Artemis Fowl: A Call for Help

Chapter 23

Lower Elements
Once again, Artemis saves us all, Holly thought.
Holly had been given the day off, due to the recent events. She had already sat in her room for ten minutes, which felt like an eternity to Holly. I have to go do something, Holly thought.
Holly decided to take a walk around Haven. She strolled past several restaurants, none of which appealed to her. Holly was vegetarian. All of the restaurants were largely focused on meat. So of course, they would not do.
Holly walked further, wishing that it was real sun shining down instead of the artificial sun strips. The sun strips were better than what they had had before, but they still weren't remotely close to the actual sun. Yet another thing the mud men have taken from us, Holly thought resentfully.
Holly settled for a meal at a small diner. It was a shabby little place. There was only about five tables, and only one was occupied. Apparently not a popular lunch spot, Holly noted. The food wasn't great, but there was no point in wasting it. Besides, food is food. Now I understand why there was no one in there, Holly thought as she left.
Lunch had only taken fifteen minutes. Now what am I supposed to do? Why did they have to make me take the day off? It is completely unnecessary, Holly thought. Whatever.
The ideal thing to do would be going above ground to see Artemis. According to Root, she had "been involved in enough surface problems already". Holly decided on going back to Police Plaza to train. Well, to be more precise, to shoot.
Holly aimed her Neutrino at a goblin shaped target, shooting twice. She hit it both times, of course. Hitting target after target, Holly began to relax.
"Holly! Uh... Captain Short. " Root said. "What are you doing? I gave you the day off."
Holly spun around to face Root, slightly startled. "I'm just practicing my shooting. And to be honest, I wish I didn't have the day off."
"You are one crazy officer, Holly. I don't have many like you, but I wish I did. Everyone else would be at a spa in Central Haven right now."
Holly smiled. "I'm not quite what you would call normal."
"That's one way to put it." Root scoffed.
Holly rolled her eyes. "Why are you here?"
"Same reason as you. To shoot stuff." Root replied.
"Good. If we had another emergency, I might just drop dead." Holly said, voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Ha ha ha. That's why I gave you the day off." Root said testily. "Get it now?" Patronizing.
"Yeah." Holly grumbled. "I got it."
"Good. Oh, and by the way, you should always shoot a goblin's head first." Root said, walking away.
I knew that. I was aiming for different spots for a reason, Holly thought. Mr. Know It All.