Don't own Chuck
Chuck made his way back to the building under construction and before he entered he gave one last look around. He wanted to make sure he hadn't been followed and, once he was sure, he ducked quickly inside. There he found Anna and Tien where he'd left them but from the looks on their faces neither was ready to play nice. As he walked over to them his phone rang looking at the caller ID it was Casey.
"Here Anna put these on," said Chuck as he handed her the man's clothes. "Hey John, what's going on? Why are you calling?"
"Hey, wait a minute how'd you know to pick out these clothes?" said Anna as she tried on the jacket. "Since when do you know my size?"
"Just put the clothes on. You're going to need them to get us into the building. Yeah, I heard you John. I'm listening… Really, I am. You were talking about what my mother did and how they've beefed up security around the gate. … See I was listening. It doesn't matter I'm going to walk in through the front gate if Anna will ever get a move on it."
"I will if both of you turn around and no peeking or I'll cut your eyes out and feed them to the crows. I still want to know how you knew my size? Did Morgan tell you?"
"No, he didn't I sized you up when I left then I had to find the right guy to take his clothes and security badge. You'll find that in the jacket pocket. All that took time so appreciate what I've done."
"But this is a guy and I don't look at thing like him," said Anna as she checked the man's badge and identification."
"John, I've got to go see you on the other side. … Yes Mom, I'll be careful. Anna you're only going to need the security badge to swipe to get us in. No one is going to look at your ID."
"Really Chuck, you've got your mom on this mission," said Tien as he shook his head. "Well at least she's concerned about your well-being."
"What? Oh, what I said on the phone? No, that wasn't my mother who told me to be careful. That was my other mother, Colonel Casey. Are you done yet back there? How long does it take to put on a pair of pants and shirt?"
"It takes what it takes. If you'd gotten a female agent's clothes it would've been easier. This shirt isn't made for additional curves and I don't want to hear any comments from the peanut gallery. Keep your eyes front while I work this all out or in."
"Tien, I hate to tell you this but I overheard that your minister packed up all your men and shipped them off."
"I guess that was to be expected. He brought in the people he could manipulate the easiest. It makes me sick that my men are suffering because of me…"
"It's not your fault," said Anna as she walked around for them to see her in her men in black outfit. "He would've done it the same just he did it sooner now that he had cause. But the person to blame is your Emperor Wang and Ettore. People like them are used to taking but I for one am tired of it. Let's go and teach them a lesson that they won't soon forget."
"Okay, Anna you're going to take us inside and tell the guard on watch that you captured us. He's going to have to change his pants when he sees us in front of him. Then he'll call the minister…"
"How do you know that? He might just as well call below to security and have them send people. Then they'll take us down to holding cells."
"Take my word it will go down like I said. Once inside I'm going back to the server room to do a little tweaking while Anna will take you up to the interrogation rooms. Come on let's go I'll explain everything on our way over."
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Sarah smiled at Huan as he frantically tried to contact his people but got no answer. The dart he found in her purse made him nervous but then he had a sudden thought that changed things. It dawned on him what if it was some sort of ploy by Sarah. The Red Lotus was supposed to be on their side after all not on the American's. He looked at Sarah and misread her smile thinking maybe this was indeed all just some CIA trick.
"Very good… bravo… You almost had me going there before with that dart or bookmark. I have to hand it to you, you almost had me fooled."
"Oh well you can't say I didn't warn you and you're supposed to say 'brava'," said Sarah as looked him in the eyes. "In a few minutes, I'm going to shove that smirk down your throat along with most of your teeth."
"I'm so scared. Did you hear that she's threatening me but who's going to help you? The Red Lotus? But she's on our side or have you forgotten that?"
"And what side would that be? The side of buttholes? And I won't need any help in kick your butt but answer me this your minister has gone rogue and you know it so what does that make you?"
"It makes me a winner along with him. He's going places and I'm going with him and now let's go back to where we were at. I want to know everything about how this watch works."
"Then I suggest you take a trip to Switzerland and ask the manufactures how it works. I can't know everything."
"Sir, I just got word the Minister is coming on the line in a few minutes. He's out of his office right now but they're looking for him."
"Good by the time they find him. You'll have given me the information I need," said Huan as he picked up her knife and started walking towards her holding it in his hand. He had a big smirk across his face.
However, what they'd failed to find when they searched her was a shim she hid on the underside of her wedding band and as they had been talking she was using it to take off her handcuffs.
"What are you smiling at?" said Huan. "I think I need to show you I mean business." But she kept smiling until he was close enough. She jumped up and used the handcuffs as a knuckleduster. With one punch, she busted Huan's jaw and sent teeth flying. They made a pinging noise as they hit the side of the van.
"I'll take that," said Sarah as she took her knife from Huan's hand then threw it. One of Huan's men was trying to draw his weapon when her knife struck him in the shoulder. It made a loud thud and he made a low groan as he dropped to the floor.
Sarah kicked the table with her Smith and Wesson on it. It flew up in the air as she spun around landing a spinning back kick that sent a man flying into the rest knocking them down like bowling pins. She held out her hand and her weapon dropped in it.
"Now, if I were you I'd keep my hands out where I can see them and no fast movements or my friends Mr. Smith and Mr. Wesson might call one of their little friends to speak on their behalf," she said in Mandarin. Just then the side door opened and Rebecca jumped inside.
"I came out to see if you needed any help but it looks like you've got things under control. Huan, are you missing some teeth?" said Rebecca as she picked one up off the floor of the van.
"Traitor," he mumbled as he held his jaw. "So, it's true you are working for the Americans. Just wait until they find out in Beijing. They'll make you pay for this."
"From where I stand it looks like to me you're the traitor working for your Minister Wang. I wonder how many people know you're here and those who do will they negotiate for your return or disavow any knowledge of you. But even if they don't that will be an awkward return. I hope I'm there to see it."
"I hope I'm there when the Minister makes you pay."
"What's that about some people somewhere hot wanting ice water?"
As they were talking two black panel vans pulled up with tinted windows and government license plated. They were supposed to be the cavalry Beckman had sent.
"Well they're a day late and a dollar short. I can't be here when they get here," said Rebecca before disappearing into the parking lot she turned back to Sarah. "I'll be in touch and if you get a chance pass a message on to Anna. She will always be my favorite cousin."
"I promise," said Sarah as she watched Rebecca vanish just as the team leader and his men appeared.
"On me we need to get her before she gets away," said the lead agent but before he left Sarah stopped him.
"No Mike, you can let that one get away. She's on… well I want to say our side but let's just say she's a friend. The rest of these you can haul in and there are two more inside the yoghurt shop. Two here need medical attention but I'm not sure what the state of the two people in the yoghurt shop is."
"From the looks of things, you've got everything under control. The General was worried about you and told us to get here right away."
"I did what I can do. I wonder how she knew this was going down? I need to contact her," she said as she picked up her watch and put it back on then she collected her purse.
"Huan, you made a mess in here. Be thankful these gentlemen are here or I'd have to beat on you some more for this," said Sarah. She pulled out a photo she kept with her of Chuck with her and the girls. She looked at it then put it away.
"Sir, there's a voice coming in over the radio in Chinese. I don't know what they're saying but they mention Huan," said the man as he held a head set and pointed at their prisoner.
"Let me see that," said Sarah as she put on the headset then listened in. She flashed when she heard the voice. "This is Minister Wang and he's asking for Huan. I want to try something," she said as she flipped a switch for recording.
"Minister, Agent Huan is not here right now. There was an accident with the prisoner. But he said the watch was a bust… No use to us."
"What do you mean it was a bust? What's this about it being no use? Ettore told me he wanted the watch so there has to be something special about it. Forward it to me and we'll check it. In the meantime, tell him I want you people back here."
"Yes Sir, I'll tell him what you want but according to the woman it's just a watch nothing else. We opened the back and that is what it seems like but that doesn't mean we can't be wrong."
"No, it doesn't. Okay tell him to interrogate her some more and find out if there's anything else that's called a governor. That was what Ettore called it."
"That will be difficult to do Sir given the prisoner's current physical state. She wasn't very cooperative and Huan has heavy hands. However, she might even pull through."
"Crap, I knew Huan was an idiot just not how big an idiot. I'll have to see what I can find out from my interrogation here. Back to the original plan, tell Huan you people need to pull out and regroup. He knows where to go and to wait there for my call." Then the line went dead.
"What was that all about? You don't look very happy. Is there something going down I need to know? Beckman issued me orders to take you guys into protective custody at our downtown office for duration."
"I need to send the General a copy of this recording ASAP from Castle as well as a translation. Just so you know I'm going to ask her if we can stay at Echo Park but have you guys provide us a couple details to watch us. Devon, my brother-in-law, is a civilian and he's having a hard time getting his head around what's happened then there are the girls. I don't want to disrupt their lives any more than what's absolutely necessary."
"If it were just you and your brother-in-law I'd fight you on this. It would be easier to protect you if we took you two underground but that's no kind of life for a kid. But the farthest they'll be able to venture out to will be the courtyard. If you can agree to that then we have a deal."
"Then it's a deal. Let me go with you and explain to everyone what's going on then I'll run this through the universal translator," said Sarah as she held up a memory card. "After that I'll send this on to Beckman."
"If you want I can have one of my men do that for you so you can stay with your people. I'd like to keep all of you guys together and if you go off I might lose the rest of the herd."
"The only member of the herd you might lose is my daughter, Sam. I'll be the first to admit she can be quite a handful."
"More the reason you need to stay with them. I'll have my guy send a copy to you so you'll know it went and you can read the translation."
"Good, the minister talked about doing an interrogation himself which could only mean that he's got at least one of our team."
"I wouldn't go jumping to conclusions that could mean a lot of things. But if you're right we've got quite a few people to trade should we need to swap out prisoners."
"Thanks Mike I needed to hear that. Okay, here you go," she said as she handed him the memory card. "But I do want a copy forwarded to me and you can tell your man to tell the General, I'll be calling to thank her personally."
"Consider it done. I'd suggest you go get everyone up together then you head out in your vehicle. I'll send a chase van behind you while I stay here to clean up. Like this your brother-in-law will never know what went down so he'll have less reason to be anxious."
"Thanks, I appreciate that but I'm afraid that's everyone's operating mode right now. I'll make sure you people get fed on watch."
With that Sarah got out of the van then started walking back to Orange Orange. Sam saw her getting out of the van as she was headed back. She looked at Devon holding Clara and she heaved a sigh wishing Chuck was there to hold her.
"Well I'm officially going to be killed," said Sam as she plopped down cross from them. "I've gotten Chocolate on my dress. Clara, I need you to get a napkin so I can dictate my last will and testament. I, Sam Bartowski, being of sound mind..." She was in the middle of it when Sarah walked inside then back to them.
"Excuse me but what are you doing," said Sarah as she glanced over at the two men slouching on each other across from them. She sat down next to Sam.
"I'm making out my will but you can't kill me until I'm finished," said Sam. Sarah gave her a look. "You have to promise I still have my earthly possessions to divvy up."
"Oh, don't be ridiculous," said Sarah. Then Sam showed her the chocolate stain. "Oh Sam, this is the sundress all over again."
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[An hour before on the other side of the Pacific]
Anna dressed like one of Wang's men, escorted Chuck and Tien into the MSS building at gunpoint. The man behind the front desk dropped the receiver he'd had in his hand. He quickly picked it up and told the person on the other end he'd have to get back with them later.
"So, it looks like the Minister got what he wanted you to be brought in before the end of the day. It's not midnight yet so I guess this could still be counted as the same day. How'd you get them?"
"I caught them in the park near the 'five rams' statue. It looked like they had some sort of drop going down and I slipped up on them. I was on my way home so what am I supposed to do with them now? Can I turn them over to you and leave?"
"Wait one and let me check with the Minister's office. He's moved into his new office upstairs which would be your old office traitor."
"If you want to see a traitor look in the mirror," snapped Tien. Chuck shook his head warning him to keep his head down.
"We'll see about that once you've been executed then found guilty," said the man smiling at Tien. "Yes, it's me, Chao down on the front desk. ... I know what time it is but I have urgent word for the minister. One of our agents just walked in with Tien and the American. What do you want me to do with them? … We're shorthanded down here on manpower right now. … Yeah, that's a good idea. I'll make it happen and let the Minister know it was me who called." Chao smiled hanging up the receiver.
"So, do I turn these guys over to you? I should be off now," said Anna trying to look like she had other places to be.
"I'm sorry but your job's not done yet. The Minister wants to talk to your prisoners upstairs in the interrogation room. I'd call someone to come and get them but as you know we've had to send extra personnel to the sanatorium so we're shorthanded here right now."
"Okay, I hear what you're saying. Come one let's move it along. The quicker I get you two upstairs the quicker I get to go home," said Anna as she headed for the elevator putting the pass key in Chuck had lifted off the agent. The light turned green then she herded Chuck and Tien past the metal detector to the elevator. The alarm went off but Anna pointed at her weapon.
"Go ahead," yelled Chao. His voice echoed in the entrance as he waved her on. "I'll call up above and have someone meet you at the elevator." Anna gave him a thumbs up as the doors opened then she shoved them onboard. Chao stood with the receiver next to his ear smiling.
"Okay, so how did you know they were going to be shorthanded," said Tien as he watched Chuck slip out of his cuffs then went to work on a new disguise.
"Anna, please press the button marked server room for me. How did I know? Well I counted on my mother being seen at Ettore's and given his current mental state he'd demand extra protection. I also figured out there are only so many men Wang trusts and he brought them all with him."
"He could've called in help from one of the other districts to augment his manpower. He could keep them here and send those he trusted to Ettore's."
"What you're saying is true but neither individual is playing with a full deck. Your Minister is probably as paranoid as Ettore is and the more Ettore acts out the more your Wang's anxiety is going to flare up."
"What's he going to do if or when he figures out that Ettore is unstable? Will he back out of his deal and try to save face? Hanging this all on someone like me?"
"He might've thought about doing that before when you didn't know what was going on but now he can't. That's the same reason he won't grab men from the other districts. He wants to keep those in the know to a bare minimum to avoid over committing himself and as a way out in case things go south." As they were talking the bell rang then the doors opened up.
"I'm going to need about forty-five minutes. Here Tien," said Chuck as he handed him a voice recorder. "I think you might have some use for this. Don't look for me when you leave I've got my own ride lined up."
"What do you mean by that? No, we came in together so we should leave together. Chuck, I don't like improvisation."
"Don't worry about me, I've got everything under control. When you leave go back to where we came from. Casey should be there with Lin and my Mom. You can tell them I'll meet them back at the sanatorium."
"Chuck…" said Tien but before he could get anything else out the doors closed then they started heading up."
"I hope he knows what he's doing."
"I'm sure he does," said Anna. "And if he doesn't we'll know about it soon enough."