Don't own Chuck
Oscar was sound asleep when his phone began to ring it was Mr. Smith. He patted around the bedside table searching for the light switch for a good five minutes before finding it. Then he waited a few minutes before answering trying to collect his thoughts and to wake up. Certainly for someone who wanted to remain anonymous he was making a lot of calls thought Oscar. He tried to concentrate on answering the phone only to be greeted with a growl asking him why he'd taken so long to answer.
"I assume there's a reason you called not just to wake me up because if that was what you wanted to do you were successful."
"No I'm calling to give you a heads up. Word's out on the Dark Net that your chickens are about the fly the coop so you need to keep watch. They are still fair game all the way to Belgrade and from the feelers I've gotten back some of your competitors could be planning something."
"So what do you want me to do? There are a lot of roads from here to Belgrade but the M20 would be the best bet. The road isn't the greatest but it's the best of the worst if you understand what I'm saying. Are you even sure they'll be traveling by car? Seems it would be faster by chopper but then it would be easier to shoot them down with a Stinger up along the border in one of those mountain passes where they'd have to fly slow and low."
"I see you've given this some thought but the word on the Black Net says they'll be driving a black Aston Martin DBS V12 so you're not going to be able to keep up with your SUV. That is unless you get a head start and go now. The M20 would be a good place to try and lay an ambush."
"But I'm going to need a license plate number or some sort of distinguishing feature. I'd like not to take out some poor sap that's either going to or coming home from work."
"I concur so I'll see what I can do from my end. I'll keep my ears open and try to get something from CCTV. I'll send it along to you as soon as I find out."
"I'm not going to check out but instead I'll leave the room open. This could also be a trap to see who checks out and do a big round up outside the city."
"Good thinking you're right. You're catching on to this game faster than what I thought. You know you just might live long enough to see tomorrow."
"Thanks I think," said Oscar as he hung up. Now he needed to get ready and most importantly he needed to find someplace to get coffee at this hour. He packed then went down to the lobby to get his SUV and the first thing he noticed was the number of people leaving in a hurry. He'd been right this mass exodus would certainly not go unnoticed and this whole scenario had 'trap' written all over it.
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Chuck and Sarah got up early and went about getting ready. The meet was set for noon which meant they had to leave at dawn in order to make it in time. The drive under normal conditions was eight hours but that was without blood thirsty cut throats following them. Chuck kissed Sam goodbye as she slept then Sarah took her dangling rag doll baby along with Mr. Rabbit down to Emma. Molly and Razib were both up too they wanted to see them off.
"What are you two doing up?" asked Sarah pretending to be upset but she was glad to see they were there for them. "Isn't it awfully early for you?"
"Can I go see Chuck before you leave?" asked Razib. Sarah nodded and he went down the hall knocked then Chuck told him to enter.
"Razib shouldn't you be asleep? I hope we didn't wake you," said Chuck as he put one his vest then strapped down the Velcro straps but his shoulder wasn't cooperating as he tried to reach back to grab one.
"Here let me help," said Razib as he grabbed the strap and passed it to him. "Can I ask you a question, why do you do this?"
"Follow me Razib. Why do I do what?" said Chuck as he went into the bathroom to check to make sure the vest couldn't be seen under his jacket. "At first I was always scared but Sarah once told some people want to be heroes and others have to be asked. It was, 'so Chuck, are you ready?' And now here we are. You asked me why I do what I do. The question is how can I not? Do I close my eyes and pretend I don't see or do I take action. Are you rethinking about what happened?"
"Maybe," said Razib as he looked down at the floor and began to dance in place.
"Listen I fell a lot before I learned how to walk and as anyone especially Casey, will tell you I'm still falling on my face but that's okay. You just can't stay there. You fall down- so what. You get up dust yourself off and continue on."
"But I… well I wasn't very brave."
"You haven't heard my girlish screams as John puts them and one of these days I'll teach you the Morgan it might come in handy. But Razib you already are the bravest boy I know and your mother would kill me if she heard me say this but I'd be proud to have you by my side in a firefight but when you're older. Here take this," said Chuck as he passed over a watch.
"A watch? But I already have one?"
"No this is a spy watch. Push the button on the side you can talk into the mic and be heard down in the Bank. Here put this in your ear. It's called an ear bud and you can hear what they say back to you without anyone else hearing. I want you to have these while we're gone just in case anything happens again so you can call for help."
"Wow thanks," said Razib as he looked at the watch. "Does this make me a spy like you and my mother?"
"Raise your right hand," said Chuck and Razib raised his hand. "I deputize you as a junior spy and you work for me and your mother. Your mission is to guard the home front while we're gone. Think you can handle that?" Razib nodded yes as he smiled looking up at Chuck
"Handle what?" asked Sarah as she came in.
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A UH-60 Black Hawk took off from Aviano AFB for a night mission. They loaded up the Colonel's team then zipped across the Adriatic evading radar and detection over Slovenia by using stealth technology. Finally reaching their destination outside of Belgrade, Casey had everyone suit then he went and checked both Alex and Morgan one last time.
"John I can do the jump alone I don't need to jump in tandem anymore," said Morgan. "I know what I'm doing."
"Morgan jumping at night isn't the same as jumping during the day. First of all, night jumping requires equipment like a lighted altimeter," said Mary as she inspected them too. "Guys once you've opened the chute use your flashlight to check the make sure the canopy has properly deployed."
"Then keep it off Morgan the guy that's providing transportation is someone I know but not necessarily someone I trust."
"How did you say you knew this guy," asked Morgan. "It wouldn't have been when you were doing the Energy Consultant gig would it sugar bear?"
"Maybe you should jump alone and without a chute," said John as the clapped his handed together making a loud noise. "And pop goes the Morgan."
"Will you two behave," said Alex. "They're like this all the time always joking around. So Dad what else do I need to know?"
Alex there is something you need to keep in mind," said Casey. "You have to remember what you were told about the Dark Zone."
"There is a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man," said Morgan as he took his flashlight and shined up at his face. "It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man's fears and the summit of his knowledge. This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area which we call the Twilight Zone."
"It'll be the dead zone if you don't knock it off," said Casey. "That would be a good name for the space between your ears. Now pipe down. Okay Alex at above 100 feet you'll have a good view of the landing area because of the reflected ambient lighting. However, once we get closer to the ground you're going to lose it, because of the low angle of reflection. The lower we get, the darker the ground will look."
"Listen to what John's telling you it's important," said Mary thinking about Morgan. "You have to maintain and can't freak out."
"That's right and at about 100 feet and below, it could even seem like you're landing in a black hole. That's when you need to prepare yourself because suddenly it becomes very dark, then you'll hit the ground soon afterwards."
"John we just got a yellow light," said Mary as she moved towards the hatch getting the cargo ready for the first drop.
"Okay guys this is it. Everyone meet up at the preset GPS coordinates after we land," said John as the light turned green and the tailgate dropped. They shoved out their gear then Mary jumped followed by Alex and Morgan in tandem then John. Black chutes floated down from the night skies outside of Belgrade.
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Chuck walked down to Emma and Jack's room while Sarah rode the elevator down to the Bank. Margo was waiting for her and gave her a hug along with Mike who also handed her a thermos of coffee for the road. She went back got in the Aston Martin and started it up. The engine turned over instantly and began to purr. She felt the vibrations and power in her hands as she held the wheel and stick. It was like the car came alive. Sarah dropped it in reverse and backed out at full speed then spun the car around when she hit the street.
"Wow," she said as she came to a stop outside. The night was beginning to give way to the day and she sat for a moment reviving the engine enjoying the moment. Then she laid rubber before taking off to pull up in front of the casino.
Jack walked out of the suite then down the hall to the elevator. He rode it down to the lobby looking in the camera. When he got to the lobby he waved to the help standing in a spot he knew cameras would pick him up.
"Mister Burton I understand you're going out of town for a few days but I need your signature on these invoices before you go," said an employee handing his a clipboard. Jack signed them then handed it back.
This was the part of Chuck's plan that was one of the most dangerous. He then walked outside. Inside the casino he controlled the space but outside was a no man's land. He walked out the entrance and into a small square. He took a deep breath before crossing it, on the other end he saw Sarah pull up. She honked her horn a few times then he crossed walking fast enough to seem he was in a hurry but slow enough that CCTV cameras could get a good look.
"Need a ride sailor," asked Sarah as she opened the door and Jack got in. Suddenly two rounds hit on each side of the car.
"Drive," yelled Chuck as he grabbed a tablet from the glove box then he turned around to look. Two men jumped out of the shadows so Chuck activated a smoked screen that was a type of sleeping gas too. "Margo," radioed Chuck, "we're on our way. You've got two presents out front gift wrapped for pick up."
"You've got to lose that mask as soon as possible," said Sarah as she glanced over at him. "It's just creepy seeing Jack but hearing your voice. No this is just too much and by the way explain to me again why those guys missed?"
"Easy everyone thinks we armor plated this car and bullet proofed the windows. However, the car's suspension couldn't hold that much weight so I went ahead with the windows but I reverse polarized the body. Most rounds our assassins will be shooting at us will be metal jacketed so by reverse polarizing the car I've created a shield if you like. If they stood right up on the car it wouldn't do much good but for medium to long range shots it's enough to deviate the round like what happened back there."
"I hear your voice but I'm still seeing the face," said Sarah as she glanced over at her father's face. "I don't want to hear any jokes or wise remarks about an Electra complex or…." Sarah flipped the cap on the gearshift knob. Chuck laughed as he removed the mask he had made off the 3D printer then tossed it in the back seat.
"Better," he asked as he closed the cap on the gearshift then took the tablet and brought up satellite imagery from overhead. "There's a road block about a half a mile up take a right here." Sarah turned to find oncoming traffic; the road was one way the opposite direction.
"Jesus Chuck a little warning would be nice," said Sarah as she weaved in and around until they got by the block then jumped over and were back on track. "I guess they'll be waiting for a while before they realize we've given them the slip."
"Yeah," said Chuck as he went back to work on the tablet but his yeah said more than just yes there was something else bothering him.
"What is it something's wrong," said Sarah glancing over at him while she was driving. Chuck was huddled down looking at the screen. "Don't tell me nothing because we both know better."
"I know this is going to sound stupid so I really don't even know why I'm letting it get to me but when I called John about the stuff I needed…"
"You were hoping he'd bring the gang and come along," she said as if she could read the very words he was about to speak. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"Right now I think we need to talk about the T-72 that just rolled out of a garage that's blocking the road up ahead. Take a left now."
"Chuck I hope this is not another one way," said Sarah as she turned to find the road was really an alley and extremely narrow. "If someone steps out the windshield wipers may not be enough."
"Okay hang a right then take the next left," said Chuck as he stared at tablet. "Now wait here and three, two, one… and there we go." An Ex-Soviet tank rolled by heading down the road and as soon as it drove by she pulled out heading back down the road.
"How long until we're out of the city?" asked Sarah wondering because in town it was easy to bypass but once they got on the open road they'd be more exposed.
"Crap," said Chuck, "speed up just drive as fast as you can. Go, go, go!"
"What's the matter?" Suddenly there was a loud explosion behind them. Someone had told the tank that they were behind them and they were firing driving backwards. The street was too narrow for them to turn the whole tank around but they had managed to point the cannon turret backwards.
"Chuck!" yelled Sarah as another round hit close to the right. The shock wave moved the car to the other lane but she kept it in the road. "Sweetie now would be a good time to come up with something."
"I got an idea," said Chuck as he activated a M134 Minigun. It came up out of the trunk. "Now to time this right three, two, one." Chuck fired a two round burst, first at one tree on the right of the road then one on the left, felling both. The first tree landed and the tank just rolled over the top but as it was coming down ready to fire the second tree landed on the cannon barrel driving it down to the ground. The tank fired making a hole as the tree pushed the barrel to the ground. The cannon jammed into the hole then the forward momentum of the tank combined with its weight ripped the turret off.
Chuck and Sarah kept on driving in the distance they heard an explosion and from the mirror saw a plume of smoke. Now they were out of town and within a few hours ready to cross over into Serbia. Driving across the border the customs officer just waved them through.
"Okay do you want to talk more," said Sarah as she got back on the road to Belgrade after crossing over. But Chuck didn't say a word she glanced over and found him fast asleep with the tablet in hand. She decided to let him sleep, he'd gone without since the shootout and he was just exhausted. Sarah slowed down then pulled off stopping. Taking the tablet from him she put it on a mount on the dash so she could see the view from above then continued.
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Marco was flown by charter from Tivat to the Marco Polo airport outside of Venice where he caught a water taxi that had been sent to pick him up. The driver had he come on board then had him go inside the cabin before they pulled away from the pier. It took him straight through the lagoon into the island. The city was divided into six boroughs or as the Venetians referred to them sestiere the whole form the municipality. The water taxi took him to a large building standing in the Dorsoduro borough. Marco looked out the side of the boat at all the sites but he couldn't help wonder if he hadn't over played his hand. However, there was nothing he could do now except go with the flow and try to figure out if the tide was going in or out for him.
"Don't get off I'm coming on board. Nice to meet you call me Stan," said a tall slender man as he held out his hand to Marco in the cabin. "We need to go and catch up with our boss. He's eager to meet you and hear about your experience in Montenegro."
"Thanks, Stan right? You can call me Marco," he replied as he shook Stan's hand. "But I thought Paolo would be here. What happened to him or is he too busy?"
"Sit down," said Stan as they got comfortable. "Just a little advice, don't mention Paolo to the boss. They didn't break up on the best of terms if you know what I mean."
"Did they have some sort of falling out? But where are we going I thought he wanted to meet me in his office."
"That was the plan but Mr. Mišović had a sudden meeting come up and he wants you to attend with us. You're supposed to be my new assistant," said Stan as he handed Marco a security badge. "You're now officially one of us."
"Thanks," said Marco but he remembered quite well that Stan used to be Paolo's assistant and if he was now the new executive assistant then it was easy to figure out that the falling out was probably done by Paolo out an open window. "So our boss's name is Mišović? Paolo never told me and what is his first name other than mister."
"Funny I like your sense of humor just be careful around the boss. You never know which way the wind is blowing and sometimes it will change in the middle of a sentence," said Stan. He didn't know why he was being so helpful to someone who was potentially his replacement. "Dejan, his first name is Dejan."
"Dejan Mišović that's Serbian isn't it?" said Marco. He was getting some good intel more than he'd been able to get for the past five years. Maybe it was worth getting his arm broken."
"Yes and no he's an American Serb. His father was an exile sent back to the homeland over some deal that went south in Chicago. He goes on all the time about how much better the pizza was in Chicago when he was a kid. One of your first missions when we get back is to find some way to get a deep dish pizza brought here from there."
"Thanks I'll look into it," said Marco as he took out his phone holding it down by his side he tried to text.
"Hey what are you doing?" yelled Stan. Marco knew he'd been discovered what to do now but Stan got up and knocked on the back of a sliding panel.
"Yes sir it something wrong," asked the driver opened it up.
""I told you we need to get straight over to meet our ride. I'm not paying extra for the scenic tour so get us where we need to go and now," said Stan. "These guys will rob you blind if you're not careful. Now where were we?" Suddenly Stan's phone rang.