Hi. I read OD yesterday, and had a good cry over it again. Reading through the books keeps me to the characters better. Thanks for all the reviews. People are saying we're not supposed to respond, and some say we can. Someone tell me what's going on! That's all. On with the story, at any rate.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything except the things I own. The things I own are the things not owned by Colfer. Colfer owns everything except the things I own. The things Colfer own are the things I do not own. :) Try that one, all you people who think you're the next Artemis Fowl.
Trouble crouched in a stalactite formation, watching Foaly's house, and carefully punching in the letters on his phone. It took longer, since he couldn't look at it. If Sool found out… he'd be dead.
He hit send, and waited. Minutes past. Ten minutes. Fifteen. Thirty.
The front door opened, and Mulch ambled out, opening the car door, and turning as Foaly called something. After a moment, he nodded, and climbed inside, slamming the door.
Sool's voice startled him. "Where's Holly?"
"I don't know, sir. She didn't come out, obviously. Do you think she's hiding in the back, and is going to meet Mulch somewhere?" He was sure Holly wouldn't do something like that. Not unless she had something bigger planned as well. It was too obvious.
"But how would she know?"
Trouble shifted, squinting after the car, as is swung from side to side in it's lane. Definitely Mulch driving. "She practically told the Council to be waiting to arrest her. She knows it too."
"You're right. Turn on your wings, and do an aerial."
For an instant, he paused, giving Holly a moment longer. Then, he flicked on his power, and rose into the air.
In the car, Mulch was hastily calling a friend of his, asking for a place to hide. Holly crouched in the back, keeping the camouflage on high power. She would need her magic for later, but she couldn't risk being seen. Hopefully, Trouble was covering for her, and giving them extra time. Sooner or later, someone would guess, and go over the recordings again.
She pulled the chain around her neck out of the suit, holding Artemis's ring tightly in her palm. He'd remembered. And maybe the spark was becoming a flame. Or maybe not.
What had happened yesterday? What had happened that either Artemis had carefully planned and not told anyone about? What had made him do that? Or, what had been waiting for Artemis, that was brilliant enough to take him by surprise, and make him a captive?
Artemis lay still, trying to collect himself. He was controlling his breathing, and his eyes were shut, giving him a little more time. A queasy feeling was still bothering him a little, but not quite so much as half an hour ago.
So far, he had learned that he was alone; strapped spread-eagle to either a cot, an operating table, or the floor; that he had a needle in his arm, and was probably on drip which accounted for the weak feeling in him; and that it was dark.
As far as what had happened, he wasn't quite sure. He guessed, at any rate, that he was going to be used as a mastermind behind some scheme or other. Hopefully not one to take over the world. That was getting to be a bit of a cliché. The LEP were not involved, but probably investigating. It would be big news if he just disappeared.
With Julius dead, however— He hoped Holly knew what was going on. The slimeball in charge would certainly restrict things. If Holly was aware though, she would be here sooner or later. Hopefully sooner. That would be nice. But these things never tended to be nice.
There was a click, and a sudden flash of light that hurt, even with his eyes closed. "Hello, Artemis Fowl. The Artemis Fowl. I know you're awake; my monitors have confirmed that with your brain activity. You're thinking. You will be doing a lot of that."
He listened closely. There was no sound of anyone in the room. Just the voice. It was remote access. Probably someone being broadcasted. Whoever was in charge.
The lights dimmed. "Open your eyes."
Artemis did not move. His glasses were not on. The messer could be exercised, even over a screen.
"I asked you to open your eyes."
"I am Artemis Fowl," said Artemis, in his best scary movie voice. One that was hard, and cold, and evil. One that chilled the brave and heartless alike. His most powerful, commanding voice. "I do what I please. I am above your games. What will you offer me, in exchange for my help?"
"You're in no position to bargain." The man speaking sounded a little less cocky now. Less sure of himself. A little afraid.
"Are you?" Artemis was taking great delight in playing an evil mastermind again. It was fun: scaring people with his vampire act. "Think carefully, small one. I am Artemis Fowl."
Maybe it was a bit dramatic, and not him. But this fairy did not know him. And in dramatic situations, the dramatic bits did not stand out. They were very real to the observer.
"There… isn't much to give to someone like you."
Artemis smiled. "What I want is something you have— or rather, will have. And would be happy to give. I merely wish for technology. I know what you want. It will not greatly undermine you."
"You don't understand my plan."
This was interesting. The little man already had something worked out. Artemis would not be starting from scratch. "Oh?"
"I, of course, will be the one taking over. But the LEP will suspect you instead. They're already investigating. And of course, they did a very poor job. I made sure of that." There was a slight laugh, mixed with a snarl. It reminded Artemis very much of… Sool. And perhaps it was. He had only seen him a few times though.
"What if I choose not to cooperate?" Artemis sighed, as though he were talking with a simple minded three-year old.
"You will not have a choice. Open your eyes."
Artemis steeled himself, and opened his eyes, careful not to look directly at the screen.
"Can you see me?"
"Not well," he lied. "Your cohort took my glasses. Usually, I wear contact lenses. Just not on business trips. They can be extremely bothersome at times, and hinder me."
Grumbling to himself, the man turned and said something into a panel. What it was, exactly, Artemis could not hear, since his own communications had been turned off.
A moment later, the door opened, and a squat gnome marched in, jamming the glasses onto Artemis's head. "There you go, your highness." And he marched back out again, slamming the door with a force that was amazing, for such a small person.
Artemis immediately felt better. The glasses were always on mirror, but not one that was visible. You needed an infrared light to see it. Now, all he had to do, was play along, like he had done almost a year before when the fairies had mindwiped him.
"Look at me, Artemis Fowl."
Artemis flexed his fingers slightly, and shut his eyes. No doubt, if he really wanted to, he would be able to get off the table. But right now, he preferred to wait, and listen to this insane plan for taking over the world.
He froze suddenly, and flexed again. His ring. What had he done with his ring? He had been playing with it. Then shot. Perhaps when he'd fallen, it had slipped off. It was really quite childish to become so attached to an object. It was the memory and the meaning that counted.
Still though, he hoped he would get it back.
"Alright then, don't look at me. We can deal with all of that later. Right now, I'll explain things to you." There was a rustling sound, and he seated himself. "I am LEP Commander Sool, as you may have guessed. In approximately twenty-seven hours, I am going to launch three of the earth's biggest nuclear war heads. One at Tokyo, one at the north-east metropolis area in the US, and another at Mexico City."
Artemis shook his head in disgust. Sool reminded him of Spiro and Opal. Useless killings. What did it mean?
"That of course, will assure the humans that they are perfectly right in fighting back at the People. The People have started it. You, Artemis Fowl, will be: The Hero, helping to organize disaster relief, and counseling the UN on the best way to retaliate. I will stay below, doing my best to: 'fight back'. Then, right before the humans reach us, I will 'die', and escape to the top, where I will live in luxury, using you for a puppet king."
"What about the People?" asked Artemis calmly, as if he heard these revolting schemes everyday.
"That's simple. You will persuade the world, that fairies are really animals, and take them for slaves. I believe that sort of thing has happen before, based on skin color. It shouldn't be very hard to prove us: animals, of sorts. You can be very persuasive when you want to be, Artemis Fowl."
Artemis took a deep breath, resisting the urge to shudder. It was by far the most sickening idea he had ever heard.
"Oh yes," said Sool cheerfully. "You might be worried about Holly Short. As well you should. I missed killing her by so much. If I have your cooperation, she will not be hurt, and I will make sure she is in your 'reward', for being: The Hero. It's very simple. And of course, you will be well accommodated for, as my mouthpiece. Not to worry. As king, of course, you will have access to every piece of technology you want."
"You speak as if you are sure of my aid and heartfelt cooperation," said Artemis coldly. "I assume you have something better to offer than technology, and Holly?"
"You don't value her life then?"
He let his lips twist into a smile. "You don't know her very well. She's saved the world before, and she's quite good at it. I'd say you're underestimating her. If it meant giving her life, she'd do it. And she'd be furious if I let her live, and killed the others."
"What if she believed you had gone bad? What if I killed her by torture, making her believe that you were watching for amusement before going to bed? What then?"
For once, Artemis quite honestly did not know what to say.
An hour later, after driving through a maze which would have lost anyone, Mulch pulled up in back of a bar, by running into a garage wall. "This is a tough place, Holly. Keep up your edge, and come on."
Exhilaration swept over Holly in huge waves. She could practically smell all the arrests that needed to be made. But she was going to be hidden by them, and that was that. As a matter of honor, they would have to do something first, before she could make any moves.
Slowly, she stepped out, pulling off the suit, and folding it neatly. She didn't want to stand out that much, though she was sure she'd be the only woman in there.
"You going to keep your gun with you?" asked Mulch doubtfully.
Oh. That would be a good thing. Holly pulled a small handgun out of it's holster, and slid it into her jacket's shoulder holster before putting it on. And a knife might be good too. She tucked that away, made sure her boots were tied, and followed Mulch towards the door.
When Mulch stepped in, there were plenty of good-natured hellos. "So who's your friend who needs hiding, Mulch?" laughed someone.
Holly swallowed. He hadn't mentioned who she was. That was not a good sign. She took one more deep breath, and shouldered open the door, keeping her fingers tight around her knife.
The silence hit her like a wall. Almost every single person in the room had run into Holly Short at one time or other in her career at the LEP. She'd even arrested two or three. And those who hadn't run into her knew who she was. It was hard not to.
"Well, well," drawled someone towards the other side of the room. "It's the most esteemed Captain Holly Short. You've come to arrest us all, I see. What'd you do?"
Holly glanced around, looking for the cleanest chair. Then, she picked up the occupant, dropped him on the floor, and seated herself, setting her feet on the table in several persons faces, and the middle of a card game. "Wouldn't you like to know, old chap?"
The men at the table glared at Holly, but did not attempt to remove her feet. They played around them.
"Yes, I would, actually." It was a pixie that Holly had arrested four times. And one who had been severely annoying. He kept rattling on and on about how gorgeous she was. How she could have made a fortune as a hit woman. Things like that.
"I was in a session with the Council this morning," said Holly, pulling out her computer, and finding the place where she wanted the tape to roll.
"After— after he knifed you?" Holly had the feeling the speaker knew who 'he' was. "Man, you're hard to get. He's never missed a target in his entire life, and he's not happy. Especially since you got his number, girlie."
"Don't call me that," scowled Holly, and hit the play button.
"Miss Short? You are listening, aren't you?"
"No. Do go on though."
"Miss Short?"
"What now?"
"What can you possibly find more interesting in that watch, than listening? Fowl is public enemy number one, if he goes back to his old ways, which he very well may be doing. May I ask why you are so interested in that watch?"
"I'm not. It's just that it's face is a lot more beautiful than yours."
"I don't think you understand, Miss Short—"
"Miss Short!"
"You know what? I'm really wasting my time here. Sool has turned the LEP into a truly pathetic group. I'll do better on my own, with or without clearance."
"But—"
"If you would really like my cooperation, give me a visa, and write me up an investigation pass as a temporary. My license hasn't expired yet, though I'm not authorized to do anything."
"And what if we don't?"
"If you don't, then I will not cooperate with the LEP in any way, and stop Artemis Fowl myself. Be it legal, or illegal. I have done all that before Sool. I've saved the world three times, and I'm getting good at it. I'm well prepared to do it again."
"You cannot possibly stop him without any help."
"Oh, I have help. As much as I want. It's not legal, but I've gone criminal before. And it worked. The world's still spinning."
"I'm assuming that's your answer then. Good luck, and don't get in my way. Have a nice morning."
Some of the men were actually close to tears, probably for the first time in years. "You said that to old Cahartez?" sputtered one of them.
"Who else?" Holly smiled sweetly. "So Sool is having me watched twenty-four hours, so that they can arrest me at the first sign of anything. Basically, I told the Council, and him, that all of you were my friends, ready to help me, and I was going to break every law under the surface."
Someone in the back set down the phone. "Hey, I don't have much against you personally, Short, since it's your job. And just for what you said to Cahartez, I'd tell you anyway."
"What?"
"He's on his way over. And he sounded real dangerous."
Holly thought a moment, watching the way the men shifted nervously, and two or three got up to leave. Only one hit man in the underworld made men nervous like that. "You mean Demon? Does he know you're telling me this?"
"Yeah." He wiped off his face, which was gleaming with sweat, even in the dark, cool room.
She laughed. "He knows me pretty well. I'm curious, and I'm not one to run." With a flick of her wrist, she drew her knife, examining her blade. "Let him come."
"He'll be here in three minutes. Are you sure?"
Holly shrugged. "I'm sure."
Shaking their heads at her foolishness, the men went back to asking questions. Mostly to Mulch, wanting to know how a guy like him had picked her up. "Believe it or not—" shot back Mulch.
"We don't," interrupted someone, much to the amusement of the room in general.
Holly leaned over, pulling his head down. "You let me handle Demon by myself, Mulch. I got it under control. Keep your mouth shut, and keep out of the way."
"He'll kill you, Holly."
She grinned. "That's what they said before. Two days ago."
A car pulled up outside, and Holly swung her feet down from the table. The slight thud her combat boots made on the concrete was the only sound in the entire room. Demon was a man who kept mostly to himself. When he came out, he was treated with great respect, and no one crossed him. It was death to do so, and he hadn't made his reputation being merciful.
Holly got to her feet, as the door opened, hands sliding casually into her jacket pocket. She needed a different kind of attitude with Demon. Maybe a more mysterious one.
Demon stood a moment, watching her, his hand in pocket as well, and then stepped in, shutting the door behind him. "Holly. How are you, honey? They let you out early?"
"Pretty good, actually. And I wouldn't say they 'let' me out. I kind of forced my way." She stopped in front of him, and then went up on tiptoe, kissing him on one cheek, and then the other in greeting. His blade flashed in the corner of her eye, and she slashed her knife up from around her back, neatly turning it aside.
Holly finished kissing him, and stepped back like nothing had happened. "You're going to have to pay for my carpet you know. It's a bloody mess. Literally. And I don't have time to clean it."
He smiled politely, and nodded. "If you wish."
The men were watching intently. It was just like a movie. One moment, they're exchanging banter, the next trying to kill each other, and then talking about carpet.
"Can I talk to you outside a moment? Alone?"
"Why not?" Holly slipped her knife back into her pocket as he did, and stepped outside as he held open the door.
It shut with a bang, and they were alone.
"So." Holly leaned against his car, drawing her knife again, and fiddling with it.
Demon leaned closer. "Look Short, you and I respect each other. A lot. You've got the best wise, most nerve, and biggest luck out of the whole shebang of cops. I'm a hit man. I have nothing against you personally, and I want you to understand that."
Holly sighed, shaking her head, and reaching for her gun. "With that said, we're going to murder each other."
He caught her wrist. "He didn't pay. And I don't like him a lot. And I like you a whole lot, little chickadee. So listen." He dropped his head next to hers. "I know you've got Alpha man's number. But you don't know who he is. He has the Fowl kid by the way, and he's going to try and take over the world. Something with nukes."
"Your point?"
He met her eyes a moment. "What will you give me for his name?"
In the next second, Holly thought fast. She was already on the wrong side of the law, and Demon was a hit man. He wasn't going to march into the LEP and turn her in.
She caught hold of him, slamming him against the car, and pinning him with an arm across his throat. At the same moment, she tugged his soft-nose handgun out of his belt, pulling the safety, and setting it against his head. "I've got a good one. How's your life?"
Demon smiled at her. "Real good, chickadee. You would have made a perfect hit woman." He sighed, as she tightened her grip on the trigger. "Alright, alright. It's Sool."
"Damn!" Holly swore softly, and let go of him. "Yes. Everything makes sense now."
"You going to turn me in, little lady?"
Holly waved him away impatiently. "I'll hunt you down later, Demon. Later. Get lost. I have to get Fowl out of there, and stop whatever's going on. And it's not going to be fun."
"Can't go legal now, can you?"
Holly spun around, grabbing him by the shoulders and shaking him. "Do you have any idea where Fowl is?" she hissed through clenched teeth.
"Whoa." Demon reached out, smoothing back the hair which she had let grow down to her shoulders. "Settle down, and I'll tell you all about it, baby girl. Relax. You've probably got a day."
"And what if I don't?"
"I'm sure you'll figure it out." Demon pulled her down on the ground with him, and leaned against the car. "I know only so much. You're going to get all I know, so don't go trying to strangle me again. Sool's got a whole army out there, almost. He's going to pull some kind of nuke trick, and set Fowl up as his puppet king. Make it look like it was all Fowl."
"What if Artemis doesn't want to be his puppet king?"
Demon held up a hand. "Hey. Relax. Calm down. I forgot that's the problem with hit women. They're too emotional. He'll probably messer the kid. What else?"
Holly shook her head. "The only person who has ever put Arty under is me. All the other times, he's escaped. Even so wild as to wear mirrored contact lenses. He's smart."
"Then he'll play along. And try to stop it at the last minute."
She gritted her teeth. "He'll mess it up, and someone will get hurt. It happens every time. I can tell you the whole pattern. He plays along. Someone shows up, or the enemy has a secret he reveals at the last minute that messes up the plan. Someone gets hurt, and I have to save him, dodge the LEP and the enemy, and stop the nukes, in this case. Oh yes, and capture Sool with enough evidence to put him away for the rest of his life."
Demon's phone rang. He motioned for her to be quiet, and pulled it out, as he began to play with her hair. For a few minutes, he listened, and then finally hung up. "You want to know the secret that messes up the plans?"
She raised an eyebrow.
"You. That was Sool. He wanted you alive. He said a little torture might persuade Artemis to cooperate." Demon smiled. "Think fast little chickadee. I need a good excuse."
Holly took a deep breath, and stood. "Where is Artemis?"
"Up top, apparently. He's in one of Sool's numerous hideouts. Somewhere in Italy, I think. Maybe up north. Something about mountains. They were in a camopod. Any help?"
Pictures flashed through Holly's mind, of different maps. There was one, remote, little used chute in Italy. For emergencies only. It would be a good place to hide. There weren't many humans in the area either. Up in the Alps. "A lot. Thank you."
"What are you going to do?" Demon got up, following her back towards the bar.
"Oh," said Holly over her shoulder. "That part's easy. It's doing it that's going to be hard. I'm going to highjack a shuttle. Either that, or ask Foaly for a pod."
She opened the door. "Hurry up Mulch. We've got a long way to go, and you'd better know how to get me into a shuttle port without getting us caught. We don't have much time."
The room blinked at her. How was she still alive? And with Demon standing right behind her?
Demon touched her arm, pulling her around, and kissing her forehead. "Hey listen. I've got to go chickadee. Take care. Alpha knows what he wants, and he knows you'll mess it up." He paused, and then whispered: "You can get into the LEP port through the west ventilation system opening, if you want any kind of fighter."
"Thanks."
"Sure chickadee. And any questions?" He pressed a piece of paper into her hands, turned, and climbed into his car.
Holly motioned impatiently to Mulch, and pulled out her phone, hitting the autodial. "Hey. Foaly?"
"Hi. What do you want?"
"I just had a talk with someone. I found out a lot. I can't risk telling you over even this. Listen: I want you to detain and foil the slimeball as much as possible. He's the man. I'm going to Northern Italy. Are your prototypes down at the port yet?"
"Um… they'll start arriving in twenty minutes. Why?"
"I'm going to need one. Think you can get the area cleared?"
There was a thoughtful crunch, accompanied by a sigh. "Right now? No. It'll probably be swarming with guards. The whole area. And I have no power with Sool in command, the slimeball."
"Yes, he is," hissed Holly. "A slimeball. The slimeball, Foaly."
There was a sharp intake of breath, and then Foaly coughed a few times, in his fake covering cough that sounded very real, unless you knew him. "Yes. I see. Yes, he is. I swallowed part of that carrot whole. I'm going to have to be more careful."
"Whatever. How do the prototypes work?"
"Same basics. I'll brief you on the new additions on your way up, if you like. They drive the same, only a lot smoother and sharper. You'll love these babies. Real fast too."
"Yeah, yeah. Thanks. Bye." Holly hung up before Foaly could answer, and took everything that he'd given her out of the car. The wings. The suit. The helmet. All of that. She made sure she had the chip, and then put everything on, switching the camouflage on as high as it would go.
"Hey Mulch?"
"What?" He crunched on something. What it was, Holly would rather not have asked.
"Can you get to the vents in the LEP port by yourself without being seen?" She turned around, turning on the wings. Not a sound. "Yeah, you can. Meet me there in an hour, and get one of your friends to total the car. Artemis can buy me a new one."
"Sure." Mulch turned, and trotted back to the bar, blaring out a question generally consisting of: 'Who wants cash?'
Holly took a deep breath, and lifted off, putting Demon's number into her autodial. She had the feeling that it might be a useful thing to have in the future.
Mulch mumbled something in her ear, almost making her lose control. She'd forgotten she still had their communications established. He must have turned them on. "What do you want?" she snapped. But she wasn't really grumpy. There was no way in Earth she could be grumpy, back in her uniform. Even if it was an unofficial donning of authority.
"Um…" said Mulch uncomfortably. "Can I ask what happened between you and Demon out there?"
"Nothing. Why?"
"You two were all kissy-secrety. He kissed you, Holly. And I was watching from my video feed. What'd you two say?"
"Nothing."
"You must have said something!" said Mulch in frustration.
Holly rolled over in the air, and flew straight up, until her stomach was a few inches from the top of the false sky. "Like what, Mulch? And why, by Frond's name, is it such a big deal?"
"Well… It's not like I frequent the hit circles, but it's the biggest taboo in the underworld for a hit man to show affection. As likely as not, he'll be asked to kill that person. And it's just really strange, because he tried to kill you two days ago. And… you're not really the player type, if you catch my drift. I was just wondering, I guess."
"It's Demon, Mulch. He does what he wants, and no one really questions him, okay?"
"You'd probably get away with it."
Holly terminated the connection.
Ho hum. I promise they will not fall in love. It would be like one of those horrendous movies you just have to walk out on. Yeah. Ex-cop, now detective falls in love with a hit man working for her biggest enemy, who tried to kill her two days ago. Ha. Ha. Not even funny. So don't worry.
Anyway, there will be some romance… I think. Later.
But about Holly going criminal. Kind of. I love stories like that. Where characters are forced into situations, and must break the law to save the law. Remember Julius? It's for the People. Enough motivation for Holly. Besides, she's like that anyways. It's how she is. Without that, Eoin would have no stories to build on. Holly needs to be that way. And so she is.
Please suggest stories that came out since June, because I haven't been on, and I really want a good story. Feel free to suggest your own. :)
You who do not review: Your evils will condemn you on the day of judgment. :)