Don't own Chuck
Chuck and Sarah were kissing when Chuck noticed the General talking with the First Mate. As much as he hated to he had to stop his activities and went back to work. Flashing on the General's lips he read what she was saying so he began feeding her intel she could use. He reached over and took Sarah's hand as he passed information long. She came close and kissed him on the forehead.
"I love you but I think I need to go check on the girls," said Sarah as she pulled away. "Let me go and I'll be right back."
"I love you and I missed you," said Chuck. The General heard him too and he got the raised eyebrow. "Oops! Sorry General, I've missed you too." Chuck gave Sarah a look as she stood in the exit she had to put her hand over her mouth not to laugh.
Sarah was laughing when she walked back to the girl. As she walked in she heard them talking and it seemed they were talking about of all things kissing. This was a conversation she didn't expect to have to have for a few more years.
"Ask your mom," said Clara as she walked in. Sarah felt like turning around and leaving. She prided herself on never running from a fight and always standing her ground but this was different. She'd take a knife fight over having to talk about the facts of life any day.
"Ask me what?" she said as she played off she hadn't heard. "Good you've already eaten. I was thinking we could camp out here tonight and swing by home tomorrow to get cleaned up then go to the hospital."
"Okay," said Clara. Sam nodded yes too. "But Sam has something she wants to ask you. Go ahead and ask if you're not a fraidy cat."
"I'm no fraidy cat," said Sam with her pizza covered face. "But if you want to know so badly you ask her or you ask Aunt Ellie."
"Hold up there's no reason for you two to get in a fight over this. What's going on? I heard you talking about something when I came in then you got quiet was that it?"
"Well kind of," said Clara as she looked at Sam who made a face right her back. "Okay this is it but I was told this by a girl in my class, Marylou. She said that women get pregnant by kissing is that true? She said that her parented kiss a lot and now her mother told her she was going to have a baby." Sarah started laughing and both girls gave her a menacing look.
"I'm sorry I'm not laughing at you. Well you can tell Marylou that we don't get pregnant by kissing. We kiss because we like it and that's as far as I want to get into this topic with you two until you're older."
"But you and Chuck kiss a lot and I mean a lot," said Sam as she rolled her eyes. "But can't your faces get stuck together? That's what Uncle Casey told me."
"I'm sure he did but that can't happen either. I kiss your father because I love him. I kiss you too because I love you… I love you both so very much," said Sarah as she kissed both on the forehead. "Let's go get you two washed up. I've got toothbrushes in the back."
"Then the women I saw kissing at Venice Beach love each other? But theirs didn't seem a friendly kiss," said Sam.
"You have to see if they had their eyes opened or closed," said Clara. Suddenly the room felt like it was getting a little too hot. But Clara went on with her explanation. "If they have their eyes closed then they love each other but if their eyes are open it's a friendly kiss."
"I'm going to have to talk with your mother," said Sarah. "What are they teaching you kids?" Luckily for her the girls both started yawning so for this evening certain embarrassing details were avoided. She took them back to detention and tucked them in.
"Can you tell us a story," asked Sam. "Please, please, Clara needs a story or she can't go to sleep," she said but Clara was already out. The day's events had been too much for her. "Traitor!"
"Sam be nice, Clara was tired. I think I remember one I haven't told you before. It's called the Prince and the nuclear bomb. How the Princess deactivated it with seconds to spare using only a box of fruit juice.
"Yes, yes I want to hear that one."
"Okay once upon a time there was an evil man who worked in a lab…."
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Onboard the ship the General was listening to the First Mate and the intel Chuck was feeding her. She smiled as the First Mate told her about the explosives and at the same time Chuck told her about the incriminating evidence he'd planted in the Captain's cabin. Her plan was taking root.
"You planted these" said the First Mate startled and taken aback. "How did you… when did you… I don't understand what you're saying. Why would you want to blow up this ship with yourself on board?"
"Well starting with the fact you've got the who's who of scumbags onboard but what I meant was those are ours. The bombs you have are mini charges used to cause micro damage. You put enough together you can, as in this case, sink a ship by compromising its structural integrity."
"So in any investigation afterwards say from an admiralty court it would appear that the ship sank from structural damage like that caused by a storm like the one we're in. But ships sail through storms all the time worse than this one.
"I don't know I didn't say I had all the answers but those explosives can be bought on the black market or on the dark net at a baker's dozen for a few grand. If I were you I'd get rid of them and I certainly wouldn't carry them around. Those things are remotely detonated and if they go off now guess who's going to go bang with them."
The First Mate looked in the bag he had five but he couldn't help wonder if there were others they hadn't found waiting to go off. As he was looking in the bag the General looked back at the Major then grabbed hold of the cage. He understood what she meant so he grabbed hold too.
Suddenly the ship took a heavy roll almost sixty degrees then righted then went over to the other side sixty. It felt like at one point the ship came out of the water and crashed down on the water's surface, one big belly buster. Everyone throughout the ship felt the ship flounder and shake. Finally it stabilized right itself again. The First Mate had to dig himself out covered with loose objects that went flying from one side of the ship to the other.
"What the crap just happened," yelled the First Mate into his radio. "What idiot is on bridge watch up there?"
"Sir it was the Captain. He came up and took over but it wasn't his fault. We lost steering then we found ourselves in the trough we took a broadside before we could get out. Damage reports are coming in now. The Captain wants you up here on the double. We lost two of our comms people."
"What do you mean we lost two people?" said the First Mate. "Where were they when we took the roll? The weather decks are secured."
"They had to go topside to run cable to bring the CCTV cameras back on line. Captain's orders. They were taken off the ship by the wave that knocked us over."
"Sound man overboard and alert the watches. Who knows, we might get lucky. Tell the old man I'm on my way up. Tell everyone I want a complete damage report waiting by the time I get there."
"You asked before about what could validate the hypothesis of structural damage," said the General. "Well I think you just experienced it. You know I can see a scenario where I offer you immunity in exchange for handing over this ship and everyone onboard to the authorities. This offer expires when we return to port so I'd think it over long and carefully."
"But you'll expire before then," said the First Mate as he started to leave.
"You keep carrying those micro charges around with you and you might be the first to expire."
The General waited for the First Mate to leave and since their guard hadn't returned she brought the Major up-to-date on their current situation which wasn't as bleak as it seemed.
"General, it's not for me to criticize or to call into question your orders," said the Major. "But don't you think you might be biting off more than you can chew?"
"Nothing ventured, nothing gained and you're right now would be the wrong time to question orders."
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Sarah came back with a plate of pizza for the two of them. Chuck had just finished talking to the General and now he was hoping for a break. He had Sarah come over and sit on his lap. She was feeding him when Casey came on the monitor.
"Don't you two ever give it a rest," said Casey. "You just can't keep your chocolate out of each other's peanut butter can you?"
"Good evening to you too John, I just got off the horn with the General so she knows what's going on. Oh I guess I should've given you a head's up about the course correction."
"You think so. We almost had the place covered with iron oxide and aluminum powder. You're lucky that I figured out what you wanted to do with it. I went ahead and mixed it then rolled in the duct tape."
"Good now all you have to do is go out on the weather deck, secure that to the bulkhead outside the compartment then ignite it with your pointer. The thermite we made will cut a hole through the bulkhead and you'll have access to the canisters. Throw them all overboard then get out of there. When they come to get them before the auction they'll get a big surprise."
"John," said Ettore still pretending to be Morgan. "Let me go and do this I know I can. You wait here where it's safe. You're more valuable to the team than I am."
"Don't be ridiculous even if it is true I can't let you go risk your life. You may say you're ready but when those waves come crashing over the deck… well it can get scary. Besides, Alex would never forgive me."
"Little buddy listen to John and let him handle this. Where's all this courage coming from," said Chuck. "You sound like a different man."
"No I'm just being the man I ought to be and standing up for what I ought to. I can't let my future father-in-law get washed away before the big day. Who'll walk Alex down the aisle? No I've got this you can just take it easy and count on me."
"Grimes, don't make me regret this but okay you can come along. We'll do this together. This is a two man mission anyway. And Alex no before you say a word."
"But Dad, if you're taking Morgan you can take me."
"And Kat would kill me if anything happens to you so the answer is still no. You can monitor our progress from here. Chuck can patch the CCTV feed from the outside in here. If we get in trouble then you can come and help. But nothing should go wrong. Come on Troll we've got… well trolls dig holes so you should be at home doing this."
"Funny John, very funny did you go to the university to become smart? If you did you should ask for your money back."
"I wouldn't make fun of the guy I was going to be tied to. Accidents happen all the time and some of them I'm sure are accidents."
"I'm sure they are too," said Ettore thinking this would be the perfect opportunity to get rid of Casey once and for all then he'd be alone with Alex. "Yes I'm sure you're right," he said as he smiled at Casey.
"Guys be careful outside and don't take any undue risks. The crew already lost two men to this storm. Let's not contribute to the casualty count."
"Grimes grab everything we're going to need. We can't come back because we forgot something," said Casey as they gathered what they needed then headed out.
"Chuck please give me the view from the weather deck," said Alex. Chuck looked over at Sarah then back at Alex.
"Alex, listen before I do it's going to look worse than it actually is," he looked back over at Sarah and she just shrugged her shoulders.
"Alex, what Chuck is trying to say is… well are you sure you want to watch this?" said Sarah. "It could be hard to watch."
"I want to see. I appreciate what you guys are trying to say but it will be worse if I don't. I'll think I don't know what in my head as my imagination runs wild but if I see it I'll know what's actually going on. I've got to... Chuck, I think you can understand what I'm saying."
"Okay here you go," said Chuck. The television blinked then switched views as a wave came flying back pounding up against the bulkhead where they were going to be working then water washed over the side.
"Geez and they're supposed to work in that," said Alex as she took a deep breath. "My poor, poor Morgan," said Alex. Then she realized she said it out loud. "I'm sorry and my father too naturally."
"Naturally," radioed Chuck. But he was as worried as Alex about them working outside but it had to be done. With the canisters off the ship he could talk to the Chairman of the JCS and get the Hampton recalled. If they failed a storm would be the perfect excuse for a ship to go missing.
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The First Mate made his way up to the bridge. There he found the Captain looking over a map with the Third Mate. As he walked over he could tell the Old Man wasn't happy. That was when he saw Hamid on the other side of them. This he didn't like at all and the first thing that came to mind was they were plotting against him.
"Here you are," said the Captain. "It's about time. Where were you when crap hit the fan? I thought you told me our watch standers were all qualified. What kind of idiot steers starboard and sails straight into trough? Do you want to see the list of damages and they're still coming in."
"Sir like I said and the helmsman will corroborate we lost steering then the ship sailed into the trough on its own."
"I checked with engineering," said the Third Mate. "They said they got orders from the bridge to come starboard. I have a crew checking the helm to make sure…"
"It sounds like to me someone is trying to cover their behind after they screwed up and know they did," said the Captain.
"But Sir you were up here did you hear me give that order?" said the Watch Officer. He realized he was going to take the hit but he wasn't going to go down without fighting.
"I was taking care of business with Mr. Hamid and too busy to notice what you were doing. I assumed and we all know what that does that you were qualified."
"Sir I'll look into it," said the First Mate. "Why haven't I heard man overboard called? I was told that we lost two men that you sent on the weather decks, the same decks that are supposed to be secured."
"I told them not to worry about sounding the alarm," said the Captain. "In weather like this they're gone and I don't want to risk anymore damage turning around. That would mean we'd have to sail through another trough and like I said by now they're gone."
"Don't you think we have an obligation as seafarers to go look for our men," said the First Mate but he could tell his plea was falling on deaf ears.
"If you want to know the truth," said Hamid. "I was the one to tell your Captain to forget about sending out a man overboard alarm. That would mean contacting the Coast Guard and then they could come out and snoop around which would lead to a lot of questions we don't have answers to."
"So where have you been all this time?" asked the Captain. "I'm still waiting for an answer about that power outage and you might add the rolling surge that took out our surveillance system."
"I was down with…" the First Mate started to say when he was cut off by a bridge watch who came yelling over the radio.
"Bridge, this is the starboard lookout. I don't know how but we just lost lifeboat. It must've been that maneuver before but that last wave just took it away."
"Crap, are we coming apart at the seams. At first light I want people out checking the rest of our topside equipment. They need to make sure it's still safely secured."
"Mr. Hamid does that sound all right with you," said the First Mate. The Captain gave him a look. "I was just making sure it was okay since he seems to be the one in charge. You don't have to answer that I'll go down below and make sure a party is ready to go topside." With that the First Mate left the bridge.
"What's gotten in him," asked Hamid as he watched the First Mate leave. "Are we going to have problems for our auction?"
"No, everything is set and in a few hours you can hold it then we can start to get out of this bad weather. I do pity those guys in the water but between the cold temperature of the water and the massive walls of it that keep crashing down there's little hope for anyone that's caught in it."
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Back in Castle, Sarah was feeding Chuck pieces of pizza so he could keep his hands free to work the control. He followed Morgan and Casey through the ship making sure they got to the hatch without being seen. When they got where they needed to go out but before John grabbed a hose from a fire station tying Morgan off then himself.
"Stay close to the hatch when we go out," said Casey. "Chuck, can you hear me," radioed Casey. We're going out. I don't know how well I'm going to be able to hear but here goes nothing."
"I got you John," said Chuck. "Hold up a second." John heard a wave crash into the hatch. "Okay you're clear."
John opened the hatch then suddenly the wind and waves almost sucked them out. Chuck jumped out of seat but then calmed down. Outside John left the nozzle end inside the hatch then battened it down so they were now tied to the ship.
"Okay follow me," yelled Casey. The wind was howling so loudly that they could hardly hear each other. John pointed at the wall and Ettore nodded his head. They taped the thermite rolls to the bulkhead then Casey signaled Morgan to move back.
"Oops," said Ettore as he pretended to lose balance and slid into John. "I'm sorry," yelled Ettore as Casey pushed him back but what Ettore did was he grabbed Casey's dart pistol. The first thing Ettore did was to take out the CCTV camera.
"John, I'm blind I can't see a thing something just happened to the camera. Guys, can you read me? Guys report in."
"Sarah listen I'm raising the gain. I can't hear a thing over the wind," said Chuck. Then all of a sudden they heard something that sounded like a series of thuds and moans followed by a splash.
"John, this is Sarah report," she yelled in the mic. "Morgan, Morgan report in," yelled Sarah she was concerned too.
"Come on little buddy let me hear your voice," said Chuck frantically. "Come on please. Sarah, tell me I didn't just kill my best friend." She stood behind him rubbing his back.
"Guys I'm here," radioed Ettore.
"Morgan, never do that to me again or I swear I will kill you. Are you trying to give me a heart attack or something? What's up with Casey? Did he lose his comms?"
"He lost all right but I'm finishing the mission," radioed Morgan. "I'm doing this for John."
"Morgan, you're not making sense? Where's Casey and what's going on?" said Sarah. Something in her gut told her things weren't right.
"I hate to tell you this but Casey's no longer with us. I'm sorry he undid the hose so he could go inside the compartment then there was this freak wave. There was nothing I could do it took him away before I could get to him."
"Finish the mission, Morgan," radioed Sarah. "Right now that's the best thing you can do."
"No, I'm not going to sit around and just write him off. Casey's our friend," said Chuck. "You don't have to tell me how many protocols I'm about to break but I need to contact the Hampton."
"No I wasn't going to say anything about protocols. I was going to call Langley and see if they can move a bird or send out a drone but after we get this done one of us needs to talk with Alex."
"Oh crap the mic was open and she heard everything."
Alex sat in front of the TV with her mouth open and tears flowing down. She was desperate and helpless because there was nothing she could do.