Mission Impossibile: Rouge Nation

°•°|CHAPTER 4|°•°

After Ilsa threw herself out of the car, we found a secluded spot where we could hide the vehicle. We tucked it away in the shadows, pressing ourselves against the wall as a police car cruised by. The tension was thick, but we stayed still, not daring to move until the car was out of sight.

Once the coast was clear, we emerged from our hiding spot and began walking through the city, our steps quick but cautious. The streets were quieter now, but the weight of what had just happened hung over us like a cloud. We needed to reach our boat, our only safe place at the moment.

As we approached the dock, I scanned our surroundings, my eyes darting to every shadow and corner, making sure no one was following us. The last thing we needed was another ambush. Satisfied that we were in the clear, I nodded to Benji and Dad, and we quickly boarded the boat.

Once inside the boat, Dad handed Benji a flashlight while he worked on jump-starting the engine. As the boat's lights flickered on, it became clear that this vessel was old, with a design that screamed espionage. The interior was cluttered with outdated yet sophisticated gadgets, a testament to its former owner's covert operations.

Benji looked around skeptically, clearly unsettled by the boat's state. Meanwhile, I took out an old device form the wall, designed to recognize agents, and began fiddling with it. I also grabbed a screwdriver and touched it to some exposed wires. Sparks flew, causing Benji to jump in fright as the floor beneath him began to lower slowly.

As the floor stopped moving, Benji looked around in confusion, and I gave him a reassuring smile. Dad followed closely behind Benji, jumping down from the elevated platform. I followed suit, removing my heels before stepping onto the cold metal floor. Dad turned to me, carefully lifting me by my waist and lowering me down gently. He only released me once my feet were firmly planted on the ground.

With a flick of the switch, I turned on the main lights, illuminating the dimly lit space. I spotted a pair of jogging shoes near the entrance and quickly slipped them on, feeling instant relief as the shoes cushioned my sore feet.

When I turned around, I noticed a table near the entrance that hadn't been there before. Dad placed a passport on the table and began to list off the items. "New identity. Here's a passport, cash, a map, and a change of clothes in that bag over there. Everything you need to make it to DC undetected."

Benji looked bewildered. "I—I'm sorry, what?"

"Once you're there you'll need to inform on us," Dad continued, his tone firm. "You'll tell them the truth: that you came to Vienna believing you'd won two tickets to the opera, and we attempted to recruit you into assassinating the Chancellor."

Benji interrupted, his voice rising with disbelief. "No! That's not the truth!"

"Your life depends on them believing you, Uncle B," I said, stepping closer with my arms crossed. "It'll go easier if you tell them what they want to hear."

Dad nodded in agreement, adding, "It's the only way to ensure your safety. You need to give them the story that fits."

Benji, however, wasn't having it. "Sara, Ethan, at least tell me what's going on here!" His frustration was palpable. 

Dad and I exchanged a look, and after a moment of hesitation, I gave a subtle nod. Dad turned and grabbed a remote. "Do you recognize anyone?" he asked as a series of pictures popped up on two different screens, each image flashing for a few seconds before changing.

Benji and I moved closer to the screens. I leaned against the table, watching as the images cycled through. After a moment, Benji pointed to the right screen. "Him," he said decisively, and Dad stopped the slideshow immediately. I recognized the man immediately—he was the one I'd taken out in the lighting booth.