When There Is Nothing Left But Love

The employees were busy setting everything up. Rachel was at the base directing and making arrangements. At the sight of me, she merely glared distastefully but did not say anything disparaging.

I was not very familiar with the technology, so the best I could do was to handle the miscellaneous items on the side. The damage done to the base was repaired with such skill that I could not tell the difference.

With Armond and Rachel delegating, I watched in amazement as the employees ferried over and set up all sorts of sophisticated machinery.

Two of them brought a sort of excavation machine in. It wasn’t large, but it was fully automated. They left the machine and departed.

I was curious and couldn’t help myself from getting a closer look. It wasn’t turned on, so it just looked like a pile of scrap metal.

I couldn’t understand why children were so fascinated with these things.

“These are used to assist in the development phase,” came Joseph’s voice from behind.

I was nonplussed. “Assist the development?”

Joseph nodded. “There aren’t many laborers here in Lavelian Village. The robots basically handle all of the follow-up work.”

“Were the stolen goods similar to this?”

“Yes, they were,” said Joseph. “That was why the projects had to be postponed. However, it was a good thing that we have backups on hand. The commencement of the project wasn’t a problem. Our worry is that if the technology is leaked, it would be a hassle to haggle and fight for copyright.”

suddenly from behind. Instinctively, I

the machine behind me, but I lost my footing and gave it a shove

backward, smashing into everything in its path. It had

its progress was halted by the wall and the damage

held me steadily. “Are

head and looked behind me at the damaged

“It…”

wrong whenever you show up.” Rachel strode over and

you know. Don’t you

do it on purpose. “I am sorry,” I hung my head and apologized. “It was not done on purpose. I would be happy to bear the cost of the

scathingly. “How nice it must be to spend your man’s money like

felt the need to interject. “Ms. Zimmer, I think you should concern yourself

decided not to pursue it as she caught sight of the

extent of the damage in great volume and

that she directed the sarcastic comments to me on

the machine caught my interest. It had scraped off some of the white paint and revealed bare rock

me examining the wall. “It’s crowded and chaotic here. Let’s head into the

base? Murphy

said, puzzled. “Murphy Corporation built this entire enterprise. Why