10.
" Come on! Come on! " Chuck's fingers drummed impatiently on the console as he rapidly scanned the surveillance monitors that covered the interior of the Buy More.
The group of Fulcrum bad guys continued their search through the store. One acne scarred, red haired thug stopped Bunny, the Green Shirt and snarled a question. Bunny cowered briefly, then took a quick look about the store and mournfully shook her head. The bad guy then growled something and Bunny scurried away, looking relieved to have escaped.
Elsewhere, the Fulcrum group leader, Tommy Delgado, cruised towards the loading dock area.
And the Nerd Herders continued to ignore his 'pineapple' text.
" Do you see Larkin anywhere? " Sarah worked another keyboard and scanned other surveillance monitors.
Chuck shook his head impatiently. " Unless there's a pretty customer he wants to hit on, we rarely do... " "
" Typical. So what does 'pineapple' mean, anyway? "
" The gamers were creating scenarios for black swan situations after an employee meeting, a while back. " Chuck continued to glare at the surveillance monitors.
" A real employee meeting, or an excuse for the employees to play games? " Sarah asked with a knowing smile.
" Both... " Chuck's answering smile was quicksilver. " The scenarios were 'what if an impossible event took place, like a nuclear strike, or an earthquake and a full Buy More evacuation had to be initiated'. They decided that a black swan scenario needed a code word and Morgan came up with pineapple... "
" Ah... "
Chuck shrugged. " This being southern California, I'm not sure how earthquakes are an impossible situation, but... come on, Jeff... Lester... anybody... "
Delgado walked out into the merchandising area of the store and looked around. He found stacks and mounds of merchandise waiting to be tagged and stocked, but no employees. The loading dock at the far end was full of shipping containers and lacked employees, too.
Chuck began to wonder if Nerd Herder Lester had rounded everyone up for what the Buy Morians called 'the mystery crisper game'. That meant Morgan might soon be getting his stomach pumped, again.
He keyed the surveillance camera for the employee break room.
" Oh no... " Sarah studied a monitor intently.
" What? "
" Delgado just said 'We know you are the Cipher, Larkin. Stop hiding and no one gets hurt'... "
Chuck bolted from his chair and out the door.
" Chuck, wait! " Sarah called.
Chuck broke into a run toward the store, dodging around parked cars and shopping carts. He heard the surveillance van door slam shut.
" Damn it, Chuck, stop... "
" I can't, Sarah... "
There was a gunshot and a car side window shattered just in front of him. It was Sarah's Porsche.
Chuck recoiled away and skidded to an abrupt halt. He whipped around with a stunned expression on his face. " Are you out of your mind? "
Sarah had her Beretta leveled at him, her blue eyes cold and determined. " I can't let you go in there, Chuck... "
" But my friends are in danger! " Chuck waved wildly in the direction of the Buy More. " And there are all those innocent people... "
" You are the Intersect and my priority, " Sarah returned calmly. She dropped the Beretta to her side, as the gunshot had drawn attention...
The fire alarm sounded, loud and shrill.
Chuck started, then turned to see the Buy More customers and employees stampede out of the doors in a herd panic. It was chaos as people pushed and shoved in their frantic haste to reach safety. He thought he could see some of the bad guys struggling against the mass of humanity in flight.
" I thought you were my friend, Sarah. "
Sarah walked over to stand slightly behind him. " You are my asset, Chuck. "
He saw Sarah's reflection in a nearby car window and caught her fast swipe at something on her cheeks. However, he was too angry with her to try and decode her actions.
Grimes appeared in the doorway carrying Anna. He staggered over to a growing crowd of Buy More employees and dropped her beside Nerd Herders Jeff and Lester.
Anna turned, threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. As Grimes was trying to catch his breath, he didn't seem particularly enthusiastic with her assault on his beard.
" It looks like Anna has forgiven Morgan, " Sarah said softly.
" Uh huh... "
A car horn beeped beside them. Chuck stepped aside as the car eased forward and the passenger window lowered.
" What the hell is going on, Bartowski? "
Chuck stooped to see the sneering face of the store union rep, Emmett Milbarge. " I don't know, Emmett... "
" That's Mr. Milbarge to you, Bartowski, " Milbarge snapped prissily. " Maybe you should stop canoodling with your cookie here and find out... "
Chuck smirked. " Canoodling, Emmett? "
" like the chief Nerd Herder you think you are. " Milbarge flipped Chuck the bird and drove away.
" Did that man just call me a cookie? "
Chuck straightened and glanced about the parking lot. Lou stood with a group of her customers in front of her deli. Lou's attention was focused on Sarah and not the chaotic mess at the Buy More and had a peculiar look on her face. That wasn't good...
Emergency Service Vehicles roared into the shopping center parking lot, their sirens whooping. Lou walked back into her restaurant.
" We may have other problems, " Chuck said.
Sarah frowned. " What? "
Chuck nodded at the deli. " I think Lou saw you with the gun. "
It was illegal for Fed citizens to own or carry guns. That meant Sarah Walker was a cop, a government agent, or a criminal. Chuck had a feeling for how Lou would choose to view the situation.
" One problem at a time, Chuck. " Sarah shrugged, then looked back at the Buy More. " You have other problems... "
" Problems, as in plural? " Chuck looked at her. " What just happened to one problem at a time? "
Sarah pointed across the parking lot.
Big Mike stood beside the huddle of Buy More employees and glared at Chuck. He beckoned impatiently.
" Oh, wonderful, " Chuck grumbled and broke out in another jog. " Problems, as in plural... "
" Bartowski, where in the hell have you been? " Big Mike bellowed once he figured Chuck was within the appropriate range to be heard over all the noise.
" I was on my lunch break, Big Mike, " Chuck panted as he came to a halt beside the small group of Buy More employees.
" With me, " Sarah said brightly.
" And who are you? " Big Mike softened his belligerent tone and there was a gleam in his eyes as he checked the tall, blond woman out.
" That's Chuck's girlfriend, " Anna volunteered, still cuddled up close to her hero boyfriend.
Sarah wrapped an arm around Chuck and gave everyone a happy smile. " I'm Chuck's girlfriend... "
The girlfriend who had just taken a shot at him... Chuck hushed his internal voice and nodded with a large, bright smile of his own. Sell the cover, Bartowski... He draped an arm across Sarah's shoulders. " Sarah, this is Big Mike, my boss. Big Mike, this is Sarah Walker... "
" Pleased to meet you... " Sarah began.
Big Mike grunted in a noncommittal fashion and focused his attention on his employee. " Morgan says this is your fault, Bartowski? "
" I didn't mean to throw you under the bus, buddy, " Grimes whined defensively.
Chuck tugged nervously on his grey tie. " Yes, sir! "
" Excuse me? " A first responder jog waddled up in a bright, yellow hazmat kit.
Big Mike glared at the first responder, " What? "
" Are you the store manager? " the first responder asked.
Big Mike nodded impatiently. " I'm Michael Tucker. What the hell is going on? "
" I'm Captain Ken Davis, " the first responder said. " Mr. Tucker, there is a hazardous gas problem in the store... "
" Hazardous gas? " Big Mike sounded skeptical and his perpetual frown deepened.
" Yes, sir. " Captain Davis managed to sound both professional and patient. " Several of the 'EnviroFriendly' light bulbs that your company uses malfunctioned, possibly from an electrical short in that system. The mercury and gasses in the light bulbs can make for a dangerous situation, which is why we're in the hazmat kits.
" It's going to take a while to clean the store up, following Fed protocols for citizen safety... "
Chuck felt Sarah shiver. " Are you cold? "
" I'm fine, Chuck. "
There was a husky quality to her voice and when he looked at her, Chuck thought Sarah looked a bit flushed. " Are you okay? "
" Now is not the time... " Sarah reached up and took his hand from the back of her neck and laced her fingers through his as she dropped their hands to her side.
Chuck realized that he'd been stroking his thumb along her hairline beneath her pony tail. Oh crap! Where had that come from? He'd been acting like she was a real girlfriend and what would Sarah think? He could try blaming 'selling' the cover...
" Wouldn't it be safer for the citizens not to use dangerous light bulbs? " Nerd Herder Jeff asked.
Nerd Herder Lester grabbed his arm and tried to shush him.
Captain Davis turned to stare at Jeff. " The light bulbs are better for the environment by using less electricity and are safe when used properly and are disposed of properly. What is your name citizen? "
" Ignore him, " Big Mike sneered. " He's an idiot. I'll get the store political officer, Harry Tang, to deal with him. "
" Good enough. " The first responder nodded abruptly. " Whoever pulled the alarm probably saved a lot of lives. "
Chuck saw Fernando, the Green Shirt, staring at Sarah through the kind of x-ray glasses advertised in the backs of manga and comix magazines. Fernando seemed disappointed that the glasses weren't working as advertized, which was par for the course. Most of the things Fernando bought from those magazines didn't work as advertized...
Casey walked past the group of Buy Morians in a Marines ball cap and dark sunglasses. He dodged out of the way of a busy first responder and shoulder bumped Fernando, none to gently. The x-ray glasses popped off the pudgy, Green Shirt's face and fell to the pavement.
Casey growled an apology for the bruising contact, then accidentally stepped on the glasses, which crunched nicely. Fernando pouted at the wreck of colourful plastic on the pavement. There went his money back guarantee.
Chuck suppressed a smile and saw Sarah give Casey an approving nod.
" That would be Morgan and Anna, sir, " Nerd Herder Skip said quietly. He glanced at Chuck with a slight grin.
" Seriously? " Big Mike slowly turned to stare at his most worthless employee and the diminutive girl with the inappropriately short skirt and heavy make up.
Grimes gulped as he became the center of attention. Anna preened and beamed proudly as she tucked a hand through the crook of Grimes' arm.
" Well done, kid, " Captain Davis said with a nod. " Mr. Tucker, it's going to take us a while to go through the store and make sure there aren't any other problems. Your maintenance people will need to check the electrical systems before the store can be certified as safe for the customers... "
The Green Shirts and Nerd Herders gathered around Grimes and Anna with their congratulations and new found but temporary hero worship. Jeff and Lester squatted beside the dead x-ray glasses as they commiserated with Fernando.
Big Mike looked disgusted and stomped away, grumbling about the loss of business and the cost of the clean up.
" We need to get back to the van, " Sarah murmured as she tugged Chuck away.