Don't own Chuck
Back in Brussel the General was getting angry with the delay in the feeds. She wished she were back in Langley in the situation room instead she was in the agency substation. Events that seemed bleak in the beginning had done an about face. She and her people were having trouble keeping track of the events as they unfolded too quickly.
"Ma'am we're hearing stories now that the Premier will be addressing the nation soon. He seems to be at an Air Base outside the Capital at Los Perdutos," said the Major as man came up and whispered in the Major's ear.
"What is it man? You know I'm right here on the monitor," said the General. "Tell your man he might as well just come out with it."
"General, we've got Premier Goya on the line for you. He just called in via Sat phone," said the Major. "We're patching him through."
"Don't keep him on hold I want to talk to him right away," said the General the video feed flickered then the monitor went to a half screen."
"General, it's nice to see your face again. There for a while I wasn't sure if I was going to make it but we made it despite those mutinous assassins Turrini sent. I have to say your Colonel Casey made greater effort. We're mounting a counteroffensive to retake the Capital as we speak. I'm going on soon to address the nation through internet."
"That's nice and I'm glad to hear you're on the march but what about our people? How's Chuck and Devon? Are they all right?"
"Devon is here with me. He's become quite useful coordinating medical relief and triage centers for the injured. I offered to make him the minister of health but he turned me down. Oh, well... what was I saying... Oh yes, in my message I'm going to offer an amnesty for all my junior grade military personnel. They were caught up in the treason by their superiors and were just following orders. But I can see a purge will be necessary for those who gave orders and are marked with blood."
"As long as it's done legally and within the framework of your new constitution, think of it as a trial by fire and you've come through unscathed. So can I speak to Chuck, he'll want to know I've talked with Sarah."
"That's a problem because I don't know where he is. The last we saw of him he was disarming General Rodriguez with one of our helicopters then he flew off towards the Capital. We lost track of him when he flew past our battle lines."
"How long ago was that?" asked the General as she looked at her Major on the other half of the screen. Once the Premier gave the time the Major began looking for the chopper on the Sat video feeds.
"I must go now," said the Premier. "I have to prepare to talk to my people. They want me in make-up before putting me before the cameras if you can believe that. I've been dodging bullets and they're concerned that my face is too shiny. Find Sarah and you'll find Chuck," said the Premier before he hung up.
"I've got him he's set down in the palace courtyard. I'm looking above but... strange I don't see any activity. I don't see any movement above and switching to IR scan I've got some warm bodies on the upper floors but they all seem stationary. No movement, it's like they..."
"They've been tranq'd. Chuck is there. Find some way to contact Casey we need to get the word to them that Chuck is on the way. The last thing we need is friendly fire."
"I'm sorry General but after the bombing they lost the ability to receive communications and now they've gone dark."
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In the cenote, people were stating to run about bringing systems up on line. The machines that were dormant began to wake up and yawn as they started to emit a low hum. The system came to life as they powered up. Dr. Martin who should've been happy wasn't and she went to find Frank to tell him how she felt.
"There you are," she said walking after him into his office. "First you have us hide away in this hole and now we're about to let the world know we're here but for what? So some small time banana republic dictator can escape the music? Why are we risking so much for a small fish?"
"First of all take a breath," said Frank as he poured them both a drink. "Here take this and sit down. Relax before you explode."
"I prefer to stand right now I'm too... too angry at you. You can fire me if you want or I can quit but that won't change this is a colossal waste of manpower and resources."
"I agree if that were what I was doing. Come here and sit down I'll explain we're not risking anything because I have no intention of bringing the whole constellation on line. We'll be bringing on line one or two satellites as we need them. I've had our Colonel friend work on Turrini's aircraft and let's just say he'll have an interesting flight."
"But why help him at all just have this Colonel of yours take care of him. Unless you want to play cat and mouse with him," asked Silvia as she took a sip. He was right she needed to relax.
"Maybe I am. I could've had the Colonel do my dirty work for me but I've found things can happen and I need to make sure El Comandante doesn't open his mouth to anyone. Aren't you a little curious to see after all your efforts if the thing really works?"
"Is that what this is all about a test run before we do the real thing? Oh I think I've seriously underestimated you," she said as she took another drink looking into his eyes.
"Frank," said Marcus as he walked in to find the two of them sitting on a couch close to each with drinks in their hands.
"Yes Marcus speak, you where the one who barged in. Dr. Martin I believe you need to get back to the command room. I'll be there shortly as soon as we have confirmation the bird is in the air."
"That's what I came to tell you, our Colonel called in to report that Turrini's at the airport and is boarding the Yak-40. He also said that work you wanted was done. I confirmed the funds he requested had been sent to the Cayman account."
"Very good then we all go to the command room and afterwards if everything is a success we come back here to celebrate with champagne."
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Chuck made his way down into the dungeons beneath the palace converted over as a wine cellar. He had to find Sarah and the rest. There was no way he could find all the charges in time and disarm them. If the palace came down the shockwave and blast overpressure would be channeled down through the tunnels. The forced air pressure would look for an escape popping manhole covers as well as liquefying internal organs.
"Crap," he said as he was running out of time and found the first tunnel blocked. He ran to another entrance almost running into a group of Turrini's men who had found it first and were starting to go in. This he couldn't let happen.
Back in Casey's secret cove the girls were nibbling on chocolate chip cookies. Ellie and Hortenica were trying to distract them. Hortenica was telling the girls how she met a dashing young man full of 'revolución' and 'ideales'.
"Oh did my father not like Alejandro. He said he'd never amount to anything and that he had his head in the clouds. He said had water on the head and walked barefoot because he couldn't afford shoes. My father," she said with a sigh. "He disappeared one night coming home. The Junta at the time official called him missing. Alejandro took me to the jungle with him before I became a desaparecidos. But now for something happier one of the things Alejandro and I love to do in our jungle cave was to dance."
"Dance? But how do you dance if there's no music," said Clara looking over at her mother. Ellie just shrugged her shoulder.
"We all have music in us. We're all born with it," said Hortencia as she picked Sam up and they began to sway. Sam giggled and got down. She started to dance with Hortencia who encouraged her.
"Now mueve tu cintura, oye este ritmo cadencioso... este biale es contagioso," sang Hortencia as she took Sam put her up on a table top so she could put on her little show.
"She's a little young to be dancing table tops," said Casey as he stood back with Sarah watching. "You're worried about Chuck. He can take care of himself."
"I know but that doesn't mean I can't worry. Speaking of worrying you should get in touch with Kat as soon as you can. This thing has to have hit all the international presses by now."
"About Kat, I've been thinking maybe she and me aren't such a good idea. This life we lead… well it's not fair to keep her on a string waiting for me to show up and what's going to happen the day I don't."
"John, you shouldn't be thinking like that and before you make any decision you should talk this over with Kat. She lost Alex her fiancé I don't think she wants to lose John her boyfriend. Just do me a favour and talk to her before you do anything rash. I think she'll surprise you how strong she is."
"I know how strong she is. She raised Alex by herself but it isn't fair of me to put her through that hell again and for what, me?"
"John, this might come as a surprise to you but I think if you ask her that questions she'll tell you that you're worth it."
"I don't know," Casey started to say when they heard automatic weapons fire in the tunnels. "Did you hear that?"
"Yeah, hey guys," said Sarah. "Let's play a game; we'll call it the silent game. John and I are going to go out and you guys try to be as quiet as you can. Then we'll come back and tell you who we heard first." She gave a look to Ellie and Hortencia but they'd heard the gunfire too so they knew what was going on.
"That sounds like a fun game," said Ellie as she and Hortencia gather the girls in a corner. Sarah passed Hortencia a Walther PPK, her backup piece then left with Casey.
"I thought that noise came from down that way but I could be wrong. John, you know these tunnels which direction did it come from?"
"Follow me it's down this way. Sound echoes off these walls so you have to be careful when you hear sounds but it's what kept me safe when I was living in here."
"Chuck's right, one of these days you need to write all this down even if no one will be able to read it without need to know and the appropriate clearances."
"Shush someone is coming," said Casey. "Hear that it sounds like they're dragging their feet. Get ready they're almost here." Casey and Sarah raised their weapons as a man dressed in a military uniform staggered out into the light then dropped in from of them.
"What the…" Casey started to say but he caught movement behind the man and immediately raised his weapon and fired. In that moment Chuck came in sight, Sarah screamed for John to stand down but it was too late. His shot hitting Chuck dead center mass knocking him off this feet making him drop backwards
"Augh!" said Chuck as his body jerked backwards making a loud thud when he hit the tunnel floor then he didn't move.
"No John, what have you done… You've shot Chuck," said Sarah. She froze, part of her wanted to check him and another part of her didn't want to see him if he was… well what he appeared to be.
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At the airport Turrini arrived incognito driving himself in a car he grabbed off the street. He drove straight through the gate there was no one standing post. After he drove on he parked close to the hangar where he was met by Colonel Toledano who quickly ushered him on the Yak-40. They got on board and the Colonel told the pilot to take off.
"I can't," said the pilot. "There's no one in the control tower to give me instruction. What happens if a plane tries to land while we're taking off?"
"Who'd want to come here? Now get this thing in the air now," said Turrini as he pulled out his weapon. "I said let's go and I mean now."
"Yes sir," said the pilot as he started the engines then began to roll down the flight line taxiing out to the runway before taking off. "Now where do you want to go?"
"One moment and I'll let you know," said Turrini as he took out his Sat phone and dialled Frank. "We're in the air now, tell me where we need to go… Hold on I'll let you give directions to the pilot." He put the phone on speaker.
"I was telling El Comandante to head for Luanda set a course for 8°50′S 13°20′E put it in your on board GPS. That will get you there then once you're on the ground one of our men will greet you."
"Luanda that's the capital of Angola," said Turrini wondering what he was going to do in Angola. Maybe he could find a cheap bar to run and manage until he could get back up on his feet. "Will I have to stay in the capital or can I venture out. I was thinking about something along the coast."
"You can go wherever you want once you arrive. The continent will be open to you and we'll even help you get set up so you can go sit back and not worry about a thing. I have to go to make sure everything is going to be ready for you when you arrive," said Frank as he hung up.
"Here El Commandante," said the Colonel as he handed him a drink. Let's let the pilot fly the plane and we go back and talk about what we're going to do. Did you know I have a cousin in Angola? He's got a bar he was thinking about selling in Namibe, on the beach."
"Really that's interesting, do you think he'd sell it for a reasonable price," asked Turrini as he yawned. "Excuse me, I think I'm a little tired."
"Probably from all the excitement of the past few days, now that everything is over your body is telling you that you need a little sleep."
"Yes that must be it," said Turrini as he yawned again. Now he felt his eyes heavy and was having a hard time keeping them awake. "Oh it's like this just came up on me all of a sudden. I think I might have to get a little…" He didn't finish speaking before he passed out.
"El Comandante," said the Colonel then he shook him but Turrini was out to the world. The Colonel went into the back and got out a parachute then put it on. As he was putting his on the pilot came back wearing one too.
"Everything is ready. I sabotaged the radio and the transponder. Autopilot is on and it's getting its course from the GPS like you instructed me. We need to go down to the wheel well and jump from there."
"I'll make sure you're taken care of," said the Colonel as the led the way down below. The pilot opened the well door cold air started blowing in.
"You first Colonel and you don't have to have to worry about taking care of me," said the pilot as he pushed him out. "Hydra already did." The Colonel turned as he fell looking wildly up at him. He yanked and yanked on his rip cord both primary and secondary but nothing came out. His last sights were the pilot deploying his chute and waving at him as he reached terminal velocity before the inevitable.
"What the…" said Turrini as the cold air from the open wheel well came up in the cabin and the plane began to shake because of the drag.
"Colonel… Colonel where are you?" said Turrini as he got up in a bit of haze as the effects of the sedative started to wear off. He got up his head was spinning but he pushed himself to go forward to the cockpit only to find it empty. It was like a ghost was flying the plane as the yoke seemed to move on its own.
"Crap," said El Comandante as he went to the after section to find he was to only one on board. Paper and other loose objects were being suck out back to a hatch that led below. He ran back forward to the cockpit and found the toggle for the landing gear. The green light was on for the open wheel well so he threw the switch. The light went off and the draft went away as well as the shaking stopped.
"They jumped," he said out loud like if he'd said to himself silently it would have changed anything. He took out his phone and tried to call Frank but found one of his friends had relieved him of his battery. Then he realized in terror where he was headed although the GPS read a heading for 8°50′S 13°20′E which meant he should have been traveling east but the sun was rising to his right which meant it would set at his left so straight ahead of him and the direction the plane was flying was to the South pole.
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Chuck felt himself being propelled backward knocked off his feet. All the air in his lungs was pushed out of him as he thought not again. When he hit the ground there was a second he was out but he fought to stay conscious. He laid there from a moment as he gather himself then rolled over to the side coughing and wheezing.
"He's alive," said Casey as Sarah ran to him and hugged him. "You know you're could've avoid this little melodrama if you'd let someone know you were coming."
"I missed you too John," he said as he tried to get to his feet. "I really couldn't because Turrini's men found the entrance to the tunnels back there."
"Chuck, you should stay down and catch your breath," said Sarah as she kissed him, dirt and all. "You sure you're okay?"
"Good thing I was wearing my Kevin," said Chuck as Casey gave him a look then grunted. "I'm also lucky you didn't go for a head shot. We need to get everyone together and go. Turrini's men planted C-4 in the palace to bring it down. Do I have to tell you what that will do down here."
"There back down this way but how much time to we have," said Sarah as they started running back down the tunnel.
"Not long enough unless John knows a short cut to the square in front of the palace. I left a chopper parked there."
"Yeah, I know one as a matter of fact," said Casey as they returned. Sam's eyes lit up when she saw Chuck and ran to him jumping into his arms.
"Augh," said Chuck as he put Sam down. "I'm sorry but I've got a little chest pain. Come on we all need to leave. Everyone follow John he'll lead the way. And this is?"
"A long story," said John as Chuck asked about who the Doctor was. "Come on ladies we need to move it this way."
"Chuck, where's Devon and the Premier," asked Ellie as Hortencia stopped to listen. "They're safe aren't they? The last time we talked with them they were safe."
"Of course they are. Come on I'll explain on the way. I left them at an air base outside of town. The Premier is using it as a springboard to retake the city. Now let's move it there isn't much time."
"Much time until what?" asked Ellie. She continued to talk at him as they ran. "Chuck is that a bullet hole in the middle of your jumpsuit."
"This? No, of course not, it's… well the Premier was smoking a cigar and when he threw it out the window it blew back in. Just a stupid accident is all."
"Stupid accident," whispered Sarah as she kissed him.
"Yuck, I think I'm going to be sick," said Casey. "Can you two hold off for a second until we're out of here? We have to go up… now," Casey grabbed Clara.
"John, if you left your pack or give it to me it would be easier," said Sarah but he shook her off and started up with Clara and his pack.
"Here Sweet Pea," said Chuck as he took Sam's bunnies and put them inside his jumpsuit and zipped them in. "I want you to hang on my neck. Put your arms around and hold on tight. Wrap your legs around me and up we go. Don't worry if you start to lose your grip I'll catch you against the ladder." Chuck went up after the ladies with Sam.
When he got up Sarah was waiting to take Sam then they ran to the chopper. Casey had everyone inside when the first bomb went off.
"John, get everyone strapped in," yelled Chuck as he got into the cockpit and started the rotors gyrating. As the rotors turned the second explosion went off then as they lifted off the ground below them opened up as the palace collapsed and the tunnels open up.
"There goes your safe house," said Sarah as she pointed out to Casey the abandoned house on the outskirts of the palace collapsing into what looked like a sinkhole.
"Chuck, I need a favour. I need for you to fire two missiles into that wreckage. There's classified material there that can't fall in the wrong hands and needs to be destroyed."
"Are you sure Big Guy? From what I saw there's also a lot of your personal belongings there too."
"Just do it."
"Sorry Big Guy," said Chuck as he raised the red toggle covers and fired two AT-2 Swatters. The missiles flew straight to their target and did their work. Casey went into the back as Sarah came up with Sam and sat down in the co-pilot's seat.
"If you want I can turn over the controls to you," said Chuck. "The air base is a half hour away due east from here."
"No, I'm happy with you in control," said Sarah then she looked over at him. "I think we need to talk and I think you know about what. But let's get everyone home first."
"I agree. I love you."
"I love you too."
"Me too," said Sam half asleep in Sarah's arms.