Don't own Chuck
Hamid was down on the pier early welcoming all the guests as they rolled on board. The First Mate checked off the boarding parties against the manifest then the purser took them to their berthing accommodations. The consul arrived shortly afterward with Hamid's boss who was taking all the credit for the work he'd done but he just smiled as he let him rattle on.
"Mr. Al-Anah you don't look to well are you feeling all right," said Hamid as the first part of his boarding plan started to kick in.
"I'm fine it's just… well can you guys keep a secret. I've never really been a seafarer and in fact I get deathly ill and don't laugh with seasickness. I need to go take a couple of Dramamine then lay down for a bit it will pass. Can you guys do me a favor and greet our guests for me? Apologize and make up a story…"
"I'll tell them you are in an important conversation with the Ambassador and the President. If they ask what it was about just tell them it was confidential."
"Hamid, you'll go far in this world," said the Ambassador. Hamid signaled the purser to show the Consul to his stateroom. Hamid's boss waited for the Consul to be taken away before jumping him.
"You're supposed to let me make the suggestions. Hamid, will you never learn your place… I mean job. This world is a treacherous one if you don't have someone looking out for you and watching your back. You should remember that or you won't go far no matter what the Consul says. He's here today and gone tomorrow but we are the ones here to stay or at least I am. I don't know about you yet."
"I'm sorry you're absolutely right Mr. Al-Ramadi. Let me make it up to you… tell you what why don't you leave me here with the task of getting people to their lodgings and you go explore the ship. The First Mate can take you to your stateroom then you can explore the bar or the casino."
"You know both are haman, forbidden," said his boss as he put on a face of righteous indignation. "But not for all our guests and we should make sure everything is working properly for their comfort as good hosts. It's all for charity anyway and charity is halal."
"Absolutely, we have to see to our guests. It is only proper and we have to think about those poor orphans as well as their plight," said Hamid as he motioned for the First Mate to come over.
"I want you to take the Cultural Affairs officer on a special tour of the ship," said Hamid. "This gentlemen will take care of you. I can assure you it will be a tour like none you've ever had." He smiled as they walked away.
"Good bye Jaspar," he mumbled but then his attention was drawn by the guest coming onboard in uniform followed by another one behind.
"Request permission to come aboard," said General Beckman as she walked up the gangway handing the purser her invitation with her Aide behind her. "He's with me."
"It's okay," said Hamid. "General, the Consul extends his apology for not being here but something pressing came up…"
"You mean his breakfast. I read his dossier and I found it interesting that it says he suffers from seasickness yet he planned this event at sea. It sounded like he was cruising for problems."
"You have things like that written down in an archive about us," said Hamid as he checked the General off plus one.
"Yes, it's important as well as prudent that we know who the players are when we deal with people in a foreign power. But what's strange is I can't find a word about you anywhere almost as if you sprang up from nowhere."
"That's easy enough to explain because that's exactly what happened. I'm not important in the grand scope of things," said Hamid as he had his first experience crossing swords with the General. "The purser will show you to your staterooms. The Consul will be with you after we pull out once his Dramamine kicks in."
Beckman went off following the purser with her Major bringing up the rear carrying their bags. Hamid could tell the General was going to make this trip both interesting and complicated.
"Who's in charge of dis boat," said Morgan as he faked his accent with Casey rolling his eyes behind him. Alex played the mob boss girlfriend hung on his arm.
"That would be me for right now," said Hamid. "You must be Signore La Barba. My name is Hamid the Consul regrets but he's been detained…"
"Detained for me means three to five with time off for good behavior," said Morgan as he laughed. But he was the only one who laughed. "Look-a-on the list and tell me where my room's at. My doll and I want to inaugurate this cruise if you know what I mean." Casey growled.
"Mr. La Barba," said Casey as he tried to reel him in. "Don't you think you need to conserve your energies for tomorrow's activities? It's going to be a long day."
"That's my man," said Morgan. "I found him alone, cold and wet in the street. I gave him a house, a home with a roof over his head and now he's kind of over protective but it's because he loves me. Yes Big Guy I know you love me." Casey began to growl. "But like a puppy every now and then I've got to smack him with a newspaper across the nose to keep him in line."
"Oh you do and you die," said Casey in a low voice. "You are so dead Troll." Morgan turned around with a rolled up newspaper in his hand but Alex quickly got in the middle.
"Amo, I'm getting bored and you know what you get when I'm bored don't you? None. So I recommend we get a move on it. I thought this boat was supposed to be big? This reminds me of that other little boat we sailed on what was it called the Queen Elizabeth?"
"Yes, I know Amore I promised you one for your birthday but it's not here yet and I need to seal a deal here first so let me work. Dames, you can't live with them and you can't live without them. So Captain can you tell Tennille we need to hurry along," said Morgan as he put a C-note in Hamid's jacket pocket.
"I'm not the Captain and this isn't necessary but you can give it to this man," said Hamid as he grabbed a man from the crew. "Take this party to this cabin," said Hamid as he showed the man the cabin on the deck chart. The man nodded then motioned for them to follow.
"Hold up there a moment swabby," said Casey. He dumped half his luggage on the man. "Okay now we can go lead the way."
"Thanks again Captain. I really liked 'Muskrat Love'," said Morgan. Alex grabbed hold of him and pulled him along before Hamid could remind him he wasn't the Captain and he had no idea what he was talking about. Casey dropped behind to bring up the rear.
"Grimes chill with the stupid accent and don't get all cocky on us. It's times like this I miss Bartowski. But we all can't be lying around in bed all day. Some of us have to work for a living."
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Chuck woke up early too Sarah and Sam were coming to visit him and he wanted to be ready for their visit. It wasn't much different at home. Sarah got up early saw the team off and told Morgan to play it safe and to look towards John for any help. Then she got Sam up fed her then dressed her which was a piece of cake. However, getting herself ready was another thing. Nothing she had seemed to fit or look good on her.
"What's the matter," asked Sam seeing her mother perplexed and frustrated with a heap of clothes thrown out on the bed.
"I can't find anything to wear. You wouldn't understand but I want to look good for your father and nothing is doing it for me. All I need now is a flashing neon sign on the side of me that says 'Goodyear'."
"I don't know what that means but why don't you wear something Chuck gave you?" said Sam. "I mean it something he picked out for you. I think he got it because he thought it looked good on you." Sarah stopped and looked at her.
"You're a little genius like your father," said Sarah as she hugged her and kissed her. Suddenly her choice was clear. "This is what I'll wear," she said as she showed Sam the dress. "What do you think?"
"I think I've got the prettiest mommy in the whole wide world," said Sam as she showed the length of the world with her arms out stretched.
"And I've got the prettiest and smartest little girl in the whole wide world," said Sarah as she hugged and kissed her again. Then she put on the dress and looked at herself in the mirror. "Yes this is the one alright."
"Can I you zip you up? Please, please can I?" begged Sam as she climbed up on the bed. Sarah tuned her back to her then knelt down a little so Sam could reach the zipper then she did her up.
"I don't understand," said Sam as she watched Sarah finish getting ready. "Why do dresses have to have zippers where we can't reach them?"
"That's easy so our men can be useful," said Sarah as she helped Sam down then she checked her makeup in the mirror touching up her blush. Sam stood watching her.
"Why do you put makeup on? Chuck doesn't and it seems to take a long time for what? You really don't need it."
"Oh how I love you. But you'll understand when you get older. Come on we're ready to go. Your father knows we're coming but he doesn't know when."
"Maybe we should stop and get him something on the way. I remember when Morgan was in the hospital the food wasn't that great."
"You're right maybe we can stop off at Lou's and grab him a sandwich."
"Or we can stop off at Subway and get him a breakfast roll and maybe a double-chocolate macadamia cookie... maybe two."
"Two so someone can try one on the way to make sure they're good," said Sarah. Sam just smiled back. "Then why don't we make it three."
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The First Mate took Hamid's boss to his stateroom via the scenic route or so he thought. They went down and down deeper into the bowels of the ship. Jaspar didn't pay any attention at first but as they went through what looked like the engine room he noticed it was getting uncomfortably hot and he started to perspire. As he started looking around at all the heavy machinery he began to wonder where the First Mate was taking him this certainly didn't look like a short cut to him.
"Excuse me," said Jaspar, "but can you tell me where you're taking me. Is this some sort of short cut to my stateroom? If it is then where's my stateroom located on the other side of the ship in a hold or something?"
"Yeah this is a short cut all right. Just keep up we're almost there," said the First Mate as he continued on with Jaspar trying to keep up. But as the proceeded on the temperature continued to rise and Al-Ramadi started to sweat through his jacket.
"Excuse me I need to take a break," said Hamid's boss. "This heat is bothering me and I'm used to hot but this is something else. Are you absolutely sure you know where we're going? Because it looks like you're lost."
"Are you saying you don't trust me? I know this ship like the back of my hand," said the First Mate feigning to be indigent. "Come on just a little bit further then you can rest in peace."
"I'd prefer just a small pause," said Jaspar as it registered what the First Mate said but he just brushed it off blaming it on the heat that made him hear wrong. They continued on further down and the heat continued to rise.
"You need to keep up or you're going to get lost," said the First Mate. "This is a large ship and if you get lost down here it could be days before you find your way out."
"I don't hardly think so said the man. I'm not that stupid I know if I keep going up I'll eventually come out on deck. So you can cut the crap if you're trying to scare me. Hamid put you up to this didn't he? This is his way of getting even, isn't it? Well I'm going to teach him a thing or two when I get out of here. He's going to regret this."
"I don't know what you're talking about," said the First Mate as he picked up the pace and the distance between the two started to widen.
"I think you know exactly what I mean. You are being paid by my consulate so I order you to slow down and take me straight to my stateroom."
"That's what I'm trying to do if you'll just keep following me and stop complaining," said the First Mate as he momentarily slowed down then started picking up the pace again.
"Well I never. Mister you've got an attitude problem. Hey wait! I told you to slow down," said Jaspar. He stopped to wipe the sweat that was rolling off his forehead now in buckets. "Wait up and come back here." But the First Mate continued on and if anything he picked up the pace even more.
"We're almost there," yelled the First Mate back as he led him through a water tight hatch. "Just a little bit further then you'll be where you need to be."
"What the heck? I don't think my stateroom is near here. I didn't feel us going up," said the man as he followed the First Mate through the hatch thinking they'd pop out topside but that was when terror hit him. The First mate was gone.
"Crap! Where are you? Hey I don't see you anymore. Hold up and come back for me," he yelled as panic set in and he started to run. "Where are you? Can't you see I'm not behind you?"
However, he heard nothing and worse he had no idea where he was then the lights went out. Things for him went from bad to worse in an instant. He continued yelling calling for the First Mate as the proceeded but the only sounds he heard were from the ship's engines coming alive.
"Okay how long did he say I could be lost down here," said the man as he continued to search in the dark for something marked exit.
"No, no this can't be happening to me," he said as he ran straight into a pole. His head made a hollow ping as he collided with it then he felt something warm and wet running down his face. He touched in and in the dim lighting saw that it was blood.
"This is all I need. I swear I'm going to kill both Hamid and this guy when I get my hands on them," he said then he remembered he had his phone. He took it out and tried to call Hamid in the dark. His was the only number he had in sped dial. The phone on the other end rang then he heard it click when Hamid picked up. He put the phone on speaker so he could continue to wander around waving his free hand out in front of him.
"Oh mister Al-Ramadi, do you like your stateroom? What did you think of the view from the balcony? Isn't it to die for?"
"What view? I'm lost down in the engine room I think and some idiot's turned the lights out. That First Mate I hope he drives this ship better that he's showed me around or we're going to have an appointment with an iceberg."
"What did you say you're coming in very weak? I can barely hear you. Maybe if you go out on the balcony I can hear you better."
"Are you stupid? I'm lost in the belly of the beast or can you answer what do Jonah, Pinocchio and myself have in common? How am I supposed to go out on the balcony when there's no balcony to go out on?"
"I'm sorry can you speak up a little louder I can almost make out what you're saying? You're not in your stateroom? Where are you at? Are you in the bar or in the casino?"
"I'm in neither," screamed Jaspar. "I'm lost you big idiot and the man you hired abandoned me. How do I get out of here?"
"Mr. Al-Ramadi," Jaspar heard. It had to be the First Mate who figured out he'd left him and had come back for him. "Mr. Al-Ramadi," he heard again.
"I'm here," he yelled back. "Listen I need to go but we're going to talk about this when I get out of here," he said then he hung up. "Where are you? I can here you but I don't know which way to go? The lights are off can you turn them back on."
"We're experiencing an electrical problem. We switched from shore power to ship's power too soon and weren't ready to handle the load. It will be back on soon just start heading towards my voice."
"But I can't see a thing and it's pitch black. Maybe I should wait for the power to come back on?" said Jaspar. His head was starting to throb from his close encounter with the metal pole.
"I have no idea how long it's going to take to get the power back up. It could be minutes or days. I could go to see what the problem is then come back..."
"No don't leave me here," said Jaspar. "Okay, keep on talking and I'll try to find you. You sound like you're right ahead of me. Don't move I'm coming just give me time."
"I think I know where you are. You should run into a ladder with about ten steps soon, go up them then walk straight ahead. I should be right there. Once you get close I have a flashlight I'll shine for you to come towards me."
"That sounds like a very good plan. I'm coming now. Yes, I've found the ladder," said Jaspar. He was tried and sweaty. This was supposed to be a pleasure cruise that quickly became a nightmare but now it seemed to coming to an end.
"Are you at the top of ladder yet?" yelled the First Mate. Jaspar saw a flash of light up ahead and just above where he was.
"I saw you light," he said as he ran towards it. Emotion got the best of him after being lost. He just wanted to be found. "I'm almost there now. Shine your light again so I can see," said Jaspar as he hurried up the steps. Then he got hit in the face with a bright light.
"Shine it at my feet I can't see a thing. What! My..." yelled Jaspar followed by a scream. There was the sound of something or someone falling followed by a loud metallic thud then silence.
The First Mate called and had the lights turned back on then walked back the causeway then down a ladder to a platform where the ladder turned. Reaching over he closed the stanchion that was left open then he looked down the shaft and shook his head. Afterwards he called Hamid.
"It's done. ... what did I do? Well let's just say this gives a whole new meaning to being shafted," he said as he looked down. "I'm on my way back to you."
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A private Learjet flew into Bob Hope International from Mexico City. Beckman's men at the airport didn't think much of it at first. They were looking at flights that originated in Europe or North Africa but not from just beyond the border. However, as soon as the flight touched down and facial recognition found a match among the passengers all hell broke loose. Agents scrambled when a hundred percent match came back for Ettore.
"Agent Roan, acting director," said Connie as she knocked then came into the General's office. Roan was sitting behind her desk with a Martini in his hand.
"What? This just jumped into my hand. What was I supposed to do let it fall? Would you like one?" said Roan as he held up the shaker.
"No it's still a little early. You have the lead agent at Bob Hope International on the line they just got a facial hit on La Barba."
"Good then they have him in custody," said Roan. But then he noticed her look. "Tell me they have him in custody and they didn't let him slip through their fingers."
"You need to talk to him and let him explain what happened. He's on line one," said Connie. Then she walked back out shaking her head. Roan put the call on speaker so he could finish his drink and talk at the same time.
"It wasn't our fault," the man started out saying. "We were told to cover LAX and to look out for flights coming in from Europe and Africa then he pops up from Mexico City..." Roan cut him off.
"I don't want excuses Agent; I just want to know what happened so I can brief the General. Let's start this again and this time, just give me the facts."