Isolation Room Control Center
Cyclops Intelligence, Hatemoor
16 February 2157
09.23 NAM
Lars and Lore had been standing since half an hour ago in front of the control room's large computer screen. Rachel's movements in the isolation room for the past six days were recorded there, and until now there had been nothing strange other than her looking bored and annoyed. Almost every day Lars even had to warn Rachel not to get angry in advance, worried that her blood pressure would rise and possibly harm her.
Most of what Rachel did during the six days in the isolation room wasn't her at all: playing computer games, meditating, and hibernating. He immediately became unemployed, although he continued to manage her business remotely for four hours a day.
Rachel also continues to get calls from many people, from her family, fellow businessmen, scientists, and politicians. Unfortunately, they contacted Rachel unknowingly, until Lars had to block anyone from contacting Rachel after four o'clock in the afternoon when Rachel was scheduled to rest.
Rachel's condition had dropped once, to be precise, on the fourth day. Her body was shaking, and her face was pale until it was a little difficult for him to walk. Lars and Lore were panicking, but Rachel told them to stay calm and let her sleep all day. Thankfully, her condition quickly improved after that. Upon investigation, they agreed to conclude that it was the body's shock response to a completely replaced nutritional supply system.
Now, Rachel is completely healthy, as evidenced by the strict medical indicators set by Lars and Lore. It was only today, when the experiment was almost over, that Lars and Lore seemed to be able to breathe a sigh of relief. In earlier days, they had laid eggs on their feet, working in great fear and worry. How come? It felt like they were risking Rachel's life in that isolation room. Not only that, but if something fatal were to happen to Rachel, they would also likely be fully responsible before the law, even though Rachel had signed a waiver stating that she was not demanding anything.
"What do you think will happen tomorrow? After Rachel comes out of the isolation room?" asked Lore to break the silence.
"What else? The journalists in front of the lab need to be attended to. If Rachel is all right, maybe she'll see them in person barefoot." Lars smirked. The image of Rachel being barefoot in the lab that night flashed through her mind again.
"Gosh," Lore sneered. "But it looks like she's going to be fine. Look at her... " Lore continued to point at Rachel on the screen, it looked like she was talking to someone who was calling her back on the hologram screen. Someone called Rachel almost every day, asking how she was, and talking about strange things that made Rachel often burst out laughing.
I don't know what kind of joke Isabela Geyer said. What was clear was that it greatly comforted Rachel during her prison time.
"Niels was very reckless by leaving the phone in his sister's hands."
"And I didn't expect his sister to be so excited and chatty, in stark contrast to his friendly but hard-smiling brother."
Lore smiled crookedly, sitting back in her chair when she felt enough to monitor Rachel's condition, "Rachel has to be prepared for Niels' attitude after this. You know how the archaeologist affects you," she said.
Lars sighed, "Yeah, and to be honest I'm kind of sorry that Rachel had to like him. The guy she's chosen isn't going to be easy."
"Then which guy would you recommend Rachel to date?"
"Who else? Of course myself," Lars answered confidently, returning to his device on the table. Hearing this, Lore smirked even more, "You guys are so weird, Lars. Why don't you ever ask him out if you want to?"
"I just think of her as a woman, not a lover or a person I love. Those are two different things," Lars replied. Two things that seem very similar to ordinary people become two very different things, even very different for Lars, the contemporary philosophy of love.
Lore shook her head lazily, "It's up to you."
"How about you?" Lars asked back.
"With me?"
Lars nodded, "Yes. What do you think of Rachel as? Is it a friend, a friend, or just a business partner?" he continued to explain.
"Why do you ask like that?"
"Because the answer will answer your question about what will happen after Rachel gets out of isolation tomorrow." Lars looked at Lore sharply, making the girl move a little on the spot, no less intensely staring at Lars.
"You have to make up your mind, Lore. If you want to leave Rachel, then leave her now so she can recognize you as her enemy later."
Lore snorted softly "I don't understand what you mean, Lars."
"Just tell me where you stand. The research is almost done, it's only a dozen hours until it claims success. We know that Rachel's public appearance tomorrow will cause a stir among politicians and businesspeople, as you know from Philips..."
Lore was silent.
"It's not impossible for Philips, which yesterday asked you to mess up this experiment, to offer you a similar job again for a bigger reward."
"You're accusing me without foundation, Lars. You think I'd do that?"
Lars shook his head, "I'm not accusing, but we have to realize and admit that we are only human beings with weak hearts who are easily tempted by money, position, and power. Both of us may become traitors someday." Lars is back to being extra rational.
Lore sighed, looking straight at Rachel on the monitor. "You should know that I love Rachel as my best friend, brother, and sister. She is also the person who has been instrumental in my life so far. So, whatever will happen in the future..."
"I have to stay by her side."