Artemis Fowl: The Ballad of Frond
Chapter Two: We, The People
To all three of my adoring fans. Usually, if I only get two or four reviews I axe the story and start over. But you guys gave me such encouragement I had to continue! I know that most people don't like reading a full part focused on an OC, but I had to introduce the character. Hope you like all of them so far. Please tell your friends about this story, as I've put in a lot of effort to make it better than your usual tripe. But even if you guys are the only two or three who review I'll keep it just keep letting me know you like it! Thank you, you're very kind!
And yes I try to be the goddess of not so horrible OC's.
"…The pornographic, vile music of Mud Men has tainted our generation and exposed them to an insatiable fascination with violence and sex. It is a pandemic that I am proud the Council has decided to defenestrate from the airwaves. They will ban not only music directly created by humans, but also confiscating, censoring, and disposing any music that remotely mimics at the style and content of those who live…above us. Let us not forget the virtues of our forefathers: peace and integrity. Without even contacting us, without awareness of our very existence, the poisoned mindset of the human race has found its way into the bloodstream of our youth. Let us cure this before it—"
That's enough, Holly sighed to herself and clicked off the news. For weeks now this Belenus Bile had been clogging Haven with his relentless crusade against all things Mud Music. He had become known as the People's most influential zealot, trying to bring back the spiritual fulfillment in place of scientific exploration. The ex LEP felt neither here nor there about the entire issue although she did listen to the ultimate Mud Lady herself Lady GaGa, a guilty pleasure she didn't have to admit or turn in. Luckily, Mulch was smart enough to smuggle the actual CD rather than pirate a digital download so she could listen to her 'pornographic, vile' music without the fear of being reported. Feeling an unusual strike of rebellion Holly grabbed the CD—archaic, yes—but luckily her car was able to register all forms of digital formations.
She was about to put on a pot of coffee when someone rapt vigorously on the door. A visitor? At this hour in the morning? She dragged her half woken feet to the foyer. Someone has a death wish.
Holly sauntered over to the door and opened it. It was Kelp.
Oh.
The young Commander looked worried and slightly out of breath. "You would think LEP's top man could easily overcome a few flight of stairs," his ex comrade gibed.
"I'm…I'm sorry Holly," Trouble said breathlessly. "But I didn't know else to turn to. It's… well, it's my niece. May I?"
Without a word Holly opened the door all the way for him and immediately turned for the kitchen. Why not, she thought tiredly. After all what better way to end the awkward tension between two ex lovers than a crisis?
Kelp followed behind tentatively. Sure, he and Holly hadn't spoke for weeks after the…incident. But he honestly could not think of a better person to help him out. Secretly, the newly instated Commander hoped it would give them a chance to patch things up. Start over. He had the promotion, after all. Wasn't that what mattered? With Holly it was difficult to tell. She casually poured two cups of coffee as if they had just rolled out of bed together. Kelp pushed out the memory and took a seat at the table.
"So what's happened now?" Holly asked, sitting beside him.
She had never formerly met the sister of Trouble. Actually, she was his niece, but the two uncles looked after her as if she was one of their own—a quality the young fairy seemed to resent.
Trouble sighed. "Well, I'm sure you've heard all you can handle over this new ban on Mud Music."
"Haven's new savior seems to have all the right strings pulled," Holly muttered bitterly. She was thinking of their wallets.
"Yes," Trouble agreed. "But there is something more. Something that isn't entirely advertised in all his speeches and posters." He leaned in a little closer to Holly as if anyone could be listening within the apartment walls. "The Council has issued a warrant of the immediate arrest of anyone distributing or participating in the distribution of Mud Music. No level of degrees—just a one way ticket to jail. Also, there has been a special recon group trained to track down and disband any underground clubs or radio stations airing the MM threat. They're not a typical police force, either. They were hand picked by Bile. They're dangerous, Holly. More so than necessary."
"And you're worried about Norah," Holly finished for him. "She's getting involved in something that could put her in harm's way."
The Commander nodded. "There's nothing I can do to protect her. It's above my chain of command. It's not even like she's quiet about it, either. I mean, Norah isn't standing outside of House of Council with a sign denouncing Belenus. Sure. But any authority that questions her view—well she is vocal about it. They have her eyes on her, Holly."
There was a concern in Kelp's eyes that Holly had not witnessed in a very long time. She did not know if it was because he was worried about his beloved niece's choices, or the dangers that the new Recon group imposed upon her. Whichever the case Holly was determined to help.
"What do you need me to do?"
"Follow her," Kelp said, his voice nearly a whisper. "She hasn't met you. See what she's doing. Where she is going and report back to me. I just need to know she is safe."
Holly nodded. She could do that.
The Commander sighed warily. A month on the job and the burden already filled his voice. "This…Bile is pushing us toward a Revolution. I don't like it. I don't think his motives are pure." Suddenly, on impulse, he reached for her hand.
"We'll be alright," Holly whispered, but she didn't think he heard her.
Norah was bored.
The pixie-fairy hybrid sat impatiently across from the counselor's office, waiting for him to speak. She already knew what all this was about. The intercom, the politely being asked to sit, all were theatrical formalities. It was no secret that certain students had been specifically selected for an inquiry, concerning a banning.
"Let's start, shall we?" the counselor began. "You come from a very academically and career achieving family, Norah. The Kelps have a wide range in politics and are the highest ranking the police force (save for one, Norah thought). Yet you have chosen a different route for yourself. Not that I condoned this. We are privileged to have choice, after all. But your choices thus far have marred the established integrity of your family's name."
Norah shrugged. "Every family has a black sheep."
"And you're OK with this title?" He asked shuffling papers. "Because personally, I believe with the right application of motivation and incentive, you could be more than simply the black sheep. You could the first Kelp, for instance, to go to an art school. I'm sure that would send your father for a loop."
Norah eyed her counselor skeptically. This was not the conversation she thought it was going to be. As encouraging as it was for him to be interested in her future—the future she wanted—the young Kelp could not help but wonder about his ulterior motives. She studied his shelves carefully. There were a multitude of books, most of them for appearances. Finally, her eyes landed one particular: The Youth written by Belenus Bile. Clearly just bought. She kept her guard up.
"I would very much like to become a director," she answered civilly. "It's been a dream of mine. I want to film the human world."
The counselor cocked his eyebrow. "Human…world?"
Norah nodded. "I want to do a comparative film of Humans and Fairies."
"My child," the counselor chuckled, "we all know what humans are like. They drove us down here. Stole our land. Steal each other's land. The comparison is clear."
He is definitely a worker B, Norah confirmed. Disciples of Belenus were known as his Worker B's. She said, "But what about the ying-yang sign? Its origins stem from the oldest chapters in our Bible that every bad has a little good and every good has a little bad. Of course, I don't personally believe there are bad People. Just People who do bad things."
"I see…"
The counselor studied her. Norah shifted nervously in her chair as if she were a firefly caught helplessly in a jar.
"I just want you to live a comfortable life, Norah," he said at last. "I'll make a list of art schools for you to apply to. You may go now."
Norah could not leave fast enough. Although the tone of the meeting had been kept pleasant and focused, there was something out of tune with the entire thing. It's like a scene in a movie, she thought, when someone walks into a room and there is childish or cheery music playing but something awful is happening. Her cell buzzed releasing her from her dark thoughts. Norah checked the message.
The burgers on 55th street are the best, and half off to! Don't wait!
I know what that means, the hybrid thought. She didn't have time to dwell on her counselor's weird audience. There was a revolution to organize.
"It's just as you had thought, sir. Several of the students are no longer concerned for the welfare of the People. They are more or less interested in the above world. Human life. There is one name particular I would like to mention if you don't mind. Norah Kelp. Yes. Oh really? How many songs…over ten thousand? Have you arrested her? Oh I see…yes, I do have her address. Let me give it to you."
As they combed through Regina's old hotel room Artemis studied the other stepsister carefully.
Despite her rough interior Betony was surprisingly short, and delicate. She wasn't particularly beautiful, somewhere in between, with intense eyes and a somewhat square jaw. At first sight one would wonder how a girl like this, impatient, childish, and so very small, could have a maternal bone in her body. But Artemis could tell by the way she frantically rummaged through the desk, bed, closet, and kitchen that Betony was determined to find her stepsister. For all the tough words in the world her body language left little to be said.
He asked, "What was your sister like?"
"Annoyingly charming," Betony replied flatly, opening the drawers that surrounded the TV. "Coy, and a serious tease. Regina also hated school with a passion. She didn't have any academic goals but she wasn't a bimbo by any means. She just…wanted to make up her own rules."
"Interesting," Artemis mused. "How did you get along?"
Betony slammed the wardrobe shut. "How about you stop playing twenty one questions and help me look for my sister's shit like you promised?"
"Twenty one questions is a game that requires strictly yes or no answers to the inquiries at hand. And I never promised I'd help find your sister. I merely said I'd see the room."
Betony glared at him. A scolding hot rage flowed dangerously beneath her skin. Artemis was Pompeii. And she?
The dangerously unstable volcano.
"This was a mistake!" The angered girl snapped wiping away a few rebellious tears. "I don't give a fuck about who you are. I don't need your help anyway!" She grabbed her purse, and then hesitated. " Wait. This room is yours, correct? And it's on your card?"
"Of course," Artemis said, "if anything I should be asking you—"
He did not finish his sentence before Betony grabbed a very expensive looking vase and threw it across the room. It shattered against the opposite wall, and the small marched out of the room giving the door a proper slam.
Bastard deserved what he got! She tried convincing herself. Why am I acting so deranged? I need the help of the police not some dilatants rich snob trying to get a thrill out of searching for someone!
Betony fumed all the way to the elevator door. Angrily, she hit the up button several times, knowing Artemis, or worse security, could be walking down the hall any minute. "Hurry up!" she shouted kicking the sliding doors.
To her utter surprised, they opened. Unfortunately someone was standing in it—a bombshell blonde dressed head to toe in tight leather. Before Betony could open her mouth a gun was in her face.
"Don't move," assassin Barbie warned. "We know who you are, Regina Lambert."