Dr. Derrick Lee, a physicist, entered a chamber he coined ''the quantum tunneling interstellar holographic projection transporter.''


    It projected himself as a hologram to wherever he wanted while interacting in real-time.


    Like every evening, he sat at the dinner table with his wife Margaret and their teenage daughter Lily.


    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    "How was it, honey?" asked Margaret. "You haven''t said anything about your adventures."


    "Spectacular! I''ve no words for directly interacting with cosmological phenomena. It''s just that …"


    "What''s wrong?" Margaret gazed at him.


    "I''ve discovered and observed numerous intelligent lifeforms while I was operating in stealth mode."


    "How exciting!" Margaret smiled. "We''re not alone in the universe."


    "Yes, well, it''s not really that exciting …"


    "Why not, Dad?" asked Lily.


    "Hmm. How do I say this ...? They''re all just like us."