Don't own Chuck
The sun rose in the sky over the Black Sea as the USS Mason changed course and began steaming North. Banai had finished his prayers and said goodbye to the men he'd met when the Lieutenant came by to escort him back up to their stateroom. The Lieutenant was quiet as they walked up through the ship and Banai understood there was something going on.
"Is everything all right? You were talkative before but now you're all hush hush think is the way you people say it," said Banai as they made their way through the ship.
"You seemed to hit it off with that one petty officer from last night but with those other two… I don't know them seemed a little detached. Aren't all of you people supposed to be brothers or something like that?"
"Maybe on paper," laughed Banai. "Or maybe that's the way you people in the West understand us. There are differences among us like the difference between Sunni and Shiite but to say it has to down with that is simplistic. I don't know how much you know about the Middle East and our history but there are a lot of under currents you people in the West have no idea about."
"I don't know what you mean? Of course I know about the current situation from the end of the Shah to now. What else is there?"
"Okay you know we had the Shah… his full title was Shāhanshāh or King of Kings and his dynasty could be traced back over two thousand years. We Persians are a proud people and when we look at our neighbors… Bedouin shepherds. How can we not draw a difference? They've just now go running water. Sorry, old habits. Well, it doesn't help that each side is taught their side is the best from birth. I guess if I had to draw an analogy it would be like saying protestant and Catholics are the same now combine that with your racial problems and might get a glimpse of our situation…"
"But there is no racial difference," said the Lieutenant still confused.
"Don't let a Saudi or Persian hear you say that," said Banai. Their conversation was cut short when Casey walked in on them without knocking. He caught their look so he knocked on the open door.
"Better? Lieutenant, you need to get your men together and gear them up. We're taking the Blackhawk out for a spin. Banai, I need you to come with me we're having breakfast in the Skipper's mess."
"If this is you trying to leave me behind you can forget it. I'm coming too," said Banai as he got up in Casey's face. "I thought we had an understanding then you go and do this. I will call Chuck on you."
"You know the way you two keep batting this guy's name back and forth I'm curious to meet him," said Marsh as he started to change out of his running clothes. "Banai, you haven't eaten since yesterday you should go up and chow down. Don't worry I'll save you a seat on the chopper... I'll give you a box of nines in the chopper."
"For the record I was told to bring you along and I agreed reluctantly but you're going to have to listen to me. So when I say jump you jump and when I say stop you stop."
"Sure but can you say that in Farsi?" said Banai Both John and Marsh looked at him puzzled. "Don't tell me you haven't understood that you need someone who speaks Farsi. This person Abu and his people the Hashashin they are like me… well not exactly like me. They're crazy but like me in that they come from Persia... Iran so their native language is Farsi. If you need to interrogate one of them, you need to speak his language."
"Come on let's go we can't keep the old man waiting," said Casey as he took Banai to the Captain's in-port cabin. John knocked on the door then went inside after he was told he could enter.
"It's nice to see there is a door you actually knock on before you enter so good manners weren't entirely wasted on you." John grunt as he held the door.
"Please sit down and let's eat," said the Skipper acting as host. "I heard about the unfortunate misunderstanding. The Colonel was going to apologize for it but my ship my apology. Please sit down we can eat and talk this mission out. Has the Colonel briefed you yet?"
"I just told him that we're taking the chopper and Agent Banai impressed on me why we need him. You realize that me confirming the fact that we lost a nuke has to be kept under your hat. No one can know."
"And you know I'm going to have to file a report when this is over. But you think we want everyone to know we lost a missile… our newest prototype at that. It's not in either of our interests to every let this out. But like I told you need me," said Banai as they sat down. "Waterboard someone and they're going to speak their mother tongue which will be Farsi."
"Maybe we can talk about that later. I know the Colonel wants coffee but would you like coffee or juice to drink with your breakfast?" asked the Captain. "You're going to have to explain to my cook what you can eat?"
"Tea would be preferable and a couple of soft boiled eats and flat bread as long as there is no lard or animal fat in it."
"Okay that's easy enough. Is there anything else?" said the Skipper. "How about some cheese? I like fetta with jam."
"Are you sure you're not Persian? That used to be my grandmothers favorite breakfast. She was partial to fig jam. Give me your address and I will try to get you some when I get back home. It's a little sweet but with a strong cheese it marries quite well."
"I'd like that. Colonel you look like a serious breakfast man. My cook makes one of the best Denver omelets you can find… I'm sorry but that has pork in it."
"Why are you sorry? Just because I can't eat it doesn't mean you can't. We should all be who we are and not apologize for it." The Captain's cook when into the galley and began to prepare their breakfast and while he was gone the three chatted.
"While we wait to talk the Colonel told me you were in the Iranian Army before you jointed the… I'm sorry I can't pronounce it, the VAJA."
"The Vezarat-e Ettela'at Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran or in English the Ministry of Intelligence of the Islamic Republic of Iran and yes, I was. I fought in the war with Iraq as a Captain that would be a Lieutenant for you but of course you know that. I was drafted out of the university because... well who needed linguists back then. My friends went and I went in together but I was the only one to come home. Most died in a gas attack... two died next to me one of them in my arms."
"I'm sorry to hear that. We've seen reports and photos. It looked quite ghastly," said the Captain as he looked over at Casey.
"Thank you and yes it was. What some people will do to others. I went to see my commander and I asked his permission to cross the line and kill the people who'd done that. It was then I was recruited for the VAJA and my Commander went on to become my Director so he and I have a special relationship. That's why he puts up with me and my... well, things other people couldn't get away with."
"And did you get the people responsible," asked the Skipper as the cook went brought their food in placing their plates in front of them.
"Every last one of them and thanks to the Colonel retribution was handed out to the last one in..." Banai started to say but Casey coughed loudly and shook his head. "Well, I wish I could say I was the one who pulled the trigger but being there… well it felt good. Don't get me wrong I don't like taking a life and when I do I don't do it lightly. But when the person has done what this person did I have no problem with it like Abu," said Banai but the Captain held up his hand.
"Petty officer thanks but can you leave us now. I'll call for you when we're finished," said the Skipper then they waited for the man to leave. "I don't need another incident like what happened in CIC. So we're back with the problem at hand. Colonel you're in charge of the incursion team. In the meantime, I'll have an away party geared up and ready to go."
"Good, we might need the backup but your men need to know they're going in a hot zone. We'll send the chopper back after it drops us off so your people will have it. As we make our way in the enemy camp I will try to plant these," said Casey as he dropped what looked like a dime on the table.
"What is that," asked the Skipper as he examined it. "Some sort of transmitter how does it work being so small?"
"That is a GPS tracker," said Banai. Casey looked over at him from across the table. "No we didn't steal your design. You activate it then plant it on a target you want to follow but I'm guess these are for your missiles to home in on."
"And give the man a cigar. I've already given their frequency to your people in CIC so once they come active you have clear targets to take out."
"Remember we're operating in a foreign country and Bulgaria so far is with us. I don't want to be the one who sours our relationship."
"If that nuke goes off things will go sour and fast. The only good thing is we're going to be so close to ground zero we won't have to worry about the fallout both literal and figurative."
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Sarah woke up before Chuck. When she was on mission her senses heightened and her sleep became light. She was up before him in the bathroom when there was a knock at the door. At first it didn't register with him where he was or what his situation was. He pulled the pillow up over his head but the knocking was insistent.
"Can you get that," he said. Sarah gave him a look from the bathroom then threw a bottle of lotion at him. "Ouch! What the…" he started to say but she waved for him to get the door. Then it hit him she wasn't supposed to be onboard. "Who is it and what do you want? We... I gave at the office."
"I brought you up some breakfast," said a voice from the other side. "I'm coming in," said the voice as the man unlocked the door then brought in a tray.
"I'll take that from you," said Chuck as he met the man at the door with a bottle of hand lotion. "Let me put this on the tray and thank you," said Chuck as laid the lotion on the tray then took it. The man gave him a funny look. "What? It keeps my skin soft. Do you want to feel?"
"No… no thank you I'll take your word for it. I'll leave this here and come back later for it," said the man as he tried to back out.
"Not again no real utensils. You guys are making me feel like I'm fly coach," said Chuck as he picked up a piece of toast and took a bite out of it.
"Sorry I'm just following orders. I was told to tell you that we'll be tying up in a half an hour so you need to be ready. You might want to get your lotions together."
"I will and do you want me to leave you a sample to try?" The man didn't answer he just turned around and left closing the door behind him. Chuck heard him lock it then leave. "Okay the coast is clear you can come out."
"Good breakfast, I'm famished," said Sarah as she grabbed the piece of toast from him and ate it. "What else do we have here? The yoghurt is yours I'm lay claim to the eggs and toast."
"I thought you liked yoghurt after working in Orange Orange. You said it was better than Wienerlicious and their toxic nachos."
"I said my clothes smelt like sausage. You don't know how sick and tired I am of yoghurt. I don't care what flavor it is nor do I care what country it comes from it's still yucky…"
"Is that a scientific or medical term 'yucky'," said Chuck as he began eating it. She gave him a look. "Sorry, shutting up while I'm ahead."
"That would be a good idea. I gave it to Sam because it was good for her and now I don't know I guess I'm going to have to buck up and feed it to Bunny," said Sarah as Chuck continued eating.
"You sure you don't want a bite," said Chuck. "This isn't half bad. It's kind of like Greek yoghurt the fancy kind but I don't know different."
"You keep waving that spoon in front of me and I'll take care of your iron deficiency when I shove it down your throat. Don't you dare even think about kissing me now… not until you brush your teeth and since we have to share let me brush mine first."
"I love you," said Chuck as he smiled at her.
"I love you too… I guess," she said as she smiled back at him over a cup of coffee.
"Yoghurt and all."
"Don't press your luck."
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Morgan was up in the bathroom when there was a knock on his door. He was in the shower so he didn't hear it. The man knocked again but again there was no answer so he used his pass key and went inside. As soon as he went in he heard Morgan singing in the shower so he placed a breakfast tray for him on his table then went to the bathroom door and knocked loudly. Morgan was just stepping out of the shower.
"Crap," he thought, "his leg." He immediately pushed the bathroom door closed almost knocking the man halfway across the cabin. "No one is allowed to see my stub. The last person who did I had to kill them. What do you want?"
"I'm sorry I don't want to see your... well anything. Mr. LaBarba I just brought up your breakfast tray and Mr. Abu wanted you to know we'll be pulling in to port in half an hour. I didn't mean anything… really I didn't. I did knock but you didn't answer and… well, Mr. Abu was quiet adamant that you be notified."
"Okay for this time but don't let it happen again," said Morgan acting the part of Ettore. "I've been notified so don't let the door catch you on the way out."
"Yes Sir I'll come back for the tray later and thank you for being so understanding. I promise it won't happen again… I really do…"
"Will you stop your whining and leave. The only sound I want to hear is the sound of the door closing behind you. Now get!"
The man hurried out of the cabin so fast he almost tripped through the hatch on his way out. Morgan heard the door close then he came out with a towel wrapped around him.
"Crap Morgan, what are you going to do now," he said to himself as he looked over the breakfast tray. "I'm so nervous I don't think I can eat a bite," he said as he looked at the eggs and toast.
"Well the hen went through all that trouble to lay these eggs it would be a waste if I didn't thank her efforts by eating them. You know a lot of effort goes into making jam so maybe I should eat a little with my toast. Not to mention the miller who made the flour and the baker who made it. Thank you guys for going through all the effort to make this meal for me... my last meal."
Morgan ate as he looked out the porthole. The island they were near was getting larger and larger until he could make out the port they were pulling into. Then all of a sudden he saw him.
"Yikes!" said Morgan as he guzzled down a cup of coffee without realizing how hot it was. "Geez, hot, hot hot... on fire," he screamed as he ran to the bathroom and wrapped his mouth around the faucet then turned on the cold water. As he was cooling his mouth and throat down there was another knock on his door.
"You can come back later for the tray. I'm not done yet," yelled Morgan but when he came out he found one of Abu's goons in his room. "Crap they know," said Morgan.
"Know what? I'm not here for your tray," said the man. "Mr. Abu wants you up amidships in ten so you two can disembark together. He's anxious for you to show him what you've got done."
"Done.. done... Oh yes done. But I've been onboard so there isn't much I could do from here. Surely he can understand that," said Morgan as he maneuvered so the man couldn't look out the porthole and see himself on the pier.
"He isn't the understanding type so you'd better impress him or… well you know the island is called Snake Island. There's a cave not far from here where they congregate…"
"Personally I don't handle snakes… they aren't a part of my religion so as much as I'd like for you to take me to this cave I'm going to have to pass this time. So that's one tour we can take off the table."
"Well if you piss off Mr. Abu then it goes back on the table. Ten minutes, topside and don't make me come looking for you," said the man as he cracked his knuckles then left.
"You think you're intimidating me like that well Casey does the same all the time… and it scares the crap out of me. Geez, what am I going to do I'm too young to die. I haven't even gotten married yet or I haven't… I know I need a bucket list. Yeah that's what I need," said Morgan. He took out a piece of paper and started writing things he wanted to do before… well before ten minutes from now." He got down to writing and as he was writing his door swung open.
"Oh crap I haven't finished my list yet," said Morgan as Sarah jumped inside and closed the door behind her. "You have any idea how many years you just took off my life coming in like that. I got a goon coming to get me in ten minutes and I saw myself on the pier."
"Most people see their lives pass in front of them. Come on Morgan we need to get out of here," said Sarah as she took a quick peek outside then ducked back in. "We have to wait a minute for the coast to clear. What are you doing anyway? Are you writing Alex a letter?"
"Well, kind of I was putting together a bucket list of everything I wanted to do or would like to have done if I had survived this mission. Right now the possibilities of that are getting slimmer and slimmer. Do you want to see it? But you have to remember it's not done yet."
"Sure why not let me see what you wrote," said Sarah trying to appease him so he'd calm down. She took the list from him and started reading.
"Well what do you think? I might've gone a little overboard but most of them are within the realm of being obtainable."
"Like becoming the President of the United States? You really think that's a possibility Morgan," said Sarah as she shook her head and continued reading.
"Why not considering the candidates we've got and plus I've got experience. A manager of the Buy More I've dealt with the mentally challenged."
"Oh Morgan, you'd better hope Casey never reads this. If he does I hope you've got a good medical plan and/or funeral expenses paid up."
"It doesn't matter I have to survive this mission first and with Ettore being on the pier my time is drawing to an end soon."
"Come on Morgan you're coming with me. I'm going to take you someplace where you're going to be safe at least for now." Sarah grabbed him by the arm and pulled him along. As they went down the ladder to go below decks they heard someone coming down from above.
"I knew there was something off with that guy. I'm going to squeeze him by the throat until his head pops like a pimple."
"Now we can't do that right away. Abu wants to take him ashore so he can put the two of them side by side and tell which one is the real LaBarba."
"Then I get to pop his head," said the man as he cracked his knuckles.
"Come on Morgan, we need to go but if you like you could hang around here and consult your new dermatologist. I'm sure he can fit you into his busy schedule."
"You know you're sounding more and more like Casey and that's not a good thing," said Morgan as he followed behind her. "Can you slow up or I'm going to lose you."
"Morgan keep up or we won't make it. Most of the crew is topside right now tying the ship to the pier. If we miss this window of opportunity we're screwed so keep up," said Sarah. "Crap too late," she said. The passageway ahead of her was blocked when two men appeared from nowhere. She turned around but retreat wasn't an option because there were two more men behind them.
"Oh we are so going to die right now and I haven't finished my bucket list yet," said Morgan as he looked back and forth.
"Don't panic Morgan. I can still get us out of this you're just going to have to trust me," said Sarah as she looked up and down the passageway. She knew what she had to do but she was also sure Morgan wasn't going to like it.