Chapter 5! I love this chapter, it was really fun to write :D
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“If Chuck was indeed captured by Fulcrum, he should be terminated immediately. Agents, we cannot afford to let Chuck remain in their hands, especially since they are aware that he is the Intersect.”

“But Gene –”

“There will be no buts, Major Casey, you of all people should know the threat the Fulcrum poses to us.”

“Yes, ma’am, understood.”

“Beckman, out.” called General Diane Beckman impassively as the image of her disappeared rapidly, before being replaced by the seal of the NSA on the plasma TV located in the underground CIA base known as ‘Castle’.

Two secret agents – one CIA, and one NSA – plopped themselves unceremoniously onto the chairs which surrounded the television screen. Both faces conveyed the perfect amount of distress, panic and total disorder, and while they were bathed in silence, tension ran thick between them. Their asset was missing, captured by a major threat to both agencies. Their asset, possibly the most important government intelligence asset in the world, was kidnapped by the dangerous, rogue organization, Fulcrum.

This information was taking a toll on the female counterpart of Team Bartowski – the duly appointed name for the three-person superspy team. Sarah Walker, a legend in the espionage world, was head over heels in love with the said asset.

It was times like these where Sarah Walker hated the world that Chuck had been sucked into. Bringing an innocent and respectable man like him into this forsaken world was simply out of line. And with her ever-growing feelings for the man, she was slowly slipping into a funk whenever she was separated from him. Part of that was why she had snapped at Casey, Beckman, and everyone she had come into contact with for the rest of the day, after she received that menacing phone call that informed her that Chuck was kidnapped. Again.

It was all she could do not to go after Fulcrum herself, but it was logically impossible without any backup and Casey would probably shoot her before she could even suggest it. The least she could do was to not lose hope; that was what Chuck would have wanted.


“Sar-Sarah… Sarah?!” Chuck jerked forward roughly as he sat up on the rough and scratchy bed linen beneath him. He surveyed the unfamiliar surroundings with wide and petrified eyes, breath coming in ragged intakes.

“Ah, I see you are finally awake, Mr Bartowski.”

A shadowy figure emerged from an entirely darkened area of the slightly dim room, flanked by two men armed with AK-47 assault rifles. Walking slowly toward Chuck, the man stopped in the middle of the room, his face clear as day in the glowing light, emitted from the lone light bulb hanging down from the ceiling. Chuck felt the familiar sensations as his eyes glazed over. He failed to notice the slight smirk on the stranger’s face when the rush of images filled his mind and sight.

“Y-you’re Marshall Kiley… You’re the leader of Az’Kaban, an American terrorist cell with an affiliation to Fulcrum, but you severed ties with them when they refused your requests for more weapons and…” Chuck gulped audibly before continuing, “…The Intersect”.

“Yes, Mr Bartowski, and I happen to know that I have already acquired the Intersect. You see, I made a deal with Fulcrum when they were first rallying up the agents who decided to join them. I agreed that my men would help them in whatever they needed. I am the reason why Fulcrum is so powerful today. But when I was in need of a few weapons, they merely refused me. They made a grave mistake.” He turned to pace around Chuck’s bed.

“Az’Kaban is not a terrorist cell. We are spies, Mr Bartowski, and we are the best in the business. I have hundreds of agents under my command, and although we are greatly out numbered, our combat skills and tactical intelligence is highly superior to any spy. I trust you know of the operation, ‘SWITAG’?”

Chuck was quickly sucked into a flash, and began babbling about the contents of it as soon as the wave of nausea and dizziness disappeared.

“Project SWITAG, a highly classified operation to select the best of agents and recruit them into a top secret group known as The Ring. The Ring aims to overthrow every other agency, to be the most powerful and only agency in America.”

Marshall nodded, confirming the details of his flash. Chuck frowned as he attempted to piece the clues together. Members of Az’Kaban were the same members of The Ring and they were the absolute gems of the espionage world. They were also plotting to send the espionage world into total havoc. That’s not good, that‘s not good at all, Chuck thought.

“Why do you need me then? What do you need the Intersect for?” Chuck questioned with slight hesitation. Marshall didn’t seem too hostile to him, but he seemed like the type of imposing captors that would use desperate measures if the situation demanded it. Meaning, he would definitely shoot Chuck if he failed to co-operate.

A wide grin broke out on Marshall’s face, which looked pretty scary to Chuck, seeing as it didn’t belong there at all.

“Well, Mr Bartowski, I was hoping to offer you to Fulcrum for a hefty amount of money…Unless, of course, you are willing to do me a favour?”

Seeing that he didn’t have much of a choice, Chuck nodded to Marshall, beckoning him to continue.

“I’ve seen your handlers in action, and I’m intrigued by their skill and the success rate that the three of you have managed to achieve on missions. Honestly, I’m very impressed by your team. So, Mr Bartowski, how would you and your handlers like to join The Ring? We will train you until your skills are considered legendary, and your handlers will be working with you to take down your respective agencies.”

This is bad, this is very bad. It was one thing to want the Intersect, but now Marshall wanted Sarah and Casey as well. Chuck buried his face into his hands, trying to hide from the hardened gaze of his captor.

“Mr Bartowski, did I mention that The Ring does not give a shit about inter-partner relationships?”

Chuck slowly lifted his head and stared straight at Marshall, obviously even the spy knew that he was in love with Sarah. For a moment, Chuck contemplated his request. If he accepted this assignment, he would be a total kick ass spy, and better yet, he could finally have a relationship with Sarah. He felt then, that that was worth much more than the world.

Labels: Chuck Versus The Torture