Don't own Chuck
Sarah received the call from Ellie so she flew home parking two blocks away then walked over. As soon as she saw the car parked across the street she took her Smith & Wesson out of her bag then removed her high heels. The sidewalk felt cold and moist under her feet but now she could walk silently up to the car. She was almost up on it when she noticed the window was down and the men inside were slumped over.
"What they…" said Sarah as a familiar figure came out of the shadows. "You could've had Ellie tell me the threat had been neutralized or the men in the car were room temperature."
"Now where would the fun in that have been," said Mary as Sarah put away her weapon. "Do you want me to hold your bag," she said as Sarah put her shoes back on.
"Bo, I've got this. I guess everyone is going into a panic inside because I brought all this on them," said Sarah as she looked across the street at the lights on inside. "They might even be right."
"Nonsense, what you don't know is there was a security breach at Chicago memorial today. The archives were accessed and some data was destroyed. I think if we check these two were responsible for that. I found these on them," said Mary as she handed Sarah two security badges from a computer company.
"At least they aren't from Carmichael Industries, that would've been embarrassing. So, if what you're saying is true, they came here after the breach which means they found out that Ellie and Devon did some snooping for the General. And by the way, I only found out about that after it was done."
"Well, I think you need to pack everyone up and take them to a safe house because as you can see this house isn't safe."
"I can't leave right now I'm in the middle of something," said Sarah. She saw the look on Mary's face. "I'm here with Stefan, Chuck's friend from the SVR. The incident at the pier was because of him and his people. Someone is trying to erase what took place here and I need to talk to him to find out why."
"Then I'm going to take everyone back to L.A. and head for the cabin. It would be the safest place I know of and one we could easily defend if attacked."
"That's a good idea. There is one other thing I need to tell you," said Sarah then she paused. "I don't know if I should but…"
"Diane is looking for me and told you to report in if you saw me. I bet she also told you not to tell me she was looking for me."
"Something like that… but that's not just it. She has a photo of someone looking like you leaving Supermax after Shaw was assassinated. Don't say anything," said Sarah as she held up her hand. "I don't want to know because Chuck and I both told her the blurry image of the person in the photo didn't look a thing like you. Just see her and tell her you were out of country or anyplace she can't check."
"I don't understand why she's so concerned about a traitor. He got what he deserved and he'd been deserving it for a long time. No one touches my family and walks away."
"You won't hear any arguments from me on that. But If you take everyone and go, I don't have to know where you've taken them to," said Sarah. As they were talking her phone began ringing. She looked at the caller ID and it read Stefan.
"Hold that thought for a moment I need to take this," said Sarah as she answered her phone. "I think the City Major and the Police Commissioner would like to have a chat with you and your friends. … You want to talk. Okay, tell me where you are and I'll come to you. … What do you mean you're down the street from us?" said Sarah as she stepped out in the street and looked down. Lights from a white van with 'Wonder Bread' and a loaf of bread painted on the sides flashed. "Okay, I see you and I'm on my way," said Sarah as she hung up. She turned back to Mary. Change of plans we all might be leaving. I'll be right back."
"Oh no you don't, I'm coming with you," said Mary as she started to walk towards the van behind Sarah. "My son is involved and I want to know what's going on."
"Okay, I don't know how much you know this is a quick debrief. There are Satellite killers in space that the Russians lost control of and we think this Peter Petrovich has control of them now. He's holed up at a secret location somewhere between California and Nevada. Chuck and Imma are infiltrating Peter's base and we're gathering intel to help find this secret Mission Control Center," said Sarah as they walked down to the van. "Oh, and a last bit of trivia, their satellite killers are all nukes and if they all explode they can make the earth inhospitable for life."
"Sounds easy enough. So other than that, it's just a normal day in the office… easy peasy," said Mary as they walked down the street. Mary noticed movement in kitchen window next door. "Does that woman ever sleep?"
"I've wondered that too but as a sentinel you couldn't ask for better. By the way when you were inside did you see Sam's new jacket with Skully on the back? She insisted on getting it and there's a bag that matches. I don't want Sam to go EMO or Goth on me."
"I wouldn't worry about that," said Mary as she laughed. "Kids go through these phases today. I wouldn't put too much stock into it. It's Skully today. Tomorrow it will be something different like a tattoo."
"I draw the line on permanently scaring your body for a whimsical fling. You get some guys name tattooed on you and the week after you break up. What did you do? Have a line tattooed through it or find a guy with the same name?" said Sarah as she banged on the outside of the van.
"Don't be so inflexible. Smooth and easy like handling live ordinance," said Mary as the back of the van opened and Stefan hopped out. Once he was out he closed the door then banged on it whoever was in the driver's seat drove off. Stefan waved as the van disappeared into the night.
"So what have you got for us," said Sarah as Stefan was taken a little aback seeing Mary there. "Spit it out you people got me in trouble this evening. Tell me that it was worth it."
"What? Yes, it was. I hate to tell you this but we need to fly back to California then find a city called Primm. I googled it to find out where it was…"
"It's on the border with Nevada between Death Valley and the Mojave Desert," said Sarah. "That was the direction Chuck and Imma were heading to the last time they checked in."
"That's where Pytro Petrovich went. There was another agent that used to be a part of the team he disappeared there. Odo was his name and he mailed a postcard from there to one of the women on the team," said Stefan. Then he turned to Mary. "Hi, Mrs. Bartowski, it's a pleasure to meet you again."
"We were going to move everyone back to L.A. to a safe house anyway. But aren't you two afraid you'll blow Chuck's cover if you show up."
"It's a problem for Stefan because he's supposed to be dead," said Sarah as she looked the two of them over. Stefan seemed to get along with Mary which she found irritating. "Well let's take this inside before Ellie's next door neighbor calls the police and they find those two bodies in that sedan," said Sarah as she looked over at it.
"Two men in a what?" said Stefan as he looked around them at the car. "I know you've probably already checked them for IDs, and phones. But did you check their weapons?
"I've got their phones in my bag along with fake credentials they used to get into the hospital," said Mary. Stefan looked over at Sarah for intel.
"Yes, they broke into Chicago Memorial," said Sarah then she repeated what Mary had told her. "…that's why I'm taking everyone back to L.A. and on to the cabin. What's the concern about their weapons?"
"I've noticed all these guys are carrying Grach MP-443s. They were originally supposed to replace the Makarov as standard issue. But because there are so many Makarovs and the Graches aren't cheap, the Interior Minister decided to stick with the Makarovs. Only a few elite units got the Graches so if I can get a serial number off one of the weapons…"
"You can call Anatoly and have him run it. If you know the units these guys came from you'll be one step closer to cutting the head off the serpent."
"That's exactly what I was thinking."
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Yanko was running around his dacha gathering papers and throwing them into a fire he had burning in the fireplace. Every now and then he would stir the ashes to make sure nothing stayed intact. One last pass through the house and he was satisfied he'd destroyed everything compromising. He went to the door and yelled outside for his driver to come in.
"Mikhail grab my bags then let's hurry to the airport. I've a plane to catch," he said as took on last look at the dacha then shook his head and left. It hadn't taken long for word to get back to him that his team had failed in the hospital.
"Which terminal do I need to drop you off sir, domestic or international," asked Mikhail as he walked out with Yanko to his waiting car.
"International, I'm going to be out of town for a few days," said Yanko as he got in the back seat. But he knew it was going to be longer than a few days. He might not ever come back here again if things went south. But that was out of his control now and if he didn't get out of town soon there would be no escape for him.
"Mikhail, I hope you're never in my position. I made the hard choices for my friends and now they want to stone me for it."
"Sir, I don't think your friends want to stone you," said Mikhail as he started the engine and pulled out of the drive heading back towards town.
"Mikhail, you don't know my friends. They aren't exactly the most forgiving when things go wrong," he said as he looked out the window. "I'm going to miss this view."
"I thought you said you were only going to be gone for a few days. Things won't change here that quickly," said Mikhail as he drove towards the airport.
"That's what I used to think then came perestroika followed by glasnost which led to the Coup of August with the gang of eight and then the end… the end of everything. Well I did what I did and I always thought I was right but I'll leave that for history to decide." "I'm sure everything will work out all right," said Mikhail as a group of police cars with sirens blaring and lights flashing blew by them. Yanko crouched down in the seat as if they could see in through the tinted glass. "They're responding to an accident a few miles behind us," said Mikhail as he looked in the rearview to make sure they didn't turn around and they didn't. "I'm sure they are," said Mikhail. He felt his hands shaking so he took a bottle from the bar he had in the backseat and poured himself a vodka neat then downed it. Looking for a little liquid courage he downed another one. "Mikhail, after you drop me at the airport take a few days off… a sort of vacation. If you want to stay at the dacha you're more than welcome. Make yourself at home."
"Thank you, sir," said Mikhail as he continued driving. Soon he started seeing signs indicating they were getting near the airport. He glanced at his boss in the back looking out the window sweating like a pig. He understood exactly what this was. This was his getting while the getting was good.
There were no more sirens or lights and Mikhail got his boss to the airport in record time. Yanko had a good buzz going by the time they pulled up in front of the front doors. Security started to come over to tell them to move along when they noticed the license plates and stood down.
"Thank you, Mikhail," said Yanko as he got out of the car. Mikhail grabbed Yanko's bags then walked him up to the head of the line and sat them on the scale for his boss.
"Have a safe journey," said Mikhail. Yanko shook his hand then turned to the counter where he handed the man a fake passport. Before he got to the airport he'd switched out his passport for a fake one he had made for just an occasion as this. Mikhail disappeared as Yanko got his boarding pass. Yanko left the check-in counter and went to the security checkpoint.
"Well here goes nothing," said Yanko as he handed the border guard his fake passport along with his boarding pass. The man held the passport up by his head. His heart skipped a beat thinking that they were on to him.
"Thank you, have a good trip. Next in line passport and boarding pass, please," said the guard as he handed Yanko back his things then waved for him to move on.
"You need to calm down," he told himself. "Everything is going to be okay. You've passed all the security checks now you just need to get on the plane. Crap, how high is the temperature in this place," he said as he undid the top button on his shirt and loosened his tie.
"You need to find your gate and get some water. I can't believe they're allowed to keep the temperature this high," he said to himself as he started sweating through his shirt and jacket. He felt like he was leaking water through every pore of his skin.
"Water, I need water," he said as he went to the water fountain and gulped down as much water as he could. People were standing around looking at him.
"What? Haven't you ever seen a thirsty person before? Don't you feel the heat in here?" he said as he dapped his handkerchief in the water wiping his forehead down.
"Gate... where's my gate," he said as his eyesight came and went. Everything was blurry but somehow, he managed to find his gate. He staggered over and sat down slumping over to one side from exhaustion.
"What a lousy time to catch a cold," he said as he felt congestion building in his chest and he started coughing. "Warm weather and sunny beaches will take care of this."
"You look like you could use a drink," said a familiar voice. The General sat down next to him. "Would you like a drink," he said as he handed him what looked like the same bottle that was in his car. That was when everything became clear.
"You... you poisoned me. How could you," said Yanko as he tried to get up but he was too weak and collapsed back in his chair.
"Don't over exert yourself it will just make it worse and as for you question how could I… well you mean how could I not. Let's call this a little payback for what you did to our friends. Your team failed to take out Comrade Topo and now he's spilling his guts about everything. I don't know if I'll make it out of this in one piece but my one solace is I'll know you didn't."
"Screw you, I did what had to be done when not one of you had the attributes to do it," said Yanko as his voice thinned and his words came out as a hiss.
"Well that maybe so but I do have the attributes to punch your ticket to hell. You'll be meeting our friends soon and I hope they've got a good reception waiting for you."
"K chertu," said Yanko then he slumped backward with his mouth open. He made a gurgling sound. The General righted him then gave him a kiss on the forehead before he left.
"General," said his aide as he ran up to meet him. He held out his phone. "This is the team we sent to L.A. You wanted to talk to them."
"Yes, that's right," he said as he took the phone. "Listen up the Chicago team got themselves taken out. ... I know they were supposed to a bunch of old people. But remember they were one of us before. Anyway, I want you to proceed with assets you have. Take out everyone and destroy their command center. With that one down we'll have an easier time reassuming control of the satellites. ... Good, keep me informed. If you call me and I don't answer you continue on with your mission. Nothing is to stop you from your objective… I mean nothing. I've got to go."
"Sir we need to go they're boarding our plane now," said the General's aide as he motioned him to follow.
"Here this is for you," said the General as he handed his aide Yanko's boarding pass. "A seat just opened up in First Class."
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Igor was watching on the other side of a one-way mirror as Viktor spilled his guts. He was telling them everything he knew and enough for Igor to issue his first arrest warrants. He was listening in to the interrogation when Anatoly knocked then walked in.
"What is it," said Igor. Anatoly had a look on his face. "Don't tell me there was another attack against us? I'm going to start organizing a firing squad for the next people we round up. Maybe that will send a message they'll understand."
"No, it's nothing like that... well something like that. General Yanko was discovered in the air terminal dead. It looks like someone poisoned him. He had a false passport and was about to board a plane for Guatemala."
"He was always the nervous type. I guess he got spooked and ran but didn't run fast enough or far enough. Viktor has given us some interesting information some of what he's saying are things he's seen and some of it is what's heard."
"But isn't that hearsay? Can we use that," said Anatoly as he looked at Viktor through the glass. He couldn't get over that somehow Viktor looked smaller than he remembered him.
"This isn't the States. Shush, what is he talking about now," said Igor as he turned up the gain on the mic from the interrogation room.
"…Some material was bought locally and some had to be shipped in. There was a request for enriched uranium and the courier was picked up as he entered the States. The Americans blamed us for shipping material to build a bomb with and we denied it because no one but us knew that we actually had shipped it. But the funny part is it wasn't for a bomb it was for a nuclear reactor we were building..."
"Crap I remember that. I lost a lot of credibility over that," said Igor as he went over to the intercom. "Ask Viktor were this reactor is," said Igor as he held the talk button down.
"I'm sorry I don't know. The way we operated was in cells and each cell only knew enough to do whatever task they were given. It was like pyramid and the higher up you went the more you knew. I know more because as a courier sometimes you hear people say things."
"Can you give us an example," asked the interrogator. Viktor was talking and he didn't want him to stop or lose momentum.
"Yeah, I heard there was an accident... a plane crash that took out the top level of our pyramid… our organization. They were the ones who knew where the city was and how to contact Pytro Petrovich. With them gone we didn't know where Petro was or how to communicate with him so we lost contact until now."
"And the years passed by with no contact that made Pytro think he'd been forgotten or that the project had been abandoned," said Anatoly. "He probable became very bitter being shelved like that. He was stuck with no place to go except stay where he was until he died."
"Which festered in his son who decided to send a broadside at his father's ex-comrades to tell them they were still alive and well."
"But what does he hope to get out of this," said Anatoly as he looked over at Igor staring at Viktor through the glass.
"That we go back to operating the way we used to and by default institute a state like what we used to have because that's all we know how to do." As they were talking Anatoly's phone started ringing.
"This is Stefan. We should pass this information onto him," said Anatoly as he started to answer but Igor grabbed his phone.
"No, we say nothing about the reactor or enriched uranium. The Americans will accuse us again of trying to build a nuclear device in their country and they'll be right. They'll use this against us in the next round of talks. If they discover it on their own then we can deny we know anything about it and they'll have to agree so we don't lose anything. Plus, I get to keep my job. Now answer Stefan and find out what he wants."