Disclaimer: I do not own either the Artemis Fowl books or Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.


Camp Half Blood, Long Island, USA

"I told you to hold your electricity, Clarisse," said a centaur, reprovingly.

A girl with stringy brown hair thrown back with a blood red bandana nodded, looking a little sullen. A small, ferrety boy came forward and said, "Who is this guy, Austin?"

"Um…"

He looked at his sister for support.

"He's a guy we met in London. He's a mortal but he's clear-sighted. I think he can help us, Michael."

Michael didn't look too happy with this but he obviously didn't want to start and argument with his half-sister just now. He nodded and began to walk away.

"Come back, you thieving dwarf!" shouted Clarisse behind his back.

Without turning he threw a fart bomb in her direction, leaving her smelling like a public latrine.

"Come here and face me, coward!" she screamed as he got further away. Her fists were balled up.

The centaur sighed. "Clarisse, please get cleaned up and borrow some perfume from Silena. I want to talk to Kayla and Austin alone."

"How can you talk to both of them alone?"

Artemis thought that it was time he intervened. He stepped forward and said, "That is not your concern. Could you please go and have a bath already? You smell like a wild boar."

Everyone stared and him for a second and then Clarisse let out a crack of laughter and walked towards the camp toilets.

"Clarisse is a daughter of the war god Ares. His sacred animal is a wild boar," explained Chiron in response to Artemis' curious look.

He nodded. Of course a maniacal battle hungry girl would be the daughter of a war god.

"I'm Chiron, Activities Director for this Camp. Welcome! Now if you'd like to get something to eat while I talk to…"

"I think he should come with us, Chiron" said Austin, cutting him off. "It'll make stuff easier to explain, right, mastermind?"

"If you persist in using that disgusting nickname I won't be of any help to you. Quite the opposite, in fact."

Austin mimed locking up his mouth and throwing away the key.

Chiron was giving both of them a penetrating stare. He smiled when Artemis looked at him and said, "Let us discuss this issue in the Big House."

They trooped over to the Big House in silence, with Austin occasionally shooting Artemis nervous looks and Kayla staring at the ground, her brows furrowed.

Chiron led them to wooden house, the biggest structure inside the camp boundaries with the exception of the arena for sword fighting that Artemis had observed on his way there. A teenage boy with black hair had been furiously stabbing at the practice dummies while a girl with curly blonde hair watched him.

"Now, explain" said Chiron, his voice turning stern.

Austin had a deer-in-the-headlights expression while Kayla shifted uncomfortably.

"Well, you see…"

Artemis rapped his knuckles on the table for attention. "I believe you have some counselors at this camp who act as the leaders of the cabins they represent. It is best that they hear this too. I don't like having to repeat myself."

Chiron called out to a boy who was passing by, "Connor! Camp counsellor's meeting! Get everyone here!"

He groaned. "Didn't we just finish one? I have to finish my new GTA challenge!"

"I believe that this is a bit more important than Grand Theft Auto. It concerns Kronos" said Artemis, looking at the boy critically. Mischievous eyes, a love of GTA and a brisk pace for walking. This was definitely a son of Hermes, god of travelers, messengers and thieves.

"Are you an empousai?"

"No."

"Vampire?"

"I'm afraid not."

The boy shook his head, disappointed. "Well, I'll go call everyone then. By the way, nothing is more important than GTA."

On that note, Connor left them shouting, "Travis! Big uber-important meeting at the Big House!"

"Well, it's nice to know that your side is taking the battle so seriously" remarked Artemis.

Chiron grimaced. "Well, they are children, after all."


Percy Jackson was not having a good morning. First there had been an extremely cheerful prophecy about his death of which ¾ had apparently already come true. He wasn't looking forward to the soul reaping ¼ left.

Second they had just burnt Beckendorf's shroud and as the metallic chains went up in the Calvin Klein scented smoke that his girlfriend Silena had provided, Percy couldn't help feel responsible for his death. He looked down at the watch Tyson had made for him and wondered how much longer his Cyclopes brother would be safe. Especially if his official war-cry was still 'Peanut Butter!'

So if it had been anyone except a still sobbing Silena who hiccupped that there was going to be another counsellors meeting at the Big House he would have been seriously tempted to just run Riptide through them.

But since Silena's face was still tear-streaked and she looked a little drunk, he put Riptide back in his jeans pocket and agreed to go with her.

"Um…Silena? Are you drunk?"

She glared at him. "The Dionysus cabin sent me a very nice bottle of Merlot to offer their condolences. I am certainly not drunk."

"Right."

She sniffed and walked a little faster, tripping over a tree root.

"Careful."

"I'm not drunk!"

"Sure."

"You think I'm drunk!" she wailed.

Percy looked alarmed. "No! I think you're totally sober!"

Silena started crying and Percy looked around for help, panicking. He could never handle a sober crying girl let alone one who was totally pissed.

"Annabeth!" he cried out in relief as he saw a familiar blonde girl walk past.

She took one look at Silena and glared at him.

"I leave you alone for 2 minutes and you manage to upset Silena? Just how dumb can you get, Seaweed Brain?"

"I didn't do anything!"

"H-he said I is drunk!" cried Silena.

"I didn't!"

"It's all right, Silena. Why don't we head over to the Big House and see if Clarisse's there?" said Annabeth soothingly.

Silena nodded and the three of them continued walking towards the Big House. As she ushered Silena in, Annabeth turned to Percy and whispered, "Why did you comment on the wine, you idiot?"

"I didn't –" he began but was cut off by a cool voice with a slight Irish accent.

"I assume you are the representatives of the Athena and Poseidon cabins?" asked Artemis, gathering a sheaf of papers from the desk. He had been looking over the lists of wartime supplies currently available at the camp.

Annabeth nodded. "That's right," she said and sat down without another word to Percy. He let out an angry huff and slipped into the seat next to her.

"Now, as I see it you have no chance of overpowering Kronos using mere force. He will crush you like stinkworms if you attempt to –"

"Wait a sec, who are you?" demanded Katie Gardener.

Artemis scowled. He wasn't used to interruptions and wished Butler was with him to take care of any annoying interjectors. "But Butler is the reason I'm here," he reminded himself "These people saved his life."

"My name is Artemis Fowl II. Spare me any silly jokes on my name. I assure you I have heard them all before and if I haven't I have no wish to hear them now."

"He's an Irish criminal mastermind with an active Interpol file!" chimed in Austin excitedly.

"Seriously, dude?" asked Travis, looking impressed.

"Yes, now if we may proceed…"

"What are you doing here?" said Clarisse, thumping the Coke can she'd been drinking from back on the table. Chiron didn't bother reminding her that cans weren't allowed at camp. He'd learnt long ago that being lax with stupid rules made him a lot more effective when dealing with the really major offences.

"When all of you stop acting like a group of first graders, long enough to listen to me you will be able to understand that I am here to tell you how to defeat Kronos!"

There was dead silence.

"Are you for real?" said Connor, starting to laugh, "A mortal is going to teach us to kill the Titan Lord?"

"Impossible."

"Crackpot."

"Nutcase."

"Have someone from Apollo's cabin take a look at his head."

Artemis was now faced with a totally unexpected dilemma. Usually, the people involved in his schemes simply followed whatever instructions he gave them. He wasn't used to earning their confidence or convincing them of the veracity of his plot.

"Well, do you have another alternative?"

There was silence one again. A few people shifted uncomfortably in their seats. Artemis' lip curled. "So you're to charge into battle and get yourselves and your friends killed because you're too arrogant to believe you need a plan?"

"How do we know you aren't working for Kronos?" asked Percy.

"Run me through with your sword, Mr. Jackson."

Percy looked startled. "What?"

"Just do it," said Artemis calmly.

Percy uncapped Riptide with shaking hands and closed his eyes. "Here goes…"

The sword passed right through Artemis like a hologram.

"See? 100% human. Do you honestly think Kronos would use a mortal to infiltrate your camp when he already has a spy here?"

Whispers broke out between the occupants of the table.

"It could be a trick…"

"Anything's possible…"

"What about those mortals in helicopters when we were going to San Francisco to save the goddess?"

"Ah yes. I have heard about them. But do I honestly look like hired muscle to you?"

"More like hired turkey," sniggered Clarisse.

Percy threw her an exasperated look. "C'mon guys, I could use some support here!"

Meanwhile Artemis was assessing the way the others, even Chiron, looked at Percy. They clearly regarded him as their leader. If he was persuaded, the rest would follow.

But how to sway him?

The easiest method would be to simply demolish his arguments and objections using logic. But that would only set his back up, making trust impossible. Their trust and full cooperation were vital to the success of his plan.

He remembered something he'd once heard his mother say: Trust is a two way street, Arty. You have to trust in order to be trusted.

At that time he had dismissed it as an old wives tale, one of the many lies fed to children at bedtime. But desperate times called for desperate measures didn't they?

"Percy," said Artemis, using the other boy's first name for once, "who do you trust the most in this world?"

He hoped the answer would be what he had anticipated because if not then his plan would indeed be in trouble…

"Annabeth," said Percy, with a half glance at the girl sitting next to him.

There were a few catcalls at that and Annabeth blushed, sinking into her seat and looking like wanted to hug Percy and then strangle him.

"Daughter of Athena, goddess of wisdom and war, am I right?" asked Artemis, trying to hide a smirk.

She nodded.

"If I tell her my whole plan and she approves of it, will you be willing to do so as well?"

"Hell yeah," Clarisse spoke up, "Princess is irritating with her architecture bull but she's pretty smart. If she and Chiron agree to your plan, my cabin will fall in."

"So will mine," said Katie.

There were similar noises of assent all over the table. Artemis frowned. Telling one person the whole plan was risky enough, he wasn't sure if could afford to tell the centaur as well.

"You don't need to tell me your plan," said Chiron softly, "I trust you. I have been teaching heroes for generations and I pride myself on being a keen judge of character. I am reasonably certain that you mean us no harm, whatever other faults you may have."

Artemis was startled; he wasn't really used to public votes of confidence from virtual strangers. However before he could say anything, Chiron picked up a paintball gun that had been lying on the table and said, "I will attempt to get assistance from my brethren."

He walked out of the room, bending his head so that he could pass.

"Well, I guess we should leave too" said Travis. He stood up and Connor followed him. Soon the room was empty except for Annabeth and Artemis. Percy had squeezed her shoulder lightly as he passed and whispered, "Don't let that guy trick you. Be careful."

She wasn't sure what made her more nervous, Percy's trust in her brains or the gleam in Artemis' eyes.

"So, what is your plan?"

"I have more than one plan, actually. But this one had a 66.66% rate of success"

Annabeth groaned. "Why do I have a really bad feeling about this?"


As an exceptionally smart girl Annabeth knew that curiousity killed the cat. As a child of Athena, she also knew that satisfaction bought it back.

As she studied the boy restlessly pacing in front of her, it struck her that he looked almost … incomplete. As if there was something more that should be there but was unaccountably missing.

"I suppose you will want to know what my motive behind assisting you is?" he said, finally looking up and meeting her eyes. It was unsettling to see the same calculating expression that Percy often accused her of wearing in the foreign boy's blue eyes.

She nodded. "Of course. Its basic strategy: You can't trust someone until you know what's making them tick."

"That's from Definitive Deception, isn't it?"

"You've read it?"

"I contributed a section under the name Prof. D. E. Seit."

They moved to the table and sat down. Even trained liars tended to relax in casual seating and conversation, even if it was just an imperceptible loosening of the muscles. Another quote from the same book.

"I have a bodyguard, Butler," he began.

"Butler?"

A small glare from Artemis. "He had been my accomplice since I was a child." Artemis seemed to be struggling to say the next part aloud and when he did, it came out almost choked, "I grew… attached to him over time. Recently, due to one of my plans going slightly awry, he was shot in the chest at close range with a Teflon coated bullet."

"Yeah, I can see how you can conclude the plan went slightly awry. With a plan history like that I'm not sure I trust this new one you say you have against Kronos."

"Given the tragic lives of demigods of the past and the calamities that seem to befall those around them, I'm not sure whether I should associate with you either."

"Your point being?"

"There has to be a certain amount of trust on both sides for this to work."

"Fine. Go on," Annabeth prompted.

"Shortly after Butler sustained his injury Kayla and Austin entered the restaurant where all this was taking place."

He looked as if almost expected another interruption over the fact that the shooting had place in a restaurant in broad daylight but Annabeth was unfazed. She'd seen a lot worse happening in restaurants in broad daylight.

"Kayla healed him at what was obviously great personal cost. I cannot begin to describe what I felt at that moment, however psychologically speaking, I know that it is a good idea for me to put my emotions into words so as to relieve my subconscious. Butler has been a permanent fixture in my life for over a decade and naïve as it may seem I had come to believe him near invincible. I was stunned by his fall and had Kayla not healed him my greatest friend would have most likely died. For this, I feel I owe her a debt which I am currently attempting to repay."

"Why now? You can easily do her some piddly little favor later and call it a debt repaid, can't you?"

"I dislike the idea of anyone holding a virtual Sword of Damocles over my head and potentially asking me for a favor I may not wish to grant."

He hesitated for a moment and Annabeth asked, "Why this?"

"I believe," he said, with some difficulty, "that as a man of honor, Butler would prefer I do this. Besides, I am unfortunately experienced when it comes to saving the world."

"I see," said Annabeth, "Well, your plan worked."

He looked at with almost innocent enquiry.

"The one in which you tell me part of the truth to get me to trust you," she said dryly.

He gave her his classic vampire smile and said, "Shall we proceed to discussing the main plan now?"

"Go ahead."

"Before we begin I would like to inform you that you have a traitor in your midst."

"We know that, Percy told us when he got back. I just wish we knew who," she said almost banging her hand on the table in frustration. She caught herself with her hand inches away from the table's surface and looked embarrassed.

"I believe it is the leader of the Aphrodite cabin."

"Silena?" Annabeth frowned. "I don't think she's that good at deception. Anyway, why would she help Luke?"

"Unintelligent people make the best spies. They're the easiest to manipulate. As for her motives, no doubt she knows them best."

Annabeth looked thoughtful at that but said, "I'm still not totally convinced."
" Then I suggest you discreetly check her person for a communication device."

She nodded and said, "Next?"

"The quarrel between the Apollo and Ares cabins will have to be sorted in time for the battle."

Annabeth sighed and pushed her hair back, off her face. "I've been trying for ages but they're acting like children!"

"Then I recommend you have a quiet word with the Apollo cabin's head. He may prove easier to accommodate that the rather stubborn girl in charge of Ares' children," suggested Artemis.

"That won't work. I agree Michael's a decent guy but he won't back down from a challenge thrown into his face."

"Then what do you feel would be an appropriate step?" He seemed a little miffed by her rejection of his proposal.

"I think we should tell Clarisse how the Ares cabin not fighting in one of the biggest wars of the century would be an insult to her father. She's terrified of him so it should help. I hate working on her insecurities like this but it's the only way. I'll also try to invent something about the battle itself being all about glory and sacrifice and how she'll send up looking like a coward at the end if she refuses to fight. And if nothing else works, we'll just play on her basic love of war."

"A love of war would be a part of her very instinct," murmured Artemis almost longingly. "The psychological profiles I could create at this camp would be the biggest sensation since Freud himself."

"Dream on. Zeus would smite you with lightening before you signed any major book deals. Can we get back to the apocalyptic war about to take place shortly?"

Artemis looked slightly startled. He was unused to sarcasm being used against him rather than by him.

"Certainly. Before I begin explaining, I would like to make it clear that I will not tolerate any interruptions whatsoever. Save your questions for the end."

Annabeth was forcibly reminded of one of her father's lectures, which she had attended as a child. She motioned for Artemis to continue.

"The base of my plan is formed from my knowledge of the old Greek and Roman legends. We can only hope that the versions of the tales recorded by mortals were accurate enough for the purposes of my plan…"