Chapter 103 - Dr. Laurell

Grant was the one who went back to work. I just tried my best to follow Olga's note. By the looks of it, she has spent all night here. It was scary how much she actually did on the water system. There were rough sketches with footnotes. The first brainstorming we did was cleanly typed and neatly bundled. I just stared in fascination.

"She is amazing," I admitted. Grant paused and smiled at me.

"I'm looking forward to learning from her. Here," he handed me calculations Olga started. "Could you verify those?" I went to work without hesitation. I was happy to be helpful, I hate mopping around looking dumb. At least, those weren't that hard. Grant watched with a smile then he turned back to his own work. I was so engrossed in the different variables that I didn't notice our two colleagues were gone for almost one hour. When I heard the sound of the door only did I saw the time on my bracelet.

There were three people at the door, our good doctor, a frowning Olga, and a newcomer. The man was wearing a white suit with a gray shirt underneath with a silver skinny tie. He had a very pleasant face for his age, which I couldn't pinpoint. Maybe around 50 or 60. He had joyful green eyes, white hair cut short and styled to look like a politician. The way he stood said he was used to cameras.

"Hello," he said in a deep melodious tone. There was an accent to it but I wasn't sure. We both got to our feet. Grant gave him a slight nod. "So, he is your masterpiece," he opened his arms towards Grant to greet him. The man patted Grant over the shoulders. "Quite a beauty," he turned to Dr. Churchhill.

"And you are?" asked Grant with his neutral smile. The man chuckled and retrieved his hands.

"I am the master of this circle, right Atlas?" he peered up at the ceiling.

"Exactly, Dr. Laurell, you are," answered the AI. The man grinned at his response.

"Well, I could be on my way, I'll see you all in the auditorium. I have a show to run," he laughed and slammed Grant's arm hard. He turned back to Dr. Churchhill with glimmering eyes. They both gave a little nod and off he went through the gates without acknowledging my presence as if I was air. Silence filled the room when he left. A thick moist tension even the blasting AC couldn't quite cool the atmosphere.

"Are you ready kids?" the doctor said slapping his hands together. I flinched at the sound. "We don't want to be late too," he smiled. My eyes darted from the man to Grant standing beside me. Olga crossed the room, making her high hell clicked as she sunk into her chair in front of the screen. She scrolled through the work we've been doing then smiled.

"Olga?" called the old man.

"I'm not coming," she said in a cold voice. "Unlike you, I have work to do. You go enjoy the show with Liliane and Grant," she didn't take her eyes off the data cascading at a stunning speed. I felt bad leaving her to pick up where we left. I wasn't that interested in whatever was the white tower.

"Mm, I'll come back right away," I promised as the doctor moved to the door. Olga looked up at me.

"Were you the one doing the verifications?" I swallowed, Did I make a mistake. I was sure I used the right equations.

"Mm, yeah," I answered in a weak voice. One side of her lips curled up... a little like how Demos smile. I blinked at her a little shocked.

"You better hurry back. I have tones of calculations waiting," she turned back to her monitor, that smile no leaving her lips. I took a step forward then turned to look back at her. But Olga was busy hammering her fingers on the keyboard. Did it mean I was doing a good job?

"Liliane, are you coming?" called Grant from the door. I gave him a puzzled look, unsure if I should move or not. Grant grinned at my hesitation.

"Come here," he grabbed me by the arm and guided me to the corridor. "Olga is not the most demonstrative artificial. Actually, I don't know if I can classify her as one. She doesn't have a model number like me. I'm a Helios. She's ...unknown," whispered Grant as we head to the elevator. The doctor was already by the door waiting for us. When we go in I couldn't help asking.

"What is Olga?" the smile on the old man dropped. He turned his back at us and I immediately regretted asking. Then he swirled away with a smirk. His eyes lit up.

"Olga is the blue fairy, the one who grants all your wishes," we both frowned at him. He stayed like this with the creepy smile on as if smiling to his own personal joke. I stood as far away as the cabin allowed me. Back glued to the cold steel wall. I don't know what was wrong with this man. But something was definitely wrong. Crazy wrong and coming from someone who's suffered from mental instability it said a lot.

The door opened on a vast area crowded with people dressed up for the occasion. We followed the stream of attendees to whatever the show was about to unveil. They led us to arched doors that opened in a dark room, something like a theater, the old style ones. The ones you only see in movies with red velvet foldable chairs. Grant grabbed my hand as we made out way downstairs. There was tiny light at the foot of each chair guiding us down. The front rows were already full, the middle has some free seats. a low murmur filled the large room. I looked up and found more balconies on both sides. The room was made in a croissant shape with the stage as its middle.

"Here," whispered Dr. Churchhill. Somehow, everyone was chatting in low voices. It might be the size of the room or the darkness that caused people to whisper instead of using their full voice. The doctor fought his way to the middle of the row, he pulled the cushion and sat without tearing his eyes from the stage. Grant sat next to him and I did the same. I was happy to be away from the crazy doctor. Grant leaned towards me with a smile.

"This feels like a date," he murmured. How can he think about such things right now? He held my hand and run his finger over my ring. I pulled closer to him. Our gaze fell on the brightly lit stage. In the middle stood only one man. The master of the circus. Dr. Laurell.

"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen to the greatest wonders ever created," he smiled to the audience. The lights made his white suit glow in this gloom. People hurried to their seats and minutes later the room was silent. He had captured their attention. Let the show begin.