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
Good news travels quickly and soon everyone knew. After Sarah told Chuck then there was Casey. Sarah was a little worried how he'd take it. But he seemed to take it well even though there seemed to be a little trepidation in his voice which made Sarah determined to find out what was really going on. They all went to Ellie's to celebrate and to call Jack and Emma with the news. While Chuck established the comms link Sarah grabbed a beer then tracked Casey down outside.
"Here, this is for you since I can't drink it. John, what's the matter? You know just because I'm pregnant it doesn't change anything. It didn't last time and it won't now."
"Thanks for the beer and I'll let you believe that but I'm happy for you and the idiot. I really am and I think you've made someone very happy," said Casey as he turned around and pointed at Sam. She had been wearing a huge smile like it was painted on since she found out.
"There's a 'but' in there what is it," said Sarah. Then she knew, she didn't know how she just knew. "You're having second thoughts about you and Kat again. John, when are you going to lay that to rest?"
"I want to but... well it's not that easy and if you think life is going to be the same you got another thing coming."
"Sure I plan on taking it easy and moving into a more support role at least for a little bit. I can't make any decisions until I see Gwen. But like I said before pregnancy is not a disease and I plan on working all the way through."
"I want to hear you when you tell Sam she was almost born in a helicopter. And talking about nothing changing are you still not flashing?"
"My intersect has decided to take a baby break as Chuck would call it. I could explain to you why but I think that would..."
"Yuck, for heaven's sake no, I don't need to know all your lady things. You have your plumbing and we've got ours and viva la difference."
"I'd toast to that but I can't drink," said Sarah as she laughed. "I would've punched someone in the mouth if they had told me I'd been here like this seven years ago."
"I'll drink enough for the both of us," said John as he took a sip from his beer. "See things are already changing." Casey let out a small laugh.
"What? I know you've got another quip coming let me have it," said Sarah. "I wish I could have a sip of that beer."
"Think again sister. No I was thinking that seven years ago I didn't punch anyone, I shot someone to get here. I shot Bryce Larkin." The mention of Bryce brought mix feeling in her but Bryce was her past and Chuck was her future along with Sam and baby no name.
"Here you guys are," said Chuck as he came out. "I brought you this it's Ellie's fruit punch, no alcohol. Oh and also I've got the link up with Margo in Montenegro. She's gone to get Emma and Jack. I kind of told her… sorry, I couldn't help myself but I told her not to say anything to them."
"Oh Chuck, I wanted to be there," said Sarah as she took the punch and sipped it. "Hmm not bad but I'm still mad at you."
"If I give you a foot massage would that get me forgiven? I'll even throw in a back massage too," asked Chuck as he kissed her.
"That would be a good start. So John, think about what we talked about please before you do anything hasty," said Sarah as she took Chuck's hand.
"I'm sorry we need to go," said Chuck. "As an oh by the way you have an appointment tomorrow with Gwen at noon more or less."
"We're leaving early tomorrow? Chuck, you can't keep doing this. We should've talked about this. I mean we should stay a little longer... I'm just not ready to go yet and neither is Sam."
"We're not going anywhere," said Chuck. Sarah stopped and looked at him with a look that said he was in trouble.
"Chuck, tell me you didn't. You kidnapped Gwen and threw her in the cargo hold of a plane. You can't do that there aren't that many agency vetted OBGYNs in Burbank, plastic surgeons maybe but not OBGYNs."
"I'm having the Leary brought in from Bob Hope with Morgan and Alex. Oh Big Guy, Alex is bringing Kat too so we all can celebrate together. I just wish Jack and Emma could be here then we'd have everyone."
"I do too but that doesn't explain Gwen. Don't tell me Morgan's bagged and tagged her then threw her on the Leary, is that it?"
"I wish I'd thought of that," said Chuck but he caught her look. "No, I simply asked her if she'd come and I offered to provided transportation as well as food and lodging."
"She cancelled all her appointments to come here just to see me? Chuck, what did you do? And don't give me that who me."
"Well, it seems the city sanitation department closed down her clinic for a week because the building was infested with roaches. It seems they were attracted by a large quality of Chinese takeout left in the basement."
"And no one knows how it got there of course."
"I bet the troll does," said Casey as he grunted.
"Come on Emma and Jack will be waiting," said Chuck as took her hand and pulled her along. "I thought he'd be happy to hear Kat's coming. Is something wrong?" whispered Chuck.
"Don't worry about him. Casey's just being Casey."
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In the East China Sea two nations faced off risking dragging the world into a conflict between two superpowers. A Kongō class Japanese destroyer was on patrol in the East China Sea participating in Malabar exercises when a fast moving blip appeared on the scope in the Operations room. The Captain was informed and decided to investigate. As they drew closer things became clearer they began to hail the small vessel via radio but nothing, no reply.
"Lay in an intercept course," ordered the Captain to the OOD. The XO came over and they studied the chart.
"Sir we're entering the area the Chinese have claimed as theirs and they've got a destroy patrolling here," said the XO pointing out the position of the Chinese vessel.
"I can see but they've laid claim to the whole sea. If this ship is what I think it is then we'll be more than justified in pursuing it."
"Sir, port bridge lookout's got a visual," yelled the Boatswain mate. "It looks like a Chinese fishing boat but it's hauling tail towards Chinese territorial waters and whatever they've got below the engines are awfully good for trolling."
"Have the signal men try and hail her. Smuggler, that's what she is," said the Captain as he went out on the port bridge wing to see for himself.
"Sir they've increased speed and are ignoring all our attempts to hail her," said the OOD. "Request orders."
"Go to battle stations and have them ready the 5 inch/54. Put a round across their bow that ought to get their attention."
"Sir, word from Operations the Chinese destroyer is closing in on us fast. They're radioing us that we are in violation of the United Nations Law of the Sea treaty and that we should turn around or face the consequences."
"Like hell we will. When we're within firing range fire a round across their bow," ordered the Captain. The 5 inch/54 fired a precession round that went across the bow of the fleeing vessel landing in the sea. Suddenly the whole Japanese ship shook violently.
"Sir we're under attack from the Chinese Destroy," yelled the XO. "Words coming in we took a direct hit in the aft engine room. We're on auxiliary power and there's flooding but no casualties."
"Return fire, ready the harpoons and get the word out to the rest of the Fleet," yelled the Captain as a routine interdiction just escalated.
The USS McCain was on point in the same exercise as the Kongō class Japanese destroyer and they were the first to get her distress call. So they hauled full steam to assist but when they got there they discovered that the battle had become a Mexican standoff with the Chinese destroyer circling the crippled Japanese vessel. The McCain was hailed that it too was in violation of Chinese sovereign waters.
"I don't know anything about politics or international treaties I just know if you push that trigger a lot more will go boom than just us," radioed the Captain. The Chinese Captain took a moment to respond.
"Know that we've got a squadron of fighters that will be here soon so don't try anything," radioed the Chinese. The CO of the McCain already had confirmation of inbound aircraft for the mainland.
"I could get a squadron here quicker from our carrier if I wanted. Now that we've threatened each other with destruction can we talk? My proposal is simple let me take the Japanese destroyer under tow back to Okinawa and let's let the politicians work the rest of this out. Do you agree to live another day?" There was a long pause.
"Yes, I'd like to see another sunrise. We will stand down but watch as you proceed."
"Roger that," said the CO. "XO take an away team over to the Japanese ship and see what they need. I think everyone just blinked and I intend to take every advantage of it. We need to get that line over and get out of here."
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On one of the remote islands in the Okinawan chain in an underground bunker fortress, an instillation left offer from the last world war a group of men were talking about the possibility of starting the next war. Sitting around the table were a group of oriental men in Blues Brother suits complete with Ray Bans even though they were inside. The group was divided with the members of the Chinese Triad sitting on one side and on the other members of the Yakuza. Each group sitting across from each other growling but before things could escalate the patriarchs for each respective group came in together.
"Before we begin let me offer everyone a drink," said the Yakuza boss. He clapped his hands and two young women came in with bottles of Suntory 18 year old Scotch. They placed a bottle in front of each of the men pouring one glass each.
"Thank you Oyabun, a toast to our continued cooperation," said the Triad leader as he raised his glass. "Kan-pie" and they all drank the toast.
"Thank you Dragon head, ladies please leave and close the doors," said the Oyabun. He waited for the serving girls to leave before continuing to talk. "As most of you are aware after the recent incident in the East China Sea the US has formally asked both the Japanese and Chinese governments to address this situation."
"We were aware that Ambassador Mei Sheng has been conducting secret talks with the Americans in the Chinese consulate in Los Angeles. Are you saying they're doing the same thing here?"
"Yes, from what our people have learned there have been talks going on in the headquarters of Seventh Fleet in Yokosuka. They began secretly shortly after the incident. Japanese and American diplomats cloaked these negotiations under the cover of a debriefing after the recent joint operations but we've learned it is much more."
"So they're talking they've done that before but does it really affect us? Our operations have been going on there since the war. You send merchandise to us and we send it back. The Exclusive Economic Zone is good for us. With the EEZ each side lays claim so neither patrols it we move freely without worry about getting caught."
"Except with recent events the Americans have decided to stick their nose in our affairs and now they're negotiation a joint patrol or that's the gist of the new treaty as we know it."
"We can't allow that to go through," said one of the men from across the table while another agreed from the opposite side."
"I think we all can agree this treaty isn't in our best interest," said the Oyabun for the Yakuza clan as the Dragon head for the Triad nodded in agreement.
"What do you suggest we do?" asked the Triad leader but before he could answer one of the men noticed something was off in in the flower arrangement in the center of the table. Ikebana was an art in Japan and each flower that was placed was placed for a reason but what was in the middle of the table seemed... well not very Zen so he decided he had to fix it.
"What are you doing?" asked the Oyabun as one of his men got up and started rearranging the flowers. "You're not being respectful towards our guests. You should sit down and pay attention now apologize."
"I'm sorry but this was just bothering me and I can't help it but... what's this," said the man as he held up a bug.
"That's a listening device," said the Oyaban. "Let me see that. Yes, this is a GLG-20 fan out there has to be a receiver somewhere nearby. Does anyone know where these flowers came from?"
"One of the girls brought them in. She was the same one who served drinks before," said the man looking down at his drink as he began to sweat and unbuttoned his collar but nothing happened.
"Find that girl but capture her alive we need to know who she's working for. Gentlemen I'm sorry but I think we need to adjourn this meeting for now."
"I agree," said Dragon head. "Go with his men and find this girl."
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The girl was standing outside the conference room with a receiver listening to everything as it was being recorded. When she heard the flower vase being moved she knew her cover was blown and she had to get out of there. She stashed the recorder in her bag then ran for the exit. She was almost at the door when the alarm sounded.
"Lady, I'm sorry but everyone has to stay where they are," said the Guard. As he was telling her to stay put his phone rang and he answered it. "What she's right..." he was going to say 'here' but a jade dart struck him in the throat and he went down.
"Cover blown, need extraction," she radioed in as she took the guards pistol. She heard voices coming towards her from behind so she ran.
"I'm ten minutes out. Try to make it to the extraction point and I'll pick you up," said the voice in her ear.
"Ten minutes, Gez I don't know if I've got ten seconds let alone the other nine minutes and fifty seconds," she said as she ran towards the rendezvous site.
"Stop you're bellyaching and move your..." the voice went garbled. "I'll be there just don't go doing anything stupid like getting dead."
"And here I just thought I had to worry about a bad hair day," said the girl as she ran. Then she heard someone yelling behind her. She turned and fired dropping two then turned and ran. Bullets whizzed past her until she heard someone yell for them to stop shooting.
"Stop shooting, the bosses want her alive," yelled a man panting. "Besides we've got her now she's go nowhere to go."
He was right. Ahead of her was a bluff and as she ran towards it she could hear the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks below. But she had no intention of stopping. The men were stunned when she ran right over the edge leaping at the last moment. They were even more so when a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk rose from below the cliff and she dove right in the open side door.
"Shoot, shoot," yelled the man as he emptied a clip into it but it turned, dipped it's nose and let lose a round from its two 134 miniguns. At 5,000 rounds a minute, it didn't take long to take care of business. However, the real targets where safely locked away below so the Black Hawk broke off attack and returned home.
Later below in the conference room...
"Sirs, I'm sorry but the woman got away," said a man to the two leaders. "We tried to stop her but she was organized. There was a helicopter waiting for her. This is the only thing she left behind." He handed them a jade dart taken from the throat of the guard
"No one has any idea who this woman was?" asked the Yakuza boss as he took the dart. His men shook their heads no.
"Here let me see that for a moment. Yes... yes we know this dart, don't we," said Dragon head passing the dart to one of his Lieutenants.
"This is Red Lotus' calling card," said the man. "But how did she find us here and what did she hear? You don't think..."
"You leave that to me," said the old man as he took the dart back and handed to the Oyabun. "The Red Lotus works for the Chinese MSS. She's been a pain in my side for years both her and her cousin, the White Lotus. However, Lotus or not we push ahead with our plans to sabotage this treaty there's too much profit we'd have to give up. We just tell our men to be extra careful."
"And if this Lotus gets in the way."
"We eliminate anyone, and I mean anyone, who gets in our way."
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A few days later inside the Chinese consulate compound the talks were about to begin again. The American delegation arrived and were ushered in and invited to their seats. The Chinese were all present. The only person missing was the Ambassador himself. The head of the American group was starting to get a little tired. They'd been at this now for over two weeks with little or nothing to show for their efforts and he was about to call the talks off.
"I apologize for being late. You have to excuse me but I just got called from home," said Ambassador Mei Sheng.
"I hope everything is okay. Is there anything you need to share with us? I hope you're government has softened its position."
"Well yes and no. You see we just received intel that the Triad and Yakuza are going to try and sabotage this treaty agreement. From the information we received it seems they've been able to penetrate both delegations. My government would like to propose we move on to the next stage in these treaty talks and go to face to face negotiations."
"What does that mean?" asked the head of the American delegation but if it got him off the hot seat he was all for it.
"We move that our respective heads of state meet to negotiate the rest of the treaty with our delegations as support and naturally hosted by your president."
"Naturally... okay I'll check with the president and see what we can arrange. Maybe we could all meet at Camp David?"
"No we need these talks kept secret. I know our leader is big into Feng Shui and the Japanese Premier is into Zen so I'd suggest someplace where there's a lot of nature which would be auspicious for our talks. Someplace that symbolizes harmony like the harmony between our nations."
"I like the analogy do you mind if I use it to help sell the idea to the President and the Secretary of State." The Ambassador gave him the go ahead. "Okay then, nature hmm... like a park or something like that."
"I've got a suggestion but I don't know if it's possible. I took my family camping in Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks. There's a lot of nature to see there plus some of the sites haven't opened yet so we could nestle everyone away in a quiet corner. The families could go hiking or whatever while the rest of us work."
"The President could sell it to the press as a working vacation… showing visiting heads of state our natural beauties blah, blah, blah. Yes I think this will work. I just need to go talk to the Secretary of State. Then I'll need to talk to the Secret Service about a security detail."
"I have a couple of names for you. Agents of yours that I've worked with in the past and who've saved me on more than one occasion, I'd like to be included in the security detail. They are people I trust and trust is important if these talks are to succeed."