Kaia reversed the chamber’s gravity without warning.

The observers rose from their seats. Tools, tablets and loose iron particles fell towards the ceiling. Only Kaia remained anchored, her magnetic boots planted against the polished floor while the six panels of her microskirt adjusted around her hips.

From below, the enormous ring appeared to rotate around her.

It was an illusion. The chamber had become directionless; Kaia was now the only reliable point of reference.

She looked over her shoulder and loosened her control hand. Ferrofluid droplets formed a perfect orbit around her fingers.

“North is not a place,” she said as the terrified engineers floated overhead.

“It is whatever agrees with me.”