A/N This is my first Artemis Fowl story, and I'm a little apprehensive. Constructive criticism is welcomed. Before we start, I'd just like to take this opportunity to point out that I am not planning to incorporate any romance into this, and even if I have a change of heart, it will not be Artemis who falls in love. If you would like to see romance, please tell me in the review section and maybe I'll get my friend to write some fluff for this story. Fluff is one thing I really can't do.

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Chapter 1

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Artemis stared glumly up at the tall dark gates, silhouetted grandly against the grey cloudy sky. The red brick building inside looked almost warm and comforting; from the outside it was virtually impossible to tell that inside it was bustling with life as people in white lab jackets carried out ridiculous experiments. A small window to the right gave the viewer a glance of the inside excitement. Three cars were parked in a car park to his left.

Artemis sighed very loudly and obviously, watching Butler flinch from the corner of his eye. He really did not want to do this. Who would? Three weeks, stuck in a laboratory with four other toffee-nosed children, being experimented on by fools who had not got half a clue what they were trying to discover.

He cast his mind back to when the letter had arrived from St Bartleby's, just over two months ago. The letter stated (Along with some posh words added in for show) that Artemis, along with four other children considered 'the brightest in Britain' were to join two established scientists here in the countryside for various IQ tests and exams to monitor how well children could perform under different conditions and such or something like that.

Artemis sniffed disdainfully. Child, indeed. His intelligence was way above the average IQ of an adult. He had, by Mother and Juliet, been threatened, bribed, yelled at, taunted, ordered to and pleaded with until he had agreed to come here. Butler had expressed his worries about sending his young charge to this laboratory, and was camping in a nearby field to make daily checks and ensure the safety of the young genius. For 'Scientific purposes', he had not been allowed to stay within the building itself.

Butler pulled up outside the Victorian building and opened the door for Artemis, who viewed the building with dislike written all over his face. None of the other 'genii' seemed to be here yet. Butler rapped hard on the oak door and stepped back as it slowly opened.

"Good morning. I am Dr Elizabeth Tassel, manager of this little experiment." The speaker was a short middle-aged woman with closely cropped brown hair and large glasses perched on a rather long and pointed nose. "You must be Artemis Fowl."

Without giving them time to answer, she ushered them in and abruptly started again. "I must tell you that I do not stand for any disruptive behaviour in my tests. The other four will be arriving shortly. You have been allotted a bedroom each. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be eaten together in a private canteen. Any dietary needs will be catered for accordingly. My assistant, Dr James Dale, will be happy to take down any medical details. While you are participating in these tests, there is strictly no admittance outside the grounds. The countryside is a dangerous place at night. You will be coming to pick Mr Fowl up in three weeks, Mr-er- " Her sharp voice trailed off as she looked at Butler, waiting for a name to be supplied.

"Butler. I will be checking on his safety daily, if that is fine with you, Dr Tassel." Came the reply.

For a moment, Artemis thought he saw a flicker of fear hidden in the eye of the woman before him, but when he blinked, the calm composure was back in place. "That will be acceptable. James!" She yelled suddenly.

"I'm here, I'm here! Keep your hair on, Lizzie!" A young man, blond haired and blue eyed stepped out from another room. His face was smiling, the blue eyes dancing merrily. He looked easily more likeable than Dr Tassel.

"Please show Mr Fowl to his room and then report to room nine for instructions." Barked Dr Tassel, before turning and swiftly walking down the hallway.

"I'd better go. I will be here tomorrow afternoon to check on Ar-Mr Fowl." Butler said, before nodding and walking out the door.

"Just you and me then, is it?" Asked Dr Dale, winking jovially at Artemis.

"Evidently." Came the reply.

"Room's just up here. Don't mind Lizzie, she's always like this. Only once have I seen her letting her hair down, and that was when she had consumed one too many whiskeys at the staff Christmas party." Laughed Dr Dale, not noticing the feeling of intense annoyance radiating from the boy next to him.

They stepped into a small, plain white room, holding a dull grey bed, a large wardrobe and nothing else. Dr Dale heaved Artemis's bag to the floor, excused himself and walked back out the door, leaving Artemis to his thoughts.

He had a feeling he was not going to like it here.

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A/N It'll get more interesting, I promise. I'm not a regular updater, so expect quite a long period of time before I can be bothered to update.