So as I've been writing "Casey vs. the Fifth Elder" (appearing now at a website near you), I've had the occasional scene pop into my head that didn't have anything to do with the main plot, and would just slow things down pace-wise, but would be fun to write anyway. I also wanted the chance to work some of the regular characters who are also in the background for this particular story. So that, and the fact that I'm nothing if not self-indulgent, led me to start throwing them together – the first of which is found below.

This first came to mind as I was proofing the first chapter of the story, and the dialogue made me flash back to an old TV show that nobody should be imitating if they ever want to be taken seriously as writers. Hopefully, I fixed it in the story, but also I figured it might be fun to do a salute to that particular show.

The scene doesn't really need any knowledge of the plot of "Casey vs. the Fifth Elder." Though, I suppose I should point out that Agent Andy Bailey is a young agent working as part of Casey's and Morgan's team.

As always, I don't own 'Chuck', or any campy 60s TV shows. Or any non-campy 60s TV shows, for that matter.

Casey vs. the Comic Book

General Beckman answered the phone on its first ring. As she listened, her face began to shift from its usual impassive state, her eyes narrowing in concern. "I see." She dropped the phone back in its cradle with more force than necessary, then shook her head.

Major O'Hearn watched all of this from his vantage point at the other end of the room. He was new to the post, only brought in two weeks ago. He had never seen the General so concerned. "What is it, General?" he asked.

"It's the Ringleader. He's escaped."

The Major sunk down in his chair. "Saints preserve us!"

"Yes Major. We'll need every bit of help we can get. But, there's only one man that can save us from that dastardly deviant."

"You mean…"

"Yes Major, I mean…him."

"Yes, General."

John Casey listened attentively to the voice at the other end of the phone. "In understand. We'll be right there." He hung up the phone and turned to the other man in the room. "I'm afraid our chess game will have to wait, old chum."

Morgan put his pipe aside, and stood up. "Then there's trouble?"

"The Ringleader. We're needed." Casey walked over to the desk in his study, and tilted the head of the bust of Ronald Reagan standing atop it. A door in the wall appeared. "There's no time to lose."

"Dadadada dadadada dadadada dadadada Casey…"

"Seriously?"

Morgan looked over at Agent Bailey. "What? So I was getting a bit carried away. You think it's a bad idea?"

The young agent looked slightly amused. They were in the Colonel's apartment, taking a much-deserved Call of Duty break after the long mission. In a bit of sharing, Morgan had decided to tell the young Agent about his great new idea.

"I don't know that it matters what I think. And I admit I don't really know Colonel Casey that well, but is he really going to want you to write a comic book about him?" Bailey asked.

"Well, why not? He gets to be a hero, right? Think about how few people know about the sacrifices guys like us make. This is the perfect way to show the world what we do."

"Uh, I'm pretty sure the world isn't supposed to know what we do."

"Well, we really don't know what the Ring is up to right now anyway. C'mon, it'll be a piece of cake. I just need to work on my drawing. I'm still having trouble getting Casey's jawline right. But I think I can do a better job with him than with the Wonder Brain and Danger Girl."

Bailey raised an eyebrow. "Who are they?"

"Oh, just some other characters I'd been working with."

"So what's Casey's name going to be?"

"Yeah, I'm still working on that. I'm thinking…Colonel Justice, or Commander Badass. Something like that. I want something tough, but my old thesaurus wasn't much help. Major Sturdy just didn't sound right."

"No, I can see that it wouldn't."

"Anyway, I can always fill that out at the end. And I haven't told you the ending either."

"Ok," Agent Bailey said dubiously.

The Ringleader chuckled with glee as his henchmen worked on the lock to the back of the truck they'd just hijacked. "Excellent, soon the world's finest diamonds will all be mine. Perfect for my…rings!" He raised his hand, waving the jewelry attached to each of his fingers.

The henchmen finished with the lock and pried open the door. A fist reached out from the truck, connecting with the face of one of the Ringleader's lackies.

Casey and his sidekick jumped out of the truck. "You're finished, Ringleader!"

"You two! But I killed you!"

"Ah, but you easily escaped your trap. In your rush to finish your crimes, you forgot that crocodiles are allergic to tapioca."

"Drat!"

"And now, I think it's time we wrap things up. Shall we, Bearded Wonder?"

"Let's!" Casey's sidekick smacked a fist into his other hand in emphasis.

"Bearded Wonder? I take it that would be you?"

"Every great hero needs a sidekick."

"Uh huh."

"So, what do you think?"

"Yeah, you may want to put some more work into it."

"Oh." Morgan looked glum for a moment. But only for a moment, as he soon shrugged and picked up the game controller from the coffee table. "Oh well. Another game?"

There will be more "b-side" scenes shortly. Please click on the review button to let me know what you think, and if desired demand an apology.