Disclaimer: I do not own Artemis Fowl and other related characters. So far though, I do own Gin G. Rale. (I love that name)

A/N: Hey everybody, I'm back again with some more AFFE. R & R, please.

Chapter 2

The Commander of Death

Haven City, LEP Operations Booth

Foaly was trying to hack into Artemis's computer. The two things wrong with that were: 1) He was under strict orders from the Council to not have anything at all to do with Fairy Enemy #1

2) He was still trying.

It hadn't taken this long to crack an encryption since he was six…….and that was against the old LEP security. "Either this mud-boy is good, or I'm losing my touch."

Just admitting the possibility that he wasn't as good as he used to be shocked him.

"I'm the technical genius of the LEP! I built every defense system, every weapon, hell, even every bloody suit they wear! And I'm admitting that a simple mud-boy can best me?"

Before he could start to pout and end up breaking things, Commander Rale walked in, looking as slobby as ever.

Rale was the exact opposite of Root. Where Root was fit, tall, and had a some-what rosy complexion, Rale was chubby, short, and paler then Artemis himself.

"Ah, my favorite know-it-all centaur" Rale said, dripping sarcasm. "How's the plotting going?"

Foaly was already steamed from Artemis's defenses, but now with this wanna be commander throwing sarcasm in his face, he was really getting ready to snap.

"Fine, Commander, and how's the Fairy Net Dating going? Have you found anyone that wants to date a drunken pixie 24/7 yet?"

The Commander was fuming. "You better watch yourself, Foaly. Even you are expendable, my dear centaur."

"Sadly not, Rale. You see, your new at being a commander so you probably don't' know."

The commander was slightly interested "I don't know what, exactly?"

Foaly was more then glad to lay it down for him.

"You see, Commander, I designed all of the LEP's systems from scratch. And if you even try access any of my control programs without the proper pass codes that, by the way, are not stored anywhere but up here," He taps his head knowingly. "My entire system and all of my inventions will be rendered useless. All of them."

The commander didn't know how to respond to that. Even if he was a drunk, he wasn't used to not being able to fire anyone that stood in his way. This centaur could prove a problem. No matter, his plans would just have to circumvent this.

Fowl Manor, Angeline's room

Artemis was nervous about what his mother wished to speak to him about. Mostly, she just bothered him about spending more time with her, and with his father, then just at the daily meals.

He entered the room, quietly closing the door behind him. "Butler told me you wished to speak to me, Mother."

Angeline looked up from her book. "Yes, I do Arty." He winced at his pet name. Nobody but she and Juliet uses it anymore. But wait………there had been another woman in his life that called him that as well, wasn't there? Once again, he thought of her. Her cherubic lips, her auburn hair, chocolate colored skin…….her undying need to do what was right. But most of all, he remembered how she used to always hit him. Hard.

Why couldn't he remember her name, who she was in his life, why he felt such a strong connection with her.

His mother was looking at him with interest. He realized that she must be wondering about what's going inside his head.

He cleared his throat. "Well, Mother, I do enjoy your company, but I am very busy, so if you could please get on with it……."

"Yes, well, I guess there is no beating around the bush then."

She sits up and looks directly at him; tears start to form in her eyes.

"Mother, whatever is wrong?"

"I-I tried so hard to keep it from you, Arty. He promised me he couldn't get hurt.,,,,,"

"Mother, what did you try to keep from me? Who got hurt?"

Artemis was starting to get nervous now. Who could have gotten hurt?

"It's your father, Artemis…… He-He's dead………

Artemis was in shock. After somehow rescuing him from the Russian Mafia, he expected him to stay safe and go legal. There had to something wrong with his mother's information, some fact that had been mixed up.

"Surely, you…….you must be mistaken, Mother." Artemis said, tears threatening to run down his face.

"I'm sorry Arty, but I am not. The "business men" he was trading with were unhappy with the price he offered them. They wanted his product anyway, though, so they thought it was a good……. "Business decision" to kill him and take all that he had."

"And who were these business men, of whom you speak, Mother?"

Angeline could hear the anger and grief in his voice. She knew that if he told him, he would very likely endanger himself to get revenge.

"I-I don't really know honestly." She said, avoiding his questioning gaze.

Artemis knew his mother well enough to realize she was trying to protect him from something.

"Mother, tell me. I need to know of whom I must blame for his death."

"Fine Arty, but I must tell you that I only know of the leader's last name.

She hesitated. Should she really tell him, and quite possibly send him running off to avenge her husband's death?

"Yes? Come now, Mother, stop stalling and tell me!" Artemis was really getting anxious now.

"It was……. Rale. The man that killed you father was named Rale."

A/N: Oooooooo Cliffy! Bet you're interested with this story now, eh? If not, oh well, it's my first one. Reviews make my want to update faster, so, come on. Press that little button down there and type what you think about my Fic. =D