Reborn as Richard Castle in Criminal Minds

Castle learned from the three terrified tech personnel, who were nearly scared out of their wits by the gun pointed at them, that the chubby guy had been kidnapped by General Atomics personnel. He was to be taken to a private airport in the Bronx, put on a private plane, and flown to General Atomics' headquarters in California. The plan was to lock him in a basement to work on their projects indefinitely. Castle was both amused and infuriated by this plan. These capitalists really wouldn't let go of a good opportunity, resorting to such drastic measures to turn the chubby guy into a technical slave?

Knowing that the chubby guy's life was not immediately in danger, Castle calmed down. According to the weeping tech personnel, the private plane wouldn't take off until they and their leader brought the two drones to the airport. This meant Castle had ample time to reach the airport and rescue the chubby guy. With this newfound calm, Castle methodically restrained the unconscious leader by binding his left hand to his right foot and his right hand to his left foot with zip ties. He similarly bound the three tech personnel. Although they had kidnapped the chubby guy and intended to steal Castle's drones, they were from a company closely tied to the US military. Castle couldn't afford to make an enemy of such a powerful entity by killing them.

Castle decided to leave them alive, planning to call the police after rescuing the chubby guy. He hoped his good relationship with the New York police would help handle these trespassers and kidnappers. Given the numerous significant events in New York today, the police were likely to be in a bad mood, and helping solve a high-profile kidnapping case might cheer them up.

After binding the four General Atomics operatives, Castle shot each of the tech personnel with a tranquilizer dart for good measure. He didn't want to risk them causing trouble while he was away rescuing the chubby guy. With the leader deeply unconscious from two tranquilizer darts, Castle activated the security systems in the chubby guy's house before leaving. He then drove towards the Bronx airport at breakneck speed, ignoring traffic laws and risking his license to ensure he arrived before the plane could take off.

While driving, Castle reflected on his unpreparedness and the need for better security for the chubby guy. If someone else, like Vincent Adler's men, had discovered the chubby guy's surveillance activities, things could have been much worse. Castle resolved to increase their security and considered hiring professional bodyguards. Brian Mills, a former CIA operative who now worked as a bodyguard, came to mind. He owed Castle a favor, and his team, comprising his former CIA colleagues, seemed like a perfect fit for the job.

Castle knew other major defense contractors like Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, and Raytheon might soon learn about the chubby guy and the drones. He doubted General Atomics had no spies from these companies, and their bold kidnapping attempt likely alerted their competitors. Castle realized that the chubby guy's safety needed to be a top priority from now on.

Despite the distance, Castle's skilled driving got him to the small private airport in the Bronx in under thirty minutes. He felt grateful for the agent skills he had acquired from his system, especially those of Jason Bourne. These skills, ingrained in muscle memory, allowed him to stealthily infiltrate the lightly guarded airport.

Castle quickly identified the location of the kidnappers in one of the two hangars. These idiots hadn't bothered with proper security, likely thinking the chubby guy's simple social connections meant no one would notice his disappearance soon. Most of them were gathered around the private plane, seemingly unconcerned.

Castle retrieved a canister of strong anesthetic gas from his personal space, another item he had wisely procured. His prior foresight now paid off, as this gas would allow him to incapacitate the kidnappers without a fight. Sneaking up to the hangar, Castle released the gas, confident that it would knock everyone inside unconscious.

In the hangar, the kidnappers were oblivious to the gas infiltrating their space. They continued their preparations, unaware of the looming threat. Castle waited patiently, knowing it wouldn't be long before the gas took effect. His plan was to incapacitate them, rescue the chubby guy, and deal with the aftermath later.

As the gas began to work, the kidnappers started collapsing one by one. Castle, pleased with the outcome, moved in to secure the area. He tied up the unconscious kidnappers and searched the plane, finding the chubby guy still unconscious but unharmed. With the immediate threat neutralized, Castle felt a surge of relief.

Castle knew there was more work to be done. He needed to call the police, secure the chubby guy's safety, and ensure this kind of threat wouldn't happen again. But for now, he had succeeded in rescuing his friend from a dire situation.

___________________

Read Ahead

[email protected]/Mutter