Word Count: 1,400.
Setting: I have been saved from the stricken shopping arcade. By who? Could it be… an army of Maoist space-rebels?

S.2: Vote 1 Mao.

“Listen up, converts. We have come to save you from your pathetic, wasted lives. Be thankful for the liberation you are about receive. The Party is looking after you, even though your mindless capitalistic system has abandoned you.”

The Maoists made us stand rank and file in the plaza. We were glad that they had arrived just in the nick of time and turned on the power so we were not going to die. More than a few of the Arcade People were nursing hangovers or regrets they didn’t think they’d live to feel the morning after, but generally spirits were high. The deal was this: the Maoists wanted Super Discount Moon C1832B as a military base, and we were going to give it to them in exchange for saving our lives. The one catch was that we had to vote for Mao.

“You do *not* have to vote for Chairman Mao. Voting is where you make your choice according to your ideology. Vote for the free will of the people. Be reminded though that the spaceship Golden Bird is off-limits to all enemies of Mao, and your votes will be recorded to determine whether you are a friend or enemy of Mao. After the voting process is finished, those who remain enemies of Mao (as is their ideological right) will be taken to the basement detention centre. They will be expected to do menial labour and unpacking the spaceships until such time as they are ready to be dissected for organ donorship.”

I decided that I would vote for Mao. At least he had a policy of not killing me, which was more than I could say for a lot of other people.