Unstoppable

'Shit, how much time is left?'

'Uhhh, I'm looking...sixty seconds.'

'Oh my god. It's not enough. I'm not gonna make it.'

'What the hell, Fab? Pull it together, you can't lose now.'

'You're right. You're right. I just need to calm down and think.'

'There's no time to think, you need to DO!'

'Ok, grab the...the...grab the thermo thing?'

Will quirked an eyebrow at that apparently absurd suggestion.

'Come on, think Fab. Maybe a bit more outsi–'

His watch buzzed.

'Outside? Hmm...one of the lasers might do it?'

'Wrong. And now we're dead.'

'What? That can't have been a minute.'

He glanced at his watch again and frowned.

'No, you still have forty seconds left but Command is convinced you won't get it.'

'Will, I can't fail! There's got to be something else. I won't accept this.'

'I'm sorry, Fab. There are no other viable options. You can try again in a year.'

Will gave her a loaded look before grabbing his gear and walking away. She could hear his muffled voice as he called Command to report on her failed mission.

No, this was not happening. Fabiola watched helplessly as the timer continued to tick down to zero.

Think!

She never failed at anything and she sure as hell wasn't going to this time. But even the possibility was wrecking her concentration.

She wanted to scream in frustration. The first three parts of the challenge went so smoothly. Her instincts had been spot on. They'd all looked shocked to see how quickly she solved their little riddles and how she'd kicked ass at the physical sparring. It was only when the simulation began that she showed any sign of weakness.

And Will knew that playing along in these contrived situations wasn't her strong suit, but she never thought he'd take advantage of that knowledge. Of knowing her. Had he really sold her out to Command?

Fab thought they were finally in a good place. The sex was amazing, and he understood her like no one else ever had. They pushed each other in all the right ways. He was so good at getting her to think outside...

Wait, that was it! She was coming at this from the wrong direction. He'd stressed the word 'viable', and he'd been trying to tell her to think outside the box, not go outside. Subtle hints, right before his watch buzzed. Command. They must have given him a warning.

They wanted her flustered and not thinking clearly. Most of all, they wanted her to drop out of the program. Well, fuck them. She belonged here just like the rest of the male competitors. And she was about to prove it.

'Simulation, halt!'

With only twelve seconds remaining, the whole scene froze, confirming her suspicion. This was a simulation she couldn't win. Because there was no answer. All she'd needed to do was stop the clock on the bomb by any means possible. Those sneaky bastards.

The sound of slow clapping raised her hackles as the top dog himself, Director Zhao, stepped out from a hidden room she hadn't even noticed. They'd been watching Fab from mere feet away. Shame washed over her at missing that critical observation.

'Well done, Miss Diaz. You've completed the next phase of your training.'

The Director's strained voice sounded anything but pleased, yet it didn't matter what that asshole thought. She'd made it through to the finals, and that was all that mattered.

Fabiola Diaz was unstoppable.