The Case of the Missing Martian MacGuffin

Previously

…“To the Cosmic Chronometer,” she said, raising her glass. “And to effervescent nebulae nectar éclairs!” Marcus added, clinking his glass against hers. He then produced a large, colourful tub. “And for our victory feast… I procured something special. It’s called ‘Black Hole Bonanza’ ice cream. The menu warns it might cause mild temporal anomalies.” Mia raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in her eyes. “Of course it does, Marcus. Of course it does.” As Marcus scooped out generous portions, a faint shimmer seemed to emanate from the ice cream, and for a fleeting moment, Mia thought she saw a tiny, fluffy creature with large eyes wink at her from within the frozen depths.