Hi everyone! Sorry I haven't updated for ages, but my friend asked me to write a story about Green Day so I was kind of busy. Anyway, I'm going to stop making excuses now; please review and tell me what you think, is this chapter too short? Have a nice day:)

Commander Root found himself wandering the streets for the second time that day, and it wasn't a pleasant experience. The few fairies who had ventured out in the twilight to pound the pavements of Haven's red-light district stared accusingly at him and wondered why he was choosing to exercise rather than catch the criminals who were setting their city on fire. In fact, the Commander didn't know what to do. He felt as if he had stumbled on a parallel universe where suddenly everything was different. There was Holly. Completely helpless and weak, tied up in an unknown location; and Trouble and Foaly had suddenly gone all pale and were crying their eyes out. To top it all off, he, the city's youngest ever commander who always had a plan which usually worked, had no idea what to do next. He guessed it was just a waiting game. Julius had never been one for playing games but it was the only option he had, although he didn't like it one bit.

There was another reason for his wandering, he didn't have a home anymore. Earlier Foaly had given him the spare key to Holly's apartment as it didn't seem as if she was going to be back to use it any time soon, but Root had no intention of going there –it was almost like he was giving up on his captain- However when it became apparent that the funny looks he was getting weren't because he wasn't doing anything, but because he was giving off a rather unpleasant odour, sighing, Root headed to Holly's home.

He turned the key in the lock gingerly and stepped into the warm kitchen. He felt as if he was snooping –of course, he had never been to the apartment before- It was quite a nice place actually, and there was even nettle smoothies in the cooler (Root's favourite). After slurping the drink he looked in the bathroom, now to do something about that awful pong. Julius lathered on Holly's shower gel in the shower, worryingly faintly about smelling like a girl. Just as he was warming up his vocal chords his pager rang, summoning him to Police Plaza.

"Where is he?" Asked Foaly concernedly as he and Trouble sat in a white van outside a deserted Police Plaza. His stomach was churning, just a few minutes earlier he had received an anonymous phone call summoning them to this exact location. It was definitely dodgy, and he would normally never succumb to orders (hey, he was a centaur, it was his job to be annoying and never listen) but he would do anything to get Holly back. Five minutes later Commander Root arrived puffing and panting. If the message that Foaly had been given hadn't been so serious he would have made a crack at Julius' wobbly beer belly, but this was urgent.

"What is it?" What have you heard? Is Holly ok?" Root clamoured. Trouble and Foaly exchanged an amused look, they had never seen him look so worried and even though it was kind of at Holly's expense they couldn't resist a little smile.

"Someone sent in a message, summoning us here to Police Plaza." Foaly replied.

"Why don't we go in then?" Asked Commander Root, he didn't like not knowing what was going on.

"I'm not sure, this is a bit risky. I don't think we've been called here for nothing Commander. I think this is related to your brother and Holly," reported Trouble, Julius winced as if he couldn't bear to hear evil Turnball's name with Holly's in the same sentence.

"Well we'd definitely better go in then!" exclaimed Root.

"No, let's stay here and assess the situation," Trouble managed to sound superior.

"Fine."

And so they waited and waited although they weren't even sure what for. Trouble and Foaly got the best seats so Root slumped on the floor tiredly, he had never been so exhausted in all his time; he hadn't slept last night on Wing Commander Vinyáyá's cold hard sofa and he certainly couldn't now when Holly's life hung in the balance.

"What did the me-" Commander Root started.

"Shhh!" Trouble whispered. "I think there's someone out there! We have to be inconspicuous."

"Oh yes, we're really inconspicuous sitting in the middle of the street in a white van!" Foaly laughed to himself with a smirk on his face which quickly clouded over when he realised that noone was listening and they were all staring out the window. Outside a lone light was shining along the pavement and stopping at intervals.

"Gotcha!" whispered Root triumphantly.

"No! This is difficult, remember what Turnball said: he's got the upper hand. We have to be cautious, and so we wait and see what happens," ordered Trouble.

"Since when have you been allowed to boss me around?" Pouted Root rather childishly.

"Since when we won against Turnball?" Replied the major.

"At Holly's initiation."

"Yes, but that was because of Holly –and Turnball's even defeated her now-" RING RING!

"Foaly, LEP technician speaking. How may I help you?" Foaly answered the phone as Trouble and Root put their heads in their hands, now –thanks to Foaly- their cover was truly blown.

"Good evening Mr Foaly, so glad you could join us," came a crackly voice over the line.

"Turnball!" Root's ears pricked and he snatched the phone.

"Turnball, get Holly back here right now!" ordered Root, this time it was Foaly's time to sigh despairingly.

"In good time, in good time my dear brother." Sniffed Turnball. "Actually Holly's fate is in your hands." At this Commander Root sat up a little straighter. "Yes, that's what I said." Turnball paused. "If you want to save Holly, go get her yourself –she's somewhere in Police Plaza. If you refuse or send someone else…I blow up Police Plaza –Miss Short here included. It's your choice."