Ryan sprinted across the corroded boardwalks of the Desiccation Sector, his security shoes squeaking on the salt-crusted metal. Ahead of him, a sentient Gourmet Water Cube—a translucent, shivering gelatinous blob worth six months’ rent—bounced off a passing Gorgon’s knee and careened toward the edge of the Salton Crater.
“Ryan, grab it before it hits the brine!! Nebula yelled, her third arm swinging a giant butterfly net that accidentally caught a disgruntled space-tourist instead. The Outpost’s twin suns were beating down, turning the mall’s exterior shopping district into a literal oven.
Dover the Escalator rumbled beneath them, vibrating with existential dread. “I am feeling particularly steep today, Ryan,” Dover groaned, his metal teeth grinding as he slanted himself into an improvised ramp to launch Ryan over a pile of discarded hover-skates. “Why chase hydration when we are all destined for the great cosmic rust?”
Ryan hit the ramp and soared, fingertips grazing the cold, wobbling cube. He landed in a heap of discount space-suits, but the cube ricocheted off a Bed Bath and Way Beyond sign and headed straight for the Mall Manager’s office.
Mr. Meankinder’s Kind head opened the door, beaming a smile. “Oh, hello boys and girls! Do you have my—” The Mean head suddenly jerked forward, purple with rage. “—WHERE IS MY LUNCH, RANDOM?”
The Water Cube slammed into Mr. Er’s central mouth, which reflexively swallowed it. The manager froze, his three necks vibrating in unison as his torso began to swell like a massive, translucent weather balloon.
“Run,” Ryan whispered, grabbing Nebula’s hand.
As the mall’s ceiling began to crack from the internal pressure of the expanding manager, Nebula checked her watch. “Well, on the bright side, we are technically on our lunch break now.”
(This story created by a California earthquake on August 25, 2026. Magnitude of: 3.06. 12 km WSW of Salton City, CA. URL:https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/ci41536408)
To see an animated scene from this story: Instagram. Or youtube.