The Copy Cat Affair

Chapter one

Napoleon Solo glanced at his watch. The plane would be landing soon in Austria. He leaned back in his chair and glanced around. There wasn't any obvious THRUSH agents around but then again any talented help could blend in after all most people thought he was a simple business man traveling to Vienna. Little did they know he was a U.N.C.L.E agent about to destroy a THRUSH headquarters in the mountains.

He let out a small sigh as he heard the announcer informing them to brace for a landing. He glanced at his watch he was supposed to meet the newest U.N.C.L.E agent Illya Kuryakin at the hotel bar. The Russian had been working for a month or so for U.N.C.L.E and this would be his first mission working with him. He knew very little about the man other than he was Russian and not the friendliest man on the planet. All the same he was ready to deal with anything thrown at him be it a bunch of THRUSH agents or an unfriendly Russian, after all he could handle anything with his Solo luck.

The plane landed he got his bag and left the airport. He paid close attention to his surroundings making sure he was not followed. No one stood out at the moment that is other than a lady running the ticket station. He admired her gorgeousness wishing he was on vacation as he stepped outside of the airport to hail a taxi. He took the taxi to the hotel he checked in and had his bags taken to his room.

He walked into the hotel bar, music poured out of the room and there were people sitting around and eating, drinking and some were dancing. He scanned the room; he eyed a blonde man sitting by himself. He knew it was Illya, the Russian was busy ignoring almost everything around him and made brief eye contact with Napoleon. He walked over to him ordering himself a drink as he walked by a waitress.

"Mind if I sit here?" he asked the other man.

He glanced up at him. "No not all."

He realized that this was the first time he had talked to him since he started working for U.N.C.L.E "How is Vienna treating you?"

"Interesting. I am amazed by the amount of THRUSH in the area."

The waitress came by and gave them there drinks. "Yeah I had heard that there was a lot of THRUSH in this area this time of year."

The man nodded as he finished his drink. "I must be going I'm meeting an uncle outside."

He recognized the code words. Illya thought there was a THRUSH agent in the room he scanned the room as Illya left, no one stood out and no one watched him closely.

He gave Illya time to leave before he followed to prevent any suspicion. He finished his drink as he went to get up the waitress came by again.

"Would you like another one, sir?"

He shook his head. "Uh no thank you it was just a little night cap before bed."

"Oh." She picked up his glass and the other one. "I didn't see you with anyone else. Is it a lady friend?"

He shook his head again. "No someone I just happened to sit with. I don't have a girlfriend at the moment."

She smiled and winked. "My shift ends at midnight providing on your still awake by then."

He laughed, he got a good look at her. She was a pretty thing. She was tall maybe about 5'5 with long blonde curly hair. He thought for a minute she almost seemed familiar. "I don't mean to seem rude but have we met before?"

She shook her head. "No sir, I don't think so. Maybe in your dreams." She said with a wink as she left.

He left her money and a tip. He knew he has seen her before. He looked at her again as she took another customer's order. He then realized she was the lady at the airport. He clicked his tongue as he started to leave the room. There was something strange going on around here, either the lady had a twin, or she flew across town. He knew one thing she had to be a THRUSH agent, not even a normal woman would come after him that hard.

He stepped outside the bar and looked around for Illya. Not seeing the Russian he headed to his room carefully making sure he wasn't followed. He walked into his room which was a little nicer than he expected. The help apparently hung up his clothes and left his suit case on the bed. He made his way over to the bed to put up the case when he heard.

"Being careless can get you killed, Mr. Solo." The accented English voice came from around the curtains.

"Hello Illya." He said turning around to see the Russian near the window. "And don't worry I knew you were here all along."

"Sure, typical response for an unobservant American." He sighed as he walked away from the window towards his closet.

He hmphed and said. "As I said Illya I knew you were here the whole time." He frowned as Illya looked through his clothes. He smirked and said. "They say clothes make the man. If you see something you like you can borrow it, if it fits that is."

He looked back at him. "I am not interesting in wearing your clothes. I had heard of that saying that clothes make the man." He examined as pricy silk tie. "I was seeing what type of man you are, Mr. Solo." He said as he shut the closet door.

"You can call me Napoleon, Kuryakin." He said as he picked up the suit case and placed it in the closet. "So what did my clothes tell you?"

The Russian let out a sigh as he leaned up against the wall. "You wear expensive clothes, indicating that you like to live eloquence. Many of your suites and ties are extremely expensive brands suggesting that you spend most of your money on clothes further showing how you Americans love wasting money."

"Good clothes are not a waste of money, my friend." He moved some of his clothes checking for any bugs.

"Also there is a lipstick stain on the collar of one shirt and pricey cologne suggesting that you frequently try to impress the ladies."

He pulled out his shirt looking for the stain saying out loud. "I thought they got that out."

The Russian laughed. "I also see that you are very concerned about your clothes."

He frowned. "So what does a turtle neck sweater indicate?"

"My clothes are practical," He moved away from the wall. "Also there are no bugs I already checked." He pulled out a file out of his jacket and held it out to him. "Here are the floor plans to the facility."

He took them and flipped through them. "You don't waste any time do you?" He asked as he walked to the table in the corner.

"No," he added as he followed him. "I have been under cover at this THRUSH facility for some time now working in their R&D division."

"Yes I know, that's why I'm here. Command was worried since you were gone for so long without reporting."

He frowned. "Ah yes you Americans never trust a Russian, da." He leaned back in his chair. "I had a little THRUSH following me, that young woman in the hotel bar."

"Pretty little thing. I thought she was THRUSH." He looked at the file. "So we need to get their plans for the next weapon, and destroy the facility. Do you know what they are making?"

"Da, its… strange Mr. Solo, have you noticed it yet?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Not really other than I have a very grumpy Russian in my room making snide remarks."

He glared at him again and he was sure the temperature in the room dropped by ten degrees. "I am surprised that you did not notice since you commented on the lady from the bar."

"Well she did look like a lady I saw at the airport…" He trailed off. "Oh I see."

He nodded. "THURSH somehow figured out how to make clones. I'm not sure how exactly myself even though I was in the R&D division I never figured it out." He leaned over and pointed at the floor plans. "They keep all their files here." He said pointing at a square on the map. "But," He pointed at dark space. "I never found out what was kept here. I suspect that the clones are kept here."

"Is it all that woman?"

"I have seen no others. Most I have seen is three versions of that lady."

He laughed. "Are you sure they aren't triplets?"

He rolled his eyes. "Every one of these woman have the same name. I tried talking to them and got their names, Sasha Arlet. They all work at different locations and none of them remember meeting me."

"So one works at the airport, the other at the bar, and the third?"

"Works for THRUSH in the facility, she was the one I had the most dealings with she is unaware of the other hers. I asked her about them several times, she thought I was losing my mind."

He nodded. "Well something needs to be done about this. After all we can't have THRUSH building an army of women… though that isn't such a bad thought."

The Russian rolled his eyes again. "Your libido is indeed legendary."

"Oh so have heard of me? So how do we get in?"

He flipped over the map showing the lay of the land. "There is only a train that goes to it. Only select people can get in and out of there. The facility is up on top of a mountain and is too dangerous just to hike up there."

"So we need to catch a train to get there."

"Yes, getting in is one thing. Getting out is the problem."

He looked over the files. "I can figure it out, just give me some time." He got up from the table.

"Would it not be wiser if we worked together on this?" No sooner than he asked that the other agent said.

"We can escape by plane."

He blinked then said "Huh?"

He pointed at the map. "In this area is a small airport, I would guess that THRUSH is using it get supplies and people in and out of the mountains when the train is unable to travel."

He looked at the map. "I see, then how are we going to get out?"

"Helicopter, we cause a distraction and fly away as the facility burns down."

He nodded. "That is a good idea Mr. Solo, as long as we do not get shot down upon escaping."

"My luck has yet to let me down." He folded up the papers and placed them back in the file. "When is the next train?"

"After midnight tonight."

"Guarded?"

"Extremely guarded."

He bit his lip. He was never one to be worried about a plan. "Do they wear uniforms?"

"Da, they dress like an army."

"And that's how we will get on the train. We'll get rid of guards and get their clothes then get on the train."

"There will be no need in that." He said as he got up from the table and picked up his file. He headed to the door as Napoleon asked.

"And why is that?"

He smiled and said. "Check your closet again. I'll come by again in an hour." He left the room.

He opened his closet and rummaged through the clothes finding a uniform tucked in the middle of them. He pulled it out and chuckled to himself. "Illya you sly dog you."