New Protocol: A Short Story

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New Protocol She slid her dress over her head, wriggling as she pulled it down straightening it. Sitting back on the bed, she slipped on her new black slingback pumps. In the bathroom, she remembered her mother's words as she meticulously put on her makeup, 'Always look your best sweetheart, you never know who's gonna see you.' Stepping back from the mirror she did a twirl, admiring her new flowered dress. As a finishing touch, she applied rose red lipstick, matching perfectly her new spring attire. Leaving the motel, she left the door wide open, and a hand-written note laying on the dresser. In the background, a TV infomercial played to an empty room... Ready to get away? Easy affordable commuter teleportation is now a reality …show more content…

facility, Alex was staring at a sector light that was flashing blaze orange, indicating, Cube-14229A had deactivated itself, and locked it's access door. Sensors had determined that this Cube's self-cleaning mode wasn't capable of handling whatever the problem was. Alex had never liked dealing with the usual vomit, defecation and urination clean-ups, but he had never hated it. That all changed when the suicides …show more content…

In a sad bit of irony, the deceased was wearing a bright and flowery dress with sexy black heels. She was dressed like she was going to a party, not her death. With his mask cam still recording he laid the body bag next to her, Alex noticed she was still clutching the suicide device in her hand. He pulled her arm down next to her body and straightened her legs. Then he walked around to her right side, crouched and put his hands under her shoulder and hip, rolling her onto the bag. Hearing a faint, muffled choking sound, Alex pulled his hands back. For a split second, he thought she might still be alive. Hearing it again, louder, he pulled back the hem of her dress and was shocked, when he saw a squirming newborn. She was tiny. Her umbilical cord was tangled around her neck and she was struggling to breathe. Implementing his own emergency protocol, Alex tore off his gloves and mask and started to help. Ignoring protocol that requires containment of all Biohazardous waste before breaching the exit door, Alex reached out and hit the door's emergency latch tripping the alarm. Cradling the baby next to his body, he rushed through the door, thinking, 'If this baby dies, it sure as hell won't be because of