Inspiration #4 – In der Kürze

The robot's study of the festival was interrupted by a smiling person.
"Hey, join in! Don't you know how to dance?"
"My library has hundreds of dances, but not-"
"No! Feel the music, move how you feel."
Hours later, battery nearly depleted, the robot stopped, happy.
"I know now."

— Micro SF/F stories (@MicroSFF) January 8, 2021

There was a cat in the library, meowing in front of a shelf. A librarian checked the shelf.
"I'm afraid it is out."
The cat flicked her tail and left.
"What was that about?" a patron asked.
"All books open doors to other places, other times. Some metaphorically, some literally."

— Micro SF/F stories (@MicroSFF) January 4, 2021

"Am I remembered, in your time?" the emperor asked.
"You are," the time traveler said.
"Good. I am having a huge tomb built for me. Does it still stand?"
"It does."
"And what am I remembered for?"
"That you built that tomb."
"Only that?"
"Only that, your majesty."

— Micro SF/F stories (@MicroSFF) December 31, 2020

"Look! A shooting star! Make a wish!"
"I wish it had a safe landing."

Miraculously, the spaceship's deceleration field generators started working again.

— Micro SF/F stories (@MicroSFF) December 16, 2020

"Is that like sex for you?" he asked after the ship had docked with the space station.
"No, that's like a handshake," the ship said. "Sex for me is about connecting at a different level. Like a meaningful conversation."
"Like us, now?"
"Hmm. I guess not all sex is satisfying."

— Micro SF/F stories (@MicroSFF) December 8, 2020

"We are perplexed why you humans keep overproducing," the alien said.
"Huh? We moved on from capitalism, we only produce what we need."
"You have more stories than any of you can ever consume."
"But not all that need to be heard, or that need to be told. Or are a joy to tell."

— Micro SF/F stories (@MicroSFF) November 12, 2020

When we finally found the aliens, they said "Well done. Now it's your turn to hide."

— Micro SF/F stories (@MicroSFF) November 10, 2020

"Tell me about these 'Humans' you found," the Galactic Overlord said. "What are their best and worst traits?"
"There is no action so strange a human has never attempted it, no idea so outrageous a human hasn't followed it."
"Is that their best or worst?"
"We don't know."

— Micro SF/F stories (@MicroSFF) November 5, 2020

A spaceship landed in the park. An alien emerged, carrying a foldable chair. They set the chair up on the grass, and settled down.
"Ah, hello," a dog-walker said. "Shall I take you to our leader?"
"Why would I want that?" the alien said. "I came here to get away from mine.

— Micro SF/F stories (@MicroSFF) October 24, 2020