Phase Two

"We are going to split into teams."

"What the hell?"

"Are you crazy?"

"They're going to kill us all!"

"This is nuts!"

A brilliant idea had popped into Neil's head, and without hesitation, he summoned his squad to the rooftop. They all sat on the ground, waiting to hear what he had to say. But as soon as he revealed his plan, the response was instant rejection.

Criticism flooded in—too dangerous, reckless, not something a bunch of teenagers should even consider. Yet, despite all the pushback, Neil wore a subtle smile.

He had expected this reaction.

They were too quick to jump to conclusions, rejecting the plan before he even had a chance to explain.

"Chill, chill. I did say that we going to split, but I didn't say that you guys would go alone."

He then lowered his voice, making it sound like a whisper.

"First, look at those trucks down there."

Neil pointed towards the underground car park in the Empire State Building and thoroughly explained to the group everything he and Nick had previously discussed. He made sure everyone understood before revealing his actual plan.

"Remember the truck from the terrorists that we- I mean... I killed before?"

"Yes..."

"My plan is to sneak into the underground car park disguised as terrorists who are there to collect supplies. Once inside, we'll split into two teams. Team 1 will search for a timed bomb in the terrorist's warehouse, while Team 2 investigates the Force Field Machine to learn how to shut it down.

When Team 1 finds the bomb, they'll meet up with Team 2 on the roof and pass it off to them. Team 2 will then use the information they've gathered to deactivate the Machine using the bomb.

Finally, we'll sneak back onto the truck, taking some supplies with us to avoid suspicion, and escape. And when the bomb goes off... BOOM! New York is saved!" He said, slapping his hand on the ground for emphasis.

The squad was amazed by Neil's seemingly brilliant plan, but quickly expressed their skepticism about its chances of success. As usual, Chad was the first one to voice his concerns.

"About the teams part, who will be on team 1 and who on team 2?"

"Yeah, I was going to tell you guys about that." Neil answered.

"So Chad, you will be on team 2 like what we have talked about before, and I think... Saiko will go with you, since he also understands a lot about stuff like these so I think he could help you with your research to make it faster, you know... he's the second smartest right?"

"Ok..."

"About team 1... uh... who wants to be on team 1? Brent? Roy? Ben?"

Ben was startled when his name was called, he already knew that he would have to do something useful when he decided to go with the Squad and that this will come, but one thing concerns him.

"Wait a minute. Why are you only asking us? What about Nick, isn't he going to join as well?"

"Nick is a well-trained soldier."

"So?"

"So his skills will be useful if he stays here, and work as a diversion if we ever get caught. He can deal with it."

"How about you? Aren't you coming with us too?"

"Yes but sadly, I'll be escorting team 2."

"Why?"

"Because going to the rooftop of the Empire State is way more dangerous, there are dozens of floors we'll have to go through to get to the top, and there will be a high chance that we will meet one of the terrorists, and how will team 2 gonna deal with them without me?"

"Ok. That makes sense but... who's gonna be on team 1? And how many do we people do we need then?"

"We will need at least two people. One will wear the terrorist's suit to pretend to load up the packages while looking out for the other to find the bomb. So who's gonna-"

"I think I'll just stay here with Nick." Brent spoke up.

"Why?"

"I don't know..." He knows that he will wet his pants if he joined the team.

"It just that... Staying with Nick will be a greater help. Besides who knows what mistakes could I make when I'm inside? And look at how oversized I am?!" He pointed at his belly.

"And look at how slim and six-packed the terrorists are! We will fail the moment I step inside!"

...

"Haiz... fine, I guess that leaves just Roy and Ben for team 1."

"But... never mind."

Despite being terrified, Ben couldn't bear the thought of being useless to the squad. He didn't want to be underestimated just because of his ego and realized that there was no one else left to replace him and Roy.

Therefore, he made the difficult decision to say yes, rather than rejecting it would jeopardize their entire plan.

"Me too." So with Roy but without any hesitance.

"Great! The plan is almost done. Just one more thing, who would wear the terrorists' suits?"

"What do you mean?"

"We only have three, one which we took from the terrorist in the basement, I put it in Ben's backpack when we left, and two from the ones I killed earlier. The problem is that there are not enough suits for all 5 people... and two of the suits will be full of dead bodies smell.

But don't worry I'll wear one of them but there's still two left and one of them is horribly smelly."

Ben immediately raised his hands as soon as he heard what Neil said. "I'll wear the suit! I mean the one which isn't smelly."

"You sure?"

"Yes."

"How about you Roy? Are you opposed?"

"Nope, it's fine."

"Ok then, I guess Ben will be the one who looks after the terrorists while Roy finds the bomb. There's still one more suit for team 2, who would wear it?"

After Ben, Saiko raises his hand.

"Saiko, You?"

He nods.

"Are you sure? This will be a very bad and terrible experience, and it could haunt you forever. Are you still sure that you can do this?"

"Yes, I can do it. I'm confident."

"Confidence is not the problem here Saiko, but if you are that consistent, I guess I'll give that to you. But I think we still need to find one more suit for Chad. We'll do that once we get inside.

Now, since the plan is all clear we should start it already right?"

All of them nodded.

"Good. Now, we shall begin phase two of the operation."

--------------------------

Fifteen minutes later.

A terrorist stands at the entrance of the Empire State Building's underground car park. He notices a truck approaching him, carrying two individuals dressed similarly to him. As the truck comes to a stop in front of him, he does what he was here for.

"Identify yourself."

"Uhhh...." The driver looked worried and confused.

"I said Identify yourself!"

"Uhhh...."

"Just say anything!" The dude sitting next to the driver urged him.

"We... are coming for food..."

"Oh! So you are one of those voluntary Americans! Sorry for not using English. Anyway, just go in."

"Okay. Thank you."

It turns out that the terrorist was speaking Russian, which perplexes the English-speaking driver. Yet there's one thing that pondered the driver. Who are these "volunteer Americans," according to the terrorist?

'Is that mean that there are Americans who also work for the terrorists? Voluntary? How can somebody do that? To their own people and country just for probably some cash from the terrorists? If this was true, this situation will be even more, fucked up.'

But those were simply passing thoughts; he now needed to pay attention to something more vital because they had finally succeeded in executing their first step, which was to enter the building.

The driver then ceased acting fragile and defenseless, returning to his most natural form, becoming the once more serious and skilled, Neil Phildom.

And the person who was seated next to him, dressing in the same kind of outfit, was Ben. A short while later, after locating a place to park the truck and conducting a reconnaissance of the area.

Before they entered, they expected to be greeted by multiple eyes and ears from other terrorists who had also come here for resupply.

They were surprised, however, when the terrorists didn't even glance at them once; instead, they were only concerned with delivering boxes of food and water to the trucks and assuming that Neil's vehicle would be arriving for the same reason.

Knowing this, Neil completely ignores them and drives off to find a parking space. He then turns off the engine and parks the truck so that it is hidden between other cars.

As soon as they both exited the vehicle, Neil whispered something in the pickup box behind the driver's seat:

"We arrived."

He just said it once before walking out in front of the vehicle to meet Ben, who was also waiting there.

"You! You go pack the food. I'll go for a poop. Until I came back, we must be ready to depart. Got it?"

"Yes sir!"

They made an effort to adjust their voices and tones so that they were both loud enough for others to hear and quiet enough for them to not suspect that they were acting, tricking other terrorists into believing that they had actually come here for resupply.

Chad, Roy, and Saiko were hiding inside the pickup box of the truck, which had a car cover on it while Neil was speaking. When Neil gave the order, they were already moving and climbing outside the pickup box.

They used Neil's voice as a diversion from other terrorists as they crept beneath the truck, close to the wheels, and crawled toward him.

After Neil finished talking and confirming the squad's readiness to move, he separated from Ben and began to walk slowly towards what he believed was the way up to the official Empire State Building, with Saiko and Chad following him while still hiding beneath cars.

Ben didn't wait either. He also began to move toward the area where the other terrorists were collecting their packages with Roy sneaking behind him.

They have now reached the most deadly stage of the operation when they must complete their tasks without being discovered by the terrorists, as doing so would almost certainly result in their instant death.

With this in mind, they all maintain a serious and committed attitude toward the mission, bearing the fate of Manhattan and a million people on their shoulders; they are worried and frightened, but they cannot back down.

And from now on, they are on their own.