Chapter Five: Discoveries
When Holly woke up the next morning, she discovered the following note on her nightstand:
Gone to gym. The meeting in the portable OB is at nine o'clock.
"He surely knows how to order everyone around, including me," she grunted, leaving her bed. "He is supposed to work under my command and I don't even have even the slightest idea of what's happening and what will happen today." She proceeded to the kitchen to find another note on a yellow folder. The note said: Some light reading during breakfast. Don't be late. Holly opened the folder to reveal the first page:
To Commander Holly Short and everyone else it may concern
The Report on Procedures and Discoveries during the Research Works on the 24th and 25th of April and next steps in Operation "Against Nature"
Written by Artemis Fowl II and the Whisky Brothers
"So Artemis still knows his place, huh? Well, he knows everything, so… Okay, let's see what these papers are about." Holly went to the next page with excitement, but it disappeared, as she knew nothing the report contained. She didn't know the meaning of every fifth word and it was written in gnomish! "Light reading. Light reading, my ass!" She exclaimed in frustration, deciding to pick up 'dear Arty' from the gym and give him a long and strict lecture about respecting authority.
She arrived at the Police Plaza shortly after, and receiving an answer that Artemis Fowl hadn't left yet, decided to wait for him near the lockers. From her position she couldn't help but overhear a conversation of three young fairies.
"He is so-o-o-o hot!"
'Oh Frond, female gossip! How I hate these things!' Holly thought with disgust, but stayed put.
"Have you seen his back? Those muscles?"
"Oh yeah. This is quite a sight. I think he noticed I was staring at him."
"He did?! Did he say anything?"
"No, he didn't even look at me twice," the girl answered with clear disappointment.
"Back, huh? Have you seen his ass?"
"Have you?!!" two girls squealed together.
"I sneaked into the men's showers?"
"You wouldn't dare!"
"It was worth it."
"And what about, you know, the front?"
'Poor guy. I surely don't envy him. They are treating him like some piece of meat.'
"I didn't manage to get a glimpse." Another sigh of disappointment.
The next phrase made Holly deadpan and her jaw fell pretty low.
"This Mud Man is certainly a piece of cake. I wish he could've lived with me and not with that cold-blooded commander. I would've showed him what fairies were made of."
'They were talking about Artemis' Holly was so shook up by the whole ordeal that she didn't hear upcoming steps.
"Good morning, misterMister Artemis," the girls greeted, not without batting of eyelashes.
"Good morning," he responded without turning his head to them. When he turned the corner he collided with the still gawking Holly. "Oh, hello, Holly. You came to pick me up?"
"Y-Yeah," she stuttered in return.
"Let's go then. You have a wonderful gym here. Are you all right?"
"Um, yes," Holly responded, finally pulling herself together. The mere idea that Artemis could be put in the center point of that conversation seemed to be utterly alien to her. Only now she remembered that he was actually a representative of opposite sex. She was a realist and she has asked herself about him being married and having children, but it mostly was mostly a right set of things to Holly – all Mud Men marry and have kids. She had never actually thought about why they do it, excluding the basic instinct to reproduce, of course.
They do it because of the attraction to each other, love for each other. Holly hashad never really put Artemis into that context. He was unsociable from the start, and then he stated he wouldn't have children… So he will remain alone for the rest of his life and no Mud Woman will ever love him?
Despite all of Holly's highly decent thoughts, her gaze ended up on Artemis's rear. His tight black jeans gave her quite a nice view. Nice in both senses.
'What in Frond's name am I doing?!' Holly shouted in her hand. 'I've lived 300 years and have never had such… such unprofessional thoughts! The operation will be over soon and, he will leave and everything will be the same. Yes, that's right.'
Artemis put his bag of sports stuff onto the back seat and they were off.
"You look thoughtful today, Holly. Is something the matter?"
"No, I just… No, nothing. When did you learn to write so good in gnomish?"
"I am usually good at everything."
"I couldn't and still can't understand what you had written in that report of yours."
"Oh, that. Foaly and I kept quite a close connection before all the contact was cut off, so his vocabulary must've rubbed off on me."
"You could've talked in English. As always."
"I insisted on using gnomish. Frankly speaking, I did it to easier understand Foaly's materials when I cracked into his files."
"So it was quite beneficial for you. As always."
"I'd be a fool to miss such an opportunity. Anyway, your presence is needed on the research area today."
"Who said I was leaving? I'd rather see everything with my own two eyes than to read your cryptic reports!"
"Welcome aboard," Artemis proclaimed with a chuckle.
When they reached their destination Holly noticed that all metal constructions disappeared only the net remained. In the distance she saw a familiar silhouette.
"What is Mulch doing here?"
"Actually, I don't know. He asked me for permission to be here today."
"It smells fishy. What could it be in it for him?"
"Maybe he knows something about all of this," her replied mysteriously and stepped out of the car.
When Holly entered the OB three heads were already close together, actively discussing something. Artemis felt his partners tense and raised his head to see the reason of for their behavior.
"Glad you joined us, Commander. I will give a layout of our activities for today. Yesterday were discovered twenty one bombs on different stalactites around Heaven. Here is the map." On one of the computer screens, appeared the a map of Haven with black dots on it appeared. "As you've already noticed, there are two bombs above Police Plaza. Someone doesn't like the place, I don't see why." Holly gave him a look-who's-talking look. "Anyway, you, as the LEP Commander, must choose ten men to take off the bombs and bring them down. We can't shoot them off because they can be activated by heat as it was witnessed yesterday. I am sure there is a timer there, one bomb in two to four days. The plan is simple – every man will take off two bombs and put them in a small refrigerator the moment they reach the ground. Then the bombs will be deactivated by competent people, meaning the techs. That's all."
"But that's only twenty bombs."
"The first will be taken off by me, as an example. Is the equipment ready, Willy?"
"Everything is in the perfect order."
"Thank you," Artemis said with a smile. He already liked those brothers. They were so similar to him. Maybe just a bit too young to have such pressure and responsibility on them, but Artemis was sure they would turn not only great techs, but scientists as well. All in due time.
Artemis put on a helmet, checked its connection to the booth and left with Holly trailing behind him.
"You can't be serious, Arty."
"I am always serious."
"But that's dangerous!"
"Tell me, Holly, in how many life threatening situations have we found themselves ourselves in during our adventures?"
"Plenty."
"Then this will be just another one on the list."
"But it was me who always did the dangerous stuff!"
"I am not a small defenseless boy anymore. I can protect myself in practically all possible situations. Now be who you truly are and get your men here. We will meet in at these coordinates in ten minutes. I need to get some stuff first."
Artemis went to the car, leaving a broken Holly behind. Right now she must command the troops and she couldn't even command herself to move. She was just worried about his well-being. She always had motherly feelings towards him, he being so young, practically a child. Even if that same child proved time and time again that he was as dangerous as a nuclear bomb.
Holly collected herself and went to fulfill her commander responsibilities. In ten minutes as was arranged, ten LEP officers stood on a small square in front of a bank. It was the place where the closest bomb was planted. In front of them stood Artemis with a strange belt around his waist and a small blue container beside him.
"Hello to you all. I don't think I need to introduce myself, you all know who I am. If you don't know, it doesn't matter. What matters is what I am going to do. You will see all my movements on this screen." He pointed towards the OB trailer with a big screen on its roof. "Please, remember every detail, seeing as you will do the same soon. Any questions?" He was greeted with silence. "Okay, then."
Artemis took out a middle-sized device and shot upwards. A metal arrow flew out with a rope on the end of it. In four seconds he was already inspecting the stalactite. "D'Arvit, it is on the other side," came Artemis's voice from the screen. To everyone's surprise, instead of coming down and shooting again, he connected the device to his belt and swung to the other side, pushing from the stalactite. Being there he took out a ring with another rope connected to it and pushed it into the ground above him. After these activities Artemis was hanging in the air supported by two ropes that were connected to his belt. After ten minutes of searching, a middle- sized brown box was finally found. No problems were met in detangling the bomb from the rock. Artemis pulled out the ring and the spinner brought him down. The bomb was instantly deposited into the a container and taken away by Willy. Only then did Holly breathe out.
"As you see, gentlemen, nothing extremely complicated or impossible," Artemis announced, dusting himself off. "And don't worry, this bomb, as we call it, isn't explosive. On activation it emits strong waves, probably ultrasound – the strength of which starts the rock fall."
"So we will just become deaf," someone stated.
"Not permanently. Anyway, I ask you to do this quickly and simultaneously, if possible. Because I am sure you understand that right now we are ruining someone's well thought thought-out plan. He can become impatient and blow them all up, if it will be done slowly or one by one. I won't be talking any longer. Needede equipment can be taken from the Plaza storages. The belt is actually my personal one, but I am certain you have something similar. The containers must be delivered to the main Operation Booth. Five voices including mine will guide you to the bombs' exact locations. You may go. Work quickly and efficiently. The fate of Haven is in your hands."
The officers headed to the omnibus that brought them there, leaving Holly and Artemis alone on the square.
"Why didn't you go with your team?" he asked, unclasping the belt and throwing it over his shoulder.
"They can certainly reach Plaza on their own. I wanted to explain my reaction earlier."
"Meaning?" Artemis asked, taking off the helmet.
"About you telling me you have grown up and all. I understand it even if to me you are still a fifteen-year-old boy. And even if you aren't, I can't help but worry about you."
"Thank you for your concern, Holly," he sounded really touched. "I hope that someday I will prove to you that I can stand up for myself."
"You already did. Just now. What was that stunt you pulled up there?"
"What are you talking about? Of course, it is not my usual climbing trips, but - "
"Climbing trips? What in Haven's name did you need them for?"
"For some personal issues. I'll tell you some time later. And I need to finish the operation."
Everything was finished without a stitch. All twenty one bombs were securely stored in a big refrigerator. Each of them was researched through and through to find some sign of the owner, but no luck in that department.
Artemis dragged himself to Holly's flat around midnight, utterly exhausted from attempts to solve the mystery of the bomb's creator. Surprisingly to him, the lights were still on.
"Why are you still up?" he asked, stepping into the kitchens and finding Holly stirring tea.
"I don't know. I just felt like drinking some tea."
"You were worrying about me again, weren't you?"
"Well, you were somewhere in the middle of the night! How can I not worry?"
"You know exactly where I was. I was experimenting in the OB. Where else could I have been?"
"I don't know! Maybe Mulch dragged you into a bar or something."
"Where did such a thought come from?" Artemis sounded genuinely surprised.
"Well, maybe you decided to celebrate the successful end of the operation."
"Firstly, only one part of the operation is finished. Secondly, why should I go somewhere with Mulch, if I can stay here with you?"
"Well, sometimes a familiar woman's company isn't required when men celebrate."
"What are you implying, Holly?" he asked, suppressing laugher.
"D'Arvit. You know quite well what I am implying."
"Is it right to say that you thought that I could've gone with Mulch to some stinky bar to get drunk and get some female company on the way?"
"And what is wrong with this idea? Girls here are the right height as you and you are not exactly ugly."
Artemis smirked. "I consider myself a gentleman and usually take my dates to restaurants, not some bars."
"Dates?" Holly asked not even attempting to hide her interest.
"Are you drunk? You're not acting like yourself."
"I am still a woman, you know."
'Oh, I know too well.'
"Even I like to gossip sometimes. Let's make a deal – you tell me about your dates and I'll tell you about mine."
"I think the night will be interesting… But first, you must order something good."
"What for?"
"I liked your idea about celebrating."
"We can order a cake or something."
"Brilliant idea."
Cake delivered and cut into pieces, cups full of tea and a full teapot on the table. That was the little party Artemis and Holly organized for themselves.
"So, I am listening," Holly announced, putting an unladylike big piece of cake into her mouth.
"Well… Even if I am alarmingly short and look like a kid, I am considered to be quite an eligible bachelor. Firstly because I am a genius. Secondly, and most importantly, I am rich and can double or triple my estate any time. So, my business partners and other influential men in the world of business and science decided that it would've been quite good to have me as a son-in-law. In other words – an arranged marriage.
They got together – and here I mean not only Ireland but practically the whole world – and worked out an agreement that was sent to me in written form. The document itself was very interesting, but one idea clearly stood out – the arrangement would be very beneficial because surely I believed I'd never find a woman who would willingly become my wife so I should take what I am given."
"How rude!"
"They just didn't know who they were dealing with. The next gesture of generosity was to give me the right of the choice. There were 200 girls."
"200? You must be kidding!"
"Not a chance. I selected 20 girls for the start. Actually, I was quite serious about it all. I thought that there could have been a possibility that there was someone for me among them. On the twelfth date I came to conclusion that it was all a flop. The 'fathers' were quite disappointed of course. They tried different types of pressure, but I declined all their arguments."
"But why did you quit so abruptly? Maybe the one you needed was really among them."
"You know I can be difficult."
"Oh, yeah."
"I didn't want to destroy somebody else's life. Arranged marriage is always a struggle. I had enough of them in my short but productive life. I never wanted to get married. I thought about it as an irrational, useless arrangement that could block my real purpose in life. But now and probably even then I knew on some subconscious level that I wanted my marriage to be like my parents'. Marriage based on love and not some arrangement. Now it's your turn."
"Huh, already?"
"Yes. I don't want you to eat all the cake while I am talking."
"Well," she drawled, looking into her plate, "as you know I am a bit more than 300 years old and am considered fairly young, about 25 in human age. Many fairies unite at this age."
"Unite?"
"Like marrying in your world. Uniting is for life, practically for eternity. But at the same time, the dating process is also very long. Fairies start to consider uniting after at least 100 years of dating.
I was always into career. I tried so hard to be accepted into the LEP and to become someone, so I kinda forgot about all that mushy stuff. My former schoolmates nudged me all the time to get a – what do you call it?"
"A boyfriend?"
"Yeah. But I preferred working out than wasting time on some pointless dates. Finally I agreed – I was probably drunk – for them to set me up. So they did. You can't even imagine how bo-o-o-ring those elves were. They were nothing like - " she almost said "you," but bit her tongue in time. 'Where did that even come from?! Artemis is my friend! Quite a handsome friend in fact – Holly Short, stop this indecency this instant!'
"Like who?" Artemis took her out of her wondering.
"Like I wanted," she finished quickly.
"So we've both had traumatic dating experience. I think our sleeping experience will be more exciting. Hmmm, that sentence didn't come out right. I meant to say it is late already we must go to sleep. Good night, Holly."
"Good night, Arty."
…………………..
Two hours later, Holly was still awake. Every time she closed her eyes the image of black jeans appeared. And not some abstract jeans but Artemis jeans and his nice ass.
"Brrrr!" Holly exclaimed, sitting up. "This is getting no where. 300 hundred years, half of them among athletic males and nothing what so ever, and now all of a sudden for a Mud Man. For Artemis, for Frond's sake! This is despicable! Outrageous! It is against nature for crying out loud! And yet… was it right what the girls were saying true?"
So driven by however Holly explained it she crept towards Artemis' bedroom. Finding the door locked, she took a spare key from the kitchen and sneaked inside. The room was covered in darkness, only a small light on the nightstand illuminated the room.
Holly quietly stepped towards the bed. She couldn't let Artemis find her here, it willwould be beyond embarrassing, not to mention awkward. To her enormous surprise he was sleeping shirtless, giving Holly not a nice but a great view of his muscular back and arms. 'How could he change so drastically so fast? Not that it is bad…in any way…'
Then her glance moved up to see his long hair that was not tied up this time. They were slightly wavy and covered completely his shoulders and face. Holly moved forward to check out the texture of his hair, but Artemis turned onto the side and Holly screamed. Screamed like she never screamed in her life, she found herself staring at Artemis's right ear, his pointed ear, an ear just like hers. Her scream died out abruptly when she met the barrel of a gun pointed right in her face.