Author's Note : Hellow people ! :)

Thanks to everyone who has kept on reading the story so far ! And a special thank you to Pr. Cumulus for the review on the previous chapter ;)

To reply publically to your questions about Butler, I don't want to explain too much, but Artemis and Butler's relationship is definitely going to be a very, very important part of the story later. One of the main story arcs actually ^^' And I definitely believe that he can feel the change in their relationship after the mindwipe.

Disclaimer : Eoin Colfer is the author of the Artemis Fowl series, therefore I do not own any of its characters. Many elements of this fanfiction (including its title ^^) are also inspired or directly drawn from the 1998 Japanese anime 'Serial Experiments Lain' (GO WATCH IT) even though it is NOT a crossover.

Author's Recommandation : I personally love writing and reading to music. If you're interested, I highly recommand listening to Neon Demon (main theme) by Cliff Martinez, from the eponymous movie by Nicolas Winding Refn (freakin aesthetical masterpiece if you ask me). This piece of music just really fits the mood of the fanfic !

Enjoy your reading ! :)

Database #03 : Proxy

FOWL MANOR, IRELAND

Artemis had been working on his proxy installer for about two hours when Butler came to fetch him for lunch. The young Fowl was exhausted, but satisfied. There were still one or two adjustements needed, but overall he could be proud of himself. He decided to begin searching for Protocol 9 right after lunch.

Butler stayed in Artemis' office a few seconds after his charge had left. The bodyguard looked at the computer, but the display of code lines and binary digits were gibberish to him, so he gave up trying to figure out what Artemis was up to. Butler picked up the breakfast tray, noting absentmindedly that, once again, his principle had left most of it to be thrown away. The young boy just had more important things to care about than his manservant's efforts to serve him nutritious and caringly-crafted food, and Butler had long stopped feeling personally insulted. It still made him a bit sad, though.

As he went down the kitchen to dispose of the oxidised mango-papaya carpaccio and bring lunch to the main dining room, Butler suddenly stopped. His eyes watered, and he gathered all his mental and physical strength not to collapse at the sudden bolt of pain that just whiplashed through his heart. The bodyguard closed his eyes and breathed heavily, his shaking hands gripping to the silver tray, until he had regained a normal heartbeat. It took about fifteen seconds.

Butler sighed. Fortunately, he had managed not to spill up anything this time. These strange seizures were happening randomly for three months now, mostly after an intense physical effort but sometimes completely out of nowhere, like now. Artemis had examined him, but couldn't find a more satisfying explanation than simple fatigue. There was a bullet scar, two centimeters under his heart, but Butler couldn't recall where he had it from ; he assumed it was just too old for him to remember. It wasn't unlikely. The bodyguard had many scars.

When Butler eventually entered the dining room, carrying a plate of decostruito parsnip cannellonis with cinnamon and honey, which exhaled a soft and delicate smell, Artemis was in the middle of an argument with his mother. Artemis Senior was not here yet.

'' … Arty dear, I'm really worried about you '', Angeline was saying when Butler closed the door behind him. '' You look so pale ! We should really get you to a doctor. ''

Artemis rolled his eyes. Butler couldn't help but agree with his principal's mother, albeit he thought « pale » was quite the euphemism to describe Artemis' complexion. Exsanguine would be more accurate. The manservant kept his mouth shut, but ostensibly served Artemis a large portion of cannellonis.

'' I am perfectly well, mother '', Artemis said in a soft but firm tone – very good at hiding his irritation. '' Just having some issues with sleep, but nothing that cannot be tamed by sleeping pills. There is absolutely no need for a doctor. ''

'' Just sleep issues, really ? And what about D-vitamin deprivation ? '' Angeline retorted, worried but with a cunning smile. '' Seriously honey, you could be starring in Let the Right One In*. ''

Artemis returned his mother's smile. Butler, who had stepped away after serving everyone and now stood near the door, couldn't help but feel a little envious. Artemis hadn't smiled back to him for almost two years.

'' Well '', the teenager replied, '' I'm fine with it, as long as it is the Swedish version. ''

Angeline chuckled, reassured to see her son joking, and they both focused on their meal. As soon as his mother had stopped pestering him, Artemis' face turned back to his usual cold expression. Manipulating her was easy. He didn't like having to, but now was definitely not the time for Angeline to interfere with his plans.

A few minutes later, Artemis Senior entered the room, his arrival announced by the sound of his cane on the floor. His prosthetic leg had been crafted by the best specialists in Europe, but he liked to walk around using his late father's cane, carved in black wood with a sculpted silver pommel. He said it felt more Victorian.

'' Sorry I'm late '', he said while sitting in the presiding chair. '' I'm in talks with Kobayashi to get back our shares from the Tokyo business, and he's... quite reluctant. This is definitely the last time I'm working with the yakuzas. ''

He took Angeline's hand and they smiled at each other. Artemis didn't react, and kept on eating. He was the one who had reinvested in the yakuzas' business, two years earlier, and it had brought the Fowl bank account a few million euros. Since his father had come back, the more irrational decisions he made – for the sake of becoming an honest businessman –, the more Artemis grew distant with him. The young Fowl was not only disappointed to see his father turn his back to the Fowl motto and values ; he actually felt betrayed.

Artemis Senior had spend his son's entire childhood teaching him that the end justify the means when it comes to the family's welfare – the family's welfare being defined as accumulating more gold and becoming more powerful. Ever since Artemis had been declared a genius, his father's expectations had grown even higher. It had felt for young Artemis as if he was never doing enough. When his father had disappeared, he had seen his chance of proving himself worthy of the Fowl name. At the news of Artemis Senior's reappearance, he was genuinely excited, eager to finally deserve his father's love and approval. But it was precisely after Artemis had successfully taken the head of the most feared criminal empire in Europe that his father decided to become a better man. And Artemis disappointed him. Again.

Artemis was an expert at concealing his emotions, and thus never allowed his father to see how much he had hurt him. But he would never forgive him either.

When his father spoke, Artemis raised his head politely, his expression as neutral as it could be.

'' So, what have you been up to, son ? '', Artemis Senior asked. '' It seems like you've been in your office for the entire morning. ''

'' I am working on a new proxy prototype '', Artemis answered.

'' Nothing illegal I hope ? ''

Artemis clenched his fists on his knife and fork. He forced himself to put on a reassuring expression.

'' Nothing illegal, I assure you. ''

It was not completely a lie. As the Wired was above all known institutions, it was certainly above all laws either.

'' Excuse me, but what is a proxy exactly ? '', Angeline interrupted.

Still standing by the door, Butler thanked her internally. When answering his mother, Artemis definitely had a more caring tone – though the manservant was the only one to notice.

'' A proxy is an application or a computer system. It stands as an intermediary between two or more different servers. More precisely, a go-between which passes on the questions and the answers from one user to the other. Like a bridge, if you prefer. ''

Before Angeline could reply, Artemis finished his dish and put down his cutlery.

'' Now, if you would excuse me, I've got some work to be done. ''

Angeline looked fairly disappointed to see him going so soon.

'' But don't you want dessert, honey ? ''

'' Mother, you know I don't like dessert '', Artemis answered while standing up. '' Thank you for the meal, Butler '', he added towards his bodyguard without even looking at him.

He had left the dining room before Butler had a chance to answer. The manservant and the Fowl parents silently exchanged a preoccupied look, neither of them knowing how to deal with how withdrawn the young boy was becoming day after day.

.

Meanwhile, Artemis, having no idea of the worry he was causing to his only close ones, was putting the final touches to his proxy installer, refining the code's simplicity and countering all the contigencies he could anticipate.

Finally, his installer was ready.

Artemis stretched his arms above his head, cracked his knuckles, took a preventive aspirin pill and got to work.

An hour and another aspirin pill later, he had found Protocol 9. In order to trigger a Glitch, he had started hacking into the Kremlin database – child's play. After five minutes, the left corner of his screen had started to Glitch, and Artemis had pounced on it like a starving predator.

Retracing the Glitch to the Wired proved a little bit more difficult. Artemis typed furiously on the keyboard, all his muscles tensed from the concentration, blinking furiously to evacuate from his eyes the drops of sweat rolling down his forehead.

Eventually, the black screen and the green lines of code turned to a pale red window filling the entire screen. It read in capital white letters :

PROTOCOL 9 _ Error 403 : Access Denied. Get lost, sucker :-)

Artemis raised an eyebrow at the childish interjection. He was a little disappointed regarding the intellectual level of his opponent, but it didn't make him less determined. His eyes wore a terrifying expression, while he was assuring his proxy installer was ready. A cruel expression, deprived of the very notion of mercy.

Once I am in the Wired, we shall see who the sucker is, dear enemy. We shall see.

The next five hours, Artemis had found two Zero-Days, but to no avail. Each time, his installer failed to launch quickly enough. Artemis massaged his sore eyes, harassed. His migraine was worsening every minute, and finding new Zero-Days was each time harder, as all the easiest options had been found before by his predecessors.

He suddenly straightened in his seat, but dropped back with a frustrated sigh. The third Zero-Day recomposed itself as instantly as it had appeared, and the same message as the last two times popped up on the pale red window :

Nice try, but you failed :-D _ #dummy #sorrynotsorry

As immature as that message was, and as composed as Artemis usually always is, he had to gather all his mental strength not to slam his keyboard onto his computer.

His opponent was an obnoxious brat, but an intelligent one. A brat who knew that most hackers' vice was pride, and who, at each failed attempt, would sadistically push them closer and closer to the edge of madness. Artemis didn't wonder anymore why Paprika, Lain and all the others had either given up or mentally collapsed trying. Under the amused eyes of their mutual opponent.

But Artemis wouldn't give him the pleasure.

He switched on his other computer. Obviously, his proxy installer was not fast enough. He would take the time to perfect it before giving Protocol 9 another try.

Suddenly, a knock on the door made him jump. He hadn't heard anyone coming – he was definitely tired. Knowing Butler wouldn't come checking on him uninvited, there was only one person who could be standing behind his door.

'' Mother, I'm in the middle of something right now. ''

The door bursted open, and Angeline, firmly standing on the threshold, crossed her arms on her lap.

'' You've been locked here for the entire day. You need to get some fresh air. ''

Artemis was furious, but his tone was calm and merely annoyed.

'' Mother, I… ''

Angeline's voice was also quiet, but a lot more menacing. Even Artemis' grandfather would have been intimidated.

'' Artemis Fowl Junior, this is quite enough '', she said. '' You are thirteen years old, and you will do as you are told by your mother. Right this minute. ''

The young Fowl had already seen Artemis Senior try to retort when Angeline was in such a mood. It hadn't ended up well for his father. With a reluctant sight, he put his computers on standby mode and followed his mother out of his office.

After getting their coats, they went out in the garden and headed for the maze. Artemis realized it had been snowing for the whole day, while he was working. Though he wouldn't admit it, the fresh air felt good, and his migraine seemed to stop cracking his skull apart. His mother reached her arm to him, and for once he let go of his usual composure and snuggled into her embrace.

They walked side by side along the snow whitened hedges, in silence, enjoying each other's presence. Eventually, they reached the center of the maze, where there was a majestic gold and marble fountain and several benches. They sat together, and Artemis closed his eyes, savouring the sting of the cold air on his skin and the soft smell of his mother's violet perfume.

He was startled, even though she had spoken so softly.

'' My Arty… I just want to help you, but I don't know how… ''

Artemis turned to his mother. She was staring at the fountain, but it was obvious in her eyes and sad smile that she was in pain. The sting in Artemis' heart widened, and he felt bad. But what could he tell her ?

'' You don't need to help me, Mother. You are here, and that's all I need. ''

'' But I've not always been here for you… ''

The sting in his heart widened more. Artemis took his mother's hand. When she looked at him, he smiled, as warmly as he could.

'' I don't mind the past. You are here now, and you are a wonderful mother. That is all that matters. ''

Angeline's eyes watered, and she raised her other hand to Artemis' cheek, caressing it tenderly.

'' My sweet boy '', she said in a murmur, smiling. '' Why wouldn't we go in the music room and play together after dinner ? It's been such a long time. ''

Artemis hesitated. He missed those moments, too. He and his mother had the same long, elegant pianist hands, and they had always bonded over music, even through the darkest times. But the reasonable part of himself told him he wasn't a child anymore, and that he didn't have time to fool around with his mother. There were more important things he had to deal with.

As he was internally debating with himself, Artemis' smile slowly lost its warmth, and faded. He took Angeline's hand on his cheek, and answered her in his usual cold, business-like tone.

'' I am sorry, Mother. I can't. ''

He saw that she was hurt, but this time he didn't listen to the sting in his heart. Slowly, Angeline let go of him, and they just sat side by side.

'' Okay '', she eventually said. '' I understand. But don't forget I'm here. ''

After their promenade, Artemis tried to escape back to his office, but his fleeing attempt was confronted by another « what on Earth do you think you're doing, Artemis Fowl Junior ? », and he resigned to spend the evening with his family.

.

At last, after dinner, he was able to get back to Protocol 9 where he had left it. The same insultant message was trying to taunt him, but Artemis was refilled with determination and he immediately sat at his other computer, and reworked his proxy installer. It gave him time to think about what Zero-Day option he could try next, and when he was satisfied with version 2.0 of his installer, he tackled to the task with newfound fierceness.

After three hours, he was at the same state of exhaustion as before his mother had came to take him out, and still no sign of the Zero-Day. If Artemis wasn't… well, Artemis Fowl, he would have abandoned by know. But one of Artemis' most unquestionable qualities was his pugnacity. The day he would give up on a challenge was yet to come.

Another five and a half hours of work. It was now four thirty a.m in the morning. Artemis took a ten minutes break to go make himself coffee – knowing that if Butler knew he was still awake at this hour, he would send him to bed manu militari. Yet, asking Butler to make the coffee was also Artemis' only way to make sure the coffee was actually drinkable. Artemis had obtained a somewhat thick and granulous mixture that looked like soggy mud ; but, even though he almost threwed it up, it had the merit to keep him conscious. And for the next time, he would remember that the coffee powder is not supposed to be put in the cup like a tea bag.

His throat acrid, Artemis sat back to his desk and gave himself an extra five minutes of meditation. Then, he replaced his hands on the keyboard, and typed.

It was five a.m when he found the Zero-Day. Eyes wide open, fingers hovering above the keyboard, he waited. He waited longer than usual.

Suddenly, the same failed attempt message showed on the screen. But it Glitched.

And then, another small grey window opened.

– Proxy successfully installed.

Overwhelmed by a mix of pride, relief and excitation, Artemis became a child again. He stood up from his chair throwing his fists in the air, and started jumping all around in a very unlikely fashion from him, screaming at the top of his lungs from pure joy.

This accomplishment was nothing like he had ever done before – even the things he didn't remember having done. It was bigger than translating the Book, bigger than hacking the NASA at age nine or winning an architecture prize at age six.

In fact, it was probably the biggest and most difficult thing a human being had ever accomplished, since Hermes Trismegistus, the most mythical alchimist and scientific figure of Greek Antiquity, had discovered the Wired for the first time.

It was everything, and this memory was undoubtedly the moment in Artemis Fowl II's life where he had felt the most truly, profondly happy.

'' YES ! YES ! I did it ! I did it ! I freaking did it ! ''

Butler rushed into the room in his pyjamas, Sig Sauer brandished, eyes panickingly checking every corner of the room for a sly threat.

'' Artemis, what is happening ?! I heard you screa… ''

The bodyguard stopped dead in his tracks when analysizing the situation. Artemis, in his state of emotional overload, laughed openly at Butler's astonished expression for a good ten seconds before, eventually, regaining his composure.

'' Pardon me, Butler, but by God, your face was a sight to behold '', he said catching his breath, tears still jerking from his eyes.

'' … Well, so were you '', replied the manservant, still having trouble processing what he had just seen. '' Are you… are you okay, Artemis ? ''

His young charge smiled the most vampiric smile ever, and Butler shivered. Instinctively, he strenghtened his grip onto his gun.

'' I've never felt better in my entire life, Butler '', Artemis said, his grin widening.

Butler looked at the computer, then back at Artemis, and even though he had no idea what was going on, he was terrified.

'' What have you done ? '', the manservant murmured.

Artemis was touched by the sound of despair in Butler's voice, and chastized himself for his previous inappropriate behaviour. He also regretted not telling him about the Glitches and the Wired. The bodyguard cared, and Artemis shouldn't have left him aside. He readjusted his suit to look a little more proper, and looked at his bodyguard straight in the eyes.

'' I'm really sorry I scared you, and I assure you there's nothing to be worried about. '', Artemis said. '' Look, I have only one thing left to do tonight… well, this morning, and then I really must go get some sleep. But I promise that when I wake up, I'll explain everything. Is that a deal ? ''

Butler hesitated. His instinct definitely told him he wasn't going to like what Artemis would tell him tomorrow, but he also felt sad that seeing his charge in such a happy state had scared him so much. Eventually, he went to Artemis, and put one of his enormous hand on the young boy's osseous shoulder.

'' I'll be glad to hear what you've been plotting around '', the manservant answered, '' but I'll like it more if you keep me updated, next time you work on something big like this seems to be. I'm here to protect you, and that also means protecting you from yourself when you push your limits too hard. Finish whatever you need to, but after that, you go straight to bed. Alright ? ''

'' Alright '', Artemis promised. '' Thank you, Butler. ''

I'm lucky to have you, he added in his mind after the bodyguard had left him, closing the door gently behind him.

Then, Artemis turned back to his computer and exhaled deeply. Now he had his proxy installed, he'll have a few checks to run, and then see if he needed to create an avatar in order to explore the Wired.

Artemis sat and typed for a few minutes. The breach in Protocol 9 was closed, but the proxy was stable and accessible. It responded to Artemis' test requests even though his computer was lagging a bit. Artemis was too tired to notice the three Glitches that messed up the Protocol 9 window.

He decided that creating an avatar – a fake identity which he could impersonate while navigating – was a safer way to explore the Wired unnoticed. In record time, he had configured a fictive and faceless user, and left it as a .tab file in his computer's hardrive ; like an empty mask and costume waiting for him to embody it before entering the Wired's stage.

He hesitated for a few seconds about the name he should give the avatar. He didn't want to use his usual pseudonym of IBIQ for once. After a quick thinking, he typed six letters.

Selene.

LEP HEADQUARTERS, BELOW GROUND

Meanwhile, in Haven City, kilometers below ground from Fowl Manor, Foaly, the centaurian technological genius and consultant of the LEPrecon, was loudly crunching on a carrot.

He was rather satisfied with himself. Artemis Fowl's mindwipe had worked out perfectly. He had personally surveilled his favorite Mudboy three times lately, just to make sure ; and even though the human kid had triggered Foaly's alarm by hacking into the Kremlin today, nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary. For Artemis Fowl's ordinary, at least.

The centaur cracked his neck, and eventually swallowed his carrot.

'' Yummy. ''

After this thoughtful statement, Foaly rolled his special chair to the other side of his booth, reaching for next day's paperwork. Nothing very exciting there. The centaur surprised himself regretting the time when Artemis Fowl was still here. The fairy civilization had nearly collapsed three times, but overall, it had been great adventures.

Foaly shook his head in the manner of a horse chasing flies away. Artemis had been fun back when he had all his memories, but he had also been public enemy number one.

The centaur rose up from his chair and put the paperwork on his main desk. Before exiting the LEP headquarters for a good day of sleep, he checked, as usual, all of his systems. One is never too careful, isn't that right ? Foaly checked the LEP core system, Opal Koboi's cell in Argon's clinic, Haven's global security system. And Protocol 9.

As he had programmed the supersecurity – an artificial intelligence, in fact – to be as annoying as him when confronted by hackers, he had set up a counter for the humans' failed attempts at breaking it. It was merely just for making fun of them and satisfying Foaly's gargantuesque ego ; there was zero risk a human – or even a fairy – could ever pass through Protocol 9. The centaur had encoded the supersecurity not only in the fairy quantic code, but also in Centaurian.

No, definitely, Protocol 9 was unbreakable. Or so he thought.

Today, the counter read :

SUCCESS COUNTER _ Mud Dummies : 0 / Foaly the Supergenius : 15

The centaur grinned. There had been 4 new attempts today. Failed, of course. He could even have the hackers' IP adresses if he wanted to, but he had never tried to. He already pitied the Mudmen enough, no need to embarrass them any more.

As you probably guess, that was a terrible mistake. But well, it was only the second irreparable one the centaur had made in less than a week.

Yet, when clicking on his score to reveal the detailed information, Foaly frowned. The 15th attempt shown that the breach in Protocol 9 had lasted twenty five milliseconds, which was sixteen milliseconds more than usual.

For a brief moment, Foaly had another paranoia attack, but he quickly got back to his senses. Come on, he knew no one could ever break Protocol 9. His paranoia fits started to become unhealthy, and it was time he started to rely on reason and logic even when in the grips of his irrational fears. He checked the Wired, but saw nothing suspicious or abnormal. There, you see ?

The centaur set the systems on automatic mode for the night, and left his booth accompanied by the soft clicking noise of his hoofs. Protocol 9 was as secure as ever, but it just needed to be tighten up a bit, after all, the last time Foaly had updated the artificial intelligence was twenty years earlier. Artemis Fowl wasn't even a fœtus back then. The centaur smiled at the idea of a baby Artemis.

When exiting the LEP headquarters, he walked past the Recon officers' locker room, and he thought of telling Holly about tonight's incident. Then, he reminded himself that there had been no incident, and that talking to anyone about Protocol 9 would be admitting he hadn't deleted the Wired when he was supposed to.

The Great Council had had him swear on his honor and on his Book to do everything he could to delete it. The fact was Foaly did do everything he could. But it never worked. So while he was at it, why not keep using the Wired, if he couldn't destroy it anyway ?

There was no risk, if he was the only one to know about it and if he took care of not exposing himself to the Wired's side effects.

Well, once again, Foaly was to be deceived by his worst enemy : his own ego. For if he had even started to conceptualize that there was maybe someone at least equally intelligent to him out there, none of this would have happened. Except this time, Foaly's mistake would have particularly disastrous consequences.

The most catastrophic one being the Wired's impact on Artemis Fowl's mental health.

–

* : Let the Right One In by Tomas Alfredsson is the greatest modern vampire movie of the 21st century. That statement is totally objective.

(the two other best vampire films of the 2010s being Jim Jarmusch's Only Lovers Left Alive and What We Do In The Shadows by Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement – that statement is also totally objective)

Plop ! :D

Well that was chapter 3 ^^' I hope you liked it, personally it was the one I enjoyed writing the most so far. I just love writing about Angeline and Butler, I feel they are such important characters to Artemis and I like to have them together :)

But I'm really sorry, the more I read chapter 2 and 3 the more I realize how slowly things are actually moving. I really love taking my time to develop the characters' feelings and daily life before the ''real'' action starts to kick in, but well... I get that I might be the only one interested in that ^^' Even if it's to tell me that you are bored you can still review :')

Anyway it was important to me that it took at least two chapters for Artemis to reach the Wired. It's really almost superhuman, especially the part about the Zero-Days (at the point I think any IT engineer who would read the story would just throw rocks at me for scientific unaccuratebullshitness xD but, well, we are talking about anything and he IS kind of a superhuman), and I wanted to make you feel how hard it actually was even for Artemis. But now HE DID IT, so things are going to move faster and faster from now on !

I'm having trouble with chapter 5, but I'll update chapter 4 next Wednesday just as planned. As a teaser for next chapter, I'll only reveal its title : Entering the Wired.

Nyeheheh...

See you next week guys ! Don't hesitate to review the story, point out the positive and the negative, comment on the weather, discuss your favorite vampire movies... whatever you want to write, I'll read and reply ! 3