THE MOMENT
"No, I don't recognize it," Dr. Cross said. The middle-aged doctor sat at his desk talking to a colleague on the phone.
"Doctor, we need you in the nursery please," a nurse knocked on his open door. The doctor glanced at the time on his computer, then back at the nurse.
"Not until 9," he said, "Go find Dr. North." The nurse shook her head.
"One of the newborns has...," she fumbled over her words. "..an issue. Dr. North asked for a consult." Dr. Cross sat up in his chair and narrowed his eyes at her.
"Is it a health issue?" he asked vaguely.
"Not exactly...," she responded with the same vagueness.
"Is it white with red scissors?" he asked. The nurse nodded vigorously but didn't say respond aloud.
"I got one too," the doctor suddenly said into the phone. "I'll call you back in a while, let me go take a look." He hung up the phone and stood from the desk. "Thank you, nurse," he said as he walked past her.
Dr. Cross walked into the nursery to find Dr. North, a lithe older woman with long silver hair, standing over a basinet in the back. He joined her side and looked down at the sleeping infant.
"Any chance it looks familiar?" Dr. North asked. Dr. Cross gently moved the baby's foot to get a better look at the bottom of it. The flag's design was a solid white rectangle with a red pair of scissors.
"Yes, it's not just here. Dr. Kelly at South General just called me about it and sent a picture. But before that, I've never seen it."
"Alright," Dr. North side. "At least we won't be the only ones to report it. Thank you, Doctor," she said.
"Doctor!" The same brunette nurse that fetched Dr. Cross from his office ran into the nursery with her phone in hand. She reached the pair of doctors and showed them the screen.
The scene looked like a press conference. A tall, dark-haired woman in a white suit stood in front of a podium. The same white and red flag from the newborn's foot was displayed behind her. The nurse raised the volume so they could hear.
"...though I assure you I have no interest in ruling the Earth with an iron fist. Things won't change too much, and it's my goal to ensure the changes that do happen are for the good of humanity."
"What exactly is going on?" Dr. North asked. The nurse pointed at the speaker.
"That woman's name is Dana Sharp. Somehow, she bought the Earth."