Don't own Chuck
A few minutes later Anatoly and Sokol were on the other side of Moscow pulling up in front of a nice house in one of the better neighborhoods. The area had belonged to the aristocrats and the bourgeoisie before the revolution then afterwards party bigwigs confiscated the buildings for their cronies. Now there was a smell of decay in the air as the new elite, the parvenu, picked high rises and towers with high speed internet and the comforts of the twenty-first century to live in instead of these old buildings. The one thing these had in common with those of their proletariat neighbors was the color rust.
"Are you sure you want to do this? You know who lives inside," said Sokol as they pulled up in front of one of these slowly dilapidating buildings. "The director could get angry."
"It won't be the first time and it won't be the last. Beside he'll appreciate the fact I'm giving him plausible deniability," said Anatoly as he got out. "You can stay with the car if you want but I'm going inside."
"No, I want to see who this plays out and the looks you get with all that blood still on your coat and shirt."
They both got out of the Lada then walked up to the front door and rang the doorbell. Shortly afterwards a man came to the door and opened it.
"May I help you," said the man as he looked over Sokol and Anatoly. He did a double take when he looked Anatoly over seeing all the blood.
"I need to talk with the General," said Anatoly as he held his badge and ID up for the man to see. "If you don't want me to arrest you and have you hauled away for obstruction you'll take me to the General right now."
"The General is having tea with some guests at the moment and can't be disturbed," said the man but Anatoly wasn't in the mood to hear excuses.
"Sokol, are you thirsty? I know I'm certainly am. I wonder if they have those little sandwiches," said Anatoly. "I bet they even have blinis with caviar."
"Now that I could go for," said Sokol. Anatoly turned back at the man at the door. He put his hand on Anatoly's chest to try to push him back out but that was a mistake and what Anatoly was looking for to react. He grabbed the man's arm twisting it behind him then tossed him back inside on the floor.
"I recommend you stay down," said Anatoly as he and Sokol walked in. A door opened up and an old man came in looking angry.
"What's going on out here," said an old man walking in holding a cup of tea. "And why are you lying down on the job? Get up man and got to work. I'm paying you enough. Now where are our cakes and sandwiches?"
"They're going to have to wait General," said Anatoly as he stepped over the man he tossed to the floor. "I need to have a word with you."
"Who the devil are you to come barging into my house like this? Do you know who I have in the other room? I'll have you thrown in jail for this so fast it will make your head spin."
"It's interesting you should say that. You see this blood all over me. Well it used to belong to your son, Anton. People came for him for the files he took from the archive. I rescued him from them but he chose to end his life with this," said Anatoly as he showed the old man the TT-33. "I think you recognize it."
"Yes, that's mine. I gave it to him so he could protect himself in that wretched neighborhood he lived in," said the old man. "You say he took his own life. Well it's about time he showed some spine. So why are you here bothering me?"
"I wasn't sure before now but now I am. I'm here to arrest you. You see he kept repeating that you were a patriot and a hero. You fought the Nazis. Then it dawned on me who had gotten him to set the fire that burnt the files in the archive then told him to gather together the files from the other departments."
"That's all circumstantial and you haven't got a shred of proof. Just some fool blabbering on about what? That I'm a hero. Are you going to arrest a hero?"
"You make me sick. Your son was a patriot and he wouldn't have fallen for the lies if they hadn't been told by you. No, he wouldn't have trusted anyone else except you. Because you were the patriot… the hero and let's not forget you fought the Nazis."
"Like I said you can't arrest me… you've got no proof," yelled the General loud enough to get his guests come looking to see what was going on but by then Anatoly had cuffs on him.
"You can't do this," said one of the guests. "I will call the president. This is ridiculous. You can't arrest someone like this with no proof."
"You're getting your countries confuse. I'm taking the General down to Lubyanka and if anyone wants to come along they are more than welcome." Suddenly, the group got quiet. "I thought not. Come along General. I want to introduce you to my Director."
"I don't have anything to say except I want a lawyer."
"If I had a ruble for every time someone said that. But the truth is in the end they all talk," said Anatoly as he led the General out and put him in the car.
"Look up there General at your friends looking at you. I bet they'll be on the phone in a few seconds after we leave trying to figure out how to keep you quiet."
"No one have to keep me quiet because I'm not going to say a thing."
"Keep that up but the question is will your friends believe that? Or can they take the chance. I will to bet no. Accidents happen all the time in prison and I'm sure some of them actually are accidental.
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Chuck signed off with Beckman then looked at the clock on the wall. In a few hours everyone would be up and he remembered his promise to Sam. He finished taking off his disguise and removing the glue after that he went into the kitchen. There he pulled out everything he needed to make pancakes and started getting the batter ready. After that he began frying the pancakes one at a time but as he was frying he noticed a bag on the counter.
"That's Stefan's kasha," said Sarah as she walked in on him reading the package. "He made some yesterday and it was a source of argument between himself and Imma."
"I wonder what a pancake would taste like with this added to it?" said Chuck as he glanced at her over the top of the bag.
"If you try it be prepared to be the only one to eat it. You complain about Casey's muffins… I take that back Captain Awesome would help you and your colons would thank you both. Be careful, I think the one in the skillet is read to come out."
"I'm on it and by the way I made a pot of coffee if you want a cup. I can plate you a couple if you want to go ahead and eat?"
"I'm good. I can wait for Sam to get up and Bunny won't turn into a pumpkin for a while. Why didn't you come to bed?"
"I couldn't. I briefed Beckman then I started cooking. I made Sam a promise remember that she'd have pancakes. I'll take a quick nap afterwards."
"I'm sorry if I mentioned Stefan last night. But Chuck you did it again. You decide to do something then you do it without talking to the rest of the team. Then we have to play catch up and try to read your mind."
"You're right… you're absolutely right and I should've told you. But in all honesty, had I told you, you would've tried to talk me out of it and we didn't have the time."
"But you had time enough to lift Boris' phone off Casey then call Olga in the Buy More. And let's not even go into that crazy crap you did at the diner. Chuck, you shot those men. When did you start acting like Casey?"
"I wounded them and I had to sell myself to Olga. She didn't completely buy off on what she saw in the Buy More parking lot so the diner was a test. If I hadn't she would never have agreed to introduce me to Peter. I'm sorry I upset you and you have every right to be upset with me but you know I was right."
"After this mission Juri gets retired and I don't want to hear him mentioned for a long time... a very long time. And you daughter's Russian is improving," said Sarah then she whispered into his hear.
"She said that?" Sarah nodded to him. "How's that even possible? I mean even if… no that's just not right."
"I told her not to repeat everything people say and if she has any questions ask us first. Then I talked to the people who said it. The kasha battles got heated from what I understand."
"But they have to realize there are other people around listening to them and not knowing better those people will repeat what they said."
"Yes, and Casey's bad about that," she said with a smile. " But that's exactly what I thought and that's what I told them," said Sarah as the front door opened and Casey stepped in.
"I could smell pancakes all the way out in the courtyard. Have you slapped him down yet? Don't tell me I missed it? His cheeks aren't red... if you want I can do it for you?"
"And good morning to you too John. Here's a couple already made as a peace offering," said Chuck as he passed him a plate. Casey sat down at the table with the plate while Sarah got him a cup out of the pantry and poured him a cup of coffee.
"So, let's hear what you found out since you went Lone Ranger on us but one observation first even the Lone Ranger wasn't alone. He had his trust sidekick Tonto.
"Eat up first," said Chuck. "I'll brief you with Stefan and Imma. Sarah told me they were put up in Ellie and Captain Awesomes' place."
"That's right. Grimes is supposed to stop by and give them a ride to the airport. You know they're going to Chicago… you did tell him?"
"Yes, Sarah told me but I'm going to have to change their travel plans or at least Imma's. She's coming with me to meet Peter…"
"The same one who tried to kill her and the one we had to fake her death so he could watch. Now you want to take her to him. You feel all right?"
"I feel fine and it's a little complicated," said Chuck as a phone began to ring. "John, aren't you going to get that?"
"Don't look at me. It's not mine," said Casey. Sarah tracked the ringing to the living room and to Chuck's jacket. She pulled a phone out of his pocket.
"Oh, that's mine. That's the phone Peter gave me so we can stay in touch," said Chuck. Casey just shook his head.
"And now Peter knows this location from the GPS in the phone," said John. Chuck looked at Casey wanting to say something in his defense but John was right.
"Answer the call before he sends people here looking for you and put it on speaker," said Sarah as she joined in the head shaking. He took it from her and answered the call.
"Peter, why are you calling me so soon? I don't have anything to report to you yet," said Chuck in Russian looking at Sarah and Casey.
"I was trying to figure out what was going on. You haven't moved from your current location in a while and Olga got worried. She thought you might've gotten whacked."
"I don't understand was she concerned about me or about this hypothetical wet-team. Either way you can tell her not to worry. I checked out one of the safe houses I was telling you about and spent the night there. I've got a good idea where to go next. Don't worry if my GPS signal goes out. You need to give me a little time. The people I'm meeting don't like phones or other people knowing their location."
"So, you're telling me she's alive? If that's the case, do whatever you have to do just bring her to me. I knew you were the right man for this job."
"From what I was told when I got back to L.A. yes she's alive and well. But let me go I have some people I'll be meeting here soon and they are the nervous types."
"Very well I'll call you back this evening," said Peter then he hung up. Chuck put his phone away and turned back to see the looks on Sarah and Casey's faces.
"Okay, you're right I screwed up. I never thought about him tracking the GPS in the phone," said Chuck as he went back to finishing the pancakes.
"The man only hijacked a whole satellite array. I don't think he'd have the technological know-how to do anything like that."
"You see that's what I missed your sarcasm. I know what we're going to do. Sarah, you can take the girls and stay with Ellie and Devon. That way you can go with Stefan and provide him back up in case he needs help. I'll take Imma to meet Peter and John you can stay here and monitor things."
"You still haven't explained why you need to take Imma with you?" said Casey as Imma walked in the door.
"Imma's going where? Sorry Stefan sent me over to see where your little hairy friend is so we can get to the airport. But am I going to the airport if I'm going with you?"
"Here sit down and eat a pancake," said Chuck as he passed her a plate. "What I have to tell you will be shocking for you but it is true… at least Peter says it's true," said Chuck then he paused. There really was no good way to tell you this other than just coming out with it.
"Okay, come on tell me what it is you have to say?" said Imma. Everyone was looking at her and it was beginning to freak her out.
"Well, Peter thinks he's your brother. He's sorry he tried to have you killed but he wants you to meet him so you can join him at his secret base." Imma sat there and looked at Chuck frozen. "Do you understand what I'm saying? Imma, Pytro Petrovich was your father."
"No, that's not possible I was an orphan… I had an old aunt who couldn't take care of me. I used to go over to her house to eat tea cakes and borscht. My parents died when I was an infant."
"I'm sorry but that was just what you were told. You see sometimes in order to control scientists and members of the party their children were taken from them and raised by the state as blackmail to keep them in line. I think that may explain everything but there are things I don't understand."
"How am I supposed to feel about this? I have a brother but he's an insane villain and you said Petrovich was my father. Does that mean he's dead?"
"Yes, according to Olga. She is your half-sister. I don't have all the answers but we can ask them when we meet Olga and him."
"I need to go find Stefan and tell him. We need to report in… but who do I report into. Most of the people in my chain of command have been arrested."
"Talk with Stefan and be with him when he talks with Igor. Ask Igor what you're supposed to do? See if he won't bring you into his group a liaison with the GRU."
"That's a good idea so this doesn't look like a rogue mission on my part," said Imma then she left. Chuck went back to finishing the last of the pancakes.
"What is it you're not telling her," said Sarah. "I don't have time to torture your intel out of you Sam will be up soon then we need to get ready for Chicago."
"Not that you mind. You can take the jet and fly everyone there. It's imperative no one sees Stefan alive. Okay you wanted to know what I didn't tell her. What she said about not wanting this to appear as a rogue mission is exactly what her people wanted to hang on her. They knew who she was so as soon as the mishap happened in Baikonur they sent her looking for her father."
"Her father who was dead but they figured that he was somehow responsible for the loss of the satellites."
"Exactly like a scapegoat. They hang this on her linking her with her father and everyone thinks it ends there. But this plot has deep roots and who knows where they lead. I think Igor is finding that out now. Be careful in Chicago, Stefan may think these people are his but I don't think they've been on the same team since 1989 when Petrovich came to the States."
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Igor walked into an interrogation cell where a man was sitting handcuffed to the table. This was his first time meeting the man and he was interested in seeing what made him tick. He sat down on the other side of the table from him and opened a folder then looked him in the eyes.
"Let's dispense with the 'this is all a big mistake' and 'you don't know why you're here'. You know exactly why you're here Comrade Topo. The only question is where do you go from here. The way I see it there are two directions. One you go to a minimum secure facility with fresh bed linens and decent food or you can go to our facility in Yakutsk where the heat shuts off in the winter and water freezes in buckets. You don't have to worry about bed linens because there are no beds and food well they are served something that resembles food."
"I've got nothing to say," said Viktor as he stared back at Igor. "Your wasting your breath threatening me. It won't work."
"Threatening? Who's threatening? I'm promising Comrade Topo. They'll really like someone nice and soft like you in Yakutsk. Your friends won't be able to protect you there even if they wanted to which I doubt… no you're on your own now. No one will be coming for you."
"I still don't have anything to say," said Viktor. However, the chill of the room was starting to set in that combined with his nerves were starting to make his bones ache.
"You haven't even heard what I want to know yet. Let's start with easy things first then we can build up to the harder ones?"
"If you want to waste your time go right ahead. I'll even clear off my agenda and block you the rest of the day. But I really need to be home by evening. I have a bocce match to get to and I don't want to be late."
"Bocce… funny. They're going to love you where you're going. So, let's cut the crap, who do you work for and what did they want with Colonel Sheshenkov's service record?"
"I don't know they don't tell me. They just ask for information and I pass it on like your Colonel's and I'm proud to serve. Have you noticed the chaos and disorder that's set in since the party lost its control? Let me ask you this do you consider yourself a patriot serving this government?"
"What I think doesn't matter. This government was elected by the people and it's them I serve as a good public servant something you wouldn't know anything about."
"You follow whatever the dictatorship of the masses says and what if they go against their own best interest. They throw out a system that has taken care of their every need and for what? Liberty… freedom? Liberty is an ideal and freedom another name for anarchy. We need to go back to where we were before. I thought you would understand that."
Well, my dear Comrade Topo you thought wrong. But thank you, you've given me something to work with. I think were done here for today."
"You're lying. I didn't tell you anything. You're trying to trick me," said Viktor as he stared back at Igor search in his eyes for a sign he was lying.
"You can stare as much as you like but you helped me when you said you delivered that file. I know when the file was accessed and so I have to give you time to download. When they brought you in you had a bag with a tea cake in it from the tearoom across the square from where you worked. Your coat was damp when they brought you in so you went out when it was sprinkling before it started pouring down. You know what all that tells me?"
"I haven't got a clue but I'm sure you'll tell me."
"You met your contact and passed the file off to him or her in the tearoom across from your workplace. Now all I have to do is review the security camera footage to find who came in or out around the time you were there. With any luck, there'll be one more of your co-conspirators locked up by this time tomorrow."
"k chertu, go to the devil."
"I probably will one of these days. Guards take him back to his cell and post a watch on him. His friends might come looking for him to keep him quiet and thanks again."