They were all visibly worried during lunch. The cantina was empty, the clock was already at around one in the afternoon and the soldiers had had lunch a long time ago. Only the officers present in the meeting, the Professor, Airu, and Túlio were still snacking. The three were sitting at a table close to the entrance, separated from the others. They wanted to have their own conversation.

The professor was the first to break the silence: “Did you notice they don't know anything about time travels?”

The kids nodded, still too worried to speak in that military environment.

“What will we do now, Professor? They've taken over the expedition and of course they'll take over what we find in the Forest Area,” Airu said quietly.

“I don't know, Airu, I really don't. For now, let's go with the flow… we'll have to go with them, there's no avoiding it. When we get there, we'll think of something.”

Túlio decided to ask something that had been bothering him since the meeting: “Professor, what they said about burning somebody in the press… a scandal… do they have the power to do that?”

“No, Túlio… they have the habit.”

They lowered their heads and finished their meal in silence.