I get the others to stop whimpering so I can hear my smartwatch.
“sAIveME free expert system downloaded. Please summarise your crisis.”
“Class-Nine shuttlecraft. Drive damaged by hostile lifeforms. Pilot and engineer eaten by same. Nontechnical crew to repair drive for escape.”
“Acknowledged. Scan damage and available resources.”
I show my watch the engine and repair kits.
“Acknowledged. Processing.”
The others crowd around to stare in breathless hope at the crawling progress metre on my watch.
“Solution complete. In-app purchase required. Please tender twenty-nine credits.”
“Smartwatch, check balance.”
“Balance twenty-two credits.”
I’m still laughing brokenly when they come for me.
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alt="To Cleave the Crone by E.M. McCormack"
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sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 550px, (min-width: 750px) calc((100vw - 130px) / 2), calc((100vw - 50px) / 2)"
alt="They Only See Me When I Cry by Alara Rogers"
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sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 550px, (min-width: 750px) calc((100vw - 130px) / 2), calc((100vw - 50px) / 2)"
alt="The Last Leprechaun by Dakria"
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sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 550px, (min-width: 750px) calc((100vw - 130px) / 2), calc((100vw - 50px) / 2)"
alt="Sitting on Aine's Cursed Stone by Crystal N. Ramos"
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