Hurrikane: I meant Minerva, but when I wrote the last chapter, I didn't have the book with me, and I totally spaced on the name. Thank you for pointing it out, and giving me her name. And also for reviewing.
Kry's Law: Thank you also for reviewing. In later chapters I'll make more of a point to add more thoughts. Keep reading!
Chapter 1: 8 hours earlier.
"Holly, I need you in here," Foaly said from his control room at Section Eight. He sounded panicked. Immediately, Holly knew something was wrong. Slowly she made her way to the other room.
The control room was a very futuristic style, everything was metallic and shiny. Neither things, Holly was very fond of. But Foaly's poor decorating skills were not the issue here. Something was bothering the centaur. His horse like face was coated in a thin layer of perspiration, and his eyes were full of such a raw fear, it almost scared Holly. Almost.
"What is it?" she asked, hoping her voice didn't show the amount of fear she felt. Deep down she knew what had happened. They were discovered.
"I just hacked into the American government's computer. I found a file on Haven. Holly, we got pinged." She felt her knees get weak under her. She put her hand out to steady herself.
"You're sure? You're sure it's not Artemis?" Artemis Fowl continually pinged the People. Holly hoped against hope that Foaly hacked the wrong computer. Despite how smart the centaur claimed to be, he could still make mistakes.
"I'm sure. Holly, I'm a genius, I don't mistake Artemis' computer with the Americans. It's not really that hard to separate the two. Artemis' computer is actually challenging to read. The Americans sound as if they're being run by three year olds." Holly swallowed a lump in her throat. This was probably true. She just hated to admit it.
"So what's going to happen?" a part of her feared the answer.
"They have a shuttle, Holly. In eight hours time, they'll be flying down to Haven."
"But you can stop it." she hoped.
By the grim look on the centaur's face, Holly could assume she was wrong. "Holly, I'm not sure if I can. The shuttle they developed looks as though I designed it myself." Holly gave him a startled glance. "I didn't. I'm just saying, that's how it looks. It can survive through a magma flare and everything. Its years ahead of its time. Especially for humans."
"But there has to be something!" Holly jumped up in Foaly's long face. "Anything!" Foaly's eyes were full of doubt, but Holly's still held one last ounce of hope.
"The only thing we can do, is wait for them to come. Holly." he turned away from her, but Holly could hear the sadness in his voice. "It's the end of our way of life." Her eyes burned. She knew there were tears building up, but she refused to let them fall. Not now. She had lives to save.
"We have to fight them off." It went against everything she ever felt to say this. She hated most humans. They were monsters that destroyed any life that they came in contact with. The only humans she put up with were Artemis, Butler, Juliet, and Minerva.
"They outnumber us, Holly." Holly slapped him as hard as she possibly could. She was too scared to stop herself.
"They can't send down the entire world in one shuttle. Besides, the world doesn't even get along with each other! At this very moment, America's already at war with Iraq! We can beat a few dozen!"
"With guns and bombs? What do you think is going to happen?" he yelled. "That we can beat the Americans with our little Neutrinos? Holly, you have never shot to kill anyone or anything! You stopped Butler from killing that troll way back when. Those Americans aren't going to care if they kill us!"
But Holly was no longer listening. Truth be told she stopped listening at the mention of Butler.
One of the most dangerous men in the world.
"We need Butler," she said calmly. Foaly's horsey eyes grew even wider. "And Artemis. Hell, even Minerva."
"You think they would help us?"
"I know they would. Artemis may even be able to beat the Americans." She was right. Foaly had to admit that Holly was definitely right. Artemis could help.
Foaly sighed deeply. Holly couldn't help but notice a strange sense of humility the centaur was emanating. That was a first. "I'll send someone to get them.
"Don't bother," Holly said in slight relief. "Artemis has a phone." She pulled out her communicator and dialed the number she knew so well. Artemis picked up on the first ring.
"I heard, Holly. Butler, Minerva, Juliet and I are on our way to Tara."
"Do you think you could help?" Holly tried to remain calm, but she knew her voice was a little shaky.
"I'm not sure. I won't find out until we get there. Send a shuttle for us." Holly nodded, even though Artemis couldn't possibly see her.
"Alright, it will be waiting for you when you get there. See you soon, Mud Boy." She switched off her communicator. "They're on their way." Foaly nodded. For some reason, it gave them a little piece of mind knowing the boy genius was helping them.
Several hours later, Holly met with the only humans she actually liked. Artemis looked just as smug as he always did, Butler looked just as intimidating as ever, Minerva looked nervous, and Juliet looked excited. Same old Juliet, Holly thought.
Artemis smiled. The sight wasn't very warming, but he was trying. She had to give him something for that. "Holly."
"No time for a warm hello, Fowl," Holly stated as seriously as possible. For some reason, her commanders always used people's last names during a crisis situation. "We need you brain, and we need it now."
But Artemis wasn't paying attention. He wasn't even looking at her. Butler lightly rapped the boy between the shoulders. "Artemis!" Holly yelled.
"What is that building for?" Holly turned her head to see a giant titanium building. It was many years old, but still in pretty good condition. Still, it was completely abandoned.
"That's the old police building. We haven't used that piece of junk for over a hundred years."
"Well I just got an idea for that piece of junk."
It was then that Artemis came up with the idea to turn the building into a giant magnet. Holly had to admit that the plan could work. Now they just had to execute it. That was where problems started.
Artemis had to get the schematics for the building. Then he had to figure out what had to be done to turn the building into a magnet. By the time everything was finished, the Americans had already shown up.
The shuttle landed in the direct center of Haven City. The ship was a sight to see, to be sure. It was state of the art, metallic and shiny. The shuttle door slid open. Instantly over four dozen American soldiers climbed through. Holly was totally in shock. She expected there to be a dozen, not four dozen.
She swallowed hard. This was not going to end well, she thought.
Sadly, she was right.