9:00am, CTU Los Angeles

Alex was typing away manically at his computer. The information he was looking for was of great importance to CTU and Alex knew that the entire city depended on them to stop the nuke threat.A pessimistic thought had crept into his head, reminding him of that day 18 months previously, his first day at CTU Los Angeles. He knew that today was nothing like that day, and that CTU had changed a lot since the primary. America had changed as well, what with the election of David Palmer as President. Not only was he a pioneer in being the first African-American POTUS, but he was also a strong and effective leader, much better for the country than his predecessor had been.

9.05am, CTU Los Angeles

A pensive Mason approached Alex, hoping that Alex could do him, and Jack, a favour. Handing Alex a piece of paper, he explained what he wanted him to do.

"Can you call Kim Bauer, try and get in contact with her, Alex? When you do, make sure she's on her way to her Aunt Carol's, would ya?", Mason asked, and Alex replied with a nod. Looking at the paper as he dialed the phone number hastily written on it, he was hoping that Kim would soon be out of harm's way, unlike that day, when she had been in and out of trouble for hours and suffering ordeal after ordeal. Alex waited for Kim to pick up, but it went to voicemail after a few rings. Leaving a message for Kim, he put the phone down.

9.10am, CTU Los Angeles

A look of confusion spread across Alex's face as he saw the black body bag being discreetly moved out of the conference room. He assumed that it could only have been that Goren guy, seeing as Jack and Mason were still alive and had left the room some time earlier.

9.25am, CTU Los Angeles

"Did the fake records work?", Alex enquired as he passed Paula in the corridor. She had done some very impressive work that morning, including the false rap sheet for Jack's cover.

"Perfectly", Paula said, but with a tone in her voice that suggested doubt. Even so, Alex was pleased that everything seemed to be going to plan. He knew that everyone was nervous because of the nuke threat, and he would easily admitted to being anxious himself, but he had tried his best not to think of the nuclear bomb. If it went off, chances were that they would never know what hit them anyway.

9.33am, CTU Los Angeles

Alex, and numerous other CTU agents, watched as Mason and Tony met in the middle of the bullpit. Mason was trying to leave, stating that he had to go to Bakersfield, but Tony wasn't in the mood to believe him. Anyone who knew Mason knew that he was very often weasel-like in his actions, and would try and get out of undesirable situations for his own good, even when it was his duty to stay and fight the threat. Tony, accusing him of doing just that, was sceptical but in the end Mason overruled him and left the building, leaving an exasperated Tony in charge.

9.45am, CTU Los Angeles

Alex's phone rang, and Alex quickly picked it up due to the possibility that it might be Kim. Being tactful, he didn't use his surname as per CTU protocol.

"CTU", he stated, hoping to hear Kim's voice, which he did. Her voice, however, was panicked and she sounded out of breath.

"Alex? You gotta send someone! I can't explain too much right now, but....", Kim's voice was replaced by static and Alex spoke her name a few times. He considered hanging up and redialing, but then the line went dead. Concerned, Alex tried to ring her back, but her cell was switched off. Alex could only hope that Kim was not in any imminent danger, as there was no way of telling where she was. There was technology available at CTU that could do the job, but everything and everyone was focused on the threat.

9.57am, Los Angeles

Eddie, Jack and company were in the van, traveling through the streets of Los Angeles. Jack was keen to find out more about the job they were about to do. Asking Eddie, he hoped that Eddie would be forthcoming with the information. This would give him a bigger window of opportunity in which to contact CTU and stop the bomb from causing any damage.

"Well, today we're gonna turn a government building into a cemetery", Eddie announced, laughing at his own perverse joke. Jack was unsettled by this, and wanted more information.

"What building?", Jack enquired. There were tons of government buildings in LA, and Jack knew that almost any one of them could be a target for Eddie Grant.

"This agency's been dogging us for years. They call it the Los Angeles Counter terrorist Unit, the CTU", Eddie responded, and Jack had to rely on almost every undercover skill he had not to react to this news. Hoping that he would be able to warn CTU in time was all that he could do at that point, and Jack hated feeling helpless.

9:59:57

9:59:58

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