Hornet Suit: Science Fiction

[penthius]

The warmth led to predictions of warmer weather, less rain, an increase in pollen count as the trees responded, and a high danger of hornet attacks. She gritted her teeth as she read the news and then went up to the attic to dig out the armored hornet-suit and helmet required for leaving the house. She made enough to afford the suit, and her job had made it clear from day one that certain hazards would not be acceptable reasons for not making it into work. Those unacceptable reasons included things like tornadoes, flooding, hornets, and mass rioting (as long as it hadn’t blocked all the roads, though it was acceptable if she was absent because she'd called the company helicopter line and been told that helitaxi wasn't available or that they were staying in place because of reported surface-to-air missiles being used by the hypothetical rioters). They'd handed her a whole long list of catastrophes that she had to keep track of and act according to protocol on in order to stay employed. On the plus side, the benefits were amazing, the protocols that she had to follow for emergencies were well-thought-out and included details on how to safeguard relatives, and for the really expensive protocols, there was an emergency fund/supplies available for her use and draw, though she would have to plan out how to explain it fully. Fortunately, thinking ahead counted well towards her annual review, and so it had been no trouble to get the hornet-suit for herself and her daughter when the first hornet incursion was reported within one range of their current temperature zone.

Inspiration: "Feel So Numb" - Rob Zombie -> "you see it" -> http://gawker.com/this-hornet-will-be-the-last-thing-you-see-before-you-d-1428724767
Story potential: High.
Notes: Because eek. And also, wow, what job is that cool/demanding?