Ch. 5: The Gents Club
Ethan, Brandt, and Benji were dressed well, waiting to drive up to the front. Ethan wasn't happy about Benji going in too, but they wanted as many people on the floor as possible. Jane was to sneak her way into the back to secure a spot as a dancer should Yanik need to be seduced. Zhen was backup outside.
"You sure you don't want to be the eye-candy this time?" Jane asked Zhen, defeated. Zhen shook her head.
"No thank you, maybe next time."
"It's not that bad, is it?" Brandt asked, "You just turn on the charm."
The women shot him a look. He took the hint and said no more.
The men climbed into an Aston Martin. Benji sat in the backseat, Brandt and Ethan in the front. As Ethan started the engine, Benji let out a giddy laugh. Ethan and Brandt turned around, looking at him.
"What? I never get to be in the nice car. Try riding in a van for years and watch everyone speed around in Bugattis," Benji insisted. The other two turned back around and Ethan revved the engine. Benji's smile widened, but Brandt shook his head, a faint smile on his lips.
The men pulled up to the lot and were greeted by a valet driver. The two exited the front, walking with swagger. Benji attempted to display the same amount of controlled grace, but was taken aback by the glamour of the entrance to the building.
"Certainly not a seedy-looking establishment…" Benji commented.
The trio cut the line and Ethan pulled a roll of cash from his inner pocket, handing it to the bouncer, who granted them instant access. They walked through the door and were met by loud music. They cut past tables of people and made their way to the main area.
"Uh, guys," Jane's voice cut through the music into their earpieces, "This place is a gentleman's gentleman's club…"
"What do you mean?" Brandt called back just as the boys entered the main room and spotted the dancers on the stage. All men.
The trio's eyes widened in surprise as scantily-clad men danced on the stage, swung on poles, and had cash tucked into their thongs by richly-dressed men. Not a woman in sight.
"So, if you boys want to try to secure a spot as a dancer, be my guest…" Jane added. "I'm coming your way, Zhen."
The three men looked amongst themselves. "Well, they might recognize me," Ethan argued.
"Yeah, but you're more flexible, they'll like you better" Brandt countered.
They both looked at Benji.
"If I can pass for a stripper, then everyone in the room must be hammered or have weird standards…" he snapped.
Ethan and Brandt looked back at each other. Brandt let out a reluctant sigh.
"I'll see what I can do…" he replied, heading towards the backstage.
Jane couldn't contain a cackle.
Benji and Ethan stifled a laugh before turning their attention to the people seated.
"I can't dance for shit, so maybe we should get a table," Benji offered. Ethan nodded in agreement. The two headed to a table, taking a seat. Ethan put on a pair of glasses and began looking around the room. Benji pulled up a program on his phone and suddenly what Ethan saw through his glasses appeared on Benji's screen, and began analyzing the faces of the people in the images.
Brandt cut through the backstage and entered the dressing room. He began searching for a costume.
"These pants are tear-off," he told the team, horrified. "Ethan, I can't do this."
"What's the big deal, Brandt?" Zhen asked, trying not to laugh, "Just turn on the charm."
"Okay, I take it back," Brandt insisted, "I'm sorry. I will never say anything like that again, but come on. What do I even wear?"
"Very little," Benji replied, watching a man in a g-string swing around upside down on a pole.
Brandt closed his eyes and sighed.
"Just pick something, I think we've got our man," Ethan added, watching a blonde man with a trimmed beard sit at a table with two guards flanking him. The man drank scotch from a tumbler and watched the dancers.
"That's him," Benji confirmed, looking from the screen to the man in question. "Hurry up and seduce him, Brandt."
The agent backstage put on the least revealing briefs he could find. All it did was draw attention to his crotch. He frowned and grabbed some tear-away pants. When it came to finding a shirt, they all clung to him tighter than if it was wet. He stared down at himself in a mirror and grimaced. The stage manager burst into the room.
"You boys are up next!"
Brandt swallowed. "I'm up next…"
Benji and Ethan watched Yanik watch the dancers. None seemed to be pulling enough of his attention.
"Let's hope you're his type," Ethan added.
As some of the dancers left the stage, a handful of men strutted in to replace them. Brandt tried his best to mimic the walk of the others, which involved swinging his hips.
"Oh christ…" Benji commented before nudging Ethan's arm. Ethan turned back to the stage and saw Brandt approach a pole. Thankfully all the dancers were doing their own routines. Brandt awkwardly grabbed the pole and walked around it in a circle.
Yanik nudged one of his guards and the man left the table, heading up to the dancers, and stopped in front of a dancer to Brandt's left. The dancer leaned an ear down toward the guard and exchanged a few inaudible words. He smiled and nodded and dropped from the stage, following the guard to the table. The dancer sat next to him and the pair began flirting.
"Brandt...you're going to have to do something spectacular to draw his attention," Ethan explained, looking from the dancer and Yanik back to Brandt, slowly swinging his hips up on the stage.
Benji ordered a drink and sat back in his seat, smiling as Brandt jumped onto the pole and swung around slowly. Ethan looked at Yanik. The target was too preoccupied with his new toy to register any other dancers.
Brandt turned his attention to Yanik and put on a determined look on his face. He slowly started to strip to the beat, unbuttoning his shirt. A few cheers started. Shedding his shirt he spun around, thrusting his hips. Benji's eyes widened. Suddenly Brandt ripped off his pants and swung them around his head, pulling cheers from audience members.
Benji's mouth dropped open.
Ethan did a double-take before turning his focus back to Yanik. The dancer was getting up and was heading back to the stage.
"This is your chance, Brandt," Ethan called, watching Yanik turn his eyes back to the stage.
Brandt took a deep breath and jumped onto the pole. He gripped the pole tightly with his arms and swung his legs out so he spun around, his body parallel to the ground. This pulled some cheers. Yanik stood up and spoke to his guards, then headed down to a better seat in front of the dancers.
"Keep it up, Brandt," Ethan commented.
"Yeah," Benji chimed in, "I'd tuck a few euros in your speedo!"
Brandt slipped slightly, nearly losing his grip on the pole.
Ethan shot a look at Benji, who grimaced apologetically and mouthed, sorry,before his drink arrived. He went to sipping his drink and watching Yanik.
Brandt recovered and resumed dancing, pumping his arms and thrusting his hips in tune. Benji's eyes drifted back to Brandt and he raised a brow, shocked at the agent's ability to blend in up there. Suddenly Yanik started to look bored with the dancers and began to stand up. Brandt saw before Ethan or Benji needed to say anything and he jumped on the pole again, gripping with his thighs and leaning back to he spun around upside down.
Patrons began clapping and Yanik stopped, reached into his wallet and threw money on the stage before Brandt, but started to head back.
"It's not working," Brandt commented, breathing heavily as his spinning slowed.
Yanik said something to one of his guards and they started to cross the room, heading for the exit.
"Ethan, he's going to leave," Benji panicked, setting his drink down.
"We can't let him exit, or we'll lose him," Ethan commented.
"Do you want us to intercept him?" Zhen called.
"No, we still need to get close."
"Should I go up to him?" Brandt called, dismounting the pole.
"He'll know something's up…"
Ethan looked at Benji, who took a deep breath and downed his drink. The agent looked at him, puzzled. Benji grimaced at the alcohol burn and took in another deep breath, rising from the table and making a bee-line for Yanik. He bumped into the man and was grabbed by his security. Benji apologized profusely in German and Yanik waved them off.
Benji then made eye-contact with Yanik. "Wow...you have incredibly striking eyes…" Benji told the man in perfect German. Yanik laughed, "You're drunk, my friend."
"Not that drunk yet," Benji countered, "Can I buy you a drink?"
"I was just about to leave," Yanik replied.
"You don't have time for one drink?"
Yanik looked at Benji, who smiled one of his bright adorable smiles. Yanik took the bait.
"One drink," he told Benji, who took the man's hand and lead him to the bar.
Ethan watched the pair and took his seat again. There was a feeling burning in his chest as he watched the two.
Benji leaned heavily against the bar, as if he were much drunker. "What can I get you?"
"I'll have whatever you're having," Yanik told him.
Benji ordered two fruity drinks and turned back to Yanik bashfully.
"I'll admit," he began, "I don't usually come to places like this."
"No?" Yanik replied, "It is a bit pricey."
"Oh, not for lack of money," Benji replied, laying it on thick, "I inherited my father's fortune, I can basically buy anything I want…" he slurred.
"That so?" Yanik asked, pretending to be impressed.
"Except quality company…money can't buy that."
Yanik leaned in close, looking into Benji's eyes. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up at the man's gaze. He tried to keep his cool.
"Money lead you to this moment, no?" Yanik asked.
Benji swallowed. Yanik started to close his eyes and come in closer. Benji quickly slopped his drink down Yanik's front, then giggled, pretending to be embarrassed.
"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Benji began frantically, trying to wipe the drink off of Yanik, who was growing annoyed. Benji quickly placed a bug in the man's pant pocket.
"It's...fine," Yanik replied, "I think it's time for me to leave."
"Oh, okay, can I get your number?" Benji asked quickly.
"Um, no."
Yanik quickly slipped away, and one of his guards made sure Benji didn't follow before turning back around to follow the man out. Benji let out a breath he had been holding since he walked over and his eyes went to Ethan.
As Yanik reached the exit, one of his guards stopped him. A man of military build walked up to Yanik and they began talking in hushed tones.
"Our facial recognition picked up Ethan Hunt," the military man explained.
"Here?" Yanik asked, looking around.
"On this street. He might be coming here. We told you to change up your routine. Your schedule is too predictable."
Yanik continued scanning the crowd, "Have your men sweep the building for him!"
"They are already on it."
Ethan's attention turned to tall imposing men making rounds. He quickly looked from the men to Brandt on the stage to Benji who was making his way back to the table.
"Flirting in German is like cutting a wire with a hammer," Benji told him.
Ethan stood and grabbed Benji's wrist, pulling him towards the exit, but a man came in through that way and began scanning the crowd. He spun around, looking for any possible exit. Suddenly two guards were approaching the pair from two different directions. There was no way out. Brandt looked to them in the crowd.
"Ethan, they're headed for you," Brandt called as his group began to leave the poles and head for backstage.
Benji spotted the guards and frantically looked for a way out, "Ethan, what do we do?"
Ethan looked from the guards to the stage to Benji, then an idea hit him.
"Kiss me," Ethan ordered.
"I-what?" Benji asked, staring perplexed at Ethan.
"Kiss me, they won't give us a second glance."
"Um…"
They were out of time. Before Benji could agree, Ethan grabbed him by the lapels and kissed him, full on. Benji slowly closed his eyes and threaded his fingers through Ethan's hair, pulling the agent as close to him as he could. The kissing was frantic, passionate.
One of the guards looked in the pair's direction and looked away quickly, clearly uncomfortable with the PDA and joined the other guard, who took off in another direction away from the exit. The coast was clear, but the two still kissed. Ethan pulled back slowly, opening his eyes. Benji's eyes drifted open, and his mouth hung agape. The two stared at each other a minute before Ethan looked around and spotted the coast being clear, he pulled Benji towards the exit.
Ethan and Benji climbed into the car. Benji still said nothing.
"Brant, meet up with Zhen and Jane," Ethan called, "We are going to be drawing too much attention."
He looked in his rearview and spotted a guard look at them and then dash for a black car. Ethan peeled out of the lot and sped down the street.
Brandt exited out the back and ran towards the meet-point. The van doors slid open and Brandt dove in, the women shutting the door behind him. Brandt caught his breath and began putting his clothes back on. The women gave him pitying looks.
"I am so so sorry," was all Brandt had to say.
In the Aston Martin, Ethan swerved through the streets, weaving between cars and checking the rearview. Still Benji said nothing. He pressed a hand to his ear to block out all but the bug.
"Sir, I think we have tail on Hunt!"
"Get him!" The military man ordered, "Take care of him then meet back at the hotel. The chopper is leaving at 11, if you are not on it we are leaving without you."
Benji began frantically typing and pulled up a gps, pinging from Yanik's location in the club.
"Do you have a track on Yanik?" Ethan called over calmly, turning the wheel back and forth.
Benji looked at him with narrowed eyes.
"The kiss," Benji finally said aloud, "Was that because of what happened in Scotland?"
Ethan's eyes snapped to Benji, "I thought you said you didn't know what happened."
Benji stayed silent before the back windshield blew out in a shower of gunfire. Benji and Ethan ducked down quickly, trying to peek behind them at their assailants. Ethan veered the car down a small alley and the car following them slowed to make the turn.
"If Hunt is onto us then he might know about DC," Yanik said.
Benji looked over at Ethan as the agent dodged and swerved the car.
"We should move it to the Grant instead of the Polk, just in case."
"Did you catch that?" Ethan asked into his mic.
"Move from Polk to Grant in DC," Brandt repeated, "What do you think? Hotels?"
Brandt looked at Jane, who typed rapidly. "The Polk's ballroom is currently reserved for a business retreat," she confirmed.
"Head to the airport, we'll meet you there after we lose these guys," Ethan told the other members.
"No, Ethan, we can meet you to head them off," Zhen insisted.
"No good," Ethan dictated, "I don't want to lead them to you. We'll meet you after."
"Good luck, Ethan," Brandt sighed.
The van started and Brandt and the other agents sped off.
Ethan turned down an alley too late and clipped the side-view mirror off. Benji stayed surprisingly quiet.
"Are you hit?" Ethan called to him.
"What? No, I'm fine."
The car was gaining on them.
"I can't lose these guys," Ethan lamented, skidding the car around another turn.
Benji pulled a gun from the glove box, "Loop around them, I can try to get a shot at them."
Ethan's brow furrowed, "I'll just keep trying to get them caught."
"Ethan, I can take a shot at them," Benji insisted.
Ethan looked at his passenger and doubled back, Benji nodded and leaned out the window. The car appeared and Benji unloaded at the driver, causing them to swerve. Ethan drifted the car down an alley just before the cars would have collided. Benji loaded another mag into the gun and prepared to shoot again. The car followed them down the alley. Benji stuck his head out the window and shot again. He nicked the passenger, and stuck his head back inside before a man in the back seat poked his gun out and blind-fired.
"Hang on," Ethan called, taking a sharp turn that threw Benji against his door. They sped off down another street and started gaining space. Benji poked his arm and gun out again, but in a hail of bullets the gun was shot out of his hand.
"Shit!" Benji yelled, yanking his hand back in.
"Did you get hit?"
"No," Benji shook his head, examining his hand. "The gun got hit, not me. I'm good." The tech was breathing heavily, much more aware of his own mortality in that moment.
Ethan swerved again and ducked into a parking garage, looping around sharply and parking the car right before hitting the wall. Their pursuers went speeding down the street, missing them. The sound of their roaring engine slowly died out as they drove into the distance.
The men let out heavy breaths.
"We should change cars," Ethan announced.
"Good plan."