A journalist has been granted permission to visit the premises of a lab carrying out top-secret work. They could never have anticipated what they’d find…

Posted in Science Fiction on Jul 14, 2023

Submissions are closed

Sorry, we are not accepting submissions for this prompt as it is not part of an active contest. Make sure you don't miss our next contest by creating your free Reedsy Prompts account.

Or create a new Reedsy account:

Why not check out our active contest?

✍️ 38 stories

“Coconut Octopus” by Khadija S. Mohammad

Submitted to Contest #207

“Octopuses?” Thomas spluttered. The girl smiled. “Popular misconception. Logically, the plural is octopodes. Although publicly it’s still octopuses.” He rubbed the back of his head. Try to unearth the biggest scientific secret of the century, and all you end up with is a headache and a lesson in octopus plurals. “Come with me, our secret is in here.” She was laughing at him?He followed her through a wide door and into a glaring white chamber. As his eyes grew accustomed to the light he noticed boxes of blue and other bright colours dotting t...

20 comments 20

Read story

“I know what you're thinking.” by John Steckley

Submitted to Contest #207

I Know What You’re Thinking “George, while you were in the bathroom, we received a call from the university for you.” “I hope that they don’t want to take my degree away after having a second look at the papers I wrote way back when.” “Very funny George. This is serious. Apparently there is a group of scientists at the university who have made what they called a great discovery. So far no outsiders know about this discovery, and they want you to interview them and observe the effectiveness of what they have invented.” “Wow.&nb...

6 comments 6

Read story

“Fob Story.” by Ken Cartisano

Submitted to Contest #207

I’m just a run-of-the-mill journalist, okay? Except in certain sports related circles, you probably never heard of me. Neil A. Gleary? See? Almost exclusively sports write-ups with the occasional science article here and there. Not very well known.So I’m surprised when I come home late one night and there’s a message on my answering machine informing me that my request for an interview with the Director of AARI has been approved. Arrangements had been made, please confirm by calling this number, bla, bla, bla…I picked up the phone and called...

11 comments 11

Read story

“They Always Find Us” by Theo Benson

Submitted to Contest #207

“Isn’t it beautiful?” Dr. Morrison held a small vial up to the light, amber liquid swirling inside. “After all our efforts, all of our sacrifices, we’re so close to a cure.” Isabelle held her datapad closer to the Doctor, determined to get as clear of an audio recording as possible. They had spent hours in Silver Grandeur’s lab. Her legs ached. With painstaking precision, Dr. Morrison walked Isabelle through all of the functions of Lab Section 1, explaining each device that helped to refine and prepare the contents of the...

14 comments 14

Read story

“Nutri Inc.- 2183” by Cecilia Englishby

Submitted to Contest #207

His Majesty, King Willforth the Second of Engalsea, Master of the European-Islands, The Grand Regent of the Dependencies, Baron of the Dessert Lands, Lord of the Caribbean North, and Prince and Great Steward of the Unclaimed Empire, sat before the comfort of a roaring fire in the Royal media room; waiting for The Family to finish dinner. He hadn’t turned on the lights, wanting to remain alone as long as possible.Willforth had left them halfway through the third course, too anxious to eat any more. Without ceremony he pushed aside a...

6 comments 6

Read story

“Exclusive” by Chris Miller

Submitted to Contest #207

“Rufus! Come in. We loved your latest piece on the migrant situation in the Mediterranean. You’re really broadening the horizons of the readers of the Post.” “Our readers already have pretty broad horizons.” “Of course they do. They read the Post!” Rufus sat in a windowless room, empty apart fr...

8 comments 8

Read story

“it sings to itself ” by Masha Kurbatova

Submitted to Contest #207

You, my reader, used to do science experiments. Bianca did too. She got a kids’ chemistry set in third grade, and stained her mother’s rug blue with copper sulfate. Her baby safety goggles imprinted pink into her skin; she looked quite funny as Mother fussed about the rug. Mother wanted a freaky-geeky genius kid. She didn’t want the mess. Hunger coiled like a fat worm in Bianca’s stomach then. She fed it with experiments, mud pies, scabbed knees, Mother’s makeup smeared grotesque onto her babyface. But everyone told her (maybe you to...

1 comment 1

Read story

“The Biosphere Project” by Jillian Puckett

Submitted to Contest #207

The sun hung low in the sky as Sarah Mitchell pulled up to the heavily guarded entrance of the BioTech Research Facility. As a seasoned investigative journalist, she had covered her fair share of groundbreaking stories, but this one promised to be her most significant yet. The rumors surrounding the research conducted within those walls were enough to send shivers down anyone's spine. Today, Sarah had been granted unprecedented access to the lab, a chance to uncover the truth behind the top-secret work carried out there. Stepping out of he...

4 comments 4

Read story

“Proof Positive” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #207

Howard Marks drove onto the Sequentrix Industries’ lot. He’d successfully passed the security gate. The sun had dipped behind the mountain. It felt like he’d driven forever up endless winding roads. ‘Thank God for GPS.’ The unassuming low-rise building built into the hillside was a former Buddhist monastery. He’d been called there but not informed of his purpose. He had lots of questions. Not sci-fi, Sequentrix was the most secure research lab in the world. Most didn’t know it existed. Fewer knew its purpose. Hardly anyone knew its locati...

11 comments 11

Read story

“Don't Blink or We're All Gone” by John-Paul Cote

Submitted to Contest #207

BIG IDEAZ16 February 2032YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH. I CAN’T.It is the most secret, most secure facility in the world–it’s thousands of feet under New York City. And the research being done will make us all question our very place in the universe.=========================Sindy ChenStaff Reporter, Big IdeaZ My life will never be the same. The burden of the secret I know has made me question the meaning of existence itself. Out of millions of journalists, I am the one that Project Starlight asks to come for a visit.Project Starlight....

2 comments 2

Read story

“Insider Story” by Michael Pollock

Submitted to Contest #207

Jerri Lenner had accepted the invitation from Garn Laboratories, wondering if this would be her big break in the not exactly news world. The lab was privately owned, but government funded (always a sign of above-board honesty. Nothing suspicious at all here don't you know?) and had always refused entrance to journalists until now. It was near a town called Kirkenes, which, when looked up on the internet had the claim to be "the most remote town in Europe." It was right on the border between Norway and Russia.Her boss, Vance Lungstrom, at the...

3 comments 3

Read story

“DataMagic” by Jonathan Gartner

Submitted to Contest #207

The car ride was bumpy across a dirt road, remote in the desert far from any major freeways or metropolitan areas. The SUV they drove in was comfortable, spacious and chilled by a strong blast from the AC vents. The concierge from the company who was hosting him had a freezer bag with bottles of chilled water, soda or beer depending on your preference. A snack box was set across from him in the opposite seat with the best in fresh baked goods, ripe fruits, beef jerky and expensive chocolates. There was something for any one of his cravings. ...

1 comment 1

Read story

“Project Genesis” by Wilbur Greene

Submitted to Contest #207

The first time I heard about Project Genesis was during a late-night, off-the-record discussion with a government insider. As I nursed my scotch, listening to the tales of a secretive lab operating under an almost mythical level of security, I couldn't help but be intrigued. The details were sketchy - a classified location, groundbreaking work that would 'rewrite our understanding of reality.' It was all tantalizingly vague. In the weeks that followed, I found myself drawn into a rabbit hole of whispers and innuendos, each hint adding anot...

6 comments 6

Read story

“Plaga Iuventae: A Debt to Pay, Part 1” by Steffen Lettau

Submitted to Contest #207

Author's note: This is the first half of the full story, as it would exceed the maximum word count. It is a unique and perplexing privilege for a journalist like me to put my life on the line, whether it is interviewing a serial killer in his own cell, a former member of a crime syndicate in his own house, or even a politician that might be marked for death...or marking me for my death, as I do tend to pry. Hey, I'm a journalist; the worst is that I die. But I prefer to die quickly, as opposed to something like poison or lynching. And...

0 comments 0

Read story

“The Next Step” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

Submitted to Contest #207

“Jerry Culhannick.” He sat at his desk playing solitaire when his boss Harmon Newsome called his name. It was quitting time for Chrissakes, but he answered just in case it was good news. “Yo!” He hit the hallway on the move, nearly knocking over some of his colleagues trying to make an early exit from Crystal Image Studios. “Ah, you are in trouble now.” Carl Obleck snickered as he passed him in the hall. Carl was among the herd trying to make an early escape. “Shush.” Jerry shook his head. “Jerry, have a seat.” Mr...

9 comments 9

Read story

Load more stories

🌟 Similar prompts

Set your story on a film or TV set, starting with someone calling “Cut!”

Dialogue – 46 stories

Write about a person who constantly has to put on a persona (e.g. at work, in their relationships, etc.) who can finally drop the facade.

Character – 81 stories

Write a story about a magician who never reveals their secrets — until now.

Character – 31 stories

Set your story in the kitchen of a bustling restaurant.

Fiction – 39 stories

Contest #207

Enter our weekly contest!

This week's theme: Behind the Scenes

$250

Prize money

235

Contest entries

96

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jul 21, 2023 EST

Won by Derrick M Domican 🏆

Title: Speed Fate

View details

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

We'll send you 5 prompts each week. Respond with your short story and you could win $250!

Menu

CONNECT

BLOG

APPS

TOOLS

ABOUT

A journalist has been granted permission to visit the premises of a lab carrying out top-secret work. They could never have anticipated what they’d find…

Submissions are closed

✍️ 38 stories

“Coconut Octopus” by Khadija S. Mohammad

“I know what you're thinking.” by John Steckley

“Fob Story.” by Ken Cartisano

“They Always Find Us” by Theo Benson

“Nutri Inc.- 2183” by Cecilia Englishby

“Exclusive” by Chris Miller

“it sings to itself ” by Masha Kurbatova

“The Biosphere Project” by Jillian Puckett

“Proof Positive” by John K Adams

“Don't Blink or We're All Gone” by John-Paul Cote

“Insider Story” by Michael Pollock

“DataMagic” by Jonathan Gartner

“Project Genesis” by Wilbur Greene

“Plaga Iuventae: A Debt to Pay, Part 1” by Steffen Lettau

“The Next Step” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

🌟 Similar prompts

Set your story on a film or TV set, starting with someone calling “Cut!”

Write about a person who constantly has to put on a persona (e.g. at work, in their relationships, etc.) who can finally drop the facade.

Write a story about a magician who never reveals their secrets — until now.

Set your story in the kitchen of a bustling restaurant.

Contest #207

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

235

Contest entries

96

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: