11Ethan and Benji were walking briskly, moving their heads around and seeking for a suitable hotel. Besides it was a busy and exhausting day for them. After two or three, Ethan stopped near one. It was a bit royal one.
"This one will work." said Benji.
"Really! I mean that is a bit luxurious. FBI doesn't pay us to live profligately." said Ethan.
"Come on. We aren't staying here for a decade. Moreover, I am tired of walking. I need some rest." said Benji.
Benji was the first to enter the hotel, followed by Ethan. The hotel was not much large, perhaps the bright colors were making deceptions. It was a bit old fashioned. Ethan overtaked Benji and stopped a reception.
"Morning. Can we have a two rooms, please?" said Ethan.
"Now let me see... I am sorry, sir. But we don't have two extra rooms. Only one is extra. I apologize but you're gonna have share it." answered the receptionist.
"Yeah… That's the royal instincts" Ethan whispered to Benji.
Benji shut Ethan up and replied, "Not a problem. We can share. Just staying till evening."
"Perfect! Here, fill the forms" said the receptionist and passes the forms.
Benji filled all the forms and paid the rent. The receptionist handed over the keys and the card. Ethan grabbed them quickly and rushed towards lift. Unfortunately, the lift was engaged.
"On which floor?" asked Ethan and stared at the stairs.
"Not much. Only 23rd floor" Benji added with a smile.
"Stairs! They never worked for me" said Ethan sorrowfully.
After a minute or two, Ethan was dragging himself along the stairs, ahead of Benji. Ethan confirmed he was on 25th floor. Then, he rushed to the room, unlocked it and ran towards the bed, bumping into it.
"you became so lazy. Here's the thing, you go and get us two business class fight tickets to New York of evening and buy something from the grocery, then prepare breakfast." Benji commanded.
"Whoa! I'm not your servant. Besides, I don't know to cook anything besides French toast and Goulash." said Ethan.
"Well, French toast could work out. Good luck." Benji finished and left for taking a shower.
"Holy crap" exclaimed Ethan and left the room with great reluctance.
"Quick, or it will cool down. You won't like that." cried Ethan.
"Just a minute." replied Benji.
He came out of the bathroom and dressed up. Meanwhile, Ethan served French toast and teapot on the table. Benji came, sat and poured tea out. Ethan started the appetite.
"Remember our old days of being agent, carrying out missions. You and I, the Impossible Mission Force, all was so adventurous. I was the best." said Benji.
"Ok, now you are making up all. You were best. Huh. Remember in G.H.O.S.T mission, you nearly got us all killed, if it wasn't Brandt." Ethan said, sipping his tea.
"Oh really, that single bone newbie. What about mission J.A.D.E., he started crying because he was nearly shot. That too passed him by metre and half." cried Benji.
Both of them laughed.
"We were the best. We were the most successful ones." Benji quoted.
"Until mission E.G." Ethan interrupted.
A pause. Benji knew what he was talking about. The past never fades, and the one that always made Ethan regret. Mission Eagle Gang.
Two years ago, it was a weekend summer holiday. Ethan was packing things in his bag. He was in his twenties. His hair was long and he had no beard. His room was almost scattered with clothes. Like he was going on a holiday.
"Fast or we're going to miss this flight", said Benji, entering the room from the back.
Benji too was quite young. His hair was a bit shabby but nicely combed.
"Do you talked about this to Dave? asked Ethan.
"Yes. He gave us permission. And you don't want to wait for him to change his mind, do you?" answered Benji, zipping up the bags.
"Nope! Let's go." Ethan said, lifting the bags.
Benji left the room, climbed the stairs down, along with Ethan. Ethan handed over Benji his bag. They left the house. Outside, the taxi was waiting for them already. Both of them boarded the taxi and taxi left for the airport.
"Be quick. The flight is five minutes from being airborne." cried Benji.
Ethan hurried carrying the bags. Benji followed him, a little slow. Ethan boarded the plane. He acquired the reserved seats. Then, he laid flat on the seat, sighing a relief.
"Would you mind to pull in the legs?" a voice was heard.
Ethan lifted his head. His mind went blackout. A gorgeous woman, about in his early thirties was talking to him.
She had blonde hair. Her eyes were chocolate brown. One would almost fall in love with her. The glowing skinny girl, again asked.
"Excuse me, would you mind to give way?"
Again a pause. Ethan stayed quiet. Suddenly, he felt a kick on his legs. He gained consciousness. It was Benji.
"He's a bit gazing type." Benji told the girl.
"Oh! Poor man." whispered the girl to Benji.
Ethan now broke the silence.
"Oh! Hi... Umm… Sorry… What?"
"Are you crazy?" whispered Benji to Ethan.
The girl managed to hear. She chuckled. Ethan did the same, for no reason.
Benji noticed Ethan. He knew something was wrong with him.
"Maybe, he fell in…. Never mind." Benji said to himself.
The girl in a moment sat beside Ethan. Ethan, who was lost in her eyes, noticed that after a minute or so. He then moved his eyes away from her, but caught her glimpse after every moment. And the girls always chuckled, or sometimes felt shy on his act.
"Yeah, my friend has definitely caught fever" Benji again whispered to himself.
The plane went airborne.
"… But my dad never complained about it." said Ethan to the girl.
"Really, your family is so charming." the girl replied back.
"The plane will land in three minutes." the pilot said on the mic from the cockpit.
"Hey there, grab the bags quickly" Ethan ordered Benji.
"On it." Benji answered and stood up to put down his luggage.
Ethan helped him too. Then, he quickly pulled the girl's luggage out also.
"Is that one also yours?" Ethan enquired.
The girl nodded. In another second, the plane shook. The girl fell down. With all might, Ethan grabbed him. The girl lifted his head. They were close than they ever had been. Neither Ethan said something, nor the girl. They all went statue. Benji was fed up. He pulled the girl back.
"That close, and that quick. Control yourself or I'll encourage you to skydive from plane without any parachute" Benji commanded in Ethan's ears.
He too felt it was all fast. But the girl too didn't nag about it. Something was wrong. But Benji could even have thought about it for a moment. Ethan instead flushed the thought out.
The plane had landed by now. Ethan waited till everyone boarded off. But the girl merged in the crowd and didn't waited for them. Afterward, at the gate, she said with a little loud voice.
"Meet you, later." And then she disappeared.
"Where do you want to go first- café or the hotel?" Benji asked.
"Huh… Sorry … What. Oh! Hotel would be preferred. I need some rest." Ethan managed to reply.
"Is everything ok? I mean, you barely talked to me all the journey." Benji queried.
"No, everything is fine. Just need time to process thing." Ethan replied, departing the airport.
Benji waved his hand for taxi. A taxi stopped nearby. They both got in and the driver drove away.
A phone call was heard. It was Benji's mobile. He picked it up
"Hey, Dave! Don't tell me there is a call back? Benji asked.
"No hard feelings. I wasn't in the favor of this idea, still your luck that the mission spot is nearby your region. I'll send you the location of your team. They will tell you the mission. Good luck!" said Dave, the call ended.
Benji looked at Ethan. He was still in his paradise. Benji dragged him back on earth and told him everything.
Ethan said, "For Christ's sake, we just reached New York. Dave is such a…"
"Hey! Watch it." the driver interrupted.
Both Benji and Ethan looked at him with astonishment. He was a known, not that muscular, still pale looking American man. His jawline was quite inwards.
"John, what are you doing here?" Benji asked.
"I'm your team." John replied.
A pause.
"You?" Ethan questioned.
"No, not just me. I'm taking you to that location." John answered.
Then, he gave them both two shades. Ethan knew what it was. He unfurled and wore it.
"Good Morning, Mr. Hunt. You have been assigned to carry out Mission E.G. aka Eagle Gang. It is a terrorist organization. It remained hidden for lot many years, and it was very difficult to catch them. Just because of it, four remarkable agents of our died. Its history is attention-grabbing. Once it only supported out burglaries. But after one of their member, murdered someone, they totally evolved. For they always wear different masks, one is unable to recognize them. Fortunately, Ms. Faust found a lead on them. We currently know where they are.
Ms. Faust, accepted this mission as, the person killed by the gang member was his father. She now craves for justice, and will be a valuable asset to you. Another one, John you have met and the one you know, nothing important to talk about.
Your mission, should you choose to accept, is to infiltrate and disrupt the Eagle Gang. Remember, should you or any member of your team be caught or killed, the Secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions. Good luck.
This message will self-destruct in 10 seconds."
Ethan took the shades out. Then suddenly it sparked in his hand. It was destroyed. Ethan then threw it out. Benji too, did the same.
"Who is Faust?" Ethan asked John.
"You'll see." John replied.
"We are here." John said.
Ethan looked outside. It was like an abandoned basketball court. A van was standing at the side of the court. John stopped at the other side of the court. All of them boarded off.
"Now what?" Benji asked.
Before Ethan could ask the same question, a figure came out of the van. It looked like a woman. She came close, leaving Benji and Ethan puzzled. It was the same woman on the plane with them.
"You?" Benji probed.
"Yes. Agent Faust, Ilsa Faust." the woman responded.
She looked at Ethan. Ethan still was totally dumbstruck.
"You always leave me mystified." Ethan spoke to Ilsa.
A pause for a moment.
"All right. We don't have time to waste. Get in the van." Ilsa ordered.
Everyone did as she said. John took the driver seat and started driving. In back, rest three were sitting gaping at each other, or mostly at Ilsa.
"I'm sorry about your loss." Ethan said to Ilsa.
"Yeah! Me too. It must have left you overwhelmed." Benji joined with Ethan.
Ilsa realized that she was been spoken to and said tenderly.
"What… Oh! That… Yeah, you're right. At first, I couldn't think of anything apart from revenge. But the mournful face of my mom quietened me. But I always yearn for revenge. So I joined IMF, which gave me the opportunity to take retaliation of my father's death…."
She was beginning to sob a little.
"My mom lives in this city only. It's been about four months since I met her. Only after I serve the vengeance, I'll meet mom."
Ethan too by now was full of tears. Innocent people suffer a lot. What could have been the cause of killing acquitted one.
Ethan started, "You know, when I was young my mom passed away. Mother's love was like a dream to me. It came, and another second, it vanished. My father never recognized me as his sibling. He never paid attention to me, and always remained busy in staying drunk. I was enforced to carry out daily chores. And for once, really I was deeply enforced. My father caught cancer. I couldn't even pay to identify the cancer's name."
"He died after rather late time. Now, I was like fish out of pond. I didn't even have a head to cry on, until Benji provided one. He brought me to his uncle's. He himself was orphan, but he never let me feel my sorrows."
Two-minute silence tailed, broken by John
"We've reached the base."
Everyone's attention was seized. They all got off the van at once.
"Yeah! Vengeance is about to be served." Ilsa mentioned with a deep tone.
