CHAPTER TWO
Norfolk, Virginia –
On the day Ilsa made the choice to join the IMF, she felt conflicted. A sliver of her still believed that she had done her part, and the thought of starting over was tantalizing. Yet, this was the life she had chosen. We are never free, she knew. At least the IMF would be better than MI6. Also, there was Ethan Hunt. She'd join nearly anything if it meant working with him.
Though Ethan continued to have his concerns, being with Ilsa was more incredible than he could have imagined. She completed him just as he completed her. Regardless, they kept their relationship under wraps. Not even the rest of the IMF knew about them, though there were suspicions.
Then, Ethan found himself in the grocery store.
Ethan stood in front of the milk section with his basket firmly in his right hand. A scrawny man in a worker's uniform wandered by, dropping a note into the basket. Ethan picked up the note and read the typed text: Oat milk is good for your health.
He selected a carton of oat milk and headed to the checkout. Once he was in his car, he opened the milk and wrapped his lips around the carton. A flashing light came onto the side of the carton, indicating that his identity was confirmed.
"Good evening, Mr. Hunt. We have intelligence to support that the international arms dealer, Jose Carlo, has escaped from CIA custody. We believe he is working with a weapons maker in Columbia, and they are preparing to sell specialty equipment to rebels in North Korea. If these weapons make it to North Korea, we believe the rebels will use them to overthrow the military and claim their nuclear weaponry. They will then sell the nuclear warheads to the highest bidder.
"Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to go to Columbia and prevent these weapons from making it to North Korea. If you or any of your team members are caught or killed, the Secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions. This message will self-destruct in five seconds. Good luck."
Ethan tossed the milk carton out of his car window, watching it turn to dust as it exploded.
IMF Headquarters –
Ethan, Ilsa, Benji, and Luther gathered in the situation room. They waited for Brandt to arrive with the files they needed. Brandt rushed in with the folders, pausing to look at Ilsa.
"Ilsa Faust. It's been a while," Brandt said.
She nodded. "It has."
"How are you doing?" Ethan asked Brandt.
"I'm okay. Finished PT this week," Brandt replied. He had missed their mission to stop the Apostles due to a severe car accident. It had taken him weeks to return to duty, which had driven Brandt crazy. He handed out their folders with a solemn expression. "I was sorry to hear about Hunley. I wanted to be there in the worst way."
Ethan frowned at the memory of seeing Hunley's body on the ground. "I know you did. What do you have for us?"
"Passports, currency, the latest tech from our brains in equipment, and the files on Jose Carlo. He's not the kind of guy I'd ask over for brunch," Brandt responded.
Ethan flipped through the information. "I'd say not. He's as nasty as they come."
"You'd know," Ilsa realized. "This file says you're the one who captured him."
"I was," Ethan confirmed.
Benji whistled. "He is not going to be happy if he sees you."
"He's an arms dealer, Benji. They're never happy about anything," Luther retorted.
"Okay, yes, that is true. They are a cranky bunch," Benji agreed. "So, what's the play? Something dramatic or something understated?"
"Understated. It says that Carlo and his weapons maker, Jorje Gonzales, are expecting to meet the North Korean rebels in Cartagena. We are going to pose as these rebels and offer to buy the weapons. That should lead us to where those weapons are being held. Our best move will be to infiltrate wherever they're being stored and destroy the lot. That way, they can't fall into the wrong hands," Ethan explained.
"Simple. Works for me," Benji said.
Luther rolled his eyes. "You know they aren't keeping them in a broom closet. They're going to be heavily guarded."
"Well, you're the most capable team we've got. If anybody can get this done, it's you," Brandt said. He checked his watch. "And you have an hour to get on your plane to Columbia."
Benji snapped his fingers. "Right. I left my suitcase at home. I'll meet you at the airport."
"I hope they booked us decent seats this time. I need leg room," Luther mumbled.
Brandt followed Luther out of the room. "We tried, Luther. It's hard to get good seats at the last possible second…"
Once they were alone, Ethan and Ilsa held hands. Ilsa smirked at the expression on Ethan's face. It was a mixture of excitement and worry. "My first mission as an official IMF agent. It seems like you're happy about it."
"I like to work with the best," Ethan returned.
"I can't help thinking that smile is hiding something. You're concerned too."
He glanced at the walls, breathing deeply. "Can you blame me?"
"Ethan," Ilsa said as she took his jaw in her hand, forcing him to look at her. "We'll be fine. Nobody knows about us."
Just as she said it, Luther entered the room. He cleared his throat, which prompted Ethan and Ilsa to split apart. "Sorry for interrupting. I forgot my folder."
Luther picked up one of the folders Brandt had brought them. Based on his judgmental scowl, Ethan knew Luther wanted to talk. He glanced at Ilsa, who got the idea. She left the men alone.
"You and Ilsa?" Luther asked.
"Luther…"
"I told her to walk away if she cared about you, and she didn't."
Ethan glared. "We couldn't have stopped Lane without her. That's why she stayed."
"I just hope you know what you're doing."
"I don't, okay? I don't know what I'm doing. I never know what I'm doing. All I know is what I'm feeling. We already talked and agreed we'll stop everything if there's a safety concern."
Luther shook his head at that. "It won't be that easy, Ethan."
"We never said it'd be easy. We said we'd do it."
"I saw what losing Julia did to you. I'd hate to see it again. That's all I have to say about it."
Gulping, Ethan nodded his head. He didn't want to lose another love, but Ilsa was worth the risk.