(Blah, blah, blah. Skip if you please.)

This chapter is kind of random, but I was feeling heartbroken, so at least Sofie should get a guy. But I think he helps set up the plot more. Sofie's too closed. She needs someone to help her open up.

Thanks to the ever-awesome Wolfy, and AngelzFromHell for your support.

And thank you to all of my reviewers. I'd love to get more! Please feel free to review.

Love you all, TheModernChromatic.

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I'm woken from my table-top nap with a start as the door to our little hide-out slams loudly. I jump so much that I fall off the table and wonder why I ever chose to nap there anyways. On the ground, I rub my eyes, wonder what time it is, then rub my sore butt that I'd managed to fall on, then I wonder what day it is. I blink several times and stand and stretch, groaning at my aches. Then I remember that the thing that woke me from my nap was the slamming of the door. Shit. I grab a knife from the kitchen where I'd decided to nap and cautiously head to the main room.

What I see makes me drop the knife and run for my life.

Before my sleep-deprived form is someone who's company I have craved for an eternity, someone who completes me and still has enough to make everyone else in the room glow. The only someone I dare to say I love. Valor .

I drop my knife and run right for him, grinning like a fool. We crash together and he scoops me up like a child.

"Valor !" I cry, and he nuzzles my face with his. I feel like a weakling for this, but I don't care.

"Sofie, my sunshine, my belle, mi muneca, ma petite chou!" This actually makes me giggle. I haven't heard his voice in nearly six months, and his foreign endearments make me smile wider. We break out embrace and step apart, hands linked together.

Then, I notice he's not alone. Behind him is his jerk of an older brother, Simon. Out of nowhere, River explodes into the room and throws herself at Simon. Of course, River probably knew it was them before they even stepped out of whatever vehicle took them here. She was River afterall. I grip Valor 's hand tighter, because the sight of them together terrifies me. Alone, they're monsters, together...well, that's another story.

Valor takes me aside and smiles at me with his eyes. His hand disappears into a bag and he takes out a small box, white and nearly shimmering. I don't have to guess what it is. I simply have to guess what it's made of. Every time he travels, Valor picks up a ring from somewhere, each time it's made of something different. I keep all of them on a necklace I wear 24/7. This time, it's made of a shimmering pink metal. He whispers in my ear and makes the hairs on my neck rise.

"It's from an asteroid, says the guy who sold it to me. I thought it was nearly as pretty as you."

I blush. Valor made me feel almost normal. He made me almost forget the twelve years of heavy gymnastics, martial arts, swimming, fencing, archery/riflery, and running that hardened my muscles and followed me around like a starving dog, always reminding me how abnormal I am. I want to spit, I am so disgusted by how wasted my life is. I could've been normnal. Valor made me consider running away and trying to be normal. But I knew I was corrupted by everything that'd ever happened to me. I allow him to remove my necklace, slip it on, then re-do the clasp. I try and brighten my mood.

"I have something of a surprise for you myself," I grin and pull him to my lab. Once it's unlocked, I strech on my toes and cover his eyes with my hands before I open the door. Artemis doesn't make a sound when he sees me leading Valor eagerly into the room. Instead, he shoots me a disgusted look, like he knows he's some sort of zoo animal. I shake it off and take my hands off Valor 's eyes. Slowly, he takes it all in and I watch the expression on his pretty, familiar face change. First, he is amused, then he spots Artemis and his eyebrows shoot to his hairline in surprise. He turns to me and asks softly,

"Is that...?" he trails off. Artemis fills in the silence.

"Hello. Yeah, Artemis Fowl Jr, nice to meet you. I'd shake your hand, but it seems I'm locked in an invisible box like a mime. But please don't let that disturb your oogling at my helplessness." He snaps like a whip. A very sarcastic whip. Valor purses his lips and steps behind me, as if afraid.

"Invisible box?" He asks me.

"Ah, yes," Artemis answers, "A level seven containment chamber, or so she says. It's imaginary." He throws in another mouthful of biting sarcasm. Valor 's shouders drop impatiently. I clear my throat.

"Uh, yeah. It's cerebral. You'll have to forgive him. I don't think he's a very nice person in general, but he's been here about a week, so he's a little crabby." I say, and he shifts his weight and crosses his arms.

"You imprisoned me here. I have plenty of reason to be upset with you. And you still haven't even bothered to tell me what you want with me. I'm miffed for a reason." He snaps. I'm getting tired of hearing him speak so rudely.

"Alright..." I let the word slide through my teeth as I elongate the 'i' sound and drag Valor out of the lab, because his face exposes his need to ask a few questions. Once we're back outside, he glances at the door and grabs my arms, then looks me in the eye.

"You captured Artemis Fowl?" he stares at me in disbelief.

"What? You don't think I could've done it?" I challenge him, and his expression softens.

"No, dear, that's not what I meant. I know you can, but why?" I shuffle my feet.

"Well, he's Artemis Fowl. He's got connections to everyone and everything." Valor tilts his head skeptically. "Okay," I look away, "Well, truthfully, I have a theory. He's got connections in so many places, and its rumored that he's been in touch with magical folk, so I figured if he really has, well, maybe humans can live in peace with them. They could help us advance." I pause and wait for laughter that never comes. I love Valor so much sometimes.

"You really think this will work?" He asks me, very seriously. I nod slowly, but shrug. Valor gives me a sympathetic look and grabs my hand.

"You can do anything you put your mind to." He tells me. My strength returns and I dash back to the lab still holding his hand.

When I open the door this time, I know I am ready.