Hi there, it's me again. Sorry for messing up the 1st chapter. I finally got the Time Paradox from the library and so let me clarify something first. Opal's prison isn't in Haven city but in Atlantis. But for my story let's just go with it and this chapter will hopefully cover up for the blips. Any other problems you can just voice it out. Reviews, PM, whatever.

Chapter 2: Never a day off

Fowl Manor, Dublin

Holly Short watched as Artemis played with the twins. It was her day off from work and she loved the twins as much as Artemis did. She would pop by once in a while to say hi or play with the twins.

At the moment, Artemis was supervising Myles while the three-year-old dissected an onion. Myles was having problems getting a sample and Artemis had to help. Holly sat on a chair, watching them. When Myles finally got a piece, Artemis straightened up and looked around. "Holly, where's Beckett?" he asked.

Holly looked around the room. "Don't worry, Artemis," she said, getting up. "I'll find him for you."

Myles had looked up from his experiment. "Beckett simple-toon," he said.

"Do you have any idea where your brother is, Myles?" Holly asked, smiling. She knew from previous visits that it would be futile to stop Myles from calling almost anyone a simpleton.

"Cappuccino," he squeaked. "Cappuccino and spaghetti."

"I think that means Beckett's gone to the kitchen," Artemis translated. Holly smiled again. "I'll have to learn their language sometime," she said and walked out the room.

Holly ran into Juliet along the way. "Yes, fairy girl?" Juliet asked.

"Have you seen Beckett? I thought might be in the kitchen," Holly said. Juliet started for the kitchen. In a few moments Holly heard Juliet's horrified screams. She poked her head into the kitchen, or what used to be the kitchen.

Bowls, cups and plates were everywhere, some half-filled with sauces. Black, orange and red liquid decorated the floor and walls. Light brown semi-liquid was on the table in a clumsily drawn circle. Beckett, just as colourful, was adding whipped cream on the table. "My cake mixture!" Juliet shrieked.

At this moment, Butler entered the kitchen. "Juliet, what's-oh," he started. Beckett smiled innocently at Holly. "Like my painting?" he asked happily. Holly picked the younger Fowl up. "I do," she said, "but I don't think Butler or Juliet does. Come on, Beckett, let's get you cleaned up."

When she finally came back with Beckett, all cleaned up, Myles was sitting patiently on the floor among all his beakers and microscopes. Artemis returned to the room with a bottle of vinegar. "Oh, Artemis, I think you really should stop your painting lessons with the twins," Holly said.

Artemis smiled. "I saw. Beckett did quite a masterpiece, though."

"Juliet's worried about her cake."

"It's the one out of the few that has been so far successful," Artemis said. "Once she made a transformation in the oven." Myles tugged his older brother's hand as he prepared to drop a quail's egg into a cylinder of vinegar. Beckett was interested in spite of himself.

Myles dropped the egg and there was a buzzing sound as the vinegar ate away at the shell. Artemis frowned. Obviously the buzzing sound was not due to the shelling of the egg. Holly caught his look and recognized it immediately. Although it was her day off, Holly was wearing her matte black Shimmer suit of the Kraken Watch task force and had brought her helmet along. It was, of course, the helmet. It was Holly's turn to frown. Someone was calling her at a time like this?

Holly accepted the call. A projection of Foaly appeared. "Hello there, Foaly," Holly said. "And why would you be calling me when I'm having the day off?"

"The problem with police business is that there's never a day off," the centaur smirked.

"Simple-toon!" Myles blurted. Foaly managed to suppress an undignified whinny as Artemis dismissed the twins, warning them to stay clear of the kitchen.

"And hello to you, Artemis," Foaly said, still unhappy at the fact that he was being referred to as a simpleton.

"So, what's the news?" Holly said, drumming her fingers on her helmet.

"Yea, like whoever would take a day off in their uniform," Foaly said. "Anyway, Opal Koboi escaped from prison, but that's not the thing. The main problem is that we've got troll signals all over Ireland, the forested areas."

"How many exactly?" Holly said, frowning even more. She did not like the way this was going.

Foaly chewed his lip. "Uh, twelve. I swear, it was just ten just now."

"How long has it been since Opal escaped?" Artemis asked. "This could be all Opal's doing."

"We are suspecting Opal, but she escaped at eleven but we spotted the trolls on Scopes at ten. Three in the first hour, then five. This is already the third hour and we have… thirteen."

"So maybe it isn't Opal," Artemis said.

"Think all you want, Mud Boy," Foaly said. "Uh, Trouble Kelp's on the line." And with that Foaly's image disappeared, only to be replaced by that of Commander Trouble Kelp. "Why aren't you making you're way to Police Plaza?" he demanded. "And why, of all places above and below ground, are you at that particular Mud Boy's house?"

Holly sighed. She put on her helmet and switched off the speaker so any comments directed at Artemis would not be returned, starting another round of insults. "Yes, Commander?" she sighed.

"Get here now. What did that pompous centaur say? I specifically told him to tell you to get here. And there you are, having a nice chat. So good thing I decided to check on you, eh?" Trouble said.

"Okay, fine, Commander. Heading down this instant," she said and disconnected the connection. She turned to Artemis. "Keep your fairy phone at hand, Artemis. I may need your help." Artemis nodded and fingered the ring on his finger. Then he heard Juliet's shrill screaming voice and headed towards the kitchen.

"We got fifteen now, Mistress," Mervall reported.

"As expected. I see that my instructions were clear and idiot proof. It's amazing how these animals manage to get others to consume the chips," Opal smiled, wiping sweat from her brow. "And the day gets better. I have just finished making a signal absorber. It simply absorbs any signals and bounces some back if necessary. That will direct attention off our area long enough for us to finish the job."

"Still fifteen, but we have spotted other fairies. The LEP, no doubt," Mervall said.

Opal grinned. "The games have begun. My chips masquerade as trolls on Scopes, and if only I had a shot of Foaly's face. Since they are all so near chute E7 Foaly would have to close it down. That's where we are, and that centaur would never see it coming." Opalpaused. "Now where did I put my new boots? I got it especially for this occasion. Please tell me they are in good condition."

There was no need to say please. In fact, there was no need to say sorry either.