Chapter 4: Hendricks

"How will the world finally end?"

Kat sat in the corner of the car, hugging her knees carefully and trying to stay out of Ethan and his team's way as she watched the video playing on the screen. Agent Carter had been right in assuming they would be slightly big, but the warm and dry sweater and jeans were a gift from heaven as far as Kat was concerned. Benji Dunn was sitting across from one of the screens, his finger pressed to his lip thoughtfully while Jane Carter stood against the side of the wall, both watching a recording of a younger Hendricks giving a speech.

The translator spoke at intervals through Hendricks' Russian speech, providing the English translation as Hendrick said: "It is my job to predict the unthinkable. To treat the death of billions as a game. After twenty years of this, I was none. Until a new question crossed my mind. What happens after the end of the world."

Kat tried to ignore the video, watching Ethan, as he sat in the corner of the room, muttering on the phone, and Brandt, as he paced about the car thoughtfully. The analyst had also changed, switching into combat pants and a thick sweater, both of which fit him better than Kat's clothes fit her, and he kept playing with the zip of his closed sweater as he paced.

"Every two or three million years, some natural catastrophe devastates all life on Earth. But life goes on, and what little remains is made stronger. Put simply, world destruction is an unpleasant but necessary part of evolution."

Kat flinched as there was a loud whooshing noise from nearby and she, along with Carter and Dunn, glanced over to see Brandt had accidentally leant against a wall panel to reveal an entire wall of firearms. Brandt glanced at them all sheepishly, moving away from the wall and choosing to pace once more as the recording went on:

"When mankind faces the next end of the world. I look to Hiroshima, Nagasaki," Kat glanced over as Ethan's voice became harsher though his words were still muffled in a low murmur, "thriving cities, rebuilt from the ashes. Monuments to unimaginable, dedicated to the concept of peace."

Kat watched as Ethan hung up and he turned slightly, meeting her eyes briefly. Kat quickly looked away, looking down at her hands as the recording continued: "It's occurred to me here, that nuclear war might have a place in the natural order."

The air in the car had thickened, everyone tensing.

"But only if it could be controlled. Only if touched every living soul," Kat looked up just in time for Hendricks' last word: "equally."

Her hands curled as she understood the Russian word, echoed by the English translation just seconds later. The video paused as Hendricks stared at the camera, his blue eyes cold and emotionless. It honestly terrified Kat how dead his eyes could look, even throughout his powerful and almost equally terrifying speech.

The rest of the agents turned to Ethan, who had stopped the video, but Kat continued to stare with wide eyes at the image on the screen as Ethan explained to his team: "IMF now believes that this man, Kurt Hendricks," he clicked a remote to switch all the screens from the video to an image of the man himself as he left a building, "is a nuclear extremist, codename: Cobalt."

The rest of the team studied the photo as Ethan continued: "Today he was seen leaving the Kremlin, with what was most likely a nuclear launch device."

Dunn and Carter glanced at him thoughtfully, weighing the news while Brandt sank to squat against the wall in one corner of the car, sitting back on his hunches as Ethan pulled up a different photo.

A beautiful, perhaps French, woman appeared on the screens and Kat examined the new face as Ethan went on: "A few days ago, Sabine Moreau killed one of our agents in Budapest."

Kat noted, with some confusion, that the comment seemed to hit Carter hard, the agent curling her hand into a fist as a flash of sorrow crossed her face. Kat wondered as to its cause, but glanced back at Ethan as he relayed: "Relieving him off Russian nuclear launch codes. Intel indicates she will check in the Burj Hotel in Dubai," he showed them a picture of the famous landmark hotel, "in 36 hours."

Kat glanced around at them uneasily, briefly meeting Brandt's gaze before she lowered her eyes back to the ground as Ethan went on: "Mariusz Wistrom is known operative of Cobalt."

He showed them another photo of a man with a neatly trimmed beard, and he added grimly: "Wistrom is currently on route to Dubai."

Dunn's brows knit in thought as he listened to Ethan as the latter explained: "For the launch device to work, Cobalt needs the activation codes. He's sending Wistrom, to buy them from Moreau."

Ethan paused before he said quietly to his team: "The Secretary is dead."

Dunn and Carter both blinked, the news clearly taking them by surprise, while Brandt bowed his head. Dunn and Carter's expressions turned grim as Ethan continued seriously: "The President has invoked 'Ghost Protocol'. We're shut down."

Kat glanced at him. Was that what 'disavowed' meant? Ethan went on, as though he hadn't seen her reaction: "No satellites, safehouse, support or extraction. The four of us," he indicated himself, his team, and Brandt, "and the content of this car are all that remain of the IMF."

Kat glanced at him again, her brows knitting thoughtfully as Ethan continued: "And as if this moment any actions are unsanctioned. So if you want out, speak now."

He looked to each member of his team, and neither Dunn nor Carter replied. Ethan's eyes then moved to Brandt, who opened his mouth as though to speak before he paused. He seemed to be weighing something, although what they could only guess. Finally, he simply shut his mouth once more, his silence conveying his answer.

Ethan continued, satisfied that his team was committed to him: "Our mission is Hendricks."

He pointed at a picture of the man as he continued firmly: "We're all that stands between him and his goal, nothing can be left to chance. Everyone connected with this man, is considered an asset with valuable information about our target."

Carter's brows were knit in a mix of thought and pain as she stared at the picture of Moreau, but she glanced back at Ethan as he finished sternly: "No one can know we're still online. We lose Hendricks now, we lose him forever."

Kat frowned while Carter immediately asked: "So, what's the plan?"

"Wistrom will take delivery from Moreau in 36 hours." Ethan explained. "Now we can not let the launch codes leave the hotel. But we need Wistrom to lead us to Hendricks."

He pointed between the photos and Kat frowned. She was about to say something, but decided against it, keeping her mouth shut. Brandt spoke up instead as he pointed out flatly: "He'll only do that if he has the codes."

Ethan made to answer, but Carter interjected: "Or if he thinks he has them."

Kat's frown deepened as she noted the many ways this plan could go wrong, but she also listened attentively as Ethan cut in, borderline ordering as he leveled a pointed look at Carter: "Our objective is to intercept the sale. Replace the authentic codes with counterfeits. And follow Wistrom to Hendricks."

"Well, that's, that's simple enough." Dunn commented as he stood up. Kat watched him in surprise as he began planning aloud: "We just, we snatch the codes, we generate some fakes. Jane," he pointed to Carter, "you double Moreau and sell the codes to Wistrom. And Bob's your uncle!"

He turned to Ethan with a satisfied smile. Kat gave him a flat look, clearly unimpressed, and Brandt had a similar expression on his face as he pointed out: "And, uh, how do you propose that we just 'snatch' the code from Moreau?"

"You take her out." Carter said flatly. Kat tensed, glancing at the woman as she heard a dark undertone to her voice, and she saw Ethan also glance at Carter.

Dunn paused before he agreed quickly, amending Carter's words slightly: "Yeah, we take her out, but you know, discreetly."

Both Kat and Brandt had looks of clear disbelief on their faces, and Brandt deadpanned: "'Discreetly'."

"Yeah." Dunn replied, before he glanced at Ethan. Seeing the other man's face, he corrected quickly as he held up his hands in surrender: "Right, she's an asset. Right.

I get it. Sorry."

Carter turned to glare at Dunn in disbelief, cornering him as he looked between her and Ethan, and he pointed out: "Nothing left to chance, he said." He gestured at Ethan. "I'm just, I'm spit bowling. You know, it's not all going to be gold."

Brandt had turned his head away with a roll of his eyes while Carter pursed her lips, and Kat saw a silent warning pass from Ethan to Carter, a warning Carter was clearly not happy to see. She wondered what was the cause for Carter's tension, before she tensed as well as Carter snapped at Ethan: "What?"

The agent was clearly on edge about something as she said angrily: "It's bad enough we have the extra liability." She gestured at Kat, making the younger woman flinch slightly. "She could compromise the whole mission; we can't afford to play nice and lose them."

"I don't want to be a liability." Kat murmured quietly, drawing their attention. "I won't get in the way, I promise. Or, let me know what I can do to help..."

"Your presence alone is a danger to the mission." Carter pointed out bluntly. "The last thing we need is for you to get in our way."

Kat blinked, clearly taken aback by the harsh words before she dipped her head, tucking her chin on her knees as she avoided looking at the agitated female agent. Brandt had turned back, frowning slightly as he examined Carter, his expression thoughtful, while Dunn winced.

"Jane." Ethan's voice wasn't sharp, but his tone was dangerous as he said to Carter sternly: "Leave her alone."

Carter's jaw tightened but Ethan's gaze held another warning, one that she knew was deserved. She jerked her head once, and Ethan continued, looking at Dunn: "We don't touch Wistrom-"

"All right." Dunn answered, clearly not wanting to get into an argument, and Ethan's eyes moved back to Carter as he added severely: "- Or Moreau."

Kat glanced up quickly, catching the murderous look that passed Carter's face before she looked back down quickly. Carter's words had stung enough that she didn't want to get further on the woman's bad side, but Ethan held no such reservations as he walked up to Carter, saying quietly but firmly: "She'll answer for Hanaway, but it has to be when I say."

Kat glanced up again as Ethan stopped before Carter, saying sternly: "After we had Hendricks."

Kat caught the look on Carter's face before she nodded once to show she understood. It was a look of utter anger and despair, and Kat instantly knew what was wrong with the agent.

'She loved him.' Kat realized. 'The agent called Hanaway, the one Moreau killed.'

There was a brief silence, the tension inside the car so thick Kat was certain she could cut it with a blunt knife. Ethan finally dismissed his team as he ordered: "Get ready."

The three immediately sprang to action, moving around the car as they grabbed gadgets, guns, and bags while Ethan called: "Only pack what we need."

"Yeah absolutely." Dunn agreed as he grabbed the largest bag he could find. "Only pack what we need-" Ethan removed the bag, replacing it with a smaller one, "-You never know." Dunn whined.

Kat did her best to stay out of everyone's way, curling into a small ball in the corner by the toilets. She kept the path into the toilet clear, letting Carter in so that the agent could grab essentials from inside, while she watched uncertainly as everyone else moved about busily.

Dunn came over, intending to grab the gear for their masks but paused when he saw the young woman sitting like a lost puppy in front of the hidden cabinets. He walked over, surprising her as he patted her back, saying apologetically: "Sorry about that, love. Jane's just... really stressed right now."

"It's okay." Kat sighed. "She only said the truth anyway."

"Um..." Dunn began, not knowing how to reply. There had been no self-pity in her voice as she spoke in a matter-of-fact tone. If she'd been downhearted about it he might've offered some comforting words, however meaningless, but he wasn't sure how to deal with this civilian's realistic approach.

Kat glanced up at him, seeing the way he shifted uncertainly and she frowned slightly in confusion. Realization hit her and she glanced back at what she'd assumed was a blank wall but probably wasn't.

"I'm in your way, aren't I?" She asked and Dunn sighed before he nodded sheepishly.

Kat moved, shifting to sit in the other corner of the car and letting Dunn get passed her to the masks. He wanted to say something, anything, but he wasn't sure how to go about doing that. And for once in his life, Benji Dunn chose to remain silent instead of sticking his foot in his mouth.

Brandt had observed the brief interaction, noting all the small signs coming from their bodies and particularly the resigned air around the civilian. He glanced up as Carter returned to the main compartment, watching as the woman also paused to look in the younger woman's direction. He saw Carter bite her lip, a flash of guilt passing through her eyes, before she turned away and continued packing.

Brandt sent one last look in Kat's direction before he also turned away, refocusing on his packing and just missing as Kat glanced in his direction. She wasn't sure what to do with herself, and found herself continually looking between Ethan and Brandt, unsure of what to do but wanting to at least help the people she felt a little more comfortable with.

Kat was just debating whether she could work up the courage to go ask Brandt if he needed help when a bag appeared in front of her face and she jumped a foot into the air. Spinning around, she saw it was only Ethan and he smiled at her kindly as he saw the startled look on her face.

"Sorry for scaring you." He apologized. "Here's a pack for you."

Kat took the offered carrier bag gingerly as Ethan listed: "It's got some water bottles, basic toiletries, a spare set of clothes, and communication units. I don't think you'll need anything else."

He smiled slightly at the end and Kat nodded, noting the wry tone in his voice at the end.

"Thank you." She said quietly and he nodded.

"It's no problem, and it's my fault you got dragged into this." He spoke a little louder than she'd expected him to, and she looked at him curiously.

"Not really..." Kat began slowly, but Ethan acted like he didn't understand what the problem was as he continued in a voice that could carry across the car: "It was my fault that my tech was found on you, and your life was jeopardized. I owe it to you to get you home, just as I promised you I would. It just looks like we'll be making a quick stop before that. Think you're up for it?"

Kat frowned, nodding slowly in answer to his question as she tried to work out why he was being so obnoxious about it. First of all, while it was technically his fault she was mistaken for a terrorist, he was also the one who helped her out of the hospital. And second of all, no-one would've even mistaken her for a terrorist in the first place if it hadn't been for Ethan, because she would've been dead from that explosion at the Kremlin. He'd saved her- everything after that was just something neither could've controlled.

So it made her feel uncomfortable every time he blamed himself for her current dilemma, but this seemed just plain weird. Like he was laying out the problem in a way so as to leave no room for arguments... even though she'd been there.

Ethan smiled, satisfied with her nod, and was about to get up when Kat asked, deciding that being blunt didn't matter: "Why are you talking to me like I'm two?"

He blinked, while Dunn snorted, almost choking on his own spit and Brandt suppressed a laugh. Kat's frowned deepened as she glanced over at the others before she noted the somewhat sheepish look on Carter's face. She blinked, suddenly realizing why Ethan had been speaking so strangely, but Ethan cut in before she could say anything: "No, it was nothing. Sorry if it seemed like I was treating you like a kid."

"No, no, you weren't." Kat said hastily as she tried to mend the mistake she'd made. "And thanks for looking out for me. Really. I should be the one apologizing."

"There's nothing you need to apologize for." Ethan replied firmly, patting her shoulder as he stood up and walked back to finish his own packing.

Kat glanced at Carter uneasily, catching the older woman's eye. Carter smiled a little tentatively, clearly trying to apologize for her outburst earlier and Kat was eager to show she didn't hold it against the other woman. She nodded back at Carter as Ethan zipped up his bag and ordered: "Let's go."