Don't own Chuck
John radioed Chuck to hold then he went into their bedroom and brought out a video comms device that was masked to look like a DVD player. Casey set the device up in the common area connecting it to the TV. The television functioned as the monitor and when John brought it on line the device connected with a satellite overhead that acted as a bridge between them and Castle. The screen flickered then Chuck appeared.
"Hey guys it's nice to see you. Just to let you know I checked on the General a few minutes ago and she seems to be doing fine."
"So Chuck you can see anywhere on the ship? Isn't that a little creepy?" said Morgan. "I mean you're like the ghost of Chuck present."
"Will you pipe down Moron and let Chuck talk. I swear next time I'll run in the house and get contaminated if it means I can get out of going on mission with the Troll. You can go on mission with the bearded wonder and now what's worse is there are two of them."
"Guys we need to get back on topic. John, I confirmed that bulkhead you found did at one time have a hatch in it that led to a small storeroom. It would be an ideal place to hide the canisters in until they're need."
"Good, I'll grab an acetylene torch from engineering and have it opened in no time," said John. "It will like taking a can opener to a can then we… well what do we do afterwards?"
"Yeah that's exactly what I've been wondering too. But John you can't cut through the bulkhead in the passageway now because they've got two guards posted there. I've got an idea but you're not going to like it."
"Okay but before you tell us let's go back to what are we going to do with the canisters once we've cut through and gotten in. If we hide them anywhere onboard they're liable to be found then we're back to square one."
"True and if not in a worse situation if your covers get blown which comes back to my idea and why you won't like it. The only way to get into that space is from the outside cutting through from the weather deck. You're going to have to cut through from the outside then jettison the tanks overboard into the ocean. I've neutralized their security cameras so they're blind right now or better I've neutralized their monitors in their Command and Control. I can still see and I'll guide you."
"Chuck you realize we're in the middle of a storm and the weather deck has been secured. Even if we don't get washed overboard how am I supposed to cut through the bulkhead? I can't very well hold on myself and hold on to the torch as I'm cutting. Although I could strap the tanks to the back of Grimes and he can hold on."
"Can I vehemently protest that idea as being totally insane? There's no way," said Morgan as he looked at John who growled back.
"John, I thought about that... I mean cutting not strapping the acetylene tanks to Morgan. Anyway you're going to need a few things listen up and write this down if you need to. First you're going to need a roll of duct tape then you're going to need a coffee grinder. They've got one in the galley I've already checked and there's no one there right now."
"I'll go get it," said Alex as she jumped up and headed for the door but Chuck yelled for her to hold up for a moment.
"Wait while you're there, you're going to need to grab a roll of aluminum foil. It doesn't matter what kind just grab up as much as you can carry. Once you've got both bring everything back here then we'll go from there."
"Got it," said Alex as she ran out the door. Chuck looked up on the monitor and watched her as she made her way to the galley.
"Lastly, someone needs to run down to engineering. There's a locker near where the General is being held with rusty parts. You need to grab them and a wire brush you're going to find there. Get them then we can go to work."
"That would be my job," said Casey. "Since I know where she's being held. Anything else we need before I go."
"Well John, when you go by the cage where they're holding the General, toss her an earbud so I can communicate with her. However, after your friend's misadventure they've placed a guard on her so be careful.
"Roger that. We'll get this done then call you back. I have an idea what you've got in mind but we're going to need something to ignite it."
"Morgan look around your cabin see if you can find a DVD or CD player if worse comes to worse you can take the laser diode out of Casey's comms device but you're going to need a lot of batteries. With those together you can make a laser pointer that's your ignition device but you're going to need a lot of batteries."
"No not that many I know where we can get power," said Casey. "The emergency lights in the passageways are on rechargeable lantern batteries."
"Very good John, I'm going to sign out for a while so I can monitor the rest of the ship. FYI the First Mate is beginning to believe the Captain is going to get rid of him and the rest of the crew after they get back to port. The Captain is starting to think the First Mate is planning a mutiny and some of your competitors will be received an anonymous e-mail soon telling them that Hamid is plotting with rival groups to get rid of them."
"Boy you have been a busy little beaver," said Morgan. "I'm glad to see you're out of the hospital and back on your feet."
"Thanks little buddy but let's get this going we don't have much time. John, your shadow is still there and I don't know how much longer they'll wait. That's one of the reasons I want to talk with Beckman."
"Roger that we'll get on it. Casey out." John signed out and then left headed for the engine room leaving Morgan alone in the room.
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Chuck was monitoring activity on the ship and not paying much attention to what was going on around him. He didn't see Sarah pull up outside of the Buy More with Sam and Clara. They walked across the parking lot where Sarah used her keys to enter. They made their way through the store quietly but when they got in Sarah heard strange sounds coming from the home theater but with the girls in tow she thought it best not to investigate.
"That sounds like animal planet," said Sam. "I remember hearing some like that when they had this special about this big park..."
"The Serengeti," said Clara. "We studied about it in school then Mom and Dad took me to the zoo so I could see the big cats. That's what that noise sounds like but who would be watching TV here this late?"
"Come on let's go and hold it down. We're not supposed to be here either," said Sarah. She had an idea what was going on and it wasn't a sight for small children to see or to hear.
"Okay we're here," said Sarah as she got them to the breakroom. She opened the locker placed her hand on the screen then looked in the retinal scanner.
"Sorry access denied," said a mechanical voice. "Castle is on lockdown enter passcode to override lockdown procedures then state your name." Sarah entered her passcode.
"Sarah Carmichael," she said then waited but instead of access granted a big red X came on the screen.
"Okay let's try this again," she said as she put in her passcode again then leaning to the screen. "Sarah Bartowski."
"Access granted," said the voice. The lockers moved and the elevator opened and in the nick of time. Sarah looked outside to see Big Mike walking towards the breakroom in nothing but leopard printed briefs.
"Oh my... girls in the elevator now," said Sarah as she pushed them inside. She reached out grabbed the pizzas they'd left on the table as Big Mike walked him. But he was counting his change looking down as the lockers closed.
"I know a couple boxes of animal crackers then we roar in the jungle. Muy caliente Mrs. Bolonia Garcia Bougainvillea Grimes Tucker," said Big Mike as he started to feed the machine change with a big smile on his face.
"What was that? Who's there? I hope we don't have rats," he said turning around when he heard the lockers click back in place that was when his nose caught the smell of pizza.
"Oh no those idiots I wonder when was the last time they cleaned out the microwave. It smells like there was just a pizza in here. Now that's what causes rats. I'm going to make a note to get the idiot twins back here and clean it out in the morning."
"Michael I'm waiting," said a sultry voice from outside.
"Oh yes, muy caliente."
[Down in Castle]
Chuck was working with the guys onboard the ship when he heard the elevator. A chill went up his spine there could be only one person who could get past Castle lockdown but she wouldn't come after the told her not to.
"No, no Sarah what are you doing?" said Chuck as he tried to override her override to block the elevator from opening. "Sarah, what are you doing here," he said as she brought up on the monitor. Then he saw Sam and Clara with her. "Are you out of your mind bringing the girls down here? You shouldn't even be here either I have the place on lockdown for a reason."
"Chuck, open the elevator. Ellie gave you a clean bill of health you're last labs showed your virus free and you're no longer in the quarantine zone so let us in and we'll share our pizza with you. We can't go back up in through the Buy More. Check out home theater."
"What's going on in home theater...Oh my God I'm blinded for life," said Chuck as he let them in. He switched off the camera as fast as he could. "Why would you do that to me? How am I ever going to unsee that? I need to bleach my brain. If I didn't have work to do I'd let you hit me with X-13 gas."
"I love you too," said Sarah as she came in with the girls each carrying a pizza. He put his arm around her and kissed her.
"Yuck, I think I'm going to be sick," said Sam as she led Clara over to conference table where they sat the pizzas down. "We can go ahead and eat. When they start like that they could be a while. Do your Aunt Ellie and Uncle Awesome do that too?"
"Yeah every now and then but yours do it more often. I guess it's something you do when you get married."
"I don't know I've seen Morgan and Alex do it but Uncle Casey gives Morgan a look like he doesn't like it. Maybe that's it," said Sam. "Uncle Casey's mad because they're doing that without being married."
"You mean kissing? I had one of my girlfriends in school tell me that's how you get pregnant. Her parents kissed a lot then her mother got pregnant. But I think you have to kiss on the lips for it to work."
"Really, I don't know," said Sam as she went over to the minibar and got them both a bottle of water. Then they looked back out to see if they could start but they were still kissing. "Like I said it could take a while. I wonder if we could have twins."
"I guess it's possible," said Clara as she opened her bottle then they started to eat.
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Back on the ship the team was busy at work. Casey went to secure the bucket of rust and Alex with to the galley to get the grinder along with the aluminum. Morgan found a DVD player under the television and took it apart with a carving knife from a cheese tray that was left as a welcome aboard gift. The Cheddar wasn't bad he was eating and working at the same time. If Casey had seen him he would've commented on it being a family trait. However, what neither Morgan nor anyone else noticed was that Ettore was moving around.
"Thank you Danielle Steel," said Ettore as he slowly rolled over. He pulled his book out from his inside pocket in his robe to find Casey had hit it with two tranq darts. He smiled as he got up without making a sound. He made his way over to Paolo and found him snoring.
"Come out of there," said Morgan as he tried to get the diode out without breaking it. "Come on, come to daddy," he said as he worked at his task without realizing Ettore was standing behind him. Ettore pulled his knife and was about to end Morgan but something strange happened, he couldn't.
"Geez he's not you," Ettore told himself but it didn't work. He just couldn't make himself do it so he looked around the room then opted for table lamp.
"Do you need any help?" asked Ettore. But Morgan kept on working.
"No, thanks, I've almost got," said Morgan as he yanked and the diode came off in his hand. "See I got and I didn't need any help." Then it registered with him who was speaking. "Hey you're supposed to be out."
"You can thank Danielle Steel and 'The Prodigal Son'," said Ettore as he tossed Morgan the book with two darts in it then he broke to lamp over Morgan's head. Ettore got busy swapping their clothes laying Morgan out like he was before. He just finished in time when both John and Alex returned from their missions.
"What happened to the lamp," asked Casey as he sat his bucket next to Ettore. "Don't tell me you knocked it over?"
"I was pulling the diode out and my arm went back… it's not my fault if the lamp was put in a bad location. It was an accident."
"Well if we get billed for it you're paying for it," said Casey. Suddenly they heard who they thought was Ettore moan. "Geez that was quick," said John. He pulled out his tranq pistol and shot the real Morgan twice. "That should keep him out for a while."
"Hey Morgan did your beard grow all of a sudden," said Alex as she ran her hand through it. "Somehow you seem different."
"No just the same old Morgan Grimes. There's nothing different about me… oh the beard well I haven't had a chance to trim it that's probably what you noticed."
"No he's the same idiot bonehead as always," said Casey. "Here moron, take this bucket and use the brush to scrap off as much rust as you can. We're going to need a lot. Where's that diode at anyway I thought you said you had it?"
"I did it's… well it's," said Ettore as he looked for it. When he hit Morgan with the lamp the diode flew out of his hand now he needed to find it.
"So where's it at we need it to make this thing work," said John as they looked around the room. "Don't tell me dropped it."
"It flew out of my hand when I was pulling on it. I couldn't help it…," said Ettore but Casey finished his sentence for him.
"It was an accident. I think I've heard you use that line already. You know you sure do have a lot of accidents. I guess it started with your mother…"
"Leave my mother out of this," hissed Ettore as he started for Casey but he told himself to calm down or he'd blow his cover.
"You'd better take a little of that bass out of your voice or I'll have to," said Casey. Alex quickly got in between them.
"Here we go," said Alex. She found the diode on one of the armchairs where it flew when Morgan went down. "Here it is so everyone can calm down."
"Thank you Amo," said Ettore then he kissed her. Alex turned beet red and Casey turned Casey and growled.
"Don't take the cover story to close to heart and let's not get carried away in the moment or you might be carried away by six men," said John. "Daughter, with me in the bedroom."
"Daughter?" said Ettore as things became clearer. Alex waited for John to go in the back then she turned to who she thought was Morgan.
"Don't pay any attention to Dad. I liked the kiss and being called what was it you called me?"
"Amo, it's a pet name in Italian for love," said Ettore. He looked at the door to the bedroom then kissed her again.
"I don't know what's come over you but I like it. I usually have to say something to get you to kiss me. I know you're scared of my father but his bark is worse than is bite."
"I somehow doubt that but I've decided that I don't care. I mean we love each other right so why should we let him get in the way of our happiness."
"Daughter, get in here," yelled Casey from the bedroom. "Troll, I'd better find a bucket of rust in there when I come out or there will be hell to pay. We don't have much time so we need to work and no dillydallying around."
"You hear that?" said Alex. "We're officially dillydallying."
"I wonder if he's ever dillydallied but you're here so he must've at least once."
"What are you talking about? You know all the women my father's been with."
"I do? Of course I do but that's just something you say. You need to go along before he gets really mad at us and I might have to hurt him."
"I don't know where this is coming from but don't overdo it Morgan," said Alex. She gave him a peck on the cheek then ran off to do Casey's bidding.
"Morgan! This is turning out better than I thought. I wish I could hang around here as you. Alex and I could actually become an item but I need those canisters."
"I don't hear that brush working out there," yelled John. "It doesn't work by itself."
"Him I won't miss and if he keeps it up I might even do you a favor and get rid of him. You can thank me when you're conscious," said Ettore as he got busy scrubbing the rust off the parts into the bucket. Sweat was rolling off him and his hands felt numb this was the first hard work he'd done since… well since ever.
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The General got the earbud from John. He tossed it into her when her guard wasn't looking. It was the Major who caught it in midair before it fell to the ground. The guard turned to see the major grab something out of the air and as the guard was about to ask to see what he had his hand he pretend to drop something then step on it.
"You know you guys should disinfect this tub from time to time. There are mosquitoes the size of Chinooks in here. You wouldn't have any repellent would you?"
"I don't have that problem," said the man as he walked back to his place and sat down. "I guess they just like you."
"I see what the problem is," said the Major. "You should have trouble with flies seeing how they'd be attracted to your smell." The man gave the Major a stare like he'd like to do something but he couldn't.
"Just keep it up flyboy, just keep it up, but soon it's going to be my day and let's see how well you can swim with a little extra weight. Did I tell you there are sharks in these waters too? The storm outside might have them down deep but a little fresh meat and blood in the water will bring them up for a snack."
"I just hope they don't smell like you. What brand of aftershave do you use? Cod Liver or do you just naturally stink like that?"
"Why you, I've had just about enough," said the man as he started for the cage. "I'm going to teach you a lesson you're not going to soon forget." But out of the shadows the First Mate stepped in front of the man.
"Just calm down and go up above to crew's lounge. Grab yourself a cup of coffee and relax. When you've got it together you can come back down. Don't worry I'll be here. Now go," said the First Mate. He waited until he was sure his man was gone before he turned to the Major and the General.
"I suppose there was a purpose in getting him upset. He comes it goes for you then the General picks up something and takes him out from behind?"
"Something like that," said the General. "So what do we owe the honor of your visit?"
"I found these around the ship," said the First Mate as he showed her the micro charges she'd given Casey. "How did you know we'd find these?"
"Because they're mine."