Orion and Bryce bonded over that time at the cabin. Stephen gave Bryce clues on how to reach him by placing ads in the LA times classified. Stephen also reminded his son that he needs to watch the family's collective backs. Fulcrum was gathering strength. He would be a target for them eventually so be wary.
Very soon Bryce was winging his way back to DC and much hidden danger. Bryce arrived in DC and immediately went to report to the CIA director. Bryce felt weird going to the Director's office all alone but he had no choice. As he waited in the director's office something felt wrong. Where was his partner Sarah. He had left a message but so far she has not responded. Bryce felt very ill at ease over that. Eventually the Secretary said the Director was available and to go in.
Langston Graham was sitting behind his desk and had a very pensive look on it.
"Ah Agent Larkin good of you to come here with such short notice. Can I have something brought in for drinks or eat?"
Bryce sat down in the chair offered.
"No Thanks You Director. What is this meeting all about?"
"Great direct and to the point I like that about you Agent Larkin. This concerns Project Omaha. Ever heard of it?"
Bryce shook his head no.
"No? Come on the son of Orion would not know of his most deadly weapon or his biggest failure?"
Bryce was taken back. How did he know? I was so careful. What is going on?
"I see my knowledge of your heritage is disconcerting. Well, let me put your mind at rest. I am a friend of your father. I am privy to his secrets especially you!"
"I was not aware of your connections to Orion was including me Sir."
Langston chuckled.
"I was there when you were born. Orion was so proud. Your Mother not so much. It hurt him badly that she cut him out of your young life. I was glad he reconnected with you. You and He are not that different."
"Sir, that is all well and good but what that have to do with this meeting?"
"Yes, I was getting to that. Ever heard of a rogue group called Fulcrum?"
Bryce eyes widened when he her that name.
"Oh I see you have heard of it. Well this collection of misfits and megalomaniacs have gotten plans for Project Omaha. They are in the process of building an Intersect of their own."
"Sir what is the intersect?"
"Ok that is a fair question. After 9/11 there was a big problem of communication between all different intelligence gathering agencies. The DNI proposed a solution. One massive data base in a super computer built by your father to hold all the information. However, even the fastest supercomputers were too slow to correlate the data for real world purposes. It was great at storing the data but useless in retrieving and utilizing it. Until your father decided that the best supercomputer would be the human brain. The Intersect would be encoded into pictures then uploaded into the brain via visual data. The brain would sort through the pictures and retrieve the data when a proper stimulus was applied."
"So that is what Professor Flemming was testing. Retrieval of data through pictures."
"Yes and that is the reason I wanted to talk with you. You alone have the highest retrieval rate we have ever seen. I want you to volunteer for the Omaha project as soon as it is ready."
"Is it ok for me to think about this?"
"Sure the project will not be ready for a couple of years but you will need to give me an answer soon. You could become our first Human Intersect agent."
"Thank you for your time Director, You have given me much to think about."
"That is fair, Please get back to me soon."
Bryce Larkin leaves the Director's office. He had to contact Orion but first he need to head to the European desk. There was an assignment which required the talents of Mr. and Mrs. Anderson.
Los Angeles Ca 0800 August 1st 2003 Casa Bartowski
Chuck is getting up after a long session of Call of Duty with Morgan plus a new guy on the team Harry 113. The voice sounded vaguely familiar. However, he had to brush that thought away. He had to get to the Buy More soon.
Chuck had settled into a routine. Work, come home lay around feeling so sorry for himself. That same question plaguing him since it first happened would appear. Why did Bryce take his girl away from him? He did not want her so why did he do it? I could have been happy with Jill now nothing. Chuck would brood over his loss. Then Morgan would appear after dinner. Chuck would put a fake smile on his face for his little buddy but Morgan was never fooled. Chuck would play a video game with him. All the while lamenting his fate in his mind.
Ellie concerned about her brother was making breakfast. She had the classified of the LA times out. She always scanned the pages as her father taught her to do when she was a little girl. This act became second nature. She quickly noticed the ad which her father would signal a meeting. Getting out the code her father taught her she quickly decoded that he was going to be meeting someone. So her father is alive after all this time. Ellie decide to go to that meeting and confront her wayward Parent.
Writing down the address and the time she watch Chuck as he wolfed down breakfast and headed out the door. Today was her day off. Ellie thought good day for putting all those ninja like skills to work.
Her mother taught her well how to track and observe without being seen. So Ellie first went to the location and scouted out the perfect place to observe the meeting. It would be good to confront her father. Ellie had so much anger toward her father. How could he just up and leave like that? Over 6 years with out a word he was alive now this!
Ellie sat back and watched. Two men approached the location. Both looked very nervous. Ellie could tell one of them WAS her father the other one looked vaguely familiar. He kind of reminded her of Chuck but Chuck would not meet her father without telling her. NO that was put out of her mind immediately. Besides he is not as tall as her brother. Ellie watched as the two men one her father and the other much younger had a camaraderie which indicated some sort of familial tie. But only family her Father had was Aunt Diane and she never had any children as far as she knew. So no I do not know him but maybe Chuck would? Ellie surreptitiously took the younger man's photo. Soon the meeting was over. Ellie needed to get up and go an confront her father. However, She did not do that. She just sat there frozen as he walked calmly away. Ellie was so mad at her indecision. Finally, She got up and left after witnessing with her own two eyes Her father was well. Her mother's training kicked in and she rationalized that whatever her father left them it must have been for a very good reason. So let him come to me when he is ready. Ellie left the meeting place and headed home.
Chuck got off work. Ellie was going to tell him but her phone rang.
Chuck can you get that for me?
Chuck looked at his sister and then said
Yeah just a sec
Chuck grabbed the phone and said Hello.
There was a definite click then a dial tone as if someone had hung up.
Chuck now hung up the phone and started absently mindedly looking at the pictures on her phone. There was one of him and Morgan and a few of Captain Awesome. Then there was one which chilled him to the bone Bryce Larkin! What was she doing with His picture? How does she know him? Then he noticed the picture was taken as if he was too far away. That is not a good picture of him. Maybe Ellie did not take this picture on purpose perhaps it was like a Butt dialing. Chuck felt better Ellie was not conspiring behind his back. It was strange to see Bryce though.
Just then the door Knocked and Chuck dropped the phone and opened the door.
In walked Captain Awesome! Bigger than life.
Hey Chuckster is Ellie home? She said I was invited for dinner.
Chuck stood there in the doorway without moving suddenly he came to his senses
Chuck is there any thing wrong?
Chuck noted the concern in the heart surgeon's tone
Wrong? No nothing is wrong. Where are my manners? Please come in dinner will be ready soon. Please sit down and make your self comfortable.
Chuck left to see Ellie in the kitchen. Dinner was almost ready and many mouthwatering flavors were emanating from the kitchen.
Chuck, Who was on the phone?
Phone? Right nobody just a hang up. Ok your boyfriend is here too he says you invited him for dinner.
Yes I did I have something to discuss with you Chuck. But it can wait.
Ellie, Devon, and Chuck sat down to eat when Morgan appeared.
"Morgan what are you doing here?"
"Ah are you eating?"
Morgan looked pitiful toward Ellie and she relented saying
"OK Morgan grab a plate there is enough for you too."
"Ah Thanks Ellie, you are the best!"
Morgan went to go hug her but Chuck got up and stopped him. He pulled him toward the kitchen to get his plate and utensils.
Chuck hissed at him once he was out of range of Ellie's hearing.
"What are you thinking that is Ellie's boyfriend out there!"
"Oh, so sorry Man I was just so overwhelmed with loved for Ellie I could not help myself!"
"Well get a hold! You know the rules no touching Ellie! If she wants your touch she will start it first!"
Morgan remember the pain Ellie put him through the last time he unauthorized touched her. His face looked very worried after the memory.
"Ok Chuck I will not hug her or even open my mouth other than shove Ellie's delicious food in it."
Chuck mollified for the moment released Morgan's arm then returned to the table with Morgan in tow.
Morgan true to his word did not speak at all during dinner. Chuck was glad that Morgan finally took Ellie's threats serious.
Soon Dinner was done. Morgan and Chuck retired to Chuck's bedroom to play some video games or read the latest comics for their collections.
Once Ellie and Devon were left alone. Devon said
"Ellie I know we have been dating only a short time but I have grown to love you. I want us to get together. I mean live together. I know it is sudden but I wanted to show you I am committed to us."
Ellie was delighted by Devon's words
"Yes Devon I would like that very much. However, I am not the only one living here I need to get Chuck's ok too."
"Great Ellie I am sure he would not mind but if it makes your mind more at ease. Please talk to him at your latest convenience but meanwhile."
He grabbed her lips with his and they were soon in a haze of love making.
Chuck and Morgan played video games unaware what was happening in the front room. The new team member's voice now made sense to Chuck it is Bryce! I knew he had seen those moves before. Chuck was both happy and saddened that his old college roommate was still trying to be on his good side. Chuck knew he was happy playing with Bryce once again but sad he did not identify himself. Chuck was conflicted and ended up not paying attention and got the whole squad blown up! Morgan was so angry at his best friend. Then he noticed Chuck was again in that far away place where only Chuck can go. Morgan tempered his anger toward his hurting friend. Shutting down the video game.
Morgan approached his friend
"Chuck? Chuck?"
Chuck now came back from where he had been and looked at his friend.
"Ah Jill again? Tell Dr. Morgan all about it."
So Chuck poured out all the things which had happened recently. Morgan sat there and thought.
"Ok Chuck you think Harry113 is Bryce? Are you sure? He could be anyone. I know you are broken up on Jill. You need to let it go Man. The preoccupation of seeing Bryce everywhere got to stop. It s just your over imaginative mind taking random things and putting them into some sort of order. It is not real. Besides if Harry 113 is Bryce confront the SOB call him out!"
Chuck felt better after talking with his bestest friend.
"Ok Morgan I will take your advice It is getting late we both need to work in the morning. So good night little buddy."
"OK Chuck I will take my leave. Sleep well my friend."
With that Morgan left out the Morgan door.
Chuck was getting ready for bed when there was a slight knock on the door. It was Ellie.
"Ellie what are you doing up?"
"Chuck I wanted to talk to you."
Chuck looked at his sister expectantly.
"Devon wants us to be living together. I know you live here too so I wanted to know your opinion."
Chuck now looked hard at his sister.
"Ok Ellie I only have a few questions."
Ellie looked apprehensive at her brother.
"Ellie does he make you happy?"
Ellie unable the speak nodded her head yes.
"Is this what you want?"
Again she nodded her head.
Chuck had a big smile when he concluded.
"So the only question is left which place are you both going to live?"
Ellie now Hugged her brother so Tight!
"Ellie can not breath!" ,Chuck gasped.
"Oh right So sorry Chuck. It just made me so happy. Devon will be moving in with me in my room. His apt is too small anyway. He rent is up soon."
Chuck's smile widened.
"Oh I guess I will have to get used to having another Man in the house. Morgan does not count of course."
"Oh Chuck this is so wonderful! Good night Chuck".
Ellie now left. Chuck wondered how will life change with Captain Awesome staying here.
Chuck got ready and got into bed. Soon he was fast asleep but those dreams appeared again especially the one with the giant blonde She male with bright blue mesmerizing eyes. She was definitely haunting his dreams. She was saying Tell me about your homeworld Chuck.