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.”

through!” a voice came suddenly from behind. Instinctively, I stepped back to

but

to life and raced backward, smashing into everything in its path. It had happened so suddenly

by the wall and the damage was not as bad as it could

held me steadily. “Are

looked behind me

“It…”

wrong whenever you show up.” Rachel strode over and signaled

how expensive these things are?” she chastised. “It’s difficult to fix them, you know. Don’t

did not do it on purpose. “I am sorry,” I hung my head and apologized. “It was not done on purpose. I

not even your money, to begin with,” she said scathingly. “How nice it must be to spend your man’s money like

“Ms. Zimmer, I think you should concern yourself with the repair

decided not to pursue it

extent of

was aware that she directed the sarcastic comments to

interest. It had scraped off some of the white

Fuller,” Joseph said when he caught me examining the wall. “It’s

it that built this base? Murphy Corporation or Fuller Corporation?” I asked

of course,” Joseph said, puzzled. “Murphy Corporation built