Don't own Chuck

Chuck and Sarah were below decks as Rick sailed a motor launch they rented from a local out to the Sherherzade. The boat sputtering along the motor missing ever other stroke but was navigable making its way from the port out to the anchored vessel. It was a perfect night to launch an assault the moon was hidden behind a veil of clouds that seemed to promise rain, a rarity for this part of the world but was perfect to hide whatever noise that might be made.

"We're almost in their sights," said Rick. "Sarah this is where you have to get out."

Sarah was dressed in a black wetsuit with her knives strapped to her thigh and a small waterproof bag she tied off her belt. Chuck looked her over sighed then pulled her close.

"What? Did I forget something?" she asked looking around her.

"Yes, a kiss for good luck." She smiled and obliged.

"Yuck," they heard in their ears. "Chuck can you take off your glasses so I don't have to see all the details," protested Casey.

"You sure you don't want me to come on board with you to face Abrim? You know he's going to have his guard up after his talk with Ellyas. He's just as liable to shoot you as to talk to you," said Sarah more than a little bit worried about Chuck's plan.

"I think he'll be curious to hear me out and if things go sideways I can always release the Casey. You know how much he likes to shoot things far away."

"Amen brother," said Casey and they heard the sound of him seating a clip then chambering a round. "I feel a tingle in my trigger finger."

Sarah and Chuck went topside where they kissed once more before she made a loop in a line then Chuck helped her over the side. She slid into the water without making a sound and waved back up to signal she was okay. Suddenly the launch was illuminated by a search light and a Browning opened fire, shooting across their bow.

"Hey, hold your fire," yelled Chuck. "I'm here to do business with your Boss, Abrim Abshir."

"He doesn't want anything you've got to sell so go away or the next rounds will be aimed at you."

"Tell Mr. Abshir that Mr. Charles Carmichael is here and wants to talk with him. I only need a few minutes of his time. You can tell him I'm also the man his brother warned him about." Chuck could hear the stir he'd caused on board as Abshir's men seemed to be arguing back and forth but not loud enough for him to understand.

"Casey standby," radioed Sarah hanging on the outboard side of the launch. "I don't like the way this is going."

"Everyone stay cool," said Chuck, "they haven't shot me yet." As Chuck was trying to keep Casey's itchy trigger finger in check he heard a voice from the ship.

"Okay standoff our portside ladder while we send a messenger to get word what to do from Mr. Abshir." As they rounded the stern Chuck saw another launch pull away then depart heading back into port.

"Crap," said Chuck, "Casey there's another launch leaving heading back can you get a visual on who's on board."

"That's a negative. I'm covered from where I am."

"Casey, leave your post, go and see if you can get eyes on who's on the launch."

"Negative," said Sarah. "Casey, stay where you're. Chuck if Casey leaves his post I'm coming back on board and going with you to meet Abrim. I'm not going to let you go in without back up. You sound just like-" she stopped herself.

"You wanted to say just like my mother. Maybe you're right but you make a beautiful mermaid by the way."

"Wait until we get done and I'll teach you a new water sport in the bath back home."

"Nothing like good clean fun," said Chuck.

"Will you two cut out the chatter; we've got a mission to finish."

Just then a man came to the railing and signalled for them to come in close. Rick started manoeuvring the launch and moved it in close.

"Mr. Abshir says he'll talk with you but he wouldn't promise he won't shoot you."

"Fair enough," said Chuck and he had Rick bring the launch alongside a small landing at the bottom of the ladder. They were greeted there by two rather larger men who grabbed lines Rick threw over and tied off Chuck's launch. Rick helped Chuck over with his white cane but the men stopped Rick from going up the ladder.

"Our orders are to bring just him you'll have to wait here."

"It's okay Rick just keep the motor running and I'll be back soon. Can one of you kind gentlemen give me a hand?" They didn't know what to do with Chuck as they looked back and forth at each other. "It's okay I didn't ask you for a dance. But you're going to have to show me the way or we'll be here forever and I think Mr. Abshir will be quite upset." Finally one of the goons helped Chuck to the gangway and he made his way up and out of sight. It wasn't long after Chuck disappeared that three men came down, one stood on the landing holding an AK47.

"Stand aside, we're here to do a search. Is there anyone else here on board with you?"

"No just me and this Cuban," said Rick.

"Then you won't mind if my two men search your boat?"

"Go ahead and knock yourself out. By the way anyone got a match?" The men pushed by Rick content that there was no one they left and went back up the ladder. "Hey," yelled Rick, "about that light?"

"We don't smoke but I'll have one of the guards at the top of the ladder throw you down some matches."

"I'd appreciate, thanks."

"Hey, buddy catch," yelled one of the men from above as he tossed down a match book but Rick missed it and it fell into the water.

"Crap, hey guys why don't you let me come up and get just a quick light. I've got enough Cubans to go round?" The guard looked at his partner and he nodded back.

"Sure come on up," said the man as he waved with his arm. Rick walked up the ladder with Sarah close behind him then as he reached the top she waited hiding just out of sight.

"Thanks guys I hate these waits, don't you?" The men agreed with him as he started handing out Casey's cigars. Chuck practically had to pry them from his Casey's hands and only then with a promise that he'd get him equal or better quality as compensation. Rick was handing them out when he dropped one and as they all dove for it Sarah slipped on board and in an open hatch then down a ladder.

"Okay Casey I'm on board," said Sarah as she opened the bag she brought with her. Inside she took out glasses and put them on. She then pulled out her Smith and Wesson screwed on a suppressor. Afterwards she removed the safety and chambered the first round.

"Roger that, I've got your visual. You need to work your way forward then down two decks." Casey had the visual from Chuck and Sarah's glasses on a split screen monitor as well as an overlay of the ship with red dots indicating their current locations.

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The two goons lead Chuck through the ship as he tapped his way using his cane and he had to make himself trip a couple of times to sell the act. This got the goons fighting between themselves each telling the other he needed to be more careful. But judging from their sized and demeanor being gentle wasn't what they were paid for. Finally they arrived at a door and knock.

"Come in," Chuck heard a voice say from inside and at the same time he heard Sarah say she was on board.

Chuck was ushered into a hold that Abrim had converted over to his personal needs. The room looked more like a hotel suit than a hold on a World War II rust bucket. It was complete with a Louis XVI desk that Chuck could only image Abrim pontificating behind. But a perfect choice for what he hoped the fates and he had in mind for Ellyas' brother.

"I heard you're looking for me," said Abrim who didn't apologize for the pun nor did he offer Chuck a proper greeting. After looking him over he dismissed his men and sat with Chuck alone.

"As-salāmu `alayka," said Chuck, Abrim's answer would tell him a lot.

"Wa alaykumu s-salam," answered Abshir.

"Good we can talk now," said Chuck as he broke down his cane and slid it into his inside pocket. "I'll take some mint tea like the one you offered your female guest before me."

Abshir was reaching for the desert eagle on his desk when Chuck's observation caused him to pause.

"How'd you know I had a female guest before you and that we had mint tea together?"

"There's a hint of mint and jasmine in here which might I add is a great improvement over the rest of your ship. I think you should invest in some little tree air fresheners. Maybe hang them up like ornaments, just an idea. Sorry but my observation, well the Jasmine almost over powers the mint which makes me think that it's a perfume and the mint is probably a tea like those used across North Africa offered to guests."

"I'm impressed but why shouldn't I shoot you for what you did to my brother?"

"Truthfully I don't know why but I think you what to hear me out."

"Chuck that was about the most asinine thing I've ever heard," yelled Casey into his mic. "Do you want to get yourself shoot?"

"Sorry," said Chuck as he rubbed his ear, "a sudden pain. Where were we? Oh why you shouldn't shoot me. You see you've taken something that belongs to me and I want it back."

"I've taken a lot of things from people over the years and if you want them back all you have to do is pay. It's that easy."

"You see I don't understand why I should pay for something that's mine."

"Think of it as insurance, I insure that what you want gets returned to you without damage. I am a reasonable man if you tell me what I have of yours you want back we can haggle for a bit but I'm sure we can come to terms."

"You don't seem to be interested in getting revenge for your brother anymore."

"I'm not going to let my feelings for my brother get in the way of business that would be unprofessional."

"Yes indeed it would."

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Chuck was keeping Abrim busy while waiting for Sarah to get down to the hostages and secure their location. She had made it down one deck and was half way down a ladder when two men appeared at the bottom but as she was about to go up there was two more at the top. She was trapped in between. Sarah flashed. She dropped back on the ladder and shot the two at the top. They moaned and dropped then she sprung off the ladder landing on top of one of the men knees first driving him down into the deck plates. She did a cartwheel knocking the other man down then pistol whipped him as he tried to get up.

"Sarah are you okay," said Casey seeing most of the action on the screen but without having a clear shot.

"Yes I'm-" She never got out fine before feeling a punch land to the side of her face that sent her staggering back. She shook it off before the next one landed side stepping it.

"Augh," screamed the man as he punched a bulkhead instead. Sarah grabbed the man by the back of the head and drove his face into a metal stanchion. He dropped to the deck plate and she finished him off with a punch to the back of the head.

"Sarah are you alright! I've lost visual."

"Sorry Casey my glasses got broken in that last attack. Can you still use my beacon to follow me?"

"Roger that. You should be where the hostages are being held almost now."

"Yes, I'm there. I've got a visual on the holding cell. There are four guards outside and two rovers all are armed with 47s and ear pieces. I' not going to be able to get in there without someone knowing."

"Roger that sit tight and wait for the fun and festivities to begin then take them out."

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Chuck was sitting across for Abrim talking about what Chuck wanted to returned when he grabbed his ear then rubbed it. He had just heard Sarah report to Casey about her incident.

"You know you should really get that looked at."

"You're right but where were we again. Yes, what you have of mine. Well the truth is it or he isn't mine. You see a family has asked me to come and ransom back their son. Actually I went to Ellyas for information and he turned the whole thing into what it was because of his gambling."

"Gambling our families curse, you put a deck of cards in front of him and he goes crazy. I can see how that would happen. So you want to ransom back a guest?"

"Well yes and they're willing to pay a fortune because they own two."

"How much money are we talking about?"

"Think of a figure, any figure, the highest figure you can think of then double it." Chuck could see dollar signs in Abrim's eyes. "However, there's only one catch and sorry for the pun but I have to see him."

"I can have him brought up just tell me his name."

"Well that's the problem I don't remember it. I know it's not very professional and looks crazy but I've got to smell him. Yeah I know how it sounds but well his parents gave me his sweater and I've got the nose of a blood hound. Remember what I did earlier."

"Chuck stop screwing around," yelled Casey. "Just keep the man occupied that was the plan.

"There it goes again," said Chuck as he rubbed his ear.

"Chuck that wasn't the deal," said Sarah. "Why are you changing things?"

"Nor were broken glasses," mumbled Chuck.

"What did you say," asked Abrim.

"I don't want to break my promise so if you'd be so kind as to lead me to him then the sooner I can close this deal and make you a very wealthy man. You might want to think about investing in a nicer vessel. Might I suggest a nice Oscar class nuclear ballistic submarine, it's the latest thing in villianary. Think about it as a pirate you can just pop up where ever you want and with a nuclear reactor you never have to worry about those long lines at the pumps."

"I hadn't thought about it but I like the idea."

"I'm just filled with great ideas."

"Yeah and something else too," said Casey.

"Oh, there goes that pesky ear again," said Chuck as he rubbed it.

"You should really have that looked at. If you had showed up earlier I had a doctor here who could've looked at it.

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On the opposite side of the Ship, Commander Hull and his SEAL team came up out of the water. The black clad modern day ninjas quickly scaled the side of the ship and regrouped just aft of the boat deck on the weather deck. The Commander signaled his men to be fast and silent. This part of the operation stealth was of the utmost importance.

"Okay you guys go aft and take out the 20 and five inch," he told two of his men. "I want you to go forward and take out the three inch. Guys you need to take out any rovers you find on your way. They have to go down fast and silent we can't afford for them to send out calls for help. The rest of you on me we're going to the bridge. Above all no noise use suppressors or knives now let's move out."

Commander Hull and his men neutralized all the topside guards and secured the gun placements so far so good. The outside of the ship was there's and Abrim hadn't a clue.

"Colonel Casey," radioed the Commander, "We're about to make our inclusion inside the ship give me a location on your people."

"I've got one ready to take out the guards on the hostages and another one on the move heading towards them. That's Chuck and he's got Abrim leading him."

"That's an interesting ploy. I hope he knows what he's doing because as soon as we go in things are going to start getting hot.

"Roger that." Both Chuck and Sarah listened to the Commander's comments and realized that the topside watches would soon be missed. It was just a matter of time now before crap was going to hit the fan.

Chuck calculated in his head how much further it was before he'd reach Sarah and he realized he would never make it in time so as he was going down a ladder he pretended to fall.

"Help him up," ordered Abrim to his two goons and as they bent over Chuck, he broke his cane into sections each end had a tranq dart in it. He used two straight away dropping the two goons. Abrim realized Chuck wasn't blind and bolted for safety.

"Sarah, go ahead and take the guards out. I'm going after Abshir. Commander, let them know you're here." Chuck took off running after Abrim on the main deck. He threw the last dart at Abshir but he grab one of his man and shove him behind him so he took the dart for him then continued running after.

"Stop him," yelled Abshir at three men working on a fire station. They came at Chuck with wrenches and tools. He went through them without stopping. He flashed then flew into the middle man with a flying side thrust then double one over this a spinning back. The one man standing threw a punch but Chuck blocked with a right outward that became a back fist he followed up with a spinning back fist and the man went down. He was off again after Abrim.

Sarah was outside the hostages when the first wave of explosions went off. The SEAL team was using flash grenades to make their way to her location. She fired quickly and took out the four guards that were outside the holding cell but the two rovers had moved and were no longer in her line of fire.

"Crap Casey they're trying to circle me and I can't get to the hostages."

"Okay I've got an idea give me one of the compartment numbers they're at."

"3-90-1-L, but what are you going to do with that," she asked but instead of answering Casey showed. There was a loud bang that seemed to echo everywhere and white dust floated into where she was as lagging exploded into powder. She heard one of her targets cough then staggered out dazed. She didn't hesitate to put him down.

"Finally I got to shoot at something," said Casey. "Boy does my finger feel better."

Sarah heard a series of pops behind her as Commander Hull's team was taking out the last of the resistance. She ran up to the holding cell and shot off the lock then went inside. It was dark so she went back outside and found the light switch and turned it on

"Devon, we're here," yelled Sarah as she went back in.

"I'm sorry ma'am but they took Devon away earlier," said one on the men as he held his hands up covering his eyes against the light.

"Chuck, Chuck, listen Devon isn't here. Devon isn't here. You need to take Abrim alive."