Hello! Again! I have finished my other story "Afraid of Change" and now I have started a new one. As compared to later chapters, this may seem very laid back. It gets very emotional in later chapters. Also, it might not be appropriate for the younger viewers. If people would stop ignoring ratings and warnings, maybe we wouldn't have that problem, but whatever.

I don't own Artemis Fowl. But I do own SmartSheet and any characters that pop up along the course of this story that are not recognized as Eoin Colfer or any other author's. Read on, my pretties.

Captain Holly Short strode into Police Plaza. She was having a particularly good day. She had gotten up early enough to have a complete breakfast. Almost no traffic had stood in her way on her journey to work. She even happily whistled an old pixie song as she waltzed up the steps to the swinging doors. Nothing could spoil her day.

Well, let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Just as Holly was jumping through the doors, attempting to strike a pose on the last note of her tune, Commander Trouble Kelp was walking out for a coffee break. The two elves smashed into each other and the coffee splashed all over Holly's suit. Trouble fell forward, forcing Holly to the floor. Some of the liquid on her suit now decorated his face a dark brown. A few drops fell onto Holly's chin.

She licked her lips. "De-caf? That's not like you, Trouble. Sorry--Commander."

Trouble grew red. He started to get up, slipping in coffee a couple times. Holly couldn't help but laugh.

"It's hardly a laughing matter, Captain. It takes my mum hours to get these suits clean enough to wear." The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them. He gritted his teeth in anticipation of her remark.

Holly did not disappoint him. Echoes of laughter vibrated the front entrance. His face grew bright red as he waited for her laughter to subside. It took several minutes. Wiping away happy tears, Holly snickered, "Do I really need to add a smart comment to that?" Trouble's angry face was answer enough. Holly cleared her throat. "Right, sorry, sir."

"You seem to be in a jolly mood today, Captain Short," Trouble said, a hint of regret in his voice, which Holly frowned at.

"Is that a bad thing, sir?" she asked puzzled.

Trouble shook himself. "Just make sure you don't make it contagious. I don't want everybody skipping around singing happy tunes. That would be a nightmare."

"Yessir."

Trouble nodded and walked away, trying to drive the embarrassment from his memory. Holly watched him leave, marveling in how much her friend had changed since his promotion. He barely had time to trade the occasional "Hi" with her, let alone chat about Academy days or grab a smoothie and catch Holly up on the three years she had been gone. No, now he was Commander. He was trying his best to fill in Julius Root's shoes. He knew how much everyone respected the late Commander and he wanted to make sure that the people were not disappointed in his replacement. But sometimes he tried too hard.

Holly sighed and started to walk towards her cubicle. Nothing like good old-fashioned paperwork to get her mind off those things. Just as she went to sit at her desk and pluck a paper out of the swaying stack, her computer beeped. A video feed bubble from the Ops Booth popped up on her screen and Foaly's smug grin filled the box.

"Hi, Holly," the centaur chuckled.

"Wow, Foaly, you used the Council's money to set up a complex video reception…thing… and all you do is say, 'Hi.' I'd say that's money well spent."

Foaly's grin shrank a few centimeters. "You know, I was going to let you try out the new Hummingbird model wings, but if you're going to have that attitude…"

Holly sprinted to the Ops Booth.

"Where are they?" she asked breathlessly.

Foaly shrugged. "I don't see why I should let you try them."

Holly gritted her teeth. "Foaly, you brilliant centaur, I'm so very sorry for any emotional pain I might have caused you regarding your video system."

"And..?"

Holly sighed impatiently. "And……..please, please, please can I see the new Hummingbirds??"

Foaly waved a hand. "Very well. They are over on the table."

Holly bent over the table to inspect new wings. The shiny metal reflected her fascinated features. The wings were designed like the old model, but thinner, with less of the bulk of back-up batteries. The wings fanned out in silver brilliance, with two large solar panels on each. Beside the wings were armored gloves, decorated with tiny sensors that would feed information to the wings making them move in the desired way.

"They're brilliant, aren't they?" Foaly admired.

Holly had to admit they were, but not out loud. "They look a bit thin. They probably wouldn't hold up under stress."

Foaly scoffed. "These wings would survive a direct hit by an atomic bomb." With that, he lifted the lightweight wings off the table and chucked them across the room. They clanged against the steel wall and fell to the floor. Foaly trotted over to them and held them up to Holly. Not a dent blemished the shiny surface.

"What are they made of?" asked Holly curiously.

"Adimantium. Strongest metal under the world. You wouldn't believe how long it took me to get the Council to even approve it."

Holly looked pleadingly at Foaly. "So…….Can I try them out?"

Foaly sighed dramatically. "I suppose…"

The words had barely left his mouth and Holly was skipping out the doors cradling the wings.

Holly happily strode home. Wonderful day. The new wings were as amazing as Foaly had said. They were so light on her back, it felt as if they weren't even there. And the sensors in her gloves saved her the trouble of messing with extra helmet upgrades. Immediately after coming back from the surface, Holly had placed an order for them, even though they were not yet on the market. Just one of the advantages of having Foaly as a friend.

Holly was just about to hop up the stairs to her apartment when a sharp pain in her calf brought her to her knees. In her blurring vision, she could make out a thin metal dart poking out of her leg. Her last thought as darkness dissolved her vision was 'Terrific.'

Author's Notes: Yeah, if you can tell you don't like it so far, just please wait until later chapters are put up. Those are much better. Just before anyone can ask, this is H/T. Don't bug me about it. If you don't like it, read "Afraid of Change." That's a nice A/H story that might satisfy you. Anyway, please review.