Reality XL

Konstantin!

What's up?

It's past twelve.

I'm right in the middle of something.

But you know what the doctor said.

I have to prepare for tomorrow, Charlotte.

But I... - It is important!

Fundamentally important. - Yes, I know.

Then what else?

You will exhaust yourself, Konstantin.

Try to come to bed soon, please.

Hello?

Hello!

Is anyone here?

Hello?

Hey!

Excuse me, professor. I... uhm...

Yeah, excuse me. My name is Antoine.

I'm the secretary of your hearing.

A strange place for this purpose.

Are they suffering from lack of space at the Geneva authorities?

No, but our investigators divert to this place when it's getting dramatic.

It is dramatic?

Well, in the end, it is about 23 human lives.

Yes, and that is why I'm wondering about this strange place.

Well?

Yes?

It is cold.

Oh yes, of course. Let's go.

We're on the other side, it's more comfortable there.

Come right in.

Tell me, are you serious?

I was subpoenaed to an official interrogation by the Geneva prosecutor,

with representatives of the Austrian, French and German embassies.

What is this, a conspiratorial meeting?

I think you'll soon get an explanation about this strange situation.

A coffee?

Thank you.

I would prefer, if it...

The spot...

It is plum marmalade from mama.

I dropped a glass with it two weeks ago. Silly.

Strange...

It seems Mr. Tick Tack is not in the mood.

I just called it Mr. Tick Tack, you'll hear why in a second.

Voilá.

Mr. Tick Tack.

Are you nervous, professor?

Pardon?

Nervous? - Hm?

Because of your interrogation?

The whole thing is mysterious. I couldn't believe it.

Did you know that I couldn't sleep after I heard it in the news?

Aha...

But that shouldn't concern you now.

Just stick to the truth.

That's always well received by the investigators.

Will do.

Carus.

Konstantin

Professor

Born on March 12, 1954 in Berlin.

Physicist

Quantum physics.

Married

You're working at the research center CERN in Geneva,

at the new particle accelerator, the LHC.

It's indeed plum marmalade.

Yes, from mama.

Looks like blood.

You have an eerie occupation.

Hm? - I read that.

You're dealing with secrets, right?

Abracadabra, three times black cat.

What is all this made of?

What am I made of?

What about Mr. Tick Tack?

You're researching that.

That is exciting.

Well, more exciting than...

stock prices,

or television, or...

What do I know.

There are people who are only interested in stock prices.

Or in shoes.

My brother in law is only interested in shoes.

He has a small shop in the city and is selling shoes.

He's talking about shoes...

reads everything about shoes...

and married a woman who is looking more like a shoe every day.

Did you know that there are shoes made of horse leather?

No.

Me neither.

But they exist. Crazy, right?

Horse leather.

It's really incredible, Antoine.

Shall I tell you a secret?

An eerie secret about the quantum physics?

You... Your horse leather shoe

and Mr. Tick Tack

in the end, are made of the same material.

So don't step too hard all the time.

Sophia Dekkers, detective police Geneva.

Good day.

We spoke on the phone. - Yes, right. My pleasure.

Well, Antoine? - Ms. Dekkers.

Did you know that there are shoes made of horse leather?

Yes, you've already told me that.

So you don't have to tell me again.

Oh... I already have. - Yes.

That's new.

That is for you... extra.

That is really thoughtful of you, Antoine.

Thank you.

Let's begin.

Oh, excuse me please, do you want one too?

Thank you. But a water would be nice.

Glasses?

Behind the coffee cups.

Voilá. - Thank you.

Oh right...

I have to ask you for a bit more patience.

We have to wait for the attorney Robin Spector...

in order to begin with the official interrogation.

Why...

What does this mean?

Nobody else is coming?

No, nobody else is coming.

We thought you would prefer a smaller circle.

But through Antoine we're in contact with all involved departments and governments.

It's his gymnastics.

Too late.

Yeah yeah, I know.

Good day, professor.

Spector, prosecuting attorney. - Good day.

Please excuse this unusual place.

Yes, I've been wondering. - I can imagine.

But in light of the great media interest,

it seemed wise not to choose a public place for your official hearing.

Ms. Colleague.

Because you have waived your right to an attorney,

I hope we can end this issue in a fast and... uncomplicated manner.

Bonjour, Antoine.

Horse leather.

Very nice, Antoine.

Very few facts... for such an unusual story.

I think the real facts will come to light after the hearing.

Please.

May I?

The evening before yesterday, you and 23 other scientists...

worked in the control room of the particle accelerator LHC.

In the night shift, yes.

As your shift ended yesterday morning...

you were completely alone.

The other 23 persons, who went into the control room with you...

have vanished without a trace.

The examination of the magnetic cards revealed...

that you all entered the control on time and at the same time,

but never left again.

Well?

Well, what?

These are images of the entry to the control room.

That is the record of the beginning of the shift...

and that is the record at the end of the shift, in the morning.

A little later the cleaning crew arrived.

Nobody else was in the control room.

The particle accelerator was running unattended.

We found these things in the control room.

On the floor...

on tables, on windowsills.

We can't find the owners of these things. So please...

What happened in the control room of the LHC the night before yesterday?

That is Matthias'.

Dr. Matthias Trondheim, right?

I always wanted to buy one of these.

But the prices...

Sick.

You think so?

I will repeat Ms. Dekkers' question, professor.

What happened during the night shift in the control room of the LHC?

And...

of course we would like to know where your missing colleagues are right now.

Why? - Why?

Are you serious?

They built the largest...

most expensive...

and most unpredictable machine of all time.

Most of your fellow men think your research is very dangerous.

Ahh...

And now you are the only one leaving a very strange night shift and ask "Why?"...

when we want to know where the rest of your colleagues are.

Ah yes, of course. Please excuse me.

Well, first of all...

there's no reason to be concerned.

It is not a crime like you may think,

but a physical phenomenon.

A phenomenon?

"Beam me up, Scotty?"

I'm afraid we don't have time for a physics lesson, professor.

Where are your 23 missing colleagues?