All Things I've Done To Save You

No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed

When talking, Amanda didn't lick her ice cream so a few of it melted and ran down to the ice cream cone.

"Give your ice cream to me if you don't want to finish it. It'll be a waste, right?" Herman asked.

"You still want some?" asked Amanda. Herman nodded.

"Huh, so greedy," Amanda teased, cramming the remaining few of her ice cream, cone, and all into Herman's open mouth, ready to receive a scoop from his beloved girlfriend.

Herman chewed the ice cream in his full mouth until it dripped out from his lips. Amanda offered a tissue and Herman readily took it and used it. And then, Amanda talked on.

"Every year, the pilgrims from all over the world come to Atut Baton to stay for one month or so during the festival," said Amanda.

"What's the gain from taking care of all these kinds of stuff? It's so complicated!" Herman retorted in disbelief and wiped both his hands. The ice cream Amanda gave him was all devoured in his mouth.

Amanda frowned on hearing that kind of protest from Herman.

"Just think," she said. "By the coming of pilgrims every year, Itong Ahuan gets an unbelievable amount of financial profits from hotels, travels, food sales, merchandise and so many more, not to mention the taxes. So it's no wonder that other federations asked for an upgrade of Atut Baton's capacity because they get the profit-sharing from the flights, good imports – including sambals – and other related things. It's like in our world, economic gain is always being the main and ultimate motives in everything."

"Almost everything," Herman corrected and nodded, he understood a bit more now about the whole thing that was going on in his surroundings.

"This is the Sunbath Festival, right? I think if we open a hair braiding business, we can get a fortune," said Herman playfully. "That's because the majority of people here have curly hair, and they love various braiding models like Bob Marley's Rasta style and sorts."

"They sure do," Amanda responded in a serious tone. "Here, the hair braiding business is a prima donna. I heard the taxes the government received from that business alone can reach billions per annum. That's in dollars."

Herman exclaimed in awe.

"The prayer papers and books are sold for a fortune, but people still buy them," Amanda added. Hearing that, this time Herman didn't nod. Instead, he shook his head and smacked his lips.

"Hey, don't be such a hypocrite," Amanda teased Herman who acted like a wise smart-aleck guy who judged problems based on his knowledge only.

Thinking that her boyfriend was acting silly, Amanda bumped Herman's shoulder with hers. Herman bumped her shoulder back, swinging his two feet. But this time he bumped a bit too hard, Amanda almost fell. Herman quickly held Amanda's back, and then they laughed together.

The next moment, Amanda rested her head on Herman's shoulder, and the lovers savor their time together until late afternoon. []

Atut Baton was the center of Itong Ahuan Hyperpolitan City. It was the site for the opening of the annual Sunbath Festival.

This year the festival became more special because besides celebrating the new year, it also celebrated the new millennium turn.

The roads around the site square were fully decorated with colorful lights. The banners and the intermittent confetti bursts made the pavement corridors in Atut Baton made that site merrier.

Several days have passed since Amanda and Herman were together in Atut Baton. And now it was the eve of the millennium turn right on midnight. A very large stage has been erected and readied in the Atut Baton main square. This place would be the center of all the hype and excitement in the world.

Amanda and Herman sat on a park bench not far from the stage. The busiest of the committee crew now were the electricians and the ceremonial performers doing last-minute checks and inspections before the event. After all, was done, the two visitors from the future decided to leave the stage area. From a common-sense point of view, this was a dumb move because they already got the spot everyone was dreaming of. However, they had their reasons to do it.

A few minutes before midnight, the master of the ceremony took his place on the main stage. After a few opening remarks, he invited a very important public figure to the stage. And then a black-skinned man wearing a silk suit woven with golden thread walked towards the platform, spreading smiles everywhere. That man was the leader of Medensidor people and also the President of the Federation. The lights from the cameras were flashing here and there, taking pictures of this charismatic number one man of the Federation.

This was the opening ceremony of the Sunbath Festival. The master of ceremony then let the Federation President, Itong Ahuan deliver an opening statement and officially begin the festival. With a humble yet full of authority air, he talked on his special platform on the stage.

"I'm sure many of us have the same fond memories as myself about the past millennium turn. We were just kids back then," The President began his speech. "There were only a few of us who remembered it, and the rest of us only heard of it from our parents. And this time we are experiencing the millennium turn in flesh, here and now!"

The audience cheered upon that athletic-bodied leader. The President's voice was relayed to every corner of the square. Those who stood far from the square could watch the President through the giant holographic jumbotrons installed on the corners of the square. And people at home could watch it on TV, broadcasted live to the whole world.

Many people came personally with families, relatives, and even their lovers. Many gay and lesbian couples also blended among the audience in the square, celebrating the festival with joy… and debauchery.

"So, by the name of Amun Ra and his current Regent, Anubis, I hereby begin the Millennium Sunbath Festival. And now, I shall give the honor of hitting the gong to my dear lover, Mr. Lada Murag!"

Proudly, the President gave way for a flamboyant gentleman to climb the platform, embracing Itong Ahuan's outstretched hand and adding it with a loving kiss. And then the President's lover received the gong stick from the committee.

He then hit the gong three times forcefully yet carefully. The three gong sounds reverberated, signifying that the festival was officially begun.

The thunderous tumult of everybody's cheer on the official opening of this festival shook the whole area. And then the sirens blared along, followed by the release of colorful balloons so plentiful, it was like covering the sky with them. And a very long sequence of colorful, variative fireworks filled the sky afterward, adding perfection to the greatest show in the world tonight.

Every family hugged each other and every lover kissed each other. Of course, the most iconic lovers in this festival, the President and his boyfriend kissed under the shower of flashlights.

The excitement moved to the music stages and the audience danced to the tune. Free-flow alcoholic drinks were distributed. Every couple danced and had fun, as though there was no tomorrow.

And how right that would turn out to be!

Herman and Amanda watched the whole thing from a café in a hotel not far from Atut Baton. It was usually cozy at that hotel, but this time the skyscraper where the hotel became like a night bazaar. It was full of people going to and fro, trying to have some fun. All the available tables were full.

At the corner of a hall, several kiosks served hair braiding services to the customers. Many posters were showing the available braiding models and variations. Herman was right. This was indeed a lucrative and profitable business, judging from the long queues in front of all of them.

"I can't believe the paradise-like world like this will perish soon…" Herman murmured, his two blue eyes staring straight to his front.

Herman wasn't daydreaming. He saw in front of him the glamorous hustle and bustle in a futuristic metropolitan city displayed on a holographic monitor as big as a table tennis table.

"They even do interplanetary travels like going to the restroom," said Amanda.

"Really?" Herman responded, that he was distracted again by his pretty girlfriend. "Have humans in this age encountered aliens?"

"We're also wrong about aliens!" Amanda argued. "The planets in this solar system are all inhabited by humans like us on this earth. This earth is like other planets!"

"No way!" Herman didn't believe what he just heard.

"Just watch that commercial carefully," said Amanda. And then Herman watched the commercial on the television Amanda pointed at.

The commercial was a short movie, displaying a place so beautiful and so full of visitors. It was as futuristic as Itong Ahuan City, but it was not here.

"I thought that's the travel ad about this city to enjoy the beauty of the Sphinx and the pyramids," Herman said, delivering his thought. "But why there are UFOs and space shuttles? It doesn't make sense if people come to Atut Baton from space."

"Wrong!" Amanda protested promptly.

"It's wrong, huh?" said Herman. "Are there sphinxes and pyramids on other planets as well?" He tried to guess further. "The existence of pyramids in places other than this earth doesn't surprise me anymore. The functions are the same, as monuments and the landmark of their territories."

"That's almost right," said Amanda. "But the Sphinx and the pyramids in that commercial area on the Planet Mars!"

"M-Mars!?" Herman was open-mouthed on the fact there were megalithic monuments like our Earth on other planets. This time he was really surprised to hear Amanda's words. If she was not the girlfriend he knew well, it would be harder to believe her statement.

"So, the people in that commercial were martian humans together with tourists from Earth?"

"One hundred percent right!" Amanda exclaimed. "You're right this time. Like the thing I said, life on other planets is the same as on Earth. The Earth people, called the Terrans built all the structures on Mars on their conquest and colonization of other planets."

"No wonder you said people in this age are not interested in time travel. They prefer interplanetary travels, which is safer than time travel. Besides, they are in the best time of their lives, the Golden Age of the Old World, why move to harder times with a good chance they can't return to their time?"

Herman saw Amanda shrugged and nodded.

"It means the face, shape, and appearance of the Sphinx and the pyramids on Mars, in that commercial, are the same as the ones in Atut Baton here."

This time Amanda not only nodded but also raised her two thumbs straight to Herman's face.

"By the way, if measured with Kardashev Scale, is this age included in Type I or Type II Civilization?" Herman asked.

Amanda shrugged.

"I don't know, I didn't find out about this yet…"

And then the lovers fell silent and continued their viewing.

Just then they were disturbed by a man who came to meet them.

"Hi, Amanda," the man greeted. After shaking Amanda's hand, he extended a hand to Herman. "This must be Herman."

On this occasion, this is the first time Herman met Alaksolan. Amanda introduced Herman to Alaksolan, the man who just joined them. Alaksolan was a tall and stout man. His curly, shoulder-length hair gave an air of a formidable man. But his skin was tanned and not too dark.

Herman shook the stout man's hand.

"Sorry I can only meet you now," said Alaksolan. "There were many things for me to take care of."

"I know," said Herman. "As the contingent leader in the committee, you must be very busy."

However, Alaksolan waved his hand, saying that it was not a big deal. "It pains me to say it, but once again I'm sorry. I can't show you the time machine yet," he said in a tone of regret. "There are a few things that need repairing and tweaking first. But I usually work alone in my apartment."