Don't own Chuck
Previous Chuck stories and order: 1 Chuck vs Charles, 2 Chuck vs the Love Boat, 3 Chuck vs The Rock, 4 Chuck vs Amtrak, 5 Chuck vs The Dictator, 6 Chuck vs The Name, 7 Chuck vs The Volcano, 8 Chuck vs The Ghost, 9 Chuck vs The Shooter, 10 Chuck vs The Package, 11 Chuck vs The Jade Dragon, 12 Chuck vs Jai-Alai, 13 Chuck vs The Greek, 14 Chuck vs The Suitcase, 15 Chuck vs The Pirate, 16 Chuck vs The Toy Maker, 17 Chuck vs The Sibyl, 18 Chuck vs The House, 19 Chuck vs The Heist, 20 Chuck vs The A-Bomb, 21 Chuck vs The Snowman, 22 Chuck vs The Tin Man, 23 Chuck vs The Baguette, 24 Chuck vs The Black Knight, 25 Chuck vs The Merchant of Venice, 26 Chuck vs Electric Sheep, 27 Chuck vs The Band, 28 Chuck vs The Cold, 29 Chuck vs A Horse With No Name, 30 Chuck vs A Bolt In The Blue, 31 Chuck vs Brick and Mortar
Sarah was beside herself no one knew where Chuck was or if he was okay. Sarah and Margo saw him hobble off after falling of the balcony from the hotel with a Hydra agent. Paul didn't fair too well, he died in the fall crushed by Chuck's weight. Miraculously they saw Chuck get up and run away but by the time they could get down to the street he was gone. Now the search was on. Where was Chuck? Just as they were about to check the last place Sarah wanted to look the morgues the Russians came knocking.
"They want what?" said Margo then she turned to the new Director. "General the Russians want to come here to brief us. They say they have news about Chuck's whereabouts."
"You let them in or I will," said Sarah. She didn't bat an eye or flinch she meant business. Before Tank got on the wrong end of Sarah's Smith and Wesson Beckman interceded and had them brought them in.
"Diane, you know you shouldn't. This could be called treason," said Tank but he didn't protest too much. Igor, Stefan and Anatoly walked in looked around.
"I've been called worse by better," said Diane as she went to meet them off the elevator then escorted them into the conference room.
"You Americans and your underground bases, you people watch too much batman," said Igor then he saw Sarah and went to her. "Sarah I'm sorry for whatever misunderstandings we've had and I want you to know I put my ear to the ground as soon as I heard Chuck was missing."
"You said there was news? Is Chuck alive? Please Igor I need to know." He took her hand in his and held it trying to reassure her.
"Something strange happened a few hours ago. We found a charter FSB flight that flew out of Tivat, destination Georgia but the problem is we never charted a flight."
"What are you saying? Chuck's been kidnapped? Who has him and where are they taking him? Georgia? I swear if they've hurt him I'll kill them all."
"You might not want to do that because a man fitting Chuck's description chartered the plane but he spoke fluent Russian and the plane was chartered by a Juri Sheshenko. His flight plan has him heading for Tbilisi. The woman at the counter said he had a bandage wrapped around his head and it looked bad. When she asked him if he was okay he gave her a hundred dollars extra to mind her own business."
"This doesn't sound like Chuck."
"Maybe not the Chuck we know," said Beckman. "We need to talk to Dr. Dreyfus about that call he got from Izad. Tanks refusal to let him go to Chechnya and then the blow to the head might all have caused something in Chuck to snap. His subconscious knows Agent Carmichael can't go to Chechnya but Juri Shehenkov can. "
"I'm on the next plane and don't try to stop me. Permission or not I'm going to bring my husband home," said Sarah as she started to walk away but Igor caught her.
"No," said Igor. "You've got a daughter to think of and Izad tried once he'll try again. You need to protect your family that's your first concern. I've got people who will meet him on the ground and send him home. Don't worry I've told them not to harm him."
"Diane, one last mission will you do this? I want you to take Agent Carmichael and her daughter back to Burbank."
"No I'm not going not until Chuck is back," said Sarah but Jack put his arms around her and held her. "I can't go Dad, I can't."
"Listen this tournament is a bust this year and everyone will be sent home," said General Thomas. "You need to go back contact this Dr. Dreyfus and see what he can tell us that will give us some insight. Also back there it will be harder for Izad to get to you and you have a support group in place. I've gone through this with my people before and in a loss the survivor needs support."
"I'm not a survivor because there is no loss. My husband is still out there and he will be coming home to me."
"Shush," said Jack that's not what the General meant. I'm sure but he's got a point about being out of reach. We get all types blowing through here and Margo can't keep track of everyone. Sam would be safer back home in L.A." As much as she tied to resist it she had to admit they were right, and in the end she had to give in.
"Okay I'm only agreeing to this because I need to get us out of harm's way. If we stay here we put everyone at risk. I'm going up get my daughter and start packing. I'll be ready at first light I won't be sleeping tonight." Sarah left taking Jack and the Russians with her. Tank waited until they were all gone before continuing.
"Diane you need to make sure she keeps it together. You're in charge of Castle and I realize this looks like I'm recruiting you to work for me but I don't…"
"Don't worry about it I've got this. I've worked with these people for a long time and I'm not the kind of person who abandons a ship and leaves people behind."
"You realize I might have to implement emergency protocols," said Tank as Roan looked at him puzzled. He didn't like the sound of that.
"We're a long ways away from that and don't let Agnes railroad you into ordering it. I went quietly from office but I won't let her pull a fast one to wash her hands of Chuck.
"I'll do what I can do," he said then walked away with Margo and Mike to make a call back to the JCOS to report in and with that he left leaving Diane and Roan alone.
"Diane, you know I've never asked you anything about what goes on in your office. I've always gone along with the flow no matter what you've ordered me to do but this emergency protocol I don't like the sound of it."
"When Chuck had his first problems with the intersect a group of people both scientists and military got together. They decided if the intersect was compromised and it risked falling into the wrong hands it was to be terminated with extreme prejudice."
"You're saying Chuck has to die if that happens, just to be clear. I assume not one had Chuck read the fine print in the contract when he became the intersect."
"Funny Roan but we're not there and I don't want to think about it right now. We need to get our stuff together."
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Somewhere over the Black Sea Chuck, now Juri, cracked into the FSBs deep data base to study the area. He read about the Greater Caucasus mountain range that formed the northern border of Georgia, Chechnya and Ossetia. What caught his attention in particular was the Roki Tunnel that was the only direct route through the mountain range. After he did that he cracked Igor's mail box and read some of his correspondence.
"So you're going to have a welcome party for me in Tbilisi. Let's see what you do when I don't show up." Chuck rang for the flight attendant.
"Excuse me but is there a problem," she said as she came to see what Chuck wanted. "Would you like something to read or drink?"
"You realize I'm not an ordinary passenger," said Chuck as he let flash his pistol in his shoulder holster." The woman nodded nervously. "I need to talk to your Co-pilot about a change to my mission. I've just received orders to go to Yerevan. If your pilot checks he'll find that his flight plan has already been modified."
The woman rapidly disappeared going forward pulling the curtain behind her. Chuck realized there also went any hope of any sort of service until they landed. Shortly afterwards the Co-pilot came running back.
"I'm just here to confirm we received the modification as you said we would and our new course is laid in for Yerevan. It still will be a couple hours before we land Colonel Sheshenko and the Pilot wants you to know we are happy to assist the FSB in any way we can."
"Spasibo, thank you" said Chuck. "I will tell my superiors what great assistance you all were. If you don't mind could you ask the flight assistance to bring me a vodka. My head is aching something terrible."
"That is a nasty looking head injury you have. You should have a doctor look at it as soon as we land. I guess that was another mission?"
"I can't talk about my missions. If I did I'd have to kill you then who would help fly the plane?" said Chuck. He looked at the Co-pilot seriously then laughed. "I had you going didn't I? Admit it at least for a few minutes. This, this was a stupid accident I slipped and fell."
"Yeah you did," said the man as they both laughed. "I'll see to it that you get your vodka but you still should have that head looked at."
"Thanks but I have my mission to think of first," said Chuck. The woman came back and brought him a vodka. Two hours later they were sitting down.
Chuck deplaned and meeting him on the tarmac were two men in a black Mercedes SUV with tinted windows. The one man walked up and shook Chuck's hand then ushered him in the vehicle. Inside he removed the bandage while the one agent held a mirror for Chuck.
"We can make a stop by the station Colonel to have that looked at," said the man as Chuck cleaned it out and inspected it.
"No, I don't have time. Did you bring everything that was asked for? I don't have much time you know what the situation is like on the other side of the border."
"Yes and that's why we were amazed that they'd send you. The last orders we got was to keep our hands off."
"Yes you need to keep your hands off while I work," said Chuck as he replaced the large bandage with a smaller one then with a hat on it was hardly noticeable. "Now let me see the dossiers."
"This is everything we have on the PLA and the New PLA leaders. This Nikolai is a real winner. He's the one who came out on top when all the old guard got whacked."
"Are there any left? From the old guard and if so I need to meet with them," said Chuck as he studied the reports.
"Sir they're hard to get to and don't care too much for us. They're more likely to cut your throat before they let you speak."
"When you're trying to bring down a house it's easier if it's done from the inside then the outside. We need to reestablish the status quo and to do that we need to knock this new Czar down a notch or two. That is what he's calling himself these days?"
"Yes, he sees himself as the reincarnation of the last Romanov. He says it was with divine intervention he was sat into power or that's what he's calling the assassination of the old guard leaders."
"Divine intervention brought straight over from Pasadena," said Chuck as he flipped through the pages. "Okay I've read enough. Now give me the rest."
"Here is what we were told to bring," said the agent as he handed Chuck now Juri, "replacement identification along with passports, border identification documents, a large amount of cash and two clips for your Makarov."
"Let me out here I'll make my way. I want you to report to the Director tell him you assisted me and that I'm on this. I know he's anxious to get a mission update. Have a guide contact me tomorrow noon in the Orbeliani baths in Tbilisi. I need someone to take me through Svaneti and the Jvari pass then from there we cross the border. Oh by the way I need a coat, I think you and I wear the same size."
Chuck got out of the Mercedes then disappeared in the masses of people and the agent now shivering in the back quickly closed the door. Chuck made his way straight to the train station where he got on an overnight leaving Yerevan for Tbilisi booking himself a sleeper car.
After the train pulled out of the station Chuck ordered service in his car then settled in. With a bottle of cheap vodka with no name just a plain bottle he planned out what he'd do as soon as the train pulled into Tbilisi. After picking up a few things in the station he'd find a marshrutky (minibus) to take him to the baths. But from there the guide would have to pick the means of transportation he just hoped it wouldn't be horseback. His head was pulsating now so he took a hit from the bottle then closed his eyes.
He didn't know when or how long but he dozed off and in his sleep he heard a voice. Getting louder and louder it was coming for him. He woke up in a cold sweat as he heard a knock on the door.
"Tickets please," he heard from the other side. "Ticket collector, please open up."
"One second," he answered but as Chuck got his tickets from his jacket then he remembered they'd already been punched when he got onboard. There was no need for them to be checked again.
"Open the door please or I'll have to open it myself," said the man on the other side. Chuck began thinking quickly. He put a lighter in his pocket, grabbed the bottle of vodka then he unlocked the door. There were two men standing there in Georgian railway uniforms. One man came in while the other stood in the doorway.
"The tickets are on the bed," said Chuck as he turned his back to the man watching him in the chrome reflection around the window frame as he lowered it. "I hope you don't mind it's a little brisk but I need to change the air in here."
"I'll be gone in a second," said the man as he looked around the room then when he saw Chuck's gun was on the other side of the bed he smiled.
"Is everything okay?" asked Chuck.
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Igor left that afternoon to fly back to the Lubyanka where he could better keep track of developments. Stefan and Anatoly were on phones sitting across from him with contacts they had in the area. But what they were finding out neither liked. Stefan looked over at Anatoly and he looked back they had both gotten the same information. Chuck or Juri had outwitted then and was already on the move.
"Director," said Anatoly. "I'm sorry but Chuck got through already. He had his plane rerouted through Armenia and from there slipped out of the country."
"How did he manage to do that," asked Igor realizing there was only one way. "He's now Juri Sheshenkov, isn't he?"
"Yes, you sent a coded message to our people in Yerevan and they provided him with everything he needs to cross the border into Georgia and into Chechnya. Sir might I suggest at this point there is only one thing to do. We create for him a complete background."
"First of all I never sent any message but I guess that doesn't matter now. But how am I supposed to create a false identity for a CIA agent? In Russia too? Christ, if they find out about this in the Kremlin I'll be cutting firewood in Siberia for the rest of my life."
"But what if Juri can do for you what you want to do yourself. What if he can get these factions back to the table talking? Wouldn't that be worth the risk?"
"I could disavow any knowledge," said Igor as he started trying to think how he could do it and get away with it but it was risky.
"We could let him run with it. There was a message Juri left for you with our Station Chief in Yerevan. Chuck said to tell you he was on it and that you would be anxious for a mission update. What do you think that means?"
"I don't know but I'm willing to wait and find out. We have a lot to lose in the region and if Chuck can pull this off… well just maybe things will work out. I was talking just now with some of our people and they think there was an assassination plot out against me." Anatoly smiled as he looked over at Stefan who smiled back. "I know a day late and a ruble short. We have some real geniuses working for us. But they think someone wanted me out of the way so I wouldn't go to the area and try to bring the factions back to the negotiation table."
"Makes sense," said Anatoly. "You know the key players in the region and they respect you. With your understanding and insight you could form a strong resistance to this Czar Nikolai as he's calling himself."
"I just hope Chuck or Juri can do the same thing. Let's get busy making him a background that will stand up to any check. Welcome Juri Sheshenkov the youngest Kolonel in the FSB."
"I was rooting for the SVR," said Stefan as the other two looked at him. "What? We get all the good duty assignments overseas."
"Then we have to deal with international postings and it becomes a nightmare. No Juri Sheshenvo was born in Russian Lithuania and we fill in from there."
"Sir," said Anatoly, "we don't have to do anything. I just found one's already been created. Kolonel Juri Sheshenkov was born on September 18, 1981 in Vilnius, Lithuania then it goes on with his whole life's history."
"Can someone tell me how Chuck does this?"
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Tank drove back to the casino after he saw Sarah and Diane off. Roan stayed behind to help organize things with the Russians. He was the only one except for Beckman they'd deal with and everyone agreed they needed someone like him ready to jump if things heated up in Caucasuses. When he and Tank got back Margo came to meet them with a message General Thomas was expecting.
"The Chairperson of the Joint Chiefs has been on the horn twice for you and your Major's called once he said the Russians failed but he needs to brief you."
"Crap, Roan, don't go very far I may need you to bail me out and you need to hear this," said Tank as he called his Major first hoping he'd give him something he could use for his next call.
"Sir as I told Chief Silverman the Russians failed to stop Chuck. He got around their block by detouring his flight into Armenia. We suspect he's now on a train bound for Tbilisi from Yerevan."
"Good tell the Russians to pick him up in the train station in Tbilisi. I'll arrange for a hand off on the border with Turkey."
"Sir, that's not going to happen because the Russians have decided not to interfere in Chuck's or Juri's mission. They've created a false identity for him. Chuck is now Kolonel Juri Sheshenkov FSB there's a whole file on him in their archives as a backstory. Sir, if I didn't know Chuck is Chuck, I would wonder if our Chuck wasn't in fact this Juri person. The documentation is done that well."
"Did they give a reason why they did this or do I need to get on the horn with their Director myself? That SOB told me he'd head Chuck off."
"Sir he's the one who sent us the Kolonel's service jacket. He said it was necessary because since Chuck was in country posing as a FSB agent if their people found out he wasn't he'd be executed on the spot. It was done for his own good."
"Yeah, like I'm going to believe that. I think they have another agenda in the area and Chuck is running with a play they wanted or Igor wanted to run so he's sitting back watching to see how things go."
"That and fifty cents will get you a cup of coffee," said Roan. "You need to get out in front of this and quit sitting back letting things come at you. Mike, I want you to move a bird over the greater Caucasus region and when the Russians protest, and they will, tell them to pack sand. We know Chuck or Juri is going after Izad and those two Doctors. They're operating in that area so he will be there. Mike after you move the bird add Juri Sheshenkov to the keywords for Echelon recognition and set it to listen in the same geographical area."
"I need to contact Agnes," said Tank talking about the chairperson for the JCOS.
"I need a Martini. Margo could you be a darling," said Roan as Margo turned red. Now if it wasn't Jack it was Roan.