Chuck vs The Bracelet
Chapter 6: In The Pale Moonlight
Chuck, followed by his mother, enters the living room to discuss with Team B what they should do about Edgar, after getting new information.
"We just got some new information on Edgar. He's gonna be at a conference here, in Los Angeles." says Chuck.
"Lets get the bastard!" says Casey.
"Now hold on." says Chuck. "Everyone's has to be in agreement on this. Sarah? Morgan?"
"Well what about Stephen? Who'll take care of him?" asks Sarah.
"I'll take care of him." says Mary.
"Are you sure?" asks Sarah.
"Of course. I am his Grandmother after all. And a spy with years of experience. I think I'm more than qualified."
"Well, when you put it that way..." says Sarah. "Okay, let's get him."
"You know I'm always in, dude." says Morgan.
"But you better stay in the car." says Alex.
"I will." as Morgan says that he realizes something. "Hey! We don't have a car. What are we gonna use? Because the van is back at the offices, you know."
"Wow, you're right." says Chuck.
"Not a problem, Carmichael's." says Laz as he enters. "I got an old van I used to use on jobs down in the garage. You can use that."
"How did you know we were having this conversation?" asks Chuck. "You kept the sound on in the rooms, didn't you?"
Laz says. "Wipe that surprised look off your face. You knew I wasn't going to."
"There's gotta be a catch with the van." says Casey.
"No catch." says Laz. "The equipment's a few years old but, it should still get the job done. And..."
"And, what?" asks Sarah.
"It... smells a bit like haggis." says Laz.
"Haggis?" says Chuck.
"Yeah." says Laz. "Look, forget that. Follow me and I'll show you. I even got some gear you can use too."
Mary, Alex and little Stephen all say their goodbyes to the rest of Team B, before Laz takes them down to the garage. As Mary says her goodbye, she quietly tells Chuck. "Don't worry about... him. If he tries anything, he'll get a bullet between the eyes." She's was referring to Laz of course.
As Laz leads them, Chuck asks him. "What about the bracelet?"
"I'm still running codes on it. And the rooms locked down so don't worry about it." Laz continues to lead them. Taking them down some stairs to a large area below the house. He stops them so he can flip the switch. "Ta-da!" He says as the lights come on.
The van Laz was talking about was over to the right side of the garage. It was pitch black in color. And after an inspection on its equipment, it was deemed acceptable.
"So. Where's that gear you talked about?" asks Casey.
Laz pulls out a remote, and after a few button presses, reveals to them the main armory. "Everything from concealed pistols, to assault rifles. Have at it."
"Why wasn't this on that, 'tour' you gave us." asks Morgan.
"That was just a tour of the main house." says Laz. "I gotta leave a few surprises out there. Speaking of... on the right there's some disguises you can use. Suits and dresses. Wigs, fake facial hair. The whole freaking nine."
"Is all this disguise stuff for work? Or just for your sick pleasure." asks Sarah.
"The dresses are. Sometimes you just wanna feel pretty, you know?" Jokes Laz. "A freelancers work is much like a spies. You gotta do whatever it takes to complete the task at hand."
"By the way, I was thinking. When we're at the conference we should go by different aliases. Fulcrum might catch wind that we're there if anyone knows who we really are." says Chuck.
"Good idea. What do you have in mind?" asks Sarah.
"I was thinking we could maybe use your old cover name. Burton." says Chuck. "No one knows that one." Chuck goes on to further explain their cover. "We'll tell them that we're an, up and coming computer firm there to find clients and jump-start our business."
"Alright. Sounds good to me." says Sarah. "Casey. What are going to do?"
Casey is looking at the guns, but says. "I'll go as a bartender. Keep tabs on everything on the floor while Grimes monitors in the van. Got that, Grimes?"
"You got it, big guy."
Casey continues to grab some weapons, and comes across an assault rifle with an interesting paint job. But as he goes to grab it, Laz stops him. "That ones taken." He says.
"By who?" asks Casey.
"In theory, no one. Not anymore at least. But lets just pretend it is because it makes the reality a little less depressing, okay?" says Laz.
"Fine. Don't get your panties in a bundle. Here's another one just like it." says Casey.
As Team B continue to suit up, Laz just stares at that assault rifle. Looking at it with some subtle pain in his eyes. Chuck sees him and says. "Laz?"
Laz quickly collects himself. "Yeah, yeah."
"Everything okay?" asks Chuck.
"Yeah. I'm just thinking of a... um... simpler time." says Laz. "Okay. You all got everything you need? Yes? Great. The directions to place are in the vans GPS." As he walks back upstairs he tells them one last thing. "And try not to screw up."
With Morgan outside in the van, the rest of Team B mingle with the other guests at the convention. Chuck is dressed in a nice suit wearing a fake goatee and glasses. Sarah has a black dress on and a red-haired wig. And Casey, is in his bartender uniform.
"You got anything, Morgan?" asks Chuck.
"Nothing yet. Looks like Edgar still hasn't shown up."
"Alright. Keep your eyes peeled." says Chuck.
"For sure, dude. Though I have to comment on the moon. It's really pale tonight."
"Yeah, I know. I can see it through the glass ceiling." says Chuck.
"You know, I could make a really bad Devil in the pale moonlight joke right now. But I probably won't." says Morgan
"And I thank you for that." says Chuck. "Casey, anything?"
"I over heard from one of the guests that he should get here soon. So sit tight."
"Hope so. Its been almost an hour since we got here." says Chuck.
Chuck and Sarah then begin to talk to themselves. "I bet you most of the guards here are Fulcrum." says Sarah.
"Yeah, probably." says Chuck.
"It's almost a certainty that they are." says a voice on their mics.
"Casey? Morgan? Who was that?" asks Chuck.
"Stop asking stupid questions. You know who it is."
"Laz?" says Chuck. "Where are you?"
"Back at my place. I've been checking in periodically on you guys since you arrived. Working on this damn bracelet is boring as hell. Plus, Chuck's Mom keeps coming in here giving me the death glare every five minutes." says Laz.
"How did you hack the coms?" asks Sarah.
"You're using my van and my coms. Do you really think I can't hack into them? Hell, I don't even need to hack. They're mine!" says Laz. "And don't worry. I've done nothing but help out. I've been watching Sarah's ass the whole time."
"You mean watching my back, right?" asks Sarah.
"... I know what I said." says Laz.
"Look, Laz. Just get off the mic. You worry about the bracelet and we'll worry about Edgar." says Chuck.
"Whatever." Laz says as he signs off.
At that moment, they get an alert from Morgan. "Guys! He's here."
Chuck and Sarah soon turn their attention to the main entrance. They see Edgar walk in, being escorted by some of his bodyguards. He does a little meet and greet with some of the guests when he enters.
"What's he doing?" asks Sarah.
"I don't know. Lets just keep watching him." says Chuck.
Once Edgar is done mingling with the guests, he goes straight for the podium and begins to speak. "Thank you all for coming out tonight and for such a warm welcome. Now, I know that this whole conference isn't about one particular person or thing. But the great organizers of this event have been gracious enough to allow me to make a very special announcement. I am happy to announce the... resurrection, of Roark Instruments." The crowd begin to clap, and when they're done, Edgar continues. "We are keeping the name, Roark Instruments, in honor of our late, great boss, Ted Roark. It only seems right if you ask me. And... since it's been almost five years since his passing, I propose a toast. I know he would've loved to have been here. To Ted Roark!" The crowd all toast and just when everyone thinks he's done, Edgar says one more thing. "Now I can't go into specific details on what we have planned. But I can assure you all. After we... acquire certain things, we'll be able to do more than we ever could have before." Once he's finished, he leaves the podium and heads straight for the bar.
"Casey, he's heading your way." says Chuck.
"Scotch, please." says Edgar.
"Coming right up, sir." says Casey.
Chuck and Sarah follow Edgar to the bar and start to talk to him. "Hello. Charlie Burton, and this is my lovely wife, Jenny. We're from Burton Tech. Please to meet you."
"Mr and Mrs. Burton. Please to meet you too." He says as he sakes both of their hands. "Burton Tech.? You new?" He asks them.
"Yes we are. We're here to kind of... get our name out there. Gotta start somewhere, right?" says Chuck.
"Very true." says Edgar.
"We take on any and every type of client." says Sarah. "So if you know anyone who needs help..."
"I'll make sure to pass on your name." says Edgar.
"By the way, I just have to say. Great speech." says Chuck.
"Thank you." says Edgar.
"The part about you being able to do more once you've gotten specific things sounds interesting to me. Do you think you can... shed a bit more light on that?"
"Now, Mr. Burton. What kind of business person would I be if I just told everybody what I had up my sleeve?"
"Fair point." says Chuck.
One of Edgar's bodyguards whispers something to him. "I'm sorry to cut this short, but I have something else that needs my attention."
"Ah, no worries. Hope you have a great rest of the night." says Chuck.
Once Edgar leaves Chuck, Sarah, and Casey have a quick discussion on they should do next. "Follow him?" asks Sarah.
"Yeah." says Chuck.
"I'll go back to the van and gear up." says Casey. "You hear that, Morgan?"
"Loud and clear. Getting everything ready."
With every one else off to do their task, Chuck and Sarah begin theirs by following Edgar. They follow him to the far back part of the building. "Morgan, got anything?... Morgan? No answer." says Chuck.
"Something must be blocking the signal. Come on, lets keep moving." says Sarah.
"Okay. Wait... where did he go?" asks Chuck.
"Mr and Mrs. Burton. May I ask what you two are doing?" asks Edgar as he appears behind them.
Chuck and Sarah try to play it off, with Chuck saying first. "Oh hey. This is embarrassing, me and the Mrs were trying to find a spot that was more... 'private', if you know what I mean. This happens whenever we go to one of these things. We just get so excited. Isn't that right, honey?"
"Oh yeah. Every time. All that talk about gigabytes and RAM, just gets me so flustered." says Sarah.
"You can cut the act. I know who you are." says Edgar.
"I'm sorry?" says Chuck.
Edgar calls for his men, who show up immediately, along with Spider. "You've meet Spider, right? Once you get past the helmet... his actually alright. Now... where is that bracelet?..."
End of Chapter
Next Chapter to be called, "A Deadly Conversation"
Author's note- Please feel free to leave a comment and let me know what your thoughts are. Thank you for reading.