Mission: Impossible The Hida Factor

by BMillsWrites

The lives of IMF agent Ethan Hunt and Officer Hiroki Hida secretly crossed, and now Cody Hida has become a target that Hunt and his IMF team must protect.

2. Two Teams, One Way

Mission: Impossible -- The Hida Factor

[Disclaimer: I do not own either "Mission: Impossible" or "Digimon" or either's characters. Their use in the following work of fiction is purely for entertainment only.]

[AN: Ready for a change of pace? With the main story of LMO completed at long last, I turn my attention to the one other story idea that just wouldn't go away for me. I've always been a fan of Mission: Impossible and I feel a connection of personality (at least part of the way I was as a child) in Cody Hida. I wondered if I could compose a story that would bridge the gap. This is the full start of my own answer, which seems to be: yes I can! Thanks to "Timp" for a great beta read on this one. I suppose it is enough to make a beta reader go "Eesh!" Enjoy it! --BM]

Chapter 2: Two Teams, One Way

The townhouse, just outside DC and untraceably but undeniably an IMF site, was spacious enough. The look of upscale decor masked elaborate security, communications, and informational systems. Ethan Hunt, now dressed in black tie formal wear, waited in a conference room that appeared to be a large drawing room. When computer analysis had confirmed Hunt's team selection for the current mission with two men and two women, a dinner party of appropriately yuppie proportions seemed a perfect cover for the initial briefing. He was the host and the guests -- the members of his new team, were arriving.

The first pair to arrive made an admittedly good looking couple. Norman Teller's specialty was biotechnology, at thirty-three Teller was young enough to be brilliantly innovative yet old enough to merit the respect necessary in acquiring information from Asian biotech suppliers. Teller escorted Komi Nagamu, a twenty-five year-old second generation Japanese American whose fresh-from-college looks belied advance training in child psychology. The other couple arrived fashionably, if irritatingly, late. That was not the fault of Paige Brooke, still beguiling at thirty-five, and expert with all IMF gadgetry including weapons. Ethan Hunt knew that the delay was a flash of grandstanding by the thirty-one year old Quint Morgan. Morgan's skill with vehicles of all kinds was matched by only two things, his effectiveness as a counter-terror operative and his reputation as a difficult subordinate. Morgan had wanted to be promoted to an IMF team leader when available, but leadership fell Hunt's way instead. If Morgan wanted to play games, so be it -- but only so far. Ethan Hunt knew all that could be played, and then some. Right now, it was the mission that mattered.

"I'm glad you could all make it." Hunt greeted, flashing his most disarming smile. "It's an IMF feast tonight, and the eventual main course is Delton Zane. Quint, care to describe who we'll be sinking our teeth into?"

"Certainly, Ethan." Morgan gave the first-name-basis routine the slightest edge. "Delton Zane, of Nordic European dissent, educated in the US. The quasi-intellectual trappings and high ticket items he surrounds himself with are cover for his real passions -- killing people and making money, neatly combined in the service of assassination for hire. He's pretty smooth himself, it's too bad his business requires association with the usual assortment of savage mercenaries. As of now, his whereabouts are unknown. IMF is checking his old haunts, but I doubt there's any trace of him. Until recently, Zane had been denied a piece of hardware he wanted, but I understand that's no longer the case. It must really irk you, huh Ethan?"

"You bet Quint." Hunt acknowledged casually, then just as casually commanded the attention of the group away from Morgan. "The hardware Quint mentioned is an extremely sophisticated anti-personnel weapon called the Eden Device." Norman, have you had enough time with the schematics to give us a summary of how it works.

"I think so Ethan ... it's really remarkable." Teller responded with the interest of a true specialist. "Paige, can you bring up the schematic for everyone please?"

"Not a problem." Brooke confirmed. She deftly released a panel in what only appeared to be a dining room table. With a few nimble keystrokes a projector hidden in the overhead chandelier beamed into a plasma field generated from the table's centerpiece to render the requested image in 3-D.

"Thanks." Teller prefaced, then began. "Imagine an anti-personnel weapon so precise that it risks no collateral damage, can't be decoyed, and never takes out the wrong target. If you can't, don't worry because you don't have to. That weapon is the Eden Device. To put it most simply it can be programmed to cause any specific person's DNA to self-destruct from just about anywhere in the world." He noted the disbelieving looks of all but Hunt before continuing. "It's quite genuine I'm afraid. There's a genetic principle that the DNA of all living humans today can be traced back to the genetic profile of a single female ancestor -- an "Eve" if you will. I'm guessing that's why the mechanism is so named. The heart of the Eden Device is a genetic master sequencer or GMS, capable of rapidly formulating the ways a given sample of DNA from a targeted person differ from the hypothetical common profile. Here's the truly terrible part. The device then generates a bioelectric charge that will seek out only the targeted DNA profile, interact with it like a computer virus on a hard drive, and start breaking it down toward the traits of the simpler common profile. A victim is literally pulled apart from the inside on a genetic level. Death results in anywhere from minutes to hours, always painful and never pretty." The biotech expert let a few beats of stark silence go before finishing by detailing the horrific range of the Eden device. "Because its possible to convert an electric signal to transmit in various forms like cable, wire, fiber optics, or even satellite transmissions -- it's possible to release the charge in a number of ways to seek out and find the intended target almost anywhere in the world from anywhere, risking only the slightest reduction in the transmission. The targeted person is at risk anywhere and in any way of contact with an electrical field. It's an assassin's dream come true -- specific murder by remote control."

There was another pall of silence in the room, finally broken by Morgan "My God! What kind of nut-job dreams up and builds something like that?"

"One employed by Zane under the delusion of humanitarian medical research, and now dead because he discovered Zane's real purpose, then turned the plans and prototype over to the West; specifically over to me." Ethan Hunt explained and revealed. Now he had everyone concentrating on the stakes of the mission, even Morgan. "Three years ago I was assigned to meet with him, Dr. Adam Medit, to collect the device, data, and hopefully him as well. It was set up in Japan, and I was playing a Japanese bureaucrat taken ill before beginning a diplomatic trip -- needing the good doctor's attention because he just happened to be aboard the same flight of course. It seemed like an effective cover, lots of local security on hand, but nothing over the top. Somehow Zane knew and ambushed the plane while it went through its last security check. It began with a sniper shot that killed Medit. There was a second shot almost instantly, one meant for me -- but taken instead by an observant and dutiful Japanese police officer. That police officer fully believed I was the target of a political assassination, and threw himself knowingly into the line of fire. His name was Hiroki Hida, and he saved my life."

Komi Nagamu easily observed that Ethan Hunt was a man who knew how to live life and, when necessary, understood the weight of taking life as well. Being prepared to sacrifice and witness sacrifice was very much part of IMF work, yet she could also tell that Hunt was still moved at having been saved by someone outside their advanced degree of assumed risk and for a set of circumstances that were only illusions. She spoke her first words of the evening with care. "That's very inspiring Ethan. I'm guessing that the officer's heroism plays into the current situation in some way."

Hunt nodded. "That's right Komi. When Hida went down, the second phase of Zane's attack began -- storming the plane. The police were doing what they could to fend off what they assumed was some kind of hijacking, but they weren't going to last against Zane's hired guns. Something was jamming contact with the other members of my team. My only option was to draw Zane in, knowing he'd want to claim the Eden Device and materials personally. Still, I couldn't take a chance on that monster actually taking the device intact. I used its genetic master sequencer to identify Hida's DNA profile, then I spliced that into the GMS."

Norman Teller was immediately impressed. "I see! Doing that must have effectively garbled the GMS' ability to read its base code and thus unable to formulate any proper deconstruction charge. That was a stroke of genius Ethan!"

"That's high praise, especially from you Norman. As it turned out, I was able to keep Zane from taking the weapon, but he and a core group of minions got away just as my other team members arrived with police reinforcements."

Quint Morgan also became excited by what he thought Hunt's revelation meant. "Then Zane has a hold of zilch and doesn't know it! We can use his need to make it operational as a way to draw him out and nail him!"

For just a split second Ethan Hunt looked angry, but he covered any real feeling quickly with a smile and an amused sigh. "It's more complicated than that now Quint. Paige, will you bring up the last image in the mission file please?"

She complied instantly, and the deadly schematic was replaced with a 3-D rendering of a young Japanese boy's face. She couldn't help commenting, "Oh, how darling!"

Ethan had to agree "Yes, a cute kid. An innocent little boy, Quint. He's what Delton Zane needs to make the Eden Device work again. This is Cody Hida, the only child of Officer Hioki Hida."

Again, Teller understood right away. "If Zane got his hands on that boy he could ..."

Ethan confirmed Norman Teller's dark speculation. "Exactly! Zane needs to continually filter the GMS, and for that he needs a living reference to Hiroki Hida's complete DNA code. He'll need Cody Hida, and IMF believes Zane already knows that. Tell me Komi, what can you tell me about young master Hida by just seeing this picture?

Komi first mentally noted that rumors were true, Ethan Hunt did like to challenge his team members from the start. She proceeded to answer Hunt's question. "Well, that hairstyle is extremely traditional, which means the family at least -- and possibly the boy himself -- is culturally traditionalist: manners, duty, and right behavior would be top priorities. Look at those eyes because there's a lot in them too: simplicity, awe, still a touch of innocence -- yet also knowledge, sadness, and real pain. As the only son of a slain father he probably sees himself as at least the impending head of his household. He's probably aware of and capable of more responsibility than someone his age in the West. I'm betting he's socially awkward with kids his own age, but would excel with older friends and adults. I'll know more when I see him in person, which I really hope I get to do."

Before Hunt could acknowledge Nagamu's analysis Morgan's impulsiveness flared. "This becomes a basic op then. We set up to track the kid, dangle him for Zane to grab, then follow where he's taken right to the weapon."

Hunt laughed, controlled laughter with a distinctly mocking character. "Quint ... Quint ... I don't think you're catching my drift here. I want to see to it that Zane never touches this boy, never. Is that clear? I consider that the top mission priority.

Morgan was now in an argumentative mood "Zane's going to move on the boy. Why not use that? We can let him be taken, and still get the weapon, that's what the job should be. We're almost sure to get the Hida kid back without harm."

Hunt wasn't playing now. "I suppose that's a way to go Quint. It's a good thing it's not the one way this is going to go -- my way. My way says Zane bats a big zero. That means no Cody Hida, and no Eden Device, period.

"What's the matter Ethan?" Morgan pressed, "Has it been too long since you ran with a Disavowed team to play it any way but safe?" In response Hunt simply stared at Morgan, letting tense seconds build into a tense minute. Morgan fell back in his chair as if forced. He raised his hands off the table, frustrated and beaten. "Fine! Your way Ethan.

Ethan smiled casually again, like he'd just won a fight with a brother. "Good. Now Komi, a belated thank you for your insights. I hope you're right on the money. It will make what we're going to do easier."

"Just what are we going to do Ethan?" Paige Brooke asked, pleasantly getting things moving again.

"It's a three-part game, Paige." Ethan began explaining, "Part one is Quint, Norman, and yourself finding Zane and the Eden Device. Congratulations Quint, your a rising American rock sensation touring to promote your one-hit wonder single into a Japanese following. Paige is your agent and Norman represents your record label.

"I can handle that." Morgan observed overeagerly. It was too easy to work his vanity. Hunt ignored him.

"Part two is Cody Hida's school. Komi, you're about to become his new homeroom teacher. You'll get your chance to see him -- and keep him safe." She smiled, but knew the underlying seriousness of her role.

"I've given myself the hardest assignment." Hunt remarked, I'm going to get to Cody at home by getting to know his mother." He noted Nagamu's flash of a concerned look. "Yes Komi, I'm very aware that there's a chance that courting the widowed mother risks antagonizing the child, and that risk is probably higher here, but it's something Zane might try -- and getting Cody Hida first means outdoing Zane with his own tactics."

"Excuse me Ethan." Brooke interrupted, confused by something. "You keep saying get Cody like we're the ones who want to kidnap him, not Zane."

Hunt smiled yet again. Paige showed promise. "That's exactly what we are going to do -- very temporarily."

The revelation stunned the newly formed team.

"Why Ethan?" Komi wondered without bringing challenge to her voice.

"I'm playing a hunch that when Cody Hida understands what's at stake, and he trusts that we'll keep him and the people he loves safe, he'll help us take Zane down."

Compared to the previous surprise this was a bombshell. It was one that Morgan couldn't help reacting to. "Do you realize what you're saying? You want to basically recruit a nine year-old boy into an IMF mission? That's insane!"

Hunt stared hard again at Morgan, then smirked. "Yes, and no. Yes, I know that's what I'm saying. No it's not insane Quint -- it's just impossible. That's all team. Get comfortable with your covers. We'll stagger departures for Japan, starting in the next half hour. I'll shut down here.

Teller and Brooke knew they were dismissed and they left ready to do the job as called for. Their younger colleagues accompanied them, but looked less enthusiastic. Morgan's ego had been bruised, and Nagamu held in professional qualms about the idea of taking Cody at all. For a brief time after the rest were gone Ethan Hunt sat and contemplated the image of Cody Hida's small but solemn face, still being projected before him.

Nearly two-thirds a day ahead and half a world away from Washington DC a very different kind of team was having lunch in the Odaiba Elementary cafeteria. The group's youngest member was Cody Hida. Of course, the reserved nine-year old boy had no idea that very recently he'd been a major topic of a classified briefing for an elite intelligence team. At the moment the youngster had two very different forms of intelligence to deal with. The topic of conversation at the Digidestined table was the genius Ken Ichijouji, whose emotional demise as the self-proclaimed Digimon Emperor had shaken them all. The fact that the often unfocused, goggle wearing team leader Davis was sitting next to Cody wasn't helping to improve the small boy's scowl.

"Geez, tuna noodle casserole again?" Davis groaned, "As much of this stuff as they feed us here, you'd think that all life came from the sea."

Cody caught a gasp that could have easily become one of Yolei's "Well d'uh!"s. He settled for more politely, but pragmatically stating the obvious. "The best evidence says all life did come out of the water Davis. It's good tuna noodle casserole too, really. It may not be mac-and-cheese, but it's perfectly good to eat."

Davis flinched at the smaller boy's words. Cody was a nice enough little kid, the group's built-in little brother, and even Davis saw him that way. The goggle topped youth just felt there were times a bigger kid didn't want or need to hear from a little brother, especially when the words sounded too much like a mom or that little voice inside your head wanting you to be good ... science something. Anyway, though he didn't mean anything bad by it, Davis reacted to Cody's mild chiding regarding the lunch as if it were really about Ken, which only increased the tension between them. "You don't have to get on my case about food just because you don't like the idea of making friends with Ken!"

"I'm not doing that Davis." Cody snapped each word off briskly as he said them. "We were talking about the lunch, which is good food, and food is important. As far as Ken Ichijouji goes, I need to think about him more than talk about him. I think we all should." The youngster looked around the table at his other three friends. Their looks were not unkind so much as uncomfortable, which was almost at bad. Cody didn't want to make his friends uneasy. They generally agreed with Davis regarding the fallen Digimon Emperor, and the youngster sensed he had somehow responded too strongly to Davis for the others' liking. It still surprised the thoughtful boy that matter-of-fact statements could seem harsh to other people if you didn't really control the emphasis when you said them. Speaking harshly, even when you weren't meaning to, wasn't the way of friendship. Under the weight of this moment of self-scrutiny Cody lowered his eyes and mitigated quietly, "That's just my opinion, of course."

The simultaneous drops in Cody's gaze and volume were unmistakable signs of personal disappointment that could leave him too open to sadness. It was a state that the loving and sisterly Yolei had long ago determined was no place to let her young best friend remain in for long. "Don't get down on yourself Cody. We all know you wouldn't believe in a position if you didn't have really good reasons backing it up. We also know that it just takes a lot of proof to make you sure that a change is for keeps. You don't have to agree with the rest of us to be liked, you know. There's no denying that the Digimon Emperor did horrible things, and tried to do worse. But I think we have to consider the way that Ken feels now. Just keep in mind that disagreeing doesn't make anyone right or wrong when it comes to the way people feel, OK?" She finished her advice with a big smile.

"OK, Yolei," the small boy stated as firmly as he could to show the tall girl he wasn't sad now. She meant the best for him. She also recognized his need for reasons over feelings without making him feel weird about it, but without giving in either. He'd try for her, but Cody decided not to mention that he'd find an invasion of giant polka dot bunnies easier to handle than the concept of relative correctness.

TK followed up on what Yolei had said by offering Cody more of a chance to have his say. The tall blonde boy knew all too well what it was like to be cast together with older Digidestined. He also wanted Cody to vent any darkness pressed upon him by the battle of good against evil. No one would probably know by looking, but TK sometimes still woke from nightmares that sprang from his earliest days in the Digital World. The already over-serious nine-year old just didn't need any more worries if it could be helped. "What is it that really bothers you about making friends with Ken right away Cody?"

The pondering, deep green eyes turned gratefully to the tall boy, and Cody almost smiled. He thought about TK's question most thoroughly before answering. "Well ... I guess it goes back to all the evidence TK. I mean, everything we've been through against the Digimon Emp-- Ken tells me that everything he does turns out to be a mean trick to get his way. There's nothing on the other side of the scale that balances him out. I just don't know if there ever will be."

"Man Cody, evidence and scales?" Davis interjected. "What are you, a lawyer now?"

"No," the smaller boy admitted simply, "but it would probably be a noble profession." Cody added with innocent association of the legal profession with law enforcement.

Kari saw her opportunity to say something. She was another veteran Digidestined, and had Cody's respect, with just a little more mannerly awkwardness than the young boy more comfortably extended to TK. She also swayed Davis for entirely different reasons. The Child of Light was sometimes as energetic as Yolei, giggly as Sora, and feminine as Mimi. Still, behind those layers was a driving no-nonsense quality of leadership that matched any Digidestined boy's. She knew just what to say, and could guess what would happen from there.

"I think you made a very smart analogy Cody, but can I please ask you something about it?"

"Of course, Kari" the youngster approved, nodding respectfully in her direction.

"Well, it may be true that good side of Ken's scales are empty, but isn't it going to be that way when he's starting over?" she asked.

Cody's thin eyebrows arched. "I suppose it would. Though won't it take a while to strike the balance, and isn't that time to be careful?"

Kari smiled brightly. "It's natural to think so, but maybe not Cody. TK and I were lucky to learn something when we faced the Dark Masters. A bunch of kids against them wasn't very balanced either. We found out that a little bit of good carries a lot more weight than a great deal of evil. That's why we all came home and the Dark Masters are history! It won't take Ken long to even things out ..."

"See!" Davis interrupted. He was very glad that Kari was on his side for once.

"I wasn't finished Davis." Kari insisted, "... but it's not going to happen instantly. I at least agree with a suggestion of caution. Davis has made a few overtures to Ken, and we can reach him by e-mail now. Let's see if Ken responds in a positive way before going further, while still being accepting if he does. How's that sound to the two of you?"

It was an effective compromise because it made neither Davis nor Cody very happy, but the smaller boy acquiesced to her, "OK. You've given me some things to think about. Thank you for pointing them out Kari."

Surprisingly, it was Davis who balked at Kari's suggestion. "I'm really going to regret this, but no way Kari. Ken really needs friends right now. He's Digidestined whether Cody likes that or not. Backing off might make Ken think we're not really glad he's out of the DE business. It's friendship, full tilt and that's final!" rested his arms behind his head, touching the goggles that were his mantle of leadership.

Yolei crossed her arms in front of her and began to set into Davis. "Hey look Davis, Cody agreed so you should too --"

Cody politely checked Yolei before she really got going. "Excuse me Yolei, our food will get cold, and the clock keeps moving. Let's just please eat hot food while we still can. Davis can do what he thinks is best. It's OK, really." The youngster began on his tray in silence. His older friends ate as well, talking about anything else than "business" for the rest of their meal.

After the group had eaten they broke ranks until school's end. When Cody went to return his tray, TK followed him, for just a little more hopeful talk. "Say Cody, I think that was pretty big of you back there to drop the argument like that. I think Davis has a point about Ken, but he doesn't have to be so pushy about it."

"Thanks, TK." Cody replied, his quiet rasp of a voice actually lilted slightly, proving he was a little boy and had not allowed the discussion to keep him sad. Then the small boy offered an explaining observation. "Davis is Davis, but he's also our leader. I think I was made a Digidestined for many reasons: to remind, to believe, and to battle -- but not to lead. It's important to teamwork to contribute, then to follow when you're not called to lead. I'll just have to watch and see how Davis' plan will lead us in the one way we need to go."

"What way is that?" TK asked.

Cody stated the answer as obviously as if it were printed on the wall of the lunch room. "The right way TK." It made the taller boy chuckle without intending to do so.

"One more thing Cody," TK pointed out, "Kari told you the truth about the older Digidetined facing the Dark Masters. Still, none of you new Digidestined should feel second rate. You're really gaining experience quickly, OK."

Cody nodded. "Actually TK, I'm honored that we can continue to draw from your past experiences. They really seem more significant to me right now. I mean you all were trapped in the Digital World. I have the luxury of going home, putting Upamon to bed and being a normal kid. I'm really glad I can too. I don't know what I'd do if I was kept from Mom and Grandpa like that. Uh -- I've got to get my things for class. See you, TK, and thanks again."

"Sure Cody, bye." TK smiled broadly. The glimpse at Cody's feeling for his family must have suddenly seemed too personal. However, the tall boy was sure that if the small one ever faced such adversity he'd pull through it. Any position Cody Hida held as a "normal kid" was going to be very unintentionally special.

Walking away from his tall smiling friend, Cody was indeed very glad that his home life was pretty much immune from and unaware of the dangers he faced in the Digital World. The youngster had no idea that his life outside the Digital World was now an international commodity of intrigue, and very much at risk.