Altius Memorial Hospital
Mazsea, Hatemoor
February 23, 2157
02.55 NPM
Rachel stood pensive next to the gurney where Niels lay unconscious. His eyes stared at Niels questioningly, suspecting that the man had not just fainted from his tired physique as the specialist who treated him had said. Indeed the doctor said Niels needed to undergo further examination, and Rachel as Niels's trustee had agreed. However, still, Rachel couldn't stop worrying, even though she had provided the best medical facilities for free for Niels.
People would probably overestimate it by paying for hospital and VVIP+ class treatment just for someone who passed out from exhaustion. But Rachel didn't think that Niels' fainting was due to something trivial. There must be something, she thought critically.
Rachel sighed, then pull up Niels' blanket to make sure he wouldn't catch a cold. "I'll go first, Niels. Isabela will come," she whispered. "Wake up soon, and I'll visit you soon after," she continued.
Oh, Rachel is really dramatic.
Just as she was about to step out, a girl was seen running, opening the door to Niels' room in a hurry.
Ah, there she is, Isabela.
"Rachel!"
Rachel gasped in surprise. Isabela hugged her suddenly, making Rachel a little uncomfortable because she wasn't used to such intense physical contact.
"Thank you for taking care of him. If he had fainted somewhere else, it would have been risky." Isabela said. She turned to her brother.
"What exactly happened? Does he often faint suddenly like this?" Rachel asked, but Isabela didn't answer right away, didn't even look at Rachel.
"Isabella?"
"Ah, not often, but indeed, he does go so far at work that he forgets about his health. That's why he fainted."
Rachel nodded even though she was suspicious of Isabela's gesture of panicking, covering up a lie. "I have to go now. Let me know when he's well."
"All right. Thanks again, Rachel. I'll get back to you later."
"Yes. Take good care of your brother, and just call me if you need anything."
****
Cyclops Intelligence Headquarters
Mazsea, Hatemoor
February 24, 2157
08.30 NAM
Rachel seemed to have a lot of patience, as her mood had to be spoiled this early by Philips' arrival without confirmation into her office. Rachel even had to change her destination from going to the laboratory to doing some important things. You know, Rachel doesn't like someone messing with her schedule, no matter how important that person is, even if it's a prime minister like Philip.
Rachel opened the meeting room door lazily, then she was surprised to find a small child on Philip's lap, playing with a small robot filling pens on a glass table.
"Good morning, Rachel. Sorry, I came without telling you," Philip said with a friendly smile.
Rachel nodded, put her bag on the table, and sat on her chair. "I actually had other plans this morning. But since you've come all the way, it's better if I see you in person instead of having Lars represent me."
"Thank you, I do have a direct interest in you. Lars probably won't even understand what I'm about to say."
"Yes. So what's the matter? And if I may ask, who is she?" Rachel pointed to the child who was with Philip. His behavior attracted attention, even though Rachel didn't particularly like children.
"Ah, introduce yourself to Aunt Rachel, Dear," Philip asked. The girl looked at Rachel with clear, questioning eyes before finally getting to know each other. "I'm Sabrina, Auntie..."
Rachel smiled wryly. "Beautiful name. Go on. What is it, sir?" she continued, no need to talk too long.
"There's really nothing too serious about it."
"Then why did you come here if nothing was too serious? Don't waste time," she insisted.
"If I speak seriously this time, it won't be easy for you. I already know how the final outcome of the forum you attended yesterday was. ICNG-257... was rejected a lot, right?"
"Many who refuse are not important people. I still won the forum vote 52-48. That number is certainly sensitive for a general election, isn't it?" Rachel quipped.
"Yeah, that was a huge difference. Therefore, I won't go into it now. You had enough trouble with Niels yesterday."
"Says who? It's easy to deal with."
"You don't know what he's thinking. You don't know whether he's among the 52 voices in favor of your experiment either, do you?" Philip started to play with it, and it succeeded in making Rachel lower her arrogant expression. "He's not supporting you, Rachel. He's only hosting forum votes professionally, so he visited your company after the meeting was over."
Rachel was silent, her feelings starting to stir. She had never thought of going there before, just kept feeling that she had won both the forum votes and Niels. But in fact, the man was not on his side.
"I think you have a special sentiment for him if you keep quiet like this, Rachel."
Rachel gasped. "Special sentiment? I don't think so. No matter how he responds to me, I will just follow my previous experimental procedures to MEDC."
"They're not easy either."
"You don't even understand what I'm doing."
"Yeah, I don't know the science from your experiments, but don't forget that I can do much more than a company operating license."
Rachel smiled lopsidedly. "What are you really trying to say? Obviously, you're threatening me by saying that."
"Not really. I want to offer you a solution so that you are protected politically."
"I'm not interested or need it. Just mind our own work. Because for me, winning the sympathy of the common people is more important than winning the sympathy of the political elite like you."
"You populists can't walk alone without the elitists. On the other hand, we can't achieve anything without populists. So we should work together."
"Give me a more logical and rational consideration of cooperation. Your way of being like this really isn't my style, Philip," Rachel insisted. "Just tell me how much profit you want, the growth and valuation of the company you expect if the government acquires CI."
Philip was silent for a moment. What Rachel said was true, even though he felt he was losing his self-respect.
"I know money is the driving force behind all the impetus for you. So let's just say, asked your people in the federation to come up with a business cooperation proposal instead of you lobbying what else threatening me like this."
"Use useful means with your common sense, Philip."