Author Notes. This is my second attempt at writing a multi-chapter story. We'll see how successful I am. As usual, I'm not the owner of Chuck. Read and review! Let me know if this is worthwhile! William Ashbless

April 22, 2011

19:38 Hours

Empty Throne Games

Los Angeles, CA

The lights were still on at the third floor offices of Empty Throne Games. Most of the software team had left already for the Easter weekend, or in some of their cases, simply the weekend. It had been a long development session, but now their latest MMOPRG was ready for beta-testing.

Charles "Chuck" Bartowski, President of Empty Throne Games, sat in his office, keyboard in his lap, Chuck Taylor encased feet propped up on his six foot desk, happily humming to himself as he reviewed the game flow. An empty can of Red Bull, and "This Desert Life" playing on the speakers.

In the two years since Ellie and Awesome's wedding, Chuck had founded a small software shop, and released a series of games that had captured the world wide imagination of gamers everywhere. He had resisted selling out to bigger companies but had been able to leverage agreements that resulted in a very hefty cash flow but maintained his independence.

Smiling, he shut down his system and picked up his phone and selected a contact name. As he waited for his sister to pick up, he was treated to the unmistakable sound of Gwen Stefani.

"Ain't no holla back girl, I ain't no holla back girl"

"Ellie! It's Chuck! Sis, you're a doctor, wife and mother, I'm pretty sure you're not a holla back girl!", he teased. "Listen, I just needed to confirm the time for the Easter Egg hunt."

"uh, huh"

"Ok, well, that'll work, I'll see you guys Sunday. Give my love to the girls and I'll see all of you Sunday. Love you!"

He ended the call, got up, stretched his lanky build to his full height. He picked up his leather backpack from the floor, shoved his laptop and some paperwork in and began to make his way out of the office suite towards the elevator, shutting the lights on his way. As he approached the elevator door, he heard the ding of it stopping. Puzzled at who could be coming up, he paused.

The elevator doors opened. His stunned eyes were drawn not to the four obvious agents in black suits, earwigs and stoic faces, but rather the diminutive figure in the middle they were so clearly protecting.

"Hello Chuck." said Beckman.

A few minutes later, a wary Chuck sat in his executive conference room, looking across at Beckman. Two of her detail stood guard by the elevator doors, one was roving through the offices, while the last stood outside the conference room door.

Chuck looked closely at Beckman. "You seem tired, General. Are you ok?" he asked.

"Chuck, let me be honest with you. We have a problem with something and I'm here to ask for you help." Beckman stared tiredly into Chuck's eyes. "We miscalculated the stability of the current Intersect host."

"What's that mean? You miscalculated?"

"Chuck, six months ago, Bryce went insane. He's utilizing the Intersect, not just against terrorists but those that he perceives are the root cause of the world's problems. He thinks he's Justice Incarnate and he's out to remake the world in his image.". She paused for a brief moment to allow Chuck to absorb all that she had said. "Chuck, we can't stop him as long as he is the only person using the Intersect. Chuck, your country needs you again. Will you upload the Intersect? Will you help us stop him?"

"General. I just." He paused. "I just can't do that. I'm not a hero. I'm just a guy that writes software."

"He's killed every member of the Intersect project with the exception of two people."

Chuck's breath stopped. He hadn't communicated with her in two years. Not since the night of Ellie's wedding when she told him she was leaving for DC to become head of the Intersect project. He hadn't stopped thinking about her but he respected the decision she had made when she chosen her career. He prayed that Beckman wouldn't tell him that Sarah was dead. Not that.

"Who's left" he rasped.

"Your father and Sarah. They're all that's left. We've got Sarah in protective custody but it's only a matter of time before he finds her. Your father refused our offer of protection but he still communicates with us to let us know that he's alive."

His eyes tightened as he stared directly into Beckman's face. "If I do this, there has to be conditions. I want John Casey. I want her safe. I also want approval to do this my way. If I can avoid killing Bryce, I will. And when this is over, I go back to my life."

"Agreed. Chuck, you need to know something. Larkin sent me a communication. He's going to publicly assassinate a world leader on Easter Sunday. He's going to do it in such a way as to provoke a world war. We have to stop him before then."

"Well, General, I guess it's time for Agent Charles Carmichael to be reactivated, isn't it?"

A disembodied voice spoke from Chuck's iPhone. "Son, we need to talk. General, can you give us some privacy?"

Startled, both Chuck and Beckman stared at the static filled image displayed on the iPhone. "Dad?"

"Yes, Charles, it's me. Please, we need to talk. In private."

Chuck looked at Beckman and with a head motion, indicated that she should leave. As she shut the door, Orion spoke again.

"Charles, listen to me. You don't have to do this. I can protect myself and Sarah is in protective custody. This isn't your fight son. You've done your part!"

"Dad. I love her. I always have and always will. I'm not doing this to prove anything."

"I can't convince you otherwise, can I?"

"No, Dad, you can't."

Even through the voice distortion software, the unmistakable sound of a sigh came through. "Well, Charles. Then let me help you. I can't physically be there but I can help you with the Intersect. Make it easier for you to use."

"Dad, what happened with Bryce? Do you know?"

"As best as I can tell, his ability to assimilate the data flow is not as good as yours. In order to compensate for that, he altered aspects of the interface. He choose to override the safety protocols. By doing so, he created an addiction to actually using the Intersect continually. His mind is now so warped by using the Intersect like that, that he's lost all traces of humanity. He always was a sociopath, the Intersect just amplified those tendencies to where he's lost all traces of morality. And now he's lost touch with reality."