Chapter 11
Get Out of Jail Card:
The Doctor, holding a cell phone to his ear, was casually leaning against the wall outside of Chuck's room. Mary's voice drifted out of phone, "His vitals have shifted again. It should be ok to enter."
The Doctor hung up and punched the door code to enter the room.
Charles showed no signs of his earlier drug induced discomfort; his resistance to the compound appeared to be functioning exactly as expected.
The Doctor's extensive background in psychology, made it was easy to assess the room and reasons for the current drug suppression with a simple glance from Chuck to those on the other side of the glass.
It was definitely time to move forward in testing. "It does appear that your friends find the situation somewhat hopeless. I believe the time has come for phase 2 Charles."
Chuck had a hard time controlling his voice. Aggravation and anger at the situation leaked out of his voice as he spoke, "Phase 2? What does that mean, and what do you plan on doing with them?"
A slight smile flickered on the Doctors face as he spoke, "Charles, I need them to leave the installation. I cannot release them...directly. You will have to figure out a way to do it on your own...for the most part."
Chuck did a double take before he looked at the Doctor like he was crazy. Disbelief was evident in his voice, "You're...you're saying you want me to help my friends escape from here?
The fact that he called them friends instead of co-workers, was not lost on the Doctor. "That is correct."
Now Chuck was really confused. What kind of game was this nut job playing? "Uhh, not be an ungrateful prisoner or devil's advocate, by why not let them go yourself? Matter of fact, why kidnap them at all if you plan on releasing them?"
Doctor: "I'm sorry Charles, I can't answer your questions. Be aware that this is a time limited offer. You will have approximately one hour to facilitate their release, during which time they will not be harmed. You have my word. If they try to get you out, they will be required to stay in the facility."
He could see the confused look pass over Chucks face as he processed the information.
Chuck hesitantly asked for clarification, "So...it's me or them?"
Good, the Doctor thought. His timid question was indicative of an upcoming decision. He already knew what decision Charles would make and treated the question as rhetorical. Rather than answering he began listing the guidelines, such as they were, "The rules are simple Charles. You have to get your friends out or we will be forced to keep them here. You can use whatever means is necessary to free them, provided you don't leave the room. We will provide whatever you feel is logical to make them leave."
Chuck pushed the absurdity of the situation out of his mind and thought for a moment before he spoke. "Then I will need access to our cell phones."
Instead of denying Chuck, he simply nodded and proceeded to put on a small headset he had pulled from the desk seconds earlier. He spoke into the headset microphone, "Mary, can you send in the cell phones from our guests."
--
The camera flashed to Mary sitting at the monitors in the lab as she responds to the Doctor. You can see the Doctor on the monitors and hear his responses through the speakers in the lab.
As Mary watches on the monitors, she takes the time to update the Doctor via the headset. "I have other information for you. The other two agents were discussing a package earlier. They were somewhat argumentative over the topic in regards to the woman's diligence in her care of the package. They made sure to avoid calling him by name or even state that it was a person, but I have a feeling it was definitely Charles they were discussing. From the way they conversation was handled one could infer that he is more important than we realize."
The Doctor smiled at how close Mary was to the truth. Little did his lovely assistant realize how many different projects he was working on with Charles. He kept his voice neutral as he replied back, "Anything else?"
Mary: "I've reviewed the cell phone logs and data. From the way they spoke and looking at the pictures stored on their phones, the woman we are holding is his girlfriend, Sarah."
Doctor: "Excellent. It appears initial reports from our staff on were right on target. Inform me when the men arrive with the phones."
Chuck is only partially listening to the Doctors conversation with most of his attention focused on getting his friends out of here.
He knows Sarah and Casey won't want to leave if they know he is also being held. The first thing he needed to do was convince them he was at safe at home.
More specifically, he needed to convince Sarah. He figured he could use the phones to do that. He had to somehow imply he was at home or work. Maybe a text message to Casey would be the best method for that. It occurs to him that the captors have likely reviewed the phone's contents, including all stored pictures and text. He doesn't erase text messages. While he doesn't text mission stuff anymore, mainly because he already got in trouble for that, the logs would include date invites.
Chuck's brain suddenly lit up as the proverbial puzzle pieces suddenly start dropping into place.
He began recalling facts about his incarceration.
The Doctor referred to this as an experiment. He had a background in psychology and chemicals.
The stark contrast between his comfortable chair and easy conversations he had with the captors versus the room and chairs his teammates were in. He somehow doubted they had any interesting conversations with anyone.
Mary's switch in behaviour from her initial cold demeanour to her suddenly amorous one.
The Doctor's reference to phases and now the push to get him to find a way to release his friends.
Inspiration struck him like a hammer. If he had to guess, he would say he was a guinea pig for the tests and his friends were there as extra modifiers to the response. He was no psych major like this nut job but, this was like some kind weird Pavlovian test or something. The Doctor is monitoring my response to stimuli... but for what end? His brain fired off a response before he could finish asking himself.
The injection. It's an experimental compound.
The chemical causes some kind of reaction and the Doctor is monitoring what responses affect it. Knowing what the Doctor is doing doesn't do anything to help him. All he can do is play along like a rat in a maze.
The Doctor finished up his conversation with Mary. "Charles the phones have arrived." As he spoke a man arrived with a small box. The Doctor took the box and placed it on the nearest desk. Out of it he pulled the three cell phones. "Which phones do you need Charles?"
Chuck knew what to do. "I will need all three phones. Have you reviewed the phone logs and data?"
The Doctor raised his eyebrows, unsure of where his captor was going with the questions. "We have."
Chuck sucked in air for a deep breath before he nodded and spoke with more confidence than he felt, "Then you have probably figured out my girlfriend is sitting in the other room."
The Doctor could deny it, but he saw no purpose in doing so. They were holding all the cards, so to speak. "We have surmised that as a likely possibility."
Chuck displayed a very calm face for someone in his situation. Inside he was scared to death, but he knew what to do and that helped give him the strength to proceed. "Give me a moment to prepare". He spends a minute going through both agent phones to delete recent calls incoming and outgoing.
Chuck picks up his phone and places a call to Sarah's phone first, waiting till the voice message picks up before he speaks in a somewhat up beat voice. "Hey Sarah. I understand if you don't want to talk to me, but I just wanted to apologize for last night. You must be pretty mad, as you haven't picked up all day. Please call before I slip into my stalker mode. I have to head into work. Maybe we you can meet me for dinner break or after work?" Chuck hangs up and auto dials Casey.
Chuck notices the Doctor give him a strange glance at what he said, but he ignores him. After hanging up he calls Casey. "Hey big guy. Ummm... sorry about ruining your party last night. Anyway, I kind of blew things with Sarah. I've been trying to get a hold of her for the last few hours and she isn't answering my calls. She might be a little mad at some things I said last night. Just making sure everything is good." Chuck pauses for a moment before continuing. "Oh, before I forget, Big Mike called me in for a shift. It starts in ½ hour so I'll be at work if anything comes up or you talk to Sarah."
After hanging up, he speaks to the Doctor, "I need someone to take them their phones. Tell them you have reviewed and deleted all calls and messages, but someone named Chuck keeps calling and sending messages so frequently he is becoming an annoyance. Tell them that you would disable the phones, but that might alert others, therefore it would be in their best interest to find a way to get "Chuck" to stop contacting them. For his safety and theirs."
The Doctor raised his eyebrows at Chuck's requests, but simply nods and makes the appropriate arrangements using the headset.
Within a couple of moments a henchman enters the adjacent chamber with the cell phones. The Doctor activates the room speaker and reiterates the instructions Chuck gave. As the Doctor is speaking he accesses the computer to release the magnetic lock on one of their hands. This is the moment chuck has been waiting for. While the Doctor is preoccupied with speaking and typing, Chuck is watching him log in with his password and paying particular attention to the how he shut down the magnetic restraints.
Within seconds both agents check their phones. Casey listens to his first. Afterward he simply nods to Walker. Sarah listens to hers with a little more emotion. A small half laugh/half sob escapes from her at the end of the message.
The Doctor watches her with interest and waits till she is done reading before speaking into the microphone. "I would suggest that you send a text response to stop any further contact."
Casey looks at Walker and nods again. He hands his phone back to the henchman. Sarah immediately begins typing.
She hits send and hands the phone back to the henchman.
Chucks phone beeps a moment later. He checks the message, not caring if the Doctor would allow him to or not.
Txt Msg: Sarah: I haven't been ignoring. Remember Xmas, I'm not good at it. Can't talk right now. I am tied up. I will speak with you later. Please forgive me.
Chuck's lips tighten and he feels his chest constrict as he reads the message. Even now, she is trying to tell him everything is ok, although he is not sure if she is asking forgiveness for the lie in speaking with him later or for the relationship problems, or both. At this point, he prefers to believe it's for both.
The Doctor leaned forward to speak into the microphone, "Leave them." The guard exited the room with the phones. Looking at Chuck, he holds out his hand. Chuck hands him the phone.
"Very good Charles. Interesting choice in using the phones...and my cooperation, of course. It's a relatively simplistic way to ensure they aren't going to hesitate in escaping.
The Doctor leaves Chuck to think on his next move, while he exits the room with the wireless headset still on and checks in with Mary.
--
The Doctor begins without any preamble as he knows the headset was 'live' the entire time, "When you took our guest out for his bathroom break, I take it he saw the door codes?"
Mary: "Most definitely. He did try to get a glimpse of his room code as well but I blocked it. As you suspected, he is not trained to spot deception very well."
The Doctor chuckles. "Are their escape routes open and ready?"
Mary: "The staff is putting the finishing touches on the suburban for phase 4. We did a more detailed check on the smaller vehicle and found some kind of enhanced equipment hidden in it. There is a possibility of it being trapped so I pulled the team off of it for now. We will have to look at later. In the mean time we have moved it far enough away to keep it from being damaged."
The Doctor: "Fine. We will need to make sure he is prepared for Phase 3. Have the staff position a getaway vehicle outside the auxiliary tunnel for Phase 3. I've only set aside another 30 minutes to get them out.
Mary: "The phase 3 vehicle was just moved into position. Is the emergency manual in the desk?"
The Doctor: "I placed it in myself while you were taking our guest on his extended tour.
The Doctor looks at his watch. "Well then, I see we are right on schedule."
Mary: "You don't think he will find an escape manual a bit odd?"
The Doctor: "At this point, as smart as he may be, he's very inexperienced. Senior field staff in his line of work would refer to him being as green as you can get. I don't think he's ever been trained for any active duty. Probably hardly ever leaves his cubicle. Besides, he appears to be very organized. Probably thinks it's a good idea for secret facilities to have escape routes in case of fire or emergency. I'd be willing to bet he finds it odd that it isn't posted on the wall."
They both have a laugh over the thought.
--
Chuck was more than a little nervous. He had kept up a fairly confident front for the Doctor, but once he left the room, his face returned to a more natural one filled with fear and anxiety. He had hopefully removed himself from the equation in getting his friends out, but he still had to actually find a way to free them.
In his desperation, he began to rifle through the computer cabinet drawers looking for whatever could be useful. The first drawer was filled with files, but nothing of interest to him.
The second drawer was miscellaneous office supplies. Pens, paper, empty folders, note pads and other non essentials. The third drawer down held an emergency manual.
Jackpot!
The pages were neatly organized by tabs. Each tab corresponding to a specific event. Earthquake, fire, toxic spill and hostile infiltration. His eyes bug out a bit at the name on the last tab. The first couple of pages of each tab, held detailed escape maps of the facility based on the situation. Chuck was actually quite impressed at the clarity of the manual. It was much better than the simple duotang emergency manual that the BuyMore used. Heck, this one even had the pages laminated to protect against water damage.
Chuck gave himself a quick shake. He could contemplate manual design after he got Sarah and Casey out of here.
He opened the manual and checked the index for general facility maps. It took only a few seconds of looking to find his location and determine what he had to do. The labelling in the corridors on his bathroom walk was a crucial factor in helping figure out where they were. Not to mention that it was kind of easy to find the rooms with the one way windows on the maps.
According to the manual there was a drainage system running under most of these rooms. It would be a bit tight but they should be able to move through it easily enough. The first smaller section ran for about 50', where it opens to standing height for another 20' or so before exiting the rear of the facility.
The access hatch to the drainage system was underneath one Lazy Susan discs the chairs were mounted to. He just had to release the magnetic lock on the disc and it would swing up for access to a ladder down to the drain system. The route was fairly straight forward. They would be outside in within a few of minutes of entering the drainage system.
Once outside they could get help and come get him. Hopefully before the bad guys found out.
A small voice in his head told him that it was unlikely help would come in time, especially considering he lied to get them out of the facility. They wouldn't even know he was in there, until it was too late. Chuck ignored the voice. It was probably not a good idea to freak himself out anymore than he already is.
A sudden influx of multiple emotions flowed through him. He might not see Sarah again. Thoughts of her quietly crying during the rooftop extraction, floated back to the surface of his mind. He thought he wouldn't see her again then, either. He had trouble holding his emotions in check in front of Longshore. He knew his own face had become a scramble of emotions and pain at seeing her tough agent exterior break down. Even now, he wanted to see the emotional Sarah, instead of the ever calm agent.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath to steady himself and clear his mind. It was time to step up and get them out before the crazy Doctor trapped them here too.
He now had the means to get them out, he just had to figure out how to convince them it was a good idea and not a trap.
He rolled his eyes and let out a rush of air. Piece of cake he told himself.
He ignored the little voice in his head screaming otherwise.
--
