Chapter Notes:
Not really happy with the dialogue yet but here is Chapter 5 anyway. Any suggestions welcome.
-- Chuck Vs the Bunker Chapter 5 --
The Director moved through the garden greeting and introducing his guests until they reached a pagoda shaded from the sunshine. Going over to a woman wearing a pink sundress he placed his arms around her waist and kissed her neck before turning her round to be introduced.
"Agent Snow I would like you to meet my wife Sarah" said the Director smiling.
The woman, still recognisable from her picture, was older but no less beautiful. Smiling she held out a hand "Good to finally meet you. Your fathers told us so much about you."
"Really, I'm sure he was too kind" Snow said a little uncomfortably "nonsense, you have an exceptional service record" She replied reassuringly.
"You've seen my service record?" Snow said in surprise. Avoiding the question she smiled, kissed her husband and said "now excuse me, I just have to go and make sure Lester hasn't spiked the punch again."
Moving on Snow spotted another man limping over. Despite a cane and his stiff movements he had the look of someone you didn't want to mess with, possibly old school NSA from the way he concealed his firearm. "Casey!" The Director said embracing the big man. Looking decidedly uncomfortable the man quickly stepped away before adding "Good to see you Chuck, Sarah here?"
"Yeah, she's just over by the punch, you should say hi" before adding "are the kids here?"
"There just sorting themselves out" said a tall and severe looking blonde in a red dress stepping over and adjusting Casey's tie. "Hello Charles" she said looking at the Director before starting to smooth out the big mans jacket buttons.
"Stop fidgeting woman" Casey said grumpily brushing away her hands. "Well if you would get in such a mess" replied the women now apparently oblivious to them. "Alex, meet Agent Snow. Agent Snow, meet Alexandra Casey, formerly of the CIA" said the Director.
"Snow huh, James's boy?" said Mrs Casey suddenly taking an interest. "You have a first name?"
"Yes, William ma'am" Snow said thinking is there anyone here who isn't a spy?
Chuck sat up in bed and blinked under the harsh florescent glow of lights never did get round to turning them off he thought. Sarah stirred, opened her eyes and sat up next to him holding the sheet to her to protect her modesty. "Morning Chuck" she said smiling demurely. Chuck smiled and thought what a difference a day makes. As if reading his mind, Sarah looked down at herself. Smiling impishly she unwrapped her arms and let the sheet fall to her waist. Waiting for Chuck's reaction she laughed as he broke in to his cheesiest Bartowski grin. "Morning Sarah" he said laughing gently.
It was with some trepidation that Chuck tapped on the door to Elle and Devon's room a short while later. When there was no answer he knocked harder and said "Elle, it's Chuck, can we talk" Chuck heard the door unclick.
Pushing gently on the door Chuck entered. Elle's was walking slowly back to the bedroom still in PJ's. Devon was no where to be seen. "Elle" he said as his sister returned to bed and pulled the covers up over her.
Chuck looked at her face, tired and puffy from crying "Elle" he said again gently, putting a hand on her shoulder. "I don't understand Chuck, how could you keep this from me? Don't you trust me?" His sister said finally.
"Ell no, it's not that, of course I trust you. It's just that it wasn't safe. I didn't want to keep this from you. Please understand." He said sadly.
"No, I don't understand, explain it to me" she said a little bitterly. So he did, in short painful sentences he told her about how he became the Intersect, how Sarah and Casey had come in to his life. About two years of trying to keep his spy life from hurting those he cared for, about Sarah and all the rest that went with having a double life.
"Oh, Chuck I didn't know." She said crying and hugging her brother. "No Elle, I'm sorry, I never wanted for you to be dragged into this." He said stroking her hair out of her face.
Wiping away the tears Elle straitened up in bed and tried to compose herself "It's ok Chuck, you had better go but we'll talk some more ok. No more secrets". "Ok Sis, promise. Anyway I still need to tell you about dad."
"Dad?" She said before raising a hand. "Actually no, you can tell me later. I think I've had all I can handle for today." Pausing she added "you better go. I need to get cleaned up."
Chuck stood and kissed his sister on the head before leaving.
Casey spotted Sarah and Chuck entering the cafeteria together and start heading in his direction.
They better not come over here all mushy and lovey dovey or I think I'm going to throw up
Casey was relieved when Chuck and Sarah sat down. They both looked happy and relaxed but not in any immediate danger of the sickly routine he normally associated with people in love Thanks for small mercy's Casey thought.
"Fruit loops, Good choice" said Chuck brightly.
Briefing room, Crystal Peak underground Complex
"Special Agent Carmichael" said the base commander formally. "I'm afraid the current situation puts me in something of a quandary as to what to do with you. General Beckman specified that we extend you every courtesy but you are not the leave the base under any circumstances. She also didn't see fit to provide us any but the most basic information on you and I have strict orders not to ask, which means I have to act without knowing your current status. Unfortunately the current situation leaves me with little choice but to ask for your help. "
Chuck looked across the table to Sarah and Casey before replying.
"About that, what is the current situation? Agent Snow said something about a communication problem?" said Chuck
"That is what we initially believed, however I'm afraid it's far graver than that. Until we had verified the facts I have chosen not to make an announcement. You will be the first apart from a handful of officers and analysts on the base to be told fully what we know."
"Which is?"
The commander raised a hand to forestall any more questions before continuing "First you must understand something with regards to this facility and why it took so long to verify the information" The commander said as if rehearsing an excuse. "Crystal Peak is intended to replace the NORAD command centre at Cheyenne Mountain as well as act as an intelligence and C&C hub in the event of a national emergency. However, we are over a year away from completion. We are still awaiting some secondary systems to be installed and most of our primary systems have an extensive run in and testing process to complete. Most of the personnel onsite are still technicians and analysts who are ill equipped for this current crisis."
They looked at him with interest but made no comment.
"When we first lost contact with several outside agencies we presumed it was just another glitch, something to be ironed out with our systems. It was only when we started sieving through reports that we became aware of what was going on."
The three looked on expectantly as the Commander continued.
"From what we have been able to gather at approximately 17:00 Eastern Standard Time yesterday twenty three nuclear devices where exploded in population centres across the continental US. A 24th device was apparently prevented from exploding in downtown New York."
"What!" exclaimed Chuck. Casey and Sarah exchanged shocked looks. "Whoever did this will wish they had never been born" added Casey in a low growl.
"They already do. At approximately 20:00 yesterday Secretary of Defence Anderson as acting President ordered tactical nuclear strikes against targets in Russia, North Korea and Iran. "
"What, surly they can't all have been responsible" Chuck said confused. "Commander that make's no sense". Sarah added. "What intelligence was this decision based on?" said Casey.
The commander seemed uncertain and hesitated before continuing. "Unfortunately we may never know. Shortly after giving the order Secretary of Defence Anderson retired to his room and committed suicide. Currently Secretary of Veteran Affairs Johnson is acting President"
"Veteran Affairs, You're kidding right. What about the rest of the cabinet? Said Casey
"Missing or presumed dead, No one has heard from President Palmer since the initial attack".
"What about retaliation? I can't imagine the Russian's are going to take this lying down" said Casey.
"They didn't, Russia launched limited strikes against the US and our overseas bases sometime about 22:30 last night. Why they didn't launch a full strike is currently unclear. "
"And North Korea?"
"A small nuclear device exploded over a southern suburb of Soul around 6:00 am this morning.
"And how are our allies and the rest of the world reacting?" said Sarah
The Commander held up his hand once again. "Your questions are understandable but I'm afraid I can't answer them all. In fact that's where I need your help."
"How can we help Commander?" Casey said.
"As I said before, this site is not fully operational so we have few senior personnel onsite. Our senior intelligence liaisons were both at Peterson Air force base during the attack and we have been unable to contact them. Currently our intelligence efforts are being overseen by a Lieutenant Hicks and I'm sad to say he is making limited progress."
"Where do we come in" said Chuck with a sense of foreboding
"It seems you three are now the senior Intelligence personnel on base Agent Carmichael. As ranking officer I was hoping you would allow your team to step in and help us get up to speed."
All the air suddenly seemed to leave the room. Ranking officer, Chuck had been aware in an abstract sort of way that as part of his cover Special Agent Carmichael out ranked both Casey and Sarah, but it at been made clear this was merely a distraction for anyone investigating Carmichael's records. He had never had reason to take it seriously. The commander seemed to be taking it very seriously.
Chuck looked across at Sarah and Casey hoping one of them would say something. Waiting for one of them to point out that Chuck was in no way qualified to be in charge, but neither said anything. Scanning their faces he realised that they weren't going too.
"Sure" Chuck said with little enthusiasm.