Note for test readers: Please keep paper handy to write a list of questions that arise as you read.
Fifteen Seconds Too Long
Early Morning
Roslyn Mayfield walks into the mission control room and exchanges looks with Nick Hunter, the technology lead, a conversation that, if it had been spoken, would have gone like this: "Get ready." "Will do."
She climbs the stairs that lead to her office just as the rest of the core team enters the underground structure: Alvin, who holds the positions of medical department lead doctor and spiritual council for the facility, and Captain, who is the lead of military tactics. The three men make their way to the conference room, busying themselves with their own paperwork waiting on Roslyn to join them for the pre-mission brief.
Roslyn, in her office briefing with Jesus. "They aren't going to like this. You know what they're going to do. They're going to ask me a bunch of questions. I'm going to tell them I don't know. They are still going to expect me to know." Her conversations with Him were typically in the context of talking to a best friend, which she was. Jesus is her best friend and always would be.
"Patience, grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness, Little Lamb."
"Are you sure I'm the one that is supposed to be reminded of that in this situation?"
"All my children must be reminded of that every moment and in every situation."
"Well, then, I guess here goes- I mean, you are going to be the one to remind them of those things in a few minutes when I tell them what they all will not want to hear, right?
Silence.
"Right, Jesus?" More silence. "Hello?" she playfully asks, knowing she will not receive a response on that topic. "OK, here we go," she says, giving herself a pep talk while simultaneously speaking to Christ. Roslyn takes a deep breath, grabs the slip of paper off her desk containing the mission details—or lack thereof—and heads to the brief.
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"Hey guys," she cheerfully greets the other core team members as she walks in, hoping to keep things light-hearted for as long as possible. They look up and put their work aside in response. Roslyn sits down at the large table, not even sure why when this should be a very brief, brief.
It should be. It won't be, but it should be.
She takes another deep breath, unsure of how to begin in a way that will not instantly put everyone on edge.
"So whatcha got?" Nick breaks the silence.
"Mission, Ryan Krouse." She responds slowly, knowing this being the only detail she knows will throw these three men in a tizzy, and all she wants to do is complete the mission and get this man to the safety of the facility.
