Don't own Chuck
Casey found himself lying on a rotten cot in a pool of his own sweat wondering how he got there. Saying he felt like crap was an understatement. The top of his head felt like it was going to explode and his head ached so badly he couldn't see straight. He felt both hot and cold, burning up one moment then freezing to death the next. He curled up in a fetal position because his stomach was killing him. It was all he could do when he was conscious to heave up over the side of the bed onto the floor.
"How's he doing," he heard some man ask outside his door. He never heard the reply because he passed out first.
"There's your answer he's out again. The man belongs in a hospital he's got some form of dengue fever and that's all I know."
"You have to treat him and get him up on his feet. El Comandante wants him ready for tomorrow or he won't be happy and I think you know what that means."
"Happy or not that's not going to happen," said the Doctor then the man with the scar across his face pulled out a long knife. "Okay I can hydrate him and pump him up on amphetamines to get him moving but other than that I can't promise anything. I can get him up I just don't know how long he'll say that way. You push him too much far in the state he's in and he just might fall overand never get up again."
"It would be a shame if you fell over too," said the scar faced man putting his knife back in its sheath. "Look I know you're doing your best but the Colonel here just has to be able to take a couple of steps nothing major."
"Like I said I can get him up but I won't swear how long he'll be like that. This is the best I can offer take it or leave it. Just get out of my way."
"Doctor, don't try to be brave it won't do your health any. I need to go report into El Comandante. I'll let you get back to your patient." With that the scar faced man walked out then down the hallway to Turrini's office and the Doctor returned inside to see his patient.
"My dear Colonel, I'm sorry I have to treat you like this," said the Doctor replacing the IV then taking out a vial marked Benzedrine. He injected Casey through his IV with a cocktail of Benzedrine and antibiotics. "There that should keep you with us and help you to fight off the bugs running around inside you."
"Bugs," mumbled Casey. "Need... African Snake herbs... pack." He got out. The Doctor was curious so he went over checked the pack John was brought in with. Inside he found a plastic bag with dried herbs the resembled a tea.
"What the heck it can't hurt," he said as he inspected the bag opening it then smelling the contents. He even pinched it to feel it between his fingers. It had an earthy smell but not a too disagreeable odor and it felt like wood shavings. He went out and got the bartender to make him some hot water then he began to steep some. The odor was pungent and strong. The Doctor thought there had to be an unwritten law somewhere that said medicine had to be vile to be effective. But if that were the gauge then had to be a miracle drug.
"Here Colonel," he said as he raise John's head. "Drink up, worse comes to worse you get even more hydrated." He got Casey to drink about a half a cup then he let him stop rest for a little bit then had him finish it.
In the back scar face went to see El Comandante to give him a progress report. He knew Turrini wasn't going to be happy when he walked in but he was ordered to report in.
"How's the Colonel? Tell me he's smoking cigars and barking orders like he used to do? I need him up and moving for this to work."
"I'm sorry El Comandante but the doctor is doing his best. He'll have him up tomorrow but whether he'll be able to do what you want done is another question. I think we might have to go with plan B and have someone else do the shooting.
"If I do that then I'll need to make sure whoever does the shooting hits the target and I don't know if I trust you cutthroats to do that. Well I just made up my mind if we have to do that then I want you behind the scope."
"It will be an honor to shoot you," said scar face. Turrini gave him a wicked look. "I mean help you carry out your plan."
"I'm sure you did," said Turrini looking at him. Let's go over the plan again I get up on the stage then a crowd comes together in front of the palace I make a short speech every one applauds and as everyone is applauding you shoot me..."
"But how can I shoot you if I'm applauding? I'm sorry but your plan doesn't make sense. You said everyone was applauding."
"It does make sense to anyone with half a brain. Everyone except you applauds because you'll have a rifle trained on me..."
"But why am I not applauding? I'm not going to like what you have to say. Personally, I think I ought to applaud first then shoot you."
"Remember you're not really shooting me in the sense to kill. You just have to wound me a little," said Turrini wondering if he shouldn't revise his plan but it was too late now.
"I know that. Now which arm did you say you use the right or the left? I'd hate to shoot you in the wrong arm then how would you sign all those autographs."
"Shoot me in the left, I'm right handed," said El Comandante. In a contorted way what scar face said made sense. "Okay so as soon as that's done you give Casey the gun then run. The police will come and arrest Casey. They'll charge him with attempted murder, mine. I'll be able to use that to incite the crowd then from there who knows what will happen. But Casey has to be found at the scene with the weapon or it won't work and as much as I don't like this you'll have shot me. Don't screw it up."
"I understand all that I'm not stupid you know. But you said you were right handed right? Maybe you should wear a button or something that I can use as a target."
"I'll wear one of my campaign buttons if that makes you happy," said Turrini. "But the most important thing other than not killing me is that everyone has to think Casey pulled the trigger."
"I understand that I'm not stupid you know," said scar face. But the more scar face insisted the more Turrini thought it prudent to wear a Kevlar vest just in case. His man wasn't making him feel good about plan B. Maybe there ought to be a plan C.
"Go now and check on the Colonel and keep me advised how he's doing. If he has a turn for the worst we'll have to rethink our plans altogether and I won't be happy."
"I could still shoot you and we can blame it on someone else or... I know the ghost of the Angel de la Muerte."
"His ghost, yeah and maybe his friend Casper was his spotter. Just go and keep me informed," said Turrini. After scar face left he went over to his bar and poured himself a rum wondering if this idea was really worth it but it was too late to back out now.
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Back in Langley the General was getting nervous, Casey was past his check in time. Sat imagining had shown him last in the target area collect debris and destroying classified hardware. That was hours ago and the General expected him to contact her after the work in the crash area was completed, but nothing just silence. It was as if the jungle had swallowed him up.
"Major, I want the people down in the situation room to pull out all the stops. Tell them to do whatever it takes but find the Colonel."
"But Ma'am he hasn't been missing for that long something could've come up. You of all people know things like that happens."
"Stuff might happen to other people but not the Colonel. My gut tells me something has happened," said the General when Connie stuck her head in.
"General, I've got a call for you from Costa Gravas on line one. It's their Premier's office and they asked to speak with you."
"Here we go maybe we'll get some answers. Sit down I'll put them on speaker," said the General as she waited for the line to connect. "General Beckman…"
"I know who you are," said the Premier. "It's me I didn't tell your secretary it was me because I'm beginning to think the walls in the palace have ears. I need to know where John Casey is at exactly."
"I wish I could tell you but I don't know myself. He hasn't…" The General started to explain he hadn't checked in but Alejandro cut her off.
Come on this isn't any time to play I Spy I need to know. It's important take my word on it," said Alejandro wondering why the General was giving him the run around. "I wouldn't ask if I didn't need to know."
"Alejandro, I wish I could tell you but Casey missed his check-in this afternoon. My Major will send you the coordinates where he was last seen as of right now he's officially MIA. Now tell me why you're asking. Judging from your tone I'm not going to like it."
"This morning I had a run in with Juan Pablo Turrini. I don't know if you remember him or not. He was the one who convinced my wife to organize that ridiculous coup against me. My most trusted advisor."
"The coup that imploded after your wife dropped out of the conspiracy. Yes, I remember him the former head of your defunct Secret Police."
"Yes that's him. Well it seems he's planning on running against me in the upcoming elections," said the Premier. "Anyway I met him this morning in the street which was no accident and he asked me if I had Casey brought here to assassinate him. How did he even know Casey was in country? He also hinted to the fact that other Americans were arriving. He's up to something and now you're telling me you don't know where the Colonel is. I don't like this.
"Neither do I, I'm going to contact the Carmichaels they're on their way…." The General started to say but the Premier interrupted her.
"I know where they're at; I sent the plane to pick up the Woodcombs. You contact them and I'll look into things here. Maybe we hombres should go on a little nature trekking expedition. I could take Chuck and Devon on a trip to see some of our nation's wildlife while the women stay and prepare for the festivities."
"That sounds like an excellent idea. Let me contact the Carmichaels and you make arrangements from your end."
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The two couples were in mid-air at twenty thousand feet flying at around 190 knots an hour onboard a Yak-40. The ex-soviet Aeroflot was cruising along the Eastern seaboard hugging the coast line flying past Florida then over Cuba on its way to Central America. Their host pointed out that they were flying over Fidel's home and this was probably the closet any of them had ever been there.
"I don't know about that," said Chuck as he looked over at Sarah. She motioned for him to be quiet this part of her past life was still classified. Her phone rang telling her she received a text message.
"Chuck, it's the General she needs for us to contact her right away," said Sarah. Looking in front of her was Sam who was still whispering back and forth with Clara. "And you two are up to something I can tell."
"Who us?" said Clara smiling like the cat who ate the canary. "We're just two kids stuck on a plane with our parents besides we're kids we're supposed to be up to something it's one of the laws."
"I forget how old you are sometimes," said Sarah as she got up pulling out her comms device from her bag in the overhead bin. "Watch Sam until we get back and whatever you two have going don't get into too much trouble." Clara rolled her eyes and both Ellie and Sarah laughed.
"Come on let's see what Diane wants," said Chuck as he noticed the same mischievous look both girls had. Then as they went aft he glanced back and caught them following them. "You're right they're up to something. Any guesses what it is?"
"No but they're kids how much trouble can they get themselves into," said Sarah as they went into the aft section of the plane that was a sleeping compartment.
"You realize those are famous last words," said Chuck as he set everything up. "Well, one thing at a time first Beckman then we see what the girls are up to."
"Agreed," said Sarah as the video flickered then the General came on the screen. "Good afternoon General. We got your text what's so urgent that you said can't wait?"
"I'm afraid to tell you that the Colonel has gone missing. We lost him while he was in the Costa Gravan interior retrieving the satellite debris. I was concerned when he didn't check in on time then the Premier called me about certain rumors he heard."
"What kind of rumors?" asked Chuck. "I assume they were about Casey. Did they say if he's been captured or injured? I can go looking for him as soon as we land if you like."
"You mean we can go looking for him," said Sarah. "General, send us the area where he was last sighted then we…."
"I already sent it to the Premier and he came up with an idea of taking the men on a hiking expedition into the Costa Gravan interior as good will gesture or that will be the cover. I think it's an excellent idea. I can't express how delicate the situation is in Cost Gravas right now so we don't want to arouse suspicion. Sarah, you and Ellie will remain in the Capital with Hortencia to oversee the preparation for the upcoming celebration. It's been confirmed your friend Juan Pablo Turrini has decided to run for President in the upcoming elections after the new constitution goes into effect."
"That doesn't make sense. I mean who in their right mind is going to vote for the former head of the secret police?"
"Who voted for the former director of the CIA to become president?" said Sarah. "But what does this have to do with Casey and his disappearance?"
"Turrini is inciting the masses, telling them the Premier has become a puppet for our government, so don't expect a warm welcome. As I find out more I'll pass it on but for now Beckman out."
"Roger that," said Sarah. "Chuck, what are we going to do we've got the kids with us."
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Back in the Hydra Command Center Frank paced up and down the floor watching the board as a clock counted down. When it hit zero he looked over to Dr. Martin and Silvia nodded then raised a video image on the big screen. In Baikonur Kazakhstan a Russian rocket lifted off and with it its cargo stored away in its hold. Among the items in its payload was a weather satellite sent up by a fictitious organization for North Atlantic climate change studies.
"How long before our bird comes alive," asked Frank as he impatiently watched the rocket disappear off the screen leaving behind a column of smoke.
"You have to give it a little bit. It has to attain altitude first then the satellite needs to be deployed. Once the solar panels are extended it should make contact with the host and she'll relay to us her baby is ready for orders."
"I need an estimate so I can tell our people. The whole initiative depends on these coming on line at the same time. This is the last bird in our constellation with this we'll be able to control the whole Atlantic detouring aircraft where we want."
"But I don't understand won't the crews know something is up," asked Marcus. He hadn't been too keen on this project and had some grave doubts.
"I explained this to you already," said Silvia. "Aircraft at tracked over land by two radars a primary and secondary being handed off as they travel from one control tower to another. The problem is when they cross the oceans at about 150 miles out the primary radar fades away then they keep in touch with air traffic control and other aircraft using high-frequency radio. They rely on their GPS to give them a position fix..."
"So if we hi-jack the GPS we can slowly lead them where we want or even have them fly in a great circle if the aircrews doesn't catch on then they run out of fuel... well you get the picture. However, our first test run will be a great challenge."
"Why is that?" asked Marcus looking over at Silvia but she just shrugged her shoulders. She had more important concerns like getting the satellite up and running.
"We've learned there's a NATO meeting in Brussels for high ranking military members and civilians. The meeting is actually a meet and greet for the leaders of their respective country's clandestine organizations. A kind of meet the face behind the voice type of thing and on the table is a proposed response to recent world events. We're going to hi-jack the planes of the North American delegations..."
"I got her," yelled Silvia. "She's waking up and I'm bringing her onboard cameras on line now." However, there wasn't much to see at least not yet just the blue horizon of the earth with the black of endless space.
"Good, good bring it close to our target then call me when you're ready to make the swap out," said Frank. Things were falling into place and with any luck he could avoid the foundry furnace. He might even get a promotion out of this operation.
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Chuck and Sarah looked at each other after they finished talking with the General wondering what they were supposed to tell Ellie and Devon. If they told them there was civil unrest they'd want to go straight home which would offend the Premier and further weaken his political position. It could be seen like rats abandoning a sinking ship. But they had Sam and Clara to think about too.
"Chuck when we land one of us stays with Clara and Sam at all times and I think that job is primarily on me."
"I don't have to go into the jungle. Maybe I could coordinate something using a spy sat and I can mount a... oh crap then there's Devon."
"Yes you have to go to watch over him and you need to look for Casey. Don't worry if I could keep a President safe I can do the same for our daughter and the rest."
"The rest includes my sister who is going to have a cow when she finds out what's going on. Listen, we pretend nothing is going on. I'll tell Devon the Premier saw on his Facebook page that he likes outdoor sports so we're going to go trekking in the jungle."
"Chuck, Sweetie we can do this."
"And this was supposed to be a vacation on the beach under the sun not in a mosquito, leech infested jungle slash swamp. We should've gone with Morgan to Acapulco."
"When we get home I'll make you a drink and put little umbrellas in it," she said as she kissed him. We need to go back forward before they think something is wrong."
"Or we could stay here and let them think everything is all right," he said as he kissed her. But just then there was a knock and the Colonel walked in.
"Sorry to bother you but we're in touch with Tower Control in Costa Gravas and the pilot told me that we should be landing in about a half an hour so..."
"Thanks," said Sarah as she straightened her blouse. "Colonel Panza what can you tell us about the current situation on the ground? And don't tell us everything is all right because we just got off the phone with our people."
"This is something new for us so like with anything new it will take time to get used to. The Premier wants these changes so he's doing everything he can to see the take place."
"But you don't agree with them?"
"It's not that I don't agree I think maybe our beloved Premier is moving too fast especially for some. I personally like his reforms for my children. I plan on sending them North to study but for me and my colleagues it's different. We ruled the country now... well we're just like everyone else."
"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others", said Chuck as the Colonel gave him a look. "Sorry that just came out. It sounds like you're saying the military doesn't all agree with the Premier's choices."
"That's also because that traitor Turrini has been agitating the pot. He's been courting some of his old friends the leaders of our military. I warned the Premier about him but he said that in a democracy you have to respect a person's right to disagree. That might be try up North but if the man has a knife in his hand I'm not going to let him walk up behind me. But that's just me... well we all need to get to our seats that half hour I was talking about has long gone by."
"Thank you Colonel," said Sarah as she and Chuck got up.
"Oh and if you're wondering where my loyalty lies it will always be with Costa Gravas, Patria o Muerte as they say."