The Cosmic Caper
Cover Blown
The bright lights of your Zorb engine spacecraft illuminated the space before you. There in the sea of stars, you sat on one of the spacecraft chairs, focusing intensely on your holographic hover-pad. Those weren't just random numbers and symbols floating in thin air. No, they were traces of deals made in the shadows, whispers of a crime that has been taking your mind for too long. It was your determined choice to dive into the transactions, tracking down every clue to find a thread that strings Earth's traitor, Mr.Twill's, shady deals with the Xion people, who want Earth's coffee cups.
Your chair was comfy, made of shiny midnight-blue metal, but cozy like a pillow in its own galactic way. But as you uncovered more secrets, something about the whispering stars seemed different. The twinkling lights, once soothing, made you start to wonder if your hideaway was not as safe as you thought. Suddenly, as the spaceship started to groan and flash with reds, revealing your position, you realized your suspicion was right. Before you could move, there it was--an image of Mr. Twill on your holographic screen. His laughter echoed, and your heart sank as he maneuvered his spaceship away. But you, the brave alien detective from Zorb, were not shaken easily.
You hit the control panel and watched Earth spin slowly through the window, waiting for your spacecraft to settle, the sweet comforting silence of space returning once again. The mystery of the disappearing cups was still unsolved, but your heart was bigger than the galaxies that stretched before you. And even though you were feeling a bit sad, your shiny silver suit seemed to give a gleaming wink back to the stars. Though beaten today, you took solace that it wasn't the end of your story. Zorb waits, Earth waits, and you-- cool as a nebula’s breeze--were still ready. You wouldn’t let these coffee capers win tomorrow.