Don't own Chuck
General Beckman got off the elevator then walked down to her office. Connie gave her the double take when she walked back in. But she explained she'd forgotten her security badge and was only ducking in to pick it up. However, on her way out she bumped into her Major standing in her doorway. She heard Roan's voice in her head about avoiding him but she couldn't just walk away she was responsible.
"Major, Geez are you everywhere? Don't tell me you're looking for me," said Beckman. She could tell by the look on his face he was.
"I'm sorry but I'm afraid I am," said the Major. "Believe me if I thought it could wait I wouldn't be bothering you with this now but..."
"Oh just tell me and let's not beat around the bush give it so I can move along. What's gone wrong this time," said Beckman as she glanced down at her watch. Maybe she wouldn't be that late if she could hurry thig along.
"It's the tracker on the data device we slipped Ettore. If you look at the GPS signal that it's sending it's currently located in the Iskar. I sent men to get a visual of him and we found he's cleared out of his hotel room. I'm afraid he's in the wind. The best we can figure out he somehow introduced a virus into the transit authority computer which made it appear he was still in walking around the city."
"So what you're telling me is Ettore is gone and we don't know where he's at? Crap, I should've taken the SOB out when I had a chance. Well this is a fine can of worms isn't it? At least we know where he's headed. I want our people in Georgia to be on the lookout for him. I don't think it will be long before he pops up there if he isn't already."
"But what do the missile, warhead and intersect have to do with each other," said the Major. "I'm baffled I just don't see a connection."
"You're assuming there is a connection there may not be Major. We might be over thinking this looking for a connection where there isn't one. The missile and the warhead could be a separate thing from the data device. We just don't have enough information right now that's why we need to see what Chuck comes up with. He'll be able to find out from the inside. I realize that now and that's why he let himself be taken. Go down to the situation room and get the word out to our people in Georgia then raise the Colonel on the horn and pass on to him that Ettore is in the wind as well as Chuck's current status, MIA."
"What about Agent Carmichael, Sarah. Do you want me to let her know too since Ettore came after them already? Going to Georgia she's liable to run into him."
"No, I've got to eat crow and call her myself. If this had been Chuck, I'd get a good I told you so and you know what he'd be right."
"What can you do? You know what they say hindsight is always twenty-twenty," said the Major. The General gave him a look. "Right, ma'am I'll get on it."
He turned and left heading down the hallway towards the elevators to take him down in the subbasement. As he walked down he passed two Air Force officers a first and second lieutenant. As soon as he saw them he noticed something wasn't right but he couldn't put his finger on it. Then as he got to the elevator it hit him their ribbons they were all out of order and to be a first lieutenant the ribbons he had on made him look like some war hero.
"Hey you two hold up there," yelled the Major as he turned around. "I need to talk to you two for a moment. Did you hear me stop? I'm talking to both of you Lieutenants. Turn around."
[Meantime the General's Office]
The General went into her office grabbed her purse with her badge inside then started out. She'd kept Roan waiting long enough. This was the downside of being in charge but the buck stopped with her and she was proud of it. She also knew that Roan understood it and appreciated him for it even if she'd never tell him that.
"I think I'm out of here for real now. Like I said before I'm on my cell if you need me and don't hesitate to call if it's an emergency. If nothing happens I'll be back in a couple of hours or so. Please babysit the Major while I'm gone and make sure he stays out of trouble."
"I'll do my best. Now go if anything happens I'll give you call. Don't worry we've got this," said Connie as she went back to doing her office work smiling at the General like the Cheshire cat.
"I don't know what you're thinking but you can stop. I have to run, Roan's probably thinking I've been taken prisoner," said the General as she left her office. Outside in the hallway she heard the Major yell at the two officers at the other end. One turned and she saw him pull a weapon from under.
"Gun," yelled the General. But in that moment the other officer drew and fired at her. Everything went in slow motion. She saw the muzzle flash then felt something kick her like a mule knocking her backwards. She felt herself hit the floor making a loud thud then sliding half way down the hallway.
"General," yelled the Major as he ducked out of the line of fire into an open office. "General get to cover," he yelled but she wasn't moving.
"I'll cover here in the hall. You go down and finish her off," said the one lieutenant to the other. The Major poked his head from around the open door and the man responded by firing a round at him. The Major had to duck back inside. "Go ahead and hurry up. We need to get out of here before it's too late."
"Don't worry I got this," said the other killer as he walked down to where the General lay. She looked up at him without batting an eye.
"Is that the best you've got," she said. The man smiled back at here then raised his weapon. Beckman looked over at her open purse and her service weapon inside. "If you think I'm going to roll over and play dead for you… well you've got another thing coming." She reached out quickly to get her weapon but as she did she heard two quick rounds fired in rapid succession. She thought sure she was a goner but she was still alive and when she looked up she saw Connie standing in the office doorway with a smoking .357 Smith and Wesson revolver.
"I'm so glad I gave you that thing," said the General as she propped herself up and saw the two men down. In that moment Roan stepped off the elevator both the General and Connie pointed weapons at him thinking he might be more killers.
"Okay I'm the one who ought to mad… hey what happened," said Roan as he looked around. The Major darted out from the opened office running the General then things registered with Roan and he followed him.
"I think I'm going to have to take a rain check on that lunch. Roan, I making you acting director and I don't want you to argue about it. You've got th...," said Beckman before she passed out.
"Just don't stand there get a medic up here now," yelled Roan. "Are those the two scumbags who did this?" The Major nodded still in shock. "I want them taken to the basement where we can have a little chat. Pump them up with enough adrenaline to keep them awake and give them enough blood so they won't die. For their sakes they'd better hope she doesn't die."
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Banai left the Red Star then headed to a safe house just outside of the city. He needed to regroup and figure out his next move. The first thing he needed was to hack into the port security office then figure out how the missile was removed from the port and in what direction they were headed. But even doing this he felt like he was spinning his tires not getting anywhere. He was biting at the tail when what he needed was to get out front and cut off the head.
"We got them," said lead agent from the embassy. "Look what we got off the security feed from the port," said the man as he showed Banai a video clip of men loading two trucks with another man supervising.
"So you think this is our missile they're loading on those trucks," said Banai as he studied the video. "But I don't get I've reports that this Mr. Bin Abu boarded a plane for Sofia."
"So he was here until they load the trucks then he went to the airport and flew out. I don't understand what that has to do with anything. It doesn't change that our missile is on those two trucks and further I've got reports that they are still in country heading for the border with Georgia. I can take my men by helicopter and head them off before they get to the Red Bridge check point."
"That's good but don't you think this is a little too neat and easy? I mean they've been ahead of us all this time then they go and do this which give us the opportunity to overtake them. You could argue that they might not expect us to be this close to them this fast but I don't know something doesn't smell right."
"I have to remind you that if we don't act soon we risk letting them get away and you know the director will be livid if we let them slip away as well as other people in Tehran. Do you want to risk that?"
"No, not if I can avoid it. Okay, you can take your men if you want. They're yours anyway but I'd like the security footage from the train station too." The man gave him a look. "Just humor me."
"What are you thinking? They broke the missile down then carried it on the train as carry-on baggage." Banai caught the sarcastic tone but chose to ignore it. If nothing else, he had nothing to go on other than a hunch and gut feeling while everything the man was saying made sense and was supported by what seemed facts.
"Like I said before just humor me and get them for me. If you want to go head the trucks off on the open highway, then go knock yourself out and if you find the missile I have no problem with you taking the credit. What's important is we recover it but if it can't be recover then it must be destroyed and failure isn't an option."
"Yes Sir, I'll make it happen," said the man as he hurried off. Banai looked at him and wondered if he was ever like that. Men like him were anxious to please and jumped at every opportunity to make themselves look good especially in the eyes of their superiors.
"You my friend won't last long in this line of work," said Banai to the chair where the man had been sitting. "This job isn't about charging in like a bull. You have to be a wolf in sheep's clothing and while you're gathering intel you need to play like a sheep which means eating grass then when the time comes and your sheep friends see your fangs they won't know what hit them. What do I have to do to get another cup of tea around here," yelled Banai. "Never mind I'll get it myself."
He got up from the table then went into the kitchen where he put the kettle on to boil water then measured out tea. One for the pot then he calculated he'd be at this for a while so he was going to need at least a couple refills if not more. Once the water boiled he pouring it into the pot then let it steep.
"Here you are," said the lead agent as he walked into the kitchen finding Banai now nursing his first cup of tea.
"If you want a cup I made plenty," said Banai as he picked up a cup offering it to the man. But he shook his head as he pushed the cup away.
"No time... I've got to run I've got my men geared up and we're about ready to head out to head off those trucks. I got them just about on the other side of the reservoir. Oh and here's the video feed from the train station you asked for," said the man as he handed Banai a DVD. "You can watch it from here while we go out and retrieve our missile. I was thinking we could commandeer the trucks after we eliminate the force guarding them then we can drive them back to Baku and put it on a ferry heading back for home... maybe I could even ride the ferry with the missile back."
"If that's what you want I won't stand in your way. But you need the missile first. You know Roman Generals who came back victorious were allow to parade through the streets in a four-horse chariot wearing a crown of laurel and wearing an all-purple, gold-embroidered triumphal regalia that identified them as near-divine or near-kingly, and they were even known to paint their faces red. Before them marched their unarmed army, captives, and their spoils of war through the streets of Roman. They were hailed as heroes someone to admire," said Banai. The man puffed up thinking himself as the conqueror and what the powers to be would give him. "However," said Banai as he put a stick in the man's bicycle tire. "They always had a slave in the chariot next to them whispering in their ear 'you will die'."
"What's that supposed to mean?" said the man as he raised an eyebrow looking at Banai. "I'm taking my men and heading off the trucks."
"I don't know what I meant. It's this mission that's getting to me. Thanks for the this," he said as he held up the DVD. "Hey when you're out there remember you're not only responsible for yourself but for your whole team."
"Don't worry about me I've got this nothing can go wrong. Are you going to be okay here by yourself while we're gone? I sorry but I really don't have anyone I can spare to babysit you," said the man wondering if Banai wasn't getting too old for this kind of work.
"I don't need a babysitter. I'll be looking at this on the computer," said Banai as he held up the DVD. "And listening in on your communications. You just remember to watch your six because you're jumping into a potentially hostile situation blind without any intel."
"Don't worry about me they don't know we're coming so we'll have the element of surprise and when we hit them... well they won't see us coming. It will be over before it starts," said the agent then he turned and left.
"You presumptuous little twerp. Or so you think and I hope for your men's sake you're right," said Banai as finished his cup then filled it again before getting down to work. Time flew by and Banai had been at it for over an hour. Frame after frame image after image zooming in and out until finally his eyes told him enough was enough and they needed a break. Luckily for them and Banai his phone began to rang so he had to stop to answer it. Caller ID told him it was his director.
"Crap, now what," he said before answering. "Sir, I don't have anything to report in right now. Our man here at the embassy took his team out to cut off a convoy he thinks might have the missile onboard. ... No I'm not sure it's onboard and I'm pursing another angle. If he's right, then I've just wasted my time but no stone unturned as they say. ... No I don't know what fool said that. But I don't think that's the reason you called. ... What? When? How? Do we know who was behind this? ... Okay good to know. The agency will be spun up now. Any word yet when the rest of my team will be able to join me here? ... Yes of course, contingent that there's nothing on the truck. ... No I'm not trying to jinx anything. I'm trying to be practical. I'll explain later ring now I need to get back to work. Waʿalaykumu s-salām," said Banai then he hung up.
"I hope there's only nothing on those trucks," said Banai as he put away his phone.
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Casey and Morgan were on the second leg of their journey going originally to Baku but now stopping off in Tbilisi. There exact position was 30,000 feet somewhere over the Atlantic in another C-17. they'd received news about the shooting and Beckman being in the hospital from Roan before they left along with the modification of their orders and new destination. Morgan was worried about John. Casey sat quietly in his canvas seat brooding and had been since they received the news about the General.
"Come on Big Guy this is Becky we're talking about. She's going to pull through. There's no telling how many times she's been shot and she's still with us."
"It only takes that one time. Every agent knows that somewhere out there there's a bullet with your name on it and if you play this game long enough... too long... sooner or later you're going to meet it. For all anyone know this could be hers."
"Come on let's not talk like that. We don't know that and you heard Roan he's calling the best surgeon he knows, Captain Awesome. Just wait and see once he spreads out his awesomeness everything will be okay. Beckman is going to pull through… she's like you she's just too mean to die."
"Grimes, can you do me a favor? I know this is going to be hard for you but I really need for you to do this," said Casey. Morgan pulled out a handkerchief and held it out for him to use. Casey took it from him.
"Go ahead Big Guy there's no one here but me and you so if you want to have a good cry go for it. I won't say anything. We all need to cry sometimes." Casey took the handkerchief then shoved it in Morgan's mouth.
"Much better now and if you want to cry just hold down the noise. Geez will you shut up and let me think. Once we get to where we're going there's going to be some serious payback dished out. Don't try to stop me and don't get in my way if you don't want to be hurt," said Casey as Morgan pulled the handkerchief out of his mouth and began to spit. The members of the flight crew gave them a look.
"What are you looking at? You get a handkerchief stuffed in your mouth and see how you react. Geez John, I don't even remember if this was clean."
"If you don't pipe down and let me think I'm going to use duct tape to keep you quiet then if that doesn't work I'm going to staple the hole in your face you call a mouth shut."
"I forgive you I understand what you're doing. You're projecting your anger on me when you ought to be projecting it on the people who deserve it. The ones who did this to the General."
"I swear I'm going to rip them limb from limb from limb," said John. "Someone is going to be in a world of hurt when I get done with them. This just might be one of the best missions I've ever been on."
"John just remember we need to make sure we have the right people. You can't go around killing everyone in Georgia," said Morgan. Casey gave him a look. "Then who'll be left to make pecan pies? Have you thought about that?"
"Idiot that's the other Georgia," said Casey as he shook his head. "Did you ever study geography or did they teach that down on shire?"
"Funny John but the question is which Georgia did Nat King Cole have on his mind? Did you ever ask yourself that question? But back to the mission on hand somehow I think I'm going to have nightmares for a long time after this is over."
"I can make sure you don't get any nightmares," said John. "I just strangle you to death first then you won't have to worry about them and if you don't learn to keep quiet you just might get your wish."
"Funny John, I know you're only joking."
"Am I," said Casey as he cracked his knuckles and gave him the death stare. "Keep it up and you'll find out soon. You can keep that on your mind."