Spiro Needle

The Spiro Needle is the headquarters of the fictional business Fission Chips, owned by fictional businessman and main villian for the fourth book, Jon Spiro. It is located in downtown Chicago. In an attempt to prove how good the building's security is, Spiro tells Artemis Fowl that he has things not even the military have, and even invites him to bring in his fairy friends to help him. Unfortunately, this happens to be Spiro's downfall, as if he had not invited the fairies in, it is unlikely Artemis would have been rescued. When Artemis is first brought to the Spiro Needle a foam is used to clean his shoes so that bacteria do not damage the sensitive equipment in their labs. The vault that is holding the C-cube has a security system which consists of a key code, iris scanner, voice check, fingerprint scanner and pressure pad. There are two security guards guarding it and they breathe using oxygen cylinders so as to eliminate the need for ventilation ducts. With the help of the fairy dwarf Mulch Diggums, elf Holly Short and young human Juliet Butler are able to break into the Spiro Needle, rescue the imprisoned Artemis Fowl, retrieve the stolen C Cube, and eventually uncover Jon Spiro's treachery, leading to his arrest.