Don't own Chuck

Chuck and the team rolled up to the villa and waiting for them there was General Thomas along with Agent Marley. The General was shaking his head as they pulled up and lowered the back hatch. Alex was the first one out looking around for Casey but he was nowhere to be found. She asked Marley if they'd found him but Marley shook his head.

"I've seen a lot of strange things on the battle field but dodging behind a palm tree with an armoured transport is a new one on me. Not to mention you got the guy to take himself out. I might have to get you to write that one up for an addendum to the training manual."

"To be truthful, I was just trying to get out of his line of fire," said Chuck as he glanced over at Alex talking with Marley. "What did you guys find in the villa?"

"I think we just missed them. It looks like they were about to sit down for a late dinner. The food is still hot in the kitchen but other than servants there was no one inside."

"How's that possible?" said Sarah. "Alex and I had eyes on the boathouse but I guess they could've gotten past even if I don't see how."

"They must've loaded everyone on the boat then pull out? I knew we should've gone after that yacht. Now they're out to sea," said Alex as she walked back.

"Don't worry the Coast Guard will be on them as soon as they sailed out of the inlet. They can't have gotten very far."

"Sarah's right," said Chuck. "You guys can contact Beckman and see if she's heard anything from them. I'd like to walk around the house and see what I can find."

"Okay but our people are still processing it. I'll go in with you and see what's going on but someone should call the General," said Marley as he looked at Tank.

"I can see how this is going. You guys want me to call Beckman," said Tank as everyone murmured and nodded. "Okay, okay I'll call her."

"Alex, why don't you and Morgan look around the upstairs. I'll go with Chuck and we can look around the basement then we can meet on the ground floor and do it together."

"But Marley's people are or are about to finish up inside. I'd prefer to stay here and to find out what's going on with the boat."

"Whatever's going on with the boat, we can't do anything about from here. Come on we've got a job to do and the distraction will do you good."

"Sarah's right," said Morgan. "This will help you take your mind off things. Come on let's see what piracy buys you these days and who know we might even meet you know who."

"Morgan, don't start with that 'you know who' thing again. When this is done I've had my fill of pirates," said Alex as they all went inside.

"Really, I thought we'd all got to Long John Silvers when we got back. I have to say I don't mind their hush puppies."

"Then why don't you make like them and hush," said Alex as she and Morgan headed up the stairs and to the rooms on the second floor.

"The tac team made a real mess of things," said Chuck as they glanced around on the ground floor before taking the stairs down below.

"They did what they were supposed to do," said Sarah. "They weren't the Avon lady ringing the doorbell nor were they here for the Tupperware party."

"Well that being said they didn't seem to find anything other than servants. Or did they," said Chuck as one of the men in black came up to them.

"Agents, this way we've found something," said the one man. He took them to what looked like an old walking freezer but inside they saw what it really was.

"This is a holding cell," said Chuck as he looked around the room. "There's a little blood on the floor. That should be examined to see whose it is. Both Roan and Casey have DNA on file to compare it with."

"We found this over there on the floor," said the man as he handed Chuck a syringe in an evidence bag. "I'll have it sent off for fingerprints and to see what's inside."

"Have them check for DNA off the needle. I think you'll find that an elephant sedative inside. That's how they moved John but what about Roan? There should've been two syringes."

"I think you know the answer to that. He's doing what he does best he's trying to talk his way out of this so he's cooperating."

"If he's doing that they might've sedated John to keep him from killing Roan. I have to ask you this but are you sure they couldn't have been taken onboard the boat? It was dark and you were in the middle of a fire fight or they could've moved them before you got here when it was just Alex?"

"Those are all valid possibilities and I wish I could tell you with certainty they didn't but the truth is I can't. Let's go back upstairs and see what the other guys have found."

"Here," said Chuck as he handed the man back the evidence bag. "The General will want that processed right away."

[Meanwhile upstairs]

Morgan and Alex did see much at first. They hadn't taken much and it became apparent that they had left in a hurry probably just throwing a few things in a suitcase.

"This is my fault," yelled Alex from an adjacent room. "If I hadn't gone in the boathouse and left as soon as I saw all the AK 47s then we could've taken them by surprise. Once the shooting started they skipped out and now we don't know where they went. Morgan, did you hear me? Why aren't you saying anything? Morgan? Then you agree it's my fault."

"What? No… I wasn't paying any attention. You need to come here," yelled Morgan back. "I don't know what to make of this," he said. Alex walked in from another room. "You were making fun of we talking about 'you know who' well, just look at this. It's kind of spooky, don't you think?"

"Yeah, it is. I want to take a photo," said Alex as she took out her phone and snapped a few pictures of what Morgan had found.

"What do you think this is? Are you sure you should be doing that? I mean of course you should… shouldn't you? But maybe we should wait until we know what it is first?"

"Morgan, you aren't scared, are you? This looks like some sort of memorial of some kind to whoever is in that picture frame."

"You mean the guy in that old photo. But just look at this… I mean it's on a bedside table with a red candle still lit next to it and the table top is covered with melted wax from no telling how many other candles that were burnt before. Then there are those rosaries draped over the picture frame and that glass of whatever it is in front of the picture. I don't want to jump to any conclusions but whatever is in it looks awfully like… well it's crimson red."

"Morgan, what are you saying? You don't think this is some sort of altar?" said Alex as she stepped back and looked at it again. "I'd like to say you're wrong but I can see it too now."

"Hey, what are you guys still doing in here," said Sarah as she walked in the room. "We need to roll. General Thomas just got off the phone with Beckman and she wants us all back in the hotel pronto."

"Did she say how it went with the pirate boat? Did we stop them and do they have Dad? He is safe, right… and of course Roan too."

"I don't know I was just told there was a problem and that we need to get back so wrap it up in here and let's go. Chuck's go a vehicle waiting for us outside. And no Morgan before you ask, we're not driving the personnel carrier through town."

"I didn't say a word but it would be so cool… not very comfortable but people would take notice in the Buy More parking lot if we pulled in driving something like that."

"This is still a clandestine organization and having people take notice is the last thing we want or need. Now let's moved it. The General doesn't like to be kept waiting and blow that candle out before it catches the house on fire," said Sarah then she

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Natasha went back to her cabin and locked the door behind her. She took a couple of deep breaths then went over to the bed and sat down kicking off her shoes. From her purse she pulled out the business card her new friend had handed her and she read the name, Aramas Aatu outloud.

"Well, Aramas who are you and more importantly what am I going to do with you?" she said to herself as she played with the card.

"Your cabin isn't that far away," she said as she looked at the backside of the card where he'd written his cabin number.

"You need to check him out and make sure he'd not a threat," she told herself. "This is a bad idea. What are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking I've come too far to turn back now or to let myself get caught," she said as she pulled out her Makarov from her purse. It was still wrapped in the oil clothe she'd packed it away in. She quickly field stripped it making sure it was still in operating condition.

"You've got two weapons and an extra clip but you'll need a lot more than that if they come for you. If Aramas isn't who says he is he could have people waiting for me as soon as we pull in on the pier. Then what? They don't have to grab you. You could get stabbed with an umbrella then a few days later you're dead from plutonium poisoning like Litvinenko or that Bulgarian fellow. No, I can't take the risk," she said as reassembled the Makarov then dry fire it.

"No, you can't," she repeated to herself as she slid in the clip and housed the first round then put it back into her purse. "Let's freshen up a bit then go have a little chat with Mister Aatu. We can go from there."

She got up and went into the bathroom where she splashed water on her face then looked up at herself in the mirror.

"What are you going to do with him if he turns out to be a threat? You can't very well shoot him. Someone is bound to hear the sound."

"Boats, ships and ferries all have one thing in common. They are inherently dangerous especially for someone who's had too much to drink," she said smiling at herself.

[Meanwhile in a cabin not far away]

"I got your e-mail. What do you mean the check was returned? There should've been sufficient funds to cover it. Look, I'm out of town right now, but I'll be back this afternoon. Give me a day to fix everything then we can meet. I'm sure this is just some internal screw up a miscalculation or something. You know how quirky these foreign accounts can be…"

"No, I don't know. What I do know is I want my money now. I've got people to pay Aramas," said an angry voice over the phone. "I warned you when we started this that these aren't the kind of people you want to short change."

"That's not what's going on and there's nothing to worry about you'll have your money. Just tell your friends they'll be rewarded for their patience and they have my word on that."

"This is going to take more than your word and in the form of green. These people aren't the friendly type and while I might get my knee caps broken, you'll get sized up for a pair of concrete overshoes."

"Like I said keep calm. I'll call you tomorrow and we can meet for a drink. If things go well here I'll bring some cash with me you can give to your friends."

"That would be the only thing to keep this from going belly up and I'm not being figurative if that's the way people float." As the man was talking there was a knock on Aramas' door.

"I've really got to run now Gregor. I think our solution is outside my door now," he said then he hung up and went to the cabin door.

"Good evening Miss Molotov," said Aramas as he smiled at Natasha standing in the doorway holding a bottle of champagne and two flutes in her hand.

"I thought I heard voices. We can do this another time if you're busy," said Natasha as she glanced inside his cabin.

"I was on the phone with a business partner ironing out some last-minute details on a joint venture I'm involved with. Please come on it," he said as he waved her inside. "I see your friend Paul has decided to be generous."

"I was thinking about what you said and I thought why not. Paul wouldn't mind if we got a couple bottles of champagne," she said as she handed him the bottle and glasses. "Here you can pour."

"Sure, then we can talk," he said as she took the bottle and glasses from her. He watched her walk over and stretch out on his bed.

"If that's what you want to do. So tell me, what kind of joint venture are you involved in exactly? Is it anything I might've heard about?"

"Well it's kind of secret right now," said Aramas as he popped the cork from the bottle and poured them a glass each.

"Oh, I'm good at keeping secrets just ask me to tell you one and I'll tell you a can't because it's a secret," she said as she laughed taking the glass from him.

"You said that Paul wouldn't mind if we got a couple of bottles but you showed up with one. Does that mean you've already drank the first one?"

"I don't think that's a secret," she said as she giggled. "So, tell me about your big secret? How does this 'joint venture' work? You aren't a spy, are you? And this is your cover." She said as she waved her glass intentionally spilling a little.

"I really shouldn't tell you and if I did then I'd have to kill you," he said as he smiled at her over his glass.

"Now I have to know I like dangerous," she said smiling up at him from his bed. "I'll take the risk so go on."

"But if you joined me… us in the venture then you'd have a need to know. It's nothing that glamorous. I shouldn't be talking about this but it has to do with shipping lanes. You know with global warming the Arctic ocean is thawing and so new shipping routes are opening up. All the Baltic ports will see a boom in international trade very soon making them the new hubs for commerce. My plan is to be one of the first to jump on this and to make a lot of money."

"That sounds very interesting but I guess you need to have a lot of contacts in the right places to make this happen. I don't see what good I could do you or is there some other deal we could make?"

"You maybe not but someone like your friend Paul could. I have to admit I recognized the last name when I saw the credit card. I met him with his boss, Walter Malinovsky, who introduced me to some government officials."

"So, you know Walter too. I bet that meeting cost you a pretty penny. I know Walter's friends always have their hands out and they're a greedy lot."

"The price of doing business there. Here let me pour you another glass," said Aramas as he filled her glass. "I'm still waiting on Paul to tell me that our project is a go. But something has been bothering me, you know you don't really seem like Paul's type."

"And what type would that be, female?" said Natasha. This conversation had taken an unexpected twist. "Paul walks both sides of the river, if you know what I mean and why are we even talking about him?" she said as she downed her glass.

"I was thinking about the age difference but then there's that too. I know we've just met and I shouldn't be asking you this but could we call Paul. You could ask him what the status is of my… our project and maybe get him to intervene with his boss."

"This is why you asked me to drop by your cabin? You want me to do you a favor… that's all you want from me, a phone call?" said Natasha. She felt a little hurt and angry. Her flirting had never failed before and now this.

"Well yes, what else could there be? You see I've got most of my assets tied up in this project as well as those of my partners and some of them are getting tired of waiting around for this to go through," he said but there was no way she could make that call.

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When the team got back to the room they found General Beckman out on the balcony looking out at the dark horizon and Sam curled up on the couch sound asleep. General Thomas had briefed them on the way back about what had happened to the pirate boat and how it had gone up in a fiery ball of flames. He also told them that the Mohawk was still searching for survivors but there was little hope that there were any.

"I'll go out and talk with her," said Alex. "I don't want to accept that Dad was on that boat with Roan but they weren't at the compound."

"Well, there's not much that can be said but maybe we should get a Cherry cheesecake sent up to the room," said Morgan as he looked over at Chuck.

"That's not a bad idea. It certainly helped me along with all the hours of therapy but I was a kid back then. This is something you're never ready for."

"I was just getting to know him," said Alex as tears welled up in her eyes. "I really should go talk with the General. In a case like this misery loves company."

"And what are you doing out of bed," said Sarah as Sam woke up haring everyone talking. She rubbed her eyes as she stood up and looked at everyone.

"What's the matter with everyone? You guys look… well sad. Did something happen while I was asleep? Where's Bunny?"

"Bunny's fine," said Chuck as he looked over at Sarah who ran to the bedroom looked inside then came back out nodding her head. "Yes, she's fine. It's Uncle Casey and Roan… there's been an accident on the boat they were on…"

"Are you talking about the pirate boat that pulled out of the inlet?" said Sam. Everyone looked at her puzzled. "I saw the satellite feeds on the TV. Who do you think I am, Morgan? Sorry Morgan, but that doesn't matter because Uncle Casey wasn't on the pirate boat and I don't think Uncle Roan was either."

"Uncle Roan? Where did that… never mind," said Chuck as Sarah gave him a look. "You're going to have to explain yourself. How do you know he wasn't on the boat?"

"I watched you guys from here and I bet you didn't find the guys behind this either. Don't you see this is like the shell game. You put the pea under the shell then you move it around but the pea is never under any of the shells because you've palmed it. The first rule with the shell game is you control where people look and second you make them see what you want them to see. If you know all the conns…"

"You'll never be a sucker," said Sarah. Sam smiled and nodded.

"If you keep this up I'm going to have to put you on the payroll," said the General as she came walking back inside. "Mary said there were two explosions and the first one was caused by the Mohawk but the second one destroyed the boat. What if it was a bomb onboard and they wanted us to see the boat explode."

"And the raid," said Tank. "Crap, Marley had to bring in all his men from where they'd been posted to augment the tac team when we raided the compound. I bet he pulled his men he had at the airport."

"I'm on that," said Chuck as he hacked into the airport's data base. "Yeah and there was a chartered Lear jet that flew out right as we raided the compound. It was lease by a dummy corporation out of the Caymans. Their flight plan has them heading for Puerto Lempira in Honduras."

"What are we doing waiting around here," said Sam as she stood there with her hands on her hips in her onesies. "Let's round them up and head out. We can head them off."

"Head them off nowhere for you Miss. You've got school tomorrow or have you forgotten."

"Rats, the sacrifices I make for higher eduction."