The flight to DC was short but no one talked least of all Vivian. She was just so wide eyed at all the different passengers on the plane. Chuck immediately placed himself in a healing trance as soon as they were airborne. Sarah and Casey were in the cockpit. Bryce and Barker just stared out the window. Carina took a page from Martin and was snoozing too. Only Morgan seemed to be alert or perhaps more accurate coming down from the op. He knew it would still be night when they landed and he was trying unsuccessfully to calm down after the excitement of that evening.
He looked around while still seated. Chuck was totally out of it he observed. He started to catalog different things about every one aboard. He still did not understand his role in this kabuki dance. Casey, Bryce, Sarah, Carina yeah he knew what they were about but he sort of knew Chuck's role too. His? Well that was perplexing him. Though the talk with Carina sort of opened his eyes on what a spy's life was actually. He remembered his talk with her.
"The loneliness, the anxiety, the fear, the lies, the mistrust and the thrill of completing a mission are all part and passel of a Spy's life." Carina said. "You I don't get…You should not be here…I mean don't get me wrong. It is people like you that I do what I must do to keep you safe. You don't have to be here yet here you are why?"
Morgan's eyes betrayed him.
"Oh it is about Chuckles? Look Martin you have him all wrong. I know you have some hero complex on him. That I totally get. But Chuck is more like me than you. He was bred to be the best spy. The Intersect enhances his abilities yes but it is his lightning quick ability to read any situation and act accordingly which has been the key to his success. Ellie I think would have been a great one too but she is more analysis based. Chuck wants to do. Ellie wants to think. Together they are an unbeatable pair. I guess that was why old Graham went after them for so long." Carina said sipping on a drink.
Morgan's expression of disbelief motivated Carina to continue.
"What you did not know…Well Chuckles is sort of tight lipped on that…I know because Graham recruited me to observe. I was based with the DEA in LA. The ass't director came to see me to help him observe a possible recruit. That is when I first saw what Chuckles was all about. I learned first hand how tricky it would be in observing him. I think he spotted me way before I saw him. He took me on a merry chase all through the side streets and back alleys of LA before he like the Road Runner would look back at me smile then with an almost inhuman burst of speed he would be gone." Carina recalled.
Morgan had to smile that sure sounded like his best buddy. Carina continued her narrative.
"I found out later you could not tail him. What I ended up doing is tailing Captain Awesome. Chuck would eventually meet up with him. It was only by chance encounters did I learn anything useful. Though I still think it was I being allowed to learn by Chuckles himself. I think that is where I coined his nick name. It was because following him was like a barrel of laughs for him I suspect. A serious spy would have given up way before I was pulled by Graham to try something different." Carina laughed at thinking about the late director.
"How come I never saw you? I was with Chuck lots of time?" Morgan recalled asking.
Carina smiled "…I'm just that good."
Morgan look perplexed as Carina continued.
"Now back to you…While I was studying or make that try to study Chuckles I saw you too. I could not understand a Man with your logistical capabilities standing to stay at a Buy More." Carina said. "I understood why Chuckles was there. He needed money which was honest and he needed to hide in plain sight. You could have gone to college with your GPA. 3.95… Not too shabby. I did not understand why you chose to stunt your growth potential." Carina said looking directly in his eyes.
Morgan looked away
"I…I guess I never deep down believed in myself." Morgan admitted.
"Why is that Martin? This I have to know!" Carina chuckled low in her throat.
"Yeah you were right about the hero worship…I mean Chuck was so awesome in everything…" Morgan said.
"Hmm that sounds like what Chuckles said about the Captain." Carina said.
"Yeah he does describe him that way doesn't it. Anyway do you know how Chuck became my friend?" Morgan asked.
Carina shook her head. She looked at the clock there was nothing but time left before the op began.
"Well it happened before I met him I was the smallest in all my classes. The bullies would push me around and pick on me. I was constantly being abused. Then one day I was being attacked by a group of older kids. They were pushing me around then Chuck appeared. He was even taller than the other kids. He stood beside me and challenged each kid to attack him and not me. Chuck in typical Chuck style never allowed them to lay a hand on me. Nor did any of their blows hit him. The bullies ended up beating on each other since Chuck would duck, jump or dodge out of the way usually the bully's blow was landed on one of the other kids. That is how he rescued me. I could not believe someone like him existed. Then he shook my hand and wanted to be my friend. He said he had no friends. I felt kind of sad. Here he was being all awesome and had no friends. So I became his friend. I think I depended on him too much and that just made me doubt what I was about." Morgan related.
"I see that would get you into a serious hero worship complex." Carina said.
"Oh don't get me wrong…As awesome Chuck is he has faults too. He too was insecure in his abilities being seen. I knew he could do much more but then he blended in you know. I was his beard in a sense. People would notice me but he would slip by. People who went to high school with him could not spot him in a crowd. I guess that made him very lonely of course when both of his parents left it must have intensified that loneliness. I'm glad he has Sarah." Morgan said.
Morgan was beginning to see what Carina meant. He was a spy before he was officially a spy. That revelation made him see Chuck in a totally new light.
Morgan blinked around. He had not noticed he had dosed off. People were moving around. They must have landed.
The group was taken to quarters secured by Beckman. They all were very tired and each retired to their designated rooms tomorrow would be when the heavy lifting would start.
Chuck was out as soon as he landed on the bed. Sarah got undressed and undressed him because he did a face plant into the mattress. Soon Sarah had him enough undressed and rolled him on his back and she snuggled close to him they all went to sleep quickly.
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Chuck awoke feeling the effect of another download from Orion. It this one he received a message to meet with Orion before breakfast. Chuck carefully got up placed a pillow into Sarah's arms then exited the room and found Stephen at the installation cafeteria.
"Charles you are looking well" Stephen said as they both sat down. "Congrats on bringing Vivian…You did well."
"Dad I did not like lying to her. Hartley is not dead…" Chuck said.
"Son let me stop you…Yes Technically Hartley is still in there somewhere but how are you going to explain that to someone not knowing about the intersect? Its capabilities and how unhinged you would sound? It is better she think her Father is dead and Alexi killed him because technically that is what happened." Stephen said.
"But once she sees Alexi she will have many questions Dad. These are questions I can not answer." Chuck said.
"You just need to show her Bryce. That will solve that problem." Stephen said.
"Yeah a high tech mask would solve that one Thanks Dad. Do we still need her to get into the bank in Macao?" Chuck asked.
"Yes more than ever…With Alexi gone Vivian can use the confusion to insert the virus in the mainframe." Stephen said.
"So you want her to meet with the lawyer still?" Chuck asked.
"Yes it is imperative she is given control. She might be the only one who can find the Anti Agent X PSP." Stephen said.
"So Ellie's experiments…?" Chuck asked.
"Are not bearing any fruit yet though I saw she had to dodge another attack by Frost." Stephen said.
"What happened…Is Ellie alright?" Chuck asked with alarm.
"Relax Charles Eleanor was quicker than her and disarmed Frost then tranked her. She was in no danger." Stephen said. "Look you need to be getting back. There is much danger ahead. Be cautious and careful my son. Anyone could be one of Alexi's substitutes."
Chuck promised he would be careful then he rose and walked away. He felt stronger than he had in a long time.
Chuck quietly entered the room and slipped back into bed.
Sarah tightens her grip on him.
"Where did you go?" She sleepily asked.
"Orion needed to talk." Chuck said "…relax the briefing is not until ten it is barely 6 now."
"Mmm…ok she said but no more sneaking out." Sarah said sighing holding on to him.
"Ok Sarah I swear." Chuck said yawning.
They both fell back asleep until 9 when they both awoke again. They got dressed and both hurried to where the briefing was going to take place.
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Vivian was isolated and was given a stack of papers she had to sign to get the briefing. She looked like she was going to balk then Chuck strode in the room her demeanor changed instantly.
"Hello Vivian did you need to see me?" Chuck asked offering a coffee while he sat and sipped his own.
"Yes Chuck…I already said I would help you…Why do I need to sign all these forms?" Vivian asked since she knew contracts.
"Well I don't rightly know but I believe it is to prove in a court you understood what was on the form by your signature. I know you want to help. These forms allow us to describe what help we need. Please just sign the forms." Chuck said with his honest face and bright Chocolate eyes.
Vivian relented and Chuck pointed out where to sign each form. Once she was done a clerk came in a flirted with Chuck as she left with the signed forms. Sarah watching rolled her eyes. Later that woman clerk and her would come to some agreement concerning Chuck. She would make sure of it.
A door opened then Chuck escorted Vivian to another room a bit larger than the signing room. There Orion and General Beckman stood.
"Hi Vivian I'm Charles' Father Stephen I am most happy to finally meet you." Orion said shaking Vivian's hand.
"Thank You Stephen I was told you knew my Father? Hartley Winterbottom?" Vivian asked. "So you are a spy too?"
"Yes Vivian I knew your Father I'm so sorry for your loss. He was a great man. We can discuss many things as you like after the briefing." Orion said.
"Ok is everyone here? Good I am General Diane Beckman or people just refer to me as Beckman. I am in charge of the NSA part of the US Gov't clandestine services. I am also acting CIA director until a replacement is found. So I am very busy. So I do not have much time please pay attention." Beckman said.
Vivian sat straighter.
"I understand you were given Hartley's spy will? Good that will simplify things." She said.
Vivian nodded.
"In the spy will you were able to see your father am I correct?" Beckman asked.
"Yes" Vivian replied hesitantly.
"Is this the man you saw on the video?" Beckman asked having the picture of Alexi Volkoff appear on the screen.
"Yes he is the man who is my Father." Vivian said.
"What if I tell you he is not your Father but Alexi Volkoff?"
"Alexi Volkoff? My Father warned me about him. He said he was his worse enemy but yet he looks like the man in the video saying he was my Father. What is going on?" Vivian said.
"Yes Alexi Volkoff looks like your Father due to an elaborate disguise. I think you are aware of Bryce Larkin? Agent Larkin would you stand up?" Beckman said.
Bryce stood and Vivian sort of blushed.
"Yes that is Agent Larkin I met him in the Van." Vivian said.
"Ok watch closely is the man standing still Agent Larkin?" Beckman asked.
The lights dimmed as Chuck switch on the mask and now he looked like Alexi Volkoff.
Vivian gasped when the lights brightened.
"That is Alexi Volkoff save me Chuck!" Vivian said jumping into his arms they both landed on the floor with Vivian on top and Chuck looking up at Sarah's unamused face.
"Vivian Please get off me that is still Bryce. He has on a high tech mask. Stand up and you can see it change." Chuck said.
Chuck touched a few keys at Bryce's face returned. Vivian crept forward to touch his face. It felt like real skin. There were bristles where he had not shaved.
"Is that you Bryce?" she asked in wonderment.
"Yes Vivian this is Bryce and I'm Bryce and so Am I Bryce" said as Chuck switched the matrix to made Bryce appear totally different then returned to looking like himself.
"So you can see from our little demonstration how Alexi Volkoff could look like your deceased Father." Beckman said. "I'm so sorry we frightened you but we had to show you the mask."
"Now that you know Alexi looks like your Father you will be approached by this Man Erick Riley he is Volkoff's Lawyer and fix it man. He will try to convince you that you are indeed Alexi's long lost Daughter. It does not matter if you believe him or not. You just have to agree to accompany him. Riley is going to transfer all of Volkoff Industries control to you. The first thing you need to request is an audience with your banker in China." Chuck said.
"There they will take you to their mainframe. And I want you to drop this coin in that area." Stephen said as he handed it to her.
She looked it over and saw nothing but a regular coin. She placed it in her pocket.
"Can you do that for me?" Stephen said.
Vivian shook her head then looked at Chuck.
"Do not worry Vivian Bryce will be with you the whole time. He may not look the same at times but he will give you a signal of his presence." Chuck said.
"Why can not you do it… Chuck?" Vivian asked.
"I'm still healing from my surgery…Yes it was true I did just have surgery. I could not protect you but Bryce can. He is one of my best and oldest friends." Chuck said.
"I know we are asking for much from you. I need you to understand Riley is dangerous do not for any circumstances believe anything he says. He was the one to order the assassin at your party. He will never be your friend if he asks you to trust him don't. Volkoff Industries is filled with very bad men with very bad habits of killing people. Alexi is the worst of the worst. That is why we need your help to dismantle this Evil group of bad guys." Chuck said. "Can I count on your support?"
"Yes I want to do this." Vivian said.
"Good we need to get you back home." Stephen said.