Error 404: Galaxy Not Found!

Yup, new flash fiction, but maybe not the one you were expecting...

Jun 26, 2025

Greetings, lovely humans and robots!

This past weekend I was inspired to write a little piece of flash fiction, both inspired by and dedicated to someone I’ll refer to for the moment as “T.”

But before we get to the story behind the fiction and the fiction, just a little reminder about my books and stories! If you haven’t read those books yet, or the short stories I have available, here are all the links:

Links: Lunar Logic | Robot Galaxy Series | Final Orbit | Objective Reality

…and yes! I have been working on the sequel to Lunar Logic. As for more books in the Robot Galaxy Series, let me bring your attention to this Kickstarter! Head over to the pre-launch page and hit that “Notify on launch” button right now so you’ll be notified the minute it launches!

The Kickstarter is launching in ABOUT TWO WEEKS! Yup! Finally! I couldn’t be more excited, especially because the rewards are going to heavily involve the T-Set: the set of books that extend the story of Ruby, the robots, and other characters that we met in the first 4 books of The Robot Galaxy Series.

Once again, just head over to the pre-launch page and hit that “Notify on launch” button right now so you’ll be notified the minute it launches!

Also make sure to read to the end of this newsletter and check out other Indie writings! (And my bonus pic at the end)

(Most) Creatives (mostly) love to show off their creative endeavors.

This is as true for engineers and software developers as it is for writers and painters. (If you follow me on LinkedIn, you might know that I post a lot about how engineers are also creatives…)

This past weekend, T was showing me some of his code that will likely serve as the basis for a potential game, and it sparked the idea for today’s flash fiction story.

“But Adeena,” you lament, “what about Ensign Rowe Rivers and finishing ‘Chasing Melodies and Memories’?”

[For those of you who might be new here and not caught up, several months ago, I started a flash fiction story here in the newsletter:

https://beyondthedroid.substack.com/p/chasing-melodies-and-memories

…and that turned into scene one of four (so far) and the story isn’t done. (Scroll up to the archive to see all parts of it.)]

The simple response I have to that question is that I just haven’t figured out the ending/next scene yet. I think I might have written myself into a little corner and I’m not sure how to completely get out.

Apparently, this is something I do. My hard drive is FILLED with starts of stories that I didn’t know (and don’t know) where they’re going.

And double apparently… I’ve been doing this since I was 8 years old.

A week ago, I was going through some memorabilia, and found a story I wrote for a school project in 3rd grade (which would have been the 1982-83 school year). The story was typed up along with my classmates and printed out into a book that I’ve saved in a box with all sorts of other old things.

We were doing units on Native American/Indigenous people culture (I grew up on Long Island where there is a lot of Native American culture to learn about).

While I can’t claim that I entirely remember writing this, I recognize that bit where everything was going along fine, but at some point I wrote myself into a corner and didn’t know what to do. I can picture myself as an 8 year old throwing my hands up in exasperation and just killing off my main character just to complete the assignment and move on with life. I’m sure I was up against a deadline.

(I also see that my tendency to begin sentences with the word ‘So’ originate back in my early days as well. LOL)

50-year-old me can’t be that irresponsible with my writing. Well, I can. But I’m trying not to be. I will eventually figure out how Chasing Melodies and Memories ends. Just not today.

I hope you’ll enjoy this story instead. Please read on and let me know what you think! (Either send me an email, or post a comment on Substack)

Error 404: Galaxy Not Found!

"I tried everything," Tap said. They pointed an agitated tentacle at the space in front of their upper optical receptors. The hexagonal region that contained a projection of their data screen shimmered at the disturbance but then realigned into something that resembled one of the myriad reference galaxies that contestants were allowed to use as a basis for their own creation. "It won't load properly."

Aja sat there, steepling their own tentacles together in a pattern that helped them think. They wanted to say something like "surely, you haven't tried everything" but knew that wasn't helpful and more than anything, Aja wanted to be helpful.

"Will you list off all the things you tried?" Aja said.

Tap responded by rolling all four of their optical receptors. "There is no time for that. My entry is due by the end of the quad."

Aja's abdomen felt queasy. It was, after all, their suggestion that Tap even consider entering into the Advanced Qualmetric Tournament. The AQT was a very prestigious contest that was held once every three point one four rayvolquads. This time period corresponded with each instance a new section of the universe expanded. When that happened, there was a call for new galaxies—at least three, but could be four or five—to fill that space. The AQT sought out the most creative concepts in galaxy design.

Tap had spent the last rayvolquad talking about their new galaxy project—something they lovingly crafted in their spare time. So, when the latest AQT was announced, it seemed natural to Aja that Tap would want to participate.

"This project is for me," Tap had responded. “Not some contest.”

It took a few quads of cajoling, but Aja eventually convinced Tap to declare an intent to submit their entry mostly by pointing out one of the coveted prizes: extra vacation quads. And Aja promised that they would spend their vacation in Tap's newly created galaxy. But not just anywhere in the galaxy... there was one star system in particular that Tap had spent most of their time crafting. It was the debug system—where everything was tested before applying to the rest of the galaxy.

Tap used the debug system to work out the algorithms for planet generation and was the one they always talked about. One quad, Aja would hear about the quantity and general makeup of the planets in each solar system. On another quad, while they were sharing their final meal of the quad, Tap would go into detail about how they decided to code whether or not a system would have an asteroid belt or cometary cloud.

In the most recent quads leading up to the AQT's submission deadline, Tap had delved into the details of each planet, writing algorithms for mineral composition and sowing the seeds for biological life.

"Why don't you add moons to some of the planets?" Aja had suggested one quad.

"If I have time," Tap responded.

Tap did have time and gave many of the planets one or more moons. To the one planet that Tap had spent the most time on in the debug system, they added a single moon. "I'm naming it Aja," they said. Aja smiled at that and wrapped their tentacles around Tap.

Aja relocated their massive form to the space next to Tap and stared at the shimmering projection in front of them. Tap zoomed in on the debug system and poked at an overlay of the code responsible for generating that system. While Aja could code too, this form of coding was as alien to them as it was to Vonn, who at that moment came scampering into the room looking to play.

Vonn, whom they'd adopted many rayvolquads ago, was still as playful as ever and had a toy in its frontal orifice. Vonn dropped the toy at Aja and Tap's lower tentacles that had naturally entwined as they sat next to each other. Instinctively, Aja untwined and used their lower tentacle to grab the toy and toss it to the other side of the room.

"I'll play with you," Aja said. "Let Tap work."

Vonn retrieved the toy and Aja tossed it again.

On the third toss, Aja threw it a little too far to the left, and the toy wound up next to the cable that connected Tap's data machine to its power source. Vonn didn't know the difference or care and went after the toy as eagerly as the first two times.

"No, Vonn!" both Aja and Tap cried out simultaneously as they saw their little pet get snagged enough in the cables to where Vonn was yanking at it. Before Aja could get up and rescue Vonn, Vonn made one last jerking motion and took the cable out of the power socket.

The projection in front of Tap disappeared. Tap let out a loud and unpleasant groan.

"Bad Vonn," Aja scolded. "We're done playing!"

With one tentacle she took the toy and put it on the nearest high shelf, signaling the end of the game. With another tentacle, she reattached the cable to the power socket.

The projection in front of Tap flickered a few times back to life and then proceeded through its boot-up sequence.

Aja returned to their seat next to Tap, while Tap was vigorously poking at the screen, bringing up the galaxy.

"It's working!" Tap proclaimed.

"I guess it just needed a reboot this whole time?" Aja asked but was really making a statement. Aja refrained from pointing out that that quite obviously, Tap hadn't tried everything but instead, used her tentacle to squeeze his, then got up.

"I'm going to go get us a snack," Aja said. "If you run into any more problems, just have Vonn come help." Aja winked the right two of their optical receptors. Tap looked up, smiled and winked back.

They were going to enjoy the extra vacation but probably leave Vonn home with the pet sitter.

What did you think of the story?

I love feedback, especially if you loved the story! ;) Simply reply and let me know what you think! Or do any of these things:

What’s next?

Writing, writing, writing. Maybe more writing. With a trip to Colorado and maybe a trip to LA thrown in for good measure.

But while I’m writing, my Kickstarter will be starting and I’m super excited. Once more I will remind you to head over to the pre-launch page and hit that “Notify on launch” button right now so you’ll be notified the minute it launches!

Today’s bonus picture…

I found a little hitchhiker when I opened up the trunk on my vehicle the other day!

I used to see frogs all the time around my house in Maryland. Lately, not so much. This was a cute surprise. (Yes, I’m one of those who thinks frogs are cute, not icky.) I don’t know where she wound up. She wouldn’t let me pick her up to relocate her to a nearby tree/grassy area. The best I was able to do was to get her to hop onto my roof so I could close the trunk. I then turned around and was distracted by other people and things and when I turned back, I didn’t see her. She might have just gone back into the crack where she’d been hiding in the first place and hitched a ride back home.

Anyhoo, I named her Zuzu. I will think of Zuzu often.

As always, thanks for being here and reading all my stuff. Remember you can reply anytime with questions/comments/feedback!

Until next time… be kind, be well!

-Adeena