Chuck vs. the Family Affair part 5

Chuck awoke the next morning ready for the final duel of the “Grudge Groups” of team A against team B. It was looking to be a beautiful day. After a quick breakfast at the hotel he headed off with the rest of team “A” to their secret locations at Staite Park. Bruce and Biff had decided to team up together which left Chuck to explore the area of the park alone. He had the feeling that he was the sacrificial lamb and that if team “A” were to win a victory it would be because of the efforts of Bruce and Biff. He felt less like a team member with his old school chums than he ever had in his life.

Mid morning found Chuck still alone and the radio traffic had told him that no one had been eliminated from either team as of yet. He sat himself down on a park bench and began listening to the chirping birds and the sounds of families enjoying the park. Chuck couldn’t help but overhear the conversations of a family picnicking in the park nearby. There was a boy of about ten with the family and the kid seemed to be having trouble with a hand held gaming device that he had. Chuck was familiar with gaming device through the sales of the same game at the Buy More. He walked over, introduced himself and easily fit in with the family of picnickers. Before long the intersect had the young boy playing the game as if he were a pro.

Around this time Chuck had noticed a figure lurking in the same area of the park. The individual would scamper from tree to tree and before long Chuck recognized the fellow as Reynolds from “ B“ team. He was wearing a baseball cap and dark sunglasses as a disguise but the intersect could easily pick him out from the other folks enjoying the nice morning in Staite Park. Chuck, himself was wearing a baseball cap but with his intermingling with the family of picnickers Reynolds obviously hadn’t noticed him. Chuck excused himself from his newly made acquaintances and fell in behind the unsuspecting member of B team. Before long Chuck was directly behind Reynolds, not five feet away. He drew his weapon and aimed at his opponent, targeting him squarely in the back. He squeezed the trigger.

******************************************************************** Six minutes later,

“ This is Bartowski reporting to team “A” Suspect Reynolds has been eliminated. Scratch another pigeon. 506 out!”

It was true. Chuck so far was the fighting ace of team “A” , having extinguished both Riley and Reynolds. He was hoping the success of his sniping abilities would bring him the respect of his Grudge Group buddies later back at the hotel.

At 1pm the hunt ended for lunch with Bruce falling victim to team B. This left Chuck and Biff on team A, and Ian and Julius on team B.

“ The last Grudge match will be held at the old Tobar City Tool factory.” Ian announced.

“ Wouldn’t an old factory like that be off limits? Old factories and businesses can’t have geeks like us running around shooting one another and breaking arms and legs on their property. Posted “Keep Out” signs and the like are there for a reason?” Chuck questioned.

“ That doesn‘t apply to us.” Ian continued “ I have a friend whose dad was a corporate big-wig there and said it would be alright if we used it as a battleground for the Grudge Group.”

Chuck was a bit suspicious about Ian’s story but it didn’t raise any major alarms.

At 1:30 the two remaining members of each team headed out to the warehouses and properties of the old TC Tool factory. Biff and Chuck had split up and after thirty minutes of playing the game the intersect hadn’t seen another living soul from either team. Chuck pulled his cell phone from his pocket.

“ Ellie, if you don’t hear from me within the next half hour get help!” He sent the text to his older sister.

Finally there was a sound behind him. Chuck turned to see Biff standing there and breathed a sigh of relief.

“ No luck finding the enemy either aye Biff?” Chuck acknowledged his fellow teammate.

“Oh contraire!” Biff replied. “ Got the enemy in my sights as we speak.”

Chuck looked to find himself at the business end of a tranqu gun.

“ Put your hands up Mr. Intersect!” Biff told him right before he pulled the trigger.

*******************************************************************

A hour and a half later Chuck found himself bound at the wrist with his arms stretch above his head. He looked around. Wherever he was it was dark, dank and smelled like Casey‘s old footlocker. Well……if Casey had ever had an old footlocker Chuck assumed it would have smelled that way. Someone spoke to him from the darkness.

“ We knew the Buy More was keeping secrets . Now digging into your past, knowing you were friends with Bryce Larkin and knowing that you would never be let out of the agency’s sight without the accompaniment of an agent, a pretty one at that, it was only a matter of time before we caught up with you.” Ian walked into the light.

“ Who are you Fulcrum?” Chuck questioned.

Ian just looked at him. “ How would a simple Buy More employee know anything about that?”

Chuck knew he had made a mistake. Being held torture style, in the boiler room of one of the abandon factory’s sub-levels it was oblivious that Reynolds friends weren’t who they‘d said they were. They were Fulcrum and this was for keeps.

“ Time to get some answers out of you my boy.“ Ian told him.

Chuck’s shirt was opened and Biff and Julius made ready some rather nasty looking instruments held inside the flames of a boiler that was still operational. Chuck knew that these guys weren’t there for a barbeque.

Ian then walked over to the fiery hot furnace. He pulled a glowing hot iron poker from it’s orangey red belly. He brought the brand up to eye level examining it’s glowing yellowy point.

“ We’re not here to get answers to the big questions ..…… agent Carmichael. That’s for the big fish to do. The agency did say that we could have a little fun if we wanted to though.” He brought the glowing poker over to Chuck.

“ I take no displeasure in proceeding in such manner as to extract information of limited value from you…. understand.” Ian said. “ To be totally honest, I will enjoy it very much.” He continued.

Chuck was about to scream like a nine year old girl when there came a noise from the outer hallway, a voice. All four occupants in the room stop in their tracks.

“ Chuck where are you?”

The intersect recognized the voice immediately. ELLIE!!

“ ELLIE….RUN!” was all he could get out before his surprised older sister rounded the corner and with eyes wide open. She came to an abrupt halt.

She was grabbed immediately by Biff, and Julius wound a piece of cloth around her mouth to keep her from shouting. Ellie was then tied alongside Chuck with her arms strung up above her head.

“ Well…………glad to have your companion-protector has join us Mr. Carmichael.” Ian said.

“ Ellie’s my sister and if you….”

“Shut him up!” Ian gave his order to Biff.”

Chuck was gagged and soon after Ellie was un-gagged.

“ Think we’ll have you get used to the screams of your partner before we get on to the business of you.” Ian told Chuck

Ian, Biff and Julius walked a few feet away to discuss what options they would use now in extracting information from both of their captives. Ellie looked over at her brother.

“ Chuck I know that playing Indiana Jones may seem as a lot of fun to you but believe me brother……don’t you think it’s time you moved on?”

With the gag still firmly in his mouth Chuck could not respond.

The Fulcrum agents were about to get down to the business of torture when another sound was heard to come from down the corridor.

“ Biff go check it out!” Ian told his associate.

The agent rounded the corner in a flash. A minute later screams were heard from the Fulcrum agent then there was nothing at all.

“ Biff, Biff!!?” Ian exclaimed.

Ellie looked over at her brother. “ I sent a text to Sarah……pineapple.” She whispered.

There was some movement in the room and three of it’s occupants turn to see Julius exiting the room through a side door.

“ Julius……Julius !!” Ian called after his team member.

“ That’s about far enough.” The folks in the room heard behind them.

The three turned to see Sarah with a weapon aimed squarely in Ian’s direction. Ian made a move to raise his pistol at Chuck but was hit directly in the head by a framing tool launched by Casey who’d entered the room from another opening. He was knocked out cold and went down to the floor without so much as a whimper.

“ Nice shot agent Casey!” Sarah exclaimed.

“ Thank you agent Walker!” He replied.

Sarah walked over to where Chuck and Ellie were standing, their arms bound to restraints fastened to the ceiling.

“ You guys Ok?”

They both answered in the affirmative.

Sarah was about to remove Chuck’s gag when she looked over at Ellie. There was an inquisitive stare in Chuck’s sister’s eyes.

“ Agent Walker?” Ellie quizzed,” Don’t tell me that you and Casey are into this same kinda role-playing, ninja, spy, grave robbing thing as Chuck……Sarah?”

Sarah froze for a second.

“Years of playing Tomb Raider Ellie, I have to admit!” She told Chuck’s sister.

Ellie looked over at Casey.

“ I’m a little partial to Duke Nukem and Metal Gear Sold myself…” He said. “ I’ll go get the other guy.” Casey said, then he was off to catch Julius.

***********************************************************************

After the group returned home the following day all was quiet.

Chuck met up with Sarah and Casey at CASTLE and the three relaxed and enjoyed the comforts of being home and safe again.

“ It’s a good thing Ellie texted us when she did….” Sarah was saying.

“ Yeah sport. Ten minutes longer and it woulda been Chuck Bartowski and the Temple of Doom.” Casey grunted.

Chuck just smiled at Casey’s apparent joke and Casey laughed at Chucks discomfort.

On the monitor in front of them was a scene from the Bartwoski apartment. Ellie and Awesome were in the living room and Chuck turned up the sound to listen in on their conversation.

“Well babe, how did time go spent with little brother?” Awesome was asking.

“Things went Ok I guess. Chuck still remains under “The Morgan” influence I would say. We had a good time but I’ll be glad when Chuck sees his way into living in the REAL world. Fancy spy games and bondage fantasies give me the creeps.” Ellie said.

“ Well let him play 007 a while longer, “ Awesome continued, “ I mean it’s not like he’s doing it for real or anything.”

The End