Samantha filled a nanite-painkiller prescription with ‘priority space delivery.’

‘Thank you, Samantha. ETA: 30 minutes.”

With a telescope, she watched it happen.

The delivery drone dropped out of the sky and propelled itself toward her home.

But another drone speedily caught up with hers, grabbed it, and flew off.

Samantha contacted customer service. “My package was stolen!”

“Sorry. Would you prefer ground delivery?”

“How long would that take?”

“Three business days.”

“Why’s it happening?”

“Drone pirates.”

“Why can’t they be stopped?”

“Voters dropped the EMP shielding mandate.”

“Why?”

“It would have increased the cost of owning a personal drone tenfold.”