TRIAL AND ERROR | short stories + snippets

University halls¹ on alien planets turn out to look just like university halls on Earth.

The recycling bin outside is overflowing with takeaway boxes, and when Aff unlocks the door to their flat, the first thing Caleb spots is what can only be a stolen STOP sign affixed to the wall. He can't read the script, sure, but the red colour speaks for itself. The sofa table is cluttered with a collection of cups and glasses, what he assumes are some kind of playing cards, and a tower of textbooks, all of which look like it hasn't been touched in at least a week.

"Make yourselves at home," Aff says, setting down the crate of vegetables they picked from a communal garden on campus grounds onto the kitchen counter.

Despite the invitation, both Caleb and Nicolás remain standing exactly where they are. Zilša crashes onto some sort of humongous bean bag, eyes falling shut as she sighs.

"Emoǩ?" Aff calls, knocking on one of the three bedroom doors attached to the communal living room-kitchen. "Are you up?"

When there's no answer, they knock again. Then a third time. They've just started their fourth knock when the door is torn open by a being similar in appearance to Zilša, though nowhere near as massive.

"What are you waking me up at dawn for?"

Aff takes a step back. "It's not even close to dawn. It's almost twilight," they correct, then seem to realise that this is not the argument they want to get into, and rush to add, "We need your help."

They turn around to gesture at Caleb and Nicolás, who still stand awkwardly in the middle of the room. Zilša has started to snore.

Emoǩ's face screws up. "What are they?"

Aff can't stop the need to do jazz hands again. "They are humans."

"Aff, did you abduct humans? Because that's–"

"No. I would never do that."

Emoǩ makes a sound of scathing scepticism.

"We need your help to fix their Mirror Way." Aff waves him over, so Caleb crutches to them to hand Emoǩ the compact. Emoǩ opens it.

"Just needs a gate replacement." Though her tone makes it clear that the task is easy, she side-eyes Aff. "You know, it's illegal to use or tamper with Mirror Ways."

"Watching Broadcast shows without a subscription is also illegal and that has never stopped you. So is theft of public property, for the record, and–"

"I'll fix it." She pockets the compact and returns to her room for a hoodie with the university name. "Give me an hour."

With that, she exits the flat, slamming the door loud enough for Zilša to jolt awake. Worry gnaws on the inside of Caleb's chest. What if she sells the compact for parts and they never get home? And what if–?

Aff senses his anxiety. They place a hand on his bicep. "You can trust Emoǩ."

He exhales, willing the tension out of his body, and nods.

"Would you mind if I show you something?" Aff asks, an excited clicking noise in their throat.

"Erm... go on then."

Caleb follows Aff into their room. It's larger than the rooms in Manchester Met halls, large enough for a sizable aquarium to fit in with the bed, desk, and wardrobe. He crutches up to it, presses his nose to the glass.

From several tent-like structures built out of algae, small translucent creatures swim out, collect something out of the water, and return. They remind Caleb most of isopods, though they each have four prongs protruding out of their backs, thin and sharp as sewing needles.