A lone clerk navigates shrinking luggage in a dusty interstellar hub

In the basement of Interstellar-Plus Flight Headquarters, Melva manages the Lost Luggage Department, a cramped area filled with suitcases reduced to a few inches through a molecular-reduction process. The headquarters is being vacated for a newer complex, leaving her to navigate flickering lights and dust that seeps in whenever doors open. The reduction technology allows travelers to bring more belongings, but misplacements can send bags on wrong ships, resulting in decades-long detours before they return.

Melva uses an X-ray scanner to inspect the contents, finding relics like a tiny knitted hat, a translucent tea set, and a miniature chess set, each offering a glimpse into distant worlds. She imagines displaying these miniature time capsules for public viewing, though only owners may enlarge and open them. Recent requests have directed two suitcases to the trash level, prompting her to retrieve and clean them before sending them on their next journey.