“Didn’t you see one when you bought a ticket in the building?” asked Bazin. “There must be a crew room where the time machine and the crew who operates it are.”

Geoffry wouldn’t give in to an argument. “But at least, we can feel the weather at that time, or a breeze, not just images, and sounds!”

“But it’s different!” Austin interrupted. “In augmented reality time travel, we dive into that world, not just that ancient IMAX show with rocking chairs and stuff like that.”

“That’s what it is, Geoff,” Eleonore added. “What do you expect? Blood splattering on your face?”

Then Eleonore turned to Amanda. “Manda, why so silent? Give Geoff a protest or something! ‘Twas your grandpa who invented this ChronoTour virtual time machine, wasn’t it?”

“Just let him be,” Amanda retorted. “You know, I am disappointed myself. Geoff’s right. This virtual time travel machine, ChronoTour doesn’t bring us into the time and space we want.”

“But didn’t you say your grandpa invented the time machine for that purpose, not bringing time and space to us like a virtual reality-added IMAX?”

“Je sais pas[11], El,” answered Amanda. “On the next summer vacation, I’ll go home to Indonesia and find out why.”

“By the way, I’m sorry I can’t come with you to try that original kind of time machine,” Eleonore said regretfully.

“That’s too bad. I wanted you to come with me there.”

“Non[12], I have plans with my boyfriend. Anyway, you’ll be with your boyfriend, Herman, right?”

“That’s true. During this vacation, Herman will come with me to Jakarta. But I shall go home first because he must finish his thesis in Germany.”

The two girls were chatting, Victor Bazin suggested something to Geoffry.

“Geoff, you must try another event,” said Bazin. “For example, you can go to the nineteenth century, during the Napoleonic War.”

Bazin pointed at the Arc de Triomphe monument at the end of the avenue. It was built by Napoleon Bonaparte’s order in 1806 to celebrate his victory in the Battle of Austerlitz. Now it became a landmark of Paris, along with the Eiffel Tower.

“You will see the difference between real battles and the Hollywood souped-up ones.”

And then Bazin concluded the interview with them as he got an instruction from the Program Director to switch to the other reporter in Phoenix, USA.

At the same time, through the OLED monitor, the viewers could also see the time travel towns being held altogether in several countries in the world.

What attracted the viewers the most was the time travel tour in Phoenix, USA, which was the birthplace of the virtual time travel machine invention.

A female reporter was seen waiting patiently.

Bazin waited for the instruction from the station that directed the show to synchronize the displays, so the viewers could follow his teleconference with the reporter in Phoenix, thousands of miles away.

Finally, Bazin heard a voice from the central station that the connection was successful. "Bonjour, Michele Wicaksono. Tu vas bien[13]?’’ Bazin greeted his fellow reporter in Phoenix. “You look marvelous today.”

Michele blushed at Bazin’s compliment. “Hello, Bazin. I’m very well here. I see it’s so festive in Paris.” Michele greeted back, cleverly diverting the attention of the flirty French reporter from herself to his background.

“Michele, I heard now you are interviewing the CEO of Tunnel Educations, Inc.? Go ahead, I hand the spotlight over to you. We in France also want to see and hear what you will convey from Phoenix, USA.”

“That’s right, Bazin,” greeted Michele. “Right now, we in Phoenix present a short interview broadcast with Richard Wearnstein, who will deliver a speech at the launching of the new ChronoTours time travel ride in Phoenix.”

The image was zoomed on the gorgeous reporter Michele Wicaksono from TVMaker who had the opportunity to interview Mr. Wearnstein exclusively.

“After staging big promotional campaigns in several big cities in the world, finally the grand launching of the ChronoTours time travel ride in Phoenix, Arizona will take place this summer, marking a new historical milestone for Tunnel Educations Inc. and the world,” said Michele as an opening statement.

And then the camera tilted towards Mr. Wearnstein as the number one man in Tunnel Educations Inc.

“Tunnel Educations has appointed Phoenix City as the gate of the world. In this city, Tunnel has sold out all the tickets issued during the opening gala last night. With me is Richard Wearnstein, who as CEO of Tunnel has appeared personally on-site with his charisma as an entertainer.

Mr. Wearnstein, with this promotional campaign, the nights in Phoenix become alive as though the city never sleeps. Even last night Tunnel had to sort out and prioritize among a long queue of ticket holders. How did you feel?” asked the reporter earnestly to the middle-aged, yet a charismatic man in front of her, perhaps more charming than Bazin altogether.

“Well, ecstatic, very ecstatic,” Wearnstein replied. “This morning on the second day, visitors were crammed together at the entrance of the well-arrayed building. Inside, Tunnel has placed world-class popular artists to entertain the visitors with songs, music or other attractions.”

“Tunnel Educations also sells time-traveling merchandise that sells like popcorns. All items were sold out fast and no exceptions,” he added proudly.

“Mr. Wearnstein, let me ask you about a serious matter,” said Michele.

The CEO nodded, ready for the next question.

“How’s the prospect of Time Travel in the future? It has been a euphoria for weeks, but can you guarantee that people won’t get bored with this kind of vacation that is hard to differ with illusion?”

Wearnstein’s shoulders shook on that question. And then he answered confidently, “The FBI has been collaborating with us, using a time travel machine to solve criminal cases. We have even been successful in solving previously unsolved murder cases. Now our time travel machine can be used as a proofing method by FBI, pending the Act from the USA Congress.”

“Oh?” Michele was shocked to hear this. And then, she continued with another question. “There has been a rumor, that this time travel machine will be used to discover whether Jesus was crucified or not. How’s your opinion?”

“Well, we got to admit, with a time machine around, every great mystery in this world can be unveiled to get the truest truth. But we need a lawsuit for every sensitive request like this. And until now, this kind of request is still controversial. That’s why we don’t want anybody to sue us if there is no lawsuit to back us up.”

To save the Tunnel CEO, this increasingly very busy man’s time, and to make this interview more efficient, Michele hastily asked another question.

“Will the time travel ride that is launched in Jakarta at the same time as in Phoenix will be as successful as in America and Europe?” asked Michele.

“Absolutely!” said Mr. Wearnstein, still confidently. “Just like in other countries, Indonesia is considered a country rich in legends, culture, and history, and Jakarta is no backwater, a prestigious big city of the world like the others.”

Just then, two cameras were focused on Michele, with an Indonesian family name because of Richard’s courteous words.

“The problem is,” Michele continued, “the history of America is globally well known and always fascinating. There are wars between Indians and cowboys or the Federal Army. In Europe we can dive into Medieval times, watching the prowess of the Viking sailors, the voyage of Columbus, and many more. Or in Egypt, we can witness the greatness in the time of the Pharaohs. How about Indonesia? Do you want to show the world how colonization has begun? Or perhaps the Golden Age of the Majapahitan Era?”

This time Wearnstein smiled amusingly at Michele’s statement. “Well, Indonesia has a long history that is as great as Europe’s or other nations in the world,” he clarified. “One of the most sought out mysteries in the world, also a proof of Professor Arysio Nunes dos Santos, Ph.D.’s research is that Indonesia was the site of the Lost Continent of Atlantis.” 

“R-really?” exclaimed Michele.

Before she could ask again, the CEO added, “But better don’t ask about it yet. It’s still a trade secret now. The Indonesia ChronoTours grand opening will be held at the same time as here and all media are invited.”

Michele fell silent, restraining herself to ask about it further to appreciate Mr. Wearnstein’s goodwill.

“The point of all time travel tours is the nostalgic values. You’ll see, even international universities make these tours study materials for references and research,” he said, making his point. “You see in Paris, for instance, the French Revolution is the proof that time travel can be useful for academic research.”

Michele Wicaksono nodded, confirming the truth in this youthful middle-aged man’s statement.

“All right! Thank you for your time, Mr. Wearnstein.” Michele closed the interview by extending a hand. “Good luck in your future endeavors!”

Wearnstein shook Michele’s hand, saying, “You’re welcome.” He then walked backward, turned around, and went away to blend in with the visitors and greet them in a friendly way. 

“That’s it, viewers at home. That was a little ‘sneak preview’ from Richard Wearnstein, the CEO of Tunnel Educations. Now let’s go to Jakarta, a twelve-hour flight away from here,” invited Michele. “Our correspondent reporter, Sonia, will report on the hype in Jakarta on the eve of the time travel launch.”

For a while, Michele waited for the contact from the central studio in New York to join Sonia in Jakarta. Not long afterward, the connection with Sonia was established.

“Hello, Michele and the viewers worldwide, how are you?” Sonia’s greeting ringed clear in Michele’s earphones. The camera still displayed Michele’s image.

“Sonia!” Michelle replied as excitedly as her colleague did. “You sure look excited. How can you describe the hype in Jakarta, now at night time?”

“Yup, Michele. As you can see on my back, as well as the viewers, live. It’s so hyped up here!” Sonia shouted, trying to make her voice heard through the noise and commotion in the building.

“Sonia, I hand the live broadcast to you so we can feel the hype more,” said Michele.

The monitor now displayed the full image of Sonia in Jakarta.

While Sonia continued to deliver her live report, in her background there was a group coming out of the theater building with cheerful faces.

At another end of the corridor, a small family was looking at the panel above while holding their online tickets on their cellphones. They were already sure their number was up next, according to the QR code on their tickets.

Still, on her live report, Sonia recognized a man among that particular family and excitedly rushed towards him, not forgetting to give a signal for the cameraman to follow her.

“I see Professor Marwan Batubara!” Sonia reported, intercepting Marwan politely. “What a surprise, Professor to find you here. May I ask for your story and opinion with the viewers at home worldwide about the time travel ride?”  

It seemed Marwan didn’t mind being bothered with Sonia, whom he knew. Most likely, he used to be Sonia’s resource person. But at the same time, Marwan got a notification from his smartphone that his family’s turn was up.

“Sorry, Sonia,” said Marwan with regret, “it’s our turn now.”

Sonia realized that her timing wasn’t right, but she didn’t give up and insisted on asking for Marwan’s time.

“If you don’t mind, I’ll wait here.”

Marwan only shrugged. It was obvious, that he wouldn’t miss out on a chance to go out with his wife and his two teenage daughters, and booked three months in advance for this time travel ride, ChronoTours.

They have chosen the Economy Class, which was a time journey back to thirty years ago when Marwan was twelve years old. It was the first time he met his best friend, who later became his girlfriend and now his wife. He once said to his wife and daughters, that he wanted to come here for that romantic nostalgia, remembering one of the best events in his life. He said to Sonia that he wanted to share a very precious moment of his life with his family, and it would take half an hour to do so, following the time limit of the ChronoTours ride.

Finally, Marwan walked away from Sonia, who said again that she would wait until he was back, and the scientist only waved without looking back.    

One might wonder, why Sonia was so determined to wait for Marwan Batubara? Besides knowing Marwan well, she must thank Marwan and regarded him highly, because, since her last interview with this Quantum Physics Professor, her talk show ratings sky-rocketed and her career as a journalist soared even higher.

And so, Sonia said to herself, thinking, “I must interview you no matter what, Professor. Your opinion counts because I think ChronoTours is, by itself, a great, big mystery.” 

French Language Glossary:

[1&7] Hail France!

[2] Move on forward!

[3] Hail the black bow! (the sign of resistance worn by soldiers)

[4] To Versailles! Let’s bring back the King!

[5] We lent it to you, don’t do it.

[6] Hail Necker!

[6] Hail the nation!

[8] A half-woman, half-bird creature from Greek Mythology, looks starving and has long vicious sharp claws. 

[9] Terrifying!

[10] I think it will be a massacre!

[11] I don’t know.

[12] No.

[13] How are you?