Don't own Chuck
After what Chuck said on the bridge everyone went silent. You could hear a pin drop as everyone thought of friends they had in the sub service. There was always a friendly rivalry between targets but to think the loss of a whole crew in the murky waters of the Black Sea or any sea for that matter was a bitter pill to swallow. One thing was to go down in combat but it was something else to go like this even if they were the enemy.
"Let's get you back to CIC so you can talk to your boss and we can clear this up. I want to hear how you say you took out a whole crew without setting foot onboard," said the Skipper. He too was having a hard time getting his head around what Chuck said. "XO, I want you to track and follow that sub until I get back on the bridge."
They left heading back to the Combat Information Center where the General was already waiting on monitor tapping her pen on her desk. She raised an eyebrow when she saw Chuck and Sarah walk in with blankets wrapped around them. But what Chuck noticed was how dark and cold it was inside.
"Chuck, I heard you've been very busy building a nuke for Abu. In about ten minutes it's going to hit Sevastopol and World War three will begin. I hope it was worth it."
"I think so first of all yes I have been busy. But I never built Abu a nuke, I removed the plutonium from the warhead and he took it with him..."
"Then we have to stop that sub now. Skipper, why haven't you followed your orders yet..." Beckman started to bark but Chuck cut her off.
"It's not his fault I told him not to. We need to let Abu go let me explain...
[Earlier in the lab]
Chuck used a pair of tongs to gently put the plutonium core in a lead lined box Abu had made just in case something like this was necessary. Abu stood on the other side of a safety shield looking in through a window. Once Chuck had the core in the box the tried to close the lid but it slipped and fell.
"Be careful in there. You warp that lid and we're all dead," said Abu safely from the other side of the lead lined wall. "Remember this was your deal to complete the missile."
"I remember and I think I know that," said Chuck as he pulled a vial out of his pocket tossing it in the box while Abu was distracted looking at the lid. Chuck quickly recovered the lid then hooked it on and tightened it down.
"Use the Geiger counter to make sure the radiation is at an acceptable level," said Abu. "Hurry up, I need to be on my way."
"Okay, it's safe now," said Chuck as he showed him the readings. "I've just had about a hundred x-rays worth of radiation but all in a day's job. I won't need to turn on any lights after dark." As Chuck was talking one of the guards ran in.
"Abu, we just got word the prisoners have escaped and grabbed weapons from the armory. They're fighting their way to the surface."
"Forget them grab this box and let's head for the sub. I want two guards outside the lab if he doesn't launch that missile kill him. Nothing personal Chuck but to otherwise..."
"Just wouldn't be professional. I've heard that before but I'll keep my end of the deal. You won't have to worry about that."
"You know all in all you're not half bad. If you had an intersect like me you'd almost be my equal... don't get any ideas I said almost."
"I don't think anyone could be your equal..."
[Back to present on the Mason]
"Those were the last words I told him. Not very fitting for last words but I guess there could be worse."
"Chuck, what did you throw into that box," asked the General. But before he could answer one of the men on sonar interrupted.
"Sir, the submarine is acting... well odd. They're constantly changing course. It's like they can't make up their mind to go forwards or turn around and go back. They are also diving and rising. It's like they've gone mad."
"They are nearing their end," said Chuck. "We need to track where they come to rest and mark it an international danger area… a hot zone if you like where fishing and diving are prohibited for perpetuity. For no reason whatsoever should that hulk ever be opened."
"Chuck, what did you do to them?" asked Sarah. "Chuck... Sweetie I'm not judging but I... we want to know and I think you need to tell us. What was in the vial?"
"Sulfuric acid... the rest of the story I can only guess. Somewhere along the run to the sub the plutonium shifted inside the canister crushing the vial releasing the acid which immediately began eating away at the plutonium and compromising the canister seal…
[On the Submarine]
"Take that canister and put it in the Skipper's cabin," said Abu. "What's the matter with your nose? You're bleeding. You can get cleaned up inside close the door and stand watch over it. Lock the door and only open for me." The man nodded then closed the door behind him. Abu heard the door lock. "Okay get us out of here pronto."
The Skipper was about to ask where Abu wanted them to go so he could lay in a course but there was a loud explosion from the outside and part of the cavern ceiling fell in.
"Yell topside and have them cast off," yelled the boat Captain. "Let's get the diesels up and get out of here. If that American ship is still out there we'll need to submerge as soon as we clear the cavern. Give me depth readings."
As the sub sortied the cavern there was another explosion and the roof along with that section of tunnels collapsed.
"Boy, are we lucky we got out of there," said the Skipper as they dived under the murky water. Little knowing his and the luck of the crew had run out.
Meantime in his cabin the guard sat the canister on the table then sat in chair after having cleaned the blood off his face. But his nose wouldn't stop bleeding and by now he was feeling ill. Nausea was setting in and he had a terrible headache. Sitting in the chair with his eyes closed helped a little but not much. However, when he opened them he noticed everything was out of focus and his head was spinning. He tried to make it to the door but collapsed before he could get to it. At that point there was little that could've been done for him.
You see by now the acid had eaten away a part of the plutonium liquefying it before turning it into a gas. The seal on the canister by then was also compromised by corrosion so the deadly gas was released into the air. The submarine being a closed environment and the air recycled was now distributing the radiative vapor throughout the boat. Radiation poisoning spread quickly throughout but Abu probably ignored the symptoms... at least at first.
"How could he? They had to have been apparent," said Beckman as she looked over at Roan and Thomas. Both were for once in their lives speechless. Beckman interrupting brought him out of his nightmare daydream narrative.
"What? Well he already suffered from chronic headaches and may not have noticed all the people around him with bloody noses. He could've thought because they'd left port so fast and submerged rapidly that the submarine hadn't adequately adjusted internal pressure or he just missed it altogether I've no way to know. But soon after people were heaving and throwing up first what they'd eaten then dry heaving followed by blood. Who knows if Abu figured out what I had done? But if he did I'm sure he had some choice words to call me."
"Sir, the submarine has lost propulsion and is sinking to the bottom. I'm not getting a peep out of them," said the Sonar tech as he glanced over at Chuck. "There's not a sign of life onboard.
"You need to mark the spot and let everyone know never to dive or attempt to open that sub. It would be better if the boat could be sealed somehow in a concrete sarcophagus. The metal hull should keep the radiation inside but for no reason should it be breached."
"Sir, the missile is entering Russian air space," said one of the radar operators. Everyone was so concerned about the sub they'd forgotten about the missile.
"Chuck, I'm patching Igor into this. I've just told him that the missile is conventional but he's not buying it. You need to convince him."
"Director Trotski, zdrah stvooy-tee," said Chuck. "I think for everyone's benefit around me you and I should speak English. The missile that entered your air space is conventional not nuclear. I removed the plutonium..."
"I was informed that you launched it at us by Agent Mikhailovich and now you expect me to believe you graciously changed it into a conventional weapon... but a weapon it still is."
"Yes a weapon it still is but it's not heading for you. It's travelling across the great arch to reach its final destination. Tell your people it's in their own interest not to interfere with it."
"I think you need to explain quickly while I make some phone called," said Igor as he picked up his hot like to the Kremlin and started talking in Russian. He talked normal at first then his tone changed and his voice raise a few octaves.
"You see Abu pissed off the wrong people in his organization, the Hashishim, and from what I got from him he was being recalled. They were warned that an attack was coming so they were going to cut their losses and take the warhead and run. At least that was what he was ordered to do."
"But he didn't do that," said Sarah. "Why did he turn against his own people? That's what you're saying he did."
"Yes he... well became mentally unstable and had Ettore thrown into a detention cell then ordered me to finish the missile and program it. He told me what he wanted the missile for and so I cut a deal with him to make it conventional. For what he wanted to do it didn't need to be nuclear and if it were, it would've just caused more damage than was necessary..."
"So what did he need the missile for? I thought he wanted to cause World War three and bring this Assassin's state out into the light or some garbage like that."
"That was what he had originally intended but the Old Man of the Mountain and the council of twelve didn't have the same point of view. His setbacks were used by his enemies in the council to bring about his fall from grace and recall."
"So if the missile isn't heading for Sevastopol where is it headed to," asked Igor proving he could multi-task with a phone receiver next to his head.
"He had me launch it against the council that is meeting right now in an isolated compound on the Azerbaijan and Iranian border…. in a place they call Alamut. This is our opportunity to cut off the head of the snake in one clean blow. The missile will hit the compound with sufficient velocity and force to penetrate into their underground bunker then explode a conventional charge… effectively causing game over."
"This is our response to their attempt on me and the Iranian Director. This will make them think twice before they try again... Good work agent Carmichael."
"General, you and I have to have a private conversation about the situation you caused. Ettore escaped and is more dangerous than ever and you know why."
"I was informed Ettore escaped the island onboard the Contessa," said Beckman. Sarah put hand over her mouth.
"Oh no Morgan's on board the Contessa. I left him in the Hydra control room. Skipper we need to find that ship. She couldn't have gotten far. If we can raise Morgan on the horn I can tell him what he needs to do to shut the ship down."
"But he can only do that if we're nearby. If he shuts her down too soon Ettore will figure out something is up and it won't take him long to find Grimes."
"We can find that ship with no problem," said the Skipper. "However, in the meantime let's get you out of those wet clothes."
"If there's nothing else Igor and I have somethings to hash out about how to explain all this to the Bulgarians and the Iranians."
"We should call Sam," said Sarah. "She's got to be worried about us. We get Morgan then we go home."
"Maybe you should wait until they contact you from Montenegro. I got word a little while ago and they are kind of busy."
"Kind of busy good or kind of busy bad," asked Chuck. "Before you answer that think twice before you lie because you know I'll know."
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Razhib looked around the elevator car to make sure everyone was holding onto something. Then he did a countdown and when he got to zero he pulled the power. The breaks released and the car started plummeting. He wedged himself against the wall and panel to start working as quickly as he could. He pulled out the fuses then cut them after that he turned the current back on.
"Crap," he said as the car started to buck. He hadn't calculated the weight of the car and its momentum. There was a loud screeching noise of metal on metal. He was worried that the sustaining cables might break at any moment.
"Hold on this is going to hurt," he yelled as they hit bottom and almost bounced up. The doors opened and he grabbed Sam and Molly pushing Margo out in front. The doors closed behind them then there was muffled explosion with smoke coming out between the closed doors.
"I thought you said you were disarming the bomb," said Sam as she got up dusting herself off. "That noise didn't sound disarmed."
"Well I half disarmed it. I was able to cut the circuit to the charges on the doors as well as the one for our free fall but I didn't have time to track down the charge for the car. I removed as much explosive as I could but I calculated by free falling we'd gain time on the blast..."
"So that's why you shoved us out the door. I have to say you're almost as smart as Chuck," said Sam. Jack and Emma ran up and grabbed them. Emma squeezed the stuffings out of both girls and kissed Razhib who turned red.
"Air... I need air," said Sam as she wiggled free. "How'd you get down here and where's my sister? You're supposed to be taking care of her."
"Your sister is fine I sent Bunny off with some agents to be safe. We took the stairs down and we've been waiting for you. Here Chuck and Sarah are on the phone. They want to talk to you," said Emma handing Sam her phone.
"Of course I'm all right. Why shouldn't I be? ... Oh people like to exaggerate it was nothing. When are you coming home I miss you," said Sam as she walked off with Emma's phone.
"Margo, where's Mike? Do you have him on the radio? If you do can you ask him how things with watching Miriam. I was supposed to meet her and I don't want her to think I stood her up."
"Mike is coming down now but there's something I need to tell you he told me before but I didn't want to tell you while we were stuck in the elevator. I hate to tell you..."
"No Ali grabbed her, didn't he? Of course he did, that's the way he operates," said Razhib as he looked around the lobby. "He's here somewhere watching. He likes to watch the sick... there," said Razhib as he pointed at a folded newspaper on a table pointing at the elevator.
"What do you see? Do you see him?" asked Margo as she looked around the lobby but didn't see anyone she recognized. She pulled her service piece and ran after Razhib. "No don't touch that it could be a booby trap."
Razhib ran across the lobby floor then when he got there he knelt to get a good look under the paper. Slowly and gently he lifted it up to reveal a wireless video camera pointed at the doors of the elevator. Next to it was a cellphone with "Speed dial" on a note attached to it. There was only one number in memory so he hit dial putting the call on speaker.
"Razhib, my little brother," said the man on the other end. "I see you haven't forgotten what our master taught us. But I have to admit I'm a little disappointed to see you living there with that woman..."
"She's my aunt and my adopted mother... there's nothing wrong with it. I don't even know why I'm having this conversation with you. I want Miriam back. She didn't do anything to you so let her go."
"I will but I want something in return. Can you guess what it is?" said Ali. He paused as he waited for Razhib to answer.
"If you let her go I will come with you. Is that what you wanted me to say? You want me to be your servant so you can torture me again."
"I was just acting out. If the truth were known I guess I was little jealous of you and your relationship with the master. He liked you..."
"You mean he like beating me," said Razhib. He could tell Margo was about to grab the phone from him. They'd been speaking Arabic and Persian. She didn't understand a word but she didn't have to the tone was enough.
"He beat you because he liked you. He didn't give a rat's posturer about the rest of us that was why he let us do what we wanted. So what if we blew ourselves up, there was always a replacement but not with you. He watched over you and beat you when you screwed up so you'd learn. Pretty warped way to show affection and that's coming from someone screwed up like me."
"I beg to differ... not that you aren't screwed up that I agree on but it's the other I disagree with. But besides what does this have to do with anything. I want Miriam back and I'm willing to come along with you if that's what it takes."
"So you can slit my throat while I sleep? No thank you that's not what I want. I want the Master's pocket watch that you stole the day he died. Razhib remembered back to the final days of the Toy Maker. The old man had activated a self-destruct system so he ran into the Master's study grabbed the watch then went looking for Chuck. He'd promised to take him with him and he so wanted out of that hellhole.
"This way," he remembered telling Chuck as they helped Sarah along. She had been wounded and Chuck clung to her. He admired Chuck from that moment. If it had been the Master, he would've let her go and saved himself but not Chuck. Chuck clung to her like life itself.
"We need to find the kitchen," saidChuck as flames raged around them cutting off their escape route off. There were other explosions but somehow they managed to find the freezers and afterwards freedom.
"You want the Master's watch? You can have it. But I want Miriam back first," said Razhib. "Just name the place and I'll be there."
"Okay we can do this but if I see you've brought any of your friends... well it's over for Miriam or maybe not. You know there are people in North Africa who would pay well for someone like her but you know that."
"Just tell me where you want us to meet and leave her alone. You touch one hair on her head and you'll answer to me."
"Now that's the old Razhib I knew. You were always a feisty little boy. Be at your bar in half an hour and bring the watch."
"I'm going to need more time to get it. It's not easy to get at right now," said Razhib. "Can you give me an hour?"
"First you say you want the girl back right away and now you're stalling for time. I'll give you forty-five minutes and not a minute more or your sweet Miriam goes on the auction block," said Ali then he hung up.
"What was all that about? That was Ali what did he want? Does he have Miriam?" said Margo. But Razhib wasn't listening to her he had half a plan and if he told Margo what he wanted to do she would never let him.
"Yes, that was Ali and yes he's got Miriam. Before you say no hear me out, he wants me to meet him in the pub in old town. I have to go and I have to go alone. He'll hurt her if he sees any of you and I can't allow it. Listen I can wear your tracker and you can give me a wire that way you can hear what's going on and track me."
"I don't like this. I don't like this at all," said Margo but Razhib didn't hang around to get her approval he had to run upstairs to their suite to get the pocket watch Ali wanted.
"I've got to get something Ali wants I have in my room. Have Mike get the wire ready and stand by in the lobby when I come back down."
"I haven't agreed to let you do this," said Margo but Razhib was already gone. She could already see if she didn't let him do this she'd lose him but if she did she could lose him the same.