"How..."
Holly muttered weakly, her throats suddenly feeling dry and her eyes threaten to water. Even if this was an alternate world and not hers, the sight of her home in such a terrible state...any person that treasured where they have lived and fought for most of their lives would at least cry in sympathy.
"It happened during the Ireland Incident" Trouble stared her down seriously, "Do you remember that? You...and around 2,000..."
"What incident?" Holly glared as anger builds up within her, to whom it was directed to even she isn't clear on that.
Trouble had a baffled expression and was about to argue, but then had a thought and quickly reached for a folder in his desk. He handed it over and as Holly opened it, Trouble faced the window with his eyes closed.
"...We don't know much of what happened, and I was hoping you'd shed some light the higher-ups aren't willing to give but...according to Foaly..."
=====🦉=====
Two years ago
(Alternate) Foaly POV
"I'm sorry about this, Holly" Foaly apologized through the comms as he typed in several protocols and planned contingencies, "You were the only agent available and, well, you are practically our personal representative with in dealing with that Mudchild"
"Honestly, Foaly" Holly's voice scowled back, "Your timing is as impeccable as ever"
"Why? Did I interrupt your little honeymoon?"
"..."
"Hello? Mrs. Kelp?"
"I'll ram your donkey behind with a pole if you don't shut up"
"Woah there, such indecency! What would your future kids think?" Foaly chuckled as he sees from the video feed of her flicking him off. Before he could start another line of banter, an red alarm rang in the sensors. That's not good.
"Holly, we have a Class B fire has erupted in the Irish Faery Base! Get in there and assist"
"Understood" Holly replied firmly and without question. Although her mission at the moment was to mediate whatever Fowl was up to, it was very clear to both that the safety and secrecy of the People must take first priority! A fire of this urgency will definitely be noticed by the Mudmen, and the last thing he wants to end the day with is another clean up and cover job.
"How did the fire start, if you mind me asking" Holly asked as she zipped by, approaching the building smoke in the distance.
"Probably another gas leak from the pods" Foaly sighed as he loaded the quick intel report and skimmed through it. His eyes suddenly furrowed and said, "Originally a Class A fire? That can't be right"
Class A fires began through contact with wood, coal, or any other solid but flammable materials. To begin with, such a type of fire would be impossible to start in these Faery outposts–much less a fully equipped base with a direct route to Haven.
"I thought our bases were laced with steel and barred metal" Holly interjected, "Aren't there even sprinklers?"
"The bases are equipped with the highest form of defensive procedures the People could build and buy" Foaly huffed as he types in orders to the clean up crew and LEP officials, "They are built to be shielded from satellites, radar, or any other sensory frequencies and methods. Trust me, this is a full-blown bunker-of-the-future we are talking about here!"
"But what's alarming is that it escalated to a Class B..." Foaly tapped his fingers and suddenly came to a conclusion, "A bomb perhaps?"
"Human?" Holly quickly blurred, fully alarmed now.
"No, no-it might just be a rogue faery–whatever the case this is clearly not an accidental incident. Get in there Holly and establish order, I'll tap in once I execute the required protocols"
"Understood!"
=====🦉=====
"What in Haven's name is going on!?"
"Glad you decided to chip in on this fiasco!" Holly snarled in the comms as she seem to be hiding behind a rock, looking all battered and charred as fire and...lava were scattered around the premises. Fixtures and metal columns seem to dot the area, giving a bad omen to the centaur, "I leave you alone for five minutes and suddenly you look like you're in the middle of a volcanic eruption site!"
"That...isn't as far-fetched as it seems"
"What do you mean?"
Holly then angled the camera carefully to face beyond the rock, and what was shown on screen almost made Foaly yelp like a pony (and that's a BIG DEAL to centaurs)
A creature, standing at least 10 feet tall, stood over what remained of the melted base; its entire body seem to be glowing pure orange yellow, swirling and throbbing as if alive like flowing lava. It had a humanoid face, but had eye sockets glowing like the sun and a face only a dead mother would love. Each time it moved, fragments of black material and drops of hot liquid dripped from the effort. Even from here, Foaly felt like just from staring he could burn with pure heat...
"What is it?"
"A...A Fire elemental..."
"...Pardon?"
"Holly, get out of there!" Foaly ordered grimly, unsure what to do. Why is a creature of myths doing here!? And why of all days is this happening with the Commander on leave!?
"Understood! I'll–" Holly was preparing to leave until she froze, seeming to spot a figure in all the debris and smog.
"...Fowl!"
Before any visual or word could follow, a sharp signal seem to envelop the area that brought the camera to static.
"Agh! D'Arvit!" Foaly cursed as he rushed to reconnect the signal, knowing every second counts in a crisis like this. Meanwhile, he alerted the LEP forces of the situation to be the highest degree of crisis, and in seconds the office was buzzing with activity.
"Foaly! How is she!?" Trouble ran into the centaur's abode, fully geared and ready to join into the fray.
"I'm going overtime here if that's what you're asking! Did you receive word from the Commander?"
"Not a word"
"Alright! Prepare a team and head to the London tunnel–It's only fitting that the husband saves the wife, eh?"
Trouble colored at that but dismissed it in haste as he left to round up the group as fast as he could. Foaly was about to initiate a forced signal when the screen fizzed somewhat to life. What beheld Foaly's eyes nearly pop out in disbelief, his entire being seem to jolt.
The camera, fallen off from the person, revealed Holly charred all over, blood gushing down from her forehead. Her equipment was gone, with only a charred Neutrino in her hands. And she was crying...
"Holly!! What happened!? Are you alright?"
The comms must've been broken for she didn't seem to have noticed or hear. Her eyes seem to bare deep hatred in it , yet sorrow at the same time. She then muttered: "I love you, Trouble...And I'm sorry"
To Foaly's sheer horror, the fire elemental towered behind where Holly was hiding and a glow radiated from its mouth. She then noticed and locked her eyes suddenly onto the camera, and gave it a strained smile just before the elemental shot a blast of lava...
...and the screen went black
=====🦉=====
Present day
"...Eventually the fire elemental was taken cared of, but not before it managed to drain some of its destruction down the shoot and bring fire to the south end of Haven. Not long after there was a simultaneous set of explosives, identified later on as a hybrid mix of human and LEP equipment, that blew up vital areas of work and districts" Trouble lifted the shade and watched out with a glint of fury, "It was a disaster! Calling it an incident was an understatement–it was a calamity! A declaration of war! The Ireland base was practically a lava pool by the time we quarantined the area and made it public news!"
"And it all pointed to one and only one suspect: Artemis Fowl! Piling Foaly's account with the Mudchild's alleged involvement in the Ireland Incident, the methods that led to the Burning of half of Haven, plus the sudden slip into hiding...it screams guilty one-hundred percent!"
A strained silence ensued, only to be broken by the sniffling from Holly. Concern quickly filled the Trouble's being but stayed still, knowing full well that Holly doesn't like being seen in a weakened state. "Holly, could...could you tell me what happened?"
Holly simply shook her head, opening her mouth but no words could come out for awhile. She then spoke hoarsely, "You kept looking...for me?"
"I...We didn't give up" he muttered calmly, taking a glance at Holly's pale face, "The blast destroyed the camera first, so it wasn't exactly confirmed that you died. Foaly must've just exaggerated...we all did. But now...you're standing here; alive and well! What I don't understand is...why?"
He took her silence as trauma, and although he endearingly wanted to see her side of the story, he did not push and allowed her to take her time. For him, her being alive was enough, and although a slight burning of anger flickered on why she didn't make contact for two years and the fact she spent that time with that Mudchild made it all the more strange and downright suspicious, he couldn't bring himself to insist until she was ready.
But, it was definitely a different story to Holly, one from an alternate world. It was too much for her to handle, like a bitter pill to swallow, and couldn't help but feel pain as regret seeped in. She felt horrible giving him and her colleagues relief, and now found it even harder to tell the truth. The true Holly is probably...
But how could she tell him that?
Those haunted eyes, Holly thought sadly, unable to help but reach out and touch his face. She couldn't bare to to see those again...
"Commander, I must intercede–" a voice from the intercom blared to life.
"I told you I'm busy" Trouble growled back, but the voice quickly added, "It's the Head of Haven, sir–I couldn't refuse"
The door suddenly opened and a pixie straight out of Holly's nightmares barged in, and wondered how could this situation get any worse than it already is.
"Well, well–the Captain lives!" The girl announced haughtily, her chocolate-brown eyes narrowed with suspicious intent. She was garbed in a shimmering obsidian robe that complimented her black hair and fair, porcelain skin, and had a devilish but knowing smirk plastered on her face. Holly couldn't help but feel pissed and nervous at the same time.
"My Lady" Trouble curtsied to Holly's disbelief, but noticed his clenched teeth. A male pixie suddenly popped up from behind and smacked Holly with a stick, angrily shouting, "What disrespect! Bow before the savior of New Haven, you ungrateful lass! Bow before the great Opal Koboi!"
=====🗣=====
👋 Modotte kimashita!
Back from my trip with newfound inspiration and Japanese wisdom! (Wow, this might be weird to give a happy author note in a sad chapter but)
Had to tell ya I'm not dead so yeah!
Next chapter on Friday like usual-and I missed y'all! 🙌
🦉