TRIGGER WARNING

This chapter will deal with a heavy theme of suicide and suicidal ideation. If you are easily triggered by this subject I would personally suggest you skip this chapter. Reading a fanfiction that will trigger or harm you is not worth it.

Thank you to my incredible betas for working on this chapter with me. It was important I had a lot of feedback and they were there every step of the way with great advice, discussion, and editing support. This chapter just wouldn't have been the same without you guys:

PhoenixPyres

TheFowlestofThemAll

JasonBall34

5 Years Ago

2018

Fowl Laboratories Launchpad, Villa Éco

The Artemis Interstellar Spaceship

"System diagnostics clear."

"Main engine start."

"Go for launch. T-minus ten seconds. Nine," a giant Eurasian bodyguard recited next to Artemis Fowl the Second, the pair strapped into their restraints as their spacecraft pivoted upwards toward the ceiling. The roof hummed and broke apart in two, revealing a cloudy blue sky. "Eight-"

Artemis flicked a yellow button on his dash. The rockets were blaring now, a thundering roar cocooning the ship as their force vibrated against the steel flight bay.

"Seven, six, five," Butler continued in his helmet comm. "Four-"

Artemis pressed his gloved hand into the accelerators, sliding the bar up. He reached across, his fingers hovering over the red go shook slightly with excitement as he kept his eyes focused straight ahead.

"Three, two, one."

"Booster ignition. Lift off." Artemis pressed the circular launch button and the Artemis Interstellar accelerated with sudden, disorienting violence, pinning both astronauts to their seats as the imminent approach toward super-sonic speed began.

Artemis glanced at his dashboard. "2.5 Gs, confirmed," he announced with effort through gritted teeth. But he was prepared for this. They both were.

"First stage separation complete. Telemetry nominal," Butler grunted after two minutes spent in the ever-darkening sky. Despite the force caving in on his skull, Butler expertly operated the dash. "Second stage separation complete."

The elliptical craft was thrown upwards through the atmosphere, reaching its max speed as supersonic booms erupted below them. Minutes later, it penetrated through Earth's orbit. Artemis and Butler had done it. They were in the confines of space; the legendary cosmos. As their arms lifted of their own accord, floating in their harnesses, they turned to each other.

"Zero-gravity, confirmed," Artemis smiled, relieved to have a familiar smug pride fill him. "We have done it, old friend."

Butler patted Artemis on the shoulder, the movement slow and rugged. "You did most of it. I'm just here for moral support," he joked, turning his dark eyes back to the dashboard. "How does it feel to be the youngest person to reach space?"

"Phenomenal," Artemis breathed, speechlessly enamored with the inky blackness that enveloped the windshield around them.

"Congratulations, Artemis. I hope this trip is everything you need it to be," Butler said as merrily as his bass tones would allow, turning back to the dash. "We are on course for the moon. T-minus 72 hours."

Artemis piloted the ship towards the round, rocky satellite as vigor swelled in his chest. This trip will be perfect. It has to be.

2 Years Ago

2021

Mars' Orbit

The Artemis Interstellar Spaceship

The first two years of exploring Mars and its lumpy moons were everything Artemis had hoped it would be.

Since Mars had welcomed a comet in 2014, a fierce meteor storm had drenched the planet with comet dust abundant in rare elements and minerals. Among these, NASA's MAVEN orbiter had already collected several samples of metal ions; sodium, magnesium and iron. But, what the probe had failed to pick up were the fifteen novel elements and minerals spread throughout Mars' red crust. And, of course, Artemis himself would be the first human alive to discover these.

While Mars was teeming with dreamt-of discoveries, Artemis was coming into his third year exploring the Red Planet, and it was becoming increasingly difficult to challenge himself. Artemis knew that five years in space was a ridiculous amount of time for humans to spend so far away from their native planet, but that was the secondary objective of the mission. What was the point of being alone on one planet when you could be alone in the cosmos, drifting amongst the dust and stars? At least this way, he could bury himself in research and spare himself the judgement from everyone else.

And then there was Butler. Butler had been a source of solace for Artemis, being there for him when no one else was. The loyal manservant listened, to a certain extent, to every rant and rave Artemis had about the new uses he found for his elements, as well as providing him with the encouragement to take up hobbies around the ship.

Since this journey was an excessive amount of time in space and Artemis didn't want Butler to arrive back on Earth looking like a skeleton, he had installed an artificial gravity system into the ship to ensure as much comfort as possible. Butler had a small dojo on the top deck so his bones could stay strong and healthy while Artemis found other means to keep his mind stimulated.

There was a routine: Artemis would paint with canvas and oils. At first he would paint from memories, recollections of art pieces he enjoyed. But eventually those memories became hazy. Were they even real?

He could paint a cluster of stars one night, and a few days later, he was back again, sitting at his artist's stool, blank-minded as he gently smeared white paint across an inky canvas.

Suddenly, Artemis stopped, his brush frozen on the canvas. White oil dribbled down the painting, a gorgeous ocean of stars. Stars. His eyes widened, almost panicked. How many times have I done this?

How many stars have I painted now?

Artemis retreated to his art locker to put away his brush and oils, flicking open the metal latch. But when he lifted his hand to deposit his materials, his palm was empty. What?

He reached into the locker and looked around. It was an empty box, containing no more than a few dry brushes. Artemis shook his head, confused. Where had his oils gone? He raced over to the huge recycler in the corner of the atrium, digging through the waste. Several tubes of empty paint sat buried, dried and shriveled.

How had he run out when he had just painted with them? Where had the time gone?

And when he'd had enough of that, Artemis would broadcast Vivaldi's Symphony in G Minor on the ship's speakers while he meditated at the miniature observation deck. The atrium displayed the red planet below, Mars swollen and pregnant amongst the black abyss of glittering stars.

Sometimes, Butler convinced Artemis to join him in the dojo, despite there being a lack of progress made. Still, the physical activity was vital if they wanted to get back to Earth with a healthy bone and muscle mass. The two would chat over a healthy snack after a workout, that healthy snack unfortunately being space food.

"Butler," Artemis started one day as he sat across from the bodyguard, his gaze at the tube of freeze-dried food in his hand. "Do you ever feel lonely?"

"I think everyone feels lonely sometimes," Butler had replied thoughtfully, gazing out a window that broadcasted a chunk of Mars. "Why? Are you lonely?"

"I don't ask in regards to myself, old friend," Artemis said, fixing his gaze on Butler closely, intent on analyzing him. "I suppose I mean, do you ever think of starting a family?"

Butler was quiet a few moments and then sighed. He fixed a wrinkled gaze at Artemis gently. "You've never brought this up before. Why do you ask now?"

"Well, Butlers usually have children that can then become bodyguards to future Fowls. I've thought on it lately and realized that besides Juliet, who doesn't seem intent on having children anyway, there are no Butler heirs. And I don't think, if I can recall, that you've ever had a partner." Artemis scratched his scruffy beard with some embarrassment. "I don't mean to be intrusive. Just curious."

Artemis could tell Butler was gritting his teeth, but it wasn't an angry expression. It was uncertainty.

"Well, Butlers do marry often, but sometimes they take partners and don't make them official. But you'd be right. I don't think I'd have time to father a child, be a husband to a wife and watch over you, Artemis," Butler joked, continuing to munch on his food.

He hesitated when Artemis was largely silent, and cleared his throat. "Artemis, don't feel bad for me. I'm a Butler. This is my job. This is what I'm meant to do."

"That's not fair to you, is it?" Artemis asked, his eyes keen and his expression cool. "To alter your life to serve mine?"

Butler reached a huge hand across the table and placed it on Artemis' forearm firmly. "Hey, don't look so serious about it. Being a Butler and protecting you is what gives me the most pride. As long as we're not hurting anyone, that is… you know how I am." He offered Artemis a genuine smile, patting his forearm before returning to his food. "How are the comms going? Have you gotten them figured out yet?"

"The signal is always spotty," Artemis lied smoothly, shrugging as he leaned on the table top. "I suppose it could be the asteroid belt nearby, but the other satellites in orbit have not been functional either." Again, another lie, but Butler didn't need to know.

"That's a shame. I'm sure you'd like to call your parents at least. Maybe Holly?" Butler asked.

"I'm not sure either of them wants to talk to me," Artemis said honestly, clearing his throat. "Butler, back to the original subject: my concern is that I am depriving you of certain freedoms. Freedoms that humans are meant to experience." He sat back in his chair as he expertly deflected the conversation, his blue eyes fixed on his manservant. "I would hate to be the reason you cannot live your life fully. Please, if there is something I can do that doesn't require your full-time services, let me know."

Butler almost laughed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Artemis, it's fine. Fowls have a generational bond with Butlers for a reason. You're always going to get into trouble. It's in your blood," he smiled. Butler stood from the bench, tossing his tube into the nearby recycler bin. "Well, I'm off to shower. You're going to work on some experiment, I presume?"

Experiments with Mars dust, snow, rocks, and comet samples had been amongst Artemis' favorite pastimes on the ship. But as the years went on, there was less and less to work with. So, other activities for mental and physical stimulation included solving his own formulas, jotting down his discoveries into journals, and reading and memorizing both fiction and educational articles he had downloaded onto a tablet.

Lately, Artemis had even taken up poetry, and although space was his regular subject, he sometimes found himself getting lost in his words and creating pieces that were much too emotional to ever share. Besides that, Artemis found himself spacewalking more than anything.

The Artemis Interstellar communications had suffered after the second year, like many spacecraft that ventured this far into the solar system. Although Artemis worked on it tirelessly, he actually had no intention of fixing it at the moment. Sometimes, he'd tweak it just enough to get a radio signal from a nearby satellite to stream an Earth music channel, but aside from that, there was no point. The ship's GPS and trackers were still online, and so he figured the less contact with people, the less his anxiety stressed about success.

Artemis caught his own blue gaze in the mirror a few times a day, usually catching a quick glimpse to make sure he was still tangible. But, there was one day he stood at the restroom sink, his disheveled reflection facing back at him in the round mirror. A lithe finger reached out and pressed to the pale limb on the other side. Is my current consciousness enough to call this body my own? What if the real you is trapped in a parallel reality? If I can touch me on this other side, who's to say I am not him on that side as well? Who am I? What am I?

"What are you?" Artemis pondered aloud. He dropped his finger along with his gaze, unsure of the answer. He moved on, continuing with the day.

And so, Artemis found himself floating out in the cosmos once more, switching out wires at the communication antenna, as if he intended to fix them, his lifeline tether hovering alongside him.

It's the same, he thought mindlessly as he removed a blue wire and cut it a tad shorter, fitting it back in its slot. Everything is the same. His eyes looked out at the luminaries around him, encasing him like an ocean of diamonds. The same-

-Stars.

Artemis' eyes widened once again, dropping the stylus in his fingers to the floor. He was staring at another digital painting in front of him. The same stars. Again.

He clicked on his wrist computer hurriedly. November? Two months later?

When- How did I get here?

He looked around the atrium sullenly, his bleak eyes falling back to the same star painting as always on his tablet. Long strands of jet black hair tickled his face as he scrolled through the gallery. It's the same. Everything's the same.

Your progress will be hindered if you're mentally unfit, Minverva's words from years prior repeated in his mind.

Artemis took a few moments to breathe deeply at his stool, closing his eyes as he felt panic rise in chest. Not again, not now. He doubled over on his knees and choked a breath. Was he a genius gone mad? Was he a glitched clone? Was this even real?

"Artemis."

He hadn't heard Butler enter the atrium behind him, and jumped when the giant placed a gentle hand on his charge's shoulder. Artemis kept his head down and closed his eyes, trying his best to disguise his illness to the bodyguard.

"Artemis, you've been in here for two days. Are you alright?"

Artemis directed a cool and collected smile to Butler from over his shoulder. The shaggy beard and red ringlets under his eyes caused him to appear slightly unhinged. "Yes, I'm fine. Though I do understand your concern for my well-being. I would also be worried if you were holed up in your dojo all day, good friend."

"Hmm," Butler mumbled to himself. "Okay. Why don't you get some rest? You look like hell."

"I'd believe it," Artemis nodded, swiveling off his stool to stand. "I feel as though I've been up for days."

Butler gave him a quizzing look that was so quick anyone else may have not noticed it, but Artemis did. Butler nodded to Artemis anyway and headed out the door, the glass sliding apart. "Well, you know where to find me if you need anything."

Artemis didn't watch his friend walk away but rather caught his own broken reflection in the atrium window. He knows. He knows I'm losing my mind. Artemis' heart pounded in his chest while the artificial gravity suddenly felt tight in his head, making him dizzy.

"Butler! Wait," he blurted, still facing the window.

Butler stopped midway and looked back over. "Yes?"

Artemis turned to face him, a gentle smile on his face. "I think I may work on the comms. As you know, they are not up and running quite yet, and the sooner we can contact our loved ones, the better."

Butler turned to fully face his young friend, his stormy eyes slightly suspicious. "Sudden change of heart?"

"What do you mean?"

"You barely contacted anyone when they were on."

The last time Artemis had called many years ago, his parents were busy with the twins and hadn't answered the call. The second time he called, his brother Myles had answered and completely discredited the older genius, followed by disinterest from Holly, and another dismissal from Foaly. So, the comms were off to allow peace. Or, that's what he told himself.

Artemis pressed his lips into a thin line. Hmm. "Correct. But, I think I have reached a breaking point," he lied. He approached Butler in the hallway, passing him casually. "Anyway, I will see you later, Butler. Where will you be?"

"I was going to hole up in the command center," Butler said, shifting to walk behind Artemis. "Maybe read Guns and Ammo at the dash for a bit."

"Of course you would, friend," Artemis chuckled, his eyes holding on Butler a bit longer than Butler liked.

"Are you sure you're okay, Artemis?"

Artemis smiled softly, patting his friend's muscular shoulders. Butler was significantly thinner than he was when he started the mission, but he was still a giant man all the same. You're a good man. Much too good for me, old friend.

Artemis nodded awkwardly and stepped away, venturing down a separate hall. "I'll see you soon," he said, before disappearing round a corner.

Butler waved to his young charge, confused by the exchange. Nevertheless, he made his way to the control center, settling in with a plethora of magazines stored on his holo-tablet.

Artemis floated at the communications panel, staring intently at the little blue wire in his gloved hand. In fact, his and Butler's space suits were derived and developed from Foaly's award-winning underwater pressure suits.

The navy skintight suits were redesigned to stabilize pressure and reduce blunt force impacts, and damage, by equalizing the force and bouncing it back. The helmet was a scientific marvel, encased in a reinforced gel that softened potential impacts. The gel would generate between hexagonal cells that wrapped the entire helmet like a visor, giving it a glass-like iridescent sheen.

Artemis thought his suit and helmet were quite the impressive feat. He had even called Foaly once to fill him in on his modifications, but of course, the techie centaur was barely impressed.

Okay? Foaly had said back then. I could've done that in my sleep, mudboy.

And this is why I don't call you anymore, Artemis had joked lightly, despite the dejection that sank in his chest.

Being criticized and demeaned by people he cared about was draining and disheartening. But Artemis couldn't blame others for his own issues. Therapy was at least useful in that respect. He knew the real issue: simply put, he was unlikable. He was difficult; his genius was more of a hindrance than a help to those around him.

Artemis stared at the blue wire, dazed as his mind overwhelmed itself with every issue he had ever created. Ever since he had come back from the dead, been reborn, resurrected, cloned, whatever everyone else had called it: He felt like everyone had moved on without him, and honestly? He felt entirely, and utterly alone.

Butler was only around because he'd been forced to spend his life with the young Irishman. Minerva deserved real love, and knew she was better off without Artemis. His parents didn't need him either. They were more in love than ever after his death. Maybe it was the grief and trauma that brought them closer together, or perhaps things were better without him around. His brothers were bonded by their twinhood and forever tied to each other. Even Foaly had managed to find love and family.

And then there was Holly. He'd actually gotten her killed once, and to make it worse, she remembered. He'd also lied to her. Used her. Manipulated her. Had an embarrassing alter ego confess his undying love to her. He'd even gotten her squadmates, including her mentor and friend Wing Commander Vinyáya, killed. And though he knew, logically, it couldn't have possibly been his fault because they were murdered by a sociopathic elf, that didn't change the fact that it had been Artemis himself who'd called them there, to their untimely deaths. Holly had to hate him for that, even if she didn't show it. It was for the best that Commander Kelp was in her life instead of him. It would be better if everyone just let him go.

And now he was here. Alone. Floating. Alone. Thinking. Alone. Feeling. Alone. Lost and alone amongst the stars.

His fingers brushed the wire, running over the casing, down the box and across the ship's smooth metal exterior. They kept traveling as his inner demons crept their way into his mind, their eldritch whispers like a sharp web of knives.

No one wants you around because you weren't meant to come back. They moved on. You're a glitch. You're a copy. You're not real.

Let go.

His thought was broken when his roaming hand grazed the yellow metal bar that hooked his lifeline tether, his fingers bumping the carabiner. He stared at it, tapping it thoughtfully. What if… Maybe.

And as he looked out at the stars, he was suddenly seated in the atrium all over again, showering the white paint across the screen.

Enough.

Artemis stood, gazing out at Mars down below, innocent and pure with the sun's illumination.

Minutes later, he found himself at his sleep capsule table, setting down his sapphire fairy com, something he'd never taken off since he'd crafted it. He reached into his shirt and took off his coin necklace. He stared at it as his thumb traced the hole in the center, remembering back to the day Holly gave it to him in the Arctic.

I was lucky to know someone like you. Thank you.

Artemis' next destination was Butler's capsule room whilst the bodyguard was in the dojo like he was scheduled to be. Between the Irishman's fingers held a will of his life offerings, a portion of it meant for Butler, or Domovoi, in this case. Artemis had made sure Dom was fully trained on piloting the spaceship before they took off, and knew the bodyguard would be able to get himself back home, god forbid something happened to his precious charge.

But as Artemis reached out to place the will, his pale hand extending outwards toward the table, it was like he had suddenly entered into a different time. A rift tore through the space in front of him and his now empty hand reached out, entering the twinkling luminaries beyond. Artemis furrowed his brow in confusion and looked back. The comms panel was a messy array of copper foil and wires while he floated weightlessly along the ripples of space and time. His lifeline tether hovered alongside him as he skipped a breath. Why am I here? Artemis felt panic rise in his chest as his eyes scanned the glimmering void.

Artemis spun himself around to grab hold of the metal bar that ran along the ship, but as he whirled around to grip it, there was already a book in his hands instead. His head shot up and he saw double, disoriented as gravity overcame him. He could tell he was in the atrium's reading room, Mars looming just beyond their reach. His forehead fell into his hands, panic seeping into his brow as breathing became increasingly difficult. Why is this happening?

When he finally gathered himself enough to sit up, the book was now a tablet, tiny white stars gleaming up at him from his lap. Artemis' finger reached forward without thinking, and as if pulled through a wormhole in time once more, he was floating at the comms outside the ship, the little blue wire wrapped around his gloved finger. He rubbed his fingers against the wire, and as he turned it over, he was back in the atrium once more.

Artemis found himself cross-legged and meditating by the window. Mars peeked through the vacuum of space, its red glow looming overhead.

I'm tired. He closed his eyes. Just a little rest would make things okay.

"Artemis."

Artemis' eyes snapped open. He was in the cafeteria, Domovoi Butler seated opposite him. Freeze-dried food had burst out of Artemis' tube, his grip so tight that the protein snack gushed over his bare fingers.

"Sorry," Artemis exasperated, jumping off the bench and racing towards the sink.

"What's wrong?" Dom's friendly voice asked.

Where has time gone? "Nothing is wrong. I'm-" and as Artemis turned to inform his friend he was fine, Dom was no more. Instead, Artemis was looking out at the cosmos once again. He raised a hand in front of him, grabbing at the empty space.

Floating. Drifting. Lost. Lost in the stars.

His lifeline tether hovered by his visor, ever the loyal cable. His fingers stroked the carabiner in deep thought when it all hit him.

I see now. It all makes sense. The universe keeps putting me into this very spot.

I don't belong here. I have to return. I have to give myself back.

Artemis calmly opened his wrist computer, deactivating his suit comms and functions. The suit visor popped up a message:

WARNING: CONTINUING WILL CAUSE DEATH. FUNCTION UNAVAILABLE.

Artemis inserted a manual override, allowing the suit to fizzle out, the spotlights on his sides powering down one by one. His oxygen levels were the last thing to fade away, and with the duties and diagnostics erased from his visor, he expected his vision to clear. Instead, the universe was even more blurry and hazed than before. The copper panel grid squeezed in and out of Artemis' vision, focused and then unfocused. Don't think.

His arms grew weak on the metal bar and his hand slipped, his glove sliding down the bar until it bumped the carabiner clip for the last time.

Let go.

And so Artemis did. He unhooked the clip, and pushed himself away from the spacecraft.

As he glided through the blackness, finally unclipped, finally free, his vision sharpened: the abyss was clear now, and for once in his life, Artemis Fowl's mind was quiet. He floated backwards into a swarm of stars that rippled beneath and above him like a twinkling sea. One gloved hand stretched out as if to strum the luminaries like keys on a piano, a small smile stretching across his worn features.

This is where I am supposed to be. A lost spirit wandering time, but at home, in the stars.

Artemis closed his eyes. A moment of dead silence passed, or perhaps it was an eternity now. Regardless, there was a soft, silent peace-

-Until a curtain of chaos tore through the ether around him.

Before Artemis could react, he was slammed into and sent somersaulting backwards into the universe. He didn't have time to formulate questions as he caught glimpses of the ship with each flip, his head light-headed and dizzy.

Sparks crackled alongside the platinum casing of the ship. Tiny pebbles drifted by his visor, larger rocks hurling by. The communications panel grid was engorged by a pink, neon fire, burning endlessly in the vacuum of space. The ship's security systems were flashing red, and had he not been in the abyss of the final frontier, he may have heard their blaring.

As Artemis spun around for a fifth time, he spotted a suited gentle giant dangling lifelessly in the glittering inferno of stars.

Dom!

Artemis' eyes widened in a wild panic - Butler's iridescent visor was cracked. No!

The oxygen was thin in his suit now, and Artemis knew that because of the direction he was somersaulting in, he had several seconds before he'd pass out and be gone for good. Dammit! Unable to move, Artemis fumbled for his belt, every spin a threat on his consciousness, and he prayed the emergency propulsion system would come on. As he smacked the tiny green buttons over and over, he grit his teeth, feeling his eyes roll into the back of his head as his vision started to fade out.

Not yet. For Butler.

Artemis' fist smashed the buttons one last time, and out of sheer, dumb luck, the thrusters powered on. He was jolted forward by the force and halted in place, suspended in the weightlessness of space like a spider in a web. His fingers fell limp from the buckle as his mind blacked out, his world going dark and cold.

… Sulfur. Is that the smell of sulfur?

"Artemis."

Artemis' eyes snapped open. The Artemis Interstellar was tiny amongst the vast ink of space. Red sparks pulsed like an electric storm, chunks of foil and crushed metal hung off the ship like a kite in the wind. The spacecraft was damaged, but by what? Intuition pushed him to turn his head, fearful eyes widening at the rocketeering onslaught of behemoth space rocks wafting into their orbit.

A meteor shower. Where is Butler?!

His eyes darted around wildly until he noticed the manservant's lifeless body floating towards the wrecked communications grid, growing ever closer to the flames that nearly licked Butler's fingertips. The bodyguard's cracked visor displayed a red pulse, indicating there was major injury. But this also meant Butler was still alive.

Artemis pushed his thrusters forward without another thought, racing through the stars towards his loyal friend. He kept his left peripheral locked on the incoming shower, dodging the specks that flew over his helmet.

Butler was closer to the flames, only mere feet away now. Artemis pushed all the way forward, wincing as he smashed into Butler's frame, sending the Eurasian man and himself barrelling into the ship's reinforced plating.

Their pressurized suits worked as Artemis designed them to, lessening the impact by distributing and bouncing it back, but he felt dizzy as he panted. His suit was still powered off and his oxygen was running thin. It was a race against time, for if Artemis died now, Butler would too.

Artemis blew out a quick breath and held on tight to one of Butler's massive biceps. He pushed his thrusters forward, propelling them quickly across the length of the Interstellar towards the exterior airlock. But as Artemis closed in their distance, a meteor on his left hurled right into the airlock, smashing into the entrance, caving in the sealed door. Artemis halted them in place, his heart thumping rapidly in his chest. Where is the force field?!

Without much choice left, he flew them into the damaged airlock through a large hole in the cracked door. And though space had not relieved them of its weightlessness, the ship's alarms became deafening the further they flew into the dark tunnel.

Artemis slowed his thrusters as they reached the end of the tunnel and choked with relief that the inner airlock was still functional, bright lights blinking on each of the several locks on the round vault door. With one grip still on Butler's arm, Artemis leaned forward, reaching for the keypad. 909, the underworld's fairy police number.

The vault door hissed as it heaved forward, the top lock flipping clockwise and unlocking, each of the several locks following one after another. As the last lock flipped and unlocked, releasing pneumatic pressure, a yellow alarm light activated above the door.

"Caution! Airlock pressurizing. Warning! Microgravity detected. Stand clear."

The giant vault rotated and reared forward, lifting open and granting them passage into the ship.

"Warning! Impact detected. Systems nominal. Auxiliary power diverted to life support."

The assault of the Interstellar's security sirens was excruciating as it trumpeted off the dark walls of the spaceship. The central power was off and the ship was left in drift. Artemis' only glimpse of light was the red alarm that throbbed in the darkness as he pulled himself and Butler forward along the metal bar on the walls.

He ground his teeth as he strained to see through the blinding red glare. It was like a horror film; not that Artemis had ever watched those, but he imagined this is what it was like. Butler was massive against him as he heaved his friend upwards, jumping up to catch hold of the ladder above them.

Artemis used his thrusters to gently propel them up the ladder and across the 2nd Deck Hall to the Med-Bay. He placed a gloved hand on the bar of the door, heaving it open manually. Artemis nearly threw Butler inside, suddenly grateful the microgravity was active, otherwise, moving the giant Eurasian bodyguard about would've been even more challenging.

He pressed both hands to Butler's suit, gripping the fabric handles in the shoulder plates. Artemis zipped him backward until they hit a med-wall, equipped with a seat and straps in case of times of impact, like now. Artemis lowered himself with the propulsion thrusters as he rigorously strapped Butler to the seat, lastly working on the buckles to the bodyguard's hexagonal helmet.

"High arrhythmia levels detected," the cracked helmet alerted Artemis. He hesitated.

Artemis looked up, as if the ship's AI system was looking down at him. "NANNI, are you still online?"

"Hello, Master Fowl. I am here."

"Is oxygen currently nominal?" Artemis gasped, stretched for time.

A screen in the pitch-dark med-bay fizzled on, and an orange pulse came on, blurry against the red alarm strobes. "Oxygen levels are currently nominal, despite your current conditions," NANNI's artificial intelligence system replied, Holly's voice slightly soothing to him at a time like this. "Do you need ship diagnostics?"

"Not yet," Artemis answered as he fixed a sharp glance at Butler. "Are you sure oxygen levels are nominal?"

"Yes, Artemis," the robot almost exasperated. "I am sure."

Artemis bit his lip as he tore the cracked helmet off of Butler. Artemis considered for a microsecond that his most loyal friend could be dead, but was relieved to find the bodyguard peacefully unconscious. He detached the helmet from the neck snaps, tossing it elsewhere into the med-bay.

"Don't worry, old friend," Artemis whispered, unclicking his own helmet and locking it onto Butler's suit instead. He attached the life support tubes from the suit into the helmet's valves, powering the helmet on. As the iridescence reflected back at Artemis, he pressed a hand to the visor as it pulsed a gentle red. "I will not let you die."

Artemis squinted in the darkness as he fumbled to attach Butler's pulse oximeter to the med-bay network. Butler's visor reflected his pulse on the large screen before them, his heartbeat erratic and fast. Artemis knew there was little he could do for Butler in microgravity and propelled himself away from the unconscious manservant, exiting through the med-bay doors quickly.

Artemis soared down the 2nd deck hallway, careful to avoid the walls in the pitch dark. The red strobes around him were maddening, and he briefly noted to himself to change their design if he got out of this alive.

"NANNI," Artemis started as he lifted up a ladder to the third deck. "Activate the Interstellar's force field, please."

"The power grid attached to the force field is down," NANNI chimed in after several whirrs and buzzes. "You need to divert power in the cockpit."

"Already on it," Artemis grunted as he heaved the command center's doors open, shoving them aside. He sped towards the dash, grabbing a screwdriver off the tool table as he reached the power panel grid. He unscrewed each corner of the frame, allowing the little metal bolts to drift away when he lifted it off its hinges and tossed it aside. Inside the box, he would have to manually rewire the ship's power controls.

"NANNI, what parts of the ship are still functional?"

"Seventy-two percent of the Artemis Interstellar is functional, Artemis. This includes the residential quarters and med-bay."

"What parts are not functional, NANNI?" Artemis sucked on his teeth, feeling impatient. "Which areas have taken damage?"

"The laboratory and dojo have taken structural damage. Your success rate with common repairs is four percent."

"Four," Artemis almost laughed. "Of course it's four." He ripped the wires for the lab and dojo from the box, and transferred their power flow to the med-bay instead. Once that was done, he adjusted his body to be straight, and rested a glove onto the manual gravity pump. He pulled it, the shaft popping out, twisted it to its side, and then slammed it back in.

The machine hummed and buzzed for a few seconds before a whirring fan stirred elsewhere in the ship, the slight force slowly started to sink downwards.

"Gravity detected!" The ship's robotic voice declared over the speakers.

Suddenly Artemis was dropped to the floor. He tried to land on his feet but stumbled over. The sudden weight of gravity without being pressurized was great and Artemis grabbed his forehead in pain. He breathed hard, trying to escape the nausea overcoming him. He grit his teeth and sucked in the pain, holding onto the control panel to pull himself up.

Artemis wiped the sweat from his brow as he scanned the dash once more and raced to the ladder on the far side, climbing into the cockpit. From the cockpit's point of view he could see the meteor shower hurling by, smaller rocks pelting the hull. Artemis ran his hand over the controls, straining to see the force field command. He played with a few wires, switching them around and clicked it on.

He gazed intently out the window at the force field projectors below, watching them pop up and deploy around the ship - when he spotted a problem. One wouldn't detonate.

"NANNI, can you send the repair bot to fix the projector on Hull E25?" Artemis asked aloud as he whipped around, basically sliding back down the ladder to the command center below.

"Repair bot deployed. Repairs are estimated at T-Minus five minutes."

"Five minutes is too long," Artemis stressed as he raced out of the center and into the hall. Still dizzy and heavy, he stumbled a few steps as he raced down the hall to head back to the ladder below when a golden glow caught his eye.

He slowed to a stop, eyes falling down the dark and flickering hallway on his right. He suddenly realized what part of the ship he was in. The lab.

"The laboratory and dojo have taken structural damage," NANNI's voice repeated in his mind, suddenly realizing what this meant. Almost terrified, Artemis moved towards the glowing, golden beacon in the darkness, afraid of what he would find.

The laboratory windows at the far end of the wall gave a glimpse of sparks and fluorescent lights flickering in the demolished room, the entirety of outer space and its stars greeting him from the other side. The lab had not just taken damage: the entire wall of the ship was ripped off, allowing the lab and all its contents to float away into the inky cosmos of space.

Artemis stared wide-eyed from the safety of the hallway, pressing a palm to the glass. He couldn't believe it. Everything they had discovered, all of his experiments, his projects… he watched them float away before his very eyes. Lost to the stars.

Everything has been for nothing. This has to be a cosmic joke.

Artemis stiffened his brow, feeling his shoulders tense. Butler. He needs you.

"Warning! Impact imminent! Report to safety belts now! Warning! Impact imminent! Report to safety belts now!"

The siren broke Artemis' thoughts and he felt his heart lurch as he sped back down the dark hallway, desperately searching for a safety belt as he passed tunnel walls. Of all the things I've done in my life, I'm the most scared now. Ironic.

He finally spotted one and dashed for it. But before he could reach it, there was a huge slam into the ship, sending Artemis flying into the air and slamming his skull into the wall. The ship groaned and croaked as he slid down the wall limply to the floor.

A huge searing pain rang in his head like a bell, suddenly confused and disoriented to where he was. Artemis breathed in place, trying to see if he could move. His legs responded, as did his fingers, and he pushed himself to his feet. He couldn't help but grab the side of his head, tipping over and falling into the wall as he lost his balance.

The world was spinning and he couldn't stand straight. The ship's groans were like he was underwater, unfocused and unclear. He let go of his head to hold himself on the wall, pulling himself along, blood dripping from the hand that had been on him. And when Artemis took one more step, he collapsed forward onto the floor, eyes rolling back as he fell unconscious yet again.

"Artemis."

The young genius choked and gagged as he awoke, feeling like a limp fish on the floor. The alarm's screams were like a drill hammering his cranium as he forced himself to his knees.

"Dammit," he spurted aloud, the taste of copper tickling his tongue. His nose felt wet and he slowly pressed a glove to it, blood dripping from the fabric to the floor. Fantastic. He groaned as he stood, looking around in confusion. The Interstellar. You're on the Interstellar and Butler needs you.

Butler!

Artemis' eyes widened in panic and he took a few steps forward, treading along the hallway like a corpse. A piercing ringing ached in his ears again, searing his head. He doubled over, feeling a rising pit in his stomach. It rose until it smacked him with intense nausea and he doubled over once more, vomiting onto the floor. He coughed, disgusted with himself and moved on. He eventually reached the ladder to the deck below, climbing down carefully.

Artemis slipped on the last 3 steps and slid down the ladder, falling weakly to his knees. He pulled himself up and panted, sweat blurring his vision as he looked up. The med-bay was only a few feet away now. He rushed forward as fast as he could, shimmying past the door to get inside.

Artemis' stomach dropped: an orange alarm pulsed on the screen: Emergency! Cardiac Arrest Detected! Butler's pulse was flat-lined beside it, one empty, still beat.

"No!" Artemis shouted, racing towards the manservant. The pulse screen flashed -30 seconds. He has time.

He ripped the straps off Butler to allow the giant to fall to the floor. Artemis tore off his helmet, tossing it away and grunted as he struggled to heave Butler onto his back. He opened Butler's mouth slightly and pressed his palms to the bodyguard's heart. One, two, three. Artemis did ten chest compressions before giving Butler as much air as he could muster.

"Sorry, friend," Artemis winced as he compressed, keeping his rhythm consistent. Artemis pushed and pushed, but panic and grief suddenly struck him. He doubled over on Butler's chest, breathing hard and closing his eyes.

This is my fault! And for the first time in his life, completely overwhelmed by panic, pain, and self-loathing, Artemis screamed as hard as he could, getting all of his frustrations and feelings out. He screamed until he couldn't breathe anymore, his gaze falling back on his dear friend, tears rolling down his cheeks. "No… no," he choked, quivering. Stay calm. You have to save him.

Artemis nodded to himself, agreeing with the sentiment, and blew out a quick breath. You are Artemis Fowl. Save him.

And so Artemis did. He started the compressions and breaths over, and when three more rounds didn't work, he glanced at the screen.

-1 minute.

He had at least one more before Butler was officially dead. He stood quickly and raced to grab the defibrillators, charging them up and placing them beside them. He reached into Butler's suit, rolling down the top part to expose the bodyguard's bare chest beneath. Artemis grabbed a defibrillator in each hand and pressed them to Butler's chest. "Clear!" he yelled to no one in particular and shocked the bodyguard.

Butler arched his back as the shocks moved through him, flopping back to the floor. Artemis pushed once more, and the pulse on the screen beeped. Artemis stared at it anxiously, his eyes wide as his shoulders shook. The pulse flat-lined again but Artemis didn't give up. This is cardiac arrest, he reminded himself. His heart is still strong. Artemis shocked Butler once more, and when that didn't work, he knew what to do.

He stood, racing over to the pharmaceutical cabinet. He fumbled as he looked for a tiny clear vial, glass and liquids shattering around him. He squinted, finally landing on epinephrine.

His fingers gripped it tightly as he trembled to find a clean needle. He searched his cabinets, tearing one from a pouch. He put the needle and vial into the red alarm light so he could see as he carefully aspirated the correct dosage. A tiny drip of clear liquid dribbled from the needle tip and Artemis marched back to Butler, falling to his knees beside him.

He pressed a hand to Butler's heart, his limbs shaking as fear overtook him. If it didn't work, then Butler would die. And Artemis couldn't let Butler die. He couldn't. It would be a cosmic joke.

He aimed the needle over Butler's heart, trying his best to keep his shivering hand still. And with a deep exhale, he brought his hand down, stabbing Butler in the heart. He pumped the adrenaline into the manservant's heart, disposing of the needle overhead by rolling it away. Artemis cradled Butler's shoulders, panting anxiously.

And a few seconds later, Butler rolled up suddenly, his eyes wide as he took in a huge gasp of air. He collapsed back into Artemis' arms, the younger man holding his friend close.

"Butler! Oh, Butler!" Artemis cried weakly. "You're alive!"

And with a second bout of good news, NANNI chipped in overhead. "Force-field repaired. Force-field now activated."

"Oh, thank god," Artemis sighed deeply, overwhelmed that he could finally breathe.

Butler took deep breaths as his eyes darted wildly around the med-bay.

"You're okay," Artemis reassured, looking him over for any other injuries. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I've come back from the dead too many times," Butler coughed, groaning as he leaned back. "You turned the force field on?"

"Yes. Though we've sustained major damage to the east wing of The Interstellar, including the lab. I suspect the majority of the work we've done is lost. Why wasn't the force field activated sooner?"

"I saw you floating away on the comms and I called you, but you didn't answer," Butler grunted, coughing into his elbow. He sighed before he continued, "You are my first priority, so I ran out to save you. This is why I'm here, Artemis. To protect you at all costs."

Artemis shook his head, patting the tender gash on his cranium. "I'm afraid I'm either very concussed or very confused. Or both."

"Your sensors didn't detect the meteor shower until I was already on my way to you. If I hadn't reached you in time, you would've been blown away forever. What happened?"

Artemis froze, the pit in his stomach boiling as he remembered what he'd almost done. "I... I got separated from the tether," he eventually managed, resting his hand down, keeping his gaze away from Butler's. "My suit powered down and I was unable to reach you. But enough about me, old friend. You must be in agony." He prepared to stand when Butler grabbed his forearm suddenly, the grip tight and firm.

"Artemis. I saw you on the comms," Butler's nose wrinkled, his dark eyes deathly serious as he bore an intense gaze into the genius. "I saw you unclip yourself. Why would you do that?"

"I…" Artemis couldn't answer.

"Artemis."

2023

Villa Éco, Ireland

Now

The sunrise was bright over the Irish sea, twinkling sunrays glittered over the orange tides. Artemis blinked. Where was he?

"Artemis?"

The Irishman looked back, expecting to see a Eurasian manservant but met the soft smile of a bronze elf instead. He blinked, glancing back out at the glittering pastel seas beside his home estate.

"Where are you?" Holly chuckled, patting a gentle hand on the shoulder of his coat. "Lost in the stars?"

Artemis frowned, his eyes fixed on the door handle. He didn't know how he felt. Reality felt surreal. He looked up again, catching the yellow clouds and pink waves. Reality was beautiful.

"Yeah...," he replied mildly, turning back to her, forcing a smile. "Lost in the stars."

Holly rolled her eyes playfully. "You've been doing that a lot lately." She patted his shoulder once more and opened the car door, stepping out onto the pebbled path. She winked at him. "You coming?"

Artemis nodded, exiting the car with her. He watched her from a distance as she strolled jovially across the green lawn.

Bury it. Deal with it later. He sighed, ignoring the burning memory that swelled his heart, and joined Holly in her stroll across the lawn, back to Villa Éco they go.

Just in case anyone ever needs this.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Hours: Available 24 hours.

800-273-8255

You are wanted. You belong here.