Part III: Intersect meet intersect
Everyone was escorted into the beta intersect facility located conveniently within Los Angeles. Time was a commodity they didn't have plenty of; once launched, those ICBMs would reach their target within the hour. The millions that would be in danger erased all thoughts on the previous mission to eliminate Chuck; they might end up needing him after all.
What Chuck had failed to tell the others at the time was that he had flashed as soon as Beckman said the words "beta intersect."
Amid the random pictures cycling through his head were the initial schematics and diagrams. Four supercomputers, each one composed of 4000 smaller computers that were highly interconnected by high-speed network. This legion of cpus provided the muscle for a sophisticated neural network designed to detect novel patterns and sequences and make sequential decision making. I guess I know what decisions it's making.
He also found that both intersects were planned out at the same time; one just got finished earlier and thus had the data on the other. Lucky break.
On the outside it looked like any other abandoned warehouse, although warehouses usually didn't have a secret elevator going deep underground. Chuck counted the number of floors listed on the elevators computer screen and was amazed that they could hide a facility so huge in the middle of L.A. I'd hate to see the power bills for a place like this.
As the doors opened up, lights were flashing and sirens were blaring; Beckman shouted "let's go. The beta intersect is located down the corridor to the right."
Sarah, obviously confused about the situation, asked "General, but how could the intersect order the fueling of those missiles? If it's just like the previous incarnation, then all it should do is show data correlations."
"This is not the same as the previous one. In seeing how Bartowski was better at determining connections, we decided to upgrade the beta with an AI, artificial intelligence. We were hoping it would be better able to mimic human intelligence."
Casey added "but that would not explain our current situation, General."
"True. We also gave the computer the ability to make quick decisions when it saw a specific series of events coming together which could jeopardize national security."
"What? You gave the computer that much control?" Sarah said.
"We thought at the time that the beta unit would be more reliable and a quicker responder than any person could be."
Sarah was starting to get angry, "true, but what of the parts of human mind that you can't copy and that are just as important. Where is the compassion, loyalty, and respect for other people?"
Before the general could answer, they arrived in the control room next to the intersect. What Chuck saw was a bank of large monitors showing correlations of data from both the NSA and CIA, basically what the beta intersect was thinking. Then to the other end of the room was a glass wall separating them from the main beta intersect unit, with a smaller clean room used to enter into it.
Once again, Chuck flashed as soon as he saw the glass walls. Everything this time came into his mind: the designs, the programming, the access codes, and the security system that was in place.
Sarah saw the look on Chuck's face and immediately knew he had flashed on the intel for the new intersect. "Chuck, what did you see?"
"Bill Gates' nightmare."
Casey was already sitting on one of the computers which were used to monitor the intersect and give directions should the need arise. "Sarah, take the other seat. We have fifteen minutes to figure this out."
Sarah nodded and sat down next to him; Beckman and Graham stood over them and looked at the bank of screens. It was as they feared; the beta intersect was launching the ICBMs because it mistook an unscheduled Chinese military naval practice as an actual attack on the United States.
"Casey, tell the beta unit that it was just military maneuvers. Tell it to stand down" Beckman ordered.
"I would, but according to this the unit has cut off all connections to the outside. It has shut itself off from human contact in case the people running it were compromised."
Sarah asked "so there's no way to talk to the unit and shut it down?"
"No, not unless we do it from the main unit itself."
Beckman spoke up "and to gain access while the unit is locked down like this would need someone who knows the passwords to the firewalls."
Chuck's eyes lit up, "I know them. I saw some of them when I flashed earlier. I'll just go in the room and type it in."
Chuck turned around and looked into the glass room, "the only problem is that smoke in the room; it'll make it hard to see the screen. And those sleeping people on the floor…."
Graham spoke up, "Chuck that's not fog, that's a derivative of agent 15. Agent 15 is normally non-lethal incapacitating…"
Chuck had flashed on the reference and finished the sentence, "chemical which initial effects include blurred vision, increased heart rate, difficulty thinking, disorientation….which usually takes effect around 30 minutes to 4 hours."
"Correct. But this derivative was adapted to work within a minute or two and can be absorbed through the skin. In the event of longer exposure, it will also kill."
"Great, that's nice to hear. I'm glad to see good taxpayer money going into making stuff that's non-lethal into lethal ones. Not that there's not enough stuff out in the world to kill us," Chuck said with a smirk. "Can't you get me a containment suit or something?"
"Can't, the gas has been changed to work through all know filters as well. After the Bryce incident, we didn't want to leave anything to chance."
"Of course. Don't want to make it easy or anything."
As Chuck looked around he saw the map marking the targets on Chinese soil and the possible retaliation sites in the U.S. by the Chinese. These were major cities; millions and millions of people inhabit these areas and now might be killed unless the beta intersect was shut down.
Chuck then looked into the room and a dread came over his face. Normally he would've left this heroic stuff to the agents assigned to him, but this time no one could do anything but him. The decision shouldn't be this difficult. My life for the lives of millions seems like a fair bargain.
He then turned to see Casey still typing away on the computer; frantically trying to re-establish the connection with the beta unit.
Sarah looked up just in time to see the look on Chuck's face that she feared. She could see that he had made a decision on what to do. The CIA part of her said that it was the logical choice to be made and that his life needed to be sacrificed. The civilian side of her didn't want to see Chuck gone from her life; he taught her that every life was important.
Seeing the determination on his face, Sarah shouted to him "Chuck, I know what you're thinking. But I…we can't have you sacrificing yourself; you're way too valuable. Give us time to try to link up again with the beta unit."
"Don't worry Sarah, that's not what I was thinking. I was thinking that all programmers leave a back door to their programs in order to quickly access the vital systems in times of emergencies."
"Good thinking Chuck. I'll see if I can access any of the non-vital systems…"
But Chuck knew there were no such entrances. He flashed on the programming and it was as secure as a program could get. How I wish for an Irene Demova virus.
As Sarah turned around to look back at Chuck, she found that he wasn't there and what she feared had happened. She quickly scanned the room hoping to find him in a corner or something, but not this time. She hesitantly lifted her eyes and looked into the clean room attached to the room of the beta unit. There, to her dismay, was Chuck locking the door.
As she ran down to the room, Casey and the others looked up to see the same sight. Sarah made her way down and started shouting, "get out of there right now Chuck! What are you doing?"
Speaking through the room to room intercom, Chuck said, "Sorry Sarah, no other solutions. Remember, intersect-guy here. I kind of know all there is to know."
"Get out here right now or I'll…I'll…I'll shoot you were you stand!" Sarah said as she un-holstered the gun from her back.
Graham seeing what was happening shouted to Sarah, "Walker, if you shoot the glass, all the gas will leak into this level. We all will get a lethal dose."
Chuck, still looking at Sarah, smirked "You know you really need to work on this instinct of yours. You're going to shoot me to prevent me from being killed by gas?"
Sarah threw the gun down and pleaded "Chuck, there's got to be another way…"
"Nope, there's not. If there was I wouldn't be here, right? Besides, I've made my decision; I want to be a hero" referring back to a conversation he had with Sarah about some wanting to be a hero and other needing to be asked.
Seeing that Sarah wasn't moving away, Chuck said "it's ok, I'm surer of myself now than I was anytime before. I 'm making the right call."
As Sarah slowly walked back to her seat, Chuck now looked up to Beckman, "General, I'm betting now you're glad that Casey decided to disobey orders."
Beckman couldn't say anything but the shame on her face told plenty.
"Graham, Beckman. One more thing. No retaliation." Both of them turned and looked at Chuck.
"No retaliation against Sarah or Casey for the incident earlier."
After looking at one another and nodding in agreement, Graham asked "what earlier incident Bartowski?"
Sarah looked up at Chuck in amazement; even now of all times, he still thinks of others over himself. Once again he's saving me and still I can't even tell him what I really want to say.
Casey, now obviously touched by the gesture, "Chuck, thanks. I'm sorry if I didn't say this before, but you're a good man. You have my respect."
"Thanks Casey."
Now turning back to Sarah, who looked more panicked than before, Chuck asked "Sarah, I know I'm asking a lot again but would you mind taking care of Ellie, Morgan, Awesome…everyone I knew? Tell them I died during something cool, like during sex or a 72 hour Call of Duty marathon."
Sarah, smiling a bit, said "don't say that, you'll be fine."
As she said that, Chuck opened the door into the beta unit and walked into the gas. He didn't look affected and quickly walked to the corner of the room.
Computer intersect, meet the human intersect.
"Ok, probably should've asked this before but how do I input the commands again? I don't see a computer terminal anywhere."
One of the techs stood up, "There is no keyboard or mouse. It is all done through those VR glasses and gloves you see sitting there. Once you put them on, you'll see what you need to do."
Chuck quickly stepped into the center of the room and put on the equipment. Once on he saw 3-D virtual monitor and a virtual keyboard near his hands. As he moved his head around so did his view in the virtual world and the same thing with his hands; as he moved them so did the virtual representations. So cool. Would've loved to have used this on that SOCOM tournament.
"No sweat. Starting to take down the firewalls. How much time do I have and how many passwords?"
"You have roughly 10 minutes Chuck and there are 20 firewalls that need passwords" Sarah replied.
"30 seconds for each firewall? You guys aren't making this any easier on me. So much for trying to get out of here before I start loosing bowel control."
Five minutes later, Chuck had passed through the first ten firewalls as calculated. Sarah couldn't believe the speed that his hands were typing into the virtual keyboard. Even the techs were remarking that he was progressing faster than they ever could, even with the gas. Her awe of Chuck was short lived as she realized that this might be the last thing he would be doing. Last thing.
Even though Chuck had started at the anticipated rate, the toll the gas was taking him was evident to everyone in the room. What everyone didn't know was that the gas affected him instantly. He suddenly felt his heart race as if he had just completed a 100 yard sprint and he found it hard to focus on a single thought.
He had started out standing, but now was now sitting on his knees with his shoulders slumped over and his hands barely above the floor. His head was also slumped forward onto his chest. The only way they knew he was still alive was that his fingers were still moving, typing away at the keyboard.
One of the techs whispered to the other that he had slowed down considerably and that he was taking more than 45 seconds for each firewall which would mean that he wouldn't make it in time.
Overhearing this, Casey set up a secure line to Chuck. Giving her the microphone, he quickly said "one on one with Chuck."
Sarah sheepishly took the mic; she had no idea what to say or what to tell him. "Hey Chuck, Sarah here. How are you feeling? You're doing great in there…"
As soon as that last word came out, Casey cut the line and shouted to Sarah, "what the hell was that? How are you feeling? He just sucked in major amounts of poison, how do you think he feels?"
Sarah, taken aback, replied "what do you mean, what do you want me to say?"
Now Casey was feeling anger well up inside of him. "Listen Walker, what do you think he's gone in there for?"
"He's giving his life to stop those nukes before they kill innocent people, that's what's he's doing."
"Correct. Giving his life up. Now listen, I've been in this game longer than you and let me tell you something. I've seen many men come in and say that they would give up their life for their country and you know what? They usually do one way or another and I had no problem with it. You know why? Because they decided to take an oath to uphold their ideals, to protect something bigger than themselves; Chuck did not. He had no choice and was instantly plunged into this happy world of ours. Now I'll be damned if he gives up his life because some idiot made a stupid decision and he has to clean it up."
Sarah couldn't help but shrink back from the Casey's assault. "What should I do?"
"What you should do? I'll tell you what you should do: give him hope. Tell him what he wants to know, what he needs to know in order to survive and endure the pain he's in. And if your stubborn CIA head won't let you say what I obviously know what you want to say to him, then lie. Lie through your teeth and make him believe it. Just make it so that he doesn't give up and think that he has to go down with the ship."
Sarah could see the conviction in Casey's eyes and she knew that he had been compromised as well. She slowly nodded to him and put the mic back on as she walked into the corner of the room.
"Chuck. I need to tell you something. Don't worry, its just me and you listening and it's ok if you don't respond. I just need to say what I should've said a long time ago to you, what you've wanted to hear. Since I've met you, something strange and scary has happened to me. I've let you, my asset, get closer to me than anyone in my life before has gotten. And all you've done is just be yourself and included me into your life."
Still Sarah didn't see any difference in Chuck as he slowly plugged away at the firewalls.
"What I'm trying to say is that you've started a change in me and it scares me. You have me questioning my duty and obligations to the agency. I went from living for the next rush of a dangerous mission to living for the quiet moments at home. I've found myself wanting a real life with you. Now you can't start this change in me and then leave it half finished. I want you to complete what you started."
Now with a sterner voice "So, I need you Chuck to promise me that you'll come out of there alive. I want you to do whatever you can to work faster and get out of there so that we can treat you. I want you to live and come back to us. To me."
After a few moments of silence Sarah heard on the headset, "You…have…such bad timing. And has anyone told you that….you're kind of demanding."
Smiling, "I know Chuck; you bring out the worst in me."
"And …you in me."
Suddenly Sarah notices Chuck's hands typing faster than before and then looks up into the control room.
"Amazing! He's sped up. He's now passed through eight of the ten firewalls. Less than a minute remaining till nuclear launch" shouted a nearby tech.
"Ninth wall down. Twenty seconds remaining."
"Excellent! Tenth wall down. Starting beta intersect shut down."
Everyone looked up to the map as red dots indicating imminent launches suddenly turned green showing that they were powering down. Loud cheers filled the room as everyone was able to let out the breaths they were holding for the last ten minutes.
"Chuck!" Sarah shouted as she saw him slumped over still attached to the VR equipment.
"Evacuate the gas immediately" ordered Graham.
"Evacuation complete, sir."
Casey jumped up and aimed his gun at the glass wall. "Walker, get ready!"
As Casey shot three times at the glass, Sarah crashed through the fragmented window and ran to Chuck, who was frighteningly still.
"Chuck, Chuck, you're gonna be alright. I've got you."
The last thing Chuck said was "Sar….rah?" before his eyes closed.
