Ch. 6: Best Laid Plans
The team regrouped in DC, all gathered around a table, planning out their next move. Jane briefed them on the layout of the hotel. Their plan was to take out the guards and take Yanik's place at the meeting. Ethan would go as Yanik, and the team would go as guards. Benji nodded along and then talked about the layout of security. While at the meeting, they would gather intel and grab Kane if he showed. 'Yanik' would lure him away to speak to privately about Ethan, and the team would grab him, pulling him from the meeting. Then Brandt would go back out as Kane and disband the meeting.
"So, masks, then," Brandt announced, pulling out equipment to begin the construction.
"Great...Ethan as Yanik, Brandt as Kane...am I going as security?" Benji asked, running a hand through his beard.
He looked to Ethan, who drew a breath. "You're on Hunley duty."
Benji's eyes narrowed and a frown started, "What do you mean, Hunley duty?"
"We need someone to stay here with Hunley just in case."
"Why don't you have me watch the car while you lot go in?" Benji snapped before turning to Hunley, "No offense, sir."
"None taken," the director replied softly.
Ethan walked up to Benji and spoke quietly, "You're the best man for the command center job. There's no one I'd rather be my eyes."
"Bullshit. Hunley can do the job, I thought I was on-hand for this one."
"I think it's best this way."
"Best for who? Why are you sidelining me, Ethan? Haven't I proved to you that you can use me in the field? After everything with the Syndicate? You need me out there."
"I need you here."
Benji walked away from Ethan and went up to Brandt, who was trying to look like he heard nothing.
"What am I not being told?"
Brandt looked apologetically to Benji.
"Brandt," Benji replied threateningly.
"There's a chance it is a trap. That they wanted us to know about the meeting," Brandt replied quietly.
"So what if it is, you all can risk your lives but I can't?" Benji looked back at Ethan, "Like I'm some petulant child in a time-out?"
Ethan sighed, his shoulders dropping, "It's my call."
"I've been in danger before, damn near every time you get behind the wheel," Benji joked.
"Benji…"
He shook his head, "I don't understand. What did I do wrong?"
"Benji, listen," Ethan continued.
"No, honestly, do you not think I am capable of handling myself? Is it because-"
"You're not ready for this, Benji!"
The room went quiet. Benji was stung.
"I'm leading this team, I make the decision," Ethan spoke the words and ignored the taste they left in his mouth.
Benji swallowed down his feelings, "I see," he replied and left the room.
Brandt looked, wide-eyed from Ethan to Benji and watched the latter head down the hall. The room began bustling again, but when there was a lull in activity, Brandt hovered next to Ethan, wanting to say something, but not sure what.
"Can I help you with something, Brandt?"
Brandt paused a moment, looked back the way Benji left, then looked back at Ethan.
"What's going on with you and Benji?"
"You sound like Luther," Ethan laughed, "Butting in where you shouldn't."
"Luther said you'd say that," Brandt replied casually.
Ethan stopped what he was doing and turned to the other agent, "Luther?"
"Yeah."
"You talk about me to Luther?"
Brandt nodded.
"You talk to Luther? I didn't know you two were so chummy…"
"Well," Brandt began, "Now that he knows he can trust me we are on good terms. I was concerned about you and so I talked to him about advice."
Ethan shot him a look.
"I'm only trying to help. So...what is going on?"
"Nothing," Ethan replied, laughing and shaking his head. He walked over to the desk to check on the progress of the mask.
"Luther said you'd say that too, and I was supposed to call bullshit. I think he's right."
"That so?" Ethan asked, uninterested.
Brandt plopped into a chair and shot the back of Ethan's head a look.
"Seriously…"
Ethan didn't reply. Brandt let out a sigh and got up. "Luther gives his blessing, if that makes any difference."
Ethan turned around to look at Brandt, but the agent had turned and headed out of the room.
When the gear was finished and the team began to pack their equipment, Ethan went to find Benji. He found him tinkering in the lab quietly. Focused and determined. Ethan felt guilty for saying what he did. It wasn't true. He trusted Benji, but didn't trust himself to keep the other man safe. This mission was too close to home. Last time things got this dicey, he nearly lost everything. Ultimately down the road, he did.
"Benji...we're leaving. I just wanted to say…"
Benji swung around on his chair, angry frown on his face. In his hand was what looked like a dog tag, "This is possibly the world's strongest panic button," he began drly.
Ethan walked closer, looking at it.
"Pressing the little button in the middle will send a signal back to me that can be traced to practically anywhere and in near any condition. It can be a good distance below the earth, in many tunnels. The only thing that will impede the signal for certain is a faraday cage."
He handed it to Ethan, who opened his mouth to refuse.
"I will stay on the condition that you take that with you and use it if you need it," Benji interrupted.
Ethan knew he was serious.
"Take it or I'm going."
"Thank you," Ethan replied quietly.
Benji allowed a palm-raising shrug.
Ethan felt he should say something, but Benji beat him to it.
"You should get going. Good luck."
Ethan clapped a hand on the tech's shoulder, "Thank you, Benji. You too."
He turned to exit, leaving Benji behind.