Holly was never really one for swimming in full gear. Though Foaly had sworn to her that there would be no malfunctions and the suit was completely watertight, she still felt like any odd shift in the water was going to fry her to a crisp with her electronics.
She heard Trouble laugh openly in her helmet. No doubt he was checking her readings and fining it hilarious that she was jumpy as hell. Once again, Major Holly short did not like water. She was a land and sky elf for sure. Trouble, who had swam ahead of her once they got into open water, was a natural in the water. So much for Holly's Haven city upbringing, Trouble and Grub Kelp had Atlantian blood and water was second nature to them.
"You gonna be alright Short? You can take the tunnel job if you're more comfortable."
"Don't patronize me, Commander!" She retorted.
"I am not patronizing you! I'm only trying to help you out. Plus, your vitals are flashing in the corner of my helmet display and it's driving me nuts. So, take the tunnel job, or calm yourself down. Got that?"
"Yes Sir." Holly rolled her eyes inside her helmet and sighed. As much as it would kill her pride, she knew that she'd much rather take the tunnel duty to attempting to restrain the tunnel itself. Trouble laughed again.
"What?!" Holly demanded.
"I won't talk if you decide to take the tunnel boys down."
"Deal." Holly responded and swam faster to get inside the tunnel.
Entering the tunnel through one of the air locks was a bit complicated considering the power to the tunnel had been shut off for decades. Once inside, Holly activated the helmet lights, filling the massive tunnel with illumination. To her surprise, there wasn't a trace of life in the tunnel. Thermal scans even came up cold. One particularly cold spot being a small box with a flashing red light on it. Holly's heart raced as she observed the device. Completely unfamiliar to her. That's what made it even worse. It was a human device. She pulled Foaly up on her helmet's list of contacts, and she was instantly connected to his base.
"Foaly! I need you to tell me how to disable a human made explosive, now."
"Calm down. This should be fairly easy, really. I just need a clear image of the device first." Holly looked at the box it's ominous red light blinking ever brighter in her eyes as it ticked away.
"Right. I need you to find the wires." Foaly said after a few moments.
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Artemis sat in the great lounge surrounded by people he only knew through his father's business, resenting the attempted celebration. He tapped his fingers impatiently on the side of the Champagne flute in his hand, waiting for the birthday aspect of the party to pass so he could go back to his office and be free of the room full of people he disdained.
"Ah, Artemis fowl!" a voice boomed in a thick French accent. Artemis looked up, then got to his feet to greet Gaspard Paradizo, one of the few men from the guest list he actually enjoyed the company of to an extent. Gaspard was a colorful character with a wonderful sense of humor and a cheery disposition. The woman on his arm looked only a few years older than Artemis, but he just presumed that it was the way of single wealthy men to find young stunning women.
"Gaspard, how nice to see you. And this is...?" He shook Gaspard's hand and gestured to the blond woman next to him in the burgundy gown and elbow high satin gloves.
"Ah, yes! Artemis, this is my fiancé, Lucy." Artemis shook her hand politely, delighting in his acting abilities.
"I see that you were inspired by the celebrity life of the early twentieth century." He gestured to her gown and gloves. She gave him a confused look and he tried very hard not to roll his eyes.
"your attire recalls the 1930's red carpet." realization dawned.
"Oh! Yes. That's exactly it. How observant, isn't he, Gaspard?" Gaspard nodded and smiled.
"Of course, Cherie, Artemis is like Minerva. Brilliant from day one. Well, I should be off to find your father. Happy Birthday, my boy." He clasped Artemis' shoulder before striding away with Lucy on his arm.
"Don't be fooled, Artemis," came a quiet French accent. Artemis whipped around to see Minerva had taken a seat in the armchair he had occupied not long before. Her gown was an off white and nowhere near as obnoxious as her future step mother's, "The woman is smarter than she looks, and vicious like you would not believe. I'd say I'm glad to be going off soon, but I'm not. Now I'll just be worried about Beau." The corner of her mouth quirked up, " I guess it's a good thing he already goes to a boarding school. Now she can't threaten the cliche that step mothers do." She got to her feet lithely. Artemis noted a sort of grace that did not accompany a successful young woman, but more so a powerful and intimidating one. It startled him to identify the similarity of movement to a younger Butler. raw power hidden behind a sophisticated facade.
"It looks as though they might start singing soon, so Happy Birthday to you, but I don't think I'll stick around for the festivities." She smiled a little and turned to walk out into the back garden. Artemis made to follow but knew it was too late. They were beginning to flag him down for the Birthday celebration.