Chapter 7: Fight Against Time Part 2

Here's a final chapter, and I'm sorry for taking too long, because there's an error during the time, I wrote even some mistakes when this was written, so yeah hope you enjoy!

Warning: bad grammar, mistakes, etc?

Meanwhile, outside The Phantom's hideout, especially Luther who was in the car, and coordinating Ethan and Benji, hears The Phantom's menacing words. His usually calm demeanor shifts to one of deep concern. He quickly switches his focus back to Benji and Ethan. "Ethan, do you copy? We heard what The Phantom said. We need to take her down and stop Project Neosystem. Benji, how's it going in there?" He said over comms.

"I'm working on it, Luther. Just make sure Benji gets that system shut down." Said Ethan, who was grunting as he fights.

Luther then turned to Benji, and he said "Benji, keep going. We're all counting on you." His voice is calm and steady, providing the support and reassurance that Benji and Sadie need to stay focused on their tasks. Benji, who still working on deactivating Project Neosystem, and after he heard what The Phantom sinister words, over microwave transporter. His face went pales, as he processes the implications.

"Oh no… this is worse than I thought…" he said in nervous tone, as he doubles down on his efforts, frantically typing on the console, guided by Luther.

"Benji, focus. You can do this. We have to stop this thing, before it's too late." Said Luther in calm tone, as he guides him.

Benji felt both nervous and unsure, and said "I know, Luther. But do you hear what she said? She thinks this can't be deactivated…" Luther immediately said "Just keep at it. Ethan will be dealing with her, and we need to give him all supports we can." In calm but firm tone. Upon hearing that, Benji understood, and feeling a bit better. He continued to work on deactivating the Project Neosystem, his fingers flying over the console, with a guide of Luther.

Meanwhile, back at hidden place, Sadie, listens to the exchange through the computer. Her heart races as she hears The Phantom's threats and revelations. Tears well up in her eyes as she clutches her mask tightly. "Mom… dad… why did this have to happen?".

She feels a mix of fear and determination. The mention of her parents and The Phantom's threat weighs heavily on her. But she steels herself, knowing that Ethan and the IMF team are fighting for her, and for everyone.

But, despite her fear, she feels a surge of hope. She knows that IMF team is fighting for her and her parents' memories. She wipes away her tears and listens closely to the comms, finding strength of her determinations. "Come on, you can do it, Ethan. I believe in you." She spoke.

Meanwhile, Ethan and The Phantom's fight intensifies. They exchange blow after blow, each one landing harder than the last. The room echoes with the sound of their grunts and impacts. "You should stop this, Freya!" Said Ethan in firm tone.

The Phantom laughed after being told by Ethan, "Sorry, no." She said in sinister tone, Ethan grits his teeth and continues to fight back, refusing to give up.

The battle rages on, leaving both combatants battered and bruised. It's clear that this is a fight not just for their lives, but for the fate of countless others as well. Even their fighting it's not over yet, but it's clear that it's a deadly match. Until Freya took a controller, that sped up the Project Neosystem countdown from hours into minutes, with pressed the button and hold it, until she releases it. This causing Ethan shocked, and how he must quickly stop this monster.

Back with Benji who still working on deactivating Project Neosystem, with calm and precise instructions from Luther. And as he was going to continue, he was shocked, after seeing a countdown from hours into minutes. This made him must finished quickly before it's too late. S beads on his forehead as he connects wires and inputs commands into the control system. "Alright, Benji, stay focused. You almost there." He said through comms.

"Luther… the countdown just changed from hours into minutes." Said Benji in nervous tone.

"Yeah, I saw that too, and I ain't even shocked either. But we must finish this, Benji." Said Luther, before he continued to guided Benji.

Suddenly, Benji heard a faint knocking on the door, and it made him nervous, as his hands momentarily freeze. "Uhh… Luther? There's someone at the door, I think it might those henchmen." He whispered in nervous and fear tone.

"Benji, stay calm. You need to keep working on this." Said Luther in calm but firm tone.

Benji's mind races as he tried to think how he must with deactivate this dangerous technology, and now he got confronted the two henchmen. He subtly began to alert Ethan and Luther about an immediate danger. "Luther! We've got a company! Two henchmen just broke in." He said in nervous tone

"Benji, can you stall them while you finish the deactivation?" Asked Luther.

Benji who looked back at the main control panel, before he returned back to two henchmen, said "I uh… I think so." as he swallowing hard.

He then tried to choose words carefully, to talked to those henchmen "Look, guys, you don't want to mess with this system, it's already unstable, yet. And you could end up destroying everything." he said, hiding his nervous tone. He returned to the main control platform, The henchmen exchanged glances but they seem unfazed. They started moving toward Benji, as they going to stop him. Benji continued to work on the panel, his hands moving faster, as he tries to stay away from them.

"Step away from control panel, now! That won't get deactivated!" Yelled the second henchman, in a desperate tone.

Benji still won't listened, and just one of the henchmen is about to reached him. He grabs a nearby fire extinguisher and sprays it at them. Temporarily blinding and disorienting them. He returned back to the control platform, before he continued to work. "I did it, I defeat them!" Said Benji to Luther through microwave transporter.

"Good move, now keep going. We must deactivate Project Neosystem, quickly, before it's too late." Said Luther, before he continued helped Benji

Back with Sadie who still hiding from two henchmen and one henchwoman. As she watched the security camera from a bit distance, were they still searching for her in the corners of every parts. Suddenly, she hears footsteps approaching the room she's in. She gasped, as her heart races and realizing that they were getting closer.

"Come on, Sadie, think! You must do something, to avoid them." She said in her mind. She then takes a deep breath, trying her steady her nerves. She looked around the room, for anything that could help her, until she spotted a pile of boxes and a vent near her. "Maybe I can use those boxes to distract those henchmen…" she said.

"And this vent… maybe this could use this to another room…" she continued, but before she was about to hide, she looked her mask, wondering if she should wear it or not? Well to avoid being caught again, she wore the mask again, and put pile of boxes. Before she quietly opened the vent cover, and started to crawl into the narrow vent. It's a tight squeeze, but she moved as quickly and silently as she can. The sounds of two henchmen and one henchwoman searching around getting louder. Sadie tried not to make any noises, while crawling in the vent.

"We must find that girl, the boss wouldn't be happy if we failed to capture her again." Said the henchman, his voice muffled from another room.

"I bet she was hiding from here." replied the other henchman. As the first henchman steps forward, he trips over the boxes, causing a loud crash. The noises startle the other henchman and the henchwoman draw their attention. "What was that?! Did you find her?" angered the henchman.

The second henchman frustratedly said "Hey no! Just some stupid boxes, but she's close here, and I can feel it." Using the distraction thanks to a pile of boxes, Sadie continues to crawl through the duct system, searching for a safer part to huddle. She can hear commotion behind her, but knows she needs to stay focused and keep moving.

Finally, she reaches another vent and carefully peers through. She sees an empty room and decides it's her best chance. She pushes open the vent cover and slips into the storage in front of her, quickly closing the vent behind her. She took off her mask, and takes a moment to catch her breath, before she ran to the storage. As she arrived in the storage, she saw an opened window, looking back at those The Phantom's people who tried to capture her. "I must get out from here." She spoke.

She then began to climbed to the window quickly, so she can get out from the hidden place. As she went outside, she ran away, finding another place for hide, and avoided get captured by those henchmen and henchwomen again.

But little did she know, that she abandoned a voice call with her and IMF members on the computer security camera room. This causing her didn't replied voice message from IMF members, every time they tried to call her.

In Project Neosystem Chamber, after the two henchmen retreated to outside the chamber, and Benji locked the entrance from inside. Benji is still focusing on deactivating Project Neosystem, while he also guided by Luther.

"Alright, Benji, you need to bypass the encryption on that panel. Try rerouting the power to the auxiliary system" said Luther, through comms.

Benji nodded, and as he going to rerouted the power to the auxiliary system. Suddenly, he heard a banging noise from outside the chamber. It was noises of another The Phantom's people who desperately entered Project Neosystem Chamber, to stopping Benji, from deactivating it. The sounds of pounding fists and muffled voices echoes through the chamber, sending a shiver down Benji's spine as he realizes the gravity of the situation

"Luther! Those Phantom's people were trying to break in! I don't know how much longer I can hold them off." Said Benji anxiously

"Stay focused, Benji. You've got this. Just keep working on those controls while I figure out a way to buy us some time." Said Luther firmly, as Benji continue to do the task, as best as he could, even it was difficult.

Back in a battle between Ethan and The Phantom still continued, the desperate of hitting each other, and clashes still continued. Their fight escalates, with each blow echoing through the hideout. She lunges at Ethan with a series of swift strikes, which he narrowly dodges. The two continue their intense fight, neither giving an inch.

Freya lands a hit on Ethan, but he quickly recovers and counters with a powerful punch that sends her staggering back. The fight was so intense, between the one that protect innocent against the one who wanted a vengeance that ended up harming innocent.

It wasn't until they stopped, despite it's not over yet, and the time of Project Neosystem is still ticking yet. The tension was changed, as Freya was about to speak. "So, this is how we finally ends, Ethan. No one could able to stopped Project Neosystem." She said in sinister tone.

"And no one could able to protected Sadie, not even anyone like you and IMF." She said in sinister tone. Ethan still annoyed, upon hearing that.

"And, I bet that my three people are finally able to captured and killed Sadie." she continue again.

Ethan mixture of annoyance and concern, tried to call Sadie from hidden place, through his microwave transporter, that connected to a computer where Sadie use for communicate with him and IMF. "Sadie, Sadie? Are you there?" He asked.

"Oh, so you tried to call her, huh? How sweet." Said The Phantom as she smirked.

Ethan tried to call Sadie, but unfortunately, she didn't reply. He tried to call her again and again, yet she didn't reply. It's all because in hidden place, Sadie escaped because of being chased and searched by those The Phantom's people.

And no matter how Ethan tried to call her, she still didn't reply, this made him gave up to call her. This made Ethan felt regret, and thinking that she finally got captured and died at the hand of The Phantom and he failed to protect her. The Phantom smiled and thinking that she had her victory "See? She is finally gone, and you with IMF are failed to save that girl…," said The Phantom.

"And I finally did it. Eliminating that pathetic brat and her worthless family…" she continued again.

Ethan then closed his eyes, until he opened his eyes a few seconds later, after he began to denying The Phantom. As it showing that he was sure that Sadie is out there hiding from The Phantom's people, and he sure that no matter how difficult it is, Project Neosystem could be stopped. He also doesn't trust what The Phantom said, as she knew that what she said is a lie.

Until The Phantom received a call from her two henchmen and one henchwoman, who still searching for Sadie. The Phantom smiled again, and said "Ah, the call from this three, I bet they finally get that child."

Benji who felt nervous but also begged "Please tell me if she was alright?", but neither Ethan or Luther said anything, but they still know that Sadie is still alive.

In the city, where hidden place located. Sadie was hiding in a restaurant from a secluded area, while also waiting for IMF, as she looked at the window. She also gets scared and worried about Project Neosystem "Don't let this technology harm innocents…" she begged, as she closed her eyes.

When The Phantom called them through her walkie talkie, one of the henchmen said in annoyance tone "Ugh boss! We still couldn't able to find her in this goddamn place. Even we could hear some noises that basically has her sighting. Yet, she's still nowhere to be found."

Causing a surprised from The Phantom and IMF members. Upon hearing the revelations from Henchman, Ethan wasn't just surprised in relief and concern, as he also knew that Sadie survived, though he and IMF were remained focused and alert. "That means she must be alive, hiding out here." He said under his breath. Luther agreed and smiled in relief, with a bit of concern, just like how Benji does. He surprised with a hint of smile, and knew it that Sadie is alive, before he returned to do the task

Hearing the revelation of one of her henchmen, The Phantom get furious and realized that she had failed to killed the girl "Seriously?! You failed you capture her again?!" She asked.

"Yeah, unfortunately. It's just she suddenly disappeared like a ghost." Replied henchwoman.

The Phantom began furious, after seeing a failed missions of her three people, this made her said "Ugh why can't you just die, Sadie?!" As she clinches her finger.

Much of her anger, she quickly took the controller, "Ugh fine! If I can't have her, I'll make sure my plans succeed!" She said in furious tone, she slams her hand on the button that changed the countdown of Project Neosystem. But nothing happened, even she tried again, and still, nothing happened, yet.

"What the...? Why is this not working!" She said in desperation and anger, she checked the screen, and shocked. As she realized that the screen that usually showing countdowns, is now deactivated, thanks to Benji, who quickly deactivate Project Neosystem, before The Phantom was going to speed up countdown, so it could quickly corrupt the worldwide data.

Back in the hidden place, her three people, upon hearing that The Phantom's frantic attempts to activate Project Neosystem through their earpieces. Followed by their realizations that it's not working, with their eyes with shock and disbelief. "Wait, did she just say it's not working?" asked the first henchman, incredulously.

"We've failed again, and she going to blamed us for this." She said grimly, with annoyance expression.

Back at The Phantom's hideout, especially The Phantom's room, The Phantom tried to different methods to reactivated the system again, and yet, it's ended with failure. She frustrated and threw the main controller to the ground, and feeling desperate. "This can't be happening! You, your IMF scum, and that brat supposed to lose!" she said in anger.

Ethan with serious expression, stepped forward to Freya, who was shocked as she saw him in fear expression. "It's over for you, Freya." Said Ethan. Freya, upon seeing her defeat, she felt unhappy and annoyed, as she feeling down.

(3 Hours Later)

In the hidden place, after The Phantom's three people finally retreated, after they gave up to search and capture Sadie again. Sadie returned to hidden place, waiting for IMF members to returned to her. She felt exhausted but also feels a lot of hope that IMF were all okay and able to defeat The Phantom and stopped Project Neosystem.

Until she saw a car came towards to the hidden place, looking at the car, Sadie at first was confused, but as the car approaches closer, and Sadie looked closely a recognized the car, that was used by IMF members. Sadie surprised and ran to the outside of hidden place building, waiting for their arrival. As The IMF arrived in hidden place, they stepped outside the car, as they reunited with Sadie. Sadie with a wide surprised and excitement ran towards them "Guys!" She said, and hugged Ethan.

Ethan taken back at first, and kneel down and returned the hug, feeling relief and gratitude to her. The other IMF members also felt gratitude by that. Sadie looked at him, and said "I thought you guys were failed to stopped her and that dangerous tool…" Said Sadie.

Ethan, smiled, his hands on her shoulder as he said "No, we did manage to stopped her and Project Neosystem. And I'm really grateful that you had showing your courage." Said Ethan as he smiled.

Benji who still remembered the task of deactivating Project Neosystem felt and traumatized by that task, and said "Yeah, and I cannot believe how difficult that task was, even I almost failed..." His hand scratches the back of his hair.

Luther chuckles at him for his embarrassment, but he also pats his shoulder and said "Don't worry Benji, we got your back as always." Benji looked at Luther and smiled, feeling grateful that he still has a friend who supported him. Both Ethan and Sadie smiled at Luther and Benji, before they release their hug. The four of them were going in to the hidden place, to took a break, and prepared to returned to safehouse later, and IMF members also turned Sadie as the protégé.

(The Next Morning, At IMF Safehouse)

The morning sunlight filters through the windows of the safehouse, casting a warm glow over the room. Sadie and IMF members were gathered around the room chatting together, as they watched a breaking news report.

The screen of television showing a news anchor said a stunning turn events, that the authorities have announced that Project Neosystem will be kept in a highly restricted facility. Ensuring that it remains forgotten, and inaccessible to those who would seek to use its power. The decision comes in a wake of yesterday's dramatic events showing that The Phantom and her people ended up charged and the dismantling of her nefarious plans.

As the report continues, the room fills with a sense of relief and satisfaction, knowing that the threat of Project Neosystem has been neutralized once for all. "Another mission accomplished, unlike how we ended up failed again after listening to what Freya said about Sadie again…" Said Benji.

Ethan nodded in agreement, he also sighed to even remembering that incident "I really don't trust what she said, not after she claimed that she finally eliminated Sadie and made to think that our mission failed." He said as he sighed, Luther nodded in agreement either, as they continued their conversation

Sadie upon hearing was also nodded, and she began to lightened the mood as she looked at them "Y'know, even I'm losing both of my parents, I'm still grateful to have you guys! Because you are my family, right?" Said Sadie as she smiled.

The IMF membered softened at her, and they also agreed with her too, even including Ethan himself "We do care about you, Sadie. And we will always with you." He said, his voice calm and caring. Sadie smiled and happy that knowing she still have IMF who always be her new family, even she was a protégé of IMF, but she will always be their family.

THE END