Let us do something, while we have the chance.
This story is an AU from Season 3 of Chuck and a Take-off from Season 4 of Eureka.
Still don't own Chuck or Eureka.
"Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one."
- Albert Einstein
Chapter 4—a Phased Plan
Eureka, Oregon
October 2010
The next morning at the B&B Chuck was putting on his shirt, he had to pause. Sarah had her sweater on and was standing in front of the mirror adding the last touches to her makeup. She always amazed him and this morning was no different. His breath was taken away as he studied her. She was absolutely beautiful. Her hair was full and golden. The blue cassimere sweater and tan slacks were perfect. Even with the form fitting body armor, the sweater seemed to fit even better.
Sarah put on the last makeup and closed the case. "Chuck, you ready to go," she turned to see him staring at her. "You like it?"
"You know I do," he finished his shirt and came over to her. Putting his arms around her, "You know we have to be careful. It's not from the Intersect, but Volkoff and Beverley's people seem too close to each other. If they are working together…"
"Yes, I know. We'll both wear our vests all the time. I'll get with Jo and make sure everyone else does too." She turned around and gave him a kiss.
Casey was downstairs in the lobby. When he saw them approaching his growl did not stop, "How do you turn this thing off?"
Chuck laughed, "I said it was in the book. I even think it's the first page." He pointed to the instruction manual for CARINA that was on the table in the lobby. They had explained the night before that the B&B was now automated. CARINA, the Computerized Artificial Receptionist, Innkeeper, Nutritionist and Attendant, ran the B&B. When Chuck got to the room last night, he had asked CARINA for privacy mode. He had assumed that Casey would too.
Sarah smiled, "Look at it this way, if it was Carina… Well, at least you weren't handcuffed to your bed."
Claudia came in at the moment and laughed, "Wow, Pete warned me that you might be a little different."
Chuck responded, "Okay, straighten up, minors present."
"I thought she was from a warehouse, not a mine," Sarah dead panned.
"I hate mimes," Casey growled.
"She's a minor, not a miner," smiled Chuck.
"Oh, you guys have been together too long. Come on, I'll go with you, Sugar Bear," she saw everyone stare at her in disbelief. "What? I can read files?" She shrugged, "Hey, we can get pretty much what we want. And if not, I can usually get it."
Chuck started to wonder just how good she was. He knew from his flash that she had broken into the Warehouse system. His plan counted on Zane's help, but if Claudia was good enough to find a file that referenced Casey as Sugar Bear, he would definitely need her. "Okay, a little change to the plan. First, you are going to help me."
They all got in Casey's van, stopped at Café Diem for breakfast with everyone, and headed to Global Dynamics. While they were back in the van with Casey and Claudia, Chuck and Sarah told them that a machine that could alter time was to be transported to the Warehouse. Casey's main job was to protect Claudia, but the plan should help with that job. Sarah told Casey that the device was considered a Section Five project and not many people were permitted access. Claudia just raised her eyebrow at Chuck. She knew what the Bridge was and also knew that it really wasn't an artifact. Chuck winked at her and she remained silent. Casey drove into the underground parking at Global Dynamics. They got out and all met in the conference room beside Fargo's office. Around the table were Fargo, Claudia, Henry, Sarah, Jack, Allison, Casey, Jo, and Chuck. Casey turned on the jammers and announced, "Okay, we're clear."
Chuck started, "Okay, a little change to the plan. I'd like Claudia to help me first."
Jo thought it might give her an out, "Does that mean that Zane does not have to help? You know that while he thinks he was charged in the theft of the DED, he may not know what the device does."
Chuck answered, "Yes, that's right. We might need him later, but right now I think Claudia should be able to handle this job. It will give Zane a little more time to rest before we need him." He knew there was a risk including Zane, but he kept thinking that Zane would come around. He also understood that Casey might find out too. In the back of his mind he knew that at some point everyone would have to know the story for the plan to work. He was still convinced that it was of critical importance to keep the device out of the Volkoff/Beverley Collective hands. They were all happy with that term last night. Claudia had mentioned it last night and it seemed to fit. He nodded to Casey.
Casey began, "Okay, this will be the central point. If you get done with your project, check in here. Security is up and running. As you can see, Deputy Sheriff Andy is over with Allison's children and there are two guards with Zoe."
"Yes, the faster we get done with this, the happier Eureka will be," Jack held his head. Zoe had accused him of trying to break her and Zane up. She was at the infirmary this morning with the two guards sitting next to her. "And I agree with Chuck, these people are very dangerous. Be careful."
Allison went back to the infirmary. She found Zoe sitting there in between the guards with a frown on her face. Zane was asleep. Allison checked his vitals, but left him alone.
Chuck and Claudia followed Fargo to the computer lab. Chuck sat where Fargo pointed. He plugged in his laptop and turned around to face Fargo and Claudia. "Okay, Mary," Chuck looked up. They followed his look and saw Mary de-cloak.
"Oh wow, sweet," came from Claudia.
"Claudia, this is Mary. She is now linked to your computers. She has the last fingerprint of the Collective. They were running surveillance in the building and accepting its voice and video for transmission. Now I realize the information is dated, but Claudia, I want you to track it as far as you can. Then let me know and we'll install some alarms to let us know whether they become active again.
"Next, Fargo and I will be setting up the additional surveillance for here and Eureka. We'll be able to tell if someone else in area is monitoring the building and its contents. Any questions?" Chuck asked.
Henry went to the old Global Dynamics warehouse. His job was to find an experiment that Chuck had used at New Years and get it ready again. There were records showing that it had been created. Fargo had already unlocked the records to verify it and locate it. The P-Brane board was secured in a crate at the North end of the warehouse.
Jo, Jack and Sarah went to the Collective's building. The timing was perfect, Chuck and Claudia had finished their job and Claudia sent out the first notice that the Warehouse was taking over custody of the Bridge. General Mansfield was on the phone to Fargo in a second. Fargo explained that it seemed reasonable since the warehouse had the original Einstein Bridge. Fargo also arranged for Jo to take a truck and forklift with them. The forklift was remote controlled. It fit nicely on the truck with enough room for the Bridge. Jo found the Major from the other day. She presented the papers Claudia had given them. There was a quick call to General Mansfield then Jack was moving the Bridge out of the building.
Meanwhile Chuck and Claudia had joined Henry in one of the Section Five labs. Henry had the equipment out on the bench and was checking the circuits on the board. Chuck asked, "Seen any problems yet?"
"No, the circuits are responding. There does not appear to be any dead circuits." Henry looked up at Chuck from doing the last test. "I have about fifteen more to check."
"Okay, I'll look through their schematics." He looked at Claudia, "Want to join me?"
They were studying the chart for a while. Claudia pointed at one of the circuits, "Is this a redundant path or is it needed?"
Chuck looked over, "Very good. I think you're right. It's not the redundant side. It would slow the response a nanosecond, taking it out could make a big difference."
Henry called out, "Okay, that was the last one. What did you find?" Chuck pointed it out to Henry, "She's right, we ought to eliminate it."
"Score one for the girl," she said in a low breath.
Chuck smiled at her, "Okay, wait for the rollercoaster." He connected the laptop to the board and positioned it so she could watch, "Henry, I am going to start my tuning. I need you to check this circuit during the first part." Chuck began the tuning. He started to make the adjustments just like the year before. Then he set the P-Brane to land the passengers at the same place they left. Spotting an anomaly in the shape of the wave, he flashed on some advanced particle physics statistical methods and was able to reshape the electromagnetic convergence of the p-brane.
Claudia was watching and trying to keep up. She saw the last change, "What did you just do?"
Chuck was still pretty busy, "I changed it." He kept on working.
Claudia was still keeping up, "Don't make me ask."
Chuck got it stable and smiled, "Basically I fixed it so that we won't blow apart when we come back. You were able to follow most of it, weren't you?" He called out to Henry, "Go to the next circuit."
"Well yeah, but you were like…" Claudia was amazed.
"Just a little calculus with electronics theory thrown in," Chuck offered.
Henry looked at his multimeter, "The battery is dead. I'll be right back." He left with the multimeter.
"You know that we put the artifacts that let people do that in a blue gue and lock them away?" Claudia asked.
"Yes, when we get done with this Sarah and I can tell you a little story. For now I need you to focus on the bad guys," Chuck smiled at her.
"So why are you showing this to me?" Claudia wondered.
Chuck thought for a minute, "We are not out here to put these Bridges in the warehouse because we think they might be a disaster in the wrong hands."
Claudia finished it, "You know they are."
Chuck slightly nodded, "You are being shown so that if you ever encounter one of these p-branes, you'll be able to tune it and get what is on the other side. And expect that what is on the other side may be waiting to kill you." He paused to watch her shake. "The Collective is capable of building one of these. They may go through a couple hundred people to see how it works, but they would only call that progress. Eventually they will have one that works. When we are done, you and I will come back to see how we can trace the p-brane boards by looking for a residual signature. We will make one of the devices for here, one for you to take to Warehouse 13, and one for Sarah and me."
"Right," Claudia said.
Henry came back in with the multimeter, "Okay, want to start back on the first one?" They began going through the process of checking the circuits and aligning the signatures.
Fargo came over to the room in a little. He had the mock up of the Bridge on another forklift. He set it in the side of the lab, "It almost looks done. When we get the real one, we will be able to add what I missed."
Almost on cue, Jack walked into the room with the real Bridge on the remote control forklift following him. Fargo motioned to the corner and Jack positioned it there. Sarah and Jo followed Jack into the room. Fargo showed them the paints, odds and end electronics, plumbing and wood pieces to use in making the Bridges match. They began working on it.
Chuck and Claudia continued to make alignments as Henry went through the circuits. Chuck was sure Claudia was picking it up and had her make the last two alignments. He was happy with her progress and understanding of the board. When finished he announced, "Okay, I am going to try the board. Everyone please go up to the viewing area."
Sarah came up to him, "You have this right, no question whether it will work?"
He blinked, "I love you too. And yes, it is set. Just want to make sure there is no movement. If the Bridge fell off the forklift and on to the board, I am not sure what kind of reaction would take place."
There was a hardened viewing booth at the back of the lab where people could watch experiments in progress. When everyone was in place, Chuck stood on the board and used the board's remote to active it. There was no flash or weird sound, he just disappeared. He reappeared in another minute.
"Okay, that will do it," he waved everyone back into the lab. "Okay, this is ready. Are you done with the mini-me?"
Fargo answered, "Yeah, I think it should work."
Sarah added, "How about you three look it over and compare the two. Let's know where something does not look the same."
Claudia pointed to a set of stripes on one panel that Fargo had painted in reserve order. When that was corrected, Chuck said, "Okay, the next step. We need to verify that the signals from the terminal points match."
That process took a little longer. Fargo had the components of two computers in the false Bridge. They were connected to the terminal points and with an extra power source were able to make the signals look real. Chuck and Henry made the signals match and Claudia verified it.
When that was complete, everyone agreed that it was ready to go. They placed the p-brane board in the center of the lab and then took the platform that Fargo made and put it on top. Jack got the remote for the forklift and positioned the real Bridge on the platform. Chuck, Claudia, and Jo got on the platform.
Chuck said, "Okay, we ready? Fargo is lead, Sarah and Jack hold doors open, and Henry stays here at the lab. We go with weapons out for the truly improbable case that someone from the Collective is on the other side. And once again, if the platform comes back and we are not there, please come get us." Henry had another remote for the board. Sarah had insisted that both Chuck and Claudia take one of Jo's Glock 22's. Chuck had his in a shoulder holster. He just could not bring himself to wear a waist holster with a weapon strapped down to his both legs. Claudia's Tesla came with a holster that put the weapon in the small of her back. Wearing another holster with the Glock on her right hip was okay. Fargo's kidding remark that it made her look sexy, finalized the position.
Everything was to be timed. Chuck activated the p-brane and they had two minutes to get into the hallway. Claudia was the first to speak, "That was so cool." She went over and put her hand through Fargo, "Sweet."
Chuck smiled, "Right, remember that if someone recognizes you or talks back to you, then we are in trouble." Both nodded.
Jo walked over to the door with Fargo, "The hallway is clear."
"Okay, coming your way. Claudia you need to move a bit. We can run over their feet but when we do it to each other it will hurt," Chuck was moving the forklift with the Bridge toward the door. Claudia moved aside. Chuck got the Bridge to the door without any problem.
Fargo was checking his watch and waited the two minutes. Then he started down the hallway to the left. It was about one hundred yards down this hallway before he stopped. He would wait another minute.
Jo went ahead and stood where Fargo was waiting. Claudia came along side the Bridge. She was doing a good job checking for anyone approaching. Chuck continued down the hall with the forklift. He only paused once to correct the heading and make sure he didn't hit the wall. He arrived at the position with a few seconds to spare.
Sarah moved to the door that Fargo opened and stayed there. Fargo continued and went down the hall another fifty yards to another door. He waited there.
Chuck called out watch out and almost ran the forklift into Sarah but stopped it in time. He backed it up and went through the door.
"Hey, thought you said that it would not hurt them?" Claudia asked.
"I know. Still don't want to mash her or anyone," Chuck replied. He continued down the hall and got to the next door. Jack stayed there and Fargo went into a large warehouse room. On the opposite side of the warehouse, there were storage containers with doors that sealed and then were bonded to the container. Fargo said they were designed to with stand a nuclear explosion and still maintain their integrity. Chuck maneuvered the forklift to the storage container and put the Bridge inside.
"Okay, it is in place. Let's head back," Chuck turned around and moved the forklift to the door. They walked passed Jack and out into the hall. It was easy going down the hall. Jo went ahead and Claudia stayed with the forklift. When they passed Sarah it seemed like shift change. The hall was full of people. Chuck looked at his watch and decided it was lunch time.
He worked his way down the hall. He accidentally pushed his way through one person. Actually the person walked through him. As another group came out of their lab, Claudia moved around them but still bumped one man in the shoulder. She automatically said, "Oh, excuse me." She heard a grunted 'Sure.'
A/N Got a little snow today. Please review.