Guldrin’s Gluttony: Family Bound by Speed & Food

If Guldrin were here, he would have been laughing uncontrollably. He had barely driven the go-kart before, yet the adrenaline rush reminded him of his past life as Big Boss. Back then, he'd navigated through far more intense situations, dodging bullets, outmaneuvering tanks, and even surviving encounters with Metal Gears. Compared to all that, evading unprepared agents was child's play… and ridiculously fun. His enhanced attributes only made it easier than before, while his amplified intelligence added a layer of precision to his every move.

General Beckman leaned back in her chair, her sharp gaze fixed on Sarah. "So, despite failing to apprehend two children, you're telling me these kids are something special. What's your recommendation?"

"We need clearance to investigate further," Sarah insisted. "These kids are skilled; according to Casey, they are connected. If the boy is who we think he is, his family's influence is global. This situation could be either an opportunity or a significant threat."

Casey, standing with arms crossed, nodded in agreement. "If they're tied to the Goldbloods, we can't ignore it. But this won't be a simple operation. We'll need intel, surveillance, and maybe even some off-the-books resources."

Beckman exchanged a meaningful glance with the NSA official seated beside her. "You have provisional clearance to proceed," she said after a moment's thought. "But tread carefully. If this boy truly is a Goldblood, poking the wrong people could lead to… unintended consequences."

Casey smirked. "Subtlety's my middle name."

"I certainly hope so, Major," Beckman replied dryly. She turned to the monitor, her expression hardening. "Call in the Intersect. If anyone can give us clarity, it's Bartowski."

The screen went dark, leaving Casey and Sarah alone in the room. Sarah sighed, running a hand through her hair. "This just got a lot more complicated."

Casey drained his coffee with a grunt. "Complicated doesn't even begin to cover it. But if these brats think they can outmaneuver us, they're in for a rude awakening."

"Face it, Casey, you are just upset they fooled you and escaped," Sarah said and Casey growled as they left to retrieve Chuck.

—

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The walkthrough of the Buy More was anything but quiet. Casey's heavy boots thudded against the linoleum, each step filled with irritation. Sarah followed close behind, her pace calm but purposeful. They weaved through aisles of confused customers and underperforming employees, drawing more than a few stares due to her wienerlicious outfit.

"Why are we always babysitting the nerd? Can't we just throw him into a dark hole where no one can endanger him?" Casey grumbled under his breath, shooting a glare at an unwitting employee trying to reorganize a rack of tangled HDMI cables.

"Because the nerd is the key to figuring out what we're dealing with, plus, our bosses believe he is better off being used as an asset instead of being dumped in a dark hole," Sarah replied curtly, her tone betraying a hint of amusement. "It is not every day our country's secrets get downloaded and shoved inside someone's head, let alone a useful nerd like him."

"I don't have to like it," Casey muttered, adjusting his posture.

At the Nerd Herd desk, Chuck was hunched over a laptop, fingers flying across the keyboard. His best friend, Morgan, leaned against the counter, gesturing animatedly with a small gadget in hand.

"Chuck, my man, I'm telling you, this is the future of portable gaming!" Morgan declared, holding up a device that looked like it hadn't seen the future in at least a decade.

Chuck didn't glance up. "Morgan, that's a glorified calculator with a battery life of maybe thirty minutes. The future it belongs to is... 1999."

Morgan groaned dramatically. "You wound me, Charles. I pour my heart and soul into finding hidden gems, and you stomp on my dreams like some corporate overlord."

"Dreams are great," Chuck replied, still typing, "but you might want to focus on fixing the barcode scanner that keeps crashing the register system."

"I'm the visionary, Chuck. You're the tech genius. We've been over this."

Before Chuck could respond, Casey's unmistakable voice cut through the air like a knife.

"Bartowski!"

Chuck froze mid-typing, his shoulders tensing. Slowly, he turned to face the towering NSA agent dressed in a green Buy More sales shirt, whose expression promised no nonsense.

"Casey! Sarah!" Chuck greeted, his voice an octave higher than usual. "What brings you two to my humble domain of technical wizardry and customer complaints?"

Morgan, catching Casey's glare, took a cautious step back. "Uh, I'll just… go inventory something. Anywhere but here. Chuck, enjoy your time with your girlfriend and… Casey." He scurried off, leaving Chuck to face the agents alone.

Sarah stepped forward, her expression softer but no less serious. "We need you to come with us, Chuck. It's important."

Chuck's brow furrowed. "Important how? Like, 'important, the coffee machine broke,' or 'important, the world is ending'? Because I'm kind of swamped here with-"

"Now, Bartowski, it's about the brats." Casey interrupted, his tone brooking no argument.

Chuck held up his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay! Let me just save my work before you drag me off to some secret spy meeting or whatever." He hit a few keys on his laptop, closed it, and grabbed his bag. "This better not involve any explosions or assassins. I'm still recovering from the last time."

Casey didn't respond, simply turning on his heel and leading the way. Sarah gestured for Chuck to follow, her demeanor more encouraging but no less firm.

As they walked through the back corridors of Buy More, Chuck tried to fill the silence with nervous chatter.

"So, uh, any chance this is just a friendly check-in? Like, 'Hey, Chuck, how's the Nerd Herd? Any good customer complaints lately?'"

Sarah glanced at him. "No, Chuck," Sarah said with a small smile that barely reached her eyes, "just stay calm and answer truthfully."

"Oh, sure. Calm is my middle name," Chuck muttered. "Right next to panic and mild terror."

When they reached the door to the private meeting room, Casey keyed in a code, and the heavy door slid open with a quiet hiss. Inside, the room was stark and utilitarian, with a long table, a monitor mounted on the wall, and an unmistakable air of tension.

Chuck hesitated at the threshold. "This feels... ominous. Do I need to sign some kind of waiver before entering? Or maybe a will?"

"Get in, you are the single most valuable intelligence asset, your waiver holds no value," Casey growled, giving Chuck a light shove.

"Okay, okay! No need for the physical intimidation!" Chuck stumbled inside, dropping his bag onto the table.

The monitor flickered to life, revealing the stern face of General Beckman… Chuck straightened instinctively, his nervous energy dialed up to eleven.

"Uh, General," he began, giving an awkward wave. "Long time no see. How's the... clandestine intelligence business?"

Beckman ignored his attempt at humor, her gaze as sharp as ever. "Mr. Bartowski, sit down. We have important matters to discuss. Director Graham was indisposed, and will not be able to join us. He is currently attempting to contact anyone with a lead to the Goldbloods."

Chuck swallowed hard, sliding into a chair. "Right. Of course. Important matters. Let's get to it."

Sarah took a seat beside him, her presence reassuring but focused. Casey leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his ever-present scowl firmly in place.

"Mr. Bartowski," Beckman began, her tone clipped, "we need you to provide detailed intel on a recent encounter involving two individuals of interest. You interacted with them at Buy More, earlier today."

"Right. Okay," Chuck stammered, adjusting his tie. "I first noticed them because they stood out. Not in a bad way, but… you know, they were… exceptional?"

Beckman's eyes narrowed. "Details, Mr. Bartowski."

Chuck nodded quickly. "So, they walked into the store like they owned the place. Guldrin, the boy, had this commanding presence, like some weird hybrid of Casey and Sarah. Calm, confident, and completely unfazed. His movements were calculated, like every step had a purpose. And then there was the girl. She was… intense. Sharp, observant. She scanned the room in seconds, noting exits, potential threats, and, uh, me. She caught me watching them almost immediately. It was like she could read my mind."

If Guldrin and Shiro had been there, they'd have found Chuck's interpretation hilarious. Shiro wasn't scanning for threats; she was just creeped out by his lingering gaze. But Chuck didn't know that and had misinterpreted their actions entirely.

General Beckman interjected, "Are you suggesting the girl was acting as some sort of bodyguard?"

"Umm… No? Not exactly," Chuck replied, shaking his head. "It was more like they were equals. Partners. They didn't defer to each other. They communicated seamlessly, often without words. Like when the girl handed him something, he'd just nod. Total synergy."

Beckman's expression remained unreadable as she absorbed Chuck's observations.

Chuck's voice grew more animated as he continued. "And then there was what they bought. It wasn't just snacks. They picked up a drone, RC cars, portable cameras, a soldering gun, and a discount bin of assorted circuits. It was like a shopping list for a tech genius, not kids on a snack run. When I asked Guldrin if it was for school, he deflected it, and it caught me off guard. Then the girl chimed in, asking if I was okay. She said I looked like I'd seen a ghost. But it wasn't just concern, it was like she was testing me. Or enjoying seeing me squirm…"

Casey snorted. "So what? Bartowski gets spooked by a couple of kids buying gadgets? Big deal. The kids were weird, Walker and I clocked that already… Being related to who we think, then that is normal."

Chuck held up a hand defensively. "It's not just that. It was how they carried themselves. Guldrin didn't stumble over his words or hesitate. He was confident and precise. Honestly, he reminded me of you, Casey, when you're not threatening to throw me out a window. And the way they communicated… it was like they could read each other's minds. Guldrin kept glancing toward the exit, and the girl didn't even need to look. She just… knew what he wanted."

Beckman's voice cut through the discussion. "Did they do anything else suspicious?"

"Well," Chuck hesitated. "When Casey and Sarah started closing in, they noticed immediately. It was like a switch flipped. Guldrin signaled the girl with just a glance, and they were out the door before anyone could react. Their escape wasn't hurried, but it was deliberate. Efficient. They used the crowd, made a distraction, avoided the line of sight, and made a beeline for their vehicle."

"Vehicle?" Beckman asked sharply.

Sarah answered this time. "A modified go-kart. It was fast, way faster than it should have been. And Guldrin drove it like a professional. They evaded us easily."

Chuck added, his voice dropping slightly, "And when I flashed on Guldrin, it wasn't clear, but I saw fragments. A powerful woman who I think might be his mother, she looked like him and had the same odd hair color. She's been searching for him. Desperately. There were missing person reports, investigations… and a sister. Her files were clearer. There was something about an incident years ago that left their family in shambles, but that was all I could piece together."

Beckman's expression darkened. "A missing heir," she murmured. "That aligns with reports of the Goldblood family. Their heir disappeared over three years ago under mysterious circumstances; presumably a kidnapping, but no one found any evidence. If this boy is connected to them, we're dealing with a high-stakes situation."

Chuck nodded. "Exactly. The flashes were fragmented, but the pieces fit. The family's influence, the search efforts… it's all connected."

The room fell silent, the weight of Chuck's revelations settling over everyone like a dense fog. The tension was palpable, each person processing the implications in their own way. Finally, General Beckman broke the silence, her voice as resolute as ever. "If this boy is indeed the missing Goldblood heir, we proceed with extreme caution. This is no longer just a matter of national security. It's global. Was there anything else, Bartowski?"

Chuck cleared his throat, his nerves showing as he tried to gather his thoughts. "Yes, there's more, but, uh, it's complicated. The flashes, while disjointed, also came with this… weird sense of urgency. Like, there's something big we're supposed to figure out, and fast. One thing stood out: the word 'Goldblood' kept repeating. And these hidden files were somehow connected to them? They weren't just redacted; they were obliterated. I'm talking about layers of redactions. Even the redactions had redactions. I know I might be rambling, but it was like the Intersect wasn't sure how to react to this information, it was a first for me. Everything was hidden, obscured…"

Beckman's brow furrowed as she leaned forward slightly, her expression betraying a rare hint of intrigue and something else. "Go on."

"I don't know exactly what they're hiding," Chuck continued, his voice picking up speed. "But whatever it is, it's enormous. Think about it: who has the resources to not only redact files in the Intersect, but to make sure the fragments left are practically incomprehensible? The flashes gave me the impression that the Goldbloods aren't just wealthy, they're untouchable. They're experts at staying hidden, blending in, and protecting themselves. They're not looking to dominate or control anything, though. It's like they're just trying to survive. After the event, they went to ground."

Casey scoffed, his arms crossed. "So we've got some secret family dynasty hiding in plain sight; I knew this, the General knew this, and I am sure the higher-ups knew this. You're acting like they're the Illuminati or something. For all we know, they're just paranoid billionaires. After all, someone did initiate a kill order on them, leaving only three alive due to conveniently being somewhere else. The kid must have been three when it happened. "

Chuck threw up his hands in frustration. "Paranoid billionaires, who've managed to outmaneuver trained agents? Who can manipulate systems so thoroughly that, even the most intelligent supercomputer in my head, can't crack their cover? Casey, how many kids do you know who can do that?"

Casey grumbled something under his breath, clearly not thrilled with Chuck's point.

Beckman's gaze never wavered from Chuck. "Anything else from the flashes?"

"Just a few more fragments," Chuck said hesitantly, shifting in his seat. "There was a woman who might be his sister. She was easier to identify. She owns several high-profile culinary companies, all massively successful. She's a graduate of Totsuki Culinary Academy, that's one of the most prestigious culinary schools in the world. And she's been looking for him. Desperately. But her approach is more methodical than the mother's. She's using her resources to dig into every corner of the globe, quietly but effectively. It's like they're working together but covering different angles so they don't draw too much attention."

"Japan's Culinary Academy, now that is interesting," Beckman mumbled, the political shitstorm she found herself in fully setting in.

Sarah, who had been typing quietly on her laptop, suddenly spoke up. "I ran facial recognition using the store's security footage. You're not going to believe this." She turned her screen to face the group. "Guldrin. He's been flagged in multiple missing persons databases all around the world, but I had to use my highest level clearance to find them. But here's the twist: he doesn't remember anything before the age of ten. And, officially, he's been adopted by Dominic and Leticia Toretto."

Beckman's eyes narrowed sharply. "The Torettos…" She paused, her tone growing more measured. "Dominic Toretto, Jack Toretto's son, a fine agent, this is just getting more and more interesting… wasn't he the one who beat a man half to death with a socket wrench?" A faint smirk played on her lips. 

Casey chuckled, "My kind of guy. That's unexpected. Would explain the driving skills. Even I have heard of the man, his name is in the mouth of anyone who likes cars around here."

"Exactly," Sarah said, nodding. "According to what little I could dig up on his medical records, Guldrin was found with no identification and no memory of his past. Dom and Letty took him in, unofficially at first, then legally adopted him later. There's nothing in his file that hints at who he really is. He has a clean record, nothing links him to the Goldbloods."

Casey leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed tightly. "So let me get this straight: we've got an amnesiac kid who's somehow the missing heir to a shadowy empire, and now he's playing house with the Toretto family? Great. Just great."

Chuck pointed a finger at him. "See? That's what I'm saying! There's so much more to this than meets the eye. And Dom and Letty probably don't even know who he really is. They're just raising him like any other kid."

"Normal kids don't modify go-karts to evade trained agents," Sarah quipped dryly.

"Okay, fair point," Chuck conceded. "But still, he doesn't seem like a threat. He's just… different. And if he doesn't remember his past, he might not even know about this whole 'Goldblood' thing."

Beckman tapped her fingers against the edge of her table, deep in thought. "We need to tread carefully. The Goldbloods are powerful, we can't afford to provoke them unnecessarily. But we also can't ignore the potential implications of this situation." She fixed her gaze on Chuck. "Bartowski, you're sure there was nothing in the flashes that indicated hostile intent?"

"None," Chuck replied firmly. "If anything, the flashes suggested the opposite. The family is reclusive, yes, but they don't seem to have any malicious goals. They're just trying to find their son. Oddly, there wasn't any mention of a father figure or the mother's husband; deceased or not."

Beckman nodded slowly, her expression unreadable. "Very well. Here's what we'll do. Agent Walker, continue running background checks and dig deeper into the Goldbloods' history; I will give you a temporary clearance raise. See if you can find anything else, no matter how small. Major Casey, keep a low profile and monitor the Torettos. We need to know how much they might already know about the boy's past."

Casey grunted his acknowledgment, though he didn't look thrilled by the assignment.

"And Bartowski," Beckman said, her tone taking on a note of finality.

"Yeah?" Chuck asked nervously.

"You're going to approach the boy again. Carefully. We need to understand his intentions and determine if he knows anything about his past."

"Wait, what? Me?" Chuck's voice shot up an octave. "Why me?"

"You've already interacted with him," Beckman replied matter-of-factly. "You're the least threatening presence we have. Use that to your advantage. Say you're there to provide a home entertainment upgrade; make something up about warranties or promotions, we will foot the bill, just get us results. Make contact with the boy and his guardians. And for the love of everything, don't scare the kids or tip them off."

Chuck sighed, slumping back in his chair. "Great. No pressure. Not like it'll be awkward or anything when the guy who just had a full-on existential crisis shows up at their house with free tech. This is going to be awesome."

As the meeting adjourned, Chuck's mind raced. The mystery of the Goldbloods was unlike anything he'd ever encountered, and the stakes had never felt higher. But one thing was clear: whatever the truth was, it was buried deep, and it was going to take every ounce of skill, courage, and a little lotta bit of luck to uncover it.

(Give me your POWER, Please, and Thank You! Leave reviews and comments, they motivate me to continue.)