Don't own Chuck
Stefan drove off in Imma's car driving out of the piers and back to where he'd left his car. Consulate cars being official vehicles all had GPS trackers installed in them for accounting purposes so he swapped out cars. Tossing Vlad in his trunk then he made his way to a safe house Stefan had used before in an isolated part of town. Once they arrived at the safe house Stefan opened the automatic garage door then drove in closing the door behind him. Stefan got out of the car then walked around.
"Okay, I'm going to open the trunk now," said Stefan as he banged on it. "Listen up inside don't do anything stupid," he said as he used the key fob to unlock it but when he did he stood off to the side. Vlad tried to jump out and run but Stefan was there to trip him and he dropped to the concrete floor making a loud thud.
"This was exactly what I was talking about when I said not to do anything stupid," said Stefan as Vlad flopped around on the floor like a fish out of water.
"Calm down now I hope you learnt your lesson," said Stefan as he grabbed Vlad up and got him to his feet. "Come with me now I've got some questions for you."
"Let go of me. You know who I am? I'll have you for this," yelled Vlad but what he got for yelling was to be shove in a chair.
"Now, let's see what we have," said Stefan as ignored Vlad's protests as he felt inside Vlad's jacket taking his weapon, wallet and phone.
"Give me those things back. They're mine," he said as he tried to get up but Stefan shoved him back down in the chair.
"I said sit and sit mean sit. Be still and behave or you'll piss me off. Take it from me you don't want to do that," said Stefan as he examined Vlad's weapon. "Only one round fired... what were you doing trying to conserve your ammunition. Now let's look at the numbers you've called. I don't suppose you want to give me your password?"
"Chort tzdbya beeree!" [Go to the devil] said Vlad as he tried to get up again. This time Stefan punched in the stomach and Vlad doubled over.
"I warned you not to piss me off. Now you know why," said Stefan. He grabbed Vlad's hand and put his thumb on the home button to unlock the phone. "Spah-see-bah, now will you sit and behave. And before you go and send me to the devil again you should know I work for him."
"You mean you used to work for him," said Vlad as he started laughing. "You should call into Moscow and get the latest news from Lubyanka my friend."
"What are you talking about," said Stefan. He knew Vlad was trying to get to him but that didn't stop him from letting him do it. "Come on out with it you were saying I used to work for the devil? So tell me what has happened to my devil?"
"Has or going to I don't know. I just heard there was chatter that your Director was looking into things that he had not business snooping into. He got too close to the truth and there were people who were going to make sure he kept their secret."
"And I suppose you don't know what these secrets are, do you? You're just a little fish in a pond of big hungry fish..."
"And you are the fish that's about to be eaten. You're on the wrong side here Agent Metrohken. You're on the wrong side and that can get you killed."
"And what about LT Colonel Stanasolovski what side is she on?"
"She doesn't even know she's on a side. She's working for a group of old generals who had their toy taken away from them. Now they are angry but the truth is there was a time when they could've done something but they hesitated and now we have what we have."
"I hear what you're saying and I can't say I disagree," said Stefan as he look Vlad in the eye. "What are you trying to tell me?"
"You're a dog without an owner looking for a home. If you release me I can talk to my people and I can bring you into our pack and give you a home."
"So you want me to do what? Join your side when I don't know what that side is or who's behind it. I don't do leaps of faith like that. My mother tried to get me to go to church but I have trouble with something I can't see."
"Your parents should've called you Tomas. Take my handcuffs off and give me my phone… let me call someone who can make a believer out of you. You do want to be on the side of right and make Russia great again. This chaos we live in now can't continue we need order… we need discipline."
"And if I give you your phone back you'll be able to give me all that with just one phone call?" said Stefan as he looked at Vlad's phone then at him skeptically.
"That's right just uncuff me then give me my phone and all your questions will be answered. You know what I'm saying is true. Democracy and freedom are just words. Illusions to keep the people under control. You and I can rise above all that. This is your golden opportunity to do something that really matters for our country."
"And this Pytro Petrovich… who is he and how does he fit in to all this?" asked Stefan as he uncuffed Vlad. There was a pause. "Come on you said I could become like you so tell me."
"Pytro is the great designer. The man whose foresight and courage will save our nation and make it great again. He did not hesitate when others faltered but took up the touch and kept the fire of true socialism burning."
"I don't understand," said Stefan as he stood over Vlad. "Can you try to be a little clearer and avoid speaking in metaphors," he said as he handed Vlad his phone. "It's not that I don't trust you but I don't trust you. Put the call on speaker so we both can hear."
"The truth is I don't know all the details either. I've never actually met Petrovich," he said as he dialed a number then put the call on speaker. "Each cell only knows what they need to in order to operate." Stefan started to say something but Vlad held his up his hand for him to keep quiet.
"Hey, it's me. Look we had a little trouble at the pier. The trap your men set for the LT Colonel got screwed up and in the process of trying to take her out my cover got blown. But I think I've got a way we can keep tabs on what she's up to until we can regroup then we can go at her again."
"What do you mean?" asked a voice in Russian. Vlad and the man on the phone has a long conversation about Stefan.
However, Stefan really wasn't listening to what was said too much but how it was said. He picked up a lot from the Russian the man spoke. It was good Northern Russian. The man's word choice and syntax indicated he was well educated unlike the bratva men that he'd run into in the tea room and at the warehouse.
"Agent Metrohken, I don't know if I trust you yet. I've survived this long by being a little skeptical," said the voice on the telephone. "I'm going to have to do some investigating. For now, you can let Vlad go and if everything checks out with you I'll be in touch."
"Of course, I wouldn't expect anything less," said Stefan as he handed Vlad back his Makarov. "I look forward to hearing from you soon."
"That was a dumb thing to do," said Vlad as he turned his weapon on Stefan. "What final words do you have to say?"
"Go to the devil," said Stefan as he looked him square in the eyes. Vlad began to laugh as he lowered his weapon then holstered it.
"You should've seen your face just now. You thought for sure you were about to bite the big one. Tell me for a second there didn't you think you should've listen to your mother."
"Very funny, but enough with the chitchat if you don't want to get caught you'd better go out the back. It won't be long before someone comes here. This is a safe house we use for our covert ops in the area which means Imma won't have any difficulty in locating it and when she shows up she won't show up alone."
"I'll be in touch," said Vlad. He had just gone out the back door when street cams picked up a dark van that pulled up outside. Stefan saw Chuck, Casey and Imma get out on a monitor.
"This is going to be a hard sell," said Stefan as he watched them come up to the front door.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
[A little while before]
Sarah found the bug in the Masha doll Stefan had given Sam. She took the bug connected it to the computer at home then relayed the signal through the mainframe. With the network settings opened she pinged the received and used the signal to locate Stefan. She relayed Stefan's position to Chuck and Casey which led to them to pulling up out front with Imma who insisted that she tag along.
"I'm responsible for Vlad. He insisted he wanted to come with me to watch my back," she said as Casey and Chuck looked at each other. "Well he did and until I find out for sure that's what I'm going with.
"Yeah, he wanted to watch your back so he could put a bullet in it," said Casey as he pulled up on the street outside. "Look you might want to put all that on hold until we find out what's really going on."
"If Stefan has started interrogating him you might want to stay here until we get back. It could be hard seeing someone you know being… well you know talked to..."
"You mean with extraordinary rendition as you people like to call it. Just because you use nice words doesn't make it nice and it's been my experience that it really isn't that effective."
"I agree," said Chuck. "The detainee will say whatever you want in the end just to make it stop whether it's true or not."
"All I know is in the end everyone talks. Now if you're done chitchatting about your lady feelings girls can we go," said Casey as he got out of the vehicle and headed up to path to the house with Chuck and Imma following behind.
"Everyone behind me," said John as he was about to kick the door in. But as he kicked Stefan opened and John went through tumbling to the floor.
"You know you could've just used the doorbell," said Stefan as Casey fell inside growling from the floor looking up at him.
"Where's the guy you kidnapped," grunted Casey as he got up. "Just out with it. We know you tricked Chuck into helping you nab the commie from the consulate."
"You have no idea how true that is and this time I won't argue with you Casey," said Stefan. "But if you're looking for Vlad I'm afraid he's not here. I let him go."
"You let him go? See I was right. You mean after everything he's not mixed up with the people who tried to kill me," said Imma. "See I told you he was innocent but you wouldn't believe me."
"Oh no, he was involved all right and up to his neck," said Stefan. "But I'm using him as my in to get into the organization."
"Stefan there's something you need to know," said Chuck. "General Beckman called us and I think you need to know what she said. There's no good way to tell you this other than just saying it. Igor has had an accident…"
"Chuck, Igor didn't have an accident he was assassinated. Vlad told me," said Stefan then he turned to Imma and his look got cold. "LT Colonel your Generals are responsible. Vlad told me that you didn't know which side you're working for. Well you're going to have to make a decision now. Chuck, I'm going to need your help…"
"Do you think that's appropriate given the people involved. I'm just saying the Kremlin takes a dim view of airing our dirty laundry in public."
"It takes a dimmer view of treason which is what all this boils down to. Beside Colonel Juri Sheshenko is one of us. John, if there was ever a time to say better dead than red it's now."
"How can I say no… I mean I'm game Stefan," said Chuck but Casey jumped in the middle. Things were moving too fast for him.
"Hold on a second with this commie love fest. Before you agree to anything I'm going to have to insist your buddy brief Beckman. She's the one we get our marching orders from not the Kremlin."
"John's right but we can keep the circle limited to just us and her. I think that's the best solution for everyone."
"You guys are forgetting with the Director gone there is no one in Moscow who's looking out for our backs," said Imma. "What am I supposed to do with my General? My orders were clear I'm supposed to be reporting into him regularly."
"Well, for a little while you don't have to report in. You can send him a coded message telling him you were just involved in a firefight and it was obvious that you were sold out so that gives you reasons not to go back to the consulate or to have anything to do with them… not until you can sort things out."
"Okay, that will buy me some time but sooner or later I'm going to have to report in and without the Director there… or something else you haven't thought of we have to worry about whoever they've selected to replace him. If he was assassinated like you all seem to believe then surely, they've already got one of their own lined up to take over the Director's office," said Imma. They all looked at each other with worried expressions because she was right they hadn't.
Suddenly Stefan's phone started ringing and everyone jumped. He looked at caller ID and saw it was the Director' office trying to reach him.
"Crap, this is the Director's office now," said Stefan. He turned his phone off then put it away. "Well, I've crossed a river and now there's no going back. Chuck, I need for you to do something for me before we do anything else. I need for you to salt my record with things that someone like Vlad or whoever he works for will like to read."
"I can do that as soon as I get to Castle," said Chuck. Casey gave a grunt of dis approval and rolled his eyes.
"No, I need it done right now. I don't know if Bankerov or this Petrovich isn't looking as we speak. But it will be soon."
"We can run to Echo Park and I can do it there. You can also brief Beckman but I have to warn you that you're in hot water back at home."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Back in Moscow in Lubyanka square a new occupant immediately stepped in and sat behind Igor's desk. His replacement was nominated so quickly that no sort of transition was prepared and the new occupant had to put up with having his name tapped over Igor's on the door. Retired General Dimitri Alekseev was nominated within minutes of the tragic accident that took the Igor and Anatoly's lives.
"What do you mean you can't reach Agent Metokhen? Why is there no case file on his mission? The old Director just sent him to the States with what just verbal orders? This is no way to run an office. I want Metokhen recalled immediately and when he gets back here he can go back to the SVR. Maybe they can do something with him."
"Dah, General, I will keep trying him and let him know," said Igor's secretary. Already working for Igor his permanence in the office was tottering but with the new regime it seemed even more precarious.
"What did I tell you how I wanted to be addressed? You're to call be Director-General because I was… am a General and now I am your Director."
"Yes, Director-General," said the man but as he was being reprimanded the phone on the Director's phone rang but the man just stood there looking at it without answering it.
"What's wrong with you? Do I need to tell you how to do your job? The phone is ringing why aren't you answering it or do I need to do your job too?"
"Director-General," said the man as he took slow breaths trying to control his anger. "That line is a direct line with the Kremlin and only the Director is allowed to answer it. The same way the white phone is the line with your counterpart in the American clandestine services."
"Right… I knew that I was just testing you," said Dimitri as he answered it looking up at the man standing there. "What are you waiting for? You can go out front I'll call you if I need you. This is the Dimitri Alekseev, the new Director-General speaking," he said. He immediately recognized the voice on the other end and resisted the urge to jump up and stand at attention.
"Yes, sir I know who you are. … Urgent business… Yes sir, I'll be right over. … Sir, I don't want to speak ill of the dead but I'm finding a lot of things that need to be changed here. The Director ran a pretty loose ship here. … Don't worry sir, I'll have everything running the way it ought to soon but not without letting some people go. You know if you want to make an omelet you have to break a few eggs. … Yes sir, I'm on my way over now," said Dimitri as the line dropped and he was left with the receiver in his hand.
"I need my car brought out front immediately," yelled Dimitri as he hung up the receiver up. "They need me over at the Kremlin right away," he said as he grabbed his coat and hat. His first day in the office he wore his army uniform.
"Dah Director," said his secretary as he picked up the phone and called for the car. Dimitri looked at the man with fire in his eyes.
"You and I are going to have to have another conversation when I get back. Maybe this job is too much for you. I could arrange a transfer to the eastern territories," said Dimitri. Said like that was like telling the man he was going to be shipped off to Siberia.
"General-Director, your car is waiting out front," said the man realizing what had Dimitri bent out of shape.
"Now that's better. Let's see how long it takes before you screw it up again," said Dimitri as he left the office. "Out of my I'm in a hurry," he yelled as he walked out and headed for the elevator pushing people out of his way.
After Dimitri left the office the secretary walked out going over to the window where he waited and watched Dimitri walk out then get into a waiting Lada SUV. After getting in the vehicle pulled out disappearing in the night.
"Good-bye Director-General are you going to be surprised when you get over to the Kremlin and it couldn't happen to a nicer person," he said. Afterward he walked back into the Director's office where he poured himself a glass of Scotch from his private stock. He held the glass up admiring the amber color in the light then drank it. After he finished his first he poured himself another then a third.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Vlad left out the back of the safe house then grabbed a car parked on the street driving to an underground parking garage where he swapped cars out with one he had pre-positioned there. Sitting behind the driver's seat he took his old cell out broke the SIM card then tossed the phone. He took out of the glove box a new phone.
"It's me I'm out. Stefan let me go,"" said Vlad. He put the call on speaker then started the car and pulled out of the parking garage.
"I'm still not convinced about bringing him in," said the voice on the line. "I've done some checking and what I've found is interesting. But I'm still not convinced."
"Then why don't you give him a job to do? Ask him to do something that will prove his loyalty once and for all."
"Yes, that's not a bad idea. And I've got just the job for him. I'll ask him to take out the LT Colonel for us and I'll have him do it somewhere in public where we can have plenty of witnesses."
"That would be perfect. Are you heading for the safe house we arranged for you in case this took place?"
"Yes, I'm almost there."
"Good, I want you to lay low there for a few days then we'll take care of you."
