COMMANDER KELP'S OFFICE, LEP HEADQUARTERS

Captain Holly Short woke up with a headache. If you can call feeling like your head is about to explode a headache.

'Ah, she wakes', said a voice. 'Although I would rather stay asleep if I were her. Getting defeated by a mud boy! And a scrawny one at that! Recon won't let her forget that in a hurry.'

'Holly', whispered another. 'Wake up'

'Foaly?' Muttered Holly, her eyes half open. 'That little joke of yours wasn't funny'.

'What little joke?' Asked Foaly, feigning innocence.

'Using Artemis as my final opponent', shouted Holly

'Oh, that little test?'

'Yes. That test '

'You have to understand me on this, Holly' He shooed the other fairy out of the room. 'You and Artemis are getting too close. Humans and Fairies don't mix, you should know that.'

'How do you know that? How do you know that we aren't just friends?'

'Because we saw the way you reacted', Commander Trouble Kelp appeared from a dark corner of the room. Holly hadn't even known he was there. 'We could see it in your eyes'

'Great, so you were watching too'

'Unless you have forgotten Captain, I am your Commander.'

'I know', she said sadly. 'But Artemis and I are just good friends. You wouldn't want to hurt a friend.'

Commander Kelp glanced at Foaly. 'You know, she may have a point'.

'But-', Foaly started to object. 'Oh, all right'

'You are dismissed.' Trouble Kelp said. 'But watch it'

Holly pushed through the door into the corridor. She had lied to her Commander and friend to protect a mud boy. There had been only one other case of a fairy-human friendship, and it hadn't ended well. Unless you want to count seventeen blanket mind-wipes, a face reconstruction and a burning building as a good result.

Holly found her brow wet with perspiration, almost a first for her, especially considering she had done worse things in her high risk job. She wished she hadn't been so stupid. Becoming friends with a criminal genius. A criminal genius that KIDNAPPED her. She felt a tear make its way down her cheek. She had betrayed the people.

'Holly!' A voice broke through her emotions. She turned around. 'Holly, I'm so sorry...I thought-' Foaly paused. 'Holly, are you crying?'

'No', Holly stammered. 'It's...Allergies'

Foaly didn't look convinced, but continued. 'You can use these', he pushed a small set of wings, obviously new, into her arms.

'Won't Trouble-I mean Commander miss them?'

Foaly shook his head. 'they are so new they haven't been registered yet. Quick, go, before Commander Kelp sees them.'

Holly rushed down the corridor and out into the Tara shuttle port. The magma flares weren't due for another hour, giving her enough time to fly up the chute into the fresh evening air. She smiled, then pushed off into the chute.

FOWL MANOR, DUBLIN, IRELAND

Artemis Fowl The Second walked briskly down the hallway. Butler walked behind him, matching his stride step-for-step. In his hand Artemis held what looked like a roughly constructed transmitter.

'She's there', Artemis observed.

'Who's There?' Asked Butler, exasperated.

'You aren't coming on this trip', said Artemis, ignoring Butler's question. 'I need the keys to the Bentley'

Butler opened his mouth to object, but closed it just as quickly.

'You're up to no good', he muttered.

'Of course', replied Artemis, eyes twinkling mischievously. He took the keys and opened the front door of the manor. Automatic floodlights lit up the driveway and the sleek black car.

'Remember to not take her over a hundred', Butler warned. Then smiling, 'Oh, and don't crash into any low-flying fairies on the way.'

'I'll try', grinned Artemis, putting the keys in the ignition.

He eased the Bentley down the driveway and out onto the main road. Glancing at the transmitter sitting on the dashboard, he turned round the car and headed towards Tara.