Chapter 8: Decisions, Decisions
A.N.: I just wanted to again thank my readers and reviewers. I'm having a blast writing this, and I'm just thrilled people are enjoying it! :)
"Is the remote connection active, Charles?" Orion waited expectantly, peering out at them from the projection screen temporarily mounted on the wall of the vault. This ought to be enlightening...
Chuck keyed a few more commands into his laptop. I knew a custom built unit would be handy sometime. Didn't quite think of covert ops against the government. Programming, maybe, or hacking, even..."Active, waiting for input." The computer screen in front of him showed a window opening and a clone of the password prompt screen appeared. Oh geez, Bryce. Seriously?
Casey and Sarah frowned over his shoulder.
"What the hell is that?" Casey asked. "Sure that computer isn't broken?" 'Cause that sure doesn't look like English.
Both Chuck and Orion frowned at him. "Um, yeah, Casey," Chuck answered, "it's fine and actually it's-"
"Klingon, isn't it." Sarah stood up, looked towards the camera. "Orion? Is that Klingon?"
Orion only blinked. Seriously?
Chuck smiled, utterly bemused. Sarah Walker, you are full of surprises. "You're right, Sarah, it's Klingon. How did you...?"
She smirked. "After that heart attack you and Bryce gave me, I looked into it. Languages are my thing, and if you and Bryce knew it, I figured I should too. vaj jIH."** Now I sound lame and jealous. Great.
Chuck stared at her wide-eyed. Really? For me? "Can you learn Elvish? I could never..." Chuck trailed off as his eyes glazed over for a moment. Whoa. He looked up at his father. "Or, I just did. Um, Dad?"
He doesn't know what the Intersect does either? Stephen's heart clenched as he realized just how blind they were all flying. Oh, Charles...I never wished this for you..."I know Agent Larkin and General Beckman developed new programming for the Intersect. Language seems a likely inclusion," Orion answered calmly.
Casey looked from Chuck to Sarah to Orion and frowned. What the hell have we gotten ourselves into? "How many are we talking?" Aw hell. Casey shot Chuck a preemptive glare, as Chuck smiled. Stupid pun.
Orion shrugged. I wish I knew. "I would guess all of them, real, dead, and fictional, were programmed in." He turned his attention to his son. "Charles, how would you categorize that flash?"
"That would be a skill flash," Chuck answered. When Casey nodded understanding, Chuck swallowed hard. Casey knows something Sarah doesn't. Great. He turned sheepishly to Sarah. "Info flashes scroll like the news ticker. But skill flashes are more like the old flashes -- I lose focus and control and when it's done, I can do whatever it is. Like speak fluent Elvish, or do kung fu."
Orion nodded. "Then I would definitely say that all known languages are in there. Skill flashes are longer because there's more to absorb, it's like a system update, so the programming limits the downloads and keeps most of it in passive storage. Information is already necessarily limited in scope, so it can 'scroll', as Charles described, and is less intense." At least I know something about 2.0.
Thanks for the explanation, but...Sarah frowned, stung. Casey knew something about Chuck and the Intersect that I didn't? What else did I miss to their little male bonding ritual?
Casey caught the look on her face and snorted. Are you kidding me? Look at 'Woe is me' Walker. Enough already. "Can the kicked puppy routine, Walker, you and Chuckles here had your private Brycie-poo moment so you can't whine that we learned a few things while training." And will probably continue to do so. "I've refrained from kicking your asses for keeping me out of the loop yet again so you can quit looking like I threw out your blankie."
What?! Sarah whirled on Casey. "Excuse me?"
Casey leaned against a wall, arms folded, a dangerous gleam in his eye. "You heard me." Turnabout is fair play, Walker. I thought we were partners.
Of all the damn nerve...Sarah opened her mouth to reply-
"Hey, back off, Casey. I didn't even tell Sarah when I got the message from Bryce. And that was in the van when I was sitting-" with his dead body. "In the back," he finished lamely. We have got to get this Bryce stuff out of the way.
Sarah and Casey once again frowned at each other and glared at Chuck.
Sarah clenched her fists. Are you kidding me? "Chuck, is there some reason why you didn't tell us this, exactly?" she bit out. Especially with everything else that was said between us last night and this morning.
Chuck tightened his jaw. Hmmm...why wouldn't I want to tell Sarah, who loved him, or Casey, who loathed him, that Bryce was running a rogue op that we were about to inherit? Why wouldn't I want to tell them about how Beckman might be part of the Ring? Or that Bryce was unsure of the Intersect? That this thing in my head might not have my best interests in its calculations, might actually kill me without any hesitation if that's what the probabilities dictated? Why wouldn't I be eager to say that my father was on his way to find the information and intel that Bryce hid from everyone for two damn years? That we were even more in the dark than we knew? Why wouldn't I be absolutely running to share all of this inspiring and lighthearted news? An unfamiliar anger welled through him as he burst out, "Because I knew it'd come out eventually and I wanted every moment I could possibly squeeze out of my life to be normal! And I knew telling either of you about this guaranteed that would be over. We'd have been hunting for my dad and rehashing every mission, and I just wanted a break. Sue me."
0.02 percent probability lawsuit filed
15.6 percent probability argument ended
38.2 percent probability argument pursued
8.7 percent probability --
Chuck shook his head violently to dismiss the Intersect and pressed a hand to his temple. This is getting really old. I would never lash out like that. It's like..."I don't even know if I'm in control anymore," he whispered.
Sarah looked to Casey, equal parts worry and anger. Did something happen with Casey? She quirked a brow at him.
Casey sourly pursed his lips and nodded at the question in her eyes. Damn it, I didn't realize how shaken up he was. Lady feelings strike again. "It's okay, Chuck, you didn't hurt me and we'll work on it," he said quietly.
What the hell could've happened? Casey's acting...human. Sarah watched as Chuck looked down at his hands and clenched his right fist. Couldn't have been good. "I'm sorry, Chuck," Sarah murmured contritely. You're absolutely right. We would've jumped on the Beckman thing and taken your last few hours away.
Chuck swallowed hard and sighed as he rubbed tiredly at his forehead. I just wanted to remember what it was like to be an average, anonymous guy. To pretend just for a little bit that I had a real life, with real choices, and maybe, his eyes darted to Sarah, a real girl who loves me. "Thanks, guys. I just needed some time. I'm sorry." I can't believe I did that, to Casey, to Sarah. What was I thinking, uploading this thing? I've got to get this under control, I can't hurt anyone else who cares about me.
Sarah stepped up to him and laid a hand on his shoulder. How could I forget he's still just Chuck? "Don't apologize. I think you take to all this spy stuff so naturally now that it's hard to remember you didn't ask for it. And even though you chose to upload 2.0, even that wasn't really a choice. You're a good person, Chuck. You wouldn't have seen any other choice." Why do you think I don't want to save the world anymore? You're worth the world, and then some.
He looked up at her then, and the hope, love, and despair in his eyes nearly brought her to her knees. Oh, Chuck...She squeezed his shoulder, and tried to let her faith in him shine in her overly bright eyes as they locked gazes.
Stephen watched the scene unfold with his heart in his throat. What I wouldn't give to have kept you free of this world, Charles. I'm so sorry. You were so close to getting away from it. But you have your mother's heart, that open heart that finds the wounded and takes them in as your own. He sighed as he looked at his son's handlers. And those two were definitely wounded. Though, not so much anymore. Stephen swallowed against his sorrow. I'm proud of you, son.
Casey cleared his throat uncomfortably. Hate to break this up but there's way too much touchy-feely for me. He rolled his neck awkwardly as Chuck's gaze darted to his.
Chuck laid a hand over Sarah's and squeezed. "Thanks," he said softly. That actually feels better, to have vented that, finally. "Sorry, Dad."
Orion nodded. "So, does the prompt mean anything to you?"
Chuck frowned. I'm guessing yes and no wouldn't be a helpful answer. "Well, it means 'the best' in Klingon. And I'm guessing since it's for me to know, that he's referring to the epic debate we had over who the greatest comic book hero ever is. It took a week of debate and we still didn't agree." He sighed. "That's the problem -- I don't know if he wants his answer or mine."
Orion frowned in return. "I would think he would constantly change the password. This was just the last prompt he put in. I would guess the answer would be whatever Bryce, as last you met, would want."
Oh, that's helpful. Chuck sighed. As last we met...Bryce offered himself for Ellie, he tried to take Sarah with him, he told me she wasn't leaving with him, he tried to help Sarah and Casey when he was dying, and tried to have me destroy the Intersect, giving me a choice this time about whether to upload it myself. And in his message, he apologized for it if I did. I think...I think maybe he grew up. "Peter Parker," he said quietly. "Try Peter Parker."
He sounded weird when he said that. Sarah tensed as she saw his shoulders sag. What is going on?
Orion frowned, but typed. "Spiderman? Really? That doesn't seem like a Bryce answer." He blinked. "But it worked."
Chuck sighed. Yet another piece of the puzzle that was Bryce Larkin. "That's because it wasn't his answer," Chuck explained. "It was mine."
Huh? Sarah looked from Chuck to Orion, hoping for clarification.
Casey cleared his throat behind her. Damn it, Larkin, leave the boy alone. "Regular guy, just stumbled into superpowers, screwed up when he first got them, learned with great power comes great responsibility, and saves the world in total anonymity. In fact, saving the world gets him in trouble in just about every other part of his life. Sound familiar?" he quietly intoned.
Sarah wilted. Oh, Chuck...
As if he sensed her thought, he turned sad eyes to her. "He really cared about me, Sarah. He..." Whatever else he was, he cared. Mistaken or not, he really tried to protect me. And he believed in me. I pretty much told him he could send me the Intersect with that answer, and he took me at my word. Guess Bryce and I were Peter and Harry, just not how I thought...He swiped a hand down his face. "And he's gone." It's up to us now. He looked at his father and at the remote window on his computer screen. "We have to bring them down."
***
"Status," Beckman barked. The less I have to deal with this, the better.
"Facility is complete. Training area, Castle provisions, complete surveillance, including Castle. Secured lines directly under your control." Or so you'll believe.
"Good. I don't have to tell you how crucial it is that we have complete control of the facility and asset at all times." Or as much control as we can get with Bartowski.
"Don't be coy, Diane, I'm the last person you need to tell." And well you know it. The voice on the phone was biting, bitter.
Beckman clenched her fist and took a deep breath. You're an idiot, Diane. "I know. That was petty of me. I -- I apologize."
A harsh laugh answered her. "Are you choking? Or has hell frozen over? Diane Beckman, apologizing, to me? Will wonders never cease? Being petty is the least of your sins, Diane." And so many perpetrated against me and mine...
Beckman gritted her teeth. Bartowski can't be trained soon enough. "Are you quite finished?"
"Yes, yes. I need to get my fun as I can. After all, it's your fault I am as I am." A pause followed. "Wire the money as usual. I'll be anxiously awaiting whatever else you need." There was a catch in the voice at 'anxiously awaiting'. The worst part is, I really will be...
The dial tone in her ear told Beckman the conversation was unequivocally over. The stupid things we do, for the stupidest of reasons...She lit a cigarette, took a drag, and sighed.
***
In a room in a house in a place, a lone figure stared at the telephone, then around at the myriad of monitors and speakers circling the room. Well, I never promised not to keep a hand in...
***
Orion and Chuck examined the information on the computer. Pictures, video, surveillance logs were categorized by person of interest, date, mission. "This is going to take a while," Orion said bluntly. "We may not even have a place to start for a day. Hopefully there's a chronology somewhere."
Chuck frowned. I can't imagine Bryce would want to leave us floundering. He clicked around the desktop. "Um, Dad?" He held the mouse pointer over a folder marked "For Chuck". "How much did Bryce know about the Intersect programming? Was the update he gave me from you?"
I see what he's thinking. "He asked how to compile the images and information if that's what you're asking. You think...?"
"That he programmed an update with all this data? Yeah, I suspect he at least tried." The question is whether he got it right...Chuck turned to Sarah and Casey. "Close your eyes, guys, Dad and I have this one."
Sarah looked to Casey, and at his nod, closed her eyes. I don't like this.
I don't like this, but getting knocked out is worse. Casey closed his eyes as well.
Chuck nodded to his father, and opened the file. Here we go. The initial screen loaded: "CLOSE YOUR EYES IF YOU'RE NOT CHUCK", it warned. I knew it. Images flew past in a blur as Chuck and Orion uploaded two years worth of Bryce's records.
Behind closed eyes, Sarah struggled to marshal herself. Why is this so hard? Focus on the mission. That's what I'm trained to do. Why can't I just push everything else away? I'm supposed to be the best. Have I lost it? She took advantage of Casey's closed eyes to tiredly cover her face with her hands, and rubbed her temples in frustration.
Casey breathed deeply and evenly as he had trained to do in times of stress. Are they finished yet? I feel like a freaking pansy over here, hiding. I don't hide. I do stuff. And what the hell have I gotten myself into here? Lady feelings? Reassurance? Have I really lost my edge? His fists clenched and unclenched reflexively as he swallowed past the lump in his throat. There's no way. I am a badass, and no BuyMoron will change it.
Chuck gasped as the upload ended. Holy crap. This is not going to be good, or easy. The freaking President might be Ring. What the hell did I get myself into? He looked at the screen at his father...
...and saw him slumped at the desk, blood trickling slowly from his nose.
"Dad? Dad?!"
***
Dun dun duuuuuuuuuuun...To be continued!
A.N.: Okay, so maybe that wasn't nice of me. But it just had to happen. Come on, you know it did. You disagree? Really? Well, review and tell me all about it! :)
** So I learned.
