Don't own Chuck
Oscar's trick was simple... almost too simple but it seemed to have worked. He'd dressed two of his men as policemen then taken out the two guards outside of Jack's office after that he grabbed Jack and that was where he was at now. His next problem to hurdle was to get from the office to the police car they'd commandeered when they'd taken the police uniforms. But with the end in sight it looked like he was going to be able to pull it off.
"We're going to walk straight out of this place into the police car parked outside," said Oscar who was pleased with himself. "You try to attract attention and there will be a blood bath. It would be a shame if anyone you cared about got hurt in the crossfire and if they did... well, that would be on you."
"Just lead the way," said Jack as one of the fake cops shoved his weapon into his side then they started walking out. Jack noticed that the two men who'd been guarding his door were on the floor. He hoped they were just unconscious and not taking a long nap.
"I hope you didn't hurt them," said Jack as he had to step over one. "As strange as it may seem it's hard to find people to play poker with around here. Especially those that lose all the time but keep coming back for more. Maybe I could interest some of you guys in a friendly game later? Five card stud, Texas hold'em, Uno or you name the game?"
"Just shut up and keep on walking. Remember what I said about you trying to signal anyone. We are trained professionals."
"I'm sure you are... I mean I can see that just like the men the Turk sent. If I remember correctly I think they said the very same thing," said Jack as they walked through the Casino. Normally the place was packed but they hadn't opened yet and no one was around.
"I told you to shut up," hissed Oscar. He had to remind himself to control his temper. He reminded himself that he had to at least until they covered the distance from the Casino through the hotel lobby and out the front doors. However, Jack wasn't making it easy for him.
"I'm sorry but I get a little talkative when I'm nervous and it's hard not to be when a piece of iron gets shoved into your side. I hope you've got the safety on because if you sneeze things are going to get messy in a hurry. Just look at the carpets I'll have to have them replaced. Do you know how much carpeting costs?"
"Shut up I said," growled Oscar as they walked out of the Casino and started to cross the lobby. Fortune seemed to be smiling down on them until it wasn't. The best laid plans of mice and men...
"Crap Oscar, that's the Major coming in now with that woman," said Gustav but it was too late to turn around. The Major looked straight at them with at Jack. "He knows what we're doing."
"Shut up. Of course he knows what we're doing. Just wait here and keep an eye on him while I go over and talk," said Oscar. Then he walked up to Oleg holding his weapon down inside his jacket.
"I'd be careful with what you do with what you have under your jacket. I can outdraw you any day of the week. So, what do you have going? It looks like you're desperate to get out of here."
"In your dreams you can outdraw me. Look, I've gotten new orders to take Jack back with us. I need for you to stand down and get out of our way. I'm coming through one way or another."
"You know how much I love ultimatums. I'd be inclined to let you and your men go but I need to take him in. You can come with me if you like but I'm going to be the person to bring him in no you so step aside."
"Oh, I don't think so possession is nine tenths of the law and he's mine as you can see. Besides there's only one of you and there are more of us then there are of you so I'll tell you one last time move out of the way and let us go by."
"I think you might've underestimated my position," said Oleg as he nodded to Carmen. As they were talking Carmen circled around Oscar's men and was now behind them. "I'll think you'll find we've gotten you surrounded so you want to start the negotiating one more time? Oh, I was told that man you killed in the alley was her brother so this is personal for her."
"What the two of you? Don't make me laugh and you believed that crap about him being her brother? You always were a sucker for the ladies."
"Believe her or not the woman has a weapon and knows how to use it. The policemen you took out are the Commissioner's men and the light on the elevator indicates it's coming down. Want to wait around and see if it isn't him? Or reinforcements?"
[In the meantime]
Sarah and the Commissioner went to White's room then after knocking on the door and getting no response she used the master keycard. Walking inside they could quickly see he'd packed up and was gone. Then she and the Commissioner check Oscar's room and let themselves in again. This time they found an ashtray full of cigarette butts some even still smoking and used drinking glasses lying about.
"Crap, I don't like this," she said as she called down to the Dungeon then she put the call on speaker for the Commissioner. "Margot, I need for you to double check that Jack is safe in his office. Something is going down and I don't like it."
"I just tried to call my men on the door and they aren't answering. I've got Jack in the lobby on the monitor with two policemen..."
"What two policemen? They can't be my people they have orders to wait for me outside. What's going on here? What kind of operation is this?"
"I'll explain on our way down to the lobby. Margot, I need for you..."
"I'm already on it but we can't take them in the lobby. There are too many civilians in the way. Crap, we might not have any choice that Russian Major is blocking their exit."
"Get up there now we're on our way down," said Sarah as she grabbed the Commissioner by the sleeve then ran to the elevators but they were taken. "No time to wait on them. It looks like we're taking the stairs."
Which is what they did and they started running down then. Sarah was well ahead of the Commissioner who was having trouble keeping up.
"You go ahead," said the Commissioner as waved her on. "Go on," he said as he tried to catch his breath panting wheezing on the steps. "I'm just slowing you down go on. I'm getting too old for this crap. But I want a complete explanation afterwards... geez, you people should put oxygen tanks in the stairwell for people like me."
Sarah would've laughed if she hadn't been in such a hurry. She knew what was going down and she blamed herself for letting it happen.
"I knew I should've bagged them all when they checked in. Oh Chuck, I hope you get whatever it is your doing done soon," she said to herself as she drew her Smith and Wesson. "But for now someone's messed with the wrong girl's dad."
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Chuck left the living room with Stefan talking with Imma and where both Casey and Anatoly were making fun of Stefan. Chuck didn't feel like joining in so he went back into the kitchen. It wasn't long before Mary followed him in and handed him a glass of scotch.
"Isn't it supposed to be your mother who tells you not to drink so much," said Chuck as he took the glass from her.
"Yeah, but from your looks I think you could use this. It's not easy burning an asset and I guess it really shouldn't be but sometimes it's necessary."
"Look, Viktor really wasn't an asset. He was just some guy we met on the chopper ride in here. I think Anatoly and Stefan might have known him but I just knew him from what I know in my head and I put the screws to him. Because... well because I wanted to send a message to the Circle that they could be reached."
"And now they know they can. It makes sense to me but evidently it didn't to your friends. We overheard some of the conversation before we came in. Casey's Russian is a little rusty but mine is spot on."
"So, then you realize that I had no other choice but to hand Viktor over. It was the logical choice and I made it for..."
"For the good of the mission. Yes, I get that but that thing in your head... well, I saw the way it changed your father and don't get me started on Hartley. You say it was the logical choice be careful that the head doesn't overrule the heart. That's always been what's set you apart from everyone else and why I never wanted this for you. This thing that we do has the ability to grind us down until we're people we don't recognize anymore in the mirror."
"It sounds like you're speaking from experience," said Chuck as he took a sip looking at her from over the top of his glass. "I wish there'd been another way but I have to see this through if I'm going to get that bull's eye off Jack's back."
"We do what we have to do but we also have to think if what we have to is necessary. It would've been easy for me to take Hartley out. God knows Decker was after me to end it and to tie it off then when I didn't... well you saw what happened."
"Yes, I did. Did you know that Decker is in Jack's unredacted file? It seems he was after him for a long time but it was Langston Graham who finally brought him in."
"I might've heard something about it but I was already working with Hartley as Alexei then so I was cut out of all the main chatter. As I remember there was even speculation that Jack Burton was two people. Naturally, I assumed Sarah was the reason for that."
"Yes, that would've explained why he could be in two places at once but it couldn't have been her because during some of these episodes she was seen with Jack. So, it kind of begs the question how could she or Jack be in two places at once. It doesn't really make sense, does it?"
"No, it doesn't but like I said this was pure speculation and how it washed out in the end I don't know because I was out of the loop. I think you can trust me that I'm telling the truth. I've got no reason to lie."
"Of course I trust you. You're my mother and well I know when you do lie to me there's usually a good reason. I may not know the reason at the time or ever for that matter but you've got one."
"I think I should say something but I really don't know what," said Mary as she hugged him. "Maybe I should do more of this."
"Maybe," said Chuck as he hugged her back then pulled away. "That's it... that's what this is all about. Geez, it was right in front of my nose all this time. Why didn't I think of this before?"
"Think of what before? Chuck, do you feel all right? You're not making very much sense... no you're not making any sense. Think of what before? What are you talking about?"
"The other way... I said there was only one way but I was wrong there's another way and that's the one we need to take. Stefan," yelled Chuck. "Are you still on the phone with Imma? I need her to do me something. Then I'm going to explain how we're going to save Viktor and Jack. It's a little risky but I'm sure we can pull this off."
"I'm game as long as I get to shoot someone. I really don't care who but my trigger finger is acting up and I need to scratch it."
"There could be a lot of people to shoot. But first is Imma still on the line?" asked Chuck. Stefan nodded then passed the phone to him.
"Imma, I'm going to need for you to steal me a helicopter and bring it here in the morning... yes, sunrise would be the best time. We'll be waiting."
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Igor was in his office trying to monitor what was going on in Moldova. He'd already given Diane an ear full for getting him and his men involved. However, like it or not he was in it waist deep. He'd sent Imma to try to make sense out of what was happening and to give him a report. In fact, he was expecting her to call in any moment.
"Sir there are two men who refuse to give me their names but would like to..." said his secretary but the men pushed by him and barged right into Igor's office.
"That's all right we can take this from here. You can go now," said one as he motion for Igor's secretary to leave then they walked around looking at some on his books.
"It's okay, I'll deal with the men. Let me talk with these gentlemen and please close the door on your way out," said Igor as he felt for the Makarov he had secured on the underside of his desk. "I thought someone from the GRU might be dropping in to talk with me."
"We didn't say who we work for and believe me it's better for everyone concerned if you don't. We're here to ask you if you are a true patriot..."
"That's a line I use when I'm interrogating someone who I know isn't. I mean what kind of line is that really?" said Igor as the men looked at each other then back at him. "Okay, I'll bite. Of course, I am and furthermore, I think my service record testifies to my love for mother Russia or should I say it does unless you've changed it in some way. Is that it? Are you here to railroad me out of office," said Igor as he put his hand on his weapon.
"No one is doubting loyalty Tovarishch... comrade," said the one. Igor looked at him. "That's right I said Tovarishch. A lot of people have forgotten where we came from but we... the people we represent haven't."
"Yes, and what my friend is trying to tell you is that we love the Rodina... the motherland like you and we want to see it great again."
"You should get silly red hats with that written across the front? I' sorry I don't believe in make Russian great again because for me the Rodina was and will always be great. Yes, in a different way but great none the less."
"Then you will uphold your constitutional obligation to protect it when it's threatened and believe me when I tell you it is."
"Of course I will," said Igor wondering where this was all leading. He didn't like these two guys and was suspicious that they might be trying to set him up. "I think you need to speak clearer about what you want because I'm having a hard time following you."
"There's a meeting being held in Moldova and you've sent men there to investigate. It would be better for everyone if you recall your team and buried their report. There are men there from the Novorossiya who don't want their covers blown..."
"You mean you have informants in place and they're feeding you back information. If you share your intel with me I can recall my men as soon as they check in. Right now that's not possible," said Igor as the two men looked at each other.
"I'm not lying to you if that's what you're thinking. Come on you know what it's like operating in the field? They're operating in the dark which means even if I wanted to contact them I can't... at least not until they check in with me."
"This isn't very good... not good at all. We were hoping you'd be more accommodating. I'm afraid we're going to have to report this."
"And whom would you be reporting to? To your faceless Siloviki... grey cardinal bosses. Oh that's right you don't want to tell me for my own best interest."
"Be careful Tovarishch what you say next. You need to think before you react if you're to survive in this Novorossiya."
"I was a Comrade when Comrade meant something. You people bat around clichés and expressions like Novorossiya and the like. You should remember that God is high up and the Tsar is far away."
"What's that supposed to mean? Maybe you're thinking that your patron in the Kremlin will protected you? Well, people thought that way about others then they weren't there anymore and they found themselves out in the cold. By cold I mean Siberia if you haven't figured that out."
"Yes, you might be riding on the coattails of success today only to be led away in shackles tomorrow. Things change all the time and you have to know how to ride the currents. I'm sorry we've seemed to disturbed you that was not our intention."
"That is true. We're not trying to recruit you into any secret sect which would be illegal. We know you respect the law and are a firm upholder of the Rodina... the motherland. We just ask that you tread lightly where others are involved."
"Others? What others? I told you I have no way of contacting my men in Moldova. But if I find a way what is it that you want exactly?"
"I think we have a compromise. Very good I knew you were an intelligent man. I told my partner this on the drive over, didn't I?"
"Yes, he did," said the other man as he nodded. Igor was about to ask them if they were talking about the ride over from the Ministry of Defense. They were both GRU and probably Colonels or Brigadier Generals. Their spit polished boots, close cut hair and signet rings all pointed to a career in the military which was a short leap to the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces or GRU.
"We'd ask you send us any information at this e-mail address," said the one as he passed Igor and E-mail address printed on a business card. He took it and looked at it. There was nothing else on the card except the e-mail address.
"I supposed you'd like me to sit on any report for twenty-four hours after I send it to you. That should give you a chance to look it over first."
"And to correct any grammar or syntax errors that might be in it. Yes, thank you. Russian is such a difficult language to write in and people can make serious errors with dire consequences without ever realizing it."
"Well, I'll see what I can do," said Igor as he stood up and started to show them to the door. One of the men stopped and turned back to him.
"You might start with contacting LT Col Stanasolovski. We understand that you have her on the way there as we speak and maybe she can get word to your men. Not that we presume to tell you how to run your office."
"She's going to Romania actually but I could have her detoured. Yes," said Igor as he stroked his beard as if he were thinking. "You know that's not a bad idea. Yes, it'll work out... I'll have it done right away. See this is us helping each other," said Igor as he stood in the door way watching waiting for the men to leave.
"Pookhalmi, toad eaters," said Igor as soon as the door was closed. "Here take the photos off my phone then run them through facial recognition. I want to know who's got the guts to come and threaten me in my own office. You can tell them to start with our friends in the GRU. Those spineless idiots over there are up to something and if it's what I think it is we need to be ready."
"Is that it Sir," said Igor's secretary as he looked up from his desk with a worried expression on his face.
"One other thing, I want a team in my office to sweep for bugs. If they find any I don't want them to remove them I just want to know where they are."
"But sir shouldn't I have them do my office too... and think about what you just said. They could've heard you," said the man whispering.
"I don't think you've got anything to worry out here," said Igor as he spoke in a normal voice.
"Should I start sleeping with a pistol under my pillow?"
"Don't you already?"