Games of The Mind
I thought it would be fun to write a different version to the episode "Mind Games" I hope you enjoy it and thanks for reading!
Disclaimer: I do NOT own the A-Team or any of the beloved characters seen on the show.
Chapter 1:
Colonel Rod Decker was a man set on revenge. Too many times had Smith and the A-Team made him look like a new recruit fresh off the bus from boot camp.
He deserved better than this.
He ran his hands over the letter he had just received. His transfer papers, effective immediately it said. It wasn't fair. Two long years he put into capturing the infamous trio of military fugitves, and two long years he looked like a bafoon to the upper brass.
He slammed his fist down on his desk and threw the paper in the garbage.
"To hell with it, they aren't getting rid of me that easy. I was ordered to bring Smith in and dammit I'm going to do it."
He paced the length of his office for over an hour when finally it clicked. A devious smile appeared on his face and he reached for the phone.
"Captain, get me General Davis ASAP." He barked into the receiver.
Three hours later General Davis was sitting in Decker's office staring at him as if he had finally lost it.
"Colonel, did I hear you correctly? Are you telling me you want to issue a pardon for Smith? Colonel John Smith? Of the A-Team?"
Decker smiled and nodded his head.
"Don't forget Baracas also."
"Well hell Decker, might as well add Peck, can't leave him out. " The General added sarcastically.
"No, not Peck. You see General sir, we pardon Smith and Baracas. We capture Peck. I know Smith, he won't leave a man behind, especially Peck. When they attempt to break Peck out then we capture Smith and Baracas. We have all three, it's brilliant!."
General Davis shook his head in disbelief. Of all the ideas that this man has had...
"Wait, Colonel, aren't you forgetting several things?"
Decker frowned, looking as if he couldn't possibly believe there could be a flaw in his plan.
"What's that sir?"
"Well firstly you have never been able capture one of the A-Team and effectively keep them locked up. What makes you think you can find Peck? I'm sure after Smith and Baracas get pardoned, Peck will go even deeper into the underground."
"With all do respect sir, I know how these men think. Smith will be wracked with guilt and Peck will isolate himself away from them. Smith and Baracas will show themselves but I assure you they will still keep in close touch with Peck. It's only a matter of time before his friends lead us to him."
Davis nodded, seemingly accepting Decker's answer.
"Ok, the other thing I see is, when you capture Smith and Baracas trying to break out Peck, then what? They will go to prison, but not as long as they should, and not nearly as long as Peck will."
"That's the beautiful part of my plan General. The pardons are going to be fake. Oh they will look real and they will not get arrested until I'm ready to bury them. Peck is just a pawn in my game General, and after all the A-Team has done, I don't think anyone would mind a mere technicality in the taking away of pardons, do you?"
Davis sighed. If this went wrong, it could make the army look horrible. Then again Smith and his team had embarassed the army time and time again. Their capture is just the thing to bring them out of the sinkhole that Decker had dropped them into.
"Ok Colonel. I'll announce the pardons tomorrow morning. After that, you have three weeks to get them. If you fail, those transfer papers you received will look like a gift compared to your demotion. Understood?"
Decker stood and saluted.
"Yes sir General, I won't let you down. Thank you sir."
Davis saluted and left the office, leaving Decker to smile at his job well done.