War Games (S2E6): Missing Scenes

Disclaimer:  I do not own either of the Mission: Impossible series or any of the characters therein.  I receive no compensation or any other tangible benefit from this story.  I am just a fan who enjoys taking the team out for an adventure every now and then.  🙂

*****

The four agents traveled a few miles outside the base, until Grant was sure that they had not been followed. Then he stopped the car on the side of the road, got out, and went around to the trunk. He opened it with a pop and pulled down the back panel. 

Max stuck his head out and peered sideways at Grant, a big grin on his face. “Ah!” 

Since Max’s hands were still cuffed together, Grant helped him climb out. Once the blond agent was on solid ground, he grinned at his teammate. “You missed a couple of bumps back there,” he quipped. 

Grant slammed the trunk closed and glared at Max for a moment. Then he shook his head. “Complaints, complaints,” he jibed, feigning indignation. He returned to the driver’s seat, while Max slid into the front seat beside him. 

“Thanks for bailing me out,” the blond said sincerely. 

“It’s a good thing we were prepared,” Grant muttered crossly. "And it’s a good thing you were able to crawl into that false panel in the trunk."  The Black agent glared at his teammate.  "You could have blown the whole mission," he scolded.

Max’s grin instantly faded, and he turned his head to look over his left shoulder at his team leader. 

“I’m sorry, Jim,” he said sadly. “They grabbed me before I could look for the missiles.” 

Jim shrugged in response. “We’ll just have to find another way in,” he responded. 

To Nicholas, Jim seemed indifferent, and Grant seemed almost angry, at what Max had just gone through.  This irritated the dark-haired agent greatly; he'd been worried about his friend ever since finding out he'd been grabbed.  Suddenly, almost involuntarily, he heard his own voice.

“Preferably one where you won’t get the hell beaten out of you,” he growled.

Max turned further in his seat and gazed at the dark-haired agent.  “What do you mean, Nicholas?” he questioned, a slight tremor in his voice that only Nicholas noticed.

“Your face, Max,” Nicholas explained, in a tone that was somewhere between anger and concern.  “It’s all bruised up, and your lip is busted.”

“Oh, that,” Max returned dismissively.  “No big deal.  They just got a couple of lucky punches in, that’s all.”

Nicholas nodded silently.  He didn’t really believe that was all there was to the story, and Max's response did little to quell his concern.  But since the others didn’t seem nearly as alarmed, he decided -- at least for the time being -- to let things go.  Perhaps later, when he got a few moments alone with Max, he would get the full story.

*****

Grant was concentrating heavily on manipulating the wiring in General Szabos’ computerized display map, when suddenly a distinctive voice caught his ear.

“Guard, take the Countess back to her cell.”

“We made a deal."

Grant raised up from his perch and looked down to see General Szabos speaking with Shannon, who was being flanked by a guard.

“Deals are made to be broken, Countess,” Szabos replied.  “But since you’ve been good enough to tell me of Captain Souchek’s treachery, I’ll reward you.”  The General walked around behind Shannon, standing at her right shoulder.  “In honor of your royal heritage, I’ve decided that in a few short hours, you will die.”  He paused and smirked.  “Heroically, in battle,” he added.

Grant sighed heavily, his face a mask of worry as he crouched back into his hiding place.

“Take her away,” Szabos commanded.

“Yes, sir,” said the guard.  He then escorted Shannon out of the room, with the General at his heels.

Grant hastily grabbed his communicator.

“Guys,” he said urgently.  “I just overheard General Szabos saying he’s going to have Shannon killed at the War Games tomorrow.”

Jim cursed under his breath.  “We definitely have to get her out of there.  Max, it’ll be up to you,” he advised, knowing that he and Nicholas would be busy observing the Games and Grant would be manipulating the display.

“I’ll take care of it, Jim,” promised Max

*****

With Max holding the flashlight steady, Nicholas popped the third missile's replacement circuit breaker into place.  It was just past four a.m.  The task was halfway done; at this rate, they would finish up just as the sun was rising.

And without a moment to spare.

"Whew!" Nicholas' breath came out in a whoosh.  He reached into his pocket, whipped out a handkerchief, and wiped the sweat from his face as they moved on to the next missile.

"You okay?" Max asked, mildly concerned.

"Yeah, Max, I'm fine," the dark-haired agent assured him.  "It's just very intense work."

"Yeah, no kidding," Max agreed.

Nicholas looked over his shoulder at his teammate and gave him a slight grin.  "I don't suppose you'd like to take a turn?"

"No, thanks, buddy," Max chuckled, despite the tension of the situation.  "You're the one with the steady hand."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Nicholas deadpanned, as he started to unscrew the cover to the missile guidance system.

"But, seriously, Max, I'm glad you're here helping me."  His voice dropped to a half-whisper. "Reminding me how important it is that we do this right."  Max's steady presence beside him helped the dark-haired agent remember that not only did he have the fate of the entire nation of Bucaraine resting on his shoulders, but the life of one of his best friends as well.

Max smiled slightly, picking up on the underlying concern in Nicholas' voice.  With unflinching trust in his teammate, he replied, "No place I'd rather be, pal."

Then the pair grew silent as they continued work on their painstakingly tedious task.

*****

Max was hiding behind a group of barrels when he saw two guards leading Shannon to the passenger side of a Jeep.  In the driver’s seat was Captain Udo, who immediately handcuffed her to the metal bar on the Jeep’s glove box.  Quickly, Max crawled out of his hiding place and scrambled beneath the undercarriage of the Jeep sitting directly behind.

Max held on tightly for several miles as the two Jeeps traveled to a clearing.  While the men in the second Jeep were distracted, he rolled out and hid in some tall weeds beside the road.  He waited there for a few moments as Udo gave Shannon some parting words.  Then, once the Captain and his men were a safe distance from the Jeep where they’d left Shannon, the blond agent emerged from his hiding place and ran toward it

"Hey, Shannon," he greeted, touching her shoulder as he passed by.

"Max!” she exclaimed with a sigh of relief.  “You don't know how happy I am to see you.  I’d hug you if my hands were free."

"Well, first, let's get out of here," Max replied, as he quickly circled around to the front of the vehicle and raised the hood.  "This Jeep's got a big target on its back."

"And I'm sure we're being watched," Shannon added

Suddenly, the Jeep roared to life.  Max slammed the hood and jumped into the driver's seat, and they sped away.

"How are the others doing?"

"Well, thanks to you, Nicholas and I were able to find the missiles and disarm them," Max answered with a grin.  "Grant's messing up the General's computers now.  It should all be over by the time we get back there."

"Good," Shannon smiled.

A moment later, the two agents heard the sound of field rockets hitting the ground some distance behind them.  "Well, I'd say we're safe now," Shannon advised, with a slight shudder.  "I was supposed to be the first casualty."

Max stopped the Jeep momentarily, then fished a small pair of bolt cutters out of his coat pocket and carefully snipped off the handcuffs.

"Thank you," Shannon said gratefully, rubbing her sore wrists.  Max smiled warmly at her, then they headed toward the base to meet the others.

The End.

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