Chapter 5

Butler was kneeling down in the conference room, facing Trouble, Foaly and a Council representative. Trouble was wincing as his superior yelled at him.

"What in Frond's name were you thinking? Bringing that Mudman down here? You didn't clear this with the Council, and this isn't the first time that you've failed to notify us of your intentions! Last time, Holly Short went back in time to save a Mudman's mother, without our say-so! If you continue like this, Kelp, you will be removed from office!"

Kelp bristled.

"Captain Short did that without my knowledge, but it's thanks to her that we now have back-up supplies of the Spelltropy vaccine! And she saved a species from extinction."

"And that same Captain is responsible for these current events! If she hadn't gone back then Opal wouldn't be lose in the city right now, either of them! This entire situation is her fault!"

"Actually, it's Artemis's fault." interrupted Foaly. "He blackmailed her into helping him."

The Councilman looked ready to explode.

"Then it shows she's corruptible! What was he blackmailing her with, anyway?"

"Her mother's death, and her being responsible if his mother died. She wasn't, Fowl lied to her, but she didn't know that at the time." Foaly sounded annoyed, though Butler wasn't sure whether that was due to Artemis lying to Holly or the Council scapegoating her. Either way, none of this was helping Artemis. He coughed into his fist. All activity ceased at once.

"Do you have any way of tracing either Artemis or Holly? That way we could let the good Captain present her side of the story in person. After we rescue her and Artemis from the Opals, of course."

Foaly whinnied for attention. This was his area.

"Holly's helmet is still at Fowl Manor, so that's no use. Her suit is either inactive or damaged, and the only method we have of locating Artemis is sitting in your pocket, Butler."

Butler pulled out the communicator and Foaly nodded.

"Well, that's a lot of good." commented the council representative sarcastically.

"Actually, it is. I installed DNA scopes in all major chutes, so if I can get a sample of Fowl's DNA, we could see if he's come underground recently. Give me a minute."

The centaur walked out towards the Ops Booth, scrutinising the ring in his hands. Trouble looked at Butler.

"Any plans, Butler?"

"Find Artemis and Holly. Rescue them if they need it. Stop Opal."

Trouble rolled his eyes.

"Artemis's scheming obviously hasn't rubbed off on you."

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"A bio bomb? What's that got to do with me?" Surely that couldn't be the extent of the plan thought Artemis. They could arm that without my help.

"Everything, Fowl. Everything."

There was a click as Opal turned the intercom off. Obviously, he wasn't expected to do anything right now. He turned to Holly, to see her propped up on her elbows, looking at him oddly.

"Holly? Are you alright?"

"What in Haven's name was that all about? A bio bomb? Explain, Artemis."

So much for Arty.

"They want me to do something for them. Something involving said bio bomb."

"Who's they? And why would you ever agree?"

"Opal and Opal. Remember, she broke herself out of prison?" he prompted at her blank look. She recalled Foaly's warning and groaned, dropping back onto the bed.

"Fantastic." she muttered, eyes closed. "As if one megalomaniacal pixie wasn't enough, now there are two of her. And they have a bio bomb."

She walked over to the door and pushed against it. It didn't move, but then she hadn't really expected Opal to be so lax. She turned and pierced Artemis with her gaze.

"And just why are you helping them?"

"They, err, they made me an offer I couldn't refuse." he said, wincing internally. It sounded like a line from a bad mafia movie, but he couldn't think of what else to tell her. 'They threatened to hurt you if I didn't help them, and I couldn't bear the thought of them harming you' was the most accurate - and most honest - answer, but it revealed far too much of his emotional attachment to the pretty captain. He knew she liked him, but he was relatively certain that her feelings were only of friendship. True, she had kissed him, but she had been running on adrenaline and hormones at the time, and had told him herself that 'his elf-kissing days were over'. He wasn't going to embarrass both of them by proclaiming just how he felt.

Holly narrowed her eyes at his weak explanation.

"Are you hiding something, Mud Boy?"

He was saved answering by the intercom blaring Opal's voice into the room. It was probably the only time he had ever been glad to hear the pixies voice.

"We're watching you two. No trying to escape, Captain Short, or we'll have to knock you out for a while. The small scar on your left lower arm?"

Holly rolled her sleeve up. Sure enough, there was a small mark just below the elbow.

"That's where we inserted the seeker-sleeper. Ironic, no?"

The pixies giggles were cut off as she closed the connection. Holly looked furious.

"As soon as I get the chance, I'm going to punch that fairy right in her smug face. Both of them."

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Past Opal tittered as she leaned away from the microphone. Taunting her enemies was sooooo fun. She looked to her left, where her older self was examining her rounded ears in a pocket mirror.

I really am beautiful she thought. Even as a human.

Her older self put the compact away and swivelled in her chair.

"Well, phase one went well. Let's hope the next part works just as well."

"Of course it will. Fowl is so worried about what we could do to Short, he'll do whatever we ask him to as long as we don't hurt her. Poor, infatuated human."

Present Opal narrowed her eyes at her younger self.

"Don't be so dismissive of Fowl. He's clever, for a human, and he's bested me twice already. I won't let it happen again."

"Well, I won't let it happen at all." Past Opal leaned forward in her chair. "Now, tell me everything you know about Fowl. And Short. And tell me where it all went wrong."