Chapter 8- Fleeing
Present time roof of Empire hotel
Ethan had thought he was being careful, that this time maybe things would go his way. Number 2 had demanded why he had not heard from his daughter. When discovering she was dead he had been almost angry. "But you hired the man who killed her", Ethan had growled. Stony silence was the only answer he'd been given to that one. Another meeting had been set, this time with him. Number 2 was quite aware he was meeting with an agent. He knew about all of them. There was a high probability the meeting was a trap. But both of them wanted the files.
To try and gain the upper hand Ethan had arranged the meeting for night time. They had used IMF sleeper technology to knock out all the hotel occupants. He would not be risking any lives but their own.
Brandt was drugged and handcuffed to the bed awaiting retrieval by an IMF team. Sure Jane and Benji were still injured but they were functioning enough to help him complete the mission. This time it'd be over.
Now an arrow in the face was clearly telling him that once again things were not in his control. Hawkeye had simply leapt over from one roof to the other in a stunning maneuver worthy of the finest circus. Number 2 was obviously going to leave things up to the man he had hired.
He was regretting the desire to be 100 percent sure of Hawkeyes identity. It was clearly Brandt, yet Hawkeyes deadly gaze looked back at him. How number 2 had met Brandt he would never know. It was possible that he even knew Brandt was an agent. It would be hugely embarrassing for a member of IMF to kill not only assets but members of his own team. It was the type of play Number 2 enjoyed.
But Hawkeye had not shot the arrow yet. Ethan wondered if he could convince him not to shoot. Inside Hawkeye's persona Brandt was hidden away. Yet some of him must still be there . He had afterall gone to Benji's rescue on the stairwell. So perhaps he could convince the Brandt part to let him go.
"Brandt please", he pleaded to the man in front of him. The arrow did not drop even one inch from where it was pointing straight at him. You are a fool Hunt, he thought. No try again he told himself,it is your only chance. "Will don't shoot me', Ethan made the plea more personal this time. Ethan thought he detected a flicker in the eyes, like he was actually getting through to his agent. Maybe it was his imagination though because the man stepped closer. Now the arrow was actually only 1 inch from his heart. Make it quick then Ethan thought as he stared into the blue eyes.
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IMF HQ- Mike had arranged the team to go and collect Agent William Brandt. Each one was a skilled agent and their orders were very clear, if he resisted then eliminate him. It was going to be a huge embarrassment to the agency that an agent had killed two innocent people. Mike was sure it'd mean the end of Grant Foley's brief stint as Secretary. Yet all Grant had done was slam his office door in Mike's face once he'd been told. Now he was simply sitting in his office not seeing or talking to anyone.
Nick Fury was not the type of man to be sitting quietly in an office. Since finally hacking into IMF 's data base and finding out the mission details of one William Brandt he had been busy. His own team stood ready . "You are to intercept the detail carrying William Brandt and bring him to me. Do not injure any of the IMF detail just put them to sleep. " "Sir, aggravating IMF is not wise", his advisor told him. Nick Fury ignored him. "What do we do if Brandt causes us trouble" one operative asked. "Just knock him out too, I want him as unharmed as possible", Fury remarked. The team took solemn note of that. All of them recognized the photo of the man they were to collect and knew he was dangerous.
Xxxxxx
Benji had his hands up over his face cringing as he listened to Ethan's pleas. He had never thought he would ever hear Ethan Hunt beg for mercy but that was what he was doing. Whether Hawkeye had any mercy in his heart was a debatable point. Ethan wanted to think that the analyst was still present in the cold blooded killer. Benji just thought that Hawkeye coming to his rescue had just been part of some ploy. If I am right then Ethan is dead. Suddenly Benji hoped that he was wrong. Beside him Jane had tears in her eyes, her thoughts obviously taking the same path as his own. He reached out and took her hand. She held on tightly.
Silence had fallen over the communications lines . Now all they could do was wait. If Ethan was not back within 60 minutes then it was probable he was dead.
Time ticked slowly by for the anxious pair. Jane had boiled the kettle three times without making any tea and he had just about bitten every nail down to the skin line when the hotel door opened.
They whipped their guns out but quickly put them away when they saw Ethan come in supporting a limp Brandt. "Thank goodness, I guess you must have knocked him out somehow. We thought you were dead for sure", Benji babbled.
He helped Ethan maneuver Brandt back into the bedroom and onto the bed. "I'll put the cuffs back on", Benji told Ethan. Then all we have to do it wait for the IMF retrieval team. I am glad its all over. Where's this file we busted our guts to get".
"I don't have it", came the stunning reply."What , that's why you went up there, Ethan what happened", Benji demanded as he took up the IMF cuffs and approached Brandt.
"Leave him alone", came a snap that stopped him in his tracks. "Ethan he's dangerous", Benji protested.
"Just leave him and start packing. I am aborting the mission", Ethan told him. "What", now Jane joined in the protest.
"We were so close Ethan"." The whole point was to rid the world of a dangerous man. Now we are just walking away. IMF will want to know why". It was Jane's way of asking the question herself. Ethan could not refuse to answer something asked by his own agency.
"It is my call", came the reply. "Just pack everything then we are relocating".
"Okay so we are going to a IMF safehouse, "Benji asked. "No", Ethan replied bluntly. He sounded like anger was just buried beneath the surface. "Right", Benji muttered. He was wondering if acting crazy was contagious.
"We only have 1 hour before IMF comes to retrieve Brandt", Jane reminded Ethan. "Can't we just wait and go back with the retrieval detail".She was not too keen on changing plans. It all sounds a little wild, she admitted to herself. But then this whole mission had been more than a little wild.
Ethan knew they had very little time before the IMf retrieval team came. Briefly he debated about leaving Jane and Benji behind and going alone. Quickly he dismissed that, this was his team and he would need their help. He reached out and touched Jane's hand firmly,"I have changed my mind about letting them have him Jane. We go now. All these questions are just delaying things. When we have relocated you can ask all you want. Just trust me okay', Ethan told her.
Jane looked over at Benji who shrugged. She knew that although they both had doubts that Ethan Hunt was not the type of man to fail them. So without asking any more questions she simply began to gather their things. "Leave all the IMF technology behind". I don't want anything they can trace', that worrying comment stopped her in her tracks again. "Ethan it almost sounds like we are going off grid", Benji hinted. "We are Benji, now hurry", Ethan demanded.
This was sounding scarier by the minute but they kept packing anyway.
They finished twenty minutes later. Ethan went into the bedroom and sat beside Brandt. He tapped his cheek, "come on wake up", he demanded. But Brandt was still and quiet.
"How hard did you hit him Ethan", Benji asked as he joined his team leader. Ethan made no reply.
"Getting him out of the hotel without anyone noticing he's unconscious is going to be difficult", Jane told them.
"We are not leaving him here", that growl was back in Ethan's voice again. Jane did not bother to say that she never even suggested leaving Brandt.
"We pick him up and prop him between us", Ethan ordered. "Let them all think he is just drunk or something".
Ethan put his arms around Will and pulled him up and off the bed. Benji and Jane moved in to steady their colleague. It was painful for Benji to help hold Brandt upright but he made no protest. That left Jane having to carry all of their things.
She balanced herself carefully ignoring the pain of aggravated ribs. Thus loaded down they all made their way out of the room, down the corridor and into an elevator.
There was still a sign that read "out of order" on one of the elevators. It was a reminder of Jennifers death to Benji. Now we are taking her killer away from justice to goodness knows where he thought.
I have to trust Ethan, he muttered to himself. At times like this trust was all he had.
Stopping at the ground floor they huddled closer together as they shuffled out of the elevator.
The room account was already paid up so they did not have to risk stopping at the desk.
Ethan was thankfull that the two people on duty seemed more keen on studying each other than them.
It seemed to take forever but finally they were out of the hotel and into the carpark. Here Jane put down their gear and took over holding Brandt with Benji while Ethan went for the car.
"I hope Ethan knows what he's doing", Jane remarked as they stood in the crisp air. "I have always believed in his judgement", "but this does not make a lot of sense'". Something more must have happened on that roof top". I guess we just go along and see what happens", Benji told her.
The car pulled up then, forestalling any more discussion. Benji and Jane slid Brandt into the back and buckled him in. They set off minutes later.
Benji noted that Ethan was heading out of the city. "Isn't it time you told us where we are going", he hinted.
"To get some help for Brandt", Ethan replied. "IMF were going to arrange that as well Ethan, so I don't understand why we are doing all this", Jane could not help saying. She knew her voice sounded overly anxious. "IMF were not going to help Will, just lock him up or shoot him. That can never happen Jane, not now", Ethan sounded almost defiant.
"What did happen on that roof Ethan", Benji asked again. "I learnt to trust Will", was the only infuriating reply he got.
"So where are we going", Jane prodded. "To meet a man called Dr Bruce Banner. I am told he is an expert with split personalities", Ethan replied. Neither Benji or Jane asked how Ethan knew Dr Banner. Both of them guessed he was one of the many contacts that were known to IMFs top agent.
"When we get there are we just dropping of Will then leaving. IMF will want an explanation of what happened on the mission", Jane asked Ethan.
"I think we might be staying around Jane and at the moment I don't feel like explaining anything to IMF.
"They are the ones who have hidden information about Brandt"'. Benji and Jane did not have to ask how Ethan felt about that as they could hear it in his voice, disapproval and resentment. It did not bode well for Ethans future with IMF.
Ethan cast a glance in the rear vision mirror at Brandt who still slumped limply in his belt. 'Where does this Dr Banner live", Benji asked as the city disappeared rapidly behind them. "Quite a distance out of town. You two might as well relax ,Ethan told them.
Benji who was in the back seat did not feel like relaxing, I am sitting next to a killer he thought.
xxxx
Mike Greene was feeling frustrated as he accompanied the team assigned to take in Brandt. Ethan Hunt and his team had seemingly disappeared and taken Brandt with them. As they had not taken any iMf technology and had disabled the tracking device in the car there was no way to tell where they had gone.
Of course he could wonder why Ethan Hunt had chosen to take Brandt away from custody rather than hand him in but he knew what drove the agent. Its all about honesty, if Hunt knew they had hidden information about Brandt then he might just rebel.
There was little they could do right now. Unless he was going to quit altogether Hunt would turn up. Then there'd be a reckoning.
The team gathered all the information they could then headed back. Greene was dozing when an SUV pulled in front of them and a dozen men in combat gear climbed out. They all carried weapons.
After efficiently disarming the IMF team the men pushed them all aside and looked inside the vehicle. Mike had his hands up over his head and was expecting the worst. He knew from the way they acted that this was a well trained group of men. They were the type who could kill in an instant and leave no trace of their presence. When one man approached him Mike could feel sweat pooling on his face. All the man did was put his hand in his pocket and come out with a square piece of paper. "This man, where is he", he asked as he flashed Brand'ts photograph.
"Actually I don't know", Greene admitted. He hoped that the men believed him and did not resort to violence. There must have been something in his voice that convinced him because he swore" damn", Loudly.
Then the dozen of them simply got back into the SUV and drove off. Greene noticed the licence plates were obscured. Those men had a professional air about him. Since they had not used their weapons Greene determined that they were possibly government agents themselves. It was interesting they were looking for Brandt. He found himself wondering why.
When he arrived back at IMf HQ he busted into Foley's office to tell him what happened. Foley leaned back in his chair with a thoughtful expression on his face. "I know you thought leaving Brandt in the field was stupid Mike . When the analyst opened his mouth to comment he snapped, "don't bother lying".
"I had my reasons. We pull Brandt in and we never find out what is going on". It is obvious from what you just experienced that others know the truth". I think that is what Hunt is looking for as well. My predecessor valued him highly. He is a very ethical man. I will trust him to find those answers for me", the secretary swore.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Ethan stopped off at a truck stop for some food then continued driving. The night wore on now and he was increasingly wary. This whole mission had been exhausting and at the moment there was no rest in sight. "Turn left 100 metres', the robotic voice of the navigation device broke him out of his fixed state.
He looked through the gloom. They had gone off the main routes onto increasingly quiet back streets. Now it looked like they were travelling down a dirt road. How could a doctor live all the way out here Ethan wondered.
He turned down the road and turned on the windscreen wipers as dust hit the car.
It was another 1 hour before the nav man announced "destination achieved". Ethan stopped the car and opened the door. Beside him Jane stirred. "Where the heck are we', Benji asked as he pulled himself out of the back seat. "In the middle of nowhere", Jane pointed to the sign on the side of the road. It simply said "Nowhere population 0". Someone must live out here", Ethan remarked.
Shining the torch over the landscape Ethan could just see the dim outline of a house in the distance.
"Looks like we might have to walk the rest of the way", he told them. Even though it was only a short distance it was still a long grueling walk. All of them were exhausted as they finally reached the house.
In the bright torch light Benji could clearly see cobwebs lining the windows. A thick film of grim prevented him from seeing inside those windows. "It doesn't look like anybody has lived here for a long time", he told Ethan.
Ethan was beginning to wonder if he should have come here. Jane knocked boldly on the door, "well there is only one way to see if anybody's home", she said.
They waited for 5 minutes with nothing happening. Jane was about to knock again when the door opened. A tall man with curly hair stood there and looked at them. He was wearing fluffy slippers on his feet, which was for some reason a strangely reassuring fact. Would someone dangerous even wear fluffy slippers. It was the thought of a tired mind Jane decided.
"Yes , the man asked tentatively as he ran his eyes over them. Will's head was slumped down so the doctor could not get a clear view of him. "Dr Banner my name is Ethan Hunt I think you might have had a call about me", Ethan told him.
Benji and Jane both noticed Ethan's use of his real name. "Ah yes something about a problem, come on in", Dr Bruce Banner held the door open.
The half carried half dragged Will inside. Banner had turned on the lights and they could all see that the inside matched the outside. Cobwebs and dust settled over furniture and he place had a wet damp smell about it. There was nowhere even clean to deposit Will but Banner was still moving, "This way", he prompted. Banner continued past all the mess until he hit a bookcase. Then he pulled a book forward. The wall opened wide seconds later to reveal something very different behind.
It was a high tech laboratory with equipment and computers filling every space. "Holy cow", Benji breathed as he looked over the stuff. "Bring your friend in here", Banner requested as he opened a side door. This looked like a consulting room at your average medical centre. Ethan , Jane and Benji hauled Brandt up on the bed.
Banner moved forward then and got his first good look at the man in front of him. He stepped back moments later as if startled. "What is your friends name", he asked softly. "Its William Brandt", Ethan told him. Banner had the look of a curly haired spaniel Benji reflected as he watched the man.
He was just touching Brandts face and then moving down his body. If he'd been awake William Brandt would have smacked him hard or stuck and arrow in him, Benji thought.
Banner turned from Brandt to look over at them. 'You all look exhausted, "I have some rooms in the back where you can rest'. He beckoned them to follow . Jane and Benji held back. They knew nothing about this man and were on their guard. Ethan though seemed not to worry just following him.
"Where our fearless leader goes", Jane muttered as she and Benji fell in behind him.
The rooms had a very sterile look about them but the beds looked comfortable. Even though they still wanted answers Benji and Jane had to admit they were too exhausted to care.
With Ethan alongside them they flopped onto the beds.
Xxxxxxxx
Benji awoke to daylight. In the bed beside him Ethan slept on. Chosing not to disturb him Benji just slipped quietly out of the room. He padded on bare feet to a small kitchenette and turned on the kettle.
While he was waiting for it to boil he decided to explore. Padding down a corridor Benji tried to open several doors. Most of them were locked. The last one however opened in his hands.
Benji stared wide eyed at what was inside that room. It looked like some sort of holding facility with a thick glass that ran from roof to floor. Inside that glass cage was all sorts of medical equipment. He recognized heart monitors and anesthetic machines but there were also a lot of things he did not recognize. Part of him actually did not want to know what some of that stuff did.
Hearing a slight sound behind him Benji turned to discover Jane and Ethan. Both looked like they had gotten up without attending to any personal grooming. They moved forward to stared into the room.
"This friend of yours Doctor Banner looks like some sort of ghoul Ethan how long have you known him",Benji asked. After looking into that room he really needed some reassurance that they were not all going to be experimented upon.
"I don't know him at all', Ethan told him . That was definitely not reassuring. "What, geez Ethan, he could be like Dr Frankenstein or something", Benji squeaked.
"That most definitely is some type of experimental laboratory", Jane observed, "look at the thickness of the glass, it could hold a T-rex." "Ethan I am not sure about this", she joined in Benji's worries.
"Do not worry my dear, I would never put someone as lovely as you in there", Banner had crept up behind them. How long he'd been there they did not know, which was kind of disturbing for 3 highly trained agents. 'What do you put in there", Benji asked rather nervously.
Banner did not answer the question just leading them out and back into the kitchenette.
There both Jane and Benji's hands jerked to their guns in a reflex movement as they saw William Brandt sitting causally in one of the chairs.
Both of them had left their guns in the bedroom so could do little about their team mates presence. Benji noted that bruising was clearly visible on Brandt's face this morning which was probably from Ethan Hunt's fist. Right now Benji had the same impulse.
What do you say to your murdering colleague when he is inches away. 'Coffee anyone", no Benji reflected as Banner spoke that was definitely not it.
"Yes", Ethan requested calmly. Benji and Jane turned to stare. "Are you going to say anything Ethan, Brandt is just sitting there like nothing has happened". Benji emphasized the word nothing. Banner turned to stare. "There are still a lot of things to be explained", Ethan replied. Now he sounded a little tense.
"I have questions to ask as well before I can begin treatment", Banner interposed. "What sort of treatment is that, Doctor", Benji was thinking of all that equipment. 'I am not a medical doctor Agent", Banner told him. It was evident from the agent comment that he knew what they were. But he did not know their names. Benji stubbornly refused to tell him. He'd seen the movie about Frankenstein and this guy had the same type of feeling about him as the creator of that monster. The comment about no being a medical doctor only cemented that belief. Maybe Ethan really had caught Brandt's instability. Perhaps soon he'd be totally illogical as well.
"Maybe coffee can wait", Banner seemed to pick up on the mood. He walked off then back down the corridor. When they did not follow he returned to say, "come with me".
Benji and Jane held off, they had enough of all the secrecy . "We need an explaination before we go anywhere", Jane was the one who said that firmly. She had the same thoughts as Benji.
"Come and all will be clear", Banner prompted. Ethan nodded reassuringly and followed after the doctor.
"You go in between us", Benji told Brandt. He got a little grin in return. That did not help the urge to punch him hard. 'Right now Brandt you are pushing it", Benji muttered.
He said it not loud enough for Brandt to hear. After all the man had killed two people. Jane though heard him and reached to squeeze his hand. "Stand in line after me", she told him firmly.
When they returned to what they had dubbed the restraining room they all felt a little nervous.
Brandt moved passed them to stand right by the glass. He stuck his forehead against its cool surface.
There was a deep sadness in him now. Benji thought he could even see tears. His anger diminished and he suddenly swallowed hard, was Banner going to put Brandt in the room.
Ethan moved up beside him but did not touch him. "Well explain away", Jane pressed as she looked at them.
Banner sighed heavily nudged her and simply pointed. Jane and Benji's gaze followed the finger.
They stared then turned to Ethan to stare again. "It's what I found out on that roof top ', he whispered, "Brandt doesn't have a split personality, there are two of them.'
"Which one is that", Benji asked nervously as he pointed to the man inside the room. 'That is Brandt, this is Hawkeye", Ethan told him as he touched the man next to him.
"Right", Jane remarked in a stunned voice. This was a development no one had predicted. Brandt had never spoken about having an identical twin. She also knew IMF records made no mention of the fact. Yet knowledge like that should definitely be on record because of the possibility of impersonation.
It looked like that was exactly what had happened. 'Okay next question", she stated, "which one is the killer".
Hawkeye turned to her, "that would definitely be me", he said firmly. Jane found that not to be reassuring at all. It seemed like the wrong man was behind the glass . "Then why is he in there and you are out here", she demanded forcefully. Right now she was angry enough to cause some damage.
'There is an explanation", Hawkeye defended.
"I would bloody well hope so", Benji said nervously.
