CHUTE E1, TARA, IRELAND

Holly smiled as she felt the chute winds rippling against her cheeks. She didn't perform a pre-flight check, just jumping straight into the chute with her adrenalin pumping, not knowing whether the compact wings strapped to her back would work or not. Although Holly's specialty was riding the flares in the LEP shuttle pods, she enjoyed flying just as much, if not more. There was no bulky pod or Foaly's annoying whine in her ear, just her and a set of wings. She knew she would get in trouble for diving, but the thrill was too hard to resist. As the earth's core rushed up to greet her, she flicked on the throttle and hoped it would work.

For a few anxious moments the wings did nothing, then hummed into life. Holly grinned as they propelled her towards the spot of light far above. When she was doing this she forgot about everything – Artemis, Foaly, Commander Kelp and the LEP, everything that crowded her life with uncertainty and confusion. Answerless questions vanished and her head was clear, free of both things she cared about and hated. She was once again no one but herself.

Isn't this odd, she thought. I've done this so many times but the exhilaration never leaves me. Holly slowed down as she neared the Tara shuttle port, which was buzzing with fairies annoyed with the shuttle port official.

'But this is an annual meeting', objected one. 'Annual means once a year. We need to pick up the other members!'

'Yeah, He's right', said another. 'We can't miss this!'

'What, annual fried pizza day? If you try jumpin' that chute now you'll be as fried as the pizza. Wait for the next shuttle an' you might actually get there'. The shuttle port official shook his head in frustration then scowled at Holly.

'Oh, look what the chute coughed up', he said. 'That blasted female recon officer again.'

Holly just stared at him.

'Wadda ya want?' he asked. 'An' make it snappy coz I gotta sort out this lot'. He gestured toward the annoyed tourists.

'I want', said Holly. 'A visa to the surface'

'I haven't got a message from the Probation office yet'

'No, I want a normal visa'

'Really?' He asked, suddenly intrigued. 'Why is that?'

'None of your business. Now, can you get me one?'

He looked at her suspiciously for a moment. 'Of course', he grumbled, tapping away at his computer. He printed out a slip of paper and handed it to her. 'Twenty-four hours, that's all you get'

'Okay.' Holly grabbed the visa slip and shoved it into her pocket. Smiling at the angry tourists, she walked towards the concealed entrance to the surface, hidden by a holographic bush.

'Okay surface', she said. 'Here I come'

SOMEWHERE NEAR TARA, IRELAND

Artemis slammed his foot on the brakes as a minivan labelled 'Melvin's Pizza' pulled out in front of him. He swore as the Bentley's bonnet scraped against the back door of the van. Artemis was certain Butler would have laughed at him if he were there, seeing as Artemis generally thought swearing was crude and completely unnecessary. There was now a deep scratch set into the Bentley's paintwork, shining silver against black. Two figures in red aprons stepped out of the minivan and strode up to the car.

Really, Artemis was underage and shouldn't have learnt to drive until he was about seventeen. But on the command of his father, Butler had taught him to drive as soon as his slim figure could reach the pedals. The two pizza men had obviously noticed this as they instantly started to frown.

'He's a kid!'

'Yeah! He shouldn't be driving!'

'Watta you doing, kiddo?'

Artemis slipped on a pair of dark glasses and slid down the window. 'How may I help you, gentlemen?' He asked, as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

Although the men were clearly taken aback by the authority in his voice, they continued speaking as normally as possible. 'Well first, aren't you underage? You got a licence?'

Artemis produced a laminated driver's licence (a clever fake) out of his pocket and showed it to the two men. 'As you may well realise' He said 'I am twenty-five years old, and do not appreciate being belittled by pizza men.'

He watched as shock clouded their faces. 'S-sorry...I...we didn't realise'.

'So', continued Artemis. ' I suspect you have come asking for insurance on my part. If you drive – your car is still working – down this road for a few miles, you will find a place called Fowl Manor. My bodyguard will answer the door and help you in some way or another.'

The pizza men, dim by most standards, walked straight back to their van and jumped back inside. Turning around, they accelerated and headed towards Fowl Manor.

Artemis smiled inwardly. I've still got it, he thought.

Now the obstacle had been removed, he checked the tracker and drove further towards Tara.

Fifteen minutes later, a battered Bentley pulled up on the side of the road. A full moon shone above his head, casting light on the Irish countryside. A cow munched grass nearby, and a lone bird twittered. Artemis concentrated on the small pile of shrubbery. Suddenly, it flickered and a haze appeared above it. It hovered then materialised into a dark, lithe figure, with definite adult proportions but childlike in height.

'Holly?'

'Artemis?', asked Holly. 'Is that you?'

'Yes', said the Irish boy gratefully. He didn't fancy accidentally bumping into another fairy instead.

Holly strode up to him and looked around once. 'Sorry Arty', she whispered, then punched him square in the face.

'Wha-' , was the last thing he said before he hit the ground, unconscious.