Chapter 5: Unveiling the Truth
This one took a long time to finish this, because I was looking for ideas, so hope you enjoy! And I'm so sorry, if this one was way too long.
Warning: bad grammar, mistakes, etc?
(Meanwhile, In Somewhere Else)
Two of followers of The Phantom, one is the Henchman, one is the Henchwoman
were discussing about their recent failure in capturing Sadie. The henchman, who was clearly frustrated, angrily slammed his fist on the table. "We've been on this case for weeks, and we still can't seem to catch a break."
The henchwoman, trying to calm him down, replied, "It's not your fault, it's just that she's been very lucky so far. But don't worry, we'll get her eventually."
The second henchman, who was sitting in a chair at the head of the table, remained silent throughout the conversation. His eyes were cold, but there was an unsettling air about him that made the others uneasy. Finally, he spoke in a deep, gravelly voice.
"You're right, henchwoman. Our target has been quite elusive. But I have a feeling that things are about to change…"
The Henchman 1 and the Henchwomen were disbelieved from what the Henchman 2 had told to them. "What do you mean?"asked Henchman 1
"I have a plan. One that will ensure our success, where we could teamed up with The Phantom, to came and burst in, to captured Sadie herself. That girl won't be escape from us, and no one will be able to protect her." He explained the Henchman 1 and Henchwoman were agreed by the plan. With the darkness they lurked, they knew this was the plan they could use.
(Meanwhile, With IMF, After Arrived at Hidden Place)
The IMF were going to look deeper behind Project Neosystem, with Benji who already has a file, after Ethan sent it to him. He opened the laptop, and opened the file. Ethan and Luther looked at the laptop, while Benji was going to opened the file. Sadie, who was being curious about Project Neosystem, began to look at the laptop, she wondered about more explanations of Project Neosystem. "Hey, Benji, have you already get some informations?" She asked, while she held her mask.
"Hold on a second, Sadie. we just get here. Everything will be done at the right time." Said Ethan, interrupting her.
"But Ethan-" sulked Sadie.
"I said hold on a second, Sadie. We just get here, alright? You need to stay patient." Said Ethan, his tone was gentle, yet firm at the same time. Sadie sighed, but nodded in agreement. She knew that Ethan was right, but she couldn't help feeling a bit disappointed.
The team sat in silence for a few moments, waiting for Benji to finish downloading the file. As Benji finished downloading the file, he opened it up and began to read through the information, carefully.
And as he finished he began to explained to them. "Okay, uhh.. let me explained this." He said
"We all know that Project Neosystem was created by Sadie's parents, right? And her parents' goal is that they wanted to change the world, right? There's also even more things I found from this file." He continue, as he looked at IMF members and Sadie.
"What is it? Can you tell us?" Asked Sadie.
Benji began to explained, after read the file "We all know that Project Neosystem was created by Sadie's parents, right? And her parents' goal is that they wanted to change the world, right? There's also even more things I found from this file." He continue, as he looked at IMF members and Sadie. They agreed, as Luther told him to continue
"According to this file, it seems that Prof. Bennett and Celia were tried to do an experiment of using Project Neosystem. They at first… didn't caused any effect… Until a danger happened, caused by Project Neosystem." Explained Benji, Sadie felt sad, after the explanations that revealed by him.
"Both tried to fix the problem, but they failed… causing many people began to blame them for the failure they caused. Some of them are also tried to attacked them, even some of them tried to assassinate them…" he continued
"I think this made Prof. Bennett and Celia Bennett began to protect their daughter, from dangers, and from the people who tried to attack them…" continued Benji.
Ethan and Luther were surprised by the revelations in the file. They never knew about the full extent of the danger that Project Neosystem had caused and the lengths that Prof. Bennett and Celia had gone to protect their daughter. Both Ethan and Luther are also began to read the file further, to look more informations behind. Sadie, upon hearing the revelation, began to felt nervous and scared. She was wondering if her parents were just wanted to try their best, but they failed.
"I-I never thought my parents doing this… I mean.. they tried to do their best.. right?" Said Sadie, with a feeling of confusion and sadness.
The IMF members looked at each other, realizing the gravity of the situation "Uh.. yeas, Sadie. They did their best, they could and they were both trying to do good for the world. But sometimes, the results are not what we want them to be." Benji said, trying to comfort her, Sadie understood while Luther continued to read closely at the file.
Until he found some more reveals behind "I think I found more things in here." He said
"And look, there's seems to be a file contains a video over there." Said Ethan, as he pointed at the file. Benji clicked the file of a video, and began to watched it with Sadie and IMF. As video played, it showed Prof. Bennett, who was sitting on a desk, looking at the camera, while he was explaining about the Project Neosystem.
"Hello, this is Prof. Gregory Bennett, and I'm going to explained things about Project Neosystem, and its risk." He said
"You see, Project Neosystem was created with the intention of changing the world for the better. Me and my wife, we worked tirelessly to perfect it, and we believed that it had the potential to make a real difference." He explained
"But it seems that we were wrong," he continued, his voice sounding tired. "The project had some unforeseen consequences, and we failed to anticipate them. We tried our best to fix the situation, but it was too late. People were hurt, and the project was deemed too dangerous to continue." He said in trembling tone.
The video went on to show Prof. Bennett discussing the threats they received, including attempts on their lives. He explained that they had no choice but to go into hiding, leaving Project Neosystem behind. "We never wanted this for our daughter." he said, his voice cracking.
After the video finished, everyone in the room was silent for a moment, processing the information they had just learned. Ethan broke the silence, "So it seems that your parents were well-intentioned but made a tragic mistake. They were trying to make the world a better place, but it backfired on them."
Sadie nodded slowly, tears beginning to form in her eyes. "I... I never knew. They never told me." She wiped away a tear. "It's like they were trying to protect me from the truth." She said
"They were." Said Ethan gently, putting his hand on her shoulder. "It's clear that they loved you very much and didn't want you to be hurt by the truth about their failure."
"But now that you know, we help you understand and maybe even help you find a way to make things right." Sadie sniffled and nodded, grateful for their support.
As Luther observe the file, he found some information of The Phantom "And look, it seems that the serial killer, The Phantom who killed Prof. Bennett and Celia Bennett, is also a former colleague of Gregory Bennett. Ever since the experiment of Project Neosystem incident, she began to have a hatred towards the Bennetts. Due for how the system was uncontrollably targeting the people around her." he continued
"The incident.. caused the lost of her friend, caused by a mission went wrong, and made The Phantom get revenge on the Bennetts and killed the couple. She also even has henchmen and henchwomen to targeted Sadie, as her avenge." He explained
"These people who worked with her.. are also those people who often tried to kill other people around them. And even some of them are also rogue agents." He continue to explain, with Ethan observing the file, too.
"There are also more behind Project Neosystem." Said Ethan, while he pointed at one part of the file.
"According to this file.. Project Neosystem is more than just data manipulation. It's a global control system, that could cause a mass manipulation, that controls governments, economies, anything…." He said.
Hearing the revelations, Sadie was understandably shocked, and overwhelmed. She looked at Ethan and Luther with wide eye, "So, project Neosyste isn't just about manipulating data?" She asked, her voice trembling slightly.
"And i.. it's about controlling everything?" She continued, Luther nodded solemn "That's right, kiddo." He said.
"And we must stop The Phantom, for using a Project Neosystem in wrong hands. Before she could cause a mass manipulation and chaos." He added, Sadie looked at them in her eyes filled with determination. "I wanted to help you, yes I'm just a kid but I will work as hard as you guys to prevent them harming innocent people." She said, showing her courage and willingness to help.
The IMF members were impressed by her determination. They knew that they had to keep her safe while they uncovered the truth, but they also knew that she had a part to play in this dangerous mission .
Sadie looked at her mask, and took a deep breath. With her courage expression, she took a mask in case she need protection.
"I'm ready for this, with you guys!" She said.
(Later On)
The IMF continue to having a discussion for this mission, and how they also must protect her from dangers around her. "Okay, now we need to find ways to stop The Phantom, and Project Neosystem itself. There must be a key to stop Project Neosystem." Said Ethan, "Luther, what do you got?" Asked Ethan glanced at Luther, who was looked at the file on laptop, contains even more fact behind Project Neosystem.
"Well," Luther began. "When this Project Neosystem began to activated, this will lead to a duration between 5 hours, before it causing a huge data corruption." He explained.
"And we need to deactivate the system, before it's too late…" said Luther, as he looked at screen
"5 hours?" Sadie murmured, her heart racing. "But, what can we do in that amount of time?" She asked, looking at Ethan, Luther, and Benji for answers.
Luther thought for a moment. "Well," he said. "We have to find the main server of Project Neosystem and shut it down." He said.
"Benji, you go with me, to shut down this project." Said Luther, as he turned to Benji.
"Okay, I'll go, with it." Said Benji, when suddenly he was surprised by a task that Luther had told to him.
"Wait," he said. "Did you just said, that I go with you, to shut down this project?" He asked in confusion, and fear. Due for how this mission was reminds him of a mission of defusing a bomb.
"Do ya think?" Asked Luther, glancing at him, with eyebrow raise.
"Uhh.. sorry, it's.. nothing" Said Benji in embarrassment. Inside he gulped and felt nervous about the task that he will about to do. He with Luther, Ethan, and Sadie continued the topic to discussing about everything on this mission.
"Okay, now let's back to the discussion, let's start with The Phantom." Said Ethan.
"She also have many henchmen and henchwomen, out there.
Sadie, I want you to stay here." Said Ethan, Sadie was wide out of surprised, found out that she must stayed in this place.
"But why? Why you want me to stay here? I just want to help you.." said Sadie.
"unfortunately, we must kept you safe here. You are clearly young, and have a lack of training to defend yourself. And I'm sorry for this, Sadie." Explained Luther to her. Just as the IMF were going to left the hidden place, Sadie sighed as she also don't have any choice, but choose to accept this mission. She began to felt concerned about her safety, after being told to stayed in this place
"But wait! Hold on!" Said Sadie, the IMF were paused by her.
"If I stayed here, then how can I defend myself? What if those The Phantom's people capture me while you're gone? And what if they kill me?" Ask Sadie.
The IMF members smiles because they're sure their place is a rock solid fortress with top of the line protection.
"Don't worry kid, this place is the safest place in the world with active surveillance camera everywhere, so we still can see you even though we're not here." Assured Ethan. Sadie understood and felt grateful for that, for now on, the IMF were ready to stop The Phantom, shut down Project Neosystem, and protect Sadie. Even when they weren't all together
Chapter 6 will be coming soon…