Unbreakable Duty

Two-and-a-Half Hours

Bow strode through the condo, her footsteps light but purposeful. "Cap! Earn! We need to head out; the car's waiting," she called, glancing into the living room and kitchen with no sign of them. Rossami was double-checking their luggage, and Tan was waiting by the door, muttering about the tight schedule.

Finally, Bow approached the slightly ajar door at the end of the hallway. The sight inside stopped her mid-step.

Fahlada stood near the bulletin board, while Earn was seated at the small worktable, her fingers lightly grazing the picture she was holding. Her expression was a mixture of confusion and something deeper—something raw and unspoken.

The room itself seemed frozen in time, a shrine of creativity and memories. Bolts of fabric rested neatly in one corner, a mannequin stood poised in another, draped with a half-finished piece. The soft scent of lavender and paper lingered, adding a nostalgic warmth to the scene. Bow didn't have an idea that Fahlada maintained the room as it was.

"Uh... wow." Bow's voice broke the stillness, causing both women to turn toward her. She stepped inside, her eyes darting between the two of them and the room. "Of all places, I didn't expect to find you here."

Earn blinked, her gaze still somewhat dazed as if trying to piece together a puzzle in her mind. Fahlada, on the other hand, stiffened slightly, her usual composure slipping for a fraction of a second.

"You've got about five minutes before Tan starts yelling," Bow continued, her tone unusually gentle given the weight of the moment. "But... maybe you two should save whatever's happening here for the plane ride or to wherever your fathers will take us. Just a suggestion."

Fahlada closed her eyes and then nodded, "You're right. Let's go. We have a tight schedule." Her voice was calm, but there was a slight edge to it, a quiet determination to keep the moment from unraveling further.

Earn, however, lingered for a moment longer, her eyes scanning the room one last time. As she pocketed the picture in her hand, she glanced at Bow, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Thanks for the reminder," she said, though her tone carried a weight of its own.

Bow gave a mock salute, her usual humor returning. "No problem. Let's just make sure we all make it out of here before the General or Dr. Thananusak calls to ask why we're late."

With that, the three of them left the room, the door clicking softly shut behind them. But the unspoken questions and lingering emotions lingered, waiting to resurface at 30,000 feet.

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Flashback (8 hours ago)

The interrogation room was a stark, cold space with little more than a metal table, two chairs, and a single overhead light casting harsh shadows. The sniper sat slouched in one of the chairs, his wounded shoulder bandaged but visibly painful. He glared at the door, his jaw set in defiance.

Outside, General Phongphipat and Dr. Thananusak exchanged a final look before entering. Their earlier discussion replayed in their minds, each man recalling the plan they had crafted. It was Dr. Thananusak who had suggested the strategy.

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Inside the dimly lit briefing room earlier that evening, General Phongphipat stood by a large wooden desk, his hands clasped behind his back. His sharp gaze fixed on the wall map before him, marked with red pins indicating areas of recent activity connected to Wisanu. Dr. Thananusak sat on the edge of the desk, his arms crossed, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"We need answers," the General said bluntly, his tone carrying the weight of command. "This sniper knows more than he's letting on. If he's part of Wisanu's network, we have to break him."