David Sterling, Dr. Fiona Hall, Dr. Edwin Zoft, Arnie, and the model 201 were sitting in Dr. Hall’s trailer at the digg site in dusty and hot Alberta.

‘Well this is cozy’ - said Dr. Hall

‘Dr. Hall, please meet Dr. Edwin Zoft’ - said David

‘Aren’t you supposed to be dead?’ - said Fiona

‘Yes, I am supposed to be dead. But I am actually alive’ - said Zoft - ‘Nice to meet you Dr. Hall’

‘Nice to meet you as well’ - said Fiona

‘Nice to meet you as well, Dr. Hall’ - said Arnie

‘Oh, and this is Arnie’ - said Zoft

‘Nice to meet you Arnie’ - said Fiona - ‘Who is the other one? The other robot? Is it sleeping?’

‘Oh, that one isn’t working. It is just the container for the brain’ - said Zoft

There was silence.

‘So David, do you want to tell us all what this is all about?’ - said Fiona

‘Yes, why not’ - said David, smiling

There was silence.

‘So, are you going to tell us?’ - said Fiona

‘Yes, yes I am. Sorry, I am just a bit emotional. We are going to finally do this’ - said David Sterling

‘Do what?’ - said Zoft

‘Well, you have both experienced my machine’ - said David

‘The time machine?’ - said Zoft

‘Yes, the time machine’ - said David

There was silence.

‘And…?’ - said Fiona

“And I would like to invite you to join me on a little adventure’ - said David, smiling again.

‘What kind of adventure?’ - said Zoft

‘The kind of adventure that no human has ever been on before’ - said David

‘So are you going to tell us David, or do we have to guess?’ - said Fiona

There was silence again.

‘We are going to the time of the dinosaurs!’ - said David, smiling again - ‘Doesn’t that sound exciting?’

There was silence again.

‘I am sorry. We are what?’ - said Zoft

‘We are going to the time of the dinosaurs!’ - said David, smiling again

‘The time of the dinosaurs?’ - said Fiona

‘Yes. On my machine. My time machine. Isn’t that exciting!’ - said David

‘And why are we going to the time of the dinosaurs?’ - said Zoft

There was silence again.

‘I think it would be fun’ - said David

‘So no other reason?’ - said Zoft

‘No’ - said David

‘And...as the man described as the cleverest man in the world, do you think that this sounds like a good idea?’ - said Zoft

‘’It sounds like fun!’ - said David

There was silence again.

‘Now, I have been described as the second cleverest man in the world, David, and as the second cleverest man in the world - I am not sure that this sounds like a good idea’ - said Zoft, looking at Fiona.

There was silence again.

‘David, have you seen the film Jurassic Park?’ - said Fiona.

‘Yes, yes I have’ - said David

‘Do you remember the character, David. The character Malcolm. The mathematician?’ - said Fiona

‘Yes. Played by Jeff Goldblum’ - said David

‘Yes. Malcolm says in the film “Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.”’ - said Fiona

‘Yes. I remember’ - said David

‘And you remember what happened in the film, David. With the dinosaurs and the people?’ - said Fiona

‘It’s just a film, Dr. Hall’ - said David

‘Humans and dinosaurs are separated by 65 million years, David. For a reason. Dinosaurs and mammals do not mix well. One of them likes to eat the other’ - said Fiona

‘I thought you would be excited about this, Dr. Hall’ - said David

‘It is exciting, David. It is very exciting. The trip to Rome was the most incredible thing I have ever experienced. And the thought of traveling back in time and seeing dinosaurs, that I have dedicated my life to understanding, fills me with excitement. But just because we can, shouldn’t we stop and think whether we should?’ - said Fiona, looking at David and then Zoft.

There was silence again.

‘It does seem a bit risky, David’ - said Zoft

‘What about this thing?’ - said David, slapping the leg of the model 201

‘What about it?’ - said Zoft

‘It looks like it might be able to provide some security for a risky mission’ - said David

‘It doesn’t have a brain at the moment’ - said Zoft

‘Put Arnie in there’ - said David

‘It would work’ - said Arnie

‘Thank you Arnie!’ - said Zoft - ‘And what?’

‘And...we jump on the time machine and head back to 67 million years ago. We see some dinosaurs, we have an experience, and then we come back. Arnie can provide mission security - any dinos come to close and he can scare them off’ - said David

‘How long would we go for?’ - said Zoft

‘We can leave here and be gone for 1 second’ - said David

‘How long there?’ - said Zoft

‘Sunrise to sunset’ - said David - ‘If we like it, we can go back’

‘Dr. Hall?’ - said Zoft

‘Jesus fucking Christ!’ - said Fiona, standing up.

There was silence again.

‘If that robot body is activated, what kind of security can it provide?’ - said Fiona

‘It is armed with a pulse cannon, min-rockets, grenades, and blades. It is pretty bad ass’ - said Zoft

‘If this ends up like fucking Jurassic Park, David. I will fucking kill you and fucking eat you myself!’ - said Fiona

‘So does that mean yes?’ - said David, smiling

‘It means maybe’ - said Zoft

‘Maybe what?’ - said David

‘We have to see how the porting of Arnie from the 101 to the 201 goes’ - said Zoft

‘I think it will go well, Dr. Zoft’ - said Arnie

‘So we take what with us?’ - said Fiona

‘Water, food, tents maybe? First aid kit. We will be there for maybe 10 hours. In and out. Arnie will have the firepower to keep us all safe, and we have an adventure. Like no other human has had before’ - said David

‘So when do we go?’ - said Fiona

‘Let’s see how we get on with Arnie’ - said Zoft

‘Let’s reconvene tomorrow’ - said David

‘So where are we staying?’ - said Zoft

‘Okay, I do not want giant robots and a famous dead guy walking about my digg site. So you and Arnie stay here with me’ - said Fiona

‘The US government are probably looking for him as well’ - said David

‘Are you sure?’ - said Zoft

‘I am 100% sure. You do not leave this trailer’ - said Fiona

‘David, you can stay in the guest trailer’ - said Fiona

‘I will bring you some food over, Dr. Zoft’ - said Fiona

‘And a couple of beers?’ - said Zoft

‘And a couple of beers’ - said Fiona

Fiona took David to the guest trailer, and then to the camp where he was immediately recognised and posed for selfies and joined the excavation crew for dinner around the campfire. Fiona told the crew that David was visiting the digg to see it for himself and was going to donate a large sum of money to keep their digg going for the next 10 years. David said, of course he was.

‘What do you think is happening?’ - said Bartos, watching the camp from a distance through an alien telescope.

‘I do not know’ - said Andros - ‘Give me the scope!’

‘I am using it’ - said Bartos.

‘Just give it to me. I will give it back. I just want to have a look’ - said Andros

‘You promise?’ - said Bartos

‘I promise’ - said Andros

‘How long?’ - said Bartos.

‘A quick glance’ - said Andros

‘And no arguing?’ - said Bartos

‘No arguing’ - said Andros

Bartos handed the scope to Andros, and Andros placed it to his eye.

‘Who are they?’ - said Bartos

‘Who?’ - said Andros

‘The people with David Sterling!’ - said Bartos

‘They look like the workers, from the digging in the dirt’ - said Andros

‘No, not those people. The other people’ - said Bartos

‘Which other people?’ - said Andros

‘The people he was in the trailer with’ - said Bartos

‘I don’t know’ - said Andros

‘Okay, give me the scope back’ - said Bartos

‘Hang on’ - said Andros

Bartos waited.

‘Okay, now give the scope back’ - said Bartos

‘One minute’ - said Andros

Bartos waited.

‘Now give it back’ - said Bartos

‘I am just looking at something’ - said Andros

‘You said no arguing!’ - said Bartos

‘I am not arguing’ - said Andros

‘You are’ - said Bartos

‘I am not’ - said Andros

‘Yes you are’ - said Bartos

‘I am not arguing’ - said Andros

‘You are arguing! You are arguing with me about not arguing’ - said Bartos

‘How can you argue about not arguing, Bartos?’ - said Andros

‘Just give it back. I want to look’ - said Bartos

‘Oh, take your stupid scope!’ - said Andros, tossing the scope to Bartos

Bartos took the scope and looked through it.

‘Do you think this will mess with the mission?’ - said Bartos

‘I don’t know’ - said Andros

The two glowing little men continued to watch the camp.