Orion was very through with his trace. He came to one conclusion. Frost! She must have been coerced into helping Fulcrum. Her long assignment on Hartley's behalf was getting to him. The fact that the mild manner scientist was also the Russian Arm's trader Alexi Volkoff made getting Frost out very difficult. Having no choice he appealed to his long ago room mate Ted Rourke. If anyone could deal for Frost it was him. Fulcrum was on the ropes and Ted knew it. That is why in a brilliant move Ted brought in an insurance policy. Frost was that insurance policy.
"Ted I knew I smelled a stench from somewhere." Frost said walking into the room.
"Now Frost is that anyway to greet your old boyfriend?" Ted said smirking.
"Frost what is he talking about?" Alexi asked getting a bit jealous.
"Oh come on Frost…You were my handler and much more if you get my drift. The CIA had you protect me. You were very good at protecting." Ted said.
"Alexi please ignore his taunts." Frost said. "We came here to negotiate."
"No you came here to negotiate. I'm here just to walk down memory lane." Ted said sighing.
"What is he saying Frost" Alexi asked getting agitated.
"Please Alexi calm down. If you love me you will settle down!" Frost warned.
"But Buttercup he is besmirching your honor. I can not let that pass." Alexi said.
"Ted you better apologize to Alexi over your comments." Frost said in a warning.
"Apologize? Ted Rourke does not apologize especially to a crazy Russian." Ted said.
"So you are refusing to apologize for your slanderous remarks to my sweet? It that it…?" Alexi asked getting a very cold edge to his voice.
"Yeah you crazy Russian bastard that is exactly what I'm saying…" Ted did not ever finish that sentence since Alexi had had enough.
He had fluidly pulled out a desert Eagle 50 cal revolver then pointed it at Ted's head then pulled the trigger.
There was nary a whisper of a sound. Ted keeled over dead.
Alexi calmly stowed the gun then turned to Frost.
"This negotiation is over. Come along Frost we have used too much of the man's precious time." Alexi said.
"Quite right Alexi let's depart." Frost said after staging the room to look like a suicide.
They both exited and left the building. Only Orion was there to witness the shooting in real time. Frost did an excellent job on covering the murder up. Orion wondered is this woman still his wife? He did not know until she winked at the camera.
Ted's head still oozed blood and it was pooling at his feet the gun which killed him was placed in his left hand. Frost knew Ted was left handed most people did not. Since, he used his right in public.
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After they departed to return to Russia the discovery of the suicide of the founder of RI caused the stock price to plummet. Alexi through subsidiaries quietly acquired all of RI remaining stock which included all intellectual properties. This included the plans for the improved version of the internet.
Alexi needed a host. It had to be someone who could contain the awesome power of the Intersect but yet not go stark raving mad.
With this in mind he used the Meadow Brook location as a trap. He knew from former Fulcrum operatives that some one in the CIA was the human host but no one knew who he or she was. Thus it was leaked that Fulcrum was indeed working on a prototype. Alexi knew that the CIA would send their best. He was surprised when he saw Chuck access the trap. The Computer had identified him as the perfect host. Alexi laughed. He had teams sweep the trap area and to sample the host while he was comatose for a DNA sample.
Alexi had kept this project away from Frost's prying eyes but Frost was not fooled she intercepted the DNA reports and substituted the files obtained by Orion. When Alexi opened the report he was please to learn the rumors were true Bryce Larkin was the human host.
Alexi now sent all his operatives into search mode. Bryce Larkin must be found!
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Chuck was surprised over the death of his icon Ted Rourke. It was a sad day for geeks and nerds everywhere. Chuck was surprised when an invitation to his funeral was sent by registered mail.
Morgan was the only witness of Chuck receiving the letter.
"Well are you going to open it?" Morgan asked.
Chuck was not aware that his friend the bearded wonder was in the room and he went on attack mode.
"Wait… Wait Chuck it is just me!" Morgan said watching his friend use the coolest Martial arts moves.
Unfortunately they were directed at him. Morgan did the Morgan in the fury of Chuck's almost attack.
"Morgan?" Chuck asked worried that he might have damaged his best friend Morgan who never knew of his real occupation.
"Yeah Chuck it is I the bearded wonder…Where did you learn such cool moves?" Morgan said in awe now that his life was no longer in danger.
"I've been training for a pretty long time Morgan I guess you startling me I reacted automatically I'm so sorry." Chuck said apologizing.
"No need to apologize can you teach me?" Morgan asked eagerly.
"I really do not have the time Morgan I'm so sorry." Chuck sadly said.
"That is alright…Say you have not opened this letter" Morgan said while picking it up from the floor where it lain. "Isn't that the official RI logo?"
Chuck had not even turned over the envelope yet but one look on the Logo he felt a big flash coming. It took all his will to suppress it in front of Morgan.
Morgan was concerned his best friend looked like he was going to have a seizure or something then it went away and Chuck's features smoothed out.
"Chuck what is wrong?" Morgan asked very concerned. "Do I need to get Ellie?"
"Morgan calm down…It is only a bad headache…I'll be fine in a moment. You do not need to alert Ellie!" Chuck said lying down on the couch.
Chuck old buddy No can do. I can not ignore what I saw. Morgan dialed Ellie's number.
"Hey Ellie this is Morgan…Yes I know this is Chuck's phone…I had to call you Chuck is acting strangely. He is here at the apt. Yes I know John…You want John to look at him? No you want John to take him to you? Ok I got it… Chuck just keep lying down…help is on the way." Morgan said.
Chuck was in the throws of the worst headache ever then he passed out.
Morgan knocked on John's door. He had been alerted by Ellie that Morgan was coming.
John grunted the #7 'which was what do you want moron?' as he opened the door.
Morgan launched into what he saw and urged Casey to follow him into the apt.
By the time Morgan got Casey into the apt Chuck was passed out on the couch.
Casey not saying a word picked up Chuck and carried him to his car. Morgan was dogging his footsteps until Casey turned to snarl at him. Morgan shied away from the big man.
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Chuck was still clutching the envelope when Casey entered sick bay.
"Oh My Chuck what did you do to yourself." Ellie wailed then yelled at her staff to get the scanner ready.
Casey placed him on the gurney then stood back as the technicians took over.
Sarah who was in Castle doing paperwork was alerted of The Station chief's reappearance. She rushed to stand beside Casey.
"John what happened?" Sarah asked obviously affected by this new twist in Chuck's health.
"I don't know…I'll have to review the recordings." Casey said as he stomped off.
Sarah stared through the window. She knew Ellie was the best at what she did but that did not console her over Chuck's condition. She worried about his health almost as Ellie did.
Orion appeared next to her.
Sarah noticed the ghostly apparition.
"What is wrong?" He asked.
"I'm in the dark as much as you are Orion…It has to be a problem with the intersect." Sarah said. "He seems to be clutching an envelope."
"Yes it must be so…" Orion said then disappeared.
"Oh great I'm talking to thin air again." Sarah said noticing Orion had gone.
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Casey reviewed the recordings and noticed the beginning of a flash then it stopped. That had never happened before. He also noticed that the envelope logo must be the reason for the flash. Armed with that knowledge he contacted Ellie.
"Ellie are you busy?" He asked.
"No Chuck is sedated and vitals are looking up. He is stable for the moment. Did you discover the reason?" Ellie asked.
"Well maybe…The recordings show Chuck facing that Number 2 moron then a flash started to appear but then it stopped. Chuck was talking afterward but he lay down on the couch clutching this envelope." He reported.
Casey showed the envelope to Ellie and she realized that Chuck was clutching the same envelope.
Ellie pried the envelope out of his hand with some difficulty.
"Come on Chuck don't fight me on this!" Ellie warned the comatose Chuck.
Somehow those words penetrated his subconscious and he relaxed his hand.
"The envelope was plain other than the RI logo. That must have triggered the flash." Ellie said.
She handed the envelope to a technician with orders to give it to Casey.
Sarah standing outside intercepted the fleeing technician then slipped into the room.
"How is he doing, Ellie?" Sarah asked.
Ellie spun ready for attack then realized it was only Sarah.
"You are not supposed to be in here." Ellie scolded.
"Perhaps not but that is…Well never mind who he is to me… I need to send a report to the General on his present condition." Sarah justified.
Ellie knowing it was a ruse hugged the tall blonde.
"Honey, Chuck is ok…I'm not sure what triggered this episode but he is resting and under 36 hours observation." Ellie said.
"Ok Ellie I'll give that information in my report. So he is not cleared for anything in the next 36 hours is that correct?" Sarah asked for clarification.
"Yes Sarah he is not to move one inch from that bed. That is the Chief Medical Officer's orders." Ellie said.
"Ok well I better get back to my report thanks for the update on Chuck's condition." Sarah said.
"Sarah we are all worried about Chuck…I'll keep you informed when he wakes up." Ellie softly said.
"Thanks Ellie I appreciate that." Sarah said as she left the room.
As Ellie turned around Orion appeared.
"What do you want? Have you not caused enough problems for him already?" Ellie railed at her Dad.
"Eleanor I did not foresee this feedback happening." Orion sadly said.
"What do you mean feedback?" Ellie asked.
"He suppressed a very large amount of information flow. Bottle necking it in the upper part of the brain I suspect." Orion said.
"Yes there is much increase in blood flow in that region. Dad what is that cause?" Ellie said pointing at the scan showing a large mass.
"Eleanor let me compare…It is a tumor." Orion said.
"I can not do brain surgery here I need a trained staff and besides I'm ethically challenged." Ellie argued.
"I agree I will create the paperwork. You set up the team. The surgery will be done at Westside or UCLA who has the better team?" Orion asked.
"I guess UCLA does but Dad…" Ellie said as Orion disappeared.
Ellie started barking orders again and Chuck was being rushed to the hospital for an emergency brain surgery.