Chapter 13

Holly and Artemis ran down the corridor away from the control room.

“How’d you do that?” Holly asked as they ran.

“Do what?” Artemis replied.

“Get those possessed fairies to turn on Underhill.”

“I didn’t” Artemis answered. “After you left, Mulch arrived with a Demon.”

Holly stared wide eyed at the mudman.

“Another one?” she said in shock.

“This one knows Sayoko.” He stated, glancing back as Holly was beginning to fall behind. As he looked back, he noticed a group of possessed fairies coming up behind them. Artemis reached out and wrapped his arm around Holly’s waist, lifting her up as he began to run faster.

“HEY!!” Holly shouted, pounding her fists against Artemis’ chest. “Just what do you think you’re doing?!”

“While you haven’t changed much in the last several years, I have.” Artemis stated.

“SO?! It still doesn’t give you the right to sweep me off my feet!!”

Artemis blinked and looked down at the Elf a moment. Holly noticed his look, then realized what she said. Her face went completely red.

“No…wait…I didn’t mean…..”

“My legs are much longer then yours are.” Artemis said, ignoring Holly’s sputtering. “Thus I can cover ground a lot faster then you can. Even with you in my arms.” He cringed slightly as he realized what he said. Well…… too late to pull the words back now…….

Holly blushed a bit harder. “But why do we need…”

“Have you looked behind us?”

Holly frowned, then looked over her shoulder. Seeing the possessed fairies falling quickly behind them, she turned back to Artemis.

“Artemis I apologize……..”

Artemis let out a sigh of relief. At least that was one problem out of the way.

“……Thank you for sweeping me off my feet.”

Artemis blinked again and looked down at the elf he was carrying under his arm. She was still quite red, but now she was smirking at him.

Artemis sighed and returned his gaze to the corridor before him.

“It was so much easier when we were on opposing sides……” he murmured.

--

“Ok…. This isn’t a problem.”

“…..I’d really hate to find out just what you think a problem is…..”

Sayoko and Mulch stood in the shuttle bay staring at the remains of the first shuttle the Goddess had attempted to fly. It now sat against the far wall, it’s rear completely crushed and quite possibly fused with the wall and floor. Coolant was seeping out of the cracks and pooling on the floor.

Sayoko turned to Mulch.

“It doesn’t look all that bad.”

Mulch slowly turned and just stared at the goddess.

“Well it doesn’t!” Sayoko shouted.

The dwarf still stared.

Sayoko frowned and looked back at the wreck.

The shuttle let out a groan before settling further onto the floor.

“Ok.” Sayoko said, looking back at the dwarf. “Maybe it is bad.”

“Thank Frond for safety restraints.” Mulch murmured.

Sayoko pursed her lips.

“Alright!” she snapped. “Attempt number 2!”

Mulch glanced at the second shuttle with a sense of doom.

--

“How much further?”

“(huff) I…(huff)….don’t…(huff)…..know.”

Holly frowned. “What’s wrong with you? I know I’m not that heavy.”

“(huff) I’m a……(huff)…genius.” Artemis gasped between breaths. “Not an..(huff)…athlete.”

“Still,” Holly replied, “You should be in better shape then AHHHHH!”

Artemis stumbled and fell to the floor. As he fell, he twisted his body, trying to save Holly from not only the impact against the floor, but the possibility of him landing on her. The end result was Artemis taking a hard impact with the floor, followed by an elf slamming against his chest.

The two lay stunned on the floor, the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps reaching their ears.

“I’m sorry Holly.” Artemis said, “Looks like I won’t be sweeping you off your feet again.”

Holly blushed slightly, then smiled.

“You’re the only one who could do that to me.” She murmured.

Artemis wrapped his arms around her as the possessed fairies ran towards them……..

…and then went completely past then further down the corridor.

The two looked off in the direction the possessed fairies had gone.

“We are here right?” Holly asked.

“Yes.” Artemis answered.

“And we were in plain view yes?”

“I believe so.”

“So how did they miss us?”

“Because I told them not to see you.” Came a voice from beside them. “Among other things…….”

Both Holly and Artemis turned just in time to see Mana appear beside them.

“You know.” Mana said with a slight smirk, “This could technically be considered ‘cradle robbing’.”

“WHAT!?” Holly shrieked. “That painting is a complete….”

“Not the painting Holly.” Artemis interrupted as he stood up and help the elf to her feet. “She’s referring to the age difference.”

Holly’s eyes widened further, she then turned and glared at the demon.

“I’m not even middle aged!” she hissed.

“And yet there is still seventy years between your ages.” Mana replied, “Not to mention a rather significant size difference.”

Holly’s eyes went wide.

She didn’t need Artemis to know what the demon meant by THAT comment.

“Instead of an anatomical discussion,” Artemis began, his face quite flush, “We should consider getting out of here.”

“Then lets go.” Holly growled, still glaring at Mana. “And don’t you think I’ll forget this conversation.”

Mana’s reply was a larger smirk.

--

Underhill sat silently in the now vacant control room, hands interlaced before his face as he stared at the snow fill main screen.

“You’ve failed.” The room echoed with the voice.

“It’s a minor delay.” Underhill replied, “One that will be rectified.”

“It had better.” The voice hissed, “Or all deals are off!”

Underhill took in a deep breath before forcefully expelling it. His fist then slammed onto his chair console.

“TRANCE!!” he roared.

“They are heading for the shuttle bay.” Came the pixie’s reply to the unasked question.

Underhill rose to his feet and left the control room. For several minutes the room remained empty.

Then there was a brief flash, and it was occupied again.

By a pixie named Trance.

She gave off a slight smirk before walking to one of the control consoles. Sitting down, she began to quickly enter commands into the system.

--

“I’d have expected to see more fairies along the way” Artemis commented as they approached the entrance to the shuttle bay.

“I told them all to leave.” Mana replied.

“But aren’t they still possessed?” Holly asked.

“Yeah.” The Demoness answered, “But since Underhill has lost control of them, and I’m not really inclined to keep them under my control, they should return to normal in a few hours.” She smirked as they entered the bay. “Boy I’d love to see his face when…..”

Lightning flashed before them, slamming into Mana and sending her hurtling into the bay wall. Artemis and Holly both turned to see a very angry Underhill.

“You’ve caused me enough problems.” Underhill hissed. He then turned to where Artemis and Holly were standing. “As have you mudman!” He waved his hand, sending lighting hurtling towards Artemis. The genius was sent flying across the bay and into the doors leading to the magma chute.

“ARTEMIS!!” Holly shouted.

“My dear Miss Short.” Underhill stated, “Why are you worried about that mudman? In the end, you are but a way for him to gain even further wealth and prestige.”

Holly looked at Underhill confused. “What?”

“You are of average intelligence, but I’m sure even you realize that he is just using you.” Underhill continued, “Just as he did when he first captured you.”

Holly stared a moment, then looked to where Artemis lay unmoving.

--

“Did you hear that?” Mulch asked as he poked his head into the cockpit of the shuttle.

Sayoko pulled her head out from underneath the flight console and sat up.

“Hear what?” she asked.

Before Mulch could reply, light from outside lit up his face. The light flickered, then vanished. Sayoko quickly stood up, slamming her head into the cockpit ceiling with a loud thud.

“OW!” Sayoko cried, grabbing her head. She growled a curse word in Norse, before hunching over and looking out the window.

Her eyes widened as she saw Underhill, sparks crackling from his right hand, glaring towards Holly.

“Shit!” Sayoko swore.

“Do something!” Mulch shouted.

“What?!” Sayoko replied, “My powers are dampened! All I can make is pretty lights!” She then spotted movement off to the side. Her eyes widened as Mana slowly rose to her feet. Mana glanced at the shuttle. Goddess and Demoness made eye contact.

“Right.” Sayoko muttered. She quickly moved to the pilots seat and began entering commands.

“What are you doing?” Mulch asked.

“Since I’ve bypassed the security,” the Goddess replied, “I’m starting this thing up.”

“But what about…..?”

“Mana will take care of him.” Sayoko cut him off. “Now get out there and get the damn doors open.”

--

“I don’t understand what you’re trying to…..”

“You were a means to secure the wealth he needed to maintain his family’s status.” Underhill explained. “Each time you have met, it was for HIS benefit, not yours.”

“The Demons’ return says otherwise.” Holly pointed out. “And we were both targeted by Koboi.”

“He gained his life.” Underhill replied, “And, if I’m not mistaken, He has also has an eye for fairy magic.”

Holly froze. No one knew about that. She and Artemis had kept silent regarding the eye switch, as well as the fact Artemis had a bit of fairy magic. The only way that Underhill could know was if he had been told by someone or…….

Holly’s eyes went wide as Underhill began to laugh.

“It’s amazing what one finds just barely under the surface!” he stated. “Do you really believe that you could ever have a place in his…”

Underhill was sent flying as a bolt of energy slammed into him.

Holly whirled around to see a very angry Mana. The Demoness’ markings were glowing, as were her now red eyes.

“You talk too much.” She hissed before charging at the recovering fairy.

--

Everything hurt.

Muscles, bones….It even hurt to think.

A part of Artemis’ head informed him that it was because of the lightning he had been hit with. The electrical charge had caused all of his muscles to contract involuntarily. Pain was to be expected.

Another part of his brain told the previous part to shut the hell up.

Then his ears began to pick up sounds, muffled heavily and quite soft at first. Then he was able to understand the words being said, even though they still sounded like they were coming through several layers of blankets.

“Mudboy! Wake up!”

“Holly?” Artemis’ own voice slurred slightly.

“Wrong fairy!” came the voice.

Artemis opened his eyes to see a dwarf face just inches away from him.

“Mulch…” Artemis groaned.

“Heya Mudboy!” Mulch replied with a smile.

“Could you back up a bit?” Artemis asked, “You have the most horrid breath……”

“Oh..” Mulch replied, backing away, “Musta been a few worms or…”

“I really don’t need to hear it.” Artemis rose to his feet. He looked back to where he had been standing previously. Flashes of light and sparks filled the air as Underhill and Mana battled back and forth.

Somewhere in the midst of that was Holly.

Artemis started towards the fight when Mulch grabbed his arm.

“Where do you think you’re going?” the Dwarf asked.

“Holly needs help.” Artemis replied.

“Holly can handle herself and you know it.” Mulch said.

“But…….” Artemis looked back to the fight.

“The Demoness won’t let anything happen to her.” The Dwarf answered, “Besides we need to…..”

Mulch was cut off as the massive door they were standing beside began to open. The door let out a low moan as it slid slowly upward. A blast of heat and the smell of sulfur hit Artemis and Mulch as the door rose.

“Well that’s a smell that’s hard to forget.” Artemis stated. He then turned to Mulch. “You do this?”

Mulch shook his head.

“The shuttle doesn’t have controls for the door.” Artemis thought out loud, “So then……who did it?”

--

Trance smiled at the TV monitor in the control room.

“Open sesame.” She whispered.

--

The air crackled between the Demoness and Underhill as energy bolts filled the air between the two. So much electricity was filling the air that Holly felt her hair beginning to stand on end as she hid behind a crate. She needed to get out from between the two.

Quickly.

A new sound soon joined the crackling of energy as the shuttle’s engines began to spool up in preparation for flight.

Holly peered from behind the crate. Underhill and the Demoness were still locked in combat, trying to overpower the other. But most of it was several feet over the floor. Not much space for a human to get under, but just enough for an elf. She waited until the energy seemed to slacken slightly, then ran for the shuttle.

--

Underhill knew it was only a matter of time before he lost.

Sure, he had the powers the Demon had given him. But he only intended to use them against the other fairies.

He never expected to be facing off against a Demon.

He needed to get out of here. Soon.

Then he saw Holly burst out from her hiding spot and start towards the shuttle.

He grinned as a way out entered his mind. He turned and reached his hand out.

--

“Get in the shuttle.” Artemis told Mulch as he saw Holly start towards them, “We leave when Holly gets here.”

Mulch nodded. Both went to get on board the shuttle when they saw Underhill hold his hand out.

Holly suddenly flew towards Underhill with a shout of surprise. Underhill immediately wrapped his arm around the elf’s throat and held her tightly to his chest, keeping her between himself and the Demoness. Almost immediately the Demoness ceased her attack.

Underhill smirked.

“Odd,” he said, “Demoness are supposed to care only for themselves. Yet…..” he glanced down at Holly. “This one seems to mean something to you.”

The Demoness’ face remained frozen. Underhill then noticed Artemis, standing just outside the shuttle door with a very concerned expression on his face. He followed the Mudman’s eye line and found it met with the Elf’s.

“Apparently she means something to others as well.” Underhill said. “Why don’t I give her back!” He turned and using his demonic powers, tossed Holly towards the open bay door and towards the magma chute beyond.

Holly screamed as she flew through the air.

“HOLLY!” Artemis shouted as he raced to stop her flight. In Artemis’ head, part of his brain had already calculated that given Holly’s currently velocity and her estimated weight, that he would be unsuccessful in his attempt.

Another part told the first part to shut up.

Then there was the part that cried out in pain as his body took yet another blow as the female elf slammed into his chest.

The two continued to hurtle past the bay doors and out into the magma chute. Artemis kept his grip on Holly, just as she kept her grip on him. Both could see the bright glow of the magma starting to rise towards them.

--

Mana was pissed.

She’d been caught of guard.

She never expected Underhill to fight dirty.

She was expecting him to act as a regular mortal. Instead, he had acted as a Demon would.

He had even run off down the corridor after tossing Holly.

At least that was what she thought from her fleeting glimpse of him. She’d turn and run after the flying Elf as fast as she could. She watched as Artemis had tried to catch Holly. He had failed to stop her, but had succeeded in slowing her flight slightly.

Slightly was all Mana needed.

Reaching out, she grabbed hold off Artemis’s belt just as the two mortals began their plunge down the chute. Her free hand was just able to grab the edge of the chute wall. She let out a cry of pain as there was a violent jerk, pulling her in two directions. Looking downward, she found a pair of frightened eyes looking back at her.

“Fowl…” Mana gasped out.

“Wh-what?” Artemis replied shakily.

“We need…to discuss…a weight-loss program for …you.”

Artemis didn’t even bother responding to that.

“Artemis.” Holly called out.

“Yeah?”

“Any ideas how we’re going to get out of this one?”

Artemis looked up at the Demoness. Her face was reflecting the pain that her body was experiencing at that moment.

“I don’t suppose you could teleport us out of here?”

“Sorry…” Mana gasped. “I …don’t think….I could do two…… extra people at the moment.” She opened her eyes. “Don’t worry…..Sayoko….has our back.”

--

“They just went over the edge!” Mulch shouted.

“I know.” Sayoko stated calmly. She grabbed the controls of the shuttle.

The shuttle lurched upward and spun about in the bay. Inside, Mulch fell backwards out of the cockpit.

--

“TRANCE” Underhill called out as he entered the control room.

The pixie turned in her seat.

“Sir?”

“Are we still online?” he asked.

“Yes sir.”

“Good.” Underhill sat down in his chair. “Set off the bombs.”

Trance blinked. “Which one?”

“All of them.” Underhill growled.

“WHAT?!”

“You heard me.” Underhill growled, rising from his chair and moving to stand beside the pixie.

“But sir!” Trance protested, “We can’t…..”

“If you won’t,” Underhill snapped, pushing the pixie aside. “I’ll do it.”

--

Mana winced as the shuttle roared just over her head, sending engine wash over her and the two below her. The wash pushed Artemis and Holly downward, causing even more strain on the demoness’ body.

The shuttle dropped down the chute and below the three. The side hatch then opened and Mulch peered out.

“You all going to just hang out there all day?”

“Not funny!” Holly snapped back.

--

Underhill smiled as he stared at the main screen before him. It was broken up with several dozen live views of various mudmen cities, all containing a bomb placed by his fairies troops……..before he lost control of them.

His hand reached out towards the control panel. With a slight sigh, his finger depress a button.

--

Artemis gently lowered Mana into one of the chair in the back of the shuttle. Holly watched for a moment, before starting towards the cockpit, intending to take over the controls when a low deep rumble reached her sensitive ears. She turned slowly and noticed that Mulch looking at her curiously.

“Do you hear that?” he asked.

Holly nodded. “Is that you?”

“No.”

“What did you hear?” Artemis asked.

“Still hearing it.” Holly answered.

Suddenly the shuttle jerked violently to the side, sending everyone in the cabin tumbling about.

“Sayoko!” Mana shouted.

“Not my fault!” Sayoko shouted from the cockpit.

“Then whose is it?!”

The shuttle jerked again.

“I’m getting weird turbulence.” Sayoko hollered.

“Turbulence in a magma chute?” Mulch asked.

Holly’s eyes suddenly went wide.

“Da’rvit!” she swore.

“What?” Mulch asked looking at her curiously.

“SAYOKO!” Holly shouted, “Get us out of here YESTERDAY!”

The sound of the engines now joined the low rumbling noise.

“I know I’ll regret asking,” Sayoko called back, “But why the sudden urgency?”

“There’s only one thing that can cause turbulence in a magma chute.” Holly replied.

“Magma.” Artemis answered.

“Bingo mud boy.”

“I knew I’d regret asking.” Sayoko muttered.