, happy reading.

Artemis, Holly, Yetty and Mulch dived out from behind their cover and aimed their neutrinos at the guards. The guards dived out of the way but Artemis caught one on the leg. The stun knocked the fairy unconscious and he landed in a heap on the tiled floor. Another was taken out by Holly, which left only four and Sool, who had run away from the fight. Yetty was taken out of the fight by a laser blast to her leg. She soon fell unconscious from blood loss as it leaked from her wound. Holly couldn't go to heal her though, as she was busy fighting the guards. She took out the one who had shot Yetty. She ducked and rolled as she avoided the blasts and shot another blast at the guards. Another one fell unconscious and then there were three left. Artemis knocked out another one but was hit by a laser and fell into a heap at the top of the stairs, which had become black and charred from the lasers. Holly aimed a blast at one of the guards who dodged it but the stun hit his gun, which then fell to the floor. The same happened with the other guard and he lost his weapon as well. Mulch quickly aimed himself at one of the guards and jumped on him. Mulch punched, kicked and bit every part of the guard he could reach and the poor guy was left yelping in pain.

While Mulch handled that one, Holly took on the other as she kicked him in the chest but he grabbed Holly by the shoulders. She retaliated by head butting him in the face. The fairy was left with a bloodied and broken nose from the blow but Holly finished him off with a knee to his groin. The guard fell to the floor gasping for breath. Before him even hit the floor, Holly was making her way up the stairs towards Artemis and Yetty. But then it hit her, Artemis wasn't there. She decided to deal with it later since Yetty needed a healing. Blue sparks once again came and healed Yetty's wound. The girl jerked awake and gave a small smile of thanks to Holly. Then they both got up and turned to find Sool and the base of the stairs with Artemis beside him in a heap on the floor and the unconscious forms of fairies around them. Holly was momentarily taken aback at how Sool had gotten hold of Artemis but she pt it into the back of her mind as she took a step towards Sool and Artemis.

'Don't move,' said Sool, razing a blaster at Holly, who now had no weapons at her disposal. Holly stopped dead in her tracks as she glared daggers at Sool. Oh, how she hated that impudent excuse for a Commander. He grinned evilly, knowing how she felt about him and it pleased him to know that all she could do was stand there. 'Now that I have your attention,' he continued, 'Come down here, all of you, one at a time and allow me to cuff you, or the Mud Boy dies.' To make his point clear he kicked Artemis and the boy gave a small groan of pain. Holly immediately started to walk down the stairs towards Sool, Mulch reached out a hand to stop her but she gave him a nod and he let her go. Sool reached behind his back and pulled out a pair of handcuffs. He held them out, ready to put them on Holly, as she made his way towards him. Sool kept the gun pointed at Artemis as she neared him, ready to shoot if she made any attack at him. But she did something else, something that completely shocked everyone, including Artemis who was regaining consciousness. She started to flirt with Sool.

'Don't worry, I'll come quietly,' she said, batting her eyelashes.

'Good, because one wrong move and the Mud Boy gets it.'

Holly tried desperately not to roll her eyes, what a cliché. Instead she continued to flirt, 'Oh, I don't really care if you kill the Mud Boy. I just want you all to myself.' She gave him a small wink. Sool looked suddenly uneasy as he realised what Holly was doing.

'Hold out your arms Short,' he commanded.

She did so and wiggled her arms in his face, 'Ooh, I didn't know you liked it kinky. Anyway, if you wanted me to yourself all you had to do was ask.'

Sool put the handcuffs on her and turned rather pale as he gazed at the pretty ex-captain. 'Now Short, stop that.'

'Stop what?' she asked innocently as she put her cuffed hands on his shoulder. He slackened his grip on the gun pointed at Artemis. Just as he was about to reply to what she had said, she head butted him in the face and kicked him in the stomach again. He fell to the floor unconscious like the rest of his men. Mulch quickly ran down the stairs and unlocked her handcuffs. He looked up at her with a look of disgust and admiration on his face. Artemis slowly got to his feet and brushed the dust from his suit. He looked at Holly and was about to say something when six people appeared at the doorway. The doors were still open from when the fairies had opened them.

'Ah,' said Holly as she immediately scanned the room full of LEP operatives.

'Don't worry Holly, these are Yetty's friends, they already know all about fairies.'

'OK, that's good because I have no idea how to explain all of this to anyone.' She gave a sigh of relief but just then, there was a cry of, 'Arty' and Becky ran into the room, throwing her hands around the young boy. She started to kiss him but Artemis pulled her off him. Holly turned away from them looking sulky but what she heard next made her turn around again.

'Becky,' said Artemis, 'I'm really sorry but I can't be with you.'

The girl looked shocked for a moment but then looked over at Holly. 'Is it because of her?'

'I'm afraid it is,' replied the young genius as he pulled Holly over. 'I didn't realize it, but I have always loved Holly. I'm really sorry Becky.' He looked down at his feet but looked up again at what Becky said next.

'It's OK Artemis, I knew you two would be together.'

'How?' He gazed at her questioningly and so did Holly.

'The way you are in the books, the way you fight and stuff. It was obvious.' She gave him a small smile and turned away to talk with Yetty. Artemis and Holly glanced at each other and started to laugh. Mulch came over to them and gave them a smile, which said, 'I-knew-you-two-would-hook-up'. They laughed even harder and then Artemis went over to Yetty and her friends. They smiled at him and he smiled back. Yetty spoke first.

'I guess this means good-bye then.'

'I guess so, but remember, you're always welcome here.' They all smiled at Artemis.

'What about Butler?' Becky asked.

'Oh yes, we need to get him out of prison,' Artemis mused. 'You don't have to come though.'

'We probably shouldn't, my parents will be wondering where I am. But thanks Artemis,' said Yetty.

'For what,' he asked puzzled, 'I got you kidnapped by a lunatic and turned your life upside down?'

'For an amazing adventure, and being a good friend.' She winked at him and said good-bye. They left and Artemis was left with Holly and Mulch.

Author Note: Yay, last but one chapter. I've only got one more left, yay. If you like my writing, then keep your eyes peeled for more of my stuff as I will continue to write fan fiction. Also, yeah Artemis and Holly ship. WOAH. As well, really sorry for making Holly flirt with Sool but I couldn't resist, it was sooo funny. Well, anyway, last chapter will be coming soon. YAY!