Against the Countdown

Gilbert was stunned by the hit. He clutched his face and stared at me in disbelief.

I shook out my numb wrist, my voice icy.

"Are you out of your damn mind?"

I raised the mission duty roster and turned the screen toward everyone. The assignments and signatures were clearly displayed.

"You were the primary operator last night! I had been on a special operation for 72 straight hours and was on mandatory rest. My name isn't on this schedule."

The moment I finished speaking, realization rippled through the crowd. All the bottled-up anger finally found a target.

"That's right! Edmond just got back from the Red Scorpion op yesterday. He defused three linked bombs and could barely stay on his feet when he returned."

"Exactly! Gilbert, you've always hidden behind Jasmine. Every high-risk job got pushed onto Edmond. Now you screw up this bad and still try to drag him down with you?"

"You screw things up and look for a human shield. You really haven't changed at all. You make me sick!"

Each accusation hit Gilbert like a stone. The color drained from his face until it was as pale as paper. He finally collapsed to the ground, eyes hollow and unfocused.

Right then, a military SUV screeched to a stop at the edge of the perimeter.

The door flew open. Carl Webb and Jasmine stepped out briskly, both of their faces dark with fury.

I looked at Jasmine. We used to be the most celebrated couple in the unit, the perfect match in everyone's eyes.

But now, her gaze passed right over me without the slightest pause and went straight to Gilbert, crumpled on the ground.

She took off her jacket and carefully wrapped it around him, pulling him tightly into her arms.

"Gil, it's okay. I'm here."

Her voice was so gentle, I almost didn't recognize it.

"I won't let anything happen to you."

In that instant, my heart went cold.

In my last life, she had protected him the same way, telling me, "Gil was just nervous. He's talented. You need to encourage him more."

Now, in front of everyone, she put her favoritism on full display without a hint of restraint.

The coworkers watching grew even more disgusted and furious.

Carl's gaze sliced back and forth between the two of us before he barked my name and ordered me into the command vehicle.

The moment the door shut, the mountain-like calm around him collapsed.

For the first time, the battle-hardened Carl showed real panic.

"Edmond, I don't give a damn about the rules." He slammed his fist onto the map table, rattling the equipment. "You have to save that server. If it goes down, this whole department, starting with me, is dead."

I met his bloodshot eyes and spoke evenly, "I can try."

My voice was quiet, but the vehicle went completely silent.

"But I have conditions."

I pulled a document from my pocket and handed it to him.

It was the approval form Jasmine had personally signed, overriding all objections. The title read, "Approval for Field Deployment of Experimental Defusal Techniques (Operator: Gilbert Pierce)."

The entire document looked painfully ironic now.

"She approved the risk. I'm not cleaning up this mess by myself. I want her to pay the price for this so-called innovation."

Carl's eyes hardened as he snatched the document.

After reading it, he slammed it onto the table with a deafening bang.

"Outrageous!"

His roar nearly shook the room.

"Don't worry. Her expert appointment application is dead. Every one of her promotion tracks is frozen as of today."

I curled my lips into a thin, icy smile.

I picked up the pen and signed my name on the military waiver, accepting full liability and responsibility.

In this lifetime, I would be the one cutting off Jasmine's path to the top.