Don't own Chuck
The line dropped with Reno and Chuck looked at the phone. He was trying to get his head around what was going on and what he could do. There was going to be hell to pay and he was the one to dish it out. But as he was sitting thinking his doorbell rang. Morgan went to answer it and standing there were two men in black. Agents he recognized from their downtown office.
"Is Agent Carmichael at home we have orders to bring him in. The General wants to speak with him downtown."
"Why can't she speak to him right here?" asked Morgan. "He's supposed to be watching his two kids. Is she going to come and change Bunny's diapers?" Morgan already had a sense that this wasn't kosher and the men weren't on the up and up.
"I don't know about that we were just told to bring him in," said the Agent. "I don't like it any more than you do but orders are orders."
"Have I heard that before," said Chuck as he went over to them. "It's all right Morgan. Let me go with these men they're only doing what they were told to do. Can I talk with the General from your vehicle on the way downtown? I think I need to clarify some things. You realize I have Presidential signature authority and if I wanted to I could invoke it but I'm choosing to come with you to avoid a scene."
"We were just told to bring you in. We don't know anything else and…" Chuck ignored them as he continued to explain.
"It's called Presidential signature authority which gives me the authority to pick and choose my missions. It also gives me the right to quit which is where we're at right now. Here Morgan take this," said Chuck as he handed him his dart pistol. "Don't get jumpy guys. Here take this too," said Chuck as he handed him his knife. "I need to say goodbye to my daughter. You can come and watch if you want."
"Listen we didn't make up the rules we just follow them. We need you to come along," said the one but the other grabbed his partner's hand.
"Agent, go do what you have to do. If it were me I'd want to do the same thing and I'd hope, I'd meet someone like you who'd understand."
"Thanks, I appreciate this," said Chuck. He walked over to Sam. They were all drawn up front on hearing the noise. "I'm going to have to go with these gentlemen but I will be back soon. In the meantime, I want you to be a good girl and remember never be sorry for doing what's right. Doing what is right isn't always easy but it's what defines us. I don't expect you to understand me now but with time I think you will. You're on the right path."
"Do you have to go? I don't want you to go," said Sam as she looked back the other agents. "Tell those men to go away. I hate them."
"You shouldn't hate them they're only doing what they were told to do. Never strike out in anger. Think about what you're doing first. Weigh the consequences, remember I told you there are always consequences. Sometimes there may not be a good solution but the lesser of evils. Emma or Kat will explain that to you. Just know I will always love you and Bunny," said Chuck then he kissed them both.
"Agent Carmichael, we really need to get on the road now," said the one agent. "We have a long way to go so we need to get started."
"Long way... downtown you mean," said Morgan as he looked at Alex. Alex started to reach for her bag. But Chuck shook his head.
"Let's go then," said Chuck as he went out in the door. Before he left he glanced over at Jack. "Until we see each other again." Then he was gone.
"What did Chuck mean by that Jack," asked Emma. Jack shrugged his shoulder. "I bet you don't know. Well I think we need to break out the ice cream and forget about the two spoonful rule."
"Morgan, you need to go get the grape soda," said Alex as she motioned to the door. "Let me come with you and help you get it."
"It's only one case I can get it by myself," said Morgan. Alex stared fire at him. "Oh right, yes I could use the help. Even if it's just moral." They went outside and the first thing Alex did was punch him in the shoulder.
"Idiot, I know you can carry one case of soda by yourself. I wanted you outside so we can talk away from the girls."
"Ouch that hurt. Okay let's talk but I don't know if I'm going to be able to use this arm. I got it too it's not that far from here to the downtown office even if they hit traffic."
"Because they're not going down town. I think they're taking Chuck to Supermax at Yucca Mountain. Chuck didn't make a fuss inside because he didn't want to upset the girls. The question is what do we do now?"
"You do nothing," said Jack as he slipped outside without being seen or heard. "Chuck and Sarah are counting on you two to watch the girls. If you want to help that's what you'll do. Don't do anything that will compromise yourselves."
"What did Chuck really mean when he told you until you meet again?" asked Alex. "Don't shrug your shoulders like you did inside and say you don't know. That won't fly out here that was code for something."
"Take it from me you don't want to know and how he knew I don't know. But remember what I said about not compromising yourselves. Don't go looking for Chuck."
"But Chuck's on his way to Yucca Mountain."
"He's not there yet now is he? It's a long way from here and a lot can happen."
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[A Few Minutes Before]
The two agents walked Chuck out to a transport vehicle that was waiting. They cuffed him then put him in the back after that they climbed in with him. One of the men banged on the back wall that was the signal they could leave. The driver eased out on the main road then got on the I-5 north. He wasn't headed for downtown L.A. but instead he was driving towards Yucca Mountain and Supermax.
"Now that we're on the road can I talk with the General? You and I both know we're not heading downtown. Where are we going? Yucca Mountain? You know how many people I've put there. All traitors now that's what you think I am?"
"You're only going there temporary. Once we get there you'll be put in isolation so you won't have to deal with anyone that might want to get at you."
"Are you going to tell me this is for my own good too? So can I talk with the General now. You promised me I'd be able to."
"If you act up we're under orders to restrain you by whatever means we deem necessary. We've got a sedative that will put you to sleep for the whole trip if you keep acting up," said the one as he showed Chuck the needle as some sort of intimidation.
"You know I've never really been fond of needles," said Chuck. "Actually they used to terrify me but I have to admit sometimes they come in handy. You know you really should've frisked me before you put me in this thing." Chuck jumped up the handcuffs just fell off. He grabbed them like knuckle busters and laid the one agent out with one punch the syringe flew out of his hand. The other man went for his gun but Chuck grabbed the syringe in midair then jabbed it in his neck. The man's eyes rolled up and he was out. Afterwards Chuck handcuffed the two men together.
"Okay now to get out of here," said Chuck. He took a little C-4 from the heel of his shoes placing it near where the hinges that would be on the outside then from the other heel he took a detonator.
The driver was on the interstate making good time when the backend of his transport van exploded. He swerved side to side then finally got it under control pulling over in the emergency lane.
"Crap," he said as he tried to catch his breath. He was about to grab the mic to call in a prisoner escape when he got yanked out. The last thing be saw was Chuck's face and the pistol he used to knock him out with. Chuck left all three by the roadside then climbed back inside. He continued on driving down the I-5 until he got to the first greasy spoon he came to there he pulled in. He did a little work on the van then went inside the diner.
"Can I get you something to drink while you look over the menu," said the waitress. "You look like you could use a stiff one."
"You could say that... Agnes is it," said Chuck as he looked at her name tag. "I'll have a scotch two fingers… no hold up that order just bring me the bottle."
"Sorry I said you looked like you could use a stiff one doesn't mean we sell it here. I can get you a beer or some wine but that's all the spirits we can sell in the State of California."
"Well bring me a cheeseburger with extra pickles to go. Make that two and here's a hundred if you can dig me up a fifth of something."
"Well there might be a possibility let me check with Sammy back in the kitchen. I think we might be able to come up with something from his private stash."
"I'd appreciate it and did I tell you that's to go," said Chuck. The waitress nodded then left. He took out the phone he took off one of the agents then typed in a command code then sent it to the mainframe at Castle. Suddenly computers around the nation came alive all with the same line in their command code format C/. In a few hours, years of intel gathering went to computer heaven.
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The General was sitting in her office with her Major and Roan. Neither agreed with her decision but she was unwavering. She kept saying it was for Chuck's own good and protection. He was the intersect and they couldn't risk losing him to some rash decision he'd make to defend his wife.
"Diane, you're making a big mistake and one that will come back to bite you. Chuck isn't going to take this lying down."
"Roan, he's too valuable an asset to let go running off and getting himself killed. You heard what Casey said. El Serpiente taunted him to come after him and that's just the type of thing Chuck would do."
"But to send him to Supermax," said the Major. "You know over half of the prison population there want to kill him and those are the nice guys. Sure you put him in isolation but once he's inside there are no guarantees."
"The Major's right. So El whatever his name is doesn't kill him but he catches a shiv in prison. Your precious intersect is gone either way. Diane admit it this has nothing to do about him getting himself killed but the files that the El Snakey dude says he has about Operation Condor."
"If they get out it would be a serious embarrassment for this nation. I've talked with the White house about this and they agree."
"Has anyone thought that he might be feeding us a load. He's from that area so he heard someone say something. I want to see the evidence but it's too late now because you've validated his claim when you committed two of our finest agents and arrested Chuck. Let's not wordsmith this because arrested is what you did without cause."
The Major's phone started ringing as Roan was talking. He saw the number was from the situation room so he walked outside to take it.
"General," said the Major as he ran back in. "We've got a serious problem. A little while ago our entire security data base was hacked…"
"Crap when it rains it pours. Will this day never end?" said the General as she looked over at her bottle of scotch. "Do we know who it was and what they took?"
"That's just it. We don't know because all our files were deleted. Even the archive under Langley was bridged and we're not sure how but it was. It's all gone every last data Kbit. All the ones and zeros gone."
"We get the picture. If Chuck wasn't in a prisoner transport vehicle headed for Yucca Mountain I'd say it was him. But that's impossible." She said but Roan looked at her.
"I warned you he wouldn't take this lying down. Doesn't this sound familiar? You'd better hope you didn't just create another Orion. Major contact the prisoner transport and have the call patched up here. In the meantime, Diane you might want to think about what you're going to tell the President and the Senate subcommittee."
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Chuck sat back in his booth and looked around at the other people in the place. He wondered why he couldn't be like them but if had been he'd never met the love of his life. Tears welled up in his eyes as the waitress came over and placed his order in front of him along with another bag with a half of a fifth.
"You all right mister," said the waitress. "You look a little upset. If you're looking for answers you won't find them in that bottle."
"No that's just to help take the edge off for a little bit until I can get my head around it," said Chuck. "Here's the hundred I promised you and another hundred if you can forget I was ever here."
"That's easy enough. You aren't in any serious trouble like you killed someone? We had some people come through a little while ago and we don't need any more hassle like that."
"I haven't killed anyone this week but the weeks not over yet. Thanks again," said Chuck. He walked back out climbed in the van then took off. As he drove down the road he pulled the cork out of the bottle with his teeth then took a hit then he took another before he corked it. He wanted a head buzz and that's what he got. As he was driving along he started getting a call to check in. At first he ignored it then after it got insistent he answered the call.
"Willy why didn't you answer before? We've got the General on the horn and she wants to talk with you. Do you read me?"
"Roger that but I've got a lot of static here," said Chuck as he rubbed the mic against his thigh. "Put the old girl through."
"Repeat your last, it sounded like you said old girl... put the old girl through. Can you confirm?" Chuck waited a bit then laughed into the mic.
"I said patch the General through. This is a really bad connection but let's try it. Good ahead and patch the old girl through," said Chuck. It was all he could do to keep a straight face.
"Driver, I need you to confirm that your detainee is still onboard. I want you to stop and look in the back and make sure."
"I don't have to I know the prisoner's onboard," said Chuck as he masked his voice. "I can tell you he is. It's almost as if he's sitting right here next to me and my bottle of Old Crow. Oh I wasn't supposed to say that was I?"
"Your bottle of what? You're not drinking and driving and on the job. I'll have your butt for this. I want you to pull over and let me talk to one of the other agents in the back."
"Nope, ain't going to happen. You're being mean to me. Just wait I'm going to tell daddy on you. Why do you have to be so mean to me," said Chuck as he started laughing. He just couldn't hold it in any longer.
"Funny Chuck very funny. You've crossed the line this time when you sabotaged our computers. If you turn yourself in, I'll put in a good word for you at your trial and see if I can't get you..."
"Crap, that's right I said crap. Like you've got something to bargain with. I've got all your precious files archived and I can do a full restore if I want to but right now I don't want to."
"Chuck, you're putting our agents... your fellow agents at risk in the field. Give us back at least what we need to operate."
"You've got what you need to operate and none of the agents in the field are at risk because none of this will ever go public. The question is if the delete becomes permanent or not."
"But if you delete those files we'll be back to..."
"To where you were before the intersect. You like others to see if they can get along without the intersect then let's see how you do it for a change. Funny isn't because if I do delete the files you're going to need what's in my head to restore everything. You know I'm in a forgetful mood right now."
"Chuck, you realize we're going to have to come after you. Right now you've just acted out. We can go back to the way things were..."
"What? You burying me in Supermax? I don't hardly think so. This is the deal if I see or even think an agent is following me everything goes away and when I mean everything. I mean everything that includes satellites and drones. If I find out you're targeting my family or friends well you don't want to piss me off any more than I am now. Remember I am Orion's son. I don't think you've got another thirty years to come looking for me. I warned Casey that if anything happened to Sarah I'd burn down your houses. I've got a match lit you do anything and I mean it if you lift a finger that will be the kindling. I hope you have a lot of buckets handy"
"Don't interfere with Sarah and Casey's mission? She's helping bring down El Serpiente and his whole organization. But we need to be careful how we do it."
"I'm sure that's what they said to my father about Alexei Volkoff when they sent my mother in deep cover. You haven't got a clue as to what Tomas is up to. My wife will not become my mother. We're done here you've been warned," said Chuck as he cut transmission.
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Back in Reno Tomas loaded everyone in their vehicles and started the seven-hour drive back to Los Vegas. The Chief drove in his Escalade following Tomas' convoy of two vehicles. They were halfway in the trip when John's phone rang. He looked at the display then rolled his eyes as he answered. His face said something was wrong Sarah had a good idea what it was.
"That was the General she wants us to report in when we get to wherever it is we're going. Then she wants a daily update."
"I'm afraid that won't happen. When we get to Los Vegas we're going to put hoods over your heads and then you'll maintain radio silence until our little deal is done."
"That wasn't the deal," said Casey as he started to move forward but he felt a pistol barrel jammed into his side. "What did you promise about us being able to gather intel?"
"Just calm down. I promised you'd be able to gather intel not that you'd be able communicate it. Well not right away. There's a lot going on and I'm going to need your undivided attention. Your General is sending your husband to Yucca Mountain there I have some guards in my pocket. Wouldn't it be a shame if somehow your husband was transferred over to genpop. How long do you think he'd last?"
"You wouldn't," said Sarah. "Well since we're talking about getting someone's undivided attention. Listen up if you do that then I will kill you." The rest of the men in the vehicle started laughing.
"El Jefe, your woman is muy loca," said one of the men. "Are you going to take her talking back to you like that?"
"Your woman? I'm not your woman and I never will be. We're here for work and work only so if you've got any other ideas you might as well get them out of your head."
"Everyone just shut up," said El Jefe as he got angry. "That goes for you two also." He pulled out his phone. "Julio our friends behind us have come far enough. It's time to send them home."
The back Escalade slowed down until the one the Chief was in started to pass then he moved over to the center lane which forced the Chief's to pass on the right. As soon as they were side by side men opened fire at the wheels and engine then sped off. The Chief and his men jumped out with weapons drawn but it was too late the perps were long gone. The Chief put his weapon away then called the General.
"Ma'am we've got a problem," said the Chief.
