“Jim, thank you for volunteering. Welcome to Intelligo Time Travel, Research Division.”

“Hell yeah! Where’s the dinosaurs at?” Jim grins broadly.

The researcher’s smile is faint. “You’re not one for small print, are you Jim?”

Jim’s grin starts to fade. “Uhhhh...” 1/

“You see, Jim, at Intelligo we bring the time travel to you. Each room in this wing of the facility has a special time-traveling guest, selected just for you.”

Jim looks skeptical. “That sounds... less cool.”

The researcher’s smile is cold. “Oh, it’s cool. First room.” 2/

The heavy metal doors in front of the two of them slowly slide apart with a mechanical hiss. A creeping fog of wispy smoke rolls along the ground.

A man sits alone in the room.

He smiles up at Jim and the researcher, and nods a greeting as they enter the room. 3/

The researcher speaks. “Jim, this is Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis. He comes to us from Europe in the 1800s. We discussed your views with him, about not believing in... hygiene, shall we say.”

Jim’s smile has vanished.

Dr. Semmelweis gestures to an empty chair, “Have a seat, Jim.” 4/

As Jim sits down, he sizes up this Ignaz guy. The man is wearing old-fashioned clothes. He is balding, with an intense gaze, and a bushy mustache.

The doctor speaks, “Jim, I dedicated my life to reducing infections through hand-washing. The theory-“ 5/

Jim interrupts. “Yeah, I know, whatever.”

Dr. Semmelweis’ eyebrows rise. “Do you doubt the concept? Do you doubt me?”

“Neither,” says Jim. “I’m just free to do what I want in this country.”

The doctor smiles sadly. “Ah, I see. I’m familiar with your freedom.” 6/

Dr. Semmelweis falls silent for a moment, as does Jim. The researcher stands in the background, unobtrusive.

Finally the doctor speaks, “Jim, I cannot change your mind, but know what I saw. Know what I lived. Don’t make the mistakes that we did. Let that be your freedom.” 7/

“Thank you Dr. Semmelweis.” The researcher speaks up, startling the other two. “Our time is drawing to a close. You must return to your timeline. Know that we remember you, centuries later, and respect you. And we follow what you taught.”

The doctor smiles warmly. 8/

The researcher leads Jim out of the room and the doors close with a hiss behind them.

“What the hell was that all about? Dress some actor up and try to shame me?” Jim is red-faced, furious.

The researcher’s lips are pressed together in a thin line. “Next room.” 9/

They walk to another room, where the doors open with a hiss.

Inside is a man dressed in even more ancient garb, seated. He seems distinguished, with long locks of grey hair.

The researcher speaks, “Jim, this is Aristotle. He comes to us from the ancient world. Greece.” 10/

Aristotle looks up at Jim, and smiles, gesturing to the empty chair across from him. His speaks Greek that a device translates in real-time.

“Hello Jim. I am honored to meet a man from the future.”

Jim nods, unsure of what new trick is being played.

He sits down. 11/

The researcher explains. “You see Jim, we explained to Aristotle your views on the Earth being flat. He wanted to have a word.”

Aristotle’s eyes are wide. “Jim, surely you can’t believe in a flat Earth! My master, Plato, knew it to be round. Even Parmenides did.” 12/

Jim is more confident here. “You’re wrong. It’s all a conspiracy. That science is fake. They just want you to-“

Aristotle interrupts, his eyes suddenly flashing with rage. “The science is FAKE? The science is SIMPLE! A child could see the proofs. Do you not observe?” 13/

“Now wait a minute-“ Jim tries to placate the suddenly enraged ancient Greek, but Aristotle is having none of it.

“The world is flat?! How do you explain the truths that were so clear to Pythagoras? You live thousands of years in the future, yet you have learned NOTHING!” 14/

The researcher steps in. “My apologies, great Teacher. His beliefs are shaping his truths.”

Aristotle falls silent, before finally speaking. “Not every answer is correct, or even knowable. But believe in a process of rigor, of examination, and truth. Believe in science.” 15/

As the researcher leads Jim out of room, the heavy doors close with a hiss behind them.

The two of them stand in the hallway, silent.

Finally Jim breaks the silence. “I don’t want to do this anymore. This isn’t what I signed up for.”

The researcher nods, “One room left.” 16/

Jim is angry now. “Didn’t you hear me? I’m done! Who do you have in this last room? Someone to make fun of my smoking? Someone to tell me guns are dangerous from the 1700s or some crap?”

The researcher smiles sadly. “No... we went to the future for this room.” 17/

The doors to the last room open with a hiss. Inside is a group of people, dressed in modern clothes. Different people, different ages, races, genders.

They all look at Jim as he walks in.

Jim feels nervous. A thin bead of sweat trickles down his brow.

Who are they? 18/

The researcher’s voice is quiet. “Jim, this last room is a group of people you don’t know, but whose lives you will change forever.”

Jim looks at them, and each person meets his gaze.

She continues, “These are all the people you will infect with COVID-19.” 19/

No one speaks, everyone is looking at Jim. He stands motionless, as if transfixed. “N-n-no way...” He finally stammers. “I-I-I’m not sick.”

The researcher nods, “You will be what we call an asymptomatic spreader. The virus, plus no hand-washing, or mask-wearing.” 20/

One by one, each person starts to speak to Jim.

They tell him their names. Where they’re from. Their loves, and hopes, and dreams.

The researcher is silent, letting them speak, before she does. “Jim, all of these people will get sick. Some will die.”

Jim looks ashen. 21/

The researcher looks to Jim, the look in her eyes turning cold.

“I want you to choose two of them, Jim. Two of them won’t make it. You choose which two. Look them in the eyes, and tell them why you won’t wear a mask, or wash your hands.”

Jim shakes his head, “No...” 22/

The people look to Jim. He expects to see anger in their eyes, but they only look sad.

To find your undoing in the actions of someone you’ll never know.

To leave all that you love behind.

And Jim begins to cry.

The researcher lowers her gaze. “Enough. Let’s go home.” 23/

The doors open and the two of them leave the room. As the doors close behind them, Jim’s shoulders slump.

The researcher stands beside him, her voice quiet.

“I’m sorry, Jim. The past and the future... they have a way of showing us who we are. Who we could be.” 24/

Jim takes a deep breath.

The researcher speaks, “You’re not a lost cause, Jim. You’ve got choices to make.”

Jim nods.

With that, she walks him to the exit, and hands him a mask, before walking away.

Jim stands alone in the sunlight, blinking in the brightness of a new world.