Don't own Chuck
Chuck and Tien rode the service elevator up to the fourth floor. The light flickered off and on inside as it went up. Tien looked around and didn't dare wonder when the last time it had been used. When they arrived on their floor it stopped with a jerk then dropped a few inches below the floor making them step up to get off. There waiting for them was Anna. She waved them to follow her quickly into one of the rooms off the elevator.
"Come this way," whispered Anna. "A couple of the guards just made a pass through. It will be about a half an hour before the come back."
"Good, we should be done by then," said Chuck as he led them through room after room listening for noise below.
"But why are we up here? Your people are being held on the floor below. It seems to me we go down take out the guard then spring them."
"Can you guarantee me we can get out without setting off any alarms? Jian's got extra guards posted so it won't take them long to respond. If we go in my way we can have them all out and away from the compound before anyone's the wiser."
"Chuck's right unless you want to fight our way out? Which for you would mean you'd have to take out some of your own people."
"The people here aren't my people. They're Jian's and I have no qualms about taking a few out," said Tien as he patted his holster.
"That's good to know but let's hope it doesn't come to that," said Chuck as he took out what looked like a pen from his jacket pocket but when he pressed the clip, a red light came out the tip that burned a hole through the floor. He then inserted another pen in the hole turning it until they heard a clicking sound.
"Okay I'm almost there," he said as he removed the end of the pen revealing an eye hole like a large needle.
"What's he doing," asked Tien as he looked over at Anna. She just shrugged here shoulders as they both watched.
Chuck took off his belt and from the back of it he took out a section of what looked like twine. He attacked one end to the eyehole then he tied it off on the foot of a bed bolted to the floor. Lastly, he made sure the line was taut.
"Anna, can you look outside and make sure the coast is clear before I start cutting," said Chuck as he took out the same pen as before. Anna went to the door, looked outside then gave him a thumb's up.
Down below Alex and Morgan were listening to what was going on below them. They were so engrossed with what was going on that they didn't see what was happening above them until the ceiling opened up.
"Anyone order pizza?" said Chuck as he smiled down at them. "Hey where's Ellie? Never mind you can explain to me when I get you out of there."
Chuck lowered the line then they pulled Morgan and Alex up one at a time. Once they got them out Chuck put the piece of ceiling back in place again.
"Okay that will buy us some time," said Chuck as he tied off the line. "They'll have to look for a while before they figure out what happened. Now where is Ellie and why isn't she with you guys?"
"She's with Ettore. They just left his study so she can run tests on him. Chuck, he's got intersect glasses. How'd he get a hold of those?"
"What are those? And are they a bad thing?" asked Tien. He looked over at Anna who just shrugged her shoulder and looked puzzled too.
"Yes, they are a bad thing and no, I don't know how he got them but I figured he had them or had a way of getting them. All this talk of rebooting himself and the Omen virus he had to have a way to upload the data. This is Shaw all over again."
"Wait a minute what data are we talking about? Where is he getting this data from and are you saying he'd going to upload the data into his brain? Is that even possible?" said Tien. He was having a hard time getting his head around what was being said.
"The answer to that is classified but you're about to see a second attempt. The first attempt is what made Ettore the way he is now. I warned him not to go through with it but he wouldn't listen then and now he's back at it again."
"Wait a minute, I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around this. So let me get this, you're saying he downloaded what? Your data base into his brain?"
"Something like that but the files were corrupted and every time he accesses that part of his brain the more damage he does to himself. It's like overclocking your CPU. You can get away with it for a little while but if you do it often and overclock it too high then you'll burn it out. Basically, Ettore is frying his brain. Soon he'll reach a point of no return."
"Ellie's been trying to talk him into removing it but he refuses. He wants to try this 'reboot' like you and he call it but she's skeptical."
"And rightfully so, he feels like he's got all the knowledge in the world right now and that's not easy to give up. Even if he knows he's hurting himself something you know a little bit about."
"Don't remind me. He's comparing himself to a god," said Morgan as he looked over at Anna. Alex caught the look and frowned at him.
"We should really go before they find we're missing," said Alex as she gave a look at Anna. "I suppose you have an extraction plan," she said turning back to Chuck.
"Wait a second this reboot… the data. Ettore is planning on rebooting himself using our database. He's going to steal all our secrets and the Minister is helping him?" said Tien as is he was suddenly he realized what was going on.
"My guess is your Minister is unaware of what he's doing. Ettore probably told him he'd be able to download the secrets he has from us. He probably gave Wang a little demonstration which was all smoke and mirror. He somehow planted a data file on the mainframe here then hooked himself up to something that looked like an EEG. Lights and bells went off to sell it then he showed Wang the results. The files were probably something he could validate as being true and my guess is it was something about the gang of four or the cultural revolution."
"Like his involvement... what I wouldn't give to see those files. They could be just what I need," said Tien as thoughts raced through his head.
"That may be true but we have no way of knowing and for now Alex is right you guys need to go. Tien and Anna will take you out and once you're out you'll find Casey, Lin and my Mom waiting for you."
"Chuck, what are you saying," asked Morgan. "Is sounds like you're telling us you're not coming? You can't stay here Ettore hates you."
"That's why I can't go little buddy… I can't… I can't leave Ellie here alone. Ettore is liable to become angry when he finds out you two are gone and I don't want him to take his anger out on Ellie. No, you two go and leave Ettore up to me. I can handle him."
"Chuck, I should stay," said Tien. "These are our secrets you were talking about and I can't let them fall into Ettore's hands even if the Minister is giving them away."
"While I appreciate your offer, you have my word that Ettore won't get a one of your secrets. Get my friends to safety and I promise your secrets will stay secret. Tien, I always keep my word."
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Wang woke up the next day early. Jian had called him and told him to come to the sanitarium that Ettore wanted him to be there for the big event. The final pieces were falling into place so he couldn't afford for have anything to go wrong now. Wang called Beijing and talked with a man he knew there. He put the call on speaker phone so he could eat his breakfast before leaving.
"Mister... well what should I call you? We don't want to use real names. I'll call you Mister X that sounds like a nice name for you."
"You can call me whatever you want as long as the proper payment goes into my numbered account in Macau. I take it you have a problem you want me to eliminate?"
"That would be why I'd called you. I sent you a file in it is a photo of the man I want taken care of. I contracted with a man in LA but he failed to complete his contractual commitment."
"People like him give people like me a bad name. I'm looking through the dossier now and I don't see any problem with this. His plane arrives Beijing Capital International airport in a few hours that's cutting it close..."
"Are you telling me you can't do this? I'm paying you good money and I expect to see results," said Wang as he sipped on his tea.
"I never said I couldn't do this. I said you're cutting it close and for future reference if you contact out to the lowest bidder... well low doesn't mean better. You make sure the money is in my account half now and half on completion."
"That's what the guy in LA said then I lost a quarter of a million and the job wasn't done. I need this job done and I need it done quickly."
"Like I said before you hire the incompetent this is what you get. I can't help what you lost and I hope you aren't trying to ask for a discount for friends and family because you are neither. You want this done then make the deposit. I expect to see a half a million in my account or we wave at the Ambassador as he passes through the airport."
"Okay, okay, I told you no names. You'll have your half a million in a few minutes then the other half when I get proof of completion."
"Good and don't think about not paying up after we complete the job. Failure to make final payment will result in... well something very unpleasant and terminal."
"I understand the consequences and there's no need in making threats we're both civilized men," said Wang as he dunked his toast in his three-minute egg.
"Just explaining the terms of the contract, is all I'm doing and I'll be looking for that payment. If there's nothing else I need to get out to the airport," said Mister X then the line went dead.
"You my friend are quickly becoming expendable," said Wang as he bit into his soldier after dipping it into his egg then wiped his mouth. "Yes, I think your services won't be needed anymore. You'll have to be rounded up in the net of suspects after Mei's death. Then you'll be shot to death resisting arrest which will be taken as an admission of guilt. If I can tie you to Tien that would be even better and my proof."
As he sat there thinking about how to put everything thing in place there was a knock at his door then one of his men came in.
"Sir, I just wanted to inform you that your car is downstairs outside waiting for you as you ordered. Whenever you're finished with breakfast your driving is ready to take you to the sanitarium per your request."
"I know what I requested and what I told you I wanted. I don't need you to remind me. I'm not senile yet. Let me finish my breakfast then we can leave but until then you can tell the driving to keep the motor running."
"Yes sir, I'll make sure he gets the word," said the man then he turned and tried to leave as quickly as he could. He almost got out of the room but Wang caught him first.
"Oh, and I was supposed to be kept informed about that American's condition but so far no one has briefed me on him. I don't know why I have to do your work for you and remind you of the obvious."
"Yes sir," said the man. He caught Wang's look. "I mean no sir... I'll get right on it and let you know," said the man as he quickly disappeared.
"It's so hard to get good help these days. I'd shoot them all but they aren't work the bullet to put them out of their own misery."
[In the meantime, the man went back downstairs]
"The Minister will be down in a little while so you can tell the driver to chill his jets. Do you know anything about an American that was brought in last night? The Minister jumped my case saying he expected a briefing but never got one."
"There was something in the pass down log about an American and Tien being brought in. Then Tien was taken out to the sanitarium."
"But there was no mention about what they did with the American? You don't think when they wrote in the pass down about Tien they forgot to mention the American went with him?"
"It's possible and most likely probable considering how much run around we've had to do for Jian, the Minister and that Ettore person. You can call down to see if they locked him up in detention if you want to here's the phone. I've got my own problems this morning. Two guys decided to bug out last night without permission. I tell you things are starting to come apart at the seam."
"Thanks, I can take it from here," said the man as he picked up the phone but as he did he saw the elevator open up and the Minister step off.
"Looks like you're in deep crap now," said the man behind the desk pointing at the Minister as he walked across the floor heading for the doors.
"Sir, I was just about to come up and see if you were ready to go..." said the man but the Minister cut him off.
"And when was that going to happen, sometime next year? I asked you to look into the condition of the American. What can you tell me?"
"Well... I... you see... I did some checking and it seems he and Tien were taken to the sanitarium last night. Yes, that's right they are both there in holding cells."
"Very good, I don't know why it took so long for someone to tell me what's going on. You people act like you don't know who you work for. I'm going to be at the sanitarium for the rest of the day so when my secretary comes in you can tell him to pass all my calls there."
"Yes Sir, I'll make sure it gets taken care of," said the man as he looked at the other agent behind the desk who smiled at him.
"Oh, by the way there was a female agent here last night. Get her name and number for me then have it put on my desk. You can tell her I want to speak to her about that job offer I mention."
"Yes Sir, I'll get it for you." The man stood there and watched the Minister leave the building then he walked back over to the desk.
"What did the Minister ask you to do? Get the name and number of a female agent from last night. I don't remember seeing any female agents."
"That's because there aren't any. I haven't got a clue who he was talking about."
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Sarah was walking through Chinatown just past Sizzling Shrimp. There was construction going on and a sign that said they would be reopening soon. She admired the work that was being done and wondered if they'd be back in business by the time Morgan returned. Up ahead of her was an Asian man talking to a group of friends.
"Eyes on the prize," radioed Sarah back. "No one break cover until I give the green light. Mike, what are you seeing from CCTV?"
Mike, the team leader from their downtown office was sitting in a surveillance van on the other side of Chinatown watching everything that was going down from video feeds they'd tapped into.
"Everything is a go from where I am. I don't see any problems putting a bag over his head. If he walks around the corner on his left there's no one in sight."
"Roger that. Have you been able to identify who our target is talking to? I'd like to know who I'm going up against."
"Facial recognition came back identifying them as the Tong brothers. They're low level soldiers in the Triad. I don't get what the Triad is doing with a Korean smuggler."
"In a little while you can ask him," radioed Sarah as she noticed one of Mike's men getting close to the target. "Mike, get your guy out of there before they see him."
Mike radioed the guy which turned out to be a mistake. The guy couldn't hear Mike over the loud chatter of two Chinese men arguing over a game of Mahjong so he touched his ear at the wrong time.
"Tell him to get his hand down," yelled Sarah but it was too late the men started to make a break for it. "I've got our man," radioed Sarah as she took off. "Your people pick up the other two."
She ran after the man trying to keep him in sight. At first, she didn't try to overtake him she just chased after him letting him tire himself out. It was like trying to run down a rabbit. The rabbit is faster than you are but if you can keep it away from its hole and let it run it will eventually give out. Finally, she was starting to gain on him he turned and pulled a Glock nine firing two quick rounds as he ducked into a construction site. Both shoots were wide of their mark.
"Our guy has ducked into a construction site off Saigon plaza and Alpine street. Suspect is armed and dangerous I'm giving pursuit." Mike said something in her ear but she wasn't listening. She saw their guy enter a building that was being renovated.
"You're mine now," said Sarah as she smiled. She entered the gutted building from the opposite side climbing up a ladder entering in directly on the second floor. She found her man crouched down panting with his weapon in hand pointing down a set of stairs waiting for her to come up. She looked around then picked up a piece of loose rebar.
"Crap," he said as he spun around but Sarah hit his gun hand knocking the pistol out of it. Then before he could react she grabbed him and threw him and herself out a hole that used to be a window. They made a loud thud when they hit the ground and a cloud of dust came up around them.
"Thanks Tony for breaking my fall," said Sarah as she got off him. He just laid there moaning. "Oh, don't be such a big baby you only cracked a few ribs. I don't weigh that much."
"What the heck do you want from me lady? I haven't done anything," said Tony as he sat up looking at her. "You're one crazy..."
"I'd watch my mouth if I were you," she said as she picked up Tony's Glock. "You'll be on your way soon to Gitmo and then the party will really start," she said as she checked his weapon.
"Gitmo? You can't send me to Gitmo. I'm a U.S. citizen born and raised here. You just targeted me because I'm oriental. My parents came here from Korea but I was born here..."
"Where did you meet Dewayne at? In elementary school where you guys stole the other kids lunch money or threatened them out of it?"
"I don't know any Dewayne. Who's he anyway? I need a doctor. You know what I think, I think you've gotten me confused with some other guy. You people think we all look alike anyway," said Tony. He kept on telling her he didn't know Dewayne but the look on his face said something different.
"Your name is Anthony Park, isn't it? And he picked you photo out a mug book so I think we can be fairly certain we've got the right guy. You paid Dewayne money to take care of a hit for someone in China. I want to know who it was?"
"You don't want to know who paid me... you should take my word that you're better off not knowing. Dewayne should know better then go shooting his mouth off. I've got nothing to say."
"I love it when you think you've got a choice," said Sarah. He was about to say something defiant but she shot him in the leg first. "You were about to say something?"
"Geez lady, are you crazy or something," he cried as he grabbed him leg putting his hand over the wound as he bleed into the sand.
"That was a flesh wound... a through and through. I could go for your knee caps next or shoot off something you'll really miss," she said as she took aim.
"No... no don't. Okay I'll tell you what you want to know but I don't know where the money came from. I was contacted through to Triad. They offered to give me a cut of their action if I put them in touch with a hitman that couldn't be traced back to them. Don't look at me like that the money was good as well as the favors they gave me when I shipped goods in and out of Shanghai."
"What kind of favors are you talking about? Customs agents who looked the other way or something more direct?"
"Something like that. It all started about a month ago when a guy named Huan contacted me and had me ship back a pair of Ray Bans back for him. I figured it was some sort of test but it was a piece of cake. You know what I did, I wore them into the country. But the joke was on him."
"What do you mean?"
"They were knock offs... they weren't even real Ray Bans."