A/N: Thank you for the reviews. This is my first attempt at fanfiction, and also my first attempt at writing anything with a plot, so I appreciate any and all feedback and criticism. And I apologize in advance for any errors, it has been some time since I have read the books. I have had this story mapped out in my mind for some time now so I will try to update it regularly; I am curious to experiment to see what works in this context, so, thank you for joining me.

1 hour ago - LEP Headquarters

Domovoi Butler was used to interrogations. He had been trained extensively in keeping his cool, and more importantly, keeping his employer's secrets. Still, he was having a hard time taking the diminutive figure sitting across from him seriously. The room, while sterile and well lit, quickly became comical when forced to accommodate Butler's imposing stature. The bodyguard, unwilling to test the structural integrity of the standard elf-sized seating arrangements, sat cross-legged on the floor. While Butler hadn't expected anything comparable to the Russian mafia, he was beginning to feel vaguely insulted by the lack of effort. It seemed to him that the chief instrument of torture the LEP had thought to employ was a noticeable lack of lumbar support.

"So, you're telling me you made breakfast?" Chix Verbil sighed. While at first, Chix had been thrilled to have a chance to partake in the latest escapade involving the notorious mud men, he soon began to suspect the quixotic nature of his task.

"No offense Private, but you asked me to recount my morning activities. I recall Master Fowl requested a full breakfast on that day. He informed me it would be a long day, and then retired to the library" Butler said, cracking his back.

"Okay...Well how did he know it was going to be a long day? He didn't say anything about Haven did he?" Chix attempted to continue.

"I wouldn't know. As I already told you, I was fulfilling my duty of making an omelet and preparing a tasteful portion of caviar. If you don't believe me, I'm sure I can put on a demonstration" Butler replied, with the trace of a smile on his lips. After a long 48 hours, he was beginning to have fun. Of course, Artemis had handed him a hastily drafted sheet of instructions, simply titled 'Plan,' that had quite a deal to say regarding Haven, however Butler deemed that detail less than relevant to the current investigation.

Shifting uncomfortably, Chix realized he was unsure if the man was joking or not. Next time, he thought to himself, he would stick with traffic duty.

Present - LEP Headquarters

From behind the one way glass, Holly abruptly strode out of the room, ignoring her colleague's quizzical expression. She had been legitimately curious as to what had occurred in the Manor prior to her arrival, but she had known from the start that interrogating Butler would be fruitless. Maybe if Chix had spent a fraction as much time on his work as he had spent crafting woefully corny pickup lines he would be a decent officer, Holly thought, smirking. Approaching the Operations Booth, Holly was interrupted by the sound of the automatic doors sliding open and Foaly's unmistakably smug voice.

"Looking for a place to hide out?" the centaur offered.

"It'd be nice if I could just once show up somewhere unexpected. But yes, thank you Foaly."

"Understandable. They're not getting much out of Artemis either" Foaly said, gesturing toward a wall of monitors.

Holly could see both Artemis and Butler wearing similarly impassive faces. She wondered how both of them could appear so unfazed. She was glad she was not being questioned as well given her own involvement. The perks of being a friend of the commander, she thought. She was barely holding herself together as it was, trying to not think about what would happen to Artemis when Kelp and the LEP concluded the interrogations were pointless. Pulling up a stool, Holly exhaled for what felt like the first time in two days, feeling Foaly's pitying eyes on her.

She met his gaze and Foaly looked away, fiddling with the resolution of the monitors.

"At least he's back" he said, breaking the silence.

"Yeah" Holly replied softly, staring at her reflection on the titanium walls. She looked tired, she realized.

Foaly loudly bit into a carrot he had been nervously twirling between his fingers.

"Could you just explain one thing" he continued cautiously, letting his curiosity get the best of him. "What happened when you got to the Manor?"

Holly laughed. She knew what question he was trying to ask.

"He didn't hack into your system. Not then at least. I think he figured out my passwords and saw my surface visa and some readings from my helmet" Holly said sheepishly. "Anyway, none of what happened is a secret, you'll just read my incident report."

Foaly unsuccessfully tried to hide his interest under a facade of cool indifference as Holly began to recount how she had sold out her closest friend.

40 hours ago - Fowl Manor

Waiting for Butler to open the towering baroque doors, Holly felt for the first time in her illustrious career, well, not to put too fine a point on it, short. She had been to Fowl Manor many times since Artemis had returned, seemingly miraculously, from the dead. However, even at the start when Artemis had been a stranger, eager to regain his memories, she had entered through a a side door intended for family. And over time, as they had drawn closer, she had taken to entering Artemis' study directly through the stately windows, riding the Irish wind. After having spent so much time with Artemis, the Manor had begun to feel like a second home. But entering as she was now, Holly suddenly noticed how hostile the stately building could be. The walls exuded ghosts, and the 18th century guard towers seemed to project a gargoyle-like menace. Holly fought back tears, suddenly feeling alienated not only from the Manor, or from Artemis, but from her own skin. Why was she here? She knew that Trouble wasn't trying to punish her. As an expert on all things Fowl, she was the best elf for the job. Still, while Trouble was vaguely aware of her surface activities, only Foaly was aware of how much time she was spending with the mud boy. And not even Foaly was aware of the fluttering sensation she felt in her chest whenever Artemis would look at her, unmistakably smiling, so unlike anything he had done before he had returned. Holly winced. The Fowls seemed to value loyalty nearly as highly as gold, and she knew from experience that Artemis was no exception. She hoped he would understand that she had to betray him, because there was no other choice. Because she...

Her thoughts were interrupted when the door began to creak open, revealing a suspiciously unsurprised bodyguard.

"Hello Holly, Artemis is expecting you" Butler said. "He's in the library. If you need anything, I will be close by." The words, usually comforting, felt ominous in this strange new context.

"Hi Butler" Holly managed weakly. How did Artemis know she was here? She comforted herself that it was probably just the Manor's security. As she walked through the ornate anteroom, and started down the hallway toward the library, she could hear Vivaldi's Four Seasons softly echoing off the old walls. She had nearly reached the dimly lit gothic room when she noticed Artemis seated at a desk, eyes glued to a dust-coated book, taking notes slowly and deliberately.

"Greetings Captain." Artemis didn't look up, and Holly was unable to read his face.

"Arty" Holly began.

"How can I help you today? Or rather, how can I help the People. I take it that is why you entered through the front door" Artemis said, forcing an unnatural smile.

"I'm afraid I can't tell you. I've just been asked to collect you and Butler" Holly exhaled, happy to have avoided telling a lie. To Holly's surprise, Artemis didn't push for clarification. Instead, he reclined and gestured for Holly to take a seat.

"Very well. I assume we are in no rush. Is that correct Holly?" Without allowing time for her response, Artemis continued, "Ever since I perished, I have developed a keen interest in metaphysics. When you arrived I had been perusing Thomas Hobbes. De corpore, to be specific" said Artemis, pronouncing each syllable.

"Reading? That does sound rather unlike you" said Holly softly, aiming for levity. "Are you up to anything I should be aware of?"

"I can assure you my research has been merely for pleasure. Tell me Holly, have you ever encountered the Ship of Theseus?" Artemis continued.

"I never spent much time in Greece."

Artemis raised an eyebrow. "No, Holly, it's a thought experiment. It is said that even after Theseus died, his ship was kept in the harbor of Athens as a memento, if you will. Of course, over time the wood began to rot and decay, so the Athenians naturally replaced it, until, after some time, nothing was left original to the ship that Theseus had sailed." Artemis looked at her pointedly. "The question, then Holly, is whether it is still Theseus' ship."

Holly had not known what to expect, however, in spite of notable experiential evidence to the contrary, she had been caught off guard by the impromptu lecture in philosophy.

"Sure, repairing a ship doesn't change what it is" she managed after it had become apparent Artemis was expecting a response.

"Ah, but Captain, what if all of the discarded wood was collected and pieced together into a perfect facsimile. Would that not be the true heir to that title?"

"Of course not, it'd just be a rotten mess. Why are you asking me this Artemis?"

Artemis smiled weakly and Holly began to realize the point of Artemis' inquiry.

"There is another version, of course, where the ship is not a ship at all but instead refers to a person, who is constantly losing and regenerating cells over time. When I was young," Artemis started, "this problem didn't bother me. I believed that identity was tied to memory, and the fact that while we replace many of our cells, some, such as the neurons in the adult brain, last a lifetime, comforted me. Still, as in the past few years I have lost both my memories and my corporeal form, the question of identity has begun to seem more pertinent."

Holly felt a sharp pang as she forced herself to meet Artemis' gaze, staring directly into his two blue eyes. She felt distinctly uncomfortable, and wondered whether Artemis was aware of the threat that Trouble had leveled at Artemis only a few hours earlier. If Artemis had been trying to guilt her into revealing her true purpose, it would have been hard to find a more apt topic. Still, she realized, she was in a similarly dodgy position, hoping Artemis would tell her everything without her having to ask. She was just less practiced at this particular form of tête-à-tête.

"Artemis, you're you. This is all just words and abstract nonsense" Holly said, finally.

"I never took you for a fan of Wittgenstein" Artemis replied chuckling.

"Well, I guess I'm full of surprises." The banter felt comfortable, familiar. The kind of warm conversation they had had a thousand times. Then Holly remembered her purpose and sobered.

"I suppose the LEP will be expecting us soon" Artemis said. However the teen made no movement to rise.

"Yes, we should get going."

"Butler should be retrieving the Bentley as we speak"

"Ah, good" Holly said lamely.

Standing slowly, Artemis began to re-shelf the books strewn across his desk, and motioned for Holly to follow him. Exiting the Manor, Artemis turned to Holly. "Someone once wrote that all writing is autobiography. I think I agree with that."

Holly ignored him. Although Artemis was always cryptic, that he was being particularly difficult worried Holly.

"You gave me my memories Holly, you wrote me. Remember that." He said it so quietly Holly wondered if it wasn't a figment of her imagination.

And before Holly could respond, Butler was helping her onto the dark leather seats of the car. The ride to the shuttle port was quiet. After all she had no idea what to say to that. As they were nearing their destination, Holly turned to Artemis, a few stray tears lining her otherwise composed face.

"I'm sorry Artemis" she finally managed.

"For what?" he asked calmly. Then added, after some consideration, "don't be."

Present - LEP Headquarters

Foaly snorted involuntarily.

"He said what?" The centaur was having a hard time imagining Artemis saying...well any of it really. Then again, while he had called Artemis his friend, he had never really known the Irish genius outside of the context of LEP world-saving business.

"The next thing I can remember is arriving at Haven, and seeing Artemis calmly step out of the shuttle into a den of waiting LEP officers, Neutrinos drawn."

Foaly was silent for a moment. "Well, he certainly wouldn't have come if he knew he was going to be mind-wiped."

"No, I suppose not" replied Holly, although she was beginning to have her doubts about that as well.

to be continued...