Pink Slip

In spite of his best efforts, he found himself running late again.

He stared nervously at the clock as the tram sped towards his downtown office. He'd skipped breakfast and reworn the same shirt, and if nothing went wrong, he should just barely make it.

The tram suddenly screeched to a halt. "TRAVEL WILL RESUME SHORTLY."

***

He dashed to his cubicle and slid his ID across the scanner... 7 seconds too late. "EMPLOYEE #4227-19-39714-86. OFFENCE: TARDINESS. ACTION: TERMINATION."

"But I--"

His protests were cut short as the scanner fired an energy pulse, reducing him to a haze of component atoms.