Don't own Chuck
Wang walked into the interrogation room smiling looking at Tien handcuffed to the table. He turned back to Anna signalling for her to leave and shut the door. He stood there looking at Tien thinking how people called him emperor behind his back. However, soon he would be able to turn their joke in fact then he'd see who's laughing. He undid his jacket slowly savouring the moment then he sat down across the table from Tien.
"Well I have to admit I didn't think this was going to happen so quickly. Somehow, I thought you were better than this but I guess I gave you more credit than you were due. You are not your father's son."
"How dare you even mention his name. You and I both know you invented all that dirt on him to protect yourself. How could you he was your friend?"
"I've known a lot of people that have served me either willingly or without their knowledge but I have no friends… or if I do they are limited to me, myself and I."
"Admit it you set my father up. There's no one here to hear you just me and these four walls. You had my father executed to protect your own hide. You were and are the traitor."
"Will it make you feel better? You're not going anywhere. I'm going to keep you around until after I get Ettore to give me what he promised then you will be caught. Evidence will come out how you colluded with the American then you will be executed like you father… a family tradition yours."
"So, are you ashamed to admit what you did to my father? The real traitor was you not him. You profited from allowing goods in for sale on the black market. You were the tirade's inside man but when things got hot you framed my father."
"If you already know everything then why do you need to hear it from me. If I were you I'd be more worried about my execution and if you believe in an after-life or reincarnation. The wheel of life thing is fascinating but terrifying to think how many times we've sat here and had this conversation."
"So, you refuse to admit what you've done. What does that say about the kind of man you are? If you were a real man you would admit to your deeds. It's not like I'm going to tell anyone," said Tien as he held up his handcuffed hands.
"You can say that again. You're alive right now because it suits my needs but soon those needs will be fulfilled then you'll be of no use to me."
"So, there's no need in not admitting what you've done. Or are you so much a coward that you don't want to admit what you've done to yourself. You don't want to admit it to your three friends you named before."
"You aren't going to let this go, are you? Okay I admit it. Yes, I did it. I framed your father for my crimes. It didn't have to go down that way though, I offered him a cut if he'd just look the other way. The money was good and easy back then and I needed it to get where I am now. I simply provided a service to some of the local party bigwigs and in return they looked the other way. If anyone moved against me they let me know…"
"That was how you found out my father was on to you. One of your clients called you and let you know. Was it they or you who decided my father had to go?"
"It was a little bit of both. Like I said I offered him a cut of the action then I found out he went to the prosecutor. It wasn't hard to turn the cards on the table…"
"Then you accelerated his execution before he could defend himself and prove his innocence. You and your pals saw to it that he couldn't defend himself."
"In all honesty executions are carried out immediately once they are handed out. There is no lingering in our prisons. The same way you won't be hanging around. In fact, you'll be executed before your guilty verdict is handed out."
"You are a pig Wang. There will be a reckoning day when you'll have to answer for all your crimes and I want you to know I be laughing then."
"You'll be laughing from hell because I don't see that happening anytime soon and you will be executed way before that. Once I get what Ettore has promised me I will be untouchable. I might even be the next Party Chairman or President. Too bad you won't be around or you'd be able to tell anyone that you used to work for me."
"Enjoy this moment Wang. Things have a way of circling around and biting you in the butt when you least expect it."
"Why do you say that? Is that what brought you here my dear Tien. I was told your American friend is down in the infirmary and might not pull through. So, your story with him will be whatever I say it is."
"Wang, do me a favour," said Tien as he looked over across the table at him. "Go to hell. If you want I can give you a road map on how to get there."
"If that makes you feel better go right ahead and be defiant. No one is going to hear from you or see you again. Goodbye Tien," said Wang as he got up and walked to the door. He knocked on it then Anna opened letting him out.
"I want the prisoner taken to the sanitarium and locked up there where he can be guarded better. Any word on the American yet?"
"No sir not yet but this is a tech who came up from the server room to talk with you," said Anna as she motioned Bao to step forward.
"Yes Sir, my name is Bao," he said as his voice faltered and he began to shake. "I came up with a new way to move the data from our server here to the one at the sanitarium," said Bao as he started to get into the details but it was late and the minister was tired.
"That's fine but I don't need all the details. Just tell me that everything will work on time that's all I need to know."
"Sir it should be ready to run in a few hours at the latest tomorrow morning."
"Now that's what I needed to know. Very good work," said the Minister as he patted Bao on the back. He couldn't believe the way things were coming together for him. "Are you running out to the sanitarium?"
"Yes, I'm on my way there now. Once I install the decoding program I…" he started to say but could see the Minister wasn't interested. "Yes, I'm going there now."
"Good you can help this agent with prisoner transport. I want you to help her transport Tien there. Then have Jian find a place he can keep him safe and secure. Agent, you and I will have to have that other conversation later and don't worry I've forgotten."
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Casey, Mary and Lin pulled up at the abandoned construction site. After doing a quick recon of the location Casey brought everyone inside where they waited for Anna and Tien. John didn't like the fact that Chuck was venturing off by himself and the longer they waited the more Chuck's plan seemed to confirm his doubts.
"What's taking them so long," said John as he went and looked out of a seventh story window with no glass. "I don't like this. They should've been back by now."
"If you keep looking out that hole for a window someone is going to see you and think there are squatters in here then call the police. I don't like it either but this is where he told us to wait."
"That's rich coming from you. You never paid any attention to orders before and now all of a sudden you do. Give me a break."
"I don't care too much for your attitude and if you people had left everything up to me, I would've…" she started to say but Casey cut her off.
"You would've what? As I recall Lin and I had to pull your bacon out of the fire when you were about to get caught trying to make it to the wall. I can tell you where you'd be at right now sitting in Ettore's prison if not buried in his backyard. Because of you the ants are running all over the hill and it's going to be next to impossible to get back inside."
"You have your version and I have mine. I would've made it over the wall after dealing with those two guard."
"You're forgetting about the sniper on the roof," said John as his phone rang. For Lin is was a godsend she wasn't sure how much more of this bickering she could put up with. But her ears piqued when she heard Anna's name mentioned.
"Okay, so you're in," said John. "We're waiting on Anna and Tien but so far nothing. … What do you mean they're inside with you? The plan was we meet up back here then figure out a way in. … Oh, really that easy? Who would've ever thought? … No, I know what it means to be flexible."
"Yeah right buddy and I've got some swampland to sell you too," said Mary. Casey gave her a look but turned back to the phone.
"So, if they're inside what do we do? The ants should've settled down by now so we can go back and set up a listening post nearby in one of the farmer's huts. If things go south we can storm the compound."
"Let me talk to him for a second," said Mary as she held out her hand. "I need to tell him where things are."
"Your mother wants to talk to you," said John as he reluctantly handed her his phone. "Keep it to a minimum."
"I think I know that. Chuck, Ellie and Alex are being held on the third floor in the West wing. The security office is located on the first floor off the central stairs. Patrols were every hour but now they'll be more often. Get everyone then get out of there. We'll deal with Ettore later," she said then he hung up.
"Before we take out from here I need to call Beckman or she's going to have my skin for not reporting in. Don't worry, I'll make it quick," said John catching Mary's look.
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Back in Langley the General was sitting at her desk wondering how things were going with Ambassador Sheng. She hoped he used all his diplomatic skills he'd learned through his many years of service. If the wrong people found out about what he had in his possession his life would be at risk if not his future in the Chinese diplomatic corps. She really never knew if she could trust him but he was someone you could talk to unlike the man he replaced.
"Do you remember Ambassador Feng? Now that was a party man. I don't think he went anywhere without his little red book."
"What is with dictators and wanting to write books," said Roan as he looked over her liquor locker. "You know what they said in Russia that poetry is taken so seriously that people were shot over it. But to answer your question I remember Feng, I think even his underwear was red."
"Well red for the Chinese is supposed to bring good luck," said Beckman as she scuffled a couple folders from her in to her out box.
"Yeah, well tell that to the millions Mao killed in his great leap forward. Somehow, I don't think they thought they were lucky. You're worried about Sheng? Don't be, he's a political animal and I'm sure he knows how to play the game."
"This is different than anything thing he's done before. Other times he faced off against people with about the same political clout but this Wang is different and he has the home court advantage. Maybe I shouldn't have gone to him."
"And who else would you have gone to? You couldn't leak to the press the photos of the people we took or the recording of Wang and have it be credible. No, you did the right thing and where this goes from here is out of our control."
"I know, I know… we burn assets all the time in our profession but that doesn't mean we have to like it," said the General as Connie came running in.
"General, it's Colonel Casey on line one for you," she said. She saw a note of relief in the General's face. Roan started making a Martini as she put the call on speaker.
"Colonel, you're late checking in. We had report that at least one of you were taken. What can you tell me about that?"
"That was Chuck's doing to get inside Ettore's hideout. I don't have time to explain it all to you but it was a smoke screen. Neither he nor the MSS agent that's working with us were actually taken."
"Are you sure that you can trust this agent? How does he fit into all this?" said Beckman as she looked over at Roan who was stirring. She gave him a look but he ignored it.
"He's a bitter enemy of Minister Wang and Wang is trying to pin all this on him. So, the bottom line is he's got nowhere to go. I'm monitoring the situation and will take the appropriate action if necessary to ensure our secrets are kept secret."
"Good, do that. Chuck thinks everyone is his friend. Can I talk with Agent Carmichael? I don't know if he should know this but Minister Wang tried to grab Sarah but his people were stopped."
"No, you probably shouldn't," said Mary. The General heard her voice over the squawk box. "He's already in the sanitarium along with Agent Tien and Agent Wu. The PROC working with ROC now that was something I never thought I'd see."
"Colonel, Mary, you two probably don't want to hear this but rescuing the hostages is to not to interfere with the primary mission which is to prevent Ettore from revealing our secrets to anyone. When I say anyone, I mean anyone and when I say prevent I mean permanently."
"I understand," said Casey. "Well we need to go get in place. We are Chuck's backup in case things go south."
"Let's hope they don't and make sure he remembers why he's there."
"I'm sure he does," said Casey as he looked over at Mary. Both were thin king about what Mary told Chuck to do but neither dared mention it.
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Without the lead tech with them Chuck easily took over control of the team. When they got to the gate Chuck was talking with Bao, the other Bao, about what needed to be done. He scanned the security badge he'd lifted from the guard and he got through without a hitch. This was because when they were working back on the main frame in the MSS building Chuck has enough time when no one was looking to switch out pics of himself with the man on badge then upload it.
"Now show me the way down to the server room," said Chuck. The other techs watched in awe as he introduced the decoder program and installed it. After that everything came on line and they system started working.
"That was great I've never seen anything like that. We should tell Jian the man in charge here everything is working."
"I don't know look at what time it is. Why don't we all get a little sleep then do one more check then let people know. It's not that I'm not sure this won't work it's just… well it' always best to be sure before you go tooting your own horn."
"No zuo no die. It means if you don't do stupid things, they won't come back and bite you in the ass. but if you do, they most certainly will."
"I couldn't have said it better. Now let's get some rest then in a couple of hours we'll give them our revelation. I'm going to find a cup of tea I'll be right back. In the meantime, you can stay here and watch the machines. Get some of the other guys to bring in refrigeration equipment in here to cool this place down but you can put your feet up and relax. You're the man in charge now Bao."
Chuck heard him yelling at some of the other techs as he left. Now was his chance to explore but as he was walking around the basement he received an SMS from Anna telling him what had happened so he ducked into a switching room and called John. He passed on what he needed to tell him then John and Mary passed intel on to him.
"Okay so everyone is up on the third floor and I'm down here in the basement," he said to himself. He heard the sound of people heading towards him so he quickly ducked out of sight again.
"I really need to go see what my people are up to," Chuck heard one man say. The voice he recognized as being the other Bao.
"The minister told you to accompany this agent with her prisoner," said another voice. "You can protest if you want to Jian but he's not in a very good mood right now so I'd let it drop. But it's your life and if you don't care that it could be shortened then go for it."
"But this isn't what I was trained to do. I'm a technician not a field agent. My world is in the lab not down here in this dust, dirty place."
"I can't help it if we're shorthanded. We've got two man watches and extra posts to man so we're spread kind of thin. All you have to do is stand or sit outside of a cell door until you're relieved then you can go."
"Why can't I grab one of my men and have them stand this watch for me? It won't take me very long to grab someone."
"Then you hightail it out of here. No way am I going to let you leave without a relief standing in front of me. If you want you can call them and have them send someone."
"But I left my phone on the van when we got out. Agent," said Bao as he turned to Anna. "Let me use yours I'll make it fast."
"Sorry but my battery died on my last call. I was supposed to be going out so I didn't think about recharging it. It looks like you and I are stuck here with this traitor."
"Yes, it certainly does," said the man as he walked over to a metal door and opened it up. The lock squeaked as it reluctantly opened. "They used to keep the criminally insane down here so Tien you should be right at home."
"And everyone else here," said Tien as he looked inside at the darkness. There was not light only a foul dank odor of moisture and mold.
"Get inside and shut up," said Anna as she shoved him in. Then the man closed the door and locked it smiling.
"Here are the keys in case Jian or Ettore send for him and they can't find me. Don't worry you'll be relieved in a couple of hours then you can go on about your jobs but until then your butts are mine and remember that."
With that the man went walking off disappearing quickly out of sight. Bao looked over Anna then found himself a chair to sit on.
"Well isn't this a fine mess you've gotten me into," said Bao as he leaned up against the wall crossing his arms. Leaning up against the wall he disturbed a spider web and a big spider came down to see what was going on.
"Geez, get me out of here," he yelled as he tried to get up but ended up falling on the floor. "Crap, don't just stand there help me. That spider could've been poisonous… no I think it was. I could tell by the way it was looking at me with those beady little eyes."
"Bao, what are you doing down here," said Chuck as he walked out into the open. "Why aren't you in the server room with everyone else?"
"It's a long story So. I got roped into babysitting a prisoner and now I'm supposed to stand here and watch him until we get relieved. Wait a minute if you're here you can go back to the server room and send Bao here to take my place."
"Bao is the name of the guy you want to take your place," said Anna as she smiled and looked at Chuck pointing at him. So Bao Bao."
"It was funnier when I said it. Bao, you'll be happy to know I installed the decoder program and everything seems to be working fine."
"That's great then you can get Bao and I can find Jian and tell him the good news. The minister was happy about the work I… we did with the servers back at headquarters."
"You talked with the minister and he was happy. Isn't that good? I'm happy he's happy. I tell you what Bao, Bao worked so hard with me that it would be unfair to pull him now. I can stay here for you so you can go to the server room and see what I did."
"You would do that for me? Great, I'll send someone right away and if they don't show up you're only going to have to wait here a few hours before your relief shows up."
"I think I can handle this. Go one before I change my mind," said Chuck. Bao didn't have to be told a second time. He disappeared quickly into the darkness.
"You know he's not going to send anyone," said Anna as she opened the door to let Tien out.
"I know and I'm counting on it. Now we can move on to the next phase."