Don't own Chuck
Upstairs in Sam's room Razhib was telling something entirely different from what was said on the fifth floor. He got the girls together but at first Sam ignored them. She just rolled over on her bed and continued watching Masha and the Bear giving her back to them. She won't even acknowledge their presence in the room and when they tried to talk to her she just put on pair noise cancelling headphones.
"Come on Sam. Why are you mad at us? We didn't put you in time out," said Razhib after he took the headsets off her.
"Hey! Give me those back they're mine not yours. If you want a pair go get your own. I have nothing to say to you… fascist informants."
"What'd you call us? Fascists? What's a fascist anyway," asked Molly. She looked at Razhib and he just shrugged his shoulders.
"I don't know but it can't be good from the way Jack uses it so that's what you two are. Margo sent you in here to get my intel? Well she can forget it that boat's done sailed. I wanted to share it with her and I tried but this is what it landed me… the hoosegow. Where are my constitutional rights?"
"We're not trying to get anything from you. And you need to stop repeating everything Jack says. I need to talk to the both of you so will you just roll over and listen. You don't need to say anything just listen."
"If you think you're going to talk me into forgiving and forgetting well like they say on Animal Planet elephants never forgets so you can call me Tantor. Unk Tantor unk whatever that meant."
"Just listen, will you? I don't want to talk to you about Margo. I want to talk to you about a man I met in the elevator. His name or at least when I knew him it was Ali the Persian."
"You've never told us anything about what you remember of before you came to stay here with us," said Molly as she smiled at Razhib.
"Forget that and put those eyeballs back in your head," said Sam as she rolled over. Suddenly she was curious. "Why was he called the Persian? You wanted me to listen so I'm listening."
"Guess why? Because he was from Persia," said Razhib. Sam gave him a look. "What? You asked and I told you."
"I'm quickly detecting a family trait that I don't like and this story had better start picking up or I'm going to roll back over and see what Masha and the Bear are up to. Don't think because I'm listening I've forgiven you two. You let me rot all day in my cell without checking on me. The least I expected was a bowl of ice cream but don't worry every dog has his day."
"How was I supposed to get you a bowl of ice cream when I wasn't here. I just found out you were here when I got back…" said Razhib. He realized after he spoke he'd told on himself.
"So I get sent to my room for leaving this prison while you're out in town doing… well it's not the same thing is it. What's not right with this picture?"
"Well in all fairness," said Molly as she mediated between the two. "You did get caught while Razhib didn't, right?"
"Well not exactly, Mike caught me but he just preached to me then Mom came and he covered for me. That's where the idea of me throwing a party came from…"
"Wait a minute… just hold the presses here. You got caught like me but instead of time out you get a party? Oh, I'm so going to talk to my union representative and lodge a formal complaint."
"Please don't make a fuss… look I'll invite you too just don't embarrass me. No playing doctor and trying to operate on my friends and that includes no checking reflexes. I don't need my friends crippled for life."
"Then they won't be able to run from you and you'll always win at hide and seek," said Sam as he gave her a look. "Okay, I promise. But the only reason I got caught was I heard a bus boy talking with this other man about getting him some Semtex and as soon as I could I ran to find Jack that's why I fell. If I hadn't slipped on the floor I wouldn't have been caught. I wanted to tell Jack what I heard but the Gestapo stopped me." She had no idea what the Gestapo was but it sounded bad like fascists."
"What's Semtex? Is it bad or something," asked Molly. Razhib turned white while Sam just rolled her eyes. "Do you feel all right you look a little pale."
"Semtex is a plastic explosive and Ali knows how to use it well. I've seen him blow things up," said Razhib as he rubbed his hand. "He used to make mini charges and put them in key locks. He thought it was funny when in the evening I had to lock up the house. He'd sit and hide waiting for me to come with the keys. I put one in the lock and the lock would explode. I almost lost my hand a couple of times thanks to him, but he thought it was funny."
"Why didn't you tell him to stop? Or do something to get even," said Sam. "If I'd been there I would've done something for you."
"Because that would've only gotten me a beating. I got them enough without looking for more. I didn't have to. One day he put a charge in the master's study room door. It got late and I was behind schedule locking doors. I was headed for the study when I saw the master going in. He must've thought I'd already locked it but when he put his key in the lock it exploded on him."
"At least you got to watch him get his for a change," said Sam. "I hope he got a good whacking because he deserved it."
"What are you talking about? I was still a servant. I got a beating for not having locked the door before the master and by putting his life at risk. All Ali got was a scolding and a threat to send him back home before his training was completed. From then on he made it his mission to make my life pure hell and he accomplished it until the day he left. I thought I was finally free of him but I saw him today in the lift."
"He wouldn't have a strange tattoo on the back of his hand? Something that looks like a lion written in Arabic?"
"It's actually Farsi… he's Persian remember I told you but yes. You guys have got to promise me you'll stay away from him," said Razhib as he went on to describe him.
"Sorry, but I think you're too late because I already met him in the elevator too. Margo was escorting me back up here and there was this guy… your guy, Ali in the elevator with us. I thought he was going to pull a gun so I kicked him as hard as I could in the shin with my pointy shoes and I dropped him just as the elevator doors were closing."
"You probably really pissed him off. Promise you'll stay away from him he hates women and kids so you are both. From now on just steer clear of him. He's the kind that will try to get revenge."
"I think that's going to be easy considering where I am right now. And if he wants let him come he doesn't want any part of this," said Sam as she picked up her tablet.
"You should really tell Margo about what you heard," said Razhib. "This bus boy, do you know who he is?"
"Yes now… I hid under his serving cart so I couldn't see his face but from under the cloth I could see his shoes. That's what first tipped me off about Ali. I recognized the bus boy's shoes and saw him talking to Ali then as Margo and I were waiting for the elevator he came over. I was afraid he knew I recognized him and sent your friend to silence me."
"A bit stretching it if you ask me as well as being a little paranoid," said Molly. Sam gave her a face that said she wasn't pleased. "What do you think?"
"But within the realm of possibilities. Look, I haven't told anyone else this story and I'd like not to because then they'll want to know more and have me talking about things I'd prefer not to think about. I want to move forward…"
"And moving forwards means Miriam," said Molly. Razhib gave her a look. "It's okay Sam knows all about her too."
"And I think you're being silly acting like this over a girl. You don't see me or Molly doing anything silly like this."
"I hope not. You're girls…" said Rahzib which got him two angry looks.
"I'm glad you finally figured that out and I'd chose my next words wisely if I were you," said Molly. "Oh Sam and by the way you're going to need to wear a hajib to the party."
"A what?" said Sam. "Here spell that so I can look it up," she said as Razhib spelt it for her and she typed it into her tablet. "Oh, sure no problem. I think I even have the dress to go with it."
"What'd you understand," said Molly. She'd expected Sam to protest considering she was calling everyone fascist. Her new word for the day. "Let me look at that."
"Here it's just like what Masha wears. I even have the same dress. But it's not called a hajib here it's called a platok."
"Similar idea but different language," said Razhib as he started to stand up. "You need to brush up your Arabic."
"Well who's fault is that? You promised to teach me Arabic but now you never have time because you're always slipping out to go to old town and Miriam," said Sam as she tilted her head and batter her eyes smiling at him.
"That's enough you two and I've told you too much as it is. You're absolutely forbidden to say anything about Miriam to anyone here. That means no one."
"Well you might want to have that talk with Jack because I know he's seen you in old town with Miriam. You think they let me go walking around the city by myself," said Sam. "Jack and I were out having ice cream when we saw you two."
"And where was I at during this stroll through old town for ice cream," said Molly. "Did you two forget me behind?"
"Don't get mad ever inmate gets yard time besides you were in your lessons and I was bored looking at this ceiling. But the question is Razhib how do you get out of class so easily?"
"Don't you know? He's got a spastic colon."
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Abu walked into the lab to see how things were progressing and found Chuck sitting with his feet hanging out of the missile access panel eating a sandwich while Ettore was nowhere to be found. Abu was visibly angry but he didn't want to take it out on Chuck. He still needed him to finish and this was the delicate part.
"Ettore just left you here by yourself? What was he thinking," said Abu. "Should you really be eating that up there?"
"We're just trying to keep up with your marching orders and really you're right I shouldn't be eating up here but Ettore said it was okay and he's got the better intersect."
"So do I and I say it's not okay. If you want to eat you need to come down here. I can understand keeping your strength up to finish your work. What's this about him having the better intersect?"
"Ettore said his intersect was better and he also said if I ate up here it would save ten point seven minutes which is the difference between finishing on time or late."
"Ten minutes isn't going to make a big difference so come down here and finish that sandwich. What is he saying? There's no better or worse intersect. We both got the same download."
"Are you sure about that? He said ten point seven minutes while you just said ten minutes. Maybe his is a little more precise… I'm just repeating what he said but it does seem that way. I think that might be why he thinks he should be in charge."
"In charge him. Ha, that will be the day," said Abu as Ettore walked in. They saw each other and Chuck could almost see the fur on their neck stand up like two dogs squaring off. "I was a little surprised to find Chuck here by himself… all alone."
"Well, I had to step out for a moment. Our men came and got me to say that a woman matching Sarah's description was seen on the island…"
"Don't get your hopes up our men will find her soon enough," said Abu as he looked at over at Chuck. "Then she'll be in the cell with your other friends. Reinforce the men on watch around the compound and tell the men in the security office to keep their eyes peeled on the monitors."
"Don't worry it's all handled. Step outside with me and I'll explain. Chuck, the same deal no funny business or your friends will suffer. Come with me," said Ettore as he held the door for Abu.
"I'm not sure we should leave him here by himself. What if he does something to the missile while we're gone. You," said Abu to one of the men outside, "I want you to stay in here and watch him."
"You mean like your knuckle-dragger is going to know about circuit boards and micro welding plus see what I'm doing from down there. Good luck with that. Now I see what you mean Ettore," said Chuck as he finished his sandwich. "Not Subway but not bad either."
"I don't know what he's talking about," said Ettore. "Really I don't but I still need to talk to you outside. You heard Abu get inside and watch him." Ettore looked back at Chuck then they both went out closing the door after them.
"I really don't know what he was talking about. I think he's trying to split us up so whatever he says you can't believe I said it."
"Sure," said Abu. But he was thinking that was exactly what Chuck told him he'd say. Now he had to watch both of them. "Okay I'm out here so what is it you wanted to tell me."
"I didn't want to say this in front of Chuck while he's working on the nuke but our guys did purse Sarah and another guy. They were kind of sketchy on who this other guy was but I think it was Morgan. Any way they chased them into the snake cave close to the village..."
"But that place is filled with venomous snakes. How'd they get past them?" asked Abu. Ettore was silent. "Oh I see they didn't. That's what you didn't want to let him know that his wife came to save him but she didn't make it. That was probably a good decision. There'll be time to tell him afterwards and for you to gloat."
"Yes, I so do want to but better is if Morgan was with her then the road is clear for me to get Alex. I don't care about the rest of the hostages but Colonel Casey is mine. I can use him to get to his daughter."
"Do you think that's a wise move? I mean can you trust someone you have to blackmail to be with you."
"Blackmail is such a bad word. I prefer to think of it as a process of time where she gets to know and appreciate me. It's no different than an arranged wedding if you think about it. Now that I have the intersect what's there not to like about me? You know I was thinking about frosting my hair. What do you think?"
"I think we need to finish here. Speaking of finishing here I was expecting my people back from Montenegro and they're not here yet."
"Maybe they got held up along the way. Their plane could be late or they might not have been able to find your boat in Varna. Not to mention that there could've been problems in customs."
"You're right but I think I'm going to make a phone call just in case to find out what's going on. We're too close to let something go wrong now which brings me back to you. If you want to give Chuck a break, make sure he does it outside the missile. Bread crumbs inside the missile could damage the circuitry but you should know that especially if you can do a work estimate down to the second."
"So what? I don't understand what's gotten into you? I was just trying to be precise," said Ettore as he gave him a look but what Abu took from it was Ettore didn't deny saying it. "I think I'm done here for now. I need to get back inside and to work. You are going to drop by and help too, aren't you?"
"It looks like you've got things cover and I've still got some calls to make. How are your headaches? Mine had died down for a while. Maybe you're right this was Chuck trying to get to us."
"I'm sure," said Ettore as he watched Abu turn away and leave. After Abu was gone Ettore pulled out an Aspirin bottle and downed the contents then went inside to grab a bottle of water. "I'm back now. Can you be a good boy and run somewhere and get me another bottle of these," said Ettore as he handed the man the empty bottle of Aspirin.
"Sure I can run to the infirmary and find you some," said the man as he started to leave but Ettore stopped him as he was about to go out the door.
"Wait a minute see if you can find me something a little stronger. Maybe some Motrin 1000s if you can find them or something similar."
"You know your headaches are only going to get worse the more you flash but Abu seems to understand that judging by the fact he left you here by yourself," said Chuck. He could see his plan was working he just hoped he had enough time.
"He had things to do and calls to make or so he told me," said Ettore. He'd just downed that bottle of aspirin but his headache was still there in the back of his head. He could feel it growing.
"I'm sure he did," said Chuck as he climbed back up the ladder to the access panel on the second stage of the rocket. "I'm sure he did but in the end my dear Ettore you are here and he is where exactly?"
"You heard me. He had calls to make and things to check on," said Ettore as he paused rubbing his eyes. He was having trouble seeing straight.
"Are you okay down there?" yelled Chuck. "Ettore I'm the last person you should trust but why don't you just sit down for a moment and close your eyes. Take that cold pack and place it on your forehead and relax."
"Why are you being so nice to me? I don't trust people who are nice to me. They usually want something."
"I want a lot of things but right now I don't want you to crap out on me and leave me with Abu. Between the two of you I think you're the least crazy."
"I think that was almost a compliment," said Ettore. "Okay but no funny business and only for a little while. You know if it wasn't for the leg I might even like you."
"Yeah, I'm kind of sorry about that. I was actually trying to kill you but you know what they say the best laid plans of both mice and men."
"Well to be honest I was trying to kill you and I was the one who insisted on opening the case so I guess part of the blame lies with me. But that doesn't mean anything right now. How's that work coming up there?"
"It's coming along just fine. I'm almost ready to lower the warhead and fit the parts together."
"Good wake me when the war starts," said Ettore as he closed his eyes.
[Meanwhile in the Communications Room Abu put in a call to Montenegro and Ali answered.]
"I'm still waiting on the team here. Why are you guys still there? I told you to come here right away."
"But they left the other day from Tivat. I stayed behind to leave a present that I just put together. I don't know what to tell you. They should already be there. Have you checked the airport in Varna to see if they were detained?"
"That's the next place I'm going to check but this is all very strange. I want you to hurry up there and get here."
"I should be flying out tomorrow."
"Why can't you leave today? You said you finished the present all you need is to plant it then leave. No I want you on a plane today. Whatever you've got going you need to set aside."
"We'll see," said Ali then he hung up. "Screw you I'll go when I'm ready to go."