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, 32 Chuck vs Juri Sheshenkov, 33 Chuck vs The Couch, 34 Chuck vs The Hijack, 35 Chuck vs El Capitan, 36 Chuck vs The Wall, 37 Chuck vs The Outback, 38 Chuck vs The Evil Twin, 39 Chuck vs Golden Thumb, 40 Chuck vs Ben Franklin, 41 Chuck vs The Lady of Uruk
Ettore was happy he tricked everyone into believing he was Morgan so he could appropriate the VHF virus for his client and trick Alex into following him. The chopper picked everyone up then flew across the Pacific to a lonely desolate field on the outskirts of Tijuana. Touching down it made a loud thud because it was bone dry and the pilot wanted to sit down before he ran out. Paolo jumped out unclamped the M134 minigun and took it over to one of the two dune buggies that were waiting. There he and another man mounted it on the roll bar on the buggy. They'd just finished when they noticed a cloud of dust heading in their direction.
"Looks like we've got company," said Paolo as he pointed to two Escalades that were driving full speed down a dusty back road towards them. "Like shooting fish in a barrel," said Paolo as he climbed in the back of the buggy and opened up with the minigun. The gun made short work of both vehicles.
"Like cheap sex, disappointing," said Paolo as he looked over his handy work. He jumped out of the back then got their men to hurry up.
"Load the girl then let's get out of here. There will be more to follow soon," said Ettore as he climbed in the second buggy. Paolo ran to the chopper then ran back.
"Here you go and we're ready to roll," said Paolo as he handed Ettore two grenades then got in behind the steering wheel Alex laid out in the back seat still out. Ettore jumped in riding shotgun. Paolo slowed down as he drove by the two bulleted riddled Escalades so that Ettore could tossed in his grenades both vehicles went up in fireballs.
"We've got a problem with our client. The canisters never made it to them. Now they're blame us... well you," said Paolo as they cut across a field the up a bank where they jumped on the road to the airport. They've threatened to put a hit on you unless you give them their money back or give them their product.
"Explain to me why I'm to blame for their ineptitude? Those lousy ungrateful scum bags well I don't care they paid and I sent them their merchandise. Who do they think I am, ?"
"They seemed quite upset I was told. If we move some funds around we could give them their money back without causing us too many problems."
"No way am I going to knuckle under to their threats. This is what happens when you playball in the big league. If they don't realize that then they've got a rude awakening coming."
"I've read their e-mail and I have to say what they told you to do to yourself is physically impossible," said Paolo. "But you don't seem to be concerned about it. If I were you I think I would…"
Paolo, amico mio, I've got this all taken care of with her in the back," said Ettore as he smiled like the cat who ate the canary.
"What are you up to," asked Paolo. You're up to something nefarious aren't you? So what are you going to use the girl for… a human shield? Is that it you're going to throw her under the buss?"
"No how crass. No my friend if anyone comes for me she'll testify I'm her boyfriend Morgan Grimes and when he comes for her, and I'm sure he will, I can send all my would be assassins his way. If they kill him I'll 'get my get out of jail free card'."
"That is evil but you're going to have to keep up this charade for a while," said Paolo as they approached the airport gate.
"I know and we're going to need to be careful that Alex doesn't find out," said Ettore. But his attention was drawn to the gate.
"Why weren't we stopped? We drove right by a check point and there was no one there," said Ettore as he started looking around him.
"I don't know maybe it's siesta and they're gone or they could be in the middle of changing guard which is more likely the reason. Whatever it is we're here at the hangar," said Paolo as they drove up to an open hangar with an old DC-9 inside.
"Do you notice anything off" asked Ettore as he looked around. "Where are our people at? Where are the guards watching the plane?"
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Sarah drove as fast as she could to catch up with the downtown team but by the time they hit the border the downtown team was already in Tijuana. John cleaned his weapons on the way down so by the time they hit the border John had them assembled and put away. Chuck noticed Morgan was being uncharacteristically silent but he took it to be concern for Alex.
"Well we're almost there," said Sarah as she followed the GPS coordinates Chuck had given her for the Blackhawk. "Look alive I see smoke coming from up ahead. I think we're about to find out why our teams stopped reporting in."
"Do you think? So keep on driving we can't do anything for them," said Casey as they drove by the two burning hulks to the helicopter. "Chuck you're on me," said Casey as he hand Chuck jumped out of the Escalade and ran over to the chopper while Sarah and Morgan stayed behind in the vehicle.
"Chuck you circle around behind while I go in the front," said John. Chuck did as John told him and circled the helicopter even though going in Chuck thought it was useless. Ettore was long gone but maybe they could figure out where he ran to.
"It's clear," yelled Chuck. John nodded in disgust.
"We're a day late and a dollar short. You check it out I'm going to take Sarah and see if we can find something at the back at the wreckage. Unless you want to come along and look at mangled burnt corpses?"
"I'll take a rain check," said Chuck. He went back climbing in the chopper to check the inside while John went back to the SUV and drove over to their two burning vehicles with Sarah leaving Morgan with him.
"Did you find anything," asked Morgan as he stuck he is head in the chopper after mopping around the outside.
"Not much just an open box of fragmentary grenades. The chopper is bone dry I bet the pilot was sweating bullets on the way end. He switched off all his alarms."
"That's nice," said Morgan as he picked up one of the grenades and started examining it by turning it over in his hand to get a better look.
"Morgan, can you do me a favor and put that down before we have an accident. I'd prefer not to go boom if you don't mind. What is it and don't say nothing because we both know something is up. You were quiet the whole way here from Point Loma. I think I this the longest I've ever heard you not say a word. It there something going on between you and Casey? He sat there and cleaned his weapons without firing off his usual quips."
"It's nothing… well Casey told me it was nothing but what's nothing for him could be something for me. Or maybe it is nothing but I don't think so because nothing is nothing and this is definitely something right dude?"
"Can you run that through Google translate then hit me with it? Nothing is nothing when it isn't something and if you feel it's something then it is something. I wouldn't listen to Casey."
"I'd like to hear you say that again three times fast," said Morgan. Chuck gave his a look. "Okay fair enough I started it. Well remember when that other Sarah came and she got you to go off with her. However, you could tell it wasn't her because of the way she kissed you. It took you only one kiss for you to realize she wasn't Sarah…."
"I think I see where you're going to go with this and I can see also why Casey would be the wrong person to ask. Let me see if I've got this right you want to know how I could tell it wasn't her," said Chuck as he took the grenade from Morgan. "I don' know the kiss just wasn't the same. There wasn't the same passion that I feel when I kiss Sarah… there wasn't the same electricity. The truth is there wasn't any feeling at all."
"Then why hasn't Alex been able to figure out this guy isn't me? I can understand Casey he's well Casey but I thought we were on another level in our relationship," said Morgan as they heard Sarah suddenly drive back honk her horn and wave for them to get in.
"We'll talk about this some more little buddy I promise," said Chuck. Then he turned to Sarah and Casey. "What is it," he asked as he and Morgan got in.
"We just got word from Beckman. There was chatter on the dark net about a possible move against Ettore here in Tijuana. Intel has spotted a wet team at the airport."
"It didn't take her long to get plugged back in," said Chuck.
"Chuck, I need the quickest way to the airport," said Casey. Casey was now behind the wheel with Sarah riding shotgun now. "Do your thing and flash. I want fastest so plug in your GPS."
"Well if you go straight down this dirt road then when you come to the embankment go up it that will put you on the freeway that will take you straight there. However, I don't know if this Escalades' suspension can take it."
"It's an SUV it's supposed to. Sarah can you hang in there," asked John as he barreled down the gravel road.
"Guys I'm only pregnant that's not a disease. Now let's go get our girl."
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Before Ettore got there a wet team moved into the hangar and took out the maintenance people and the guards. Then once they took the hangar part of the team retreated and the other hid on the plane to ambush Ettore when he got there. Red team leader was hidden out of sight on board waiting when he received word.
"Red Team leader this is Team Leader. We have movement at the southern gate. There are two vehicles that are approaching your location target has been identified as being onboard."
"Roger that we're standing by to engage the target. We hear vehicles approaching request confirm rules of engagement."
"Terminate with extreme prejudice all are to be considered hostile. Need confirmation of death on target for payment."
"Roger understand. Commence radio silence. Red team leader out."
In that moment Ettore, Paolo and his men pulled into the hangar. Ettore looked around and not seeing anyone he became a nervous. This was not the first time this had happened so he decided to side on the side of caution. He signaled Paolo to hand him a smoke grenade then had his men wait outside the plane forward and aft.
"Let's get this gear stowed away before we board," yelled Ettore as loudly as he could so anyone on board could hear him. Then when he got everyone in place he tossed the grenade in one of the cargo bays underneath the plane and closed it. The smoke started bellowing inside then out.
"Look out Paolo," yelled Ettore as they heard men inside coughing then the hatch opened with smoke spewing out as men came running out firing wildly in the air.
"Team leader, this is Red team leader we've been made. Request assistance..."
"Fire," yelled Ettore as he and his men cut them down as they stumbled off the plane blinded and hacking from the smoke.
"Looks like our friends already have the hit out," said Paolo. "You can't trust anyone these days now can you? They say one thing then do another," he said as he fired. "I think the whole mercenary world has gone to the dogs they just aren't the same these days.
"Get our pilot on board and prep the plane for immediate take off. There will be more coming as soon as they figure out their people failed."
Ettore was right one of his men brought over a radio and they head someone calling the team asking them to report in. Ettore took it and answered.
"Team leader, this is red team leader. The target is down. I repeat the target is down request immediate extraction taking fire."
"Roger that confirm target is down. Sending in blue team to flank your position hold position and wait for further instruction."
The blue team deployed from the back of a van circling around the hangar. The intent was to come up behind Ettore's men and catch them in the crossfire between red team and themselves.
"Team Leader, this is blue team leader. I don't hear any weapons fire. I'm afraid we might've arrived too late. Request instruction."
"Blue team leader proceed as planned. Blue team leader we need proof of death to collect the contract," radioed Team leader. Blue team had no choice but go ahead. They stuck together in a tight formation as they went around the hangar just they didn't realize that as they went around they walked right by a dune buggy hidden under a tarp. After they passed two men rolled out from underneath then manned the M134 still clamped to the roll bar. A short burst and the blue team was gone too.
"Team leader," radioed Ettore. "I think you've just ran out of men. Anyway I'm tired and bored at cutting them down so I'm leaving. You can tell your boss I won't forget this." Ettore tossed the radio out the hatch before it was closed.
The DC 9 rolled out of the hangar and on to the tarmac then onto the taxi lane as it got in line for takeoff. The team leader ordered his van driving out to the flight line he determined was going to take Ettore out.
"Ettore you had to go and taunt the guy didn't you," said Paolo as he pointed out what was going on out the window. They saw a man jump out of a dark van and pull outs something that looked like a stinger missile.
Just then through a series of hangars another vehicle appeared a dark Escalade. Ettore watched as he smile he knew the man who jumped out of it.
[A Few Minutes Before]
The Escalade with the team onboard pulled into the airport driving straight on in. It didn't take them long to figure out something was wrong. There were not guards at the gate so they just drove straight on the airfield.
"Where's the guard?" asked Chuck as they drove by the shack without being challenged. "Is this just me but this doesn't feel right."
"Do you think? That wet team is already in place that's what's going on," said John. "Chuck, grab a weapon and when I say weapon I mean a real one. This could get hot. Grimes you're with the vehicle..."
"No John I want to come too. Alex is my fiancée I want to help rescue her too," said Morgan. But Casey shook his head.
"No you're going to stay with the SUV and that's that. First of all I could get confused and shoot the wrong bearded troll and lastly you didn't do so hot on board the ship.
"Oh that's not fair. I got hit over the head then someone tranq'd me. I wonder who that someone was, you got any ideas John?" There was the sudden sound of automatic gunfire.
"Guys stop your arguing this isn't helping. John remember be professional," said Sarah. Casey just grunted and sped up.
"There over there. Chuck look at that plane," said Sarah as she pointed to the one pulling up out in the cue for takeoff. "Chuck, look at the tail number."
"Wow oh boy," said Chuck as he flashed. He saw crates of weapons being delivered in some of Casey's stinking commie hell holes and Ettore's smiling face as he collect cash. "Yes that's Ettore's and he's getting away."
"Like heck he is," said Casey as he turned the SUV sideways then jumped out. He opened the back and took out an M-14A1 loaded then propped himself against the side of the SUV. It was Morgan who saw the other vehicle and the man with the missile first.
"Hold up John," said Morgan as he jumped in front of Casey blocking his sight. "No you wait!" he said risking at least for a little while that John put a round through him to hit the plane.
"Get out of my way you idiot. I should shoot both you Trolls. I'm aiming for the engines," said John as he grabbed Morgan by the throat with one hand.
"No John over there" said Morgan as he started to turn blue. He slammed John's arm to break free but his hold was too tight "John look…. John look."
"Casey let him go," yelled Sarah. "Morgan's right over there look. There's a man over there with a stinger. John, Alex for all we know is on the plane. He's about to fire..."
"Oh no, he won't," said Casey. He turned putting two quick rounds in the man with the missile. The man pivoted then fired the missile at the van. There was a loud explosion and a fireball that engulfed the van. Casey turned to watch the plane lift off then bank over the airport before disappearing in the night sky.
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Onboard the plane Alex started to come to. Her head ached and she felt like she'd swallowed a wad of cotton. Everything around her was a blur then slowing she realized where she was. She tried to get up put she was handcuffed to a chair. Then she heard a moaning sound next to her.
"Where are we," said Ettore as he pretended to come to also. He tried to get up too and he too was handcuffed. "Alex what's going on? Where are we?"
"I don't know but I have a feeling we're going to find out soon," said Alex as she saw Paolo walking down the aisle towards them.
"I'm glad you two are awake. Can I get you something maybe a drink or something? You know you should really drink something you need to hydra when you're flying."
"Can you tell us what you want with us? We don't know any great secrets that would be of any worth to you so you could just as easily let us go."
"Are you trying to convince me I don't need you so I might as well dump you out of the cargo hold at 30,000 feet over the jungles of Central America?
"Is that with or without a parachute," asked Ettore pretending to be Morgan.
"Without of course," said Paolo. "So do you want to hear what I need from you? Well it's simple my boss Ettore La Barba didn't make it off the ship before your government sank it. I'm going to need someone who looks like Ettore to do a few favors."
"Who do you have in mind," said Ettore playing it up.
"He's talking about you Morgan. He wants you to play like you're Ettore for him. But we're not interested in anything you have to offer are we?" said Alex.
"Not even if I'm offering you your lives. But if you don't want to cooperate we can go back to the being dropped from a cargo hold over the jungles of Central America."
"Hold up a minute let's not be too hasty here. What exactly do you need me to do?" asked Morgan. "Alex, it can't hurt to ask what I'm expected to do."
"It's really nothing you'll need to go to a bank in La Plaza withdraw a million euro from a safety deposit box. Then there's a party we'll hosting at the ranch followed by a sit down with a man who wants to sell us a couple of short range missiles that's what the million euro is for a down payment. If you do that for me then I'll cut you two loose in front of your Embassy in Bogotá"
"How do we know we can trust you?"
"You don't but the other option starts with one doozy of a first step."