Don't own Chuck
Pepe made his way into the Buy More and quickly surveyed the situation as soon as he entered looking for Chuck. He walked down the main aisle of the store glancing down each row but no Chuck as he headed for the Nerd Herd desk. A young woman was sitting behind a computer screen working on her nails while another man was sipping coffee.
"Excuse me," said Pepe to the man, "can you help me?"
"Sorry Dude, can't you see I'm on my coffee break," he answered holding up his cup
"That's just lame," said the girl, "if you're on break you should be in the break room."
"I am in the break room, my virtual break room, you just can't see it."
"You have to excuse him, he used to do a lot of Atari home installs and his brain is stuck in like VR mode now."
"I'll teach you Nerds what virtual reality is that's going to be your pay checks if you don't get back to work," said Big Mike. "You heard me Miss Pretty Fingers and whatever you are. I'm sorry sir, please excuse our surly employees may I be of assistance to you?"
"Well yes I'm looking for-"
"I know what you're looking for and you don't have to look any further. I can see you're a man who knows what he wants and wants what he knows," Big Mike paused as he thought about what he just said. "Well never mind follow me now this is what a man like you needs a sixty-two inch flat screen plasma TV. Think about it, you're in your living room, feet up on the coffee table, cold beer in your hand and the game is on. You see your favourite player, jump and boom baby he makes the layup and you win. Doesn't it make your eyes water?"
"Well actually I'm Canadian."
"Even better, your team is out on the ice another team's player boom body checks. Your man gets mad right hook followed by a left upper cut followed by holy mayhem on the ice. With this baby you'll see all the blood, teeth, and eye gouging up close like you were in the fracas with 'em and for the low low price that you see right there. I know it's a bargain and we're losing our shirts on these but here at the Buy More we put our customers ahead of profit so you can Buy More."
"I don't know you see I'm-"
"I know you don't know what to say. You know there are seven hundred and thirty words in the Japanese language for yes and not a word for no. I've got the yes word for you right here. Just sit down," said Big Mike as he pushed Pepe in a padded reclining chair. "Tell me, how does that feel? Isn't it nice almost reminds you of being in a loving woman's arms doesn't it. When I sit there it reminds me of my sensual wife, Bolonia Garcia Bougainvillea Grimes Tucker. Now turn on vibrate and all those tensions just melt out of there and if you turn it up higher you really start to jumping. Normally you'd have to have a pocket full of quarters and room at a cheap hotel to experience anything like this."
"No, no, no I don't need a flat screen TV or a whatever kind of chair that is. I'm looking for this guy," Pepe said holding up Chuck's badge. "I'm looking for Chuck Bartowski."
"Why didn't you say so in the first place instead of wasting my time? Chuck isn't here but if you talk to the manager he might be able to tell you where he is."
"Where can I find the manager?"
"You could start by looking in his office, that would be the one marked manager's office over there," pointed Big Mike. "They do teach you boys English up there, don't they?"
Pepe growled as he fought to get himself up out of the chair then straighten himself out before he headed towards Morgan's office. It was then that Big Mike saw the two automatics tucked in the man's belt hidden under his jacket.
"Carrot Top go in my locker and bring me my disco stick while I keep an eye out here."
Pepe started for Morgan's office if Chuck wasn't there he couldn't kill him so he'd do the next best thing and take out the store manager. The way he saw it if Chuck was CIA and this was his cover the manager had to be in on it and if he was then the Manager had to be the station chief or at least higher up then Chuck.
Morgan was sitting at his desk with Alex next to him as he was reviewing the ledgers making sure the balance totals were correct.
"Morgan, you forgot to carry your one here," she said as pointed their hands met.
"Wow, our hands kissed, did you feel that? You know we could close the blinds and let lips do what hands do?"
"Morgan you've watched too much Romeo and Juliet. There are too many people around like my father.
He was about to muster his strength and kiss here when Pepe barged in.
"Excuse me," said Morgan, "but you should knock first mister."
"Are you the store manager? I'm looking for one of your employees, a Chuck Bartowski, do you know where he's at?"
"Chuck's not in today, can I help you," said Morgan as he pushed the distress button under his desk.
"I'm afraid you'll have to do then," said Pepe as he pulled both pistols from under his jacket and pointed them at Morgan.
"Gun," yelled Alex as she threw herself on top of Morgan knocking him over behind his desk. Pepe had to run up to the desk to get a clear shot but as he did Big Mike came up behind him.
"That boy is family, and my name is Mike. Big Mike. Mr. Big Mike and don't you forget it," said Big Mike as he zapped Pepe with his cattle prod. "Are you alright son?"
"Yeah Big Mike thanks," said Morgan as he and Alex got up Casey came running in.
"What happened?" asked Casey as he hid his Sig.
"I guess this fool is the one that shot Chuck. I saw something like this on Animal Planet once. You know the Code of the Hunter." Everyone looked at Big Mike puzzled.
"The Code of the Hunter?" asked Casey, "That's a new one on me."
"Come on man you never heard that when you wound an animal you're supposed to track it down and put it out of its misery? This fool thought Chuck was a wounded gazelle or something."
"Makes sense," said Morgan as Casey grunted. Morgan turned to Alex, "You saved my life."
"Awh, it was nothing."
"She's right it was nothing," said Casey. Morgan turned and kissed Alex in front of Big Mike and Casey.
"John let's go and leave the kids alone. Don't protest I still have my disco stick and you ain't the only one around with an itchy trigger finger."
"Let me take out the trash," said Casey as he grabbed up Pepe by his shirt and started out with him then turned back around.
"John come on let's go," said Big Mike.
"Thanks Dad," said Morgan.
"You're welcome son," said Big Mike as he waited for Casey to leave then he closed the office door behind him.
Alarms were going off in Castle by the time Casey got back. At first he thought it was Morgan's distress call but when he check it was a perimeter intrusion alert. He quickly patted down Pepe then threw him in a holding cell handcuffed at the ankles and wrists then started panning.
"Sarah, Chuck" radioed Casey, "I've got an intruder alert on the roof of Orange orange. Looks like Chuck, you were right, Rose has no intentions of going home. She's perched on top of you with a Remington 700. Looks like they're looking for you, Chuck." Casey went on to tell them about Pepe and what he knew why Pepe had come to the Buy More.
"The Remington 700 is a .30-06 and a bolt action," said Chuck.
"I'm not going to like your idea am I," said Sarah.
"No, I don't think you will but it'll work."
"Let's hear it because it won't be long before she figures out we've got her partner and she starts killing innocent people."
"First, I've got to get down to Castle and I'll brief you there Casey. Sarah, you know what you have to do."
"I can't talk you out of this can I?"
"You know it's the only play where no one gets hurt."
"I love you."
"I love you too," said Chuck as he leaned over the table and kissed her before disappearing in the back. Sarah waited until Chuck radioed that he was ready then she made her way out and around the shop. Then quietly she climbed the ladder with her Smith and Wesson tucked in her belt behind her back. Once she got to the top rung she waited. Chuck walked out of the Buy More with his hands in his pockets and just stood at the entrance looking up and down as if he were waiting for someone.
"There you are Chuck. I guess Pepe was a bust but I won't fail," Rose said out loud. Then she slowly squeezed the trigger and bang. There was a loud explosion and she watched in her scope as Chuck fell backwards. Then as she was about to cock the bolt back to release the shell and house another round Sarah yelled at her.
"Lay down the weapon and get up slowly, I won't tell you again." Rose hesitated so Sarah fired a warning shot next to Rose's head.
"Okay, okay," said Rose as she let the rifle drop out of her hands and she rolled over but as she did she tried to pull a throwing blade but Sarah put her down.
"Sarah, are you alright," radioed Chuck frantically. She looked back over and saw him running across the parking lot holding his chest.
"I'm fine, Rose is dead. How are you?"
"I'll meet you at the bottom of the ladder." Sarah recovered Rose's Remington slinging it over her shoulder she met Chuck at the bottom.
"Are you sure you're fine," said Chuck as he hug her.
"Yes and you, this bullet magnet thing has got to end right now," she said as she ripped open his shirt and inspected the vest underneath.
"I added a little reinforcement," he said as he slid out a metal plate he had place underneath the vest and close to his skin."
"You're lucky she didn't go for a head shot."
"It was highly unlikely. It her evil career she was more the master mind behind the scene not the one actually pulling the trigger so it was a calculated risk that she'd go for center mass. I did keep turning my head so it would be a more difficult target."
"I guess the only thing left is to go find this bomb and dig it up. But you my dear are going to be doing the watching as someone else does the digging. Do you understand!"
"I can't persuade you to stay-"
"If you mention staying here I'll make sure you stay in the car until the bomb is found and I'll let you out only then because one of us is going to be needed to disarm it. If I were sure I could do it then I'd lock you in detention in Castle until this was all over."
"I guess there's not much to say other than I love you," he said as he kissed her.
"Yuck, is there no place you two won't make out in. Come on I called Beckman she's got a clean-up crew coming in. We're going to meet the excavators there now. Let's go dig up a commie bomb."
"Here you go Casey," said Sarah as she handed Casey Rose's Remington.
"Sweet thanks," said Casey as he looked over his new toy. "Remington 700, detachable clip optional cherry stock and just listen to that," he said as he cocked the bolt. "Smooth easy action, you could do it with one finger."
"Sarah you've made a friend for life."
"Shut up Chuck you wouldn't know a good weapon even if you got shot with it."
Two hours later they were all standing next to a bulldozer in the middle of Topanga State Park with Big Roscoe looking over their paper work shaking his head.
"So you're telling me John that all these people here work for the ATF?"
"That's right Sir."
"Mr Big Roscoe, Sir," said Chuck, "what I'm about to tell you is classified and you can't tell anyone. Can you handle it?"
"Yes son."
"Now my friends here don't want me to tell you because well we don't really know you but I can tell the type of man you are. I can tell you can handle it."
"Yes Sir anything you can dish out I can take so lay it on me."
"Okay," said Chuck as he pulled Big Roscoe into a huddle. "Back in 1944 right after December 7th there was a panic along the west coast and people were seeing Japanese everywhere. Well there was a bombing run, a training mission out of Miramar and the pilot and crew went a little crazy. They swore they saw Hirohito land in person so they dropped ordinance. Now you have to remember this was all covered up hush-hush and forgotten. But the problem is some of those bombs didn't explode and that's what we have here."
"Really, you're telling me the truth."
"Yes Sir," said Casey and as a state slash government official we're deputizing you so you can't breathe a word about this to anyone.
"After all those years those bombs are still here and can explode?"
"Bomb, there's only one and my team of experts are here to take care of it. What we need from you is to keep all the tourists out of this area while we work. That way the sooner we get to work the sooner we get out of your hair."
"I'll have my men block off a perimeter around here and let you get at it. John I knew you were too good to be some rookie ranger looks like I'm two men down now."
"Two, is someone else missing?"
"The guy everyone called Slim didn't show up and I got a voice mail from him saying he quit."
"Afterwards I'd like all the information you have on him," said Casey. "The man borrowed fifty bucks and I want it back."
"Sure no problem, I got to go now."
"Are going back up to the ranch," asked Casey.
"No they opened a new Subway franchise outside the main gate. I hear a foot long Black Forest Ham on honey oat with chipotle sauce, banana peppers and jalapenos calling my name. So good luck with your treasure hunt and so long."
They stood and watched Roscoe disappear on his horse.
"Well there goes another one lost to the Sirens of Subway," said Chuck.
Casey went to the back of a van and passed out metal detectors to everyone then he established a search pattern. Casey passed his over Morgan's head.
"See not a blip," said Morgan.
"That's right it doesn't work on wood."
"Hey guys I got something," said Alex as she marked of a square.
"Yeah there's something here," said Casey as he verified with his. "Hold up a second and let me check," he said as he went back in the van and brought out long metal rods. Handing one to Chuck they both worked them down through the ground until they hit something hard.
"So whatever we've got here it's about two feet down."
"I thought there was supposed to be a power cable or something," said Morgan.
"It could be buried too, there is one just on the other side of the trail but the fun news is that it's too close to the surface to use heavy machinery so guess what, time to break out the shovels."
Half an hour and a few blisters later, they had cleared away the dirt to expose a large sheet of metal that covered something underneath.
"There you go," said Casey as he took a drink of water, "There's your power cable running in from the side under the sheet. Morgan, give me a hand." They jumped down in the hole and slowly lifted it away exposed a large case. Casey took the sheet of metal away as Chuck and Sarah inspected the case.
"Do you have anything?" asked Sarah as she looked around it. Morgan was in between them looking down trying to see under it when he saw what looked like a piece of paper stuck to it so he reached to grab it. Before Chuck could stop him Chuck flashed it was a booby trap.
"Lookout," yelled Chuck as he grabbed Morgan and threw him on top of Sarah both landing face down. But to get the torque Chuck needed to throw Morgan he had to spin around just in time as the lightning explosive 'Molniya' flashed brilliant white in his face.
"Chuck! Chuck! Are you alright!" yelled Sarah as she dragged him to the side of the pit.
"Sarah I can't see. Check the bomb. Go leave me, you have to check it I think I heard the timer activate." Sarah ran back over to case. The top had been burnt off but the bomb was still intact. Probably the Molniya had gone through partial degradation because of age and that was the reason they were still alive.
"Chuck, it's ticking but there's nothing to work on and it's not in the intersect."
"Don't freak out," said Chuck. "Casey help me get close to Sarah." Casey helped him over and he sat next to her. "Look at it and flash."
"I can't."
"Yes, you can. My father built the intersect and this will work. You just have to look and flash," She probed it with her hands until she felt something then she pressed and the outer cover came off.
"Okay, I'm inside I see wires lots of wires that are attached to explosives."
"Right because this is an implosion device not a fusion one so what is its weakness? You know it."
"The bridgewire!"
"Yes," he said as he handed her a set of wire cutters and she got busy cutting wires. "Casey, get the bulldozer ready," yelled Chuck.
"Okay, it's done," said Sarah as she gently rolled the nuclear sphere with the side that had the wires cut facing down.
"Let's go," he said as she helped him out of the hole. "Casey," yelled Sarah, "cover it up and park the bulldozer on top."
Casey had finished and they were in the van backing up when there was a loud explosion. The bulldozer seemed to jump then settle back down on the spot.
Later that evening the team was back in Castle sitting around the conference table debriefing General Beckman while CIA doctors were tending to Chuck in another room.
"Chuck had the idea that since the bomb was an implosion device if we turned it into a shape charge we could force the direction of the explosion down. That was we drove the plutonium into the ground where a decontamination team could clean it."
"Very good work team. How is Chuck? Can one of you call one of the doctors and have them come out."
As Sarah started back one of the doctors over heard the General and came out with a medical chart, a clipboard full of papers and X-rays in his hand
"Doctor, do you have any word on your patient's condition?"
"I'm sorry but we just don't know. I'm recommending Medevac to a proper treatment facility for further examinations and test. Since his sister is a Neurologist it would be advisable to ask for her to consult if not have her head up a team to oversee his treatment and possible rehabilitation."
"Rehabilitation! No that can't be right, you're wrong," said Sarah. Casey put his arm around her.
"Sarah I'm sending you all to Ellie today. Go home and get your baby."
"Can I see him," asked Morgan.
"Sure," said Sarah as she dried her eyes.
"I'm sorry," said the doctor, "but the patient is sedated to prevent further optic damage."
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Continued in Chuck vs The Pirate