Chapter 1: The Great Decision

It has been almost two years since child genius Artemis Fowl was last seen in Haven. Well of course it would be. Fowl's last visit was when he and his colleagues Juliet and Butler were submitted to mindwipes, in exchange for fairy assistance in his retrieval of the C Cube, a super computer built up from obsolete LEP technology. In monthly intervals, they had been under the watchful eye of the LEP, in case these Mud Men stumble across a strong stimulus resulting in total recall. So far, everything is going perfectly well…

Then, what now of Commander Julius Root's Reconnaissance team? Oh well. They are back to their normal duties, patrolling Haven, making it safe from above ground "monsters"… No more seats-of-the-pants adventures or putting a time stop in a certain manor… Or communicating with certain humans…

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Captain Holly Short eased herself in the hot lava spring, enjoying every minute of her day off from the hustle and bustle of Police Plaza.. Aaahh.. this is life, she said to herself. Then she suddenly remembered her moments with her nemesis-turned-friend. Artemis sure is some Mud Boy, she thought. Although I don't show it, I miss him so much… She shook herself. What am I thinking? But then, she could remember it so well…

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"Thank you… because of you, I have a family again…", Artemis mumbled.

"Is that a transformation I'm witnessing?" Holly joked. But she was feeling something is up.

"No, I'm serious", he sighed. "I…" he cleared his throat.

"What?", Holly asked, confused.

"I'll miss you so much… I don't think even the mind wipes could make me forget you…"

Is this some kind of a joke? How could he like me? And… What's this I'm feeling?... My heart beat faster when he said those… Not a common thing to happen to me… There's only one answer to this… I like him too… not as a Mud Boy… entirely different than that… I… like… him…

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And this startling fact transported her back to the present. With cruel determination, she dressed herself and went to the Ops booth.

Heehee.. this is my first time to write a story, though I've written quite a number of poems.. hope you'll like this! (and submit reviews! Heehee!)