We see the fairies in Haven for the first-and probably last-time. I'm introducing Lela Vinyaya. Enjoy.

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"Commander!" a sprite shouted to the Section 8 Commander, Lela Vinyáya, niece of Wing Commander Vinyaya, former Commander of Section 8. Similar in both temperment and the way they governed their units, she was the perfect choice for the job.

"What?" She snapped. The Commander was in her office, going over the recent case file with the still pregnant Major Short, while also having a nice girls' chatt in between. Holly needed some normality after her most recent surface trip.

"It's Artemis Fowl on line 3!" The young sprite quivered with excitement. Artemis' name was still a big one in the LEP, even if he hadn't made offical conntact in years. With occasisonal calls to Holly, he had kept his distance from the People.

"He wants to speak to you, and Major Short, if she's not having contractions."

Holly glared fiercly. If she hadn't been so fat, he'd be on the floor by now and crying for his Mommy. Only Foaly and Trouble could make such commments. Not some underling. The sprite shrugged, not even phased. On the outside. Even if she couldn't strangle him now, the chance would sure to arise later, when she returned from maternity leave.

"His words, not mine."

"I don't care who's they are. You shouldn't repeate them." She hissed. "When this thing is out of me…"

"How did he get into the system?" The Commander wondered aloud. Holly kept quiet. She might have given him a code or two. He would have gotten in easily enough on his own, but complained. "What if I had an emergency? I don't want to wait twenty minutes to hack in.." He did have a point. "Ah, never mind, just put him on screen. Keep it private. And get Foaly to tape it. "

The Commander had previous dealings with Fowl. It was best to keep records just in case you make promises you didn't fully understand the undertaking of. When the pale human's face appeared on screen she allowed Holly to greet him first, even if she was her underling.

"Artemis, you could have called! No need to highjack the system. Poor Foaly will be working on new access codes for weeks."

"There wasn't time, Holly. Hello Commander." He was hurried and cold, brisk in his manner.

"Master Fowl." Lela inclined her head. "What do we own the…well, I won't lie and call it a pleasure. What do you want?"

"Polite as your Auntie, I see." He sneered slightly. "I have an arrangement I need seen to. And only one underground civilzation with the technology to sid me in this business. I'll be fast. Do you have the LEP looking for Sophia Iver?"

"It's not Section 8, but yes, Recon is out on it." The Commander answered without hesitation.

"Hmmm, this is easier than I expected. Are you still searching for the topaz? "

"Yes."

"Would you be willing to let someone outside of LEP search for you, without LEP intferrence, in exchange for two small things, one of which you were planning to do yourselves anyways?"

"Perhaps. What is it you seek?"

"A person. We are after the same things. Here is my offer. I find the girl who is causing you this headache. I get you the topaz, and in return the girl gets mind wiped. The condition is that I selcet the memories that are removed, along with the fairy ones you are interested in. The wipe is here at Fowl Manor. You've done it before. I want Foaly, two, maybe three of highly trusted techs. Within 24 hours of my finding her. They do the wipe, I give them the topaz. She stays with me.

"Everyone wins. Oh, and I do not want any LEP with in 20 kilometers of the city, Manor, or suburbs. Above or below ground. Not even Holly."

Holly opened her mouth to object, but Artemis cut her off.

"You're too close to the due date, other wise I'd have you up here in two hours. I'm sure your Commander agrees."

Lela nodded. "You should sit this one out, Short. You should've sat the last one out too. How you talked me in to that one, I'll never guess. But I will not risk another call from your husband." She said sternly.

"So then you agree to my conditions."

The Commander turned back the Fowl.

"Yes. I agree. I myself have two conditions, however. You find the girl within five days. You tell me why you are going to so much trouble for a mere human girl."

Artemis nodded wearily. "Fine. Five days."

"And?"

He rolled his eyes. Must he explain every detail to this demading elf? "She's my fiancee."

"What?" Holly shrieked. "You didn't tell me!"

He regarded her coolly. "You didn't ask."

She scowled in return. "Did I have to? I thought we were friends. Wasn't there something about her scheming to murder you or something? Or was it to rob you?"

Vinyaya raised a brow. "You sure know how to pick them, Fowl."

"That's why I'm having her mind-wiped, Major Short."

Holly's jaw dropped. She sputtered. "What? You can't-"

"No, Holly." He said sharply. "Do you agree, Commander?"

"Yes, Fowl." Lela said, again without hesitation.

The screen went back to the LEP Sect 8 logo in an instant. Holly turned to her suprior and best friend. "Are you crazy?"

Vinyaya grinned. "No. I felt we owned him. In a way, it is our fault this mess caused her running away. Why do you object, Major?"

Holly, reminded of her rank, flushed, but didn't back down. "It's Artemis! I don't even trust him that much, and he's one of my best friends! Besides, do we really want to return that poor mudgirl to him? He's going to mind wipe her, probably to keep her as a pet! Ever since that other mudgirl…he's reverted back to the Artemis before the Fowl incident. He hasn't been this cold blooded since he was 12!"

The Commander gazed at her favourite officer from across the desk. Short was clever, brave, compassionate, but young. Vinyaya was maybe 4 decades older, wiser, and could understand Fowl's dilemha and Holly's reluctants to help her friend.

"Holly." Lela said gently."Fowl's returning to his former self wouldn't help us or him. He won't hurt the mudgirl . Besides, he'll be doing what we're already arranging. Think of it this way; instead of dropping the poor thing off at her house to wake up alone with no one to help her or explain would be crueler than having her wake up with someone holding her hand, there to comfort. It will work out."

Holly looked at Lela, a slow realizing coming. Vinyay knew something important, something Holly did not. Something positive.

"Yes, Commander." She stood to leave.

"Short." Lela said before the Major could escape.

"Yes, Commander?"

"Watch Fowl. If anything happens, I want to know. Have Foaly help you. Report straight to me. If my intuition is wrong, I want to know. "

"Yessir."

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I like the fairies--really, I do. But there isn't much room in the story for them. Yeah, the main problems stem from their stupid rock, but I can't put them in too much. Which sucks, cause I like them.

Has anyone read the newest book yet? I was confused. And it was totally unexpected for me, the Holly-Arty thing. I mean, Eoin is saying he like Minerva and all, is going to possibly bring her back, start a romance with Arty, et cetera...I am way confused.

-Dania