Chapter 6: Fight Against Time
The reason why this chapter was split into two parts, it's because too long, and I'm afraid that people felt boring to read this. So I'm sorry about this, anyway, hope you enjoy!
Warning: bad grammar, mistakes, etc?
As the members of IMF were going to prepared the mission. Benji, who was opened the tablet showed the location of The Phantom and the Project Neosystem. "Wait, hold on, I found the location of The Phantom and Project Neosystem. And the place was The Phantom's hideout." Said Benji, Sadie, Ethan, and Luther glanced at Benji, as he showed an information.
"It's located in a remote area, but not on same area with Quantum Lab." He said, as he pointed the location of the area, on the screen that showed a map.
(Later On)
As the IMF members were on their way to The Phantom's hideout, with Ethan drove the car, while also communicating with Sadie, through a phone. The young girl was still inside the hidden base, nervously pacing back and forth while watching the live feeds from the surveillance cameras
"Sadie? Hello? Can you hear me?" Asked Ethan through phone.
"Y-Yes, I can hear you Ethan." Said Sadie, taking a deep breath to calm her nerves.
"Sadie, do you see any of The Phantom's henchmen and henchwomen, near that hidden place?" Asked Ethan, again.
Sadie, upon hearing the question, she nervously looked at the cameras, showing outside the hidden place, with worry. She looked at the camera, but finds nobody was there. She felt relief, of no signings of any The Phantom's henchmen or henchwomen came near the hidden place.
"I think no signs of The Phantom's henchmen or henchwomen near this hidden place. I'm just happy that they weren't here." Said Sadie, in a relief.
Ethan understood, but he also reminded her, "Stay alert, Sadie. The Phantom's people might try to ambush us while we're on our mission. Keep an eye on the cameras and don't hesitate to call us if you spot anything suspicious."
"Oh, okay Ethan." Said Sadie, and nodded in understanding, promising to keep an eye on the cameras and be alert. She continued to watch the live feeds, occasionally glancing at the cameras showing the outside of the hidden base.
"Let's hope no one tried to attack her." Said Ethan, in stern expression, with Benji and Luther agreed with him, while he kept continue to drive. As they were on their way, Luther turned to Benji, who was opened the tablet, while showing the location of The Phantom and Project Neosystem.
"Benji do you get any location?" He asked.
"!.. I got it, it was here!" Said Benji, "It was in the backside of The Phantom's hideout. It guarded, by at least three of The Phantom's henchmen stationed outside." He said
"There's also The Phantom's room, where it was a place for her to work." Said Benji.
"The room was on the top floor, it was on 3rd floor, and the room was on the end of the left hallway. He explained again.
"That means we should disguise as those henchmen…" thought Ethan.
As Luther noticed the screen, he showed a main source that use to control Project Neosystem, as he also explained it them "And there is a power source, where it connected to a platform that controls Project Neosystem. The platform has different buttons and switch, and that's the key to controlling it." As the screen of a tablet showed a power source and a control platform with buttons and switch on it.
As Benji and Ethan looked at the tablet screen, Benji's voice trembled, upon seeing the controller, and gulped in nervous "Those are must be ways to shut down Project Neosystem… I'm really unsure if I can do this… it's just like defusing bomb again…"
His voice was shaky, unsure of his ability to dismantle Project Neosystem. Luther put a reassuring hand on Benji's shoulder, giving him strength to face the task ahead. "You can do this, Benji. We have to stop The Phantom from destroying the world."
Hearing that, Benji took a deep breath and nodded, "Okay, I'll do it, if I could." He looked at Ethan, who nodded in approval.
Until he began to change the subject about disguise, as he asked in confused tone "But wait, how are we gonna disguise, without being suspected by other henchmen and henchwomen?"
"We will using accesories to covering head and faces, I'm sure they won't notice us." Said Ethan, Benji and Luther understood, as Ethan also said things to Luther:
"And Luther, coordinate us, when we were in The Phantom's hideout. And be careful if there are some of The Phantom's henchmen and henchwomen, that tried to harm you." Said Ethan, while he continue to drive. The members of IMF, were ready to stop The Phantom, shut down Project Neosystem, and protect Sadie. They knew that this mission was going to be difficult, but they were determined to succeed.
Meanwhile in The Phantom's Hideout, especially in Project Neosystem Chamber. The Phantom, standing in front of Project Neosystem, with two henchmen behind her. The phantom's right hand was on the control panel, and she activated Project Neosystem, that going to corrupt the worldwide data in 5 hours later.
The IMF, who still on journey, with Benji looked at the screen, he wide out shocked. After found out that Project Neosystem was already activated in 5 hours, he nervously said to Ethan and Luther "Umm, guys? Project Neosystem already activated, and we should be hurry!"
Ethan and Luther, upon hearing that were shocked. Ethan gripped the steering wheel, tightly and muttered under his breath "Damn it! We got no enough time!" He looked at Luther and Benji and said "Keep Sadie informed, we're going as fast as we can!" Both Luther and Benji agreed, as Ethan pressed down on the accelerator, sending the car speeding down the road.
Luther began to communicate with Sadie again, through a phone "Sadie? Are you there?" He asked "Yes, I'm here." Sadie replied, her voice sounding nervous. "What's going on?"
"The Phantom's already activated Project Neosystem," Luther said grimly. "We're on our way to the hideout as fast as we can, but we don't have much time." Sadie was wide out shocked upon hearing that, she couldn't believe that The Phantom had already activated Project Neosystem. She felt scared and alone, and worried something will happened soon. She also wondered if everything will be okay or not.
"Err… Don't worry Sadie, we'll get there in time. Just stay put and keep an eye on the cameras." Said Benji nervously, trying his best to reassure her. Sadie nodded, feeling a bit better knowing that they were on their way, but she also still hoping everything will be okay.
As IMF arrived near The Phantom's hideout, with Luther inserted microwave transponder into Ethan, and Benji's neck, while the two of them were wearing mask and hat, to disguise as a the henchmen of The Phantom. Ethan communicates with Sadie again, "Hello Sadie?" He asked.
Sadie, who was checking on the camera was wide out shocked after witnessing the camera, caught two henchmen and one henchwomen were outside the hidden place. Quickly replied him, through voice comm in trembling tone, "Ethan! I... I saw there are two henchmen and one henchwoman were tried to break into the hidden place! What should I do now?" Upon hearing that, both Benji and Luther were shocked and concerned.
"Stay calm, Sadie. Don't let them see you. Try to find a hiding spot and keep an eye on them." Ethan instructed, his voice stern but reassuring.
"Okay, if I could." Said Sadie, but as Ethan was about to ends the call, he was interrupted by Sadie who asked "Wait! Maybe you can accompany me with these voice calls?"
Ethan paused by what Sadie asked to him? He at first unsure if it was a good idea, because, why would a child wanted to "accompany" them with this dangerous missions? But the fact that Sadie also needs them to made her not alone, and it made Ethan had no choice and said "Okay, sure, Sadie. I'll leave the line open. Just be careful." He said, Sadie agreed, before he ends the call, and relaying the message to Benjiand Luther.
"Guys, Sadie wants to keep the line open, just in case. Luther, can you also coordinate the communication between Sadie and us?"
"Sure thing, Ethan." Luther replied, but as he he looked at the laptop showed Project
Neosystem with the countdown over 2 hours, he sighed, and said "But we also need deactivate Project Neosystem, before it's too late." He said.
Ethan and Benji nodded in agreement, and they quickly wore their head and face accessories, to covered their faces, while disguised as The Phantom's henchmen. While also Luther coordinate them, Sadie from outside, he also coordinate the communication with Sadie, either.
Both Ethan and Benji wore their hats and face accessories to covered their faces, while also disguised as The Phantom's henchmen. They entered the hideout, without hesitate.
As they entered the hideout, the main area was dark with a few lights on ceilings, the
noise of the machinery was audible in the background, and they could see the countdown timer on the small tablet on the table. The henchman guarding the area turned their attention towards Ethan and Benji, not recognizing them as disguised IMF agents. "What are you doing here?"
One of the henchman asked, raising an eyebrow from another henchman. "We were actually new henchmen here, and we're sent by The Phantom to make sure everything is going according to plan," Benji replied, his voice deep and authoritative, but he still nervous of being caught. The henchman nodded, seemingly satisfied with the answer, before he left them.
Both Ethan and Benji relieved for almost being caught by those henchmen. "Phew, that just… close..." Said Benji.
Ethan agreed, and he said "But we also act quickly."
"Benji, I'm going to find the elevator to the 3rd floor, and find The Phantom. And Luther, help Benji to find the directions to Project Neosystem Chamber." He said in serious tone, before he quickly ran and abandon Benji. But Benji was confused for not knowing the directions to the Project Neosystem Chamber.
Until Luther began replied, while seeing the map on the screen "It's in the backside, just follow the corridor to the left and keep going straight. You'll see a room labeled as 'Project Neosystem' on the wall."
"Oh.. uh.. okay, I'll be there." Said Benji before he left the main area. As Ethan quickly went find the elevator that took him to upper floor, and to find The Phantom's room. He avoid any other henchmen, around him, while also tried to "act normal", to avoid any suspicions from other henchmen and henchwomen. While Benji also quickly on his way to Project Neosystem chamber, and also tried to act normal, to avoid suspicions from other henchmen and henchwomen.
As Benji arrived at far from Project Neosystem door and saw guards stood up there, he felt nervous and asked to Luther through earpiece "Luther, should I act normal again towards those guards? I don't want to give away our plan."
Luther replied, "No need for that, Benji. Just keep acting normal and they won't suspect a thing." Benji began to act normal again towards those guards, trying to blend in with their surroundings again.
(Meanwhile, Around Hidden Place)
The two henchmen and one henchwomen break into hidden place, to find and capture Sadie. Sadie, upon seeing them broke into hidden place, felt panicked and confused of what should she do now? She then decided to hiding in some areas in the building, leaving a computer of voice calls of IMF members.
As the two henchmen and one henchwomen were in the yard, they began to opened the door, to find Sadie. While Sadie hiding in the closet and felt scared. The henchmen and henchwomen entered the building to find Sadie, but finds nobody was there.
Just as Sadie tried to avoid them, she accidentally made noise that distract those people. The three of them, upon hearing that made one of Henchman asked "What was that?"
The other Henchman replied "Probably a rat."
"Let's find in different corner, she could be here!" He continued. Upon hearing that, Sadie left out of shocked and scared, that they already knew she was here. She also began to hoping for IMF members could returned quickly to save her.
Back in The Phantom's Hideout, As Benji reached the Project Neosystem Chamber's door, and after he walked pass the guards, while also "act normal" he took a deep breath and opened the door. The door opened slowly, revealing a dimly lit room with few lights from lamps on ceilings and windows on wall. As Benji looked at the platform that controls Project Neosystem, he began to searching for the power source in the chamber, that connected to the control platform.
Meanwhile, with Ethan who arrived at the 3rd floor, the floor was a bit dimly lit, with few henchmen and henchwomen there, and two hallways, the left side and the right side. Ethan went to the left side of the hallway, where it was a direction to The Phantom's room. Especially the fact that the room was at the end of the left hallways.
In Project Neosystem Chamber, Benji found the power source on the wall. He excitingly told Luther and Ethan that he found the power source.
"Good job Benji, now you must started the power source, and returned to control platform." Said Luther, Benji nodded and turned the power source on, before he returned to the main console.
As Benji looked the control on main control platform he asked to Luther nervously "Okay, uhh… now what should I do with this?"
"Just follow the instructions that I gave you earlier, Benji. Now, the first button, and then the second one." Said Luther calmly, Benji nodded and did as Luther said, pressing the first button, before he will pressed the second one.
In the meantime, Ethan continued to walk down the hallway, until he arrived at The Phantom's room. He slowly open the door, revealing a dimly lit room, with many photos on wall. Ethan's footsteps echo softly against the walls as he takes in the chilling sight before him. The walls are adorned with numerous photos of the Bennett family, including images of Sadie herself. Ethan's jaw clenches with a mixture of anger and determination as he realizes the extent of The Phantom's obsession with vengeance "She's been tracking Sadie, and her family for a long time... too long!" He said grimly.
His voices on microwave transporter, inside him, was heard by Benji, who was in Project Neosystem Chamber, and Luther outside The Phantom's hideout. Both men were shocked, after revealing what Ethan said. "For too long? Well, that bastard really had it out for them all along!" Luther exclaimed.
"For too long?" Benji asked in shocked and nervous
"Like since long time ago?!" He asked again, Ethan replied yes, and explained about photos he saw.
Meanwhile, Sadie who was hiding in another room of hidden place, upon hearing that through voice call on laptop, wide out shocked in horror. She cannot believes that The Phantom had been watching her and her family, since very long time. "This is terrible, Ethan I'm scared…" she said.
Suddenly, The Phantom emerged from darkness, her presence casting an ominous aura over the room. Ethan tense, as his eyes locked at the vengeful figure in front of him. Her expression inscrutable, as she takes in his presence. "Ah Ethan Hunt, I must say, I'm impressed that you made it this far." She said calmly.
Ethan steps forward, his stance defensive, as he confronts his adversary. "We already knew what you did Freya, now give up!"
Freya smirked as she began to talked in sinister tone "Oh do you think it's enough for you to stop my plans? Well too bad, Project Neosystem cannot be deactivated, forever…" she said.
Upon hearing that, Ethan firmly said "We'll see about that. Whatever your plans are, I'll find a way to stop them. And I'll protect Sadie from you."
The Phantom mocking him, after the mention of Sadie "Protecting Sadie? You think you can keep her safe? She's seen what happened to those who cross my path. Her parents paid the price, and she will too."
Ethan's expression shifts to a deep anger, mixed with concern for Sadie, as he also clinches his fingers, as he was going to fight her. "You're wrong, Freya. Sadie is stronger than what you think, and as long as I'm with her, I will protect her."
The Phantom smirks, with amusement and cold as she watches "We'll see about that."
In a blur of motion, The Phantom lunges at Ethan, her movements quick and precise. Ethan anticipates her attack, blocking her initial strike and countering with a swift punch. The room erupts into chaos as they engage in a fierce hand-to-hand combat, each move calculated and deadly.