Don't own Chuck
When Chuck came to he found himself alone in a tent he promptly climbed out of bed yanked out the IV then got dressed and walked out. The sun was bright and the sky was a bright blue almost blinding. The field camp was a group of tents in a deep valley with roaring fires that kept everyone warm but the heat also thawed out the ground so it was muddy mess. The air was crisp so crisp that is burned his lungs with every breath and as he walked he could see it with each exhale. Every step he felt like he was sinking deeper in the muck but Chuck slogged his way through. Already his being up was causing a stir Chuck felt every eye on him as made his way over to the commandant's tent.
"Out of my way," said Chuck as he pushed his way past the guards giving them a look that dared them to try and stop him.
"Come in Colonel I just got off the phone with my friend and he tells me you're here to help us. I can't help wonder if that's true?"
"I don't know either but I guess if by helping you, Borz, that means you help me put an end to that production plant then yes we're on the same side. So you've talked to Igor?"
"Yes he told me you're very capable but I have to ask how one man can expect to take on Nikolai by himself and think he can win? You're either very courageous or you're foolish."
"Maybe both but I'm not taking him on by myself. You're helping me and together with your men we can defeat him. I guess that makes you the same, doesn't it?" Borz laughed he liked Chuck.
"Father wait, don't listen to him," said Deshi his daughter. "He spoke English before I heard him. He's an American spy sent to ruin us. You were going to surrender to Nikolai and we can all live in peace again. Don't you see, that's why he's here to stop you from going through with it."
"And if you believe that I have some land in Siberia for sale. Let me guess, you've had a series of setbacks before I arrived. This Czar seemed to know your every move and has been hounding you driving you deeper in the Mountains. You're now in Ossetia no longer fighting in your native Chechnya."
"Yes we're fighting a running war of attrition and it's not looking good for us right now. It seems Nikolai has extended us an ultimatum to surrender or die."
"That doesn't sound like much of a choice. But he has no intention of honoring that agreement no matter what you decide. Within twenty-four hours he will be in this camp and will kill every man, woman and child here. He's already been tipped off where you are and in this valley you're trapped."
"We have a mole among us? No I don't believe you I don't care who you are… I know all these people. They're my friends and comrades. We've fought together and they've lost people defending our homes. We've shed and spilled blood together. There has to be…"
"Listen to him," said the Doctor. "The Colonel's right, that's the only explanation. How else could Nikolai keep finding us? Someone has betrayed us. Who is it?"
"Yes since you seem to know who is it tell us," said Borz. "Go ahead Kolonel name the person and I'll personally kill them with my own bare hands."
"Borz, let's not be too hasty," said Chuck. "First tell everyone to leave except the Doctor and your daughter. I will tell you but in private. It has to be done like this believe me you'll thank me later. Please just go along."
"I should go," said Deshi as she turned to leave. "This is no place for a girl. You men need to be by yourselves."
"No woman you stay," said Chuck. The words came out harsher than he'd intended but they were strong enough to get people's heads to turn. "I'm sorry, you need to be here."
"Like the Kolonel said everyone out except the Doctor and you Deshi. Come and sit by my side," said Borz. Chuck waited until everyone was out then he closed the tent flap.
"How long have you had your heart condition Borz? I can see the bluing around your finger tips and lips as well as your shortness of breath. I understand your not wanting your people to know so Doctor please watch him. Deshi give me your phone."
"What are you saying? My own daughter is a spy for… for that animal Nikolai. No, I don't believe you. It must be the fever you had that has to be it. Deshi, what's he talking about?"
"Deshi give me the phone or I'll take it. You thought I was out when you talked to Emin. But I heard everything. Borz don't be angry with her, she's in love and this man has taken advantage of her love."
"But I never told him where we were," said Deshi as she handed Chuck her phone. "We just talked that's all… I love him and we want to get married when the war is over. I'm sorry Dad we met when we lived in Grozny and somehow he found me. He sent me this phone so we could talk. I swear I'm telling you the truth. You heard me Kolonel you know I never said where we were… Please tell them."
"My poor girl," said Chuck. "You didn't have to the phone has a GPS transmitter in it that gives its location. Emin is anything but faithful and honest. I'll prove it. Borz, have your people pull out but leave the tents and fires going move into the high ground around. Send word to Nikolai that you need twenty-four hours to consolidate your men here. Tell him I'm here too then you'll lay your arms down."
"I get it. Kolonel you're a genius," said Borz then he got up and walk to his daughter. Chuck didn't like the look on his face so he got in the middle.
"Borz, remember she's your flesh and blood. She made a mistake but she's young. The people you should be angry with are Emin and Nikolai. Family takes care of family." Borz staggered back as the Doctor came up to look at him.
"No you're wrong Emin loves me," said Deshi as tears welled up in her eyes then started flowing refusing to believe Chuck. "He told me he loved me and you'll see when no one shows up. You'll see."
"Deshi, I hope you're right but I'm not willing to bet my life on it. I'll hold onto this phone for now and if no one shows up I'll give it back to you. I promise and I keep my promises."
Chuck went to the entrance of the tent and called back in Borz's lieutenants then when they were inside he took paper and drew a detailed map of the area. They all looked at him wondering how he knew the area in such detail if he'd never been here before.
"I studied Sat images before I got here," said Chuck as he began handing out posts and assignments. But Borz's men looked at him then at Borz.
"Who are you to come in here and take over? Our leader is Borz not someone sent here for Moscow. Why do we have to listen to you?"
"You follow my plan or you die. Those are you options. You can leave here and go to the Czar and tell him you want to surrender. I guarantee you'll live in peace eternal after he puts a bullet in your head. Listen, you just have to follow me for twenty-four hours if nothing happens I was wrong and you can ship me off back to Moscow or turn me over to Nikolai. I think he might be a little angry with me right now. But if I'm right, we'll put a dent in his organization and if we take a big enough bite we might be able to make him sit down at the table for concessions."
"No," said Borz as he pushed by his doctor. "There will be no concessions. If we take a big enough bite then we'll take an even bigger afterwards and again and again until his head is on a pike in the middle of his camp. I've got family honor at stake here now. "
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Not far away deep in the now silent production plant Nikolai was raging kicking over things and yelling. His partners in Hydra had lost only one convoy but he'd lost a month of supplies if not more in face. Plus he lost the trucks and men in the tunnel that now needed to be replaced. To make things worse Izad was on him about getting the silicon from Poti but with his tunnel closed he'd have to use other border crossings and not everyone was willing to look the other way. However, he still had a numerical advantage in the field and he still had the better firepower although with his major supply route down he couldn't sustain any prolonged attack.
"I want him I want that Kolonel. I don't care what we have to do I want him dead," screamed Nikolai as Izad came up to him.
"I, we want the same thing but we need to get production back up. We lost the first shipment we need to get another out as soon as possible. You don't understand we…" Nikolai shut Izad up by shoving a gun in his face.
"I don't think you people understand. If my enemies find out about our situation they'll attack us and as much as we can holed up in here almost forever there is no way supplies can get in to replenish us. I have all this to blame on you and your little boxes."
"You didn't mind those little boxes as you call them when they helped get rid of the council for you," said Izad pushing the gun out of his face. "You're in the position you're in thanks to us and don't forget it Czar. Remember what's given can also be taken away."
"Are you threatening me? Why you I ought to…" said Nikolai as he thought seriously about ending Izad with a bullet in the face but one of his men came running.
"I found him! I found him," yelled a man running up to Nikolai. "The Kolonel is in Borz's camp. He was injured somehow and he's being treated."
"Well that's the first bit of good news. If we're lucky he'll die," said Nikolai as he put his gun away "You should thank Emin he just save your life Izad."
"Or yours," said Izad as he looked back into Nikolai's eyes. "So Emin tell us what else you found out?" Emin looked back and forth at the two before speaking.
"Borz is considering surrendering laying down his weapons and accepting our truce. He's gathering all his men together to put it before them tomorrow."
"And we'll be there to greet them with open arms and Kalashnikovs. You have the GPS coordinates, right?" The man nodded his head and held up a GPS tracker. "Good work, we can sweep in and with one move eliminate them all. They won't know hit them and we won't have to fight a long drawn out war but end it along with them."
"Now that you've calmed down maybe we can talk. The Americans are sending in an operative he'll be parachuting in close to Borz's camp. Might I suggest that you let Borz capture him. Emin, it seems you have a mole in the camp send her these coordinate then you can accuse Borz of selling out to the Americans?"
"They'll have a hard time denying it if they're both dead and I can justify killing the rest of the council because they're corrupt," said Nikolai as he slapped Izad on the back. "I'm glad I didn't shoot you after all."
"I am too," said Izad, thinking that maybe it was time to look for somewhere else to setup a production facility. The Doctors would be happy but the question was even if they could get out they wouldn't get very far with the tunnel closed so where would they go?
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Sarah sat quietly driving off campus. The General wanted to make a quick run to Twin Peaks which was a little more than an hour away from where they were in Pasadena. It would be another hour and a half to get back home from there and considering the time it was she needed to call Alex to have her feed Sam.
"Alex can you hear me," said Sarah as she hit the radio in her Lotus. "We're going to be out longer that I thought so I need for you to feed Sam. You can get her a yoghurt and fruit from Orange orange."
"Agent McHugh you can task Agent Grimes with nanny duty. I need for you to look up an address for us. Dr. Parker was supposed to have had a cabin workshop around Twin Peaks…
"Are you guys looking for Laura Palmer?" They heard Morgan say in the back ground. There was also a giggle and a scream that sounded like Sam laughing.
"Agent Grimes you're wasting air time. When you have the information you can send the coordinates to our GPS."
"How is Sam doing?" ask Sarah. This was the longest they'd been separated since the accident. "She sounds like she's having fun."
"Morgan and her are coloring. I don't think my Dad is going to appreciate it. They're coloring his firearms diagram manuals." Sarah heard the General growl.
"Alex tell Morgan he can find something on the internet for her to color or he can make a run to Large Mart just…"
"I know she's not to left alone I got that," said Morgan. "Don't worry and have fun walking through the trees. Bring us back some fresh air but not too clean I don't know if my lungs could handle it."
"Sure Morgan and if we happen to run into this Laura Palmer I'll let you know," said Sarah. There was a silence around her both in the car and back at Castle.
"I hate to tell you this, but Laura Palmer's dead," said Morgan as Alex gave him a look and threw a pen.
"I'm sorry but why would we see her then," asked Sarah. "I don't understand is there a punch line I missed."
"Sarah, don't pay him any attention he's talking about an old TV series. I've got that address and I'm sending it to you now."
"Morgan's bad," said Sam. "Bye, bye."
"Bye, bye baby. Roger out," said Sarah as she wiped her eyes and concentrated back on the road glancing back up in the mirror.
"Is there something wrong," asked Beckman watching Sarah consistently checking her mirror like she was looking for something.
"I don't know… Maybe it's nothing but I thought I was seeing this same car show up behind us all the time but he seems to be gone now."
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Colonel Casey drove to Travis. The weather was typical California weather hot and sunny. A good day to go flying and in a few hours he'd miss the heat when he parachuted into one of the most rugged terrains on the planet. Not to mention that a blizzard could pop up in a moment's notice but he had his orders. Getting out of the Crown Vic he turned his car keys over to Kat. She and Alex were the only two people he trusted with it. He started to walk towards the hangars when Kay ran up to grab and kiss him.
"I never got to give Alex Coburn a proper hero's sendoff but maybe I can give one to John Casey," she said as she kissed him again. "You take care of yourself over there and come back soon. Bring Chuck with you we're counting on you."
"Roger that," said Casey as he kissed her once more. "That was for good luck. Tell everyone I'll see them in a week or two max."
"Colonel Casey," said the Jumpmaster. "We need to get in the air we've got a long ways to go and a short time to get there." Casey waved back at Kat as he walked back to the hangar. Looking back once more before he went inside, he had a vision of the Buffalo Station and Kat standing there. He sighed then turned around disappearing inside.
The B-2 was tucked away from prying eyes inside the hanger. The Pilot and Co-pilot had already gone through pre-flights and as soon as they had Casey on board the hangar doors opened up. The plane rolled out on the tarmac then onto the runway where it was immediately cued for takeoff. When one thinks a stealth aircraft one thinks of quiet. A sleek surface with a reduced silhouette and protective radar absorption material but on the inside Casey could hardly hear himself think.
"Colonel, I know you've done these types of jumps before," said the Jumpmaster on the plane. "But I wanted to run over with you a few things."
"I got this," said Casey as he put on a thermal suit. The man passed Casey an oxygen tank and Casey checked it to make sure there was good flow and importantly the gauge registered full. He knew he'd need every bit of it before he landed.
"Colonel, I've got a transmission coming in for you from the Pentagon," said one of the air crew as he handed Casey a tablet.
"Colonel Casey, we've never had the pleasure of meeting but I think you know who I am," said the woman in uniform on the screen.
"Yes Admiral, what does the JOC want with me? Proper chain of command would be you go through my boss, General Thomas."
"I would if I trusted him. He wasn't my choice for the directorship of the agency. I had another name in mind and he's looking at me."
"Thank you Admiral but that and fifty cents will get me a cup of coffee. I don't think you've called me to tell me you've reconsidered your choice. So what can I do for you?"
"I realize that this might be difficult but I also think you're the right man for this job. You've never had a problem in the past taking down one of your own team."
"What are you saying you want me to arrest Chuck? On what grounds? I haven't seen anything he's done so far to warrant that?"
"No, I don't want you to arrest him I want you to terminate him with extreme prejudice. I know this might be hard but we can't allow the interact to fall in the hands of the Russians. You of all people can see how dangerous that would be for national security."
"Better dead than red," said Casey "But ma'am are you saying Chuck's gone completely over and do we have proof."
"He's working with a communist faction to take out another faction and can we take the chance that he might inadvertently give the Russians our secrets. If his cover identity has taken over then there's no telling the damage he could cause even if he didn't mean to. No Colonel, it's time to retire the intersect. Don't worry, what happens in Russia stays in Russia none of this will get back to the rest of the team and you won't have to tell his widow."
"Roger that but if I go through with this I want to tell her myself. She desires to hear the truth from me."
"If that's your wish then I concur. Chuck Bartowski has served his country with honor.
Now he'll die with honor to protect it."
"No Agent Bartowski has served his country with honor ma'am. Chuck is an agent the same as any of us. When this is done I want a star on the wall of Langley for him."
"I'll make sure that happens. Admiral Greene out."
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At Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command at Twentynine Palms the day began like any other day. The base is home to one of the largest military training areas in the nation. Some of the programs such as Mojave Viper had become the model for pre-Operation Iraqi Freedom deployment training. The majority of units in the Marine Corps underwent a month at Mojave Viper before deploying to Iraq or a mixed training venue using the Mountain Warfare Training Center for Afghanistan. Live fire exercises, artillery, tank, and close air support training, in addition to the sprawling "Combat Town," a 2-acre fabricated Middle Eastern village, complete with a mosque, native role-players, an "IED Alley," and other immersive touches. Today they had on the menu a mock drone attack with live fire. Two predator drones where to come in lay down cover fire for simulated frontal assault.
"Gold team this is red team we're in position," radioed the squad leader. "Bring it on." But nothing happened. "HQ what's going on? There's supposed to be missiles, explosions where are my birds?"
"That's what we're trying to find out Captain. Have your men stand down and wait for orders," radioed the Major back in the command center. "Now Captain tell me again how you lost control of two predator drones armed with hellfire missiles over the San Bernardino National Forest."
"I don't know suddenly it was like they had mind of their own and banked then disappeared. It was like someone else took control."
"Sir, I've got air traffic control from San Bernardino International Airport they've got our drones on the radar. Sir, they're headed for Twin Peaks."
"What the hell is there and the first person who says Laura Palmer is getting office hours."