Don't own Chuck
In the cabin located in the upper part of the canyon Rose and her group were huddled over a map talking about another dry well they had dug. This was quickly becoming a dismal failure and nerves were running thin.
"I don't know how much longer we can keep digging before we get caught."
"Well see to it that we aren't. Listen, failure is not an option when it comes to the people we work for. Pierre got off easy compared to what they'll do."
"If they could be more specific as to the location, it would be easier for us to find."
"This is what we've got and I'm not going back with a sob story. That's a quick way for my trip to become one way and for all of your children to become orphans."
"Boss that Ranger guy is here he says he's something to tell you."
"Send him in. Maybe this is the break we've been waiting for." A tall thin man came inside and took his hat off. His hair was greasy and he needed a shave, his overall appearance was unkempt. He walked up to Rose and nodded.
"You've something for me," she asked.
"Depends what you have to offer me? Information isn't cheap these days and I've got to think about my son's college fund."
"You don't have any children," said Rose smiling, "but I'll see to it you're compensated if the information is good."
"Well I've been shadowing that new guy you wanted me to follow, John Casey. I tell you it wasn't easy but I did it."
"Okay you followed him, so what did you find out," asked Pepe getting tired of the man. Pepe didn't like traitors even if they worked for him.
"I noticed him going down to the same trailer all the time in the lower camp grounds. It's a silver Airstream. Here, I wrote down the lot number it's parked on."
"What's so special about the camper?"
"It's the only one equipped with a satellite feed antennas."
"Good work," said Rose. "Pepe take care of the man." Rose went back over to the map and looked over the area of the lower parking lot then drew an X where the camper was supposed to be.
"What are you thinking Rose?" said Pepe as he came back from paying their informant.
"I was thinking that we might pay a visit to our friends tonight. We might be able to turn our luck around and capture their intel."
"We could also stir up a hornet's nest and have them come looking for us."
"That's a risk I'm willing to take. Get your men ready to roll around after sunset we'll catch them while they're asleep.
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Chuck was almost at the camper when he stopped to take a drink of water and looked down at the Airstream. It was in plain sight now as well as Sarah standing outside waiting for him. She had that look that told him, he was in trouble. However, what he had to say he hoped would mitigate some of her ire. But as he was looking down at her she saw him and came up to meet him.
"Before you get angry let me explain," he started to say.
"Shut up and kiss me," she said as she walked up to him and kissed him.
"I thought you'd be mad at me but I can explain. I went for a walk and lost track of time that's all I'm sorry if you worried about me."
"It's okay I understand."
"You understand what? Have you been talking with Morgan?" She looked down at her feet. "You have, that man can't keep his mouth shut to save his own life."
"Sweetie, I'm your wife you need to share with me. I decided I'm going to stay with you tonight."
"Absolutely not! I want you to go home and spend time with Sam and that's that. This is what we talked about and this is what we're going to do."
"Chuck, I won't abandon my husband."
"Love, you're not abandoning me it's just one night."
"Okay but from tonight on, we take turns spending the night."
"Well, with any luck we won't have to spend another night here. I think I know where that suitcase is buried. I'll explain inside with the others but can I get another kiss.
"Do you have to ask," Sarah said as he kissed her. They walked back to the camper hand in hand then inside Chuck had them all gather in the kitchenette.
"I know it's tight in here and I'm sorry."
"Just get on with it," said Casey, "I've got to get back on patrol Big Roscoe I think has another ranger tailing me."
"Why?"
"I don't know just can you get on with this Chuck."
"Right well when I went walking I took this path," said Chuck as he traced the tail with a black marker. "Sarah tried to contact me by radio but couldn't get me even though later we did a radio test and our radios worked fine. So when I came back we did another radio test but this time every ten minutes. My radio went out here and then you picked me back up here." Chuck explained and drew two slashes across the trail where the signal went out and then came back in.
"Okay so there's a dead zone, so what?"
"I also found in my walk a power cable in the middle of that area," he said as he drew a dotted line to indicate it. "Now look at the geological survey for the canyon again. See the rocks in that area are full of metallic ores." Sarah flashed. She leaned in on the table then looked up at Chuck who was smiling at her.
"I know," she said, "a Faraday cage."
"Yes exactly," said Chuck as he kissed her.
"If you two get started we'll be here until tomorrow. Can one of you explain what a Faraday cage is and why it's important?"
"A Faraday cage operates because an external static electrical field causes the electric charges within the cage's conducting material to be distributed such that they cancel the field's effect in the cage's interior. This phenomenon is used, for example, to protect electronic equipment from lightning strikes and electrostatic discharges. Simply put this means that if I'm inside this cage you can't call me because it will cancel out your signal so somewhere in that dead area is the case. Whoever buried it used metal sheet to cover it and the rock formations around it completed the cage. That's also why the GRU haven't been able to communicate with it via satellite."
"So it should be easy to find with LIDAR," added Sarah.
"Excuse me but can you explain was LIDAR is?" said Morgan.
"You mean for those who ride the short bus," said Casey.
"Thanks John. Chuck, can you explain?"
"LIDAR was a word that was created as a portmanteau of "light" and "radar" and is a remote sensing technology that measures distance by illuminating a target with a laser and analyzing the reflected light."
"Like in Star Trek, where they scan the surface of a planet for intelligent life forms."
"And in your case, where they would come up blank."
"John, I really like this give and take we've got going. I can feel something wonderful being built."
"Chuck, where's the back door?"
"There isn't one Casey, why?"
"You'll have one when I throw Morgan through a wall."
"Okay guys show and tell is over everyone can get back to what they were doing, Casey that doesn't mean killing Morgan." Alex went outside and Morgan was getting ready to follow when Casey stopped him.
"Give her a five minute head start."
"Chuck you sure I can go home," asked Sarah.
"Sure, I've got a hot date tonight."
"And with whom? Do I need to be jealous? Someone you met out on your hike? I heard you were flirting with other women."
"Yes, Mrs. Swanson will be dropping by from supper."
"My poor baby," said Sarah as she caressed him. "I'll bring you something from home tomorrow."
"I've got some C-Rats. I'll even part with a Chicken a la King."
"That's saying something," said Morgan, "that's Casey's favorite."
"Shut up moron, I'm not giving up my brownie."
"Thanks guys but I'll be okay. I've got LIDAR doing a scan now once it's done the data will be sent to Castle's mainframe. After it's processed there I'll have the GPS coordinates sent to me here and to you Casey."
"Good I'll have the agency put a digging team on standby."
"That's fine but we need to walk off the site first. The last thing we want is for them to disturb the bomb and cause it to accidently explode. It doesn't have to go nuclear just the booby trap itself could be lethal."
"Well I've got to get back up to the ranch. My shift is almost over and I need to get out on time."
"Casey, do you have a date tonight?"
"Gertrude's back in town. We're going to the firing range and test fire her weapons. She said she has something new she wants to show me."
"I'm sure she does," said Chuck. Casey grunted a response. "I'm sorry Big Guy don't take me wrong. If that's what you crazy kids like to do, knock yourselves out. Love through gun smoke sounds like it ought to be a western." Casey growled.
"Okay before I can leave," said Sarah, "I need to redress your wound so can you come with me and sit on the bed. Don't get any ideas either, the walls are paper thing and everyone will hear us."
"No kisses or cuddling," said Chuck trying to make a sad face.
"What am I going to do with you," Sarah said as she kissed him.
"Anything you want," Chuck said.
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In the canyon night came early as the sun set on the far ridge and soon went down behind it. Chuck stood in the doorway and watched Sarah drive off with Morgan and Alex. He stood there until they disappeared from sight then went back in and took out a bottle of Anatoley's vodka from the freezer and poured himself a glass. He then went over and sat in front of the computer to find that Castle's mainframe had done its work. Now the end of the mission was in sight
"Chtob vse byli zdorovy," said Chuck before he downed his shot. Then he opened the freezer back up again this time to see what Mrs. Swanson had to offer.
"Umh good, well Chuck tonight we have either mystery meat or processed chicken, which do you prefer?" Chuck shut the freezer door. "I agree with your choice," he said to himself as he took the bottle of vodka and a bag of chips to the living room area where he picked up his controller.
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Outside in the dark two black escalades pulled up with their lights off and ten men climbed out. Rose and Pepe were the last to get out and they divided the group into two squads of five each.
"Here Guye, you're the weapons expert distribute guns and check their body armor. We don't want any mistakes like last night."
"I didn't make any mistake. If you'd given me the right weapon I'd taken down that other target too but you were the one that wanted the .30-06 and then you gave me cheap rounds too. So don't get up in my face I'm not like that wimp you took out this morning. If you get up in my face know I'll draw as soon as you move and maybe before."
"Okay, okay just get the weapons out then let's group up"
"Guye," said Rose, "after you're done, I want you up on that ridge over there to cover us in case things go sideways."
"No problem, I don't need to be told how to do my job," said Guye as he bumped into Pepe on his way to his perch.
"Brush it off," said Rose. "We've got more important things to take care of. Let's move out." The two squads made their way silently up to the camper then fanned out around it.
"Pepe," radioed Rose, "there's someone inside what do you want to do?"
"Let's sit tight for a bit and see if whoever's inside goes to sleep. Then we move but have everyone ready on my signal, when we jump we have to be quick. There can be no screw ups." Pepe acknowledged then everyone maintained radio silence.
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Chuck was tired of playing games so he tossed it over on the side of the sofa. He got up with the bottle of vodka in his hand and walked over the fridge where he took the magnet off. He held it in his hand and tried to remember the trip. He closed his eyes and tried to relive the beach. He wanted to feel the wind on his skin, the sand under his feet and the smell of the salt water that permeated the air that day. He remembered taking big deep breaths as he inhaled feeling his nostrils expand. Then he saw him in front of him he reached out and like a foggy mist his father was gone.
"Crazy old Dad," he said as he clutched the lighthouse in his hand. He held it so tight that it hurt but he squeezed it just the same and even tighter but it was then that the perimeter alarms when off bringing him back to reality.
He moved quickly in front of the workstation and brought up the outside cameras. He saw that he had little hope of escape and he knew he had to scuttle the camper. Taking all the charts and papers he hurled them in the sink then he started recording a message as he pulled out an EMP and charged it. Opening a small plastic box he took out a tracking device and held it up.
"No water to wash it down with," came to mind the words he had spoken to Shaw after he had swallowed one. That was the beginning of Shaw's end and probably not the best thing to be dwelling on now. He wrapped it in aluminum foil then took out a road flare. He removed the flash drive he recorded his message on and taped it behind the magnet then he put it on the front of the refrigerator door. He took a shot of vodka from the bottle then sat in front of the computer. Everything had to be timed right if his plan were to succeed.
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Sarah was with Emma and Mary in the kitchen. Sarah had gotten back in time to put her to bed but only after singing her a lullaby. Then she got double duty in that she tucked Molly into bed too and read to her Cinderella twice before she would go to sleep. Now her domestic activities were drawing to an end and the Mommies were having a powpow in the kitchen naturally talking about their children.
"You know you were like that when you were little," said Emma. "You were always the curious one wanting to explore the world. I had a hard time getting you into bed let alone making you go to sleep."
"Chuck was the same way. I don't know how many times I had to read the Snow Queen to him. He loved that story so much. I swear by the time, well the time I left," said Mary as she looked down at the ground and her eyes watered. "I knew that story by heart and so did he." Sarah walked behind her and put her arm around her.
"I'd like it if someday you'd read it to Sam."
"If you and Chuck want."
"I'm sure he does. I feel sorry for leaving him out there in the Airstream alone. Even if it was his idea that I come home I can't help but wonder what he's thinking surrounded by all those memories. Morgan hinted to me that it was bothering him."
"Yes, Stephen was a bit of a packrat, he never threw away anything. Everything had a purpose with him. The universe had order he used to tell me and it was his job to bring that order out of a sea of chaos."
"The only thing Jack brought out was a pair of tens when he needed queens and lost our car. Don't get me wrong Jack is a lovely man but what was his favorite saying?"
"If you know all the cons you'll never be a sucker."
"Yes, that one, I can't help but think the only person he's been conning all his life is himself. If he came through that door I won't be taking him back this time. I can't not with Molly. I can't, well I just can't."
"It's okay to say it Mom. I know what you want to say, you don't want Molly to become like me and I agree."
"Listen, I don't see anything wrong with you," said Mary, "and I know my Chuck agrees."
Suddenly there was a loud pinging noise and a red dot came on the monitor in the living room showing Chuck's location then it died followed by static.
"That's Chuck's emergency distress signal," said Sarah as she went over to try and bring up the camper but to no luck. "What would Chuck do if something happened at the camper? He would've left me something," she said to herself as she got a call from Casey.
"John I got it too. Can you stay on the line? … Let me put you on speaker while I try to access the Castle. There it is. John, Chuck patched his camera feeds into Castle for recording. Crap."
"What do you see?" asked Casey.
"John I count ten hostiles outside the camper from the external feed and Chuck inside. The video is crappy because of low lighting."
"Sarah, Gertrude and I are on our way. We'll grab you and head back out to the campsite ASAP."
"No John don't waste time coming here go straight to the camper, just please hurry."
"Roger that," said Casey as he hung up.
Sarah, Mary and Emma watched the video to try and glean intel.
"What is he wrapping in aluminum foil?" asked Emma as she squinted her eyes to see better.
"That's a tracking device," said Sarah as she activated the app she had on her phone.
"Smart boy," said Mary. "He wrapped it in aluminum foil to protect it from the EMP he used to fry the camper and everything inside including his computer hard drive."
"Then he swallowed it. Here I've got him and he's on the move still in the canyon." Sarah looked up to see Mary pull out her trusty Beretta and slide in her extended magazine.
"What? I don't intend to be short of ammo when I need it. Are you ready?"
"Go I'll stay her and man the fort. Go save your husband."
Sarah couldn't help but think that for once in a long time the shoe was on the other foot.