***UPDATE! THE FINAL 6 CHAPTERS plus the EPILOGUE HAVE BEEN POSTED, Saturday, August 1, 2015***

WARNING! Although *T* Rated, this story contains adult content (some depiction of sex and nudity) and is not suitable for younger readers.

GENRE: Mystery, Drama, Suspense with a little adult romance, violence, angst, and hurt/comfort thrown in (but no erotica or slash)

Note: The idea for this story was partly inspired by "The Cap and Gown Affair" episode that aired in 1967 in which Illya goes undercover as a college student. Also in keeping with some episodes within the series I've taken a slightly different approach with the plot, as you'll see as the story unfolds. :-)

I hope you will enjoy it! And once again, a sincere thank you to those who have been reading, reviewing, and/or pm-ing me about my stories...as well as welcoming me to the MFU fandom! And an added grateful thank you hug to WendieZ for her invaluable input in helping me correct some of the German language phrasing I used in my previous story, "The Master Race Affair".***

Disclaimer: I do not own the Man From U.N.C.L.E. series, images, or its original characters. This story is intended to be read and (hopefully) enjoyed solely as a work of fanfiction and is dedicated to the talented actors who portrayed these beloved characters in the two original 1960s television series—Robert Vaughn, David McCallum, Leo G. Carroll, Stefanie Powers, Noel Harrison

Please note that in America, the word "college" is usually used to describe an institution of higher learning offering two- or four-yer degree programs. A college also tends to have a smaller campus and student body size than what we call a university, which usually also offer advanced degrees. (It can get more complicated than that, but that's the quick and simple explanation. I am aware that in some countries the term "college" has a different meaning.)

This story features Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin, with voice appearances by Alexander Waverly

THE COLLEGE BRAIN DRAIN AFFAIR

Somewhere In Western Pennsylvania

PROLOGUE

An Unwelcome Assignment

Napoleon Solo had never seen his partner look that bored.

No, he decided, sullen might be the more accurate way to describe Illya's mood and expression at that moment. He was letting the senior agent know that although he was present in Solo's classroom, he was far from happy about being there.

Napoleon glanced around the room as he continued lecturing, taking in the other disinterested or glassy-eyed expressions on some of the young faces before him. Could he really be that dull as a teacher? He was doing his best given he'd literally been thrown into this role with almost no time to prepare. And anthropology had never been his area of expertise (or interest) by any means.

He'd arrived on the Prichard College campus two weeks earlier to serve as the substitute teacher for the regular instructor who had taken a sudden sabbatical at the arrangement of Alexander Waverly and Prichard's Dean of Students so Solo could step in to take his place. Illya, however, had only gotten there earlier that day, as was prearranged.

Napoleon's gaze settled briefly on his partner again. Seated at a desk toward the back, the younger agent's attitude and slouched body language perfectly mirrored that of many of the other students in the classroom; and with a flash of annoyance Solo thought Illya was going beyond immersing himself in his current role as a student in Solo's anthropology class.

The senior U.N.C.L.E. agent could excuse the other kids for their lackluster attention span. It was nearing end of term and everyone was feeling the pressure. But this was only Illya's first day there in the guise of a new transfer student named Illya Ivonovich.

He could at least pretend that he was interested in the lecture…out of support and loyalty to me, if nothing else, Solo thought a little irritably.

But his annoyance quickly abated. To be fair he knew even before Illya had arrived how aggravated his younger partner was at being assigned to play this type of undercover role again.

When the two U.N.C.L.E. agents had been given this mission Solo had immediately sensed the blond Russian's dour mood as soon as they left the office of Section Chief Alexander Waverly.

They both understood that Waverly felt that of the two agents, the 30-year-old Kuryakin best fit the role of a student for this new assignment. With his slight build and 5'8" stature, over-long crown of golden hair, and smooth boyish features Illya still looked young enough to easily fit into this type of role in an academic environment. He was also extremely brilliant, with multiple Ph.D.s. And thus the combination of his youthful appearance and intelligence were integral to this particular mission at a prestigious Pennsylvania college known worldwide for its demanding academic curriculum and outstanding performance levels of its international student body.

Yet Solo was keenly aware that Illya found this type of role-playing tedious because he had to both look and act juvenile. In addition, he also had to sit through classes, take tests, and complete assignments for many of the same type of course work he'd finished long ago while earning his own degrees.

However, the younger agent only voiced his complaints to Napoleon in private, and certainly never to U.N.C.L.E. Chief Alexander Waverly. The senior agent knew that his partner was first and foremost a dedicated professional who ultimately strove to do any assignment well, even when he hated it.

"I'd change places with you, my friend, if it would be believable," the 35-year-old Solo had commiserated with him later while they were sitting at a popular New York City bar having drinks. "But I can't pass as a twenty-something and you can. But lucky me, I get to play the stodgy professor role once more. And teach anthropology of all things!" Looking at his glum partner he'd then added mischievously, "But just think of all the pretty young coeds who will be itching to get their hands into that hair of yours."

Napoleon couldn't resist razzing him, aware of the fascination the youthful Russian's abundant fair locks held for the opposite sex of all ages.

At Solo's teasing Kuryakin had grimaced and retorted, "You know full well how much I dislike being manhandled, and especially by…teeny boppers!" which caused the senior agent to laugh at that understatement.

On past assignments, teenage girls they had encountered during a mission invariably zeroed in on the blond agent despite the fact he was far too old for them and that he always did everything he could to discourage their fervent attentions.

Thus Solo knew this was another reason his partner was dreading his new undercover assignment in a college setting again.

He'd clapped Illya on the shoulder and advised teasingly, "Well, look on the bright side. At least the young ladies at Prichard will be of legal age should you, ah, decide to mix professional business with a little personal pleasure."

At that Kuryakin had only downed the rest of his drink and ordered another.

Now, as Napoleon was observing the younger agent glumly slouched in his seat at the back of the classroom, he also couldn't help be amused that some of the female students were already surreptitiously paying more attention to the attractive new transfer student than they were to Solo's lecture, and he smiled inwardly as he recalled that earlier conversation.