Chapter 10
Unfortunate Character Death
A/N: Kind of blunt title name, but which character will die?
Nothing was not quite the right word for what happened. What did happen was the condensed sound waves produced by the dipper blew apart the cinderblocks, diamond coating and all, shot past the lead, melting it like ice, crashed through the bricks, and finally crumbled the drywall into dust which filled the air. Holly, Butler, Mulch, and Artemis walked through the newly opened entrance into Sool's office.
It was quite picturesque: the protagonists standing in the frame of a gigantic hole, the dust settling around them, and all of the them holding their guns ready with a burning fire in their eyes as they stared at Commander Ark Sool.
However, Sool did not see this as a picturesque scene. Whatever he had been thinking a minute before, it was certainly not that there was any danger that an elf, a dwarf, and two mud men would be completely destroying his very expensive defenses. He looked up from the screen he was monitoring his human genocide from and the cigar he had been smoking dropped from his mouth and into his lap, promptly burning a hole in his LEP suit. The pain brought him back to his senses and he shouted, "Short, this IS treason. You will not escape with your life from this one. Trust me on that point!"
Holly took no heed of the threat and definitely didn't trust Sool on any point he made. She just stared defiantly at him with hate in her eyes. It was now Artemis' turn to proceed with his plan. He had to get Sool to tell what he was doing from his own mouth. But Artemis wasn't worried. He knew more psychology than anyone else alive, and he was willing to bet his life on it.
Artemis made sure he stared directly at Sool so that his iris cam could film the whole incident. All he had to do was get Sool to monologue, which should be simple because all unintelligent bad guys like to hear themselves talk. It was nearly a scientific fact.
"Commander Ark Sool," came Artemis' mocking voice. The Irish youth could see the gnome tingeing red with anger at his insolent tone. he continued, "Just how exactly were you planning to get away with the complete destruction of a species?" Okay, a bit cliché, but it was enough to lead Sool on the right track to monologue.
The commander didn't really think the mud boy deserved any explanation of his actions, but the commander needed time. He had to get to the stuck under the desk without them noticing, so he decided to go ahead and answer the whelp's questions to distract them, while slowly sliding his hand toward the gun.
Sool began, "To be honest, it didn't matter. Once the humans were gone forever, the People won't care how. I will be a hero to future generations as I rule over them and take them back to the surface. We will build ourselves a new empire, a fairy empire. They shall worship me for giving them back the above-ground. Call it spite, call it revenge, but we, the fairies, deserve this chance to obliterate the mud men. Too long have we just lived in the shadows, backing away from where ever humans decided to settle. We shall once more become the dominant specie on this planet." Sool could feel the cold metal of the gun now. He just needed a little more time, a bit more of a distraction, and he would be able to take over the situation. He continued talking, searching for his chance to pry the gun loose with notice, "You know what the best part of my plan is, mud boy?"
Artemis scowled at the tiny excuse for a being, answering, "I'll humor you then. No, Sool, what is the best part of your plan?"
The commander smiled, "While you're here distracted by me, you're allowing the bio-bomb shipment to arrive at its destination. Soon, too soon for you to prevent, bio-bombs will be exploded in every major world city, killing half the human population. The other half will have to wait a bit longer for deaths. My scientists have estimated that is will take a further six months to track down and kill every last human, but that is like a second in time compared to how long the human race has been plaguing this world with their filth. The best part of my plan is that there is nothing you can do to stop it!"
Holly was sure that, if given the chance, Sool would've broke out into evil laugh, so she didn't give him that chance, "Oh, too cliché!" she cut in, "We've already stopped you're bio-bomb shipment. Look at you're monitor. Foaly, show him what's really happening."
Sool's eyes turned to his screen just in time to see the old picture flicker out and a new series of events not so favorable unfolding. Major Trouble Kelp was in the pilot chair of the shuttle while Sool's crew that should've been manning the vessel was all unconscious and being tied to the ceiling of the ship by a gang of rock sprites. As he watched, an unfortunate crewman was hoisted by the entire gang of the sprites through the metal side of the ship and was then tied upside down to the communication's antennae.
Sool's anger was boiling his blood, making him bolder. He had finally managed to pry the gun loose from the under side of the desk. Had he known what a safety switch was, he would've needed to turn it off. However, being foreign technology, he hadn't even bothered to click it on. He scanned the intruders, searching for his first target. Holly Short. Of them all, Root's favorite was the intruder he hated most. He gripped the gun and whipped it out from under the desk.
Artemis was watching the commander's eyes as the rest of the group relaxed, believing Sool to be defeated. Sool's eyes widened as he watched the screen, but then they went out of focus, as if he was trying to feel something he could not see. Suddenly, his eyes scanned the group resting on Holly. Artemis knew what was coming. He almost sensed it. But that didn't mean there was any time to warn anybody. Almost as if it were an instinct, the boy threw himself in front of Holly just as Sool pulled out an ordinary human gun. Artemis, all logical thought lost to bare animal instinct, grunted as the bullet hit him in the chest, changing the direction of his momentum and forcing him to fall into Holly. Butler had already fired a retaliatory shot and the bullet found its mark in the ex-commander's forehead. Not even magic could heal brain damage by a Sig Sauer. Sool fell from his chair and hit the floor.
Artemis, however, was still breathing. Maybe losing substantial amounts of blood, but sill alive nonetheless. He could feel Holly's form supporting him from behind and his last conscience thought was, "At least I'll die in Holly's arms."
A/N: Another short chapter…just builds the suspense!
