Don't own Chuck
It had been a long day. The General had been beaten up on all sides. The Admiral had gone straight to the President to complain about Twin Peaks and he had to spend two hours of saying yes sir before he got the President calmed down enough to where he'd listen. He wasn't sure why he'd come back to the office afterwards just a glutton for punishment he thought but now it was about time to call it an day. He'd sent Connie home early one of the few things he could do without having to call the chair of the JOC for permission and say mother may I. What crap he through as he poured himself a drink. As he was pouring his Aide came up to check in before he went home. The General invited him to pull up a chair and he poured them both a glass.
"No word yet on Casey," asked the General. His Aide just shook his head as he sipped from his glass. "I should probably call and give them a heads up in Burbank that things have gone to crap over there too."
"Sir, why not wait until the morning. By then we'll have a clearer picture of what's happened on the ground. If we call them now we risk just upsetting them over something that will wash out in the morning."
"You're right at least this way they get one night's worth of rest. Although I don't think Agent Carmichael is getting much rest." The General saw the puzzled look on the Major's face. "I mean Sarah Carmichael although I don't believe the other Carmichael is getting much rest either."
"Oh right, yes I think so too. I talked with some of my friends over at the Pentagon. We went to the academy together and they tell me the drone investigation is being directed and run out of the Admiral's office."
"Admiral Greene?" asked the General and the Major nodded his head. "I realize that's micromanaging to the max but how she wants to run her office is her own business. But it begs the question does she have a real job? Sorry, I shouldn't have said that. We really shouldn't be spying on her."
"Sir, with all due respect you do realize how absurd what you just said sounded. We are by our own charter a clandestine operations office which means we spy."
"But not on our own… well not intentionally… well not with… oh hell okay so we spy on our own as well as the world. She's still the chair of the JOC. She deserves the respect she gets for her rank and title. Okay forget what I just said. I'm tired and I feel like a dog's chew toy everyone has taken a bite out of me." As he was talking his phone rang. "Here we go another pound of flesh." The General picked up the phone then when he heard who was on the other side his eyes widened and he put him on speaker.
"Igor, you're a hard man to get in touch with. I had a dinner the other day with your military attaché and he… well I guess you've got to get used to him kind of an acquired taste."
"I'm not calling to ask about the weather. I told you that I would handle this from my end and what do you do? You send in an agent and not just any agent you send in Colonel Casey your NSA hitman."
"Igor, I asked for an update and I got an ultimatum. I think I have every right to take action and I'm holding you responsible for Colonel Casey's safety."
"You're holding me what? An ultimatum? I just wanted you to know things were proceeding and that Chuck was being treated for blood poisoning. That's what Borz told me. He said that Chuck had let his head wound go untreated and it got infected. You can imagine where he's at is not the most hygienic place in the whole wide world. How's that an ultimatum now I hear you're dropping a contract killer to take out who? Chuck?"
"No your guy said if the device is deployed again in the Soviet…" The General started to say and he heard the growl on the other end. "Pardon, I mean Russian Federation that you'd take this before the UN general assembly."
"He said that? Yes, we don't want it used anymore and we'd like to know what it is but the last time it was used Chuck stopped a truck convoy full of these devices from making it to market. How could we be upset with that? It's what we wanted. Can you image a lunatic like Czar Nikolai with something like that?"
"I'm just telling you what he told me. Maybe it got lost in the translation but I briefed the President and he wasn't happy either."
"I'm going to have to have our man recalled to Moscow for a debriefing. I don't like this. There could be something else in play. However, this still doesn't justify the presence of Colonel Casey. Please don't tell me you sent him to assassinate Chuck."
"Of course not, who do you think we are? He's supposed to bring Chuck home by whatever means necessary."
"I'm not even going to comment on the first part of your statement. I don't think he'll be bringing anyone back right away. Borz's forces are squaring off against Nikolai in a winner take all head to head. Chuck is confident they can win. Borz is less so, but he's tired of fighting."
"What is your gut feeling? Can one man make that much of a difference? What kind of numbers are they facing?"
"You really don't know your own agent very well do you? Dear General Thomas in our offices it is often the single man or woman who can make a difference. Your predecessor knew that quite well. The game of chess is played with individual pieces not armies for a reason. Each piece has a purpose, a move or if you like a mission. Every piece from the smallest pawn to the king itself can win the game for you. So yes my feeling is Chuck will win because he has no other choice."
"If you'd returned my calls maybe this could've all been avoided. I called you on more than one occasion to get a progress report but you didn't pick up."
"When you called either I didn't have anything at the time or the information I have was sensitive and I didn't trust talking about it over open lines of communication."
"Maybe we ought to take care of that by placing a means of making a secure link from your office to mine and vice versa."
"I'm game but it is a little far for two cans and fishing line," said Igor. The Major gave a small laugh but the General gave him a look.
"Funny Igor, very funny I'll put my techs on it. I'm sure we can come up with something like the red phone in the White house."
"Or the bat phone in Commissioner Gordon's office," said Igor as General Thomas just shook his head.
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Sam was sitting in the living room with Morgan and Alex coloring in one of her coloring books. Morgan took on the job of passing colors to her as she colored. When she was finished with one she'd hand it back and he'd put it away then she'd select another holding it up for him to approve. The General was over at Casey's talking on the horn with her contacts to get the latest on the current situation.
"Kat if anyone asks were I am I went to the bedroom for a second. I need to get a sweater I'm feeling a chill. If you guys want to order something from Sizzling Shrimp I'll buy just make sure there's no MSG in whatever you get for Sam."
"You don't have to tell me I'm a mother too. Are you okay? You're looking a… I'm sorry it's stupid people asking you if you're okay because you're not. People who tell you they understand they're lying. There's no way they can unless they've gone through the separation and… well what I, we Alex and I had to go through."
"Thanks, the truth, I just wanted to go back to the closet and smell his clothes. I close my eyes and for a second he's there with me. I know it's a dream but it keeps me going."
"I did that and don't let anyone tell you not to," said Kat as she took Sarah's hand. "Soon they'll be coming through that door together." As Kat said that the doorbell rang and Alex got it but instead of them it was Beckman and the look on her face said that everything wasn't fine.
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Izad walked out on the railing looking over the now silent plant. Nikolai had sent the workers home until the silicon could be delivered. He told the workers it was so they could be with their families but the truth was he didn't care about their families. It would cut down on the mouths to feed at least until after he made his move against Borz then he could take their provisions. Izad walked back inside after he watched Nikolai rolled out with his men now he was sure he could call his Hydra contact without being overheard so he quickly set up the tablet on the desk then sat back.
"I have no idea what time it is there but it's almost midday here," said Izad. "Listen we've got a situation here. Nikolai has become erratic to work with. You know the first shipment was destroyed and we haven't even started on a second run."
"I don't understand why you haven't been able to? We need more chips and we need them now our clients won't wait until the spring thaw. You need to get the Czar to do something."
"Well he's part of the problem. The other part is that the Roki tunnel is blocked and Nikolai is reluctant to use the other passes because he might lose more trucks. As I said he's part of the problem."
"Then the way I see it we have two possible scenarios. We remove Nikolai and put someone else in charge. There's that other leader Borz. We could approach him and see how he'd like to become Borz I."
"Nikolai is on his way to put an end to Borz and his people. The only reason I could make this call was because he was gone."
"Then that brings us to option number two. So if he's gone there are no guards around you right now or there are just a few? How far is the nearest airport?"
"That would be Vladikavkaz International Airport and we could make it in a couple of hours. If there was a plane waiting for us. I can't see Nikolai being happy when he returns and finds us gone."
"If you can make it to the airport with the two doctors I'll have an aircraft waiting. There is a facility I know in the jungle that we could use. It's not far south of Costa Gravis left over from revolutionary days. You won't have to worry about snow there."
"Good I'll get the doctors packed up and we'll be there in a couple of hours," said Izad but as he was talking he heard vehicles driving back inside. "Crap I think he's already back. I hear vehicles and I hear his voice. I need to go." Izad quickly switched off the monitor and was putting it away when Nikolai came walking in.
"I thought you'd come out to greet me," said Nikolai as he caught Izad putting away his comms device. "I was on my way to eliminate Borz and Carmichael when it dawned on me that I left you and your professor friends unprotected so I sent Emin to deal with Borz, that way I could come back and keep you safe."
"That's comforting to know you're so concerned about our wellbeing," said Izad. "But aren't you worried Emin might screw up your big triumph over Borz or worse people could start to look up to him. You know he could become your rival in the future?"
"No, he knows if he screws up I'll kill him. What he doesn't know is when he gets back I'll kill him just the same. You're right when you said I don't need a rival. I don't need people who'll stab me in the back and I'm glad I don't have to worry about that with you or your people," said Nikolai as he slapped Izad on the back. "Don't worry, as soon as Borz is taken care of, I'll get that shipment of silicon for you. Now let's go find something to eat I'm hungry. Where are you professors at I haven't seen them around?"
"They're in the lab doing some sort of experiment with alloys to make the chip more heat resistant which would make it reusable."
"I don't want to say anything but that doesn't sound too… how do I say this… very smart? Walk with me and I'll explain," said Nikolai as he led Izad outside. Nikolai looked at his man than at the comms device and the man nodded staying behind until they were gone.
"You see Izad if the devices are reusable there's no incentive to buy new ones. You just keep on using your old one until it wears out like a washing machine or television. The way the device works now is fine you don't want it to last because that way your customers will always have to come back to buy more. You know I've been thinking you people really need a partner with some business sense. We could do a little marking strategy here. You could put a double headed eagle on the outside and I could be your testimonial. How do you say poster child? That is for a small cut after all this is my plant."
"Small cut? I do know what kind of small cut are we talking about? I'd have to get approval before I could agree to anything so…" Izad started to say as Nikolai snapped his fingers then had his man hand him Izad's comm device.
"Why don't we call and get them on the line and see?" said Izad. "I'm a reasonable man just ask any of my men they'll all agree. You know the Doctors I need but you. Explain to me why I need you again?"
"You ungrateful..." Izad started to say but he saw the men around Nikolai reaching for their weapons and he couldn't take them all out. "You need me to help negotiate with my Hydra contact. She doesn't know you like I do and she could simply approach Borz or one of your other rivals. Hydra could support them to overthrow you the way we did you over the council. No you need me to help you with these people. They're mine and they know me I'm sure we can all come to a mutual agreement."
"You see I knew there was a reason I hadn't killed you yet and if I asked you'd know why. Here take your little tablet and come up with a number fit for a Czar," said Nikolai as he handed Izad the tablet. "Let me know I have to go see how the battle is progressing. I should be back soon this won't take long."
"Crap," thought Izad as Nikolai left. He knew Hydra would never agree to the Czar's terms but if he told him that he'd kill him and take the professors. He had the plant along with Shepherd and Ryder it was true he'd made himself expendable now he had to come up with something.
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John was lead through camp trudging through the mud. He looked around and the people they all looked weather worn and haggard like they were barely standing. There were children and animals running in the muddy paths between the tents as the women packed. Probably one of the many times they had to escape considering the haste they were throwing things together. How do you sort what's important and what's not when you've sort through the same things a thousand times. In the end you consider leaving it all, but that would mean giving up everything, even hope.
They seemed to be breaking camp as some groups were being lead out and up. Casey could only think they were preparing to repel imminent assault and Borz wanted to get the women and children out of harm's way. They marched him up to a tent the girl with them opened the flap then he was unceremoniously shoved inside. He started to turn but he was shoved back around again.
"Colonel Casey it's nice to meet you," said Chuck. "I wish I could greet you properly but these people have limited resources. Release him."
"What, are you mad?" said Borz. "He's an American spy we can't trust him. He could do…" Chuck cut Borz off.
"He can do what? He's unarmed and in the middle of our camp and besides if we ask nicely I'm sure he'll promise not to do anything to you or your people. Isn't that right Colonel?"
"I have no quarrel with them," Casey said in Russian. Chuck looked at him amazed. "What? You pick up things when you're stuck in a wall. Do you know why I'm here?"
"I think it probably has to do with me," said Chuck as he poured them both a drink. "This is call chacha it's like a grappa the Georgians make. It's just me and you who'll be drinking. The Chechens unlike the Osettians or Georgians are majority Muslims. My friend Borz here looks the other way for me. Here's to you Colonel," said Chuck as he raise his glass. Casey took his shot then downed it.
"So Sheshenkov is it or…" Casey started to say trying to figure out who he was talking to but Chuck cut him off.
"Please call me Juri, I insist. There's no reason that we ought to be so formal we're both professionals after all. I'd like for you to agree to put off our dance until we get done here. I promise it should be over very soon. Here let me fill your glass," said Chuck as he poured him more.
"I don't know if you're supposed to drink this crap or pour it in your gas tank," said Casey as he held it up to the light. To him it taste and looked like pure alcohol. "You sure you won't go blind from drinking this stuff?"
"Actually the camp's doctor uses it as a disinfectant. Come here and look at this," said Chuck as he brought Casey to the map. John caught Borz's look he wasn't happy with him walking around loose and he didn't like Chuck sharing battle strategy.
"What am I looking at? This is a map of the valley and what are these match boxes your troop deployment?"
"John, this is the situation. I've got about a company of men and we're getting ready to face a Brigade of Nikolai's forces. This is where we are and I've got scouts who are telling me Nikolai is advancing from here," said Chuck as he pointed to the map.
"Your troops. Are you talking about that those people I saw outside? You've got to be crazy… Well I think you are. But how do you think you're going to be able to hold off let alone defeat a force that big with so few and in the condition those people are in outside? Chuck… I mean Juri this is suicide."
"Maybe not if I can create an advantage. Remember Custer's last stand," said Chuck as Casey looked at him wondering now even more who he was talking to.
"Juri, I don't know if you remember but it didn't end so well for the General."
"I'm not going to be Custer I'm going to be the Indians. I've got eyes on Nikolai. He's got a secret base here deep in the mountain. That's where the production plant is." Casey turned and looked at him. "Yes I figured you were here for that too. But we have to draw out Nikolai's forces here to me in this gorge. Nikolai is overly confident like General Custer and he'll march everyone right here thinking he'll have us bottled in. Then my plan is to ask them kindly to surrender."
"I get it you're going to make them laugh to death. What are these people going to do after they shoot you?"
"We're going to kill them all. We've got mortars and artillery hidden on the other side of both these ridges," said Borz as he pointed their positions on the map. "Nothing leaves this valley alive."
"Chuck… I mean Juri," said Casey seeing if he could get a reaction but if he was Chuck he was playing it close to his chest. "What do you think about terminating all those people?"
"Naturally if there's another way I'd prefer it that's why I'm staying here and facing them. I'm the red flag that will draw them in. Nikolai is kind of how would you say…"
"The guy's pissed at you. I understand him quite well you do have that way with people sometimes or that's what I've been told."
"You talked with Igor or Anatoly? Haven't you?" said Chuck. "Anatoly, Borz is a fellow FSB agent. He used to do a lot of field work but now he's chained to a deck in Lubyanka. He might as well be on the first floor. Borz, you should call your friend the Director and let him know we have an American guest."
"I thought you were…" Borz started to say he thought Juri was going to take the American as a prisoner to Lubyanka but Chuck gave his a look he interpreted to mean that he was playing cat and mouse with the American. "Very well I'll go call but I'll have to go to communications tent."
"John, we don't have much to eat here," said Chuck as he handed him a plate of fruit and cheese with a knife. "Deshi can you go to the medical tent and get us some more chacha, please." Deshi left leaving them alone. "Eat up. It could be a while before you can eat again," said Chuck as he turned his back to Casey. John picked up the knife and came up behind him.