I own nothing In this chapter.
Artemis drummed his fingers on the desk. It was a new habit. Nothing bad like the atlantis complex just an honest to truth bad habit. His first. He stared at the 3D diagram in front of him. He couldn't shake the feeling he was forgetting something. A few years ago he would have made six or seven different models that would work just as well as this one in the hours he'd spent sitting here. He had inventors block. He'd had it ever since he had come back from, well, the dead.
Artemis had lost his memories, all he retained was, at least partially, his personality. After Holly, Butler and the various other fairies and humans in his life had narrated his past, Artemis felt like his old self, for a while at least. But sometimes he wasn't sure. Sometimes he couldn't connect to the old Artemis, nothing like when he was Orion but separated somehow. He shook his head to clear the thoughts. Far to deep and philosophical for me, he thought. There was a crisp rap on the office door.
"Enter," Artemis said.
"The professor's package came." Artemis's long time companion announced.
"Set it on the table, I will open it in a moment." Artemis replied. Butler sensed his charge was troubled but, as usual kept his observations to himself. Butler turned to leave and said over his shoulder.
"I almost forgot, Commander Short has arrived." Artemis stood up.
"Then this will have to wait." He said taping the box as he passed, exiting the room before Butler. Artemis was thankful for the distraction, he couldn't think strait at the moment. Holly Short was in the parlor. Arms and legs crossed slouching on the sofa, an impatient look on her face. Artemis allowed himself a smile. He loved her. Well not like that, he knew his old self had felt something more for Holly but now, they were just friends. Very good friends but still, just friends.
"Good evening Holly, care for a cup of tea?" Artemis asked, gesturing at the fresh pot of earl gray on the coffee table.
"Ah, why not," she said."I'm feeling a little jittery." How odd, Artemis thought, Holly loathes tea, the new job must be worse than she said. Holly took a sip from her cup and stuck her tong out.
"Bleh, I don't know how you drink this stuff constantly Arty, it tastes like dirty water." she complained. She had called him Arty. That nickname used to be a sore spot and he had only allowed his parents to use it. When Holly had recapped his life, she made it obvious that saying all three syllables of his name was a pain, so he allowed her to shorten it as she pleased. She glugged the rest of her tea.
"Well, straight to business now if you don't mind I had to take overtime for the next week to get this evening off." Holly grumbled. Artemis chuckled.
"How is paperwork treating you?" He asked. She glared at him
"Like royalty," she said, sarcastically. Artemis clapped his hands,
"To business then, I received the last piece from professor Binforn just before you arrived."
"I know, I saw the delivery girl." she said with a frown.
"Hmm," Artemis continued "Now all I need to do is slap it all together and run some tests, then we will be ready to proceed."
"Any idea on a time frame? There are some people further up that i'd better warn if we're close."
"Depending on the quality of the professors work, which should be top notch, anywhere from a week to a month."
"Well give me a three day warning will you? Thats long enough that no one could fire me but little enough that anyone opposing can't do much about it."
"Your starting to think like me Short." Artemis smiled. He had quite a negative influence on the commander. Commander, he liked calling her that. After the previous commander of section 8, Vinyáya was killed in Iceland the section was without a leader for quite a while. After Artemis died Holly had been promoted. She couldn't go to the surface as much anymore and was stuck with hills of paperwork but she had gained the power to make a clone of Artemis and bring him back. For that he was eternally grateful.
"Is the Ice Cube really going to work?" Holly asked.
"There is no reason it shouldn't, it is exactly the same as it was in Iceland and I had you convinced it would solve global warning then." Artemis said. Thats all I've been able to do he thought sadly. Recreate old inventions. The Ice Cube was of corse genius but it was genius from another lifetime. That doesn't matter he told himself. Just focus on saving the world then worry about your IQ. Holly blew a stray hair out of her face. She's let her hair grow Artemis noticed, it was almost down to her shoulders now.
"-So i'd better get going." Holly said.
"Oh, certainly," he paused "are you alright Holly, you look worried."
"Its just, do you know that girl who dropped off the package?" Artemis was puzzled, where on earth was this going.
"No, probably the professor's newest student, the new ones usually run errands."
"When I was walking down your driveway I was shielded and I filled up two weeks ago so there's no way my magic wasn't working."
"So?" Holly wrung her hands.
"Artemis" she said slowly,"That girl could see me."
Mwahahaha! I love cliffies! I've got a few more chapters planned out but after that i'm clueless. Feel free to talk to me people, I don't bite... sometimes.
Sam