Don't own Chuck

Previous Chuck stories and order: 1 Chuck vs Charles, 2 Chuck vs the Love Boat, 3 Chuck vs The Rock, 4 Chuck vs Amtrak, 5 Chuck vs The Dictator, 6 Chuck vs The Name, 7 Chuck vs The Volcano, 8 Chuck vs The Ghost, 9 Chuck vs The Shooter, 10 Chuck vs The Package, 11 Chuck vs The Jade Dragon, 12 Chuck vs Jai-Alai, 13 Chuck vs The Greek, 14 Chuck vs The Suitcase, 15 Chuck vs The Pirate, 16 Chuck vs The Toy Maker, 17 Chuck vs The Sibyl, 18 Chuck vs The House, 19 Chuck vs The Heist, 20 Chuck vs The A-Bomb, 21 Chuck vs The Snowman, 22 Chuck vs The Tin Man, 23 Chuck vs The Baguette, 24 Chuck vs The Black Knight, 25 Chuck vs The Merchant of Venice, 26 Chuck vs Electric Sheep, 27 Chuck vs The Band, 28 Chuck vs The Cold, 29 Chuck vs A Horse With No Name, 30 Chuck vs A Bolt In The Blue, 31 Chuck vs Brick and Mortar, 32 Chuck vs Juri Sheshenkov, 33 Chuck vs The Couch, 34 Chuck vs The Hijack, 35 Chuck vs El Capitan, 36 Chuck vs The Wall, 37 Chuck vs The Outback, 38 Chuck vs The Evil Twin, 39 Chuck vs Golden Thumb, 40 Chuck vs Ben Franklin, 41 Chuck vs The Lady of Uruk, 42 Chuck vs The Beard, 43 Chuck vs Bunny, 44 Chuck vs the Football, 45 Chuck vs El Serpiente, 46 Chuck vs The Circus, 47 Chuck vs Broken Arrow, 48 Chuck vs The Gift Horse

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It was the summer before everything changed in the old Soviet Union. Party Chairman Gorbachev was making a visit to the Cosomodrome in Baikonur a military city in Kazakhstan. It was the site of all the Soviet Union's space launches from Laika the dog the first animal to orbit the earth to the flamboyant missions of the first man in space with Yuri Gagarin. Gorbachev was there to witness the first of the Polyus launches. The Russian Star Wars initiative but he was there also because he had grave doubts about the program.

"Party Chairman, you can sit here and observe today's launch," said the installation commander. "Would you like a cup of tea?"

"Yes, thank you Colonel General," said the Party Chairman to the three-star general. I have to tell you I have some reservations about continuing this program."

"But why? I know the results up until today haven't been what we'd hoped for but everything will change now. You just need to wait and see. Once we've had a good launch you will see," he said as he handed Gorbachev his cup of tea.

"My concerns are the reason I've expressly forbidden in-orbit testing of the Polyus. I'm worried that Western governments could view this as our attempt to create a weapon in space and that such an attempt would contradict our previous affirmations about our peaceful intention in space."

"I see but it's also been said if you want peace prepare for war. That's what this program does. We eliminate the American's ICBMs in space before they reenter the atmosphere. This will nullify a great deal of their arsenal."

"But at what cost? If your system works it will create a nuclear cloud that will encompass the globe. We don't know if that radiation will stay up there or if it will fall back down on us. Worse is if we build this so will they and who's to say one day someone will get too nervous. I love my children too much to allow this to happen. I'm going to meet soon with the American president and we're going to put an end to this folly once and for all. I have to believe he loves his children too."

"But Party Chairman, you're not a military man so you don't understand. Look at what the Germans did to us. We need to be strong."

"We are strong in our resolve and what the German's did was bad but you don't fight madness with madness. You can have your test launch today but the project as far as I am concerned is finished. I'm closing you down and that's my last word," said Gorbachev as he sat down his tea.

[A week later in the Colonel General's office...]

"Colonel General," said the General's aide. "I just received your memo and I'm a little confused. I thought the Party Chairman closed our operation down? Yet, here you've allocated new funding for the project in the budget."

"I know what I've done. Party chairman's come and go but we are the ones who remain. We are the ones on watch to defend the Soviet Socialist's Republic not Party Chairmen who have never picked up a weapon or looked in the dying eyes of an enemy. We continue and that's my order. Colonel make sure that document is hidden away. Also tell Kornilov that I want to talk with his engineers on the Polyus project. I have a way they can redeem themselves from their disastrous launch and make sure Petrovich is with them."

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Some years later

In what seemed a deserted part of the Cosomodrome in Baikonur a group of commandos crossed the outer perimeter then stopped under a sign hanging on the razor wire that read 'military area restricted access all unauthorized personnel will be shot on sight'. During the Soviet regime that would've been enough to keep most intruders out. But the rust around indicated that was a distant past or it seemed.

"Come on let's go," said the team leader. "Hold up a second alpha," he said as he and another man put jumpers from one section to the other. "Okay we can cut it now and no one will be the wiser."

The men cut the fence then passed through regrouping on the other side. Silently they followed the team leader through the dark streets between vacant buildings. Before the fall his would've been bustling with activity now nature was slowly reclaiming what was once hers.

"Hold up," said the team leader as he put up his fist. A transport truck drove by with a group of security guards. Which was strange in this part of the Cosomodrome. Once the vehicle passed the team leader signaled for them to move out again.

"This way," said the team leader as they went into the basement of an unmarked building with no name outside. They descended into the bowels of the building then followed an underground service tunnel. As the proceed down the tunnel the temperatures started to rise. Soon they were all sweating which meant they were close to their objective.

"Here we are," said the team leader looking at his GPS finder. "Place the shape charge on that wall. Everyone move back and be ready. Check your weapon one last time. Everyone this is it. Okay blow the wall."

There was a loud explosion. Dust and smoke filled the tunnel and as it started to die away a gaping hole came into sight with lights and startled men looking at them.

"In, in, in, move, move," yelled the team leader. On the other side of the wall was a large room filled with satellite communications equipment and men in white lab coats. The commandos made quick work of them overpowering most and eliminating those who resisted.

"Sir, the room is ours. What do you want us to do with the prisoners," said one of the Commandos as his friends moved all the people they captured to the far wall. The team leader was looking around in amazement at all the equipment. "Commandant," repeated the man. "What do you want us to do now?"

"What? Oh yes, I need to speak to whoever is in charge. Bring him to me," said the Commandant. Then he walked down to the front of the room where a model of the globe was turning with little green lights in geosynchronous orbit around it.

"Commandant, this is the man you wanted to speak to," said the Commando as he shoved a man in front of him.

"Are you the man in charge of all this?" said the Commandant. But the man remained silent. "Is this man able to speak?"

"When we asked kindly, his colleagues pointed him out as being the man in charge," said the Commando. "If you let me have a chat with him I can put him in a more talkative mood," said the man as he pulled out a knife. I just might have to remove a few body parts.

"I don't know if that will be necessary. I think this gentleman understands what the consequences are for refusing to cooperate. However, just in case he doesn't… take half of his men and shoot them in the head but make sure the other half know we've had to do this because their leader refused to speak."

"Hold up," said the man in the white. "What do you want to know? You shouldn't be here this place doesn't exist."

"Us standing here proves otherwise but what is this place? We were told to come here but we weren't told why. Just when we got here we'd understand."

"This place is hell and you've walked into it. The devil built all this then he escaped. Some people said he escaped to America but wherever he is he's abandoned this and left us to watch over it. Our job was and is to keep the demons at bay until Armageddon."

"Are you half crazy? What you're saying doesn't make any sense? I don't understand what's going on here and why we were ordered here," said the Commandant but as he was interrogating the scientist one of his men took out a box and sat it on one of the consoles. Lights came on the box as well as on the console.

"Warning, warning, Polyus system activated and armed," said a mechanical voice as the lights that circled the globe turned red.

"No, no, no," said the scientist as he pushed past the Commandant and went over to the console. "Crap the system has been activated. Who placed this here," said the scientist as he held the box in his hand turning it over trying to understand it.

"What's that," asked the Commandant. "I've never seen it before. What does it do?"

"Well one of your men brought it in with them. This is some sort of remote that linked with our mainframe here and activated the Polyus system. You've been fooled into coming here and activating he doomsday device."

"The doomsday what? I don't understand," said the Commandant as he took the box from the scientist. He suddenly realized looking at it that one of his men wasn't who he said he was. But as he was about to ask where the box came from a grenade came rolling down on the ground between them. There was an explosion followed by mayhem until only one man left the room alive.

"Papa bear, do you read me? This is baby bear," radioed the man as he ran back out the service tunnel. "Papa bear, if you can hear me mission was a success. System activated, everyone eliminated, and equipment destroyed. Request extraction at per arranged site over."

Already the man heard yelling behind him so he knew he had to hustle if he didn't want to get caught. When he came topside from the tunnel. The quiet ghost town was bustling with people all in uniforms heading to where he had been. He hung in the shadows returning to the hole they'd cut in the fence.

"Where's that chopper," he said to himself as he ran through the hole on the fence then back into the woods. "Papa bear this is baby bear, I need to reconfirm the extraction site. I'm almost there and I don't hear a helicopter. Require immediate extraction hostile forces in pursuit," he radioed. He didn't know how to underline that fact that he needed to be picked up as soon as possible or he was going to get caught.

"If I get caught it's going to be bad for me and for the boss," he radioed as he ran. The clearing was just in sight but no chopper and worse he thought he heard the sound of dogs coming from behind him.

"Crap," he said. "Papa bear, listen to me I'm here and there's no chopper in sight. If this is you trying to double cross me... well do I have to remind you that I know your name? I don't do torture so I recommend..." Baby bear didn't finish his threat. He cascaded to the ground with a hole through the middle of his chest big enough to fit a softball through. The shot was fired so far away that he never heard it coming.

"Papa bear, this is Momma bear, loose end tied up request extraction."

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They'd hung around the airport in Lexington until they put Jack on a flight back to London, Rome then Tivat and Kotor. Chuck invited him to come with them back to Burbank before returning home. But Jack said that he needed to get back to the casino. However, Chuck read it more as an excuse to get back to Emma and Molly. This all contributed to making it very late when they all got back to Burbank. Chuck woke up early after they're late night arrival back in Burbank.

"Get up Chuck and do something special," he told himself as he got up. He looked back at the bed. There sleeping soundly was Sam and Sarah. Sam was all snuggled up close to Sarah. In the crib next to their bed Bunny was out too.

"All is right with the world," he said to himself as he heaved a sigh. He went to the kitchen where he pulled out milk and eggs. Luckily there was a 7-Eleven on their way home so he grabbed everything he needed to make pancakes. He mixed the batter then started frying them up and had gotten through the first couple when he received a phone call.

"Hold on a second," said Chuck as he took the pan off the burner so nothing would get burnt. "Okay, you can talk now. What do you mean without any clothes? Did he have any explanation? … I see. And that's what he remembers? It's probably for the better," said Chuck. He turned around and found Sarah looking at him.

"Who are you talking to this early in the morning? Is something going down I need to know about?" she asked but Chuck shook his head.

"Thanks for the update. We'll be in touch," said Chuck then he hung up. "I hope I didn't wake you taking that phone call," he said then he kissed her.

"No, I was half awake anyway. Sam was tossing and turning in her sleep. I was afraid she was having a nightmare but then she calmed down but I was awake. So who was on the phone," asked Sarah as she helped herself to the first pancake. "I hope you don't mind but I'm famished canapés just don't fill you up."

"Go ahead and while you're eating I'll put a pot of coffee on. See it was a good idea to stop and grab some provisions on the way home."

"I only protested because Sam was falling asleep standing up. So, is there a reason you're avoiding telling me who was on the phone," asked Sarah as she took a bite of her pancake.

"No, not really, that was Roscoe. He called to tell me the latest and greatest. It seems Sean came walking in from the woods as naked as a worm."

"I bet that was a sight to behold. Did he get arrested for public indecency or something like that?" she asked as Chuck went back to making pancakes after putting a pot of coffee on.

"No, not really, but they all had a good laugh. A sheriff's deputy brought him to Roscoe's and between himself and Clive they got him settled down. He doesn't remember a thing about his girlfriend just that he met a woman on the plane here and everything after that is a blank."

"Maybe that's for the best considering what happened to her," said Sarah as she finished her pancake. "What are the possibilities of getting another one? I feel like I could eat a horse this morning."

"Well you're in luck I know the chef here quite well and if I put in a good word for you I'm sure it can be arranged. But it's going to cost you."

"Oh it is? And what do you want for this good word?" Chuck gave her a coy smile. "I think we might be able to come to some sort of arrangement."

"I that case bon appétit," he said as he plated her a fresh one then poured her a cup of coffee. "Service with a smile we aim to please."

"You keep this up and I'm going to have to be extra generous with the tip," she said as she smile at him. This time it was her turn to give him a coy grin.

"That was what I was hoping for," he said as he kissed her.

"Yuck, I think I'm going to be sick," said Casey as he walked into their apartment. "I saw your lights on and I remembered what you got at the 7-Eleven…"

"So you'd thought you'd stop by," said Chuck as he slide one of the ones he'd held in reserve Casey's way. "If Morgan doesn't show up I've got enough batter to give you another one."

"I don't think he's going to be by today. He called me last night and told me something about a shipment of MacBook Pro's. They were all old models without the touch bar so he has to ship them back for a refund but if he doesn't get the paperwork in right away the store is going to have to eat the loss." Chuck started laughing and couldn't stop.

"What's your problem?" said Casey as he looked over at Sarah. "Did you gas him before I came in? What's so funny? I told Grimes I could take them to the range for target practice."

"Yes, Sweetie do you fell all right? You're acting a little strange."

"Strange is your normal but you're acting extra strange which is saying something," said Casey as he got coffee to go with his pancake.

"I'm sorry but you have to excuse me," said Chuck as he tried to regain his composure. "But after everything that has happened to us lately only having to worry about some paperwork getting filed on time… well it's a pleasant break. The only thing to look out for is a paper cut. I'd almost tell Morgan not to worry about and let the store take the hit."

"Hold up there Daddy Warbucks," said Sarah. "After all the money you sank in that horse farm we can't afford to be giving too much more away when we don't have to. And I expect you to give me a business plan for the horse farm we're now part owners in. I don't seem to recollect anyone else kicking any money in it."

"But we've got a Royal warrant," said Chuck as be plate other pancakes. "How many people can say that?"

"And take that to the bank when you need to ask for a loan. I'd like to see how much they'd offer you."

"She's talking about a kick in the behind."

"I think I got that Big Guy."

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All most half way around the world dust was settling in Cosmodrome. The installation Commander walked through the rubble left in the control room. He was desperately hoping one of the scientist that worked there was still alive. But whatever hope he had was short lived after a quick check was done of the dead.

"I'm sorry sir," said the General's aide. "There weren't any survivors. We'll check DNA later but the numbers of bodies match the names we have. Worse is they struck at the shift change so both blue and gold teams were here together… that was some bad luck."

"That was no accident nor was it bad luck. I don't believe in luck. No, these people… these terrorists new exactly what they were doing and when to hit. Listen Sergei, I'm going to be recalled to Moscow once this is discovered. You need to find an agent we can trust in the GRU. I don't care who he or she is. They need to be sent to the United States and find Pytro Petrovich. He'll be an old man now but he helped construct this place then he got cold feet and defected to the United States. Sergei, we need him to stop this before it's too late. Now take everyone and leave here for now. I have to make a phone call then you can come back."

"Are you sure you want to be by yourself down here? This place hasn't been examined by the engineers yet. It might not be safe."

"Don't worry about me. You go on and… well it's been a pleasure having you working for me. I'm sorry I kept this from you but it was for your own good."

"Yes Sir, Colonel General," said the aide. He herded everyone out leaving the General there by himself. He waited for a moment gathering his strength then he took out his phone and called a number. He put the call on speaker as he reached inside his coat pulling out a flask and took a hit. The vodka burned a little going down but afterwards came a warming sensation which is what he wants.

"Ivan, why are you phoning? You know what time of night it is? I'm retired now so you should be taking your woes up your chain of command. You are no longer my aide."

"I'm calling because the powder keg you left me just exploded. Polyus has been activated and from the evidence it was done on purpose. I'm calling you because there will be an investigation. You and I both know what that will mean. I told my aide to look for someone in the GRU that we can trust to find out rabbit.

"You want to find Petrovich after all these years? Even if you do find him what makes you think he'll help us? He was against this program from the very beginning and if we hadn't had his daughter he would've never gone along with it. Then she died and he ran."

"But what you and he don't know is that she didn't die. I had her hid in an orphanage but she joined the army and fought in Chechnya. Somehow, he thought she had died so he ran. By then it was impossible to prove otherwise."

"Okay, I appreciate you bringing me up to speed on this but I don't understand why? Like I told you before I'm retired."

"You think they will care about that when they start investigating. I'm giving you a way out. So long my old friend," said Ivan. Dimitri heard a gunshot realizing what his friend had meant. He immediately tossed his phone out the window of his Saint Petersburg apartment into Neva river.

"What to do now," said Dimitri. "First thing is to find Pytro and at the same time find his daughter just in case he's uncooperative and all this has to be done before the end of the world starts. I need a drink then I need to make some phone calls."