The members of Star Wars Fanworks have convened in the hallway of the Hilton Charlotte University Place conference center. To my right, Nathan expounds on the issues plaguing us about why so many people misunderstood the ending to Lost. Joe, to his right and directly across from me hasn’t seen it, but his brother-in-law Andrew who is to my left readily agrees with Nathan. His wife Sarah, standing to Andrew’s left between him and Joe, also agrees.

And suddenly a strange man breaks into our group between Nathan and I. We’ve met him before, earlier in the evening, when he confessed he had a major crush on Nichelle Nichols (Uhura from Star Trek). He says nothing, instead handing Nathan a bottle of water. Immediately he turns to a beautiful African American woman in a Victorian white ball gown who happens to be passing by our group on her way from the Time Traveler’s Ball. He kneels and asks for her hand in marriage. If only just for the night.