5I own no characters organizations, etc.
Chapter 2
"He is a megalomaniac and a rebel sir. there is no way we can possibly control him, just look at this test he did! A complete psychopath in a bottle he is."
"He rigged the test, didn't you notice how he read all the questions before answering any of them? He knew what we were looking for and refused to give it to us. He is a smart one, and besides I don't want to control him just focus him, give him a target."
"But sir, doesn't he remind you a bit of... the Wiggin?"
"Of course he does but Peter Wiggin was bursting with anger and hate, this boy just wants everyone to think he is like that. He may have the softer side that we need."
"But are you sure that he is faking all of this sir? I mean he even bleached his hair."
"And what kind of a six year old wants to do that neh? hahaha, just look through the vids we got from the box. Every time he looks in a mirror and sees that hair of his he gets disgusted. No Anderson he is as sane as you or... well as sane as you anyway."
"Not sure of your own sanity sir?"
"Anderson, I honestly don't believe you can do this job and keep your sanity, now bring him in."
"If you say so sir."
"I do say so, look the next Wiggin won't be ready for another six more years and if he doesn't pan out I'll need someone to take over. Bring him in."
The first thing that Artemis did when he got home was to go up to the library to see his father, he Knocked softly before coming in and had Butler wait outside. His father was sitting in his usual spot facing the fireplace, so Artemis went and stood on his stone in front of his father. He held very still not moving, waiting for his father to finish and turn his attention to Artemis. Finally his father closed his book and looked up towards Artemis, folding his hands in his lap he waited intently. "Sir" Artemis began "The check up in Dublin went well and they decided it was time to remove my box and end surveillance of our family."
Artemis Fowl Senior nodded his head and stood up "Artemis, just because they no longer have a box on your head does not mean that we are not under surveillance, I have heard of many cases where the testing continues on even after the box has been removed" His father sighed "Artemis as you know our family has been vested in many lucrative transactions with... questionable morals. Since that box has been placed upon your head many of these ventures have fallen through because we could never really be sure what went back to the government. So at this juncture I feel that..." Here it comes Artemis thought "it would not be in our best interest to immerse you in the family business quite yet." Artemis was crestfallen, he knew it was coming but to actually hear it from his father was quite another thing. He had constantly striven for his fathers approval but since the I.F. had come into their lives his father had only seen him as a spy.
"I understand sir" Artemis uttered, being sure that his disappointment didn't show in his voice "Am i excused?" In response his father opened his book and began reading again. Artemis quietly exited the room to find Butler and his mother waiting for him. 'Butler must have gotten her' He realized "Hello Mother he smiled to her.
Angeline Fowl's eyes teared up and she held her son "I got my little boy back, they didn't take you away" She rubbed the back of his neck where the box had been and cried into his shoulder. Artemis put his arms around her shaking shoulders, an odd sight to see a six year old comforting his mother he thought to himself. Yes mother I am not going anywhere, I failed all their tests, of course you should be soooo happy. Your son wasn't good enough to go to the heavens.
Butler went to answer a knock at the door as Artemis and his mother talked. "He won't let me in mother" He didn't have to say that he was talking about father, mother already knew. "He just doesn't trust me, he thinks I am a spy. He'll never trust me I think."
Angeline looked pained for a few seconds as she tried to come up with the right words to comfort him. "Artemis your father has always been into his work, in many ways it is his life." Artemis nodded that he understood "Artemis your father loves..."
Angeline's words were cut short by a cough from Butler "Sorry to excuse you, but i believe that you ought to come to the door." Angeline looked up at Butler confused and a little upset. "I'll get Mr. Fowl" Butler continued. At this Angeline's eyes widened slightly, if it was so important as to require both her and her husband t couldn't be good. Angeline got up and went downstairs while Artemis waited for Butler and his father. It took only a few moments for Artemis Fowl Senior to emerge from the library with Butler in tow, Artemis walked quickly beside his father to keep up. As they approached the front door Artemis was surprised to see several men in the I.F. Military dress.
"What is this all about?" Artemis's Father demanded
The man seemingly in charge stepped forward and spoke "Mr. Fowl my name is Lieutenant James H. Aimes and I have been sent from I.F. Internal command to inform you that your son Artemis Fowl the second has been accepted into battle school should he accept the invitation.
"Invitation?" Mr Fowl began "You mean it is optional? I was under the impression that you could just take him from us."
"That is correct sir, you have no choice in this matter. Only your son can choose whether or not he wishes to serve his species."
Artemis was curious "Do many of the children decline the invitation Lieutenant Aimes?"
Aimes looked towards Artemis "No sir, very few will decline the opportunity to go into space."
Artemis frowned "Why did you call me sir, Lieutenant? Isn't your station above mine own?"
Aimes continued to look at Artemis "Only if you decline sir, however going to Battle school will guarantee that your Authority shall be above my own." Artemis nodded to himself and looked over at Butler, who's usual blank expression gave no indication of his thoughts.
"Well of course he isn't going" Angeline started, she would have continued had Artemis Fowl Senior not held up his hand to stop her. She looked at him for a few seconds and then walked over to stand beside him, gripping his hand tightly. Artemis looked up at his mother, and then over to his father, he didn't know what to do.
After staring at his father for a few moments his father spoke "Go Artemis" His mother began crying in his fathers shoulder as all the eyes in the room turned to his father.
Artemis held his fathers gaze for a few moments and then nodded, turning back to the Officers he nodded again "I will go."
Lieutenant Aimes nodded "Now the shuttle doesn't leave for another week and you will not have leave from battle school until you are twelve, would you like to spend the next few days with your family or come with us now?"
Artemis took only a quick glance around before deciding "No, it would be best if I came now. Do I need to bring anything?"
"No sir."
Artemis nodded "Then lets go" he walked towards Aimes and out the front door of the Fowl Mansion.
Waiting for the shuttle was fairly eventful for Artemis, he stayed in a military bunker with a couple other soldiers as it was the only space available, he quickly learned to get rid of his Armani suit in exchange for some shorts and a t-shirt once he found that six year olds in suit were a prime target among the men. He attended a few classes with the men he was bunking with, some inside such as the dangers of space travel, but many outside. He decided to try to soak up as much sun as he could before going into space. Lieutenant Aimes even allowed him to attend the firing range, they would only allow him to handle a small pistol but considering he had never shot a gun before that was a kindness in itself. He wasn't expecting the kickback from the gun the first time and ended up missing his target by some distance to the mirth of the soldiers he was with. He learned quickly though how to tense his wrist as he pulled the trigger and aim down the barrel of his gun and was managing to hit his target by the end of the session. He wasn't a great shot, but for a six year old with weak wrists he figured he wasn't half bad. After the shooting practice was done the men invited Artemis to come with them to an obstacle course, Artemis had never been on an obstacle course but thought that it might be entertaining so agreed to come along. Some of the obstacles Artemis could do even better than the men like crawling under the wire, but there were some that Artemis couldn't do at all such as climbing over the wall or up the rope. He realized that his years inside had weakened his body significantly and he had to wonder whether or not a regular six year old could have climbed the rope. He came to the conclusion that a balance was needed in order for one to become a soldier, and like it or not that was the course he was on. For the zip-line he had to be lifted by the men in order to reach the handle. He was instructed how to hold the handle and how to stop with his feet at the other end, when he felt comfortable he was released and he began his descent along the line. The experience was exhilarating flying through the air like he was, as he was nearing the end Artemis glanced over at the fence and spotted a large bald individual that looked very much like Butler. However before he could be certain he slammed into the padded post at the end of the zip-line, losing his grip he fell onto the grass and was quickly surrounded by men who helped him to his feet and asked him repeatedly if he was alright. By the time Artemis had assured them all that he was fine and got another look at the fence the man who looked like Butler was gone.
As Artemis was lying in bed that night muscles all over his body, some that he hadn't even known existed, ached with the damage he had done to them today. Artemis however felt... happy? no... satisfied he decided, sure his muscles hurt a little but he felt like it was a badge given to him for his good work that day. He had already decided to do his best in this new life of his, and would do what was necessary to succeed at it. A moment passed when Artemis thought of his mother but he quickly pushed the emotion that flooded him out of his mind and gently fell asleep on the firm mattress. That night Artemis dreamed of the man who looked like Butler. In his dream it was Butler, he had come to take Artemis home and when Artemis hit the post and fell Butler climbed over the fence and walked over to Artemis. He helped Artemis up and held his hand as he explained to Artemis how they could go home, how the formics had all been destroyed and that Artemis' father had sent Butler to come get him. Artemis didn't respond he just stared up at Butler feeling nothing for a while. Then he said the only thing that came to mind "Butler, where are your sunglasses?" Artemis awoke to the sounds of the morning wake-up system. He was drenched in a cold sweat, which was unusual because he was never afraid in his dream. Perhaps he had a nightmare after the first dream and he couldn't remember it? It hardly mattered he decided.
Over the course of the week Artemis focused mainly on training with the other men, he even tried going to the gym once but after finding that the machines were all built for adult bodies he soon gave up. He was very proud of his aim by the end of the week and could hit the bulls-eye seven times out of ten if he took his time to aim. He would also go on the zip-line as often as he could find men willing to help him reach the handle, he never saw the man who looked like Butler again in his dreams or in life.
Artemis didn't exercise with the men the day before the launch, he wasn't allowed to eat and was sure that exercising would make him hungry. He did however say goodbye to Lieutenant Aimes and the men before he went to sleep that night, he wouldn't see them again tomorrow. For the launch they gave him a space suit that felt kind of baggy on him, he was used to suits that squeezed his ribs instead. Many of the other boys also found the suits baggy judging by the way they kept jokingly pulling out the waistline and pretending to be obese, Artemis didn't find it funny like the other boys.
They were all seated and shown how to buckle themselves into the chairs, once that was done a movie played on the screen explaining the history of the formics and the purpose of the battle school. Artemis lost interest quickly and observed the boys around him instead, many of the boys also lost interest and only a few stayed focused on the screen. Artemis spotted one boy with brown hair and thin eyes that was mouthing the words as the movie said them, he was doing it with a slight grin. Artemis wondered how he had already memorized the movie, surely they wouldn't show it in school, though as he attended a private school he wouldn't actually know.
The video was soon over and Artemis got excited, he wondered if taking off in the space shuttle would be anything like flying on a zip-line. He didn't have to wait long to find out, the count down started and the engines ignited pushing the craft upwards. No, it was not like a zip-line, in fact it was more like slamming into the pole at the end of the zip-line provided that the pole had no padding on it.. Artemis felt like his stomach was being pushed into the seat behind him, he had known about G-forces from his studies but experiencing them like this was quite another thing. In only a few moments though they pushed through the atmosphere and were in space, Artemis suddenly felt light, very light.
The captain informed everyone that they could now unhook their seat belts if they wanted to experience no gravity. Artemis watched as a few other boys and one girl did just that. So he unhooked and gently pushed off his seat, he immediately flew towards the roof much faster than he expected. He slammed into the roof and bounced towards the window, where he managed to grab a handhold and steady himself. Most of the other boys were out of their seats and bouncing around as well now and Artemis paused to watch them fly in intricate patterns through the room. He wondered if he could push off and fly through the cabin without hitting any of the other boys. After a few moments of observation he decided it was possible, he just had to time it correctly. 1... 2... 3... 4... there it was a hole. Now just watch them as they bounce off the walls... here it comes... Now! Artemis shoved off the wall and flew across the shuttle narrowly missing boys as he zoomed through the hole he spotted. But wait, the girl in the shuttle was moving towards him, she was closer than he had calculated she would be, he wasn't going to make it! Artemis crashed into the girl, flailing arms grabbed onto each other as they spun at an angle. They crashed into a wall and Artemis managed to grab onto a rail to steady both of them.
The girl just kept on apologizing and asking if he was alright, Artemis wasn't really listening to her though. He was trying to figure out what went wrong, he was sure he would make it through. "That..." Artemis spoke cutting the girl off "...was so fun! Did you see me?" He asked looking towards her "Ah, it was like I was flying. I was so sure I would make it through too... I wonder what went wrong?" He looked about the room again just as the captains voice came back on informing them that they would be docking soon and should return to their seats.
"Well I am glad your okay then..." The girl replied sarcastically as she pushed off back to her seat. Artemis watched her go wondering what he had said to offend her. Doesn't really matter he thought to himself then pushed back to his own seat.
END CHAPTER