Act 7: Waiting For An Arrival

Sarah enters the secure communications area for the airport. From this one location all the closed circuit cameras and communications devices are monitored. It's a dark room with a series of computers and monitors. Various people are intently watching the various monitors. Each of these people are wearing a uniform – a clear indication that they are the airport security team. Casey is there as well. He is staring into one of the monitors but looks up when Sarah approaches him.

Casey asks: So did you see the moron?

Sarah responds: I saw Chuck.

Casey inquires: How is he today?

Sarah responds: He seemed fine.

Casey ponders: That's surprising given what he went through last night.

Sarah says: Yes. He's quite resilient at times.

Casey agrees: That's true.

Sarah says: Chuck was willing to help though.

Casey snorts: No way. This mission needs to go like clockwork. Agent Imbecile will only wreck it.

Sarah points out: Chuck has always contributed his share.

Casey counters: Yeah, like getting taken as a hostage, being shot at or blowing our cover.

Sarah changes the subject by asking: So how is it going? Anything suspicious?

Casey shakes his head: No. There's too many people around. The enemy could be anywhere.

Sarah asks: So has the plane landed?

Casey nods: It's taxing to the the bay. We have a few minutes to go over the details again.

Sarah looks around. No-one is close by.

Sarah says: No-one is in ear shot so we can do that. You go first.

Casey says: The objective is to ensure that the new head of the Intersect project is safely delivered to the compound. The head is arriving on the plane that has just come in from Hong Kong.

Sarah adds: The head is a CIA scientist by the name of Jacob Anderson. He is recognisable by the photo that I have of him.

Casey says: And?

Sarah continues: He will be accompany by a handler – Victor Bargo. Victor is a NSA agent. Do you know him?

Casey looks at a file with the name of Victor Bargo on it.

Casey asks: No. I have heard of him though. He's very good.

Sarah nods: I will meet both of them at the arrivals entrance. After everyone's identity is confirmed I will escort them to where transport awaits.

Casey adds: I will be monitor the cameras to make sure no trouble occurs. Once you and the Jacob are safe I will then meet up with you.

Sarah says: We will then take the new head and his handler to the compound.

Casey nods: This is too important for it to go wrong so keep alert.

Sarah muses: I know. It feels like we are one person down.

Casey jibes: Missing Chuck already?

Sarah says: You must admit the operation would be smoother if we had one more person. You would then be partnering me in meeting Jacob.

Casey grunts.

Casey looks at the monitor .

Casey says: You better get going. The plane has just docked at the bay.

Sarah gets up and exits from the security control room.

Five minutes later Sarah is at Arrivals Lounge for Hong Kong.

Sarah speaks into the transmitter: Casey, have the passengers disembarked?

Casey: Not yet. Passengers are starting to get ready to leave.

Back at the communications centre Casey is looking intently at various monitors. Suddenly all the monitors go dark.

Casey shouts out to the nearest security administrator: What just happened?

Security administrator taps on the key board. He mutters and speaks to the person next to him. That person shakes his head and picks up a security administrator gets up from his desk and walks across to Casey.

Security administrator says in a puzzled voice: I don't know. We've been locked out of the main computer system.

Casey growls: Is that's stopping us from receiving video from the closed circuit cameras.

Security administrator confirms: Yes. All vision is routed via the main server.

Casey asks: Is there anything you can do about it?

Security administrator responds: Not at this stage. We've called systems administration to come and fix it. It will take an hour before someone turns up.

Casey exclaims: An hour? We don't have an hour.

Sarah voice comes through Casey's transmitter.

Sarah asks: Casey, what's wrong. The monitors here are down.

Casey responds back: Same here. The main computer is not responding.

Sarah asks: Can't the guys there fix it?

Casey responds: No. They just use the equipment – not fix it.

Sarah thinks quickly.

Sarah demands: Get Chuck. He might be able to help.

Casey growls: Damn. There goes another smooth operation.

Sarah counters: We don't have any other option. We need him. I'm too exposed without those cameras. Get Chuck to look at the main server.

Casey responds: Ok. Ok.

Sarah adds: Once Chuck is with you, come down and provide back up.

Casey brightens up slightly and says: If Chuck gets the computer on-line then he can stay here and provide surveillance.

Sarah says: Good. I'll speak to the service desk and get them to try to hold off of the passengers coming out. Keep me posted.

Casey turns to the Security administrator.

Casey orders: I need you to make a broadcast. Ask that Charles Carmichael contact the service desk. Then get someone to escort him here.

Security administrator asks: Who is Charles Carmichael?

Casey thinks for a second.

Casey explains: He's a … consultant that we make use of – from time to time. He's good with computers. He's currently in the airport as he was seeing off some people.

Security administrator says in a reluctant voice: I don't know about this. My superiors wouldn't approve.

Casey demands: To hell with them. This is a national security matter. Get him now.

The security administrator takes one look at Casey and picks up the nearest phone.

Act 8: Calling Charles Carmichael

Chuck, Devon and Elle are sitting around a table. Devon is looking content as he has just finished eating a Steak and Cheese subway sandwich. Empty drink containers are next to all three of them.

Elle says: It looks like our plane is boarding.

Devon asks: What about hang gliding?

Elle stands up and takes over the remains to the waste unit.

From an overhead speaker an announcement is made: Could Mr Charles Carmichael please report to the nearest service desk?

Devon says: Hey, that's you bro.

Chuck responds: Me? No, it couldn't be. I'm finished with Charles Carmichael. It must be another person with that name.

Devon insists: You should go over and check with the service desk.

Chuck gets up from the table and goes over to the service desk. The assistant there has just put down a phone. The assistant looks up at Chuck enquiringly.

Service assistant: Sir, how can I help you?

Chuck says to Service assistant: Hi, I'm Charles Carmichael. Is that message for me or is it for another Charles Carmichael?

Service assistant asks in turn: Are you a colleague of Mr Casey?

Chuck sighs: Yes. Sounds like they need my help after all.

Service assistant says: Can you come with me then?

Chuck nods: Ok. However I just need to say goodbye to my sister. She's about to board a plane.

Service assistant requests: Please don't be too long then. We've been instructed to rush you over to where Mr Casey is.

Chuck says: Fine. I'll just be a minute.

Chuck races across to Devon and Elle. Devon and Elle are queued up waiting to board. Devon has resumed scanning some of the brochures.

Chuck says to Elle: Sorry sis, I have to go. It sounds like Casey is suffering from an anxiety attack and needs some help.

Elle says: We're doctors. We can help.

Chuck responds: No. He'll be ok when I get there. Sarah thinks he just needs another friend one to help him calm down.

Elle nods.

Chuck hugs Elle: I hope you and Devon have a wonderful honeymoon.

Chuck shakes Devon's hand and says: Don't do anything too dangerous.

Elle says: Don't worry. He won't.

Devon reaches across and hugs Chuck.

Devon whispers into Chuck's ear: It's another mission, isn't it? You lucky dog.

Chuck waves goodbye and races over to the service desk. A small, four wheel shuttle cart has just turned up with a driver. The service assistant points in the direction of Chuck. The driver nods. Chuck gets into the passenger seat and the cart drives off.

Act 9: On The Road

Meanwhile another vehicle is racing along to Los Angeles International Airport. The van is bouncing up and down.

Morgan says: Glad it is no longer smoking.

Lester responds: Yeah. Who would have thought a little fire would have produced such smoke?

Morgan says: Fortunate that the extinguisher still worked.

Lester responds: Yeah, it's had a bit of a work out. Jeff slept all the way through it.

To prove the point a loud snore comes from the back.

Anna asks: How far is it to the airport?

Lester says: Not far now. Nothing can stop us.

A second snore comes from the back.

Suddenly a bang comes from the underside of the van.

Morgan shouts: What the heck was that?

Lester says: I have no idea.

Anna says: Perhaps we should stop to see what it is?

Morgan responds: No way. I want to get to the airport as soon as possible. Lester, don't you dare stop.

Lester says: Don't worry about that.

Anna asks: Why not?

Lester responds: Well, the brakes aren't working any more.

Anna: How the heck are we going to stop then?

Morgan suggests: We just a car … a small car.

Anna squeaks: Not with me in it.

Lester asks: Morgan, wake up Jeff. Perhaps he knows.

Morgan: Jeff, Jeff, wake up.

Act 10: Back In The Game

The security cart with Chuck in it pulls up to the entrance to an office. Several other carts are surrounding the office as well. A sign in front says "Secure Comms Room". Just as Chuck gets out of the shuttle cart the door opens and out steps a guard. He walks across to Chuck.

Chuck puts his hand out: Hi, I'm Charles Carmichael.

The security administrator shakes his hand: My name is Ralph Jackson. I'm in charge of all communications for the Airport.

Chuck says: Please to meet you.

Ralph says: Could you come this way, Mr Carmichael.

Chuck asks: What's this all about?

Ralph says: Agent Casey, said that you're a consultant that he uses from time to time.

Chuck's eyebrows raise at the terms of "consultant".

Ralph opens the door. Chuck goes through followed by Ralph.

Ralph continues to say: He said that you might be able to help with the small problem that we have.

Chuck responds: Well, I'll try.

Ralph says: I trust that you will be discreet with what you discover.

Chuck answers: No problem about that. I can keep a secret.

Ralph nods and the two walk over to where Casey is. Casey is standing next to a monitor. He is taking the safety off of his gun. He looks up and grunts at Chuck.

Chuck says: So you couldn't do without me?

Casey grunts: The main computer is down and Sarah needs backup.

Chuck asks: So you want me to give Sarah a hand.

Casey: No moron. I'll go and give Sarah support. I want you to see if you can fix the computer.

Chuck asks: Then what?

Casey says: Then provide visual assistance to us until I tell you otherwise. You got that?

Chuck sighs: So I have monitor duty again.

Casey grunts.

Chuck asks nodding in the direction of Ralph: Given that I'm not an agent what will these guys allow me to do.

Casey looks past Chuck to Ralph and says: Carmichael operates under my authority. That means he has free reign. Do you have a problem with that?

Ralph shakes his head: No Agent Casey.

Casey says: Good. I'm going down to where Sarah is. Here is a transmitter. Keep in touch.

Casey hands a transmitter to Chuck. The transmitter is the size of a watch. Chuck takes off his watch and replaces it with the transmitter.

Casey departs.

Chuck says: So you can't access the computer from your terminal?

Ralph shakes his head.

Chuck asks: Can anyone else?

Ralph shakes his head again.

Chuck says: Can you take me to the console for the main computer.

Ralph says: Follow me.

Ralph takes Chuck to an adjoining room. He opens the door and both go through. The room consists of a series of servers. He takes Chuck over to the console to the main computer. Chuck taps on the keyboard. A login prompt appears.

Chuck says: Do you have the administration password for the system.

Ralph answers: No, but I know where it is.

Ralph goes over to a filing cabinet and brings out a folder. He then brings back the folder and passes it over to Chuck.

Ralph says: This has the passwords necessary to access the system.

Chuck asks: So why didn't you use them?

Ralph says: No point in doing that. Although I could log in, I wouldn't know what to do next.

Chuck reads through the folder and then taps on the keyboard. Ralph Jackson watches on.

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