A/N: None of this is real, I have no clue if any of it is possible, everything is made up and BSed through in order to make an enjoyable story.
Chapter 1
Chuck groaned as his mind came to consciousness. His head hurt. Really hurt. As in pounding on a brick wall with ice picks hurt. He was afraid to move in fear of the pain, afraid that the already unbearableness of it would escalate further.
He didn't know where he was, and at the moment he really didn't care. He was aware enough to know that he should be bothered by that but at the moment his only concern was to hold still, to not move. Keeping his eyes closed Chuck forced his mind to stop thinking, thoughts exacerbating the white hot pain that stabbed at his brain.
After a few moments though he thought better of it and decided to move a little to see if that would help abate his pain. Moving an inch however to release his arm that was trapped under his body that he could barely feel at this time dissuaded him from that course of action. Nausea rose through his stomach and up to his throat. His head which pounded in time with his heart caused dizziness making him scrunch his eyes closed tighter hoping to stop himself before he threw up.
"You will feel better if you expel the contents." A voice inside his head echoed, causing him to groan. He was confused for second at the voice, not sounding like his normal internal one. That moment of confusion was all his body needed to let go and stop fighting its instincts to keep everything in.
Chuck quickly rose on his arms and bent over the side of where he was and expelled whatever contents were in his stomach. His eyes closed tightly his head pounded as his body proceeded. After what felt like eternity it finally stopped and he took deep breaths to calm his racing heart.
Falling on his side on something soft he panted and curled up in a ball as tight as his lanky body would let him, his body now aching to add to his migraine. He shivered as he wrapped his arms around his body as chills raged all across his body causing bumps to appear and the hairs on his skin to stand up.
The last thing he knew before losing consciousness was something cool being placed on his forehead and soothing words inside his mind telling him to sleep.
"That's disgusting." Casey grunted grimacing at the mess in the bucket his partner had made. He made eye contact with his other partner Sarah Walker as he removed it from the side of the bed Chuck was lying on. He opened the door on the other side of the room and handed it out to the guard with directions to get rid of it and grab another bucket.
Turning back he crossed his arms in front of his chest, standing guard as Sarah took a cool rag she had gotten from the adjacent bathroom.
"This is the worse update he's had." Sarah commented, cleaning around his face. "I don't think we can move him."
Casey grunted his agreement. He wasn't planning on moving the kid in the first place especially since they arrived at this CIA facility in his car. Still he agreed with her on her assessment. He can't deny, as much as he wants to that the updates the CIA and NSA have Chuck go through to keep his information refreshed are brutal. He can't imagine having all that data being written inside his head like that. And watching Chuck go through it, on an increased basis now it seemed, it seemed almost violent and intrusive in the way its performed.
Casey thought back to earlier that day when they had arrived in the room that had been set up months ago for use of updating the Intersect and there had been a chair fastened securely to the floor. He could feel the hairs on the back of his neck raise at it wondering what exactly was going on. It wasn't until Chuck stepped near the computer in the center of the room in front of the chair and the techs had him sit down did he completely understand.
Sarah was the first to respond as the first tech reached down to secure Chucks arm to the chair. She grabbed hold of it and twisted it to his back. It didn't take much effort considering he was just a tech but her angry yell demanding what he was doing echoed through the room.
The tech stumbled through an explanation stating that with the data updates Chucks been going through that he'll close his eyes or collapse in the middle of it causing a break in information that could potentially be damaging to the information in his head as well as Chuck himself.
Chuck weakly, already exhausted from the mission from the previous night and the update only two days ago which still caused him head pains called Sarah off. Making a joke as he always did saying he could use a seat during these things, she let it go and watched the techs with a hawk eye as they strapped him to the chair and forced his eyes open.
Casey had to admit to himself that he didn't like it all. It looked like a medieval torture device and brought back memories of the Fulcrum cell in the suburbs. He stood in front of Chuck for several moments trying to read his reaction, telling himself that if Chuck gave him any indication that he was hesitant about this getup he would break the kid out of it and cancel the update.
He saw nothing however except an exhausted smile and a quiet reassurance that he was fine. With that Casey and Sarah walked out of the Intersect room and into the observation area to watch the update take place. He watched from the safety of that room with glasses to protect him as images raced across the computer screen and all around the room at a rapid pace.
He hated to admit it but the speed of the images around was beginning to make him feel slightly sick, but he didn't want to close his eyes. If Bartowski had to endure this torture, and on a regular basis now than so can he. At least that's what he thought and told himself until he heard the moan of pain coming from inside the room that rose as the process continued.
"Shut it off." Casey had shouted at a tech who shook visibly from fear of the large man.
"We can't. If we shut it off mid process it can cause irreparable damage to the host and the Intersect." He stuttered out, cowering slightly away.
Casey glanced at the download bar seeing the process was almost done. He readied himself to run into the room the second it was over and rip the restraints off of Chuck. The second the images stopped and the room went dark both Casey and Sarah were in the room before the lights came on.
What he saw scared him, and he wasn't an easy man to scare. Chuck eyes were moving rapidly back and forth as his body convulsed violently. Blood dripped out of his nose causing a stain to form on his shirt. Casey tried to gain his attention by calling his name and gently tapping his cheek, but the only sound that came from him was moans of pain as he began sliding out of the chair once he was released.
Casey immediately bent down to pick Chuck off the ground and he carried him to a room off to the side down the hall that had been set up for this as well. Sarah thought it was better to set up a room then leave Bartowski lying on the floor for the time he's passed out after each update.
Casey had laid him on the bed carefully and arranged him on his side in the event that he got sick, the convulsions seeming to have lessened in the transport but still visible. He was glad now that he had put the bucket by the bed.
That had been almost two hours ago.
Two hours Bartowski had been unconscious in the room with Casey hovering by the door and Sarah sitting by the bed stroking his hair. He hated to admit it, but he was beginning to worry.
"Should we try to wake him up?" Sarah asked concerned an hour after the vomiting incident. Chuck showed no signs of waking up on his own and it was beginning to unnerve them.
Casey shrugged, not sure what to do.
"Chuck, Chuck sweetie, you need to wake up now." Sarah said softly to him. She stroked his cheek in a loving way that if it was any other time would make Casey roll his eyes and grunt. Now however he watched like a hawk for any sign that he'll awaken. "Come on Chuck, you have to get up now so we can go home."
The man on the bed scrunched his eyes closed and turned his head away from Sarah. Casey met Sarah's concerned gaze and stepped towards the bed.
"Yo, Bartowski, get up!" He shouted, earning a glare from Sarah. Casey just shrugged her glare away, not feeling bad at all for yelling at the obviously ill man.
Chuck's eyes opened suddenly then, startling them both causing them to back away from him. After a moment of no movement they leaned over him to get a closer look. Casey noted that his eyes were glazed and unseeing and he wondered idly if Chuck was even awake or if it was some kind of reflex.
Chuck's eyes blinked closed slowly before rising again, his eyes coming more into focus. His hands balled into fists tightly before loosening. Casey looked over at Sarah as she watched his movements with alarm, unsure as well as to what was happening.
"Chuck, are you alright?" She asked him softly. Chucks head turned towards her and Casey watched as his mouth moved in a way as if testing its motion, trying to get words out. For a second Casey was worried about minor brain damage but scoffed it off , believing that the update had just been too intense for the kid.
"Are you ready to go home?" Sarah asked him. Casey rolled his eyes as she tenderly placed her hand on his face and began stroking it softly. Chucks eyes were directed towards her, staring unblinkingly, unnerving Casey.
They both waited several moments but no response came from Chuck. He continued to stare at Sarah with unblinking eyes and move his mouth as if to talk but no sound would come out. Casey had enough of that, and to be honest enough of this facility for the moment so with a grunt he bent forward to help Chuck up.
He was unsteady no his feet, his legs curling underneath him as if he had no bones. It took both Casey and Sarah on either side of him to help him stand up. Casey could have easily carried him but Sarah suggested that the short walk to the car would help get the blood pumping again and hopefully help Chuck come out of whatever was wrong with him.
With that they half dragged half carried Chuck down the hall. Casey noted that the technicians from the update were standing in the hallway watching with interest and taking notes on their clipboards and iPads. It unnerved him the interest they were taking and he thought that perhaps he should be more worried about what all these updates have been doing.
By the time they exited the facility Chuck seemed to have regained his ability to walk and took some of the weight off of his handlers. By the time they reached the car he was standing straight on his own looking around the place with wide eyed wonder.
They stood outside the car for several moments, Casey prayed that this was a sign that Chuck was feeling better and wouldn't be vomiting all over his car. Sarah stood by him as Casey walked to the other side and unlocked the doors.
"Get in Bartowski." He barked. Chuck didn't startle like he normal would. Instead his head just whipped towards Casey, staring at him with the same unnerving blank stare but without moving to enter the car. Casey wasn't sure what to do. He knew if Chuck was fine he would growl at him and bark some insult finished with a veiled threat he wouldn't actually carry out. However, with Chuck just getting this update and obviously not well, he wasn't quite sure what to do.
Luckily he didn't have to think about it too much longer as Sarah placed her hand on his shoulder and opened the door for him. Casey and Chuck continued their staring contest for a moment more before Sarah more forcefully pushed him into the back of the car.
Casey shared a look with Sarah before she herself got into the back with Chuck. Casey stayed outside for a moment, taking a few breaths and clearing any cobwebs that may have formed in the two or more hours he was stuck waiting for Chuck to wake up. He hoped he wasn't stuck babysitting a brain dead asset now.
He finally got into the vehicle and closed the door. He looked in the review mirror at the two in the back before turning the car on. He could see Walker had a tight hold on his hand but Chuck didn't notice as he was still looking around in wonder. It was odd to see and for a second Casey was curious on what Chuck was looking at or for. Curious on what he could be seeing that would cause such wonderment to appear on his face. What kind of update they gave him that would cause such amazement in him.
The ride home was mostly silent, the only sounds other then what came from the car was Sarah in the back, softly talking to him trying to get a response but so far no luck. He just continued to look around at the passing scenery as if he's never seen something like it before. Casey and Sarah kept passing worried glances to each other but didn't say anything, not wanting to alarm Chuck if he was in some way paying attention.
Once they arrived back at the apartment at Echo Park, Chuck got out of the vehicle after Casey opened his door and pulled him out. Standing straight up at his fullest height Chuck stood where he was and watched with unblinking eyes as Casey walked away, leaving Sarah to walk him home.
Not wanting to leave Sarah alone with whatever shell Chuck currently was he followed the two into Casa Bartowski and watched as Chuck stood at the door like a guest in his own home. He looked around the place like he'd never seen it, his look calculating as if looking for threats.
"Chuck, I think you should rest. You seem pretty out of it." Sarah told him gently. Again no response was forth coming as he stood there looking down to her, watching her every move.
She took charge then, grabbing onto his hand and entwining their fingers as she tugged gently down the hallway to their bedroom. Casey knew he should follow them, but stayed in the front room, not wanting to be party to whatever hanky panky takes place between his partners as they get ready for bed, but he waited in the living room, grabbing a tumbler and pouring himself a bit of scotch.
Twenty minutes later Sarah came walking out slowly down the hall, her face wary and concerned. Casey offered her a glass of her own but she declined it, wrapping her arms around herself concerned.
"That was really weird." Sarah stated first, breaking the silence that was stretching between them. Casey agreed. He spent tons of time telling the guy to shut up, but his silence at this time was unnerving.
"You think he's just out of it or something's wrong?" He asked her tipping the glass up to finish the scotch that was in it.
"I don't know. It was just , weird. I don't think Chucks ever been that quiet before. Even when he sleeps he's still talking or making noises."
"Ugh, Walker, more than I need to know." Casey ground out rolling his eyes. Sarah however wasn't buying it, knowing that he was just as concerned.
"You should already know that Casey you spent two years with surveillance in his room." She scolded him. But her annoyed expression turned to one of concern. "He was just like a robot. I told him what to do and he did it. Change his clothes, brush his teeth, lay in bed. I told him to close his eyes and he did it immediately."
"Yeah Bartowski doing as he's told is cause for alarm." Casey joked lightly, though neither laughed at it. "What do you think we should do about it?" Sarah looked at him alarmed that he would ask her to take point.
"Why are you asking me?" She asked, causing him to roll his eyes again.
"He's your boy toy Walker. Whatever we do or don't any damage he's taken you're the one who's going to have to deal with it until you dump his ass." He pointed out. Sarah huffed, not liking what he was saying. Casey felt momentarily guilty at the way he phrased it though it was the truth. Although he was pretty sure as much as he'd hate it and grumble about it, he wouldn't leave her alone to deal with the situation.
"I think for now we just let him rest and then we'll see how he is later. That update was brutal. They're getting worse." She said concerned sitting down at the dining room table. "I don't understand what they are updating that needs it so frequently. Intel can't have changed that much could it?" Casey shook his head.
"No, intel changes but if they did an update each time that happened it would be several times a day just to keep up. Maybe they'll doing some software updates or something." He suggested, pouring more scotch.
He watched as Sarah leaned on the table, placing her head in her hands as she thought about everything that was happening. He took note of how tired she was and how warn she seemed to be. She'd obviously been worried about Chuck for a while now, and the frequent missions hadn't helped much on the exhaustion and stress they had all been feeling lately.
"I'll leave you to it then." Casey murmured, rinsing his glass out and placing it on the counter. He walked past Sarah at the table and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "If there's any problems or you need help contact me." With that he gave her a final look before exiting the apartment, worry filling him.
The tech at the CIA facility watched out the window watching as the female agent, Sarah Walker opened the back door to the car they were driving and gently shoved him in. He hadn't taken his eyes off them the entire time they had walked through the place. Once they drove off he let out a giant grin as he rushed back to the phone on his desk.
He dialed the phone number he had memorized by order as to not leave any evidence lying around for others to find and waited for the other line to pick up.
"Well, how did the upgrade go Dr. Krinshaw" The voice on the other end asked.
"It went as planned Director. Carmichael was out for several hours and his handlers watched over him while he was out and wouldn't allow any of us to examine him. However when he came out he was supported by both of them and curiously he didn't seem to recognize anything." Dr. Krinshaw reported. There was silence on the other end as the Director listened and processed the information.
"What does that mean? Did the upgrade take?" He asked impatiently. The Tech shuddered slightly at the angry tone, feeling the wrath of his employer through the phone line.
"It's unclear at this moment Sir, but going just off visual observation it's possible that it wasn't Carmichael that was in control, it was the Intersect." He delivered excitedly. Again there was silence on the other end for a moment.
"What gave you that idea?" The Director inquired curiously.
"Well, the vacant expression on Carmichaels face, as well as the way he had to be dragged out but seemed to gain his strength and be fine by the time they hit the car. The Intersect is program to observe and learn. It learned how to stand and walk in the time that they exited the facility." He said, practically shaking with enthusiasm.
"Did his partners notice anything suspicious? We can't have them finding out before the final programing is uploaded into him." The Director stated harshly.
"They seemed concerned at his lack of coordination and silence but other than that I don't believe they suspect a thing. Most likely they're caulking it up to a hard update. It was very brutal." He admitted, grimacing at the remembrance of the expression and shouts of pain that came from the Intersect room during the process.
"Good. We shall proceed with the final stage in two weeks' time. That should give the program plenty of time to observe and assimilate human interactions into its programing." With that the Director hung up leaving the tech to look at his phone with a frown before hanging up.
Dr. Krinshaw sat back in his chair and thought for a moment, a grin appearing on his face. He had worked hard on the upgrade to the Intersect, and was delighted when the Director approved it to be put into effect. At first he had been hesitant when he was informed it was to be disguised as a regular update instead, not allowing him to inform Agent Carmichael what the update actually was.
He had moral qualms with it at first but after being given free reign and made head of the project the Technetium just through all morality out and let the excitement of the project take over. In a few more weeks he will have successfully been the first person to create and AI in a human Host. The program had just finished being installed into the Hosts mind and will start to take control. The only thing that was left, that needed to be done to assure complete cooperation from the Intersect was to get rid of Carmichael. In other words, to Wipe him from the Hosts mind so the Intersect had complete unobstructed control.
A/N: Yes another story already. I know I've spoiled you all with fast updates but I'm trying something new again so this story will hopefully have some action and technical stuff, things I'm not sure how to write so update will probably be slower. I haven't really written much action before so I'm looking forward to trying it.