The countdown hit zero.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then something heavy slammed into a wall downstairs.
The sound echoed through the building like a hammer striking metal.
A second crash followed—closer this time.
Then shouting.
Two voices. Maybe three.
Boots pounded against concrete somewhere in the stairwell.
Jay stood frozen in the center of his kitchen.
The strange device hovered above his palm, its screen glowing with that deep twilight blue. Purple text pulsed calmly across the surface, completely indifferent to the chaos echoing through the building.
"Mission briefing," the voice announced.
Jay blinked.
"I am currently paying attention to the noise downstairs," he said.
"That noise is directly related to the mission," the device replied calmly. "Please listen carefully."
Jay rubbed his face.
"Of course it is."
The screen shifted.
The map expanded.
Thin white lines spread across the surface, outlining his neighborhood in perfect geometric detail. Streets. Alleys. Buildings. Even the narrow service lane behind the apartments.
Four red dots moved through the ground floor corridor.
Jay leaned closer.
"They're inside?"
"Correct."
One of the red dots broke away from the others.
It moved toward the stairwell.
Then began climbing.
Jay watched it slowly rise floor by floor.
The device continued speaking.
"Target designation: Meridian Courier."
The words appeared on the screen beneath the map.
"A mid-ranking operative within a criminal network known as the Fold."
Jay frowned.
"The Fold?"
"Yes."
The voice remained perfectly neutral.
"The target is currently transporting a stolen data chip extracted from an Order field agent two days ago."
Jay swallowed.
"And?"
The device continued.
"The chip contains the identities and operational locations of seventeen active undercover agents."
Jay stared at the screen.
Seventeen.
"If the Fold transmits that information within the next—"
A brief pause.
"—forty-two minutes, all seventeen agents will be compromised."
Jay exhaled slowly.
"Compromised."
"Correct."
He rubbed his forehead.
"Meaning what exactly?"
"Fatally compromised."
Jay stared at the device.
"Seventeen people."
"Correct."
"And you are telling me this because…"
The screen flickered.
New text appeared.
ACTIVE MISSION — ORDER PROTOCOL
Target: Meridian Courier
Objective: Recover the data chip
Time Remaining: 41 minutes
Agent Status: Unverified — Override Active
Backup: None Available
Jay stared at the last line.
None available.
Of course.
The device continued.
"You are the closest available agent to the target's location."
"I am not an agent," Jay said immediately.
"You are now."
"I lost my job two days ago."
"That information has been recorded."
"I currently possess twelve hundred naira, a cracked phone screen, and zero combat training."
A brief pause.
"Your nutritional and employment status have been noted."
Jay folded his arms.
"They are extremely relevant to my survival."
"They are not relevant to the mission."
Jay stared at the screen.
"Fantastic."
The red dot continued climbing.
Third floor.
Jay's stomach tightened.
"The target believes the device was delivered to the wrong address," the voice explained. "He intends to retrieve the package before the mistake can be reported."
Jay looked at the device.
"So if I just give it back?"
The device responded instantly.
"Then the device returns to unassigned status."
Jay nodded slowly.
"That sounds good."
The voice continued.
"The data chip will reach the Fold's transmission tower within one hour."
Jay nodded again.
"That sounds less good."
"Seventeen undercover agents will be killed."
Jay stopped nodding.
"And the target will likely eliminate you as a witness."
Jay blinked.
"Define eliminate."
"Permanently."
"Right."
Jay took a slow breath.
His feet moved before his brain finished thinking.
He walked toward the apartment door.
Not because he had a plan.
He definitely did not have a plan.
But standing still suddenly felt like the worst possible option.
Jay pressed his ear against the door.
Boots echoed in the stairwell.
Heavy steps.
One person.
Getting closer.
The device continued speaking calmly beside his face.
"Mission parameters: intercept the target. Recover the chip."
Jay whispered under his breath.
"I don't know how to fight."
"Do not engage in unnecessary conflict."
Jay turned toward the floating device.
"There is a man climbing the stairs who intends to kill me."
"That conflict would be considered necessary."
"Good clarification."
The footsteps grew louder.
"Your physical profile indicates above-average reaction speed and spatial awareness," the device added.
Jay frowned.
"Since when?"
"Since now."
"That is extremely vague."
"It may be relevant."
Jay sighed.
"May be relevant," he repeated. "Very comforting."
"You are welcome."
The footsteps stopped.
Right outside his door.
Jay's pulse thudded in his ears.
Three knocks sounded against the wood.
Slow.
Heavy.
Deliberate.
Not like the quick business knock of the delivery man earlier.
These knocks carried confidence.
The kind that said the person on the other side already knew you were home.
Jay stood silently.
One hand held the device.
The other pressed flat against the wall.
The voice spoke quietly.
"Agent Okafor."
"What."
"Do not open the door."
Jay gave a strained laugh.
"I was not planning to."
"Step two feet to the left."
Jay moved instantly.
Just as he shifted away—
The door exploded inward.
Not kicked.
Pulled.
The entire frame cracked with a violent splintering sound as the door was ripped outward from its hinges.
Wood shattered.
Metal screws screeched.
The door swung open violently.
A massive man filled the doorway.
He was built like a refrigerator wearing a jacket.
One hand still held the door handle he had torn clean out of the frame.
Jay stared at him.
The man glanced at the empty spot where Jay had been standing a moment earlier.
Then he slowly turned his head.
Their eyes met.
Jay blinked.
The man's expression remained calm.
He dropped the door handle.
It hit the floor with a loud metallic crash.
For one long second neither of them moved.
Then the man smiled.
Not a friendly smile.
The smile of someone who had done this many times before and had never once been surprised by the ending.
The device spoke softly beside Jay's ear.
"Mission status: active."
Jay swallowed.
"Time remaining: thirty-nine minutes."
The man took one slow step into the apartment.
Jay looked at the device.
"Your move, Agent."
Jay's brain produced absolutely nothing.
The large man stepped fully into the room.
And closed the distance.
Jay had no idea what his move was.
But he had a strong feeling he was about to find out.