The next morning when Artemis found his laptop missing he was more impressed then disappointed.

"She is very intelligent, she will be able to break my passwords. We'll just have to leave before then."

He was talking with Butler as they watched the digging proceed. Artemis hoped that it wouldn't take much longer, he was not only anxious but he was now becoming bored. Not to mention his skin was tanning, which made him look more normal and less intimidating.

"They look like they're getting somewhere. " Butler offered.

Artemis was brought back to the present when a man came running up, bowed, and announced.

"We think we have found something, Sir."

"Thank you Wass, you may go now." and the man departed.

Butler made his way toward the hill where some sort of commotion was taking place. His faux glasses had a camera that sent live feed to Artemis who sat in his luxury tent sipping water.

As Butler neared the hole, excitement coursed through Artemis, making him want to smile and jump around. To the men his face was still in a scowl, he had to keep face for these men, show them who was in charge.

Butler looked into the hole about thirty feet down, and saw a silver something glinting under a thin layer of dirt on it.

"Get a ladder." Artemis said to no one in particular. As if they could hear him, two men lowered one in and held it as Butler began his descent into the cool, moist earth.

When he reached the bottom he could tell he was not standing on ground, but something metal. He bent down and brushed away dust to reveal an inscription in Gnommish.

"Important, handle with caution." Artemis translated for him.

"Artemis." Butler called for his attention and pointed to an indent in the device. Artemis looked it over.

"A handle." he said, indicating Butler to open it. When the door popped open Artemis half expected there to be smoke or fog coming from the room inside. To many movies, he told himself.

The room inside was big enough to sit in, with purple walls and lit by a purple light, it was interesting and boring at the same time. There was a stand in the middle of this room that held a gold cube.

Butler picked up the cube and found it heavy, "Maybe ten pounds." he informed his charge.

Butler climbed out of the room and up the ladder without saying much. As he approached Artemis, the boy felt his fingers itching to hold the strange object. Butler gave the orders to pack up and even as they announced themselves ready to go, Artemis still sat examining the cube. This was his first token of victory. He smiled, the color was so fitting. He thought of his family's motto

He didn't care about the missing laptop, he could get the information again, it wasn't like that was the only place he had stored it, but most importantly, he was one step closer to victory.

Artemis knew that Mandi had stolen a laptop full of information she already had and nearly did one of those evil cackles that so often came to him in moments of triumph. He only wished he could see the girl's reaction when she found out.


Review!