24
THE FOLLOWING TAKES PLACE
BETWEEN 7:00 P.M. AND 8:00 P.M.
COUNTER TERRORIST UNIT
Through the main doors at CTU, she entered. Walking gracefully toward the center of the main floor, she continued looking for her husband, but still, no luck. It was at this moment that Gael saw her, and came over to see her.
"Michelle; welcome back." Gael shakes her trembling hand with a smile.
"Gael, nice to see you. Have you seen Tony around? I thought he would be waiting for me outside."
Gael seemed troubled by this news. "You mean you didn't see him outside?"
"No...why?"
Gael was reluctant to give Michelle the news, but felt that he had the obligation to tell her. "Michelle, Tony put me in charge of CTU for a while; he said he would be outside, waiting for you."
"What?" Now Michelle seems to panic. "Well, where is he?"
"I don't kno-"
Michelle breaks down, "Listen up, everybody. My husband is missing and I want him found. I want a complete sweep of the building, both inside and outside." The entire place now stares at the scene, Michelle and Gael standing there in the center. From up top, Chloe and Simon stop their work to look down upon the scene, while Jack steps out of his office. "There is to be no communciation with anyone until he is found. Let's go!"
Jack shakes his head from above and quickly runs down the stairs, toward Michelle. "Michelle, what's going on? You can't just pull all of our resources at once! The country is about to be attacked!"
"Attacked? What do you mean? What's going on?" Gael and Jack exchange looks of confusion. Michelle stares at them, knowing something is wrong.
"Michelle," it's Jack who speaks. "Chemical weaponry is going to be delivered somewhere in the United States today, and we believe the weapons will be landing in Los Angeles in the next few hours. If this chemical were to be released into the air, it will turn out to be a global disaster."
The entire CTU is now looking over at the scene of three people, waiting for a command.
Michelle is now silent.
Jack takes over. "Listen up, everyone. As you just heard, Tony Almeida is missing. The one thing we need to worry about now is not getting Division involved. If they hear about this, they'll have us lockdown in minutes and we can't let that happen; not today. Therefore, all outgoing communications are banned until further notice, on my orders. If you have any problems, come talk to me. Thank you."
Jack re-focuses his attention to Michelle. "Don't worry, we'll find him."
Michelle begins to cry in fear of what has just happened.
Jack pulls Gael aside. "Gael, I want you to supervise the security team; check all security cameras both inside and outside the building, starting with ten minutes ago. If you find anything, call me."
Gael nods, then runs off. Jack walks toward Simon, who seems to be waiting for him. "What's up, Jack?"
"This isn't the time. Simon, I want you to call my daughter, tell her we need her to come in now."
"But Jack, she won't"
Jack cuts him off, "Just do it!"
Jack walks away from his desk and walks to the stairs. Quickly, he runs up them, the echo of his shoes clattering on the steps. As he enters his office, Chloe approaches. "Jack, have you seen Chase lately?"
Jack looks at Chloe, then looks around CTU. "No...no I haven't, why? Do you know where he is?"
"No, he left about ten minutes ago, said he was going outside for a second, he never came back in."
Jack keeps a still face for a moment before erupting, "Son of a b!tch!"
Jack runs into his office; Chloe follows. "Jack, what's wrong?"
"We now have two people on our missing list, what the hell is going on here?"
"I don't know, Jack."
Jack picks up the phone and dials.
"Hello?" The sound of a deep male voice, that of Simon's.
"Simon, it's Jack. Did you call Kim yet?"
"No, I was just about to, why?"
"Because Chase Edmunds is missing, too."
The news comes to a surprise to him, "Jack, what's happening here?"
"I don't know."
Really, no one knew.
The car zoomed down the highway, going at a speed of 70 m.p.h.
Inside, Jason sat shaking, the gun still hidden behind his back. It was then that he realized that he was going to have to find a way to tell his parents that his aunt, his relative, possessed a gun for an unknown reason.
Lori looked over to him and smiled. He tried to smile back, but failed miserably.
"We'll be at your house in no time..." Lori said.
No time, Jason thought. He hoped she really meant it.
7:03:48
Kim Bauer sat on her couch, alone. She sat quietly. The sound of the ringing of the phone startled her. She picked it up.
"Hello?"
"Kim...it's Simon calling from CTU. Look, before you hang up, I need to tell you:" he struggled for a moment to say it; finally, "Both Tony Almeida and Chase Edmunds are missing." Again he stops for a reaction. He finds none. "Your father wanted me to call you. Kim, we really need you here at CTU. We're in the middle of a crisis, please; come."
Kim dropped the phone onto the floor, still showing no sign of expression or emotion, only trying to comprehend the words she had just heard.
"Hello? Kim? Kim? Hello?"
The entire hallway surrounded by Secret Service, President Palmer alongside Jenny Dodge walked together toward the doors that would take them to the dark outside.
"We have no other choice, Jenny. This is our only lead into this case."
Bill comes alongside the two of them as they stop by the revolving doors.
Palmer speaks again, "Jenny; Bill will come with you for Ms. Moore. Remember what we talked about: make sure you watch her closely."
"We will, sir." Bill said.
"Good. I'll see you in a couple of minutes."
Secret Service now escorted Palmer through the doors and outside, where a limousine was waiting. He entered, and found Alicia already inside waiting for him. Unwanting to reveal any information to her, he remained quiet.
The door to the limo closed, with Alicia remaining silent.
And this was all the President could ask for, at least until Robbie met with his source.
Jack Bauer sat alone in his office, trying to put a meaning to what had happened in the past hour. While struggling to swallow, he grabbed a water bottle sitting on his desk and brought it to his dry, quivering lips. He gulped down about a quarter of the bottle in seconds. The phone rang in its normal CTU style. After waiting for it to ring a second time, Jack picked it up and answered, "Bauer."
"Jack." A voice he recognized easily. It was that of President Palmer's.
"Mr. President. How can I help you?"
"Jack, I need your help. We were just informed of a possible lead into the case. I can't say anymore over the phone, but I would greatly appreciate if you would meet me at my location."
"What's this about, sir?"
"We received a call from a man claiming to have information on the possible chemical attack. He had very odd demands if I may say so. But you see, I'd like you to head a top-secret field op team for me, Jack. Because as you can already tell, it's going to be a long day."
Jack moved around in his seat, grasping for what to say or do. "Mr. President..." He thought about deserting his job, his friends. How could he leave Tony alone? Chase alone? They were in trouble, and yet, Jack was leaving them. "I'd be honored."
7:06:39
The car slowing as it pulled into the driveway, Jason became anxious about his parents. He looked over to his aunt as she put the car into park and turned off the ignition. The driveway and street in front of the house was filled with cars. Jason stared at his house, it was actually more like a mansion. Glass windows stretched across the front of the gigantic structure, and gardens filled the empty space in front of the house.
Jason slowly exited the car, and as he did, he slowly slipped the gun back into the drawer under the seat, as Lori got out to stretch her legs. Successfully reconcealing the weapon, he smiled at his aunt, the one he thought he knew so well, and together, they began to walk toward the front door.
The sound of Lori's heels clattering, the sound of evening birds chirping, and the sound of the light music inside of the house were all heard as Lori led Jason into his own living quarters. As they entered, Jason's mother saw them first from down the dark hallway.
"Jason!" she exclaimed as she came running over to him, kissing him on the head several times. Jason was ready to vomit.
His mother turned her attention to Lori, and they gave a very sisterly kiss.
As the chatter began, Jason was happy to be home, but at the same time, nervous for what might happen next.
Stirring, Tony Almeida began to regain consciousness. He blinked several times before realizing that he was still in the trunk of the car. But he couldn't remember what had happened. The sound of a male voice brought him back to reality.
Chase Edmunds was on the phone, "Yeah, he'll be there soon. Everything's going according to plan..."
Tony remained silent as he waited for him to speak again.
"Yes, I understand, sir."
Tony didn't want to move, nor could he because his hands were tied behind his back. He didn't want to speak with that traitor, nor look at him.
The only thing he could think about was Michelle, alone; all he wanted was Michelle, because he loved her.
A tear formed in his left eye.
A single tear, and not one more.
Michelle couldn't take it anymore. At her desk in CTU, the tears were too much. What good would sitting around here do when her husband was missing?
"Michelle."
It was the voice of Jack.
"Michelle, I'm leaving for a couple of hours to help in an investigation for the President. I'll be back later."
Without saying anymore, he started walking toward the main doorway, briefcase in hand.
This came as a shock to Michelle. Jack was leaving her, leaving Tony. He didn't care what happened; he had more important things to do. The thought continued flowing in her head until she made up her mind: she opened the drawer of her desk and pulled out a gun, stuffing it into her handbag. Getting up from her chair, she passed Gael.
"You're in charge."
Saying no more, she following in Jack's footsteps out the doors of CTU. She was going to find her husband, she didn't know how, but she did know that she was going to try. Somehow, someway, she would. For right now, though, all she wanted to do was leave CTU, the place that had always caused her so much grief.
7:09:53
7:09:54
7:09:55
====================
7:14:08
7:14:09
7:14:10
The anger in veins continued to grow. Tony was so angry that his face was red with rage and his fists crunched down together. In the front of the car, Chase slowed to a stop and put the car into park. Tony didn't know what was about to happen, and quite frankly, he didn't want to know. Chase unlocked the door and got out of the car. Wearing a brown jacket with a blue dress shirt underneath and casual blue jeans, he looked anything but a CTU agent. Walking to the back of the car in what appeared to be no rush, he reached the door to the trunk. With one hand, he turned the latch to the Ford Expedition and the door slowly opened.
There was a moment of silence in which Chase and Tony exchanged looks, then Tony interrupted the deadly silence. "What the hell are you doing, Chase?"
And then came the answers, one which Tony never expected to hear. "Please, Tony. Don't make this any harder than it has to be."
Tony felt a touch of sympathy in his voice, but looked up to his face. It was as normal as ever, and yet, something about it seemed strange.
Tony laid sideways on the floor of the trunk and back seat of the truck. With his hands bound behind his back, there was little he could do to try and escape, and he felt dizzy because of being beaten by Chase. He also felt embarassed and sick to his stomach all because he was beaten up by a man younger, less mature, and less stronger than he.
Chase remained still in front of him, staring at Tony with a fixed gaze. Finally, it ended when he reached to the side of the trunk and pulled out a roll of duct tape.
Tony could only guess what would go down next.
Gael was working at his desk when Chloe came running over.
"Gael, Division just called. They're looking for Tony. What should I tell them?"
Gael, now the ranking agent on site, had to come to a decision. "Tell them he's not availabe right now."
"But Gael, shouldn't we let them know what's going on?" Chloe was a kind of stick to the rule book person.
"No, Chloe, because if they find out, they'll be in our face for the entirety of this crisis."
"But Gael, we're going to have to tell them eventually."
It was at this point that he lost his patience. "Just follow the chain of command Chloe. If Chappelle comes over here, the crisis will only intensify. So tell them he's not available."
Chloe looked at Gael suspiciously, then walked away.
Gael began working again when the phone rang. He picked it up quickly.
"Ortega."
"Gael, it's Don. We have something we think you need to see."
"Alright...I'll be right down."
Gael slammed down the phone and threw his pen to the back of the desk.
A large set of metal doors opened slowly and Robbie Lohse walked through into the halls of the Military Operations Center. He nodded to other officers passing by, and continued walking down the hall. The walls were painted a yellowish kind of color, with American symbols and such every now and then.
Soon, Robbie reached a second metal doorway. As he approached, it opened automatically. Inside, a lone lightbulb lit up the small room and already seated waiting for him was a military officer.
General Andrew Hadley sat straight up in his seat, professionally awaiting the arrival of the director of NSA.
"Robbie, please, be seated. We have much to discuss."
7:17:12
Gael turned the doorknob and opened the CTU Security Room door. He walked through and saw Don already waiting for him, seated in a swivel chair in front of many screens. One particular one was paused on a frame, while the rest were live feeds.
"Don, you said you found something?"
"Yeah, take a look at this."
Pressing a few keys, the main screen started moving. It was the security camera from outside, and it now showed Tony standing around waiting for Michelle. Gael watched with his arms folded, watching the screen carefully. Moments later, they watched in horror as a man came up to Tony and literally punched his guts out.
Gael, now fascinated with what was going on, watched the mysterious man drag Tony's body toward a truck.
"When was this taken?"
"About twenty minutes ago," Don replied. "In the CTU Parking Lot."
Gael still had another thing on his mind, "Who's the man attacking him?"
With a short tap on the keyboard, the image zoomed in to the face of the man now dragging Tony's body: Chase Edmunds.
Gael couldn't believe what he was seeing. "Oh my god..."
There was an eerie type of silence for a few seconds before Don spoke again, "Gael, we have to let Division know about what has just happened. I suggest that you call them."
"No," Gael interrupted. "It's like Jack said, if we let them know, they'll be on us for the rest of the day."
It was obvious that Don didn't agree with him, but it was Gael that had the final say. After all, he was the ranking agent on site.
Michelle drove down the darkened streets of Los Angeles, desperate for any clues she might find. Having no luck thinking of any way to accomplish her task, she dug her cell phone out of her purse. Dialing some numbers, she put the phone to her ear.
"CTU, Richter."
"Simon, it's Michelle."
"Michelle, where are you?"
Michelle turned the steering wheel and the car headed left. "I'm out in the field trying to help my husband. Listen, Simon, are there any leads coming in right now that have to do with the terrorist threat. Anything at all?" Michelle stopped, hoping for a good response.
Simon turned his head to see Gael walking towards him from across the floor. "Yeah, Jack said he was attacked by these men trying to kill him. You could go down there."
It seemed that Michelle had no choice, "Fine, what's the address?"
Simon had to look at his computer screen for this information. "The intersection of Main and Immis."
"Alright, thanks Simon."
Gael now approached Simon's work station. "Give me the phone."
He breathed heavily, but finally put the phone to his ear. "Michelle, it's Gael. I'm afraid I have some disturbing news."
Michelle didn't want to hear this. She had had enough bad news for one day. "What?"
"It's just been confirmed; Chase Edmunds kidnapped your husband."
The words raced through her ears. What she had just heard; it didn't make sense, and yet, Gael sounded serious.
Gael recognized the sense of silence and spoke up. "Michelle..." He tried to think of something comforting to say, but failed. He wasn't Tony, the guy who had always helped Michelle through all those hard times. But now, she was alone, away from the man she loved.
Gael lowered the phone as the other end went dead.
7:19:50
Kim Bauer walked through the doors of CTU and into the main floor. Gael, busy looking over Simon's shoulder, didn't notice her entrance, nor did anyone else. She stopped for a moment to take a quick look around, finding agents she hadn't seen in quite a long while.
Regaining her composure, she started walking again up to where Gael stood.
"Gael."
Gael turned around and saw the short blond woman standing there before him. "Kim...glad you could make it." He tried not to give away any signs of what had just happened.
"Where's Chase? I heard he was missing."
Gael turned to Simon, sitting next to him. He turned back, "Who told you this?"
Kim leaned over to face Simon. She nodded his way and smiled.
Gael realized he was beaten. "Kim..." How could he say this? "Kim, Chase is missing because he kidnapped Tony Almeida."
Kim was astonished.
More bad news, and yet more unbelieved faces.
"Explain to me Andrew. How did you find out about Alicia's involvement with Kopin Institutes?"
The voice of Robbie Lohse was prevalent throughout the small room.
"Robbie..." he began. "Before I became a general for the United States Army, I worked for a small security company. One day, there was a threat of a chemical leak in one of the Institutes factories. I was called in to make sure that the place was properly locked down. I entered the building and found inside a woman who was hiding inside one of the equipment rooms. When I found her there, she was..." he pauses for a moment. "She was literally collecting many crates of some sort. Actually, inside of them, were chemicals. I asked her what she was doing in there, she responded by saying she was examining each one of the crates for a..." Robbie looks up to him at this moment. "leak."
"Now if you get my drift, Robbie, this woman wasn't checking for leaks...She was trying to steal the chemicals from onsite."
General Hadley stopped speaking for a moment to clear his throat. "Mr. Lohse, I asked for her ID and she gave it to me. Her name was Alicia Donaldson and she was a chemist technician for this company."
Inside, Robbie knew he had succeeded in bringing down Alicia. All he had to do now was alert the President and she would be gone.
Chase, now standing outside the car, had his cell phone to his ear. It rang several times before it was picked up at the other end.
"I'm going inside now."
The voice on the other end responded, "Very good. Remember, Chase, this operation now rests on your shoulders. Good luck."
"Thank you, Mr. President."
On the other end of the phone, David Palmer closed his cell phone, put it back into his pocket, and walked down a hallway to meet up with Secret Service.
7:22:45
7:22:46
7:22:47
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7:26:31
7:26:32
7:26:33
"Mr. Bauer."
Secret Service called out his name; Jack wasn't paying attention.
"Mr. Bauer."
Agent Aaron Pierce spoke another, finally snapping Jack out of his short-lived daydream.
"Yeah?"
"You're free to go." He then speaks something into his walkie-talkie. "Please open the doors for Agent Jack Bauer."
The voice on the other end obviously heard him, and before long, a large set of metal doors began opening, revealing a hallway leading downwards from the outside.
With a final nod to Secret Service, he took off down the rather dark corridor to meet the President.
"Miss Moore."
Adrian Moore turned around only to see Secret Service, and two other people standing around her.
"Miss Moore, I'm Jenny Dodge, this is Bill Lawton."
Adrian looked at the party of people standing before her. "What do you want?"
Bill spoke this time. "We've decided to let you come see the President."
Adrian wasn't expecting this, and her face showed it. "President Palmer, would like to see me?"
Jenny looked up to Bill and then spoke. "Yes, the President would like to meet with you. Now."
Adrian smiled. "What caused the sudden change of mind?"
Once again, they were reluctant to respond. "Miss Moore, if you would like to speak with the President, please, just follow me."
Sensing another press trap, Adrian was about to call for help. But then, that want for fame kicked in, and it wasn't long before Adrian answered. "Let's go."
Jenny nodded to Secret Service and together, they walked out of the press room.
7:28:00
Nicole Palmer sat against the wall, bored, and at the same time, fearing for her life. Maurice sat on the other side of the room, feeling the same way.
Suddenly, talking began to arise outside of the dark room. For the first time in an hour, a level of noise could be heard clearly through the locked door.
Nicole looked over at Maurice, and he looked back at her. Outside, they heard a deep male voice, one they hadn't heard before, speak:
"So where are they, those black sons-of-b!tches."
Soon after, they heard another voice speak, obvioulsy Rob's. "They're here. You've got the agent?"
The unfamiliar voice spoke once again. "Yeah, he's in my car."
A clicking sound meant the opening of the door to where Nicole and Maurice were sitting. The knob turned and Rob walked through, behind him was another man, one they had never seen before.
Chase Edmunds walked into the room and looked at the poor teenagers sitting alone in the scanky, dim-lit room. Even the smell was atrocious.
"Let's see Almeida, Edmunds," Rob beckoned.
Chase looked at Nicole and stared into he eyes. Nicole stared back, but there was something different about this man that she couldn't quite grasp. He seemed different than the other white men, and at the same time, there was a strange feeling present in his eyes.
"Edmunds. Let's see Almeida."
Chase cut back his gaze. "Yeah...sure."
Rob led the way out of the disgusting room, with Chase bringing up the rear. With a quick glance back toward Nicole, he closed the door behind him.
Placing a key inside the lock, he turned it so a small clicking sound was heard.
A lightbulb sprang up in Nicole's mind at the sound of the click. What she had seen in the new man's eyes was real and true.
It was a feeling of hope.
MILITARY OPERATIONS COMPLEX LOS ANGELES 7:29:08
Walking rather professionally, Jack Bauer continued down the crowded halls of the large, underground complex that was unknown to the citizens of the city. Only few knew about this underground masterpiece, mostly for security reasons.
Inside one of the conference rooms, President David Palmer sat in silence waiting for the man he would trust with his life. On such a day as this, a day that was supposed to be joyous in the wake of his very own birthday, things could not be going worse.
A knock on the door signaled that the person he was waiting for had finally arrived.
"Come in, Jack," the President said loudly so that Jack could hear him from outside the room.
With a turn of the knob, the door opened revealing Jack Bauer's emerging figure. "Mr. President. It's good to see you again, sir."
President Palmer rose and greeted his visitor with a handshake and a smile. "Jack, I'm glad you're here. Please, have a seat."
"Thank you, sir." It took Jack almost no time at all to pull out an empty chair and sit himself down in it. There was then an awkward moment of silence before the President broke it with his deep voice.
"Jack, the reason I have called you here tonight is to help me. You see, about 45 minutes ago, we received an anoymous phone call from a man who claimed to have information regarding the possible terrorist attack. But his demands for his information were very odd."
"What were they, sir?" Jack asked curiously.
"He asked for me to accept a member of the press into my inner circle; a woman by the name of Adrian Moore."
Deep within himself, Jack could not understand this demand. It didn't make sense to him, nor to anyone else.
"And did you agree to this demand?" Jack asked.
"...yes," was the answer the President gave. "Jack...this is the reason you are here. I have selected three others to go along with you on the mission I am about to ask you to lead." He paused for a moment to give Jack the time to comprehend. "We were able to determine roughly the area from where the phone call was made from. It is an apartment complex in the center of Los Angeles on the intersection of Third and Davenport. You are to lead the small team to this building and find the man who made this call. Our sources show that this is a largely empty building; in other words, very worn out."
"But Mr. President...how will we be sure which man made the call?"
President Palmer took a deep breath and thought about the question. He had to answer it truthfully.
"We won't know. One mistake may have to be made to save others."
The next question was obvious from Jack, "How far are we allowed to go in interrogation."
This question Palmer was already prepared to answer.
"As far as it takes."
Jack argued back, "Mr. President, what if--"
"As far as it takes."
The conversation had now officially ended.
7:31:35
Out on the dark streets of Los Angeles, Chase Edmunds led Rob and two other men toward a truck in the distance. They all walked silently, and the dead of night provided no relief to the grim picture. A single bird flew overhead, crowed one time, and continued flying toward the north.
As the four men finally reached the truck, Chase pulled out of his pocket a pair of keys and hit one of the buttons. Chase stopped in his tracks as the two men beside Rob moved past Chase until he put up his hands.
"Wait."
Rob smiled and moved closer to Chase. "What's wrong, Edmunds?"
"You still haven't told me why you need Almeida."
There was a moment of silence before Rob spoke up, "Don't worry...you'll find out soon."
Chase still stood straight and firm, and finally, let his hands fall to the ground.
Rob smiled to the two men next to Chase. He motioned them to open up the trunk of the car. Passing Chase, they walked to the rear of the vehicle before popping open the door of the trunk. Chase turned around, as Rob watched in the background, as the two men pulled out the limp and bloody body of Tony Almeida. He was still alive, that could be seen, but his body remained covered in scars easily seen through the poorly lit street. He had been gagged and blindfolded, and was being held standing by the two men.
Rob smiled in pleasure of the pathetic sight. "Get him inside."
With only a slight moan coming from Tony, he was led easily away and back away from the car. Rob followed the trio, lastly followed by Chase.
As the face of Chase Edmunds became visible, it was clear that Chase was disgusted with what was happening.
Before beginning to walk away following the others, he proceeded to say three words that proved something:
"God help me."
"Agent Dessler."
Michelle turned around to face a tall, rather skinny blond haired male wearing a CTU Forensics jacket.
"Yeah?"
"We've identified the men and here are their bios." He handed Michelle a pocket folder and she opened it.
"What the hell?"
She showed him the inside of the folder, showing only the pictures of the various men, and very few words. "Where the hell are all their files?"
"That's the thing. Their files...they all don't exist."
"What? That's absurd. How could they not appear?"
"Somebody deleted them."
The answer came like that. A crash to the head. "Oh my god."
She began looking around the alleyway where Jack had been ambushed one hour ago. CTU inhabited the area. Michelle began to gaze off from reality until the agent brought her back to reality.
"Mrs. Dessler. Do you know who could have erased these bios?"
Michelle immediately knew the answer, but something deep down inside told her there was more to this case than meets the eye...
Gael walked down the deserted hallway of CTU and into the main floor. People were all gathered the main staircase waiting for Gael, and a path was already made to let him get through.
Visible in the crowd were Kim, Simon, Chloe, as well as numerous others. Gael reached the stairs and immediately began:
"Thank you all for assembling so fast. We've just learnt from NSA that we now have a lead on today's possible terrorist attacks. The chemical weaponry that is set to arrive somewhere around Los Angeles tonight has been manufactured at a warehouse in central L.A.: Kopin Institutes. We've been put in charge of raiding the factory to seize any leads that may be waiting inside. I'll be leading the team there, since..." He stopped there because he already knew that everyone else was well aware of what had happened in the last 90 minutes. "We'll be leaving immediately. You are now all to report directly to Chloe O'Brien. A reminder: we are still staying away from Division; if anyone gets a call from anyone there, tell them anything: just whatever you do, don't mention anything about Tony Almeida. And that's an order. Let's go."
Gael jumped down from the stairs as the crowd began walking away.
Chloe watched as Gael walked out of the main floor and out of CTU.
Turning her head around away from the entrance and exit, her attention became focused upon the phone that sat upon a desk right in front of where Chloe O'Brien stood.
Michelle Dessler was preparing to leave the alleyway as she began walking to her parked car in the distance. Before she could do so, she heard the faint, distant noise of something dropping to the ground. She looked up to the top of the buildings above where she thought she saw the faint outline of a person watching the entire scene progress from high above.
She pulled out the handgun from her purse and made sure it was loaded.
7:35:46
7:35:47
7:35:48
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7:40:01
7:40:02
7:40:03
Jason Bulger moved through his house toward the door that led outside to where all of his parents friends had been. As he reached the door, he began to debate again how he would tell his parents about the gun he had found in his aunt's car. He still couldn't believe it was happening; his family was about to be torn apart, this he knew.
Finally, he pulled open the glass door and stepped outside into the quite noisy backyard of his. Complete with a large patio that stretched the yard from both sides, it had an in-ground pool where kids were playing their childish games. He looked over to the main area of the patio where all the adults sat, chatting and talking up a storm.
The night held a strange aroma to it, one Jason had never smelt before. The stars above shone brighter than he could ever imagine in his life, and the sound of coyotes echoed in the distance.
Stepping closer to where his parents sat, Jason was about to call them aside when he saw her:
Samantha Thompson had her feet in the pool, wearing an attractive bikini. Sam by her friends, she was one of those girls who had everything she needed in life: friends, a good family, and money. Lots of money.
Jason stared at her with a glint in his eyes that yearned for her. She soon caught sight of his staring, and rose to stand. She began walking over to him, smiling the entire time. The blond-haired, rather tall and slim young woman was coming to see him.
"Hi Jay," she said simply.
Jason tried to say something back, preferably something more mature, but all that came out was, "Hey Sam."
Without reluctance, she grabbed his hand and smiled. "I'm glad you're finally back."
Jason still couldn't find anything to say, and whatever was just on his mind, he had forgotten.
Jack and Palmer were now joined by three other men. All three had the look of a tough agent type, but Jack had already found out that they had all been close friends of Palmer for a while.
"There's a helicopter waiting for you. It will be departing immediately for your location. Good luck, gentlemen."
They all responded with a, "yes sir."
As the three men led the way out of the room, President Palmer motioned to Jack to stay behind. "Jack...a quick word, please."
As the door closed on them, Jack stepped back into the room, "What is it, sir."
"You're to keep this assignment and its details in closed contact, meaning I don't want CTU to know what is going on. You are to keep out of contact with them."
Jack could not believe what he was hearing, "But sir, CTU has the necessary equipment and personnel to help this mission, so why not--"
"We've learnt that there may be a mole inside the government."
Jack looked up at the taller man, and was shocked by this information. "What?"
"The phone call we received; they warned that they would know if we disobeyed." Palmer put his head down.
There was nothing for Jack to say, and instead of saying something regrettable, he quietly turned to face the door, and turned the knob to reveal the busy hallway outside.
7:42:47
Palmer watched as Jack closed the door and place the fate of Los Angeles in his hands. Soon after he had left, there came another knock on the door as Robbie entered.
"Robbie, how did your meeting go with your source?"
"Mr. President, I can now confirm for you that Alicia cannot be trusted."
The President remained silent for a moment, and walked around the room for a moment before responding to the statement. "Tell her to come to my office immediately."
"I will sir...if anyone can find her."
Palmer turned his head to face the elderly director of NSA and said, "What do you mean? Are you telling me that she has just disappeared?"
"Yes, sir. She's gone."
Palmer slammed his body into a seat and pounded his already beaten fists into the table. "Damnit!"
Robbie understood his frustration and seated himself down opposite the President. "Don't worry, sir...we're doing our best to find her."
Palmer looked back at the man, then gazed past him, again staring off into space.
The noise was greater than ever from outside the room, and Nicole Palmer and Maurice sat huddled close by each other in the dark room. They heard the sounds of someone being beaten brutally, and Nicole finally broke down again, not being able to withstand anything any longer.
"Nicole, what's wrong?" Maurice said solemnly to her.
"Oh, Maurice. We're so doomed."
Maurice felt this in his mind, but didn't let it show. "No...no, baby. We just gotta be strong and we'll get through this."
Nicole stopped crying and stared him in the eyes. "Do you really think that, Maurice? How can you think that when we've seen all the hatred in this country!? You've seen how our lives have disintegrated, and now we're about to die." She began crying again, and this time, nothing Maurice said would comfort her. "Just because we're black. Just because we have a different color of skin than the majority of people in this country. This country is supposed to be the land of opportunity, but the only opportunity this country offers is the opportunity to hate. History hasn't changed; it just hasn't. People think that racism is all gone, but it isn't. It's still around, more prevalent than ever. And to think of it...that my father, the President of the United States of America, has no control over any of this. He just sits in his office the entire day, signing laws into effect and attending important meetings about terrorism. But what the government doesn't realize is that besides terrorism and politics and all that other stuff in the news, there's our pathetic lives that no one takes into consideration. And it just makes me so mad to think that my father can't do anything about any of this. Sometimes, I hate him so much. I hate this country. I hate everything!"
Her head sank into Maurice's arms and the tears were more dominant than ever. The feeling of hatred, of anger, was spreading throughout her body.
They both looked up as the door suddenly opened and a man was thrown in, scars, blood, and bruises covering his skin.
Nicole and Maurice sat completely still in horror of the man who was now unconscious in front of them.
Tony Almeida's bloody body laid motionless in front of the two, blood pouring out onto the wet cement below.
7:45:31
Everyone's attention on the main floor of CTU was focused on the main doors, where Ryan Chappelle, with other Division keys, walking in all huddled together. Chloe waited in the center of the large room, head down, her shoulders slumping over with a look of sorrow upon her face.
"Chloe." Ryan Chappelle outstretched his hand for Chloe's, and she shook it back.
"Mr. Chappelle."
"Thank you for calling me, Chloe. I believe there may be a promotion in store for you."
Chloe goofly smiled at Chappelle before saying, "Thank you."
Ryan moved swiftly passed Chloe to face the crowd of workers looking on. Kim Bauer stood afar, wondering what was going on.
"I'm here because Agent Almeida is missing, if you haven't already heard. Agent Chase Edmunds is now a wanted criminal as well as Agent Ortega. We're dispatching a team to search for Edmunds and Almeida, and another team is already on its way to Kopin Institutes, where we will be placing Gael under arrest. Until then, CTU is now under lockdown procedure."
As Chappelle continues talking, Kim realizes what Chloe has done, and runs away from the scene.
Entering an adjacent hallway, she walks quickly to the women's bathroom and pushes the door open.
Inside, she checks around to make sure no one is around before taking out her cell phone and dialing her father's number. Even though she was angry at Jack for disrespecting her boyfriend, she had the responsibility being his daughter to inform him what was happening inside CTU.
Placing the phone to her ear, she listened to the tone ring several times. Finally, she got a static message.
"We're sorry. The number you are trying to reach is unavailable. Please hang up and try your call again."
Kim closes her phone and cannot believe that her father isn't available. It was true then.
He had deserted her.
Wanting to find Kim, Simon moved quickly through the halls of CTU, finally bumping into Kim as she walked out of the women's bathroom.
"Simon."
"Kim, do you believe this? Chloe betrayed us and she called in Division."
Kim looked the other way. "I know, Simon. It's just that Chloe lives by the books. She had the opportunity to do something right, and she chose to disobey orders. She should be the one facing arrest."
"Excuse me."
Simon and Kim both turned around to see the figure of Ryan Chappelle emerge from a corner.
"Simon, you're needed in Tech 1."
Smiling, Simon said to Chappelle, "Okay. Thanks."
As he turned away, he looked back at Kim as Chappelle approached her until he turned the corner and was gone.
"Kim, just the person I was looking for to answer my question: where's your father?"
"I'm not sure. He said he had some things to do."
"Yeah, so Kim, I would really appreciate the truth here."
Kim sighed. "Mr. Chappelle. Gael was only following orders. He isn't the one who should be facing charges!"
"Kim. That's enough. Look, I know that your father is missing and your boyfriend is a criminal to this country, but I need you to start telling me the truth."
That was enough to make Kim turn around. She began whimpering, struggling for the right words. "He's not a criminal. Chase must have some reason for doing what he did."
"A reason, huh? He kidnapped a federal agent, that's assault and a felony."
"I don't care what anyone says. I love him, and he's innocent."
Having no interest to continue the conversation, Kimberly Bauer walked maturely away, tears flowing down her warm face, wanting to know the real truth herself. It seemed like these days, everything was a secret, someone trying to complete an objective by keeping people out of the loop. Suddenly, it hit her like a ton of bricks, again.
She remembered her father, and the anger she felt towards him.
Not for the first time, he had deserted her.
She moved fiercely on top of the building, searching for that person she knew she saw.
Michelle Dessler cocked her gun and reached the door that led out to the roof. Kicking it open, she pointed her gun immediately, alertness finally kicking in.
Sensing no immediate danger, she moved slowly out into the chilly night.
Still seeing no signs of movement, she darted outwards to the center of the roof and called out, "Whoever is up here, get down on the ground, I'm a federal agent."
Still, nothing.
She then proceeded to illuminate her flashlight.
Carefully moving it around the top of the building, she still saw nothing.
It finally hit her, here and now.
There never was anyone.
A woman moved down a hallway, opening the door at the end of it.
Inside, it was dark and quiet. But it wouldn't stay that way; this was for sure.
Something rested in her hand, and as she walked, her high heel shoes clonked against the floor below. Reaching the end of the relatively small room, she placed the device in her hands on the ground gently before hitting a button on it. She then picked it up and brought it over to where a small metal pipe stretched.
She locked it into place and a beeping sound began.
Knowing her mission was now accomplished, she slowly began her leave from the dark room.
As she passed a ray of light, her name tag glowed in the dark.
ALICIA DONALDSON
The woman with blond hair slowly left the room, passing by a sign embroided on the wall, reading: KOPIN INSTITUTES: LEVEL 1
7:49:44
7:49:45
7:49:46
====================
7:53:29
7:53:30
7:53:31
Its propeller swirling, the helicopter began its acsent back into the dark sky above.
Jack and his crew of three watched as it continued to ascend until it was covered with darkness and out of view.
On top of the building they were about to search, Jack and his team looked down to the streets below them. They were six stories up, not too high in a city like Los Angeles. As soon as the noise of the helicopter was distant, Jack shouted out to his three men,
"I want this entire place swept. Bruce, you're going with Jimmy. I want a complete seach of the rooftop, as well as floors four, five, and six. Greg, you're coming with me. We'll take the lower floors. Remember, no using any of your weapons unless you absolutely have to. We'll keep in contact through the radios; report any suspicious activity to me at once. Let's go."
Having said that, Jack cocked his gun, and led the younger agent to the door leading down.
The other two men went the opposite direction, searching for any signs of movement.
Distantly on Davenport Street, right where the view ended, a large sign read, "KOPIN INSTITUTES", illuminated by the glowing of lights on the busy street below.
In that distance from the apartment building where a team searched desperately for any leads they could find, Gael Ortega and a team of CTU agents stepped out of their vans and onto the grounds of Kopin Institutes. A man was walking over to them, short and bald. He had a security badge on his jacket, and he came right up to where Gael stood.
"Agent Ortega, correct?"
"Yeah, look, we're going to need to search the entire factory."
"That's fine. Although I must warn you; there's just been a security breach."
Gael widened his eyes. "What?"
"About 10 minutes ago. Someone broke through security. We evacuated the building."
"That's probably a good idea."
Gael walked away from the man and up to his team of about 10 men. "Listen up, we need to be extra cautious, we've just learnt that there has been a security breach. I want this building swept, let's go."
Gael motioned his hand and his team prepared their guns and ran off into the darkness beyond.
7:54:38
"Mr. President. We've just finished examining one of the chemical missiles and the news is grim."
Colonel Julie Bender, speaking to the President via a computer screen inside of the conference room, took a moment to gather her notes before speaking to President Palmer and his chief-of-staff, Bill Lawton, who sat patiently around a table.
"Go on, Julie."
"Mr. President. If this chemical were to be released into the atmosphere via a missile or other device, we'd be talking about millions of casulties."
"Millions?"
The word echoed through his mind. Millions. How could that be possible, he thought to himself.
Bill looked just as grim, sensing there was no hope, but he was the one who spoke next. "But we don't know if whoever that has possession of these weapons is planning to use them. All we know is that they are going to be delivered somewhere inside the United States tonight, and we need to focus upon intercepting them before they fall into the wrong hands."
The room remained in silence until Palmer spoke again, "Ok, Julie, let me know what else you find. We'll talk with you later."
"Thank you, Mr. President."
The screen went black. Bill looked over to Palmer, and Palmer did the same.
"David...I know that we need to focus on the situation but," he paused for a moment, "Ms. Moore wants to have a meeting with you."
Palmer sighed, for he didn't know how else to react. "If we don't give in to all of her demands, then the man might not give us all we ask for. Bill, we need this information as soon as possible."
"But Mr. President! How could you buy into these demands? They're as strange as anything. So if you want to know what I think...I think that there is more to this than meets the eye."
"What?" Palmer did not understand what he was referring to.
"Another conspiracy to take down your Presidency."
Palmer slammed down his fists and closed his eyes. He couldn't believe what he was hearing, it couldn't be true. Not again.
"Damnit!" was all he could say.
Bill stared at him as he thought what his options were. But he then realized he only had one.
"Tell Jenny," he stated boldly, "to set up a meeting with Ms. Moore, as soon as possible."
Bill lowered his head. "David, you're making a mistake."
Palmer said no more, standing up quietly from his seat and walking out of the door of the conference room, ignoring the Secret Service agents that roamed the hallways of the Military Operations Complex.
7:55:45
Music blasted from the speakers of Jason's sterio. Samantha sat on his bed, watching his every move. Jason lowered the volume of the music as Samantha got up from where she sat.
"What's up?" she said.
"I wanted to ask you something..." he stated plainly.
"What?" she asked curiously.
"What would you do if you ever found...a gun in...your aunt's car?"
When he finished, Sam was at a loss for words, contemplating what she should say. "I don't know. Why are you asking a question like that?"
"Oh...no reason."
Then, he suddenly tackled her from behind and pinned her to the bed, where they started making out, laughing like little children, the music again roaring in the background.
Pushing open the door, Gael Ortega drew his gun and moved into the dark room where he saw a red light blinking up ahead. Slowly, he moved, not wanting to attract any unnecessary visitors.
Finally, he reached the edge of the small room where the blinking and beeping device was attached to a small pipe that ran across the room as well.
Not wanting to trigger anything by touching it, he lowered his head to stare closely at it. After examining it for just a short amount of time, he realized what it was.
The door of the room opened and Gael turned around, pointing his gun at the intruders.
"Drop your weapon and place your hands behind your head."
CTU Division officials raced into the room as Gael dropped his weapon. "Get out of here." Gael said quickly.
The lead official spoke. "What?"
"Get out of here!" Gael shouted.
Gael stood there in the center of the room, his hands placed upon his head, with men all around him who didn't understand what he was talking about.
The device at the end of the room made a loud and steady beeping sound and the red light on it flashed fastly.
"What the hell?" one of the team members said.
Gael knew the end had come. Dropping to the floor, he placed his hands over his face, but knowing that it wouldn't help. He knew what was about to happen.
Like that, a huge explosion rocked the room, sending Gael and everyone else flying in all different directions...
From the rooftop of the six-story building, Jimmy and Bruce both stared blankly at the explosions ripping through the building in the distance. They didn't know what was going on, all they saw were continuous explosions, over and over and over again, tearing through different parts of the building. Even from a distance, the deafening noise could still be heard.
On the streets outside Kopin Institutes, panic spread. Cars were parked in the middle of the street, and people were running everywhere. The explosions were starting to die down, but the chaos was only beginning.
Suddenly, people started collapsing to the ground as a light green, wavy substance spread through the streets and up into the sky above.
A woman called out for her child to come to her.
"Billy!"
She placed her hands to her chest, and began gasping for air. But there was no air to inhale. Only poison. "Bi---ly." She began coughing up blood.
The woman said no more as her heart finally exploded, splattering blood everywhere. Her dead body collapsed to the ground, people tripping over it as they tried to run away.
The panic was only beginning, as more and more people began falling to the ground.
On the third story of the apartment building, Jack Bauer and his partner Greg were trying to radio the other two members of the team, but they weren't responding.
"Hello? Hello? Jimmy? Bruce? God damnit!"
Jack threw himself down onto a broken seat.
"What do we do now?" the younger agent asked.
"We keep trying."
Jack again picked up the radio, yelling out, "HELLO? COME ON!"
Four stories above them, the bodies of two agents were motionless on the ground, a green mist hovering above them, engulfing their bodies and beginning to eat away at their flesh.
Ryan Chappelle stood motionless in the center of CTU, trying to comprehend why his team wasn't responding. Kim sat only feet away, feeling anxious and scared at the same time. She typed at her computer, like everyone else did, trying to find the solution to what had just occured, although no one had it.
On the streets outside of Kopin Institutes, the scene was purely a massacre. Blood ran rapid through the streets, pouring into the sewers that ran along side of the road. Some people were still running around, still trying to find a way to survive. The death toll continued to rise, second by second as the mysterious green mist continued to spread.
Michelle Dessler sat in complete silence against a wall, trying to understand what had just happened. Had she become dillusional? She knew she had seen a figure of a man, but now it seemed like only her imagination. Tears continued to flow down her soft cheeks, already red from the crying she had done in the past hour. The stress of losing her husband was finally taking its toll upon her, and she then realized that her mind had blacked out completely, lost in another dimension.
Nicole and Maurice still huddled together, watching as the body of Tony Almeida began to stir. Nicole couldn't help but think frightingly that if that was what they were capable of against a grown man, she couldn't imagine what they were going to do to her. A chill swept through her body.
Jason and Sam rolled across the bed, still kissing and laughing like children. Sam gave Jason a feeling of openess, making him forget all his troubles. Yet he still knew that in the next hour, he would have to tell his parents about the gun. But for now, the danger subsided out of his mind and he focused everything on the beautiful girl that laid under him.
Inside a pitch black room, a tall man stood on his phone, speaking in another language.
"Everything is going according to plan, so far. Alicia is dead." the man inside the room was saying.
The voice on the other end of the phone spoke this time, "Good. I'm counting on you."
"Don't worry. He will be dead soon and the country will turn to panic."
Suddenly, an alarm is heard in the distance. "I've got to go."
Closing his phone immediately and placing it in his pocket, the man walked to the door of the room and opened it, revealing the blinding light outside. The noise of an alarm continued to sound, as General Andrew Hadley walked out of the dark room, curious to know what was going on.
"Mr. President!" Agent Aaron Pierce came running over to the President, who had been walking down the hall.
"What happened?" Palmer asked.
"We have a sitution in Los Angeles and we need to seal you safely in a room until the threat passes. Please come with me."
"Oh my god." President Palmer had gone blank, for he knew that something terrible had just happened.
"Please sir, come with us."
Secret Service swarmed the President, practically dragging him away into a nearby room.
General Hadley watched with a gleam in his eye, as people ran up and down the hallways, the alarm continuing to sound.
Finally, the door was closed on Palmer, General Hadley, the gleam still in his eyes, standing nearby, knowing it would be only too easy.
7:59:58
7:59:59
8:00:00
THE FOLLOWING TAKES PLACE
BETWEEN 7:00 P.M. AND 8:00 P.M.
COUNTER TERRORIST UNIT
Through the main doors at CTU, she entered. Walking gracefully toward the center of the main floor, she continued looking for her husband, but still, no luck. It was at this moment that Gael saw her, and came over to see her.
"Michelle; welcome back." Gael shakes her trembling hand with a smile.
"Gael, nice to see you. Have you seen Tony around? I thought he would be waiting for me outside."
Gael seemed troubled by this news. "You mean you didn't see him outside?"
"No...why?"
Gael was reluctant to give Michelle the news, but felt that he had the obligation to tell her. "Michelle, Tony put me in charge of CTU for a while; he said he would be outside, waiting for you."
"What?" Now Michelle seems to panic. "Well, where is he?"
"I don't kno-"
Michelle breaks down, "Listen up, everybody. My husband is missing and I want him found. I want a complete sweep of the building, both inside and outside." The entire place now stares at the scene, Michelle and Gael standing there in the center. From up top, Chloe and Simon stop their work to look down upon the scene, while Jack steps out of his office. "There is to be no communciation with anyone until he is found. Let's go!"
Jack shakes his head from above and quickly runs down the stairs, toward Michelle. "Michelle, what's going on? You can't just pull all of our resources at once! The country is about to be attacked!"
"Attacked? What do you mean? What's going on?" Gael and Jack exchange looks of confusion. Michelle stares at them, knowing something is wrong.
"Michelle," it's Jack who speaks. "Chemical weaponry is going to be delivered somewhere in the United States today, and we believe the weapons will be landing in Los Angeles in the next few hours. If this chemical were to be released into the air, it will turn out to be a global disaster."
The entire CTU is now looking over at the scene of three people, waiting for a command.
Michelle is now silent.
Jack takes over. "Listen up, everyone. As you just heard, Tony Almeida is missing. The one thing we need to worry about now is not getting Division involved. If they hear about this, they'll have us lockdown in minutes and we can't let that happen; not today. Therefore, all outgoing communications are banned until further notice, on my orders. If you have any problems, come talk to me. Thank you."
Jack re-focuses his attention to Michelle. "Don't worry, we'll find him."
Michelle begins to cry in fear of what has just happened.
Jack pulls Gael aside. "Gael, I want you to supervise the security team; check all security cameras both inside and outside the building, starting with ten minutes ago. If you find anything, call me."
Gael nods, then runs off. Jack walks toward Simon, who seems to be waiting for him. "What's up, Jack?"
"This isn't the time. Simon, I want you to call my daughter, tell her we need her to come in now."
"But Jack, she won't"
Jack cuts him off, "Just do it!"
Jack walks away from his desk and walks to the stairs. Quickly, he runs up them, the echo of his shoes clattering on the steps. As he enters his office, Chloe approaches. "Jack, have you seen Chase lately?"
Jack looks at Chloe, then looks around CTU. "No...no I haven't, why? Do you know where he is?"
"No, he left about ten minutes ago, said he was going outside for a second, he never came back in."
Jack keeps a still face for a moment before erupting, "Son of a b!tch!"
Jack runs into his office; Chloe follows. "Jack, what's wrong?"
"We now have two people on our missing list, what the hell is going on here?"
"I don't know, Jack."
Jack picks up the phone and dials.
"Hello?" The sound of a deep male voice, that of Simon's.
"Simon, it's Jack. Did you call Kim yet?"
"No, I was just about to, why?"
"Because Chase Edmunds is missing, too."
The news comes to a surprise to him, "Jack, what's happening here?"
"I don't know."
Really, no one knew.
The car zoomed down the highway, going at a speed of 70 m.p.h.
Inside, Jason sat shaking, the gun still hidden behind his back. It was then that he realized that he was going to have to find a way to tell his parents that his aunt, his relative, possessed a gun for an unknown reason.
Lori looked over to him and smiled. He tried to smile back, but failed miserably.
"We'll be at your house in no time..." Lori said.
No time, Jason thought. He hoped she really meant it.
7:03:48
Kim Bauer sat on her couch, alone. She sat quietly. The sound of the ringing of the phone startled her. She picked it up.
"Hello?"
"Kim...it's Simon calling from CTU. Look, before you hang up, I need to tell you:" he struggled for a moment to say it; finally, "Both Tony Almeida and Chase Edmunds are missing." Again he stops for a reaction. He finds none. "Your father wanted me to call you. Kim, we really need you here at CTU. We're in the middle of a crisis, please; come."
Kim dropped the phone onto the floor, still showing no sign of expression or emotion, only trying to comprehend the words she had just heard.
"Hello? Kim? Kim? Hello?"
The entire hallway surrounded by Secret Service, President Palmer alongside Jenny Dodge walked together toward the doors that would take them to the dark outside.
"We have no other choice, Jenny. This is our only lead into this case."
Bill comes alongside the two of them as they stop by the revolving doors.
Palmer speaks again, "Jenny; Bill will come with you for Ms. Moore. Remember what we talked about: make sure you watch her closely."
"We will, sir." Bill said.
"Good. I'll see you in a couple of minutes."
Secret Service now escorted Palmer through the doors and outside, where a limousine was waiting. He entered, and found Alicia already inside waiting for him. Unwanting to reveal any information to her, he remained quiet.
The door to the limo closed, with Alicia remaining silent.
And this was all the President could ask for, at least until Robbie met with his source.
Jack Bauer sat alone in his office, trying to put a meaning to what had happened in the past hour. While struggling to swallow, he grabbed a water bottle sitting on his desk and brought it to his dry, quivering lips. He gulped down about a quarter of the bottle in seconds. The phone rang in its normal CTU style. After waiting for it to ring a second time, Jack picked it up and answered, "Bauer."
"Jack." A voice he recognized easily. It was that of President Palmer's.
"Mr. President. How can I help you?"
"Jack, I need your help. We were just informed of a possible lead into the case. I can't say anymore over the phone, but I would greatly appreciate if you would meet me at my location."
"What's this about, sir?"
"We received a call from a man claiming to have information on the possible chemical attack. He had very odd demands if I may say so. But you see, I'd like you to head a top-secret field op team for me, Jack. Because as you can already tell, it's going to be a long day."
Jack moved around in his seat, grasping for what to say or do. "Mr. President..." He thought about deserting his job, his friends. How could he leave Tony alone? Chase alone? They were in trouble, and yet, Jack was leaving them. "I'd be honored."
7:06:39
The car slowing as it pulled into the driveway, Jason became anxious about his parents. He looked over to his aunt as she put the car into park and turned off the ignition. The driveway and street in front of the house was filled with cars. Jason stared at his house, it was actually more like a mansion. Glass windows stretched across the front of the gigantic structure, and gardens filled the empty space in front of the house.
Jason slowly exited the car, and as he did, he slowly slipped the gun back into the drawer under the seat, as Lori got out to stretch her legs. Successfully reconcealing the weapon, he smiled at his aunt, the one he thought he knew so well, and together, they began to walk toward the front door.
The sound of Lori's heels clattering, the sound of evening birds chirping, and the sound of the light music inside of the house were all heard as Lori led Jason into his own living quarters. As they entered, Jason's mother saw them first from down the dark hallway.
"Jason!" she exclaimed as she came running over to him, kissing him on the head several times. Jason was ready to vomit.
His mother turned her attention to Lori, and they gave a very sisterly kiss.
As the chatter began, Jason was happy to be home, but at the same time, nervous for what might happen next.
Stirring, Tony Almeida began to regain consciousness. He blinked several times before realizing that he was still in the trunk of the car. But he couldn't remember what had happened. The sound of a male voice brought him back to reality.
Chase Edmunds was on the phone, "Yeah, he'll be there soon. Everything's going according to plan..."
Tony remained silent as he waited for him to speak again.
"Yes, I understand, sir."
Tony didn't want to move, nor could he because his hands were tied behind his back. He didn't want to speak with that traitor, nor look at him.
The only thing he could think about was Michelle, alone; all he wanted was Michelle, because he loved her.
A tear formed in his left eye.
A single tear, and not one more.
Michelle couldn't take it anymore. At her desk in CTU, the tears were too much. What good would sitting around here do when her husband was missing?
"Michelle."
It was the voice of Jack.
"Michelle, I'm leaving for a couple of hours to help in an investigation for the President. I'll be back later."
Without saying anymore, he started walking toward the main doorway, briefcase in hand.
This came as a shock to Michelle. Jack was leaving her, leaving Tony. He didn't care what happened; he had more important things to do. The thought continued flowing in her head until she made up her mind: she opened the drawer of her desk and pulled out a gun, stuffing it into her handbag. Getting up from her chair, she passed Gael.
"You're in charge."
Saying no more, she following in Jack's footsteps out the doors of CTU. She was going to find her husband, she didn't know how, but she did know that she was going to try. Somehow, someway, she would. For right now, though, all she wanted to do was leave CTU, the place that had always caused her so much grief.
7:09:53
7:09:54
7:09:55
====================
7:14:08
7:14:09
7:14:10
The anger in veins continued to grow. Tony was so angry that his face was red with rage and his fists crunched down together. In the front of the car, Chase slowed to a stop and put the car into park. Tony didn't know what was about to happen, and quite frankly, he didn't want to know. Chase unlocked the door and got out of the car. Wearing a brown jacket with a blue dress shirt underneath and casual blue jeans, he looked anything but a CTU agent. Walking to the back of the car in what appeared to be no rush, he reached the door to the trunk. With one hand, he turned the latch to the Ford Expedition and the door slowly opened.
There was a moment of silence in which Chase and Tony exchanged looks, then Tony interrupted the deadly silence. "What the hell are you doing, Chase?"
And then came the answers, one which Tony never expected to hear. "Please, Tony. Don't make this any harder than it has to be."
Tony felt a touch of sympathy in his voice, but looked up to his face. It was as normal as ever, and yet, something about it seemed strange.
Tony laid sideways on the floor of the trunk and back seat of the truck. With his hands bound behind his back, there was little he could do to try and escape, and he felt dizzy because of being beaten by Chase. He also felt embarassed and sick to his stomach all because he was beaten up by a man younger, less mature, and less stronger than he.
Chase remained still in front of him, staring at Tony with a fixed gaze. Finally, it ended when he reached to the side of the trunk and pulled out a roll of duct tape.
Tony could only guess what would go down next.
Gael was working at his desk when Chloe came running over.
"Gael, Division just called. They're looking for Tony. What should I tell them?"
Gael, now the ranking agent on site, had to come to a decision. "Tell them he's not availabe right now."
"But Gael, shouldn't we let them know what's going on?" Chloe was a kind of stick to the rule book person.
"No, Chloe, because if they find out, they'll be in our face for the entirety of this crisis."
"But Gael, we're going to have to tell them eventually."
It was at this point that he lost his patience. "Just follow the chain of command Chloe. If Chappelle comes over here, the crisis will only intensify. So tell them he's not available."
Chloe looked at Gael suspiciously, then walked away.
Gael began working again when the phone rang. He picked it up quickly.
"Ortega."
"Gael, it's Don. We have something we think you need to see."
"Alright...I'll be right down."
Gael slammed down the phone and threw his pen to the back of the desk.
A large set of metal doors opened slowly and Robbie Lohse walked through into the halls of the Military Operations Center. He nodded to other officers passing by, and continued walking down the hall. The walls were painted a yellowish kind of color, with American symbols and such every now and then.
Soon, Robbie reached a second metal doorway. As he approached, it opened automatically. Inside, a lone lightbulb lit up the small room and already seated waiting for him was a military officer.
General Andrew Hadley sat straight up in his seat, professionally awaiting the arrival of the director of NSA.
"Robbie, please, be seated. We have much to discuss."
7:17:12
Gael turned the doorknob and opened the CTU Security Room door. He walked through and saw Don already waiting for him, seated in a swivel chair in front of many screens. One particular one was paused on a frame, while the rest were live feeds.
"Don, you said you found something?"
"Yeah, take a look at this."
Pressing a few keys, the main screen started moving. It was the security camera from outside, and it now showed Tony standing around waiting for Michelle. Gael watched with his arms folded, watching the screen carefully. Moments later, they watched in horror as a man came up to Tony and literally punched his guts out.
Gael, now fascinated with what was going on, watched the mysterious man drag Tony's body toward a truck.
"When was this taken?"
"About twenty minutes ago," Don replied. "In the CTU Parking Lot."
Gael still had another thing on his mind, "Who's the man attacking him?"
With a short tap on the keyboard, the image zoomed in to the face of the man now dragging Tony's body: Chase Edmunds.
Gael couldn't believe what he was seeing. "Oh my god..."
There was an eerie type of silence for a few seconds before Don spoke again, "Gael, we have to let Division know about what has just happened. I suggest that you call them."
"No," Gael interrupted. "It's like Jack said, if we let them know, they'll be on us for the rest of the day."
It was obvious that Don didn't agree with him, but it was Gael that had the final say. After all, he was the ranking agent on site.
Michelle drove down the darkened streets of Los Angeles, desperate for any clues she might find. Having no luck thinking of any way to accomplish her task, she dug her cell phone out of her purse. Dialing some numbers, she put the phone to her ear.
"CTU, Richter."
"Simon, it's Michelle."
"Michelle, where are you?"
Michelle turned the steering wheel and the car headed left. "I'm out in the field trying to help my husband. Listen, Simon, are there any leads coming in right now that have to do with the terrorist threat. Anything at all?" Michelle stopped, hoping for a good response.
Simon turned his head to see Gael walking towards him from across the floor. "Yeah, Jack said he was attacked by these men trying to kill him. You could go down there."
It seemed that Michelle had no choice, "Fine, what's the address?"
Simon had to look at his computer screen for this information. "The intersection of Main and Immis."
"Alright, thanks Simon."
Gael now approached Simon's work station. "Give me the phone."
He breathed heavily, but finally put the phone to his ear. "Michelle, it's Gael. I'm afraid I have some disturbing news."
Michelle didn't want to hear this. She had had enough bad news for one day. "What?"
"It's just been confirmed; Chase Edmunds kidnapped your husband."
The words raced through her ears. What she had just heard; it didn't make sense, and yet, Gael sounded serious.
Gael recognized the sense of silence and spoke up. "Michelle..." He tried to think of something comforting to say, but failed. He wasn't Tony, the guy who had always helped Michelle through all those hard times. But now, she was alone, away from the man she loved.
Gael lowered the phone as the other end went dead.
7:19:50
Kim Bauer walked through the doors of CTU and into the main floor. Gael, busy looking over Simon's shoulder, didn't notice her entrance, nor did anyone else. She stopped for a moment to take a quick look around, finding agents she hadn't seen in quite a long while.
Regaining her composure, she started walking again up to where Gael stood.
"Gael."
Gael turned around and saw the short blond woman standing there before him. "Kim...glad you could make it." He tried not to give away any signs of what had just happened.
"Where's Chase? I heard he was missing."
Gael turned to Simon, sitting next to him. He turned back, "Who told you this?"
Kim leaned over to face Simon. She nodded his way and smiled.
Gael realized he was beaten. "Kim..." How could he say this? "Kim, Chase is missing because he kidnapped Tony Almeida."
Kim was astonished.
More bad news, and yet more unbelieved faces.
"Explain to me Andrew. How did you find out about Alicia's involvement with Kopin Institutes?"
The voice of Robbie Lohse was prevalent throughout the small room.
"Robbie..." he began. "Before I became a general for the United States Army, I worked for a small security company. One day, there was a threat of a chemical leak in one of the Institutes factories. I was called in to make sure that the place was properly locked down. I entered the building and found inside a woman who was hiding inside one of the equipment rooms. When I found her there, she was..." he pauses for a moment. "She was literally collecting many crates of some sort. Actually, inside of them, were chemicals. I asked her what she was doing in there, she responded by saying she was examining each one of the crates for a..." Robbie looks up to him at this moment. "leak."
"Now if you get my drift, Robbie, this woman wasn't checking for leaks...She was trying to steal the chemicals from onsite."
General Hadley stopped speaking for a moment to clear his throat. "Mr. Lohse, I asked for her ID and she gave it to me. Her name was Alicia Donaldson and she was a chemist technician for this company."
Inside, Robbie knew he had succeeded in bringing down Alicia. All he had to do now was alert the President and she would be gone.
Chase, now standing outside the car, had his cell phone to his ear. It rang several times before it was picked up at the other end.
"I'm going inside now."
The voice on the other end responded, "Very good. Remember, Chase, this operation now rests on your shoulders. Good luck."
"Thank you, Mr. President."
On the other end of the phone, David Palmer closed his cell phone, put it back into his pocket, and walked down a hallway to meet up with Secret Service.
7:22:45
7:22:46
7:22:47
====================
7:26:31
7:26:32
7:26:33
"Mr. Bauer."
Secret Service called out his name; Jack wasn't paying attention.
"Mr. Bauer."
Agent Aaron Pierce spoke another, finally snapping Jack out of his short-lived daydream.
"Yeah?"
"You're free to go." He then speaks something into his walkie-talkie. "Please open the doors for Agent Jack Bauer."
The voice on the other end obviously heard him, and before long, a large set of metal doors began opening, revealing a hallway leading downwards from the outside.
With a final nod to Secret Service, he took off down the rather dark corridor to meet the President.
"Miss Moore."
Adrian Moore turned around only to see Secret Service, and two other people standing around her.
"Miss Moore, I'm Jenny Dodge, this is Bill Lawton."
Adrian looked at the party of people standing before her. "What do you want?"
Bill spoke this time. "We've decided to let you come see the President."
Adrian wasn't expecting this, and her face showed it. "President Palmer, would like to see me?"
Jenny looked up to Bill and then spoke. "Yes, the President would like to meet with you. Now."
Adrian smiled. "What caused the sudden change of mind?"
Once again, they were reluctant to respond. "Miss Moore, if you would like to speak with the President, please, just follow me."
Sensing another press trap, Adrian was about to call for help. But then, that want for fame kicked in, and it wasn't long before Adrian answered. "Let's go."
Jenny nodded to Secret Service and together, they walked out of the press room.
7:28:00
Nicole Palmer sat against the wall, bored, and at the same time, fearing for her life. Maurice sat on the other side of the room, feeling the same way.
Suddenly, talking began to arise outside of the dark room. For the first time in an hour, a level of noise could be heard clearly through the locked door.
Nicole looked over at Maurice, and he looked back at her. Outside, they heard a deep male voice, one they hadn't heard before, speak:
"So where are they, those black sons-of-b!tches."
Soon after, they heard another voice speak, obvioulsy Rob's. "They're here. You've got the agent?"
The unfamiliar voice spoke once again. "Yeah, he's in my car."
A clicking sound meant the opening of the door to where Nicole and Maurice were sitting. The knob turned and Rob walked through, behind him was another man, one they had never seen before.
Chase Edmunds walked into the room and looked at the poor teenagers sitting alone in the scanky, dim-lit room. Even the smell was atrocious.
"Let's see Almeida, Edmunds," Rob beckoned.
Chase looked at Nicole and stared into he eyes. Nicole stared back, but there was something different about this man that she couldn't quite grasp. He seemed different than the other white men, and at the same time, there was a strange feeling present in his eyes.
"Edmunds. Let's see Almeida."
Chase cut back his gaze. "Yeah...sure."
Rob led the way out of the disgusting room, with Chase bringing up the rear. With a quick glance back toward Nicole, he closed the door behind him.
Placing a key inside the lock, he turned it so a small clicking sound was heard.
A lightbulb sprang up in Nicole's mind at the sound of the click. What she had seen in the new man's eyes was real and true.
It was a feeling of hope.
MILITARY OPERATIONS COMPLEX LOS ANGELES 7:29:08
Walking rather professionally, Jack Bauer continued down the crowded halls of the large, underground complex that was unknown to the citizens of the city. Only few knew about this underground masterpiece, mostly for security reasons.
Inside one of the conference rooms, President David Palmer sat in silence waiting for the man he would trust with his life. On such a day as this, a day that was supposed to be joyous in the wake of his very own birthday, things could not be going worse.
A knock on the door signaled that the person he was waiting for had finally arrived.
"Come in, Jack," the President said loudly so that Jack could hear him from outside the room.
With a turn of the knob, the door opened revealing Jack Bauer's emerging figure. "Mr. President. It's good to see you again, sir."
President Palmer rose and greeted his visitor with a handshake and a smile. "Jack, I'm glad you're here. Please, have a seat."
"Thank you, sir." It took Jack almost no time at all to pull out an empty chair and sit himself down in it. There was then an awkward moment of silence before the President broke it with his deep voice.
"Jack, the reason I have called you here tonight is to help me. You see, about 45 minutes ago, we received an anoymous phone call from a man who claimed to have information regarding the possible terrorist attack. But his demands for his information were very odd."
"What were they, sir?" Jack asked curiously.
"He asked for me to accept a member of the press into my inner circle; a woman by the name of Adrian Moore."
Deep within himself, Jack could not understand this demand. It didn't make sense to him, nor to anyone else.
"And did you agree to this demand?" Jack asked.
"...yes," was the answer the President gave. "Jack...this is the reason you are here. I have selected three others to go along with you on the mission I am about to ask you to lead." He paused for a moment to give Jack the time to comprehend. "We were able to determine roughly the area from where the phone call was made from. It is an apartment complex in the center of Los Angeles on the intersection of Third and Davenport. You are to lead the small team to this building and find the man who made this call. Our sources show that this is a largely empty building; in other words, very worn out."
"But Mr. President...how will we be sure which man made the call?"
President Palmer took a deep breath and thought about the question. He had to answer it truthfully.
"We won't know. One mistake may have to be made to save others."
The next question was obvious from Jack, "How far are we allowed to go in interrogation."
This question Palmer was already prepared to answer.
"As far as it takes."
Jack argued back, "Mr. President, what if--"
"As far as it takes."
The conversation had now officially ended.
7:31:35
Out on the dark streets of Los Angeles, Chase Edmunds led Rob and two other men toward a truck in the distance. They all walked silently, and the dead of night provided no relief to the grim picture. A single bird flew overhead, crowed one time, and continued flying toward the north.
As the four men finally reached the truck, Chase pulled out of his pocket a pair of keys and hit one of the buttons. Chase stopped in his tracks as the two men beside Rob moved past Chase until he put up his hands.
"Wait."
Rob smiled and moved closer to Chase. "What's wrong, Edmunds?"
"You still haven't told me why you need Almeida."
There was a moment of silence before Rob spoke up, "Don't worry...you'll find out soon."
Chase still stood straight and firm, and finally, let his hands fall to the ground.
Rob smiled to the two men next to Chase. He motioned them to open up the trunk of the car. Passing Chase, they walked to the rear of the vehicle before popping open the door of the trunk. Chase turned around, as Rob watched in the background, as the two men pulled out the limp and bloody body of Tony Almeida. He was still alive, that could be seen, but his body remained covered in scars easily seen through the poorly lit street. He had been gagged and blindfolded, and was being held standing by the two men.
Rob smiled in pleasure of the pathetic sight. "Get him inside."
With only a slight moan coming from Tony, he was led easily away and back away from the car. Rob followed the trio, lastly followed by Chase.
As the face of Chase Edmunds became visible, it was clear that Chase was disgusted with what was happening.
Before beginning to walk away following the others, he proceeded to say three words that proved something:
"God help me."
"Agent Dessler."
Michelle turned around to face a tall, rather skinny blond haired male wearing a CTU Forensics jacket.
"Yeah?"
"We've identified the men and here are their bios." He handed Michelle a pocket folder and she opened it.
"What the hell?"
She showed him the inside of the folder, showing only the pictures of the various men, and very few words. "Where the hell are all their files?"
"That's the thing. Their files...they all don't exist."
"What? That's absurd. How could they not appear?"
"Somebody deleted them."
The answer came like that. A crash to the head. "Oh my god."
She began looking around the alleyway where Jack had been ambushed one hour ago. CTU inhabited the area. Michelle began to gaze off from reality until the agent brought her back to reality.
"Mrs. Dessler. Do you know who could have erased these bios?"
Michelle immediately knew the answer, but something deep down inside told her there was more to this case than meets the eye...
Gael walked down the deserted hallway of CTU and into the main floor. People were all gathered the main staircase waiting for Gael, and a path was already made to let him get through.
Visible in the crowd were Kim, Simon, Chloe, as well as numerous others. Gael reached the stairs and immediately began:
"Thank you all for assembling so fast. We've just learnt from NSA that we now have a lead on today's possible terrorist attacks. The chemical weaponry that is set to arrive somewhere around Los Angeles tonight has been manufactured at a warehouse in central L.A.: Kopin Institutes. We've been put in charge of raiding the factory to seize any leads that may be waiting inside. I'll be leading the team there, since..." He stopped there because he already knew that everyone else was well aware of what had happened in the last 90 minutes. "We'll be leaving immediately. You are now all to report directly to Chloe O'Brien. A reminder: we are still staying away from Division; if anyone gets a call from anyone there, tell them anything: just whatever you do, don't mention anything about Tony Almeida. And that's an order. Let's go."
Gael jumped down from the stairs as the crowd began walking away.
Chloe watched as Gael walked out of the main floor and out of CTU.
Turning her head around away from the entrance and exit, her attention became focused upon the phone that sat upon a desk right in front of where Chloe O'Brien stood.
Michelle Dessler was preparing to leave the alleyway as she began walking to her parked car in the distance. Before she could do so, she heard the faint, distant noise of something dropping to the ground. She looked up to the top of the buildings above where she thought she saw the faint outline of a person watching the entire scene progress from high above.
She pulled out the handgun from her purse and made sure it was loaded.
7:35:46
7:35:47
7:35:48
====================
7:40:01
7:40:02
7:40:03
Jason Bulger moved through his house toward the door that led outside to where all of his parents friends had been. As he reached the door, he began to debate again how he would tell his parents about the gun he had found in his aunt's car. He still couldn't believe it was happening; his family was about to be torn apart, this he knew.
Finally, he pulled open the glass door and stepped outside into the quite noisy backyard of his. Complete with a large patio that stretched the yard from both sides, it had an in-ground pool where kids were playing their childish games. He looked over to the main area of the patio where all the adults sat, chatting and talking up a storm.
The night held a strange aroma to it, one Jason had never smelt before. The stars above shone brighter than he could ever imagine in his life, and the sound of coyotes echoed in the distance.
Stepping closer to where his parents sat, Jason was about to call them aside when he saw her:
Samantha Thompson had her feet in the pool, wearing an attractive bikini. Sam by her friends, she was one of those girls who had everything she needed in life: friends, a good family, and money. Lots of money.
Jason stared at her with a glint in his eyes that yearned for her. She soon caught sight of his staring, and rose to stand. She began walking over to him, smiling the entire time. The blond-haired, rather tall and slim young woman was coming to see him.
"Hi Jay," she said simply.
Jason tried to say something back, preferably something more mature, but all that came out was, "Hey Sam."
Without reluctance, she grabbed his hand and smiled. "I'm glad you're finally back."
Jason still couldn't find anything to say, and whatever was just on his mind, he had forgotten.
Jack and Palmer were now joined by three other men. All three had the look of a tough agent type, but Jack had already found out that they had all been close friends of Palmer for a while.
"There's a helicopter waiting for you. It will be departing immediately for your location. Good luck, gentlemen."
They all responded with a, "yes sir."
As the three men led the way out of the room, President Palmer motioned to Jack to stay behind. "Jack...a quick word, please."
As the door closed on them, Jack stepped back into the room, "What is it, sir."
"You're to keep this assignment and its details in closed contact, meaning I don't want CTU to know what is going on. You are to keep out of contact with them."
Jack could not believe what he was hearing, "But sir, CTU has the necessary equipment and personnel to help this mission, so why not--"
"We've learnt that there may be a mole inside the government."
Jack looked up at the taller man, and was shocked by this information. "What?"
"The phone call we received; they warned that they would know if we disobeyed." Palmer put his head down.
There was nothing for Jack to say, and instead of saying something regrettable, he quietly turned to face the door, and turned the knob to reveal the busy hallway outside.
7:42:47
Palmer watched as Jack closed the door and place the fate of Los Angeles in his hands. Soon after he had left, there came another knock on the door as Robbie entered.
"Robbie, how did your meeting go with your source?"
"Mr. President, I can now confirm for you that Alicia cannot be trusted."
The President remained silent for a moment, and walked around the room for a moment before responding to the statement. "Tell her to come to my office immediately."
"I will sir...if anyone can find her."
Palmer turned his head to face the elderly director of NSA and said, "What do you mean? Are you telling me that she has just disappeared?"
"Yes, sir. She's gone."
Palmer slammed his body into a seat and pounded his already beaten fists into the table. "Damnit!"
Robbie understood his frustration and seated himself down opposite the President. "Don't worry, sir...we're doing our best to find her."
Palmer looked back at the man, then gazed past him, again staring off into space.
The noise was greater than ever from outside the room, and Nicole Palmer and Maurice sat huddled close by each other in the dark room. They heard the sounds of someone being beaten brutally, and Nicole finally broke down again, not being able to withstand anything any longer.
"Nicole, what's wrong?" Maurice said solemnly to her.
"Oh, Maurice. We're so doomed."
Maurice felt this in his mind, but didn't let it show. "No...no, baby. We just gotta be strong and we'll get through this."
Nicole stopped crying and stared him in the eyes. "Do you really think that, Maurice? How can you think that when we've seen all the hatred in this country!? You've seen how our lives have disintegrated, and now we're about to die." She began crying again, and this time, nothing Maurice said would comfort her. "Just because we're black. Just because we have a different color of skin than the majority of people in this country. This country is supposed to be the land of opportunity, but the only opportunity this country offers is the opportunity to hate. History hasn't changed; it just hasn't. People think that racism is all gone, but it isn't. It's still around, more prevalent than ever. And to think of it...that my father, the President of the United States of America, has no control over any of this. He just sits in his office the entire day, signing laws into effect and attending important meetings about terrorism. But what the government doesn't realize is that besides terrorism and politics and all that other stuff in the news, there's our pathetic lives that no one takes into consideration. And it just makes me so mad to think that my father can't do anything about any of this. Sometimes, I hate him so much. I hate this country. I hate everything!"
Her head sank into Maurice's arms and the tears were more dominant than ever. The feeling of hatred, of anger, was spreading throughout her body.
They both looked up as the door suddenly opened and a man was thrown in, scars, blood, and bruises covering his skin.
Nicole and Maurice sat completely still in horror of the man who was now unconscious in front of them.
Tony Almeida's bloody body laid motionless in front of the two, blood pouring out onto the wet cement below.
7:45:31
Everyone's attention on the main floor of CTU was focused on the main doors, where Ryan Chappelle, with other Division keys, walking in all huddled together. Chloe waited in the center of the large room, head down, her shoulders slumping over with a look of sorrow upon her face.
"Chloe." Ryan Chappelle outstretched his hand for Chloe's, and she shook it back.
"Mr. Chappelle."
"Thank you for calling me, Chloe. I believe there may be a promotion in store for you."
Chloe goofly smiled at Chappelle before saying, "Thank you."
Ryan moved swiftly passed Chloe to face the crowd of workers looking on. Kim Bauer stood afar, wondering what was going on.
"I'm here because Agent Almeida is missing, if you haven't already heard. Agent Chase Edmunds is now a wanted criminal as well as Agent Ortega. We're dispatching a team to search for Edmunds and Almeida, and another team is already on its way to Kopin Institutes, where we will be placing Gael under arrest. Until then, CTU is now under lockdown procedure."
As Chappelle continues talking, Kim realizes what Chloe has done, and runs away from the scene.
Entering an adjacent hallway, she walks quickly to the women's bathroom and pushes the door open.
Inside, she checks around to make sure no one is around before taking out her cell phone and dialing her father's number. Even though she was angry at Jack for disrespecting her boyfriend, she had the responsibility being his daughter to inform him what was happening inside CTU.
Placing the phone to her ear, she listened to the tone ring several times. Finally, she got a static message.
"We're sorry. The number you are trying to reach is unavailable. Please hang up and try your call again."
Kim closes her phone and cannot believe that her father isn't available. It was true then.
He had deserted her.
Wanting to find Kim, Simon moved quickly through the halls of CTU, finally bumping into Kim as she walked out of the women's bathroom.
"Simon."
"Kim, do you believe this? Chloe betrayed us and she called in Division."
Kim looked the other way. "I know, Simon. It's just that Chloe lives by the books. She had the opportunity to do something right, and she chose to disobey orders. She should be the one facing arrest."
"Excuse me."
Simon and Kim both turned around to see the figure of Ryan Chappelle emerge from a corner.
"Simon, you're needed in Tech 1."
Smiling, Simon said to Chappelle, "Okay. Thanks."
As he turned away, he looked back at Kim as Chappelle approached her until he turned the corner and was gone.
"Kim, just the person I was looking for to answer my question: where's your father?"
"I'm not sure. He said he had some things to do."
"Yeah, so Kim, I would really appreciate the truth here."
Kim sighed. "Mr. Chappelle. Gael was only following orders. He isn't the one who should be facing charges!"
"Kim. That's enough. Look, I know that your father is missing and your boyfriend is a criminal to this country, but I need you to start telling me the truth."
That was enough to make Kim turn around. She began whimpering, struggling for the right words. "He's not a criminal. Chase must have some reason for doing what he did."
"A reason, huh? He kidnapped a federal agent, that's assault and a felony."
"I don't care what anyone says. I love him, and he's innocent."
Having no interest to continue the conversation, Kimberly Bauer walked maturely away, tears flowing down her warm face, wanting to know the real truth herself. It seemed like these days, everything was a secret, someone trying to complete an objective by keeping people out of the loop. Suddenly, it hit her like a ton of bricks, again.
She remembered her father, and the anger she felt towards him.
Not for the first time, he had deserted her.
She moved fiercely on top of the building, searching for that person she knew she saw.
Michelle Dessler cocked her gun and reached the door that led out to the roof. Kicking it open, she pointed her gun immediately, alertness finally kicking in.
Sensing no immediate danger, she moved slowly out into the chilly night.
Still seeing no signs of movement, she darted outwards to the center of the roof and called out, "Whoever is up here, get down on the ground, I'm a federal agent."
Still, nothing.
She then proceeded to illuminate her flashlight.
Carefully moving it around the top of the building, she still saw nothing.
It finally hit her, here and now.
There never was anyone.
A woman moved down a hallway, opening the door at the end of it.
Inside, it was dark and quiet. But it wouldn't stay that way; this was for sure.
Something rested in her hand, and as she walked, her high heel shoes clonked against the floor below. Reaching the end of the relatively small room, she placed the device in her hands on the ground gently before hitting a button on it. She then picked it up and brought it over to where a small metal pipe stretched.
She locked it into place and a beeping sound began.
Knowing her mission was now accomplished, she slowly began her leave from the dark room.
As she passed a ray of light, her name tag glowed in the dark.
ALICIA DONALDSON
The woman with blond hair slowly left the room, passing by a sign embroided on the wall, reading: KOPIN INSTITUTES: LEVEL 1
7:49:44
7:49:45
7:49:46
====================
7:53:29
7:53:30
7:53:31
Its propeller swirling, the helicopter began its acsent back into the dark sky above.
Jack and his crew of three watched as it continued to ascend until it was covered with darkness and out of view.
On top of the building they were about to search, Jack and his team looked down to the streets below them. They were six stories up, not too high in a city like Los Angeles. As soon as the noise of the helicopter was distant, Jack shouted out to his three men,
"I want this entire place swept. Bruce, you're going with Jimmy. I want a complete seach of the rooftop, as well as floors four, five, and six. Greg, you're coming with me. We'll take the lower floors. Remember, no using any of your weapons unless you absolutely have to. We'll keep in contact through the radios; report any suspicious activity to me at once. Let's go."
Having said that, Jack cocked his gun, and led the younger agent to the door leading down.
The other two men went the opposite direction, searching for any signs of movement.
Distantly on Davenport Street, right where the view ended, a large sign read, "KOPIN INSTITUTES", illuminated by the glowing of lights on the busy street below.
In that distance from the apartment building where a team searched desperately for any leads they could find, Gael Ortega and a team of CTU agents stepped out of their vans and onto the grounds of Kopin Institutes. A man was walking over to them, short and bald. He had a security badge on his jacket, and he came right up to where Gael stood.
"Agent Ortega, correct?"
"Yeah, look, we're going to need to search the entire factory."
"That's fine. Although I must warn you; there's just been a security breach."
Gael widened his eyes. "What?"
"About 10 minutes ago. Someone broke through security. We evacuated the building."
"That's probably a good idea."
Gael walked away from the man and up to his team of about 10 men. "Listen up, we need to be extra cautious, we've just learnt that there has been a security breach. I want this building swept, let's go."
Gael motioned his hand and his team prepared their guns and ran off into the darkness beyond.
7:54:38
"Mr. President. We've just finished examining one of the chemical missiles and the news is grim."
Colonel Julie Bender, speaking to the President via a computer screen inside of the conference room, took a moment to gather her notes before speaking to President Palmer and his chief-of-staff, Bill Lawton, who sat patiently around a table.
"Go on, Julie."
"Mr. President. If this chemical were to be released into the atmosphere via a missile or other device, we'd be talking about millions of casulties."
"Millions?"
The word echoed through his mind. Millions. How could that be possible, he thought to himself.
Bill looked just as grim, sensing there was no hope, but he was the one who spoke next. "But we don't know if whoever that has possession of these weapons is planning to use them. All we know is that they are going to be delivered somewhere inside the United States tonight, and we need to focus upon intercepting them before they fall into the wrong hands."
The room remained in silence until Palmer spoke again, "Ok, Julie, let me know what else you find. We'll talk with you later."
"Thank you, Mr. President."
The screen went black. Bill looked over to Palmer, and Palmer did the same.
"David...I know that we need to focus on the situation but," he paused for a moment, "Ms. Moore wants to have a meeting with you."
Palmer sighed, for he didn't know how else to react. "If we don't give in to all of her demands, then the man might not give us all we ask for. Bill, we need this information as soon as possible."
"But Mr. President! How could you buy into these demands? They're as strange as anything. So if you want to know what I think...I think that there is more to this than meets the eye."
"What?" Palmer did not understand what he was referring to.
"Another conspiracy to take down your Presidency."
Palmer slammed down his fists and closed his eyes. He couldn't believe what he was hearing, it couldn't be true. Not again.
"Damnit!" was all he could say.
Bill stared at him as he thought what his options were. But he then realized he only had one.
"Tell Jenny," he stated boldly, "to set up a meeting with Ms. Moore, as soon as possible."
Bill lowered his head. "David, you're making a mistake."
Palmer said no more, standing up quietly from his seat and walking out of the door of the conference room, ignoring the Secret Service agents that roamed the hallways of the Military Operations Complex.
7:55:45
Music blasted from the speakers of Jason's sterio. Samantha sat on his bed, watching his every move. Jason lowered the volume of the music as Samantha got up from where she sat.
"What's up?" she said.
"I wanted to ask you something..." he stated plainly.
"What?" she asked curiously.
"What would you do if you ever found...a gun in...your aunt's car?"
When he finished, Sam was at a loss for words, contemplating what she should say. "I don't know. Why are you asking a question like that?"
"Oh...no reason."
Then, he suddenly tackled her from behind and pinned her to the bed, where they started making out, laughing like little children, the music again roaring in the background.
Pushing open the door, Gael Ortega drew his gun and moved into the dark room where he saw a red light blinking up ahead. Slowly, he moved, not wanting to attract any unnecessary visitors.
Finally, he reached the edge of the small room where the blinking and beeping device was attached to a small pipe that ran across the room as well.
Not wanting to trigger anything by touching it, he lowered his head to stare closely at it. After examining it for just a short amount of time, he realized what it was.
The door of the room opened and Gael turned around, pointing his gun at the intruders.
"Drop your weapon and place your hands behind your head."
CTU Division officials raced into the room as Gael dropped his weapon. "Get out of here." Gael said quickly.
The lead official spoke. "What?"
"Get out of here!" Gael shouted.
Gael stood there in the center of the room, his hands placed upon his head, with men all around him who didn't understand what he was talking about.
The device at the end of the room made a loud and steady beeping sound and the red light on it flashed fastly.
"What the hell?" one of the team members said.
Gael knew the end had come. Dropping to the floor, he placed his hands over his face, but knowing that it wouldn't help. He knew what was about to happen.
Like that, a huge explosion rocked the room, sending Gael and everyone else flying in all different directions...
From the rooftop of the six-story building, Jimmy and Bruce both stared blankly at the explosions ripping through the building in the distance. They didn't know what was going on, all they saw were continuous explosions, over and over and over again, tearing through different parts of the building. Even from a distance, the deafening noise could still be heard.
On the streets outside Kopin Institutes, panic spread. Cars were parked in the middle of the street, and people were running everywhere. The explosions were starting to die down, but the chaos was only beginning.
Suddenly, people started collapsing to the ground as a light green, wavy substance spread through the streets and up into the sky above.
A woman called out for her child to come to her.
"Billy!"
She placed her hands to her chest, and began gasping for air. But there was no air to inhale. Only poison. "Bi---ly." She began coughing up blood.
The woman said no more as her heart finally exploded, splattering blood everywhere. Her dead body collapsed to the ground, people tripping over it as they tried to run away.
The panic was only beginning, as more and more people began falling to the ground.
On the third story of the apartment building, Jack Bauer and his partner Greg were trying to radio the other two members of the team, but they weren't responding.
"Hello? Hello? Jimmy? Bruce? God damnit!"
Jack threw himself down onto a broken seat.
"What do we do now?" the younger agent asked.
"We keep trying."
Jack again picked up the radio, yelling out, "HELLO? COME ON!"
Four stories above them, the bodies of two agents were motionless on the ground, a green mist hovering above them, engulfing their bodies and beginning to eat away at their flesh.
Ryan Chappelle stood motionless in the center of CTU, trying to comprehend why his team wasn't responding. Kim sat only feet away, feeling anxious and scared at the same time. She typed at her computer, like everyone else did, trying to find the solution to what had just occured, although no one had it.
On the streets outside of Kopin Institutes, the scene was purely a massacre. Blood ran rapid through the streets, pouring into the sewers that ran along side of the road. Some people were still running around, still trying to find a way to survive. The death toll continued to rise, second by second as the mysterious green mist continued to spread.
Michelle Dessler sat in complete silence against a wall, trying to understand what had just happened. Had she become dillusional? She knew she had seen a figure of a man, but now it seemed like only her imagination. Tears continued to flow down her soft cheeks, already red from the crying she had done in the past hour. The stress of losing her husband was finally taking its toll upon her, and she then realized that her mind had blacked out completely, lost in another dimension.
Nicole and Maurice still huddled together, watching as the body of Tony Almeida began to stir. Nicole couldn't help but think frightingly that if that was what they were capable of against a grown man, she couldn't imagine what they were going to do to her. A chill swept through her body.
Jason and Sam rolled across the bed, still kissing and laughing like children. Sam gave Jason a feeling of openess, making him forget all his troubles. Yet he still knew that in the next hour, he would have to tell his parents about the gun. But for now, the danger subsided out of his mind and he focused everything on the beautiful girl that laid under him.
Inside a pitch black room, a tall man stood on his phone, speaking in another language.
"Everything is going according to plan, so far. Alicia is dead." the man inside the room was saying.
The voice on the other end of the phone spoke this time, "Good. I'm counting on you."
"Don't worry. He will be dead soon and the country will turn to panic."
Suddenly, an alarm is heard in the distance. "I've got to go."
Closing his phone immediately and placing it in his pocket, the man walked to the door of the room and opened it, revealing the blinding light outside. The noise of an alarm continued to sound, as General Andrew Hadley walked out of the dark room, curious to know what was going on.
"Mr. President!" Agent Aaron Pierce came running over to the President, who had been walking down the hall.
"What happened?" Palmer asked.
"We have a sitution in Los Angeles and we need to seal you safely in a room until the threat passes. Please come with me."
"Oh my god." President Palmer had gone blank, for he knew that something terrible had just happened.
"Please sir, come with us."
Secret Service swarmed the President, practically dragging him away into a nearby room.
General Hadley watched with a gleam in his eye, as people ran up and down the hallways, the alarm continuing to sound.
Finally, the door was closed on Palmer, General Hadley, the gleam still in his eyes, standing nearby, knowing it would be only too easy.
7:59:58
7:59:59
8:00:00