Fleur Echory Residence
District 14, Hatemoor
24 January 2157
04.30 NPM
The voices of journalists from public television stations filled Philips' office in the afternoon after returning from work. The man was fully focused, listening intently to the current situation report from the Cyclops Intelligence Main Office, which was said to have been closed since the morning following an important experiment conducted by Rachel Richmann. The follow-up news after the presentation of the company's CEO two days ago is still in the public spotlight until dozens of journalists are willing to strewn around in office grounds and laboratories for hours without getting the expected information.
The expectations of the public, politicians, media, and even rival businessmen are nothing but a live broadcast from inside the laboratory. But unfortunately, it seems that Rachel didn't really keep her promise this time; instead she completely shut down access except for a few people she wanted. Lars had appeared this morning, but he did not provide any information other than asking journalists to just wait until Rachel reappeared in public.
Oh, who likes uncertainty? They just didn't know how many days the experiment would take. Lars seemed to keep his mouth shut on Rachel's orders.
DOCK DOCK!
A knock on the door broke Philip's focus a little. It was Sabrina, Philips' only child.
"Daddy..." she called, quickly approaching Philips and sitting on his lap as usual. The five-year-old seemed to have just returned from school. "How was your school today, honey? Was it fun?"
Sabrina nodded, "Yes, Dad. I played with the new robots there as well as with my friends. They were funny," she replied, no less funny than the robot she called earlier.
"Is that so? Would Sabrina like to have robots at home too?"
"Yes, Dad. I want someone who can help me study and do my schoolwork," she answered innocently, making Philips chuckle. "Okay, I'll find it for you. Now you get some rest, it's time for dinner."
"Okay, Dad. Thank you."
"With pleasure, dear."
Sabrina then walked out, with Philips watching her smile. Ah, that kid cheers him up after work, and it doesn't get any better than that.
"Excuse me, sir," said a mansion assistant from the door that Sabrina didn't close again. "Oh, yeah? What's wrong?" Philips asked.
"A guest has come. She is looking for you, sir."
Philips glanced at his digital watch, "I don't have any appointments with anyone at times like this. Who is she?" he asked.
"Her name is Lore, sir. Lore... Hasenclever."
"Ah..." Philips nodded, and his mind began to wonder why the Cyclops Intelligence scientist was here instead of in the lab with Rachel or Lars. Is the experiment over?
"Tell her to wait another ten minutes," Philips ordered later.
"All right, sir. I'll pass it on."
****
Philips seemed to like small talk, throwing simple, almost trivial questions at Lore, the most serious person sitting across from him. On purpose, Philips was gathering some assumptions in his head before attacking Lore further. The girl didn't show a lot of rebuttal gestures, just following the flow of conversation from Philips, even though she was the one who had an interest because she came without an appointment, let alone being invited.
"So, Lore. Why aren't you in the lab with Rachel Richmann? Is the experiment over and you want to report something to me?" Philips started their serious conversation.
"No sir, I haven't been able to enter the lab since yesterday because Rachel forbade me. She revoked all my access, either physically or digitally. I don't know why."
Philips frowned, "Did you two fight?"
"Jesus. What are we fighting for?"
"You don't like her, Lore? You've been wearing your cute mask in front of her for a long time. Maybe Rachel already knows your true nature," Philips quipped. The man who is not known for sure where his side is making Lore disturbed, he is too aware of the secrets of many people, even the most secret, and seems trivial as he just said.
"Rachel wouldn't have known. She trusted me so much." Lore said confidently, or rather, saved her pride. "She's a very direct person. If she doesn't like someone, then that person should disappear from her sight."
Philips smirked, "A businessman doesn't think that simple, Lore. If you're still useful to her, you'll be kept. You may know Rachel very well as a scientist, but I see her from another perspective."
"You act like you know Rachel best, but you don't know that the one who influenced her to close access to the laboratory for me and everyone but Lars was your own man, Mr. Prime Minister."
"My man? Who do you mean?"
"Niels Geyer."
Philips frowned again, "Niels Geyer? Who is he to influence Rachel? They're even two completely different people, opposites, and Niels doesn't even agree with Rachel's experiments."
"I also don't understand exactly how Niels influenced Rachel after she sent a very long e-mail criticizing the experiment. But you should be careful, sir. Rachel is unpredictable, and Niels, he's mysterious."
Philips sighed, "In any case, the experiment must not be successful. It would be dangerous."
"Then what are your plans?"
Philips looked thoughtful, holding his chin in the typical politician-thinking gesture, "Let's wait until the experiment is done."
"As long as she doesn't promote her inventions, get the public to trust her even more, let alone get big investors to fund mass production, it won't be a big problem for me, even if the experimental results work for her."
"Wow..." Lore smiled crookedly, "You are very cunning, sir. Are you going to make propaganda again?"
"I'm not the one making the propaganda, it's Rachel Richmann herself. I'm preventing the propaganda from having an undue impact. All of that matters, Lore. No one party has complete control over the political and business systems in this country, including Rachel." Philips spoke emphatically.
"Yeah, fine then. That means you don't need me anymore, doesn't it?"
"Not really."
"Then what?"
"If Rachel persists in resisting my pressure, then there's no other way than what I originally planned with you, Lore. Stay prepared."