Neon Lights and Sweet Smells

Avery stepped off the transport shuttle onto the gleaming metal floors of Cosmic Carnival. Neon lights flickered in patterns of purple moons and green rockets all around her. The space station buzzed with aliens chattering in different languages.

"Look at all those food booths!" she said, adjusting her jean jacket.

A sweet smell of vanilla and chocolate drifted from the baking contest area. Floating ovens bobbed gently in the zero-gravity cooking zone. Blue-skinned contestants with four arms mixed batter while purple judges with tentacles for hair watched closely.

Avery pulled out her detective notebook. Something felt different about this contest, but she couldn't figure out what yet.

The Vanishing Act

A loud bell rang across the carnival. "Contest entries must be submitted now!" announced a voice.

Avery hurried toward the baking area. But when she reached the floating ovens, her mouth dropped open. Every single cookie tray was completely empty.

"Where did all the cookies go?" gasped a blue-skinned contestant with four arms.

The purple judges with tentacle hair looked confused. "The contest starts in ten minutes," one judge said. "We need cookies to judge!"

A small sparrow with silver feathers landed on Avery's shoulder. "I saw something strange," the sparrow chirped. "Big shadows moved near the storage pods."

Avery pulled out her notebook. This wasn't just unusual anymore—this was a real mystery.