Four years and six months after Day Three
Seven months later
Warehouse, Oakland
The last several months had seen them travel around the world, but now they were back in California. Schulze had asked them to help set up a new base for his organisation. Nina had not been happy at the prospect of being so close to Los Angeles once more but had kept that to herself. Schulze wouldn't care about it and Alex likely felt the same way she did about it.
"What's he got planned for this place?" Alex asked her as they gazed at the warehouse. It was not much to look at, a simple barn-like structure with grey metallic walls and dusty windows. Inside, the building was empty except for a small number of rats.
Nina shrugged. "He didn't give me many details," she replied before making her way inside.
Once they were both inside, they looked around before noticing a trapdoor close to one of the walls. Opening it required some time and effort, but it gave them an answer to his question. Underneath the warehouse was a cavernous space. Perfect for a terrorist organisation wanting to hide a base.
Kim and Chase's house, Valencia
Kim and Chase stood outside their new home, a far more desirable property than a dusty warehouse. Palm trees grew in the large garden surrounding it. Large windows let plenty of light into the spacious rooms within. As they began walking inside, they were both thinking of the happy future they wanted here. A future without CTU and all the trauma it had caused them both.
"Angela's going to love this place," Chase spoke once they were inside. There were rooms enough for a couple more kids and both wanted to start a family together.
Kim kissed him on the cheek and smiled. "I'm so glad we stuck together," she said before embracing him. A few years before, she would never have seen them married and buying a house together.
Jack's apartment, Washington DC
Chloe stood near the apartment door, building up the courage to knock. She had not seen Jack for some months and was anxious to see how her friend was doing. As she knocked on the door, she hoped that he would be glad to see her. Soon enough, she got her answer as his face lit up at the sight of her.
"It's good to see you again, Jack," she spoke, hoping that she didn't appear too eager.
"Likewise, Chloe," he replied. She had been so supportive over the past few years and he enjoyed spending time with her. Inviting her in, he was sure that they would have endless subjects to discuss.
Chloe glanced around the apartment as she sat down, noticing how cosy it was. Much better than the hotel room she had spent the night before in. "CTU's been quiet lately," she told him as he passed her a cup of coffee. The brief look on his face suggested that he wasn't in the mood to hear much about his former employers.
"Makes a change," he replied. His life at CTU had been like a storm battering him almost without respite. It had taken so much away from him and changed him in countless ways. Scars both physical and mental would always be with him, grim reminders of a dark time.
Deciding to change the subject, Chloe spoke. "Kim and Chase are moving into their new house today," she said with the hope of lightening the mood. The look on his face suggested it had.
Warehouse, Oakland
Having first gotten some flashlights from the car, they were now exploring the space. It appeared to be a natural cave expanded upon by people at some point in the past. Why they did so wasn't clear, but as they weren't too far from the coast, Alex assumed it was smuggling of some kind. If that was the case, then they were just continuing an old tradition by using the space for criminality.
Alex pulled out his phone and checked the signal. It had been full when he was stood outside, but now there was none. "Guess he's not planning to use computers down here," he commented as he pushed his phone back into his pocket.
"I assume he'll use it for storage," Nina replied. She had seen a similar space before, under a building in Poland. It had looked like a warehouse, but she had no clue what was being stored there.
Alex watched as a rat scurried past them, before turning to Nina. "How come he sent us to do this?"
"I've no idea," she replied. This wasn't the most difficult or skilled of jobs, that was for sure. Schulze could have sent almost anyone for this. Not that she minded, the pay was good and the job simple. The only concern she had was the closeness to Los Angeles. Sure, Jack was in DC now, but there were still people in LA who would love to see her back in prison. Or dead.
Kim and Chase's house, Valencia
Kim was walking past the spare bedroom when she heard a voice coming from inside. The door was ajar, allowing her to peer inside and see Chase on the phone. Unable to speak Spanish, she had no clue what he was saying although some of the words sounded familiar. Coming up with an excuse to talk to him, she opened the door wider and made her presence known. A guilty look flashed on his face before he finished his call a few moments later.
"I didn't know you spoke Spanish," she commented. She had never heard him speak anything other than English.
"Yeah, I was talking to some Mexican guy I knew a few years back," he replied. It was a half-truth and he hoped she would never find out the full story. Not only was it for her sake, but he felt it was best if she had no idea of what he was planning.
Kim looked at him and decided to believe him. The flash of guilt on his face seemed strange, but she had no reason to doubt his story.
Warehouse, Oakland
Nina froze as she noticed the footsteps in the warehouse above them. Instinctively, she reached for her gun before realising that they were expecting someone.
"Nina, you here?" cried out a voice from above.
"Down here!" Nina shouted back. She was more than happy for him to be here earlier than expected.
Moments later, a man appeared on the staircase. He was a white man of average height and weight, with dark hair.
"Alex, this is Sean Clarke. I've worked with him and his men before," Nina announced as Sean reached where the siblings were stood.
"Nice to meet you, Sean," Alex spoke as the two men shook hands. He had heard of Sean before, but ever since the escape they had rarely worked with others. Whether that was because of him or not, he had no idea.
"Heard a lot about you, Alex," Sean commented. Nina had sometimes mentioned him before his betrayal at CTU, often in a tone he rarely heard her use. Whilst she wasn't the most emotional of people, he could tell that she had some attachment to her brother.
