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sapphire-blue haze around the Earth. All the known laws of dimensional physics dictated this nineteenth dimension couldn’t exist.
    “Computer, extract all data from the station’s main system and upload it to my neural implant.”
    No one can know of this.
    My mind worked long into the night as I tried to understand this mystery. To my dismay, I merely found myself making weak theories on the origin of this impossible and frightening dimension shrouding Earth.
    At last, I was tired. I realized I was drowning in an ignorance not to be overcome in a single night. Before going to bed, I sent a message to the security division of the space station, informing them of my guest’s anticipated arrival.

    The next morning, over two hundred guests from the three planetary nations in the solar system arrived at the Brahman Space Station. They joined the live-in staff of three hundred scientists for the dimensional gateway’s inauguration party. It was a grand undertaking held under the stars in the translucent dome of the space station’s arboretum, where, amongst its small forest of trees and vegetation, the guests mingled, feasted, and danced. Radiant globes floated among the trees, painting a romantic atmosphere of light and shadow within the arboretum. Ten musicians performed on a stage for the growing crowd. Four dozen dining tables, arranged around a dance floor, were set with the finest silk cloth, silver utensils, and crystal tableware.
    By late afternoon, the arboretum echoed with conversation and laughter. I made my entrance, and the crowd greeted me with thunderous applause. It felt good. I had worked hard for this. I found my way to the stage and began.
    “To make the dimensional gateway a reality, it’s taken nearly fifty years of effort, the resources of three planetary nations, and the most dedicated and brilliant scientists and engineers alive. The success of this endeavor is evidence of humankind’s greatness, for soon we’ll have all the stars of the universe resting at our fingertips. We’ll no longer be bound by the sluggish pace of light-speed travel.”
    I gazed up through the transparent dome of the arboretum, outstretched my arm, and pointed to a single star. “I foresee a future in which anyone can pick a star in the heavens, and lay claim to it and its planets. Each of us, if we so desire, will have the freedom to establish our own civilization somewhere out there, anywhere, even in another galaxy at the other end of the universe.
    “Tomorrow, we’ll activate the dimensional gateway, and through it we’ll send the first manned pod-ship, which I’ll be piloting. The journey, to be only a single light-hour distant, won’t be a far journey, but it’ll be an instantaneous one. The dimensional gateway does, in fact, have the ability to send the pod-ship clear across the universe. However, the trip would be one-way. Keep in mind that the dimensional gateway housed on the Brahman Space Station is only a prototype. Once we’re confident it can consistently create a stable dimensional fissure, we’ll be ready to build ships capable of creating their own dimensional fissures, allowing them to travel independently across the universe.”
    I paused thoughtfully. “Before the celebration continues, I want to thank the generous supporters who provided the resources for this project—notably, the Mars Elitists, the Mercury Miners, and the many officials of Earth.” I bowed my head graciously. “Enjoy the evening. I look forward to speaking with all of you.”
    As I received a final round of applause, I searched through the faces in the crowd, hoping to recognize the mysterious man who had contacted me two days earlier. When I couldn’t find him, I set out into the crowd to mingle.
    Atticus approached me. “As a matter of etiquette, you should first visit with the heads of the three solar nations.”
    I looked through the crowd. “I’m not good with faces, Atticus.”
    Atticus arched his brow.