The assignment

When entering the Waverly's office, Napoleon and Illya took their regular seats while Jo sat between them waiting for Waverly to complete his ritual. Concentrating on the pipe, he slowly filled the bowl, tampering the tobacco down firmly, lighting a match and then slowly taking the first puff.

"Miss Kuryakin, you have three qualities that are needed in this assignment: you are a well-trained female agent, you speak and sing in ten languages or so, and you can retrieve information from the mainframe while introducing a virus into the system. I believe it's of your own design that we'll be using in this assignment, a first of its kind. Are we such it will be successful?"

"All the tests have shown promise, and I believe it will do what it is design to do on a limited basis. There will need to be a lot more work on it to make it usable on a wide scale."

"However before we begin, and I'll only ask this question once. Can you work together and remember that the mission comes before everything else—Miss and Mr. Kuryakin, Mr. Solo?" All the agents understood what he was asking, and all three responded, "Yes sir."

"Good, I don't feel that the question will need to be addressed again."

"What's the assignment sir?" Napoleon asked.

Waverly continued, "THRUSH is running the Yellow Bird Nightclub, whose entertainer is known for singing in many difference languages for the customers. Their singer became sick last week, and Miss Kuryakin has been hired to replace her. We've noticed quite a number higher-level THRUSH members entering but none exiting.

"On the other hand, there a substantial number of people leaving the club that we didn't see enter. We do know that they have an extensive computer mainframe on site, and a complete lab setup in the basement. Agent Waters was able to get us this information before his body was found in an alley recently. THRUSH is aware of our interest in the club, so be careful.

"Your assignment is to find out who some of these new people coming out are and if they are the same as the agents going in; get Miss Kuryakin safety to the mainframe to implant a virus that will infiltrate the system without THRUSH becoming aware of it until it has spread; and get all the information possible from the lab before destroying both the computer and lab. You have two days before something is to happen, according to our sources."

"Any ideas as to how you would like us to achieve this sir?" the CEA asked.

"Mr. Solo. I believe the three of you are well trained, and I'm sure that you can work this out. Just remember that I don't want extra property damage from your activities."

Napoleon rolled his eyes and grinned at his partner who enjoyed blowing up things and after the last assignment was being reminded that innocents' property must be protected too.

"Yes sir, we'll keep you updated."

After selecting a few dresses and accessories needed for the assignment, Jo and the two men went to their office to discuss plans for the assignment. "Good thing we've some time to achieve this; I hate jobs that are rushed," Napoleon declared sarcastically when they had arrived in their office. "Two whole days."

The agents settled on the final arrangement, including a few other Section 2 and 3 agents needed for that evening's part of the plan.

The First Night

Jo arrived at the club and was directed to the manager's office.

"Hello Miss Nicholas, glad to have you here. We're pleased you could come on such short notice as our singer became ill, and we needed someone immediately. I understand that you sing in various languages as requested by customers and include the audience in your performance."

"Yes, Mr. Simmons. I enjoy walking around the audience while singing and listening for those who can sing well. Usually then I ask two or three people from the audience to sing with me in their native languages," Jo replied, smiling at the man for added effect.

After the interview, Jo was directed to her dressing room and began to get ready for the evening. Although she had worked as a singer during other assignments, this was different.

Her brother and her new boss would be in the audience. What would they think of her? Holding onto her necklace before placing it under her dress top, she made a silent plea for success.

Disguised with darkened hair, a dark beard, walking with a limp and cane, Illya arrived shortly after the club opened for the evening. He took a table by the far wall so that he could watch those leaving the club while still keeping an eye on the stairs to the basement.

His camera hidden, he could easily take pictures as needed. The black outfit he wore allowed him to blend into the shaded room. An iced vodka sat in front of him while he avoided all conversation and gave the impression that no one should disturb him.

Shortly afterwards Napoleon and the group of three other UNCLE agents arrived. The reservation had been made under another Section 2 agent, Jason's name, and when the hostess looked up seeing Napoleon in the group, she signaled for the THRUSH bouncer to come to the front desk.

"What do you guys want here?" he demanded with his hand under his coat.

"We are out celebrating our friend Jason's birthday. Is there a problem? You won't refuse to seat us will you? I mean there is a law that forbids discrimination. I'd hate to report this club to the city," Napoleon replied with his most disarming smile.

"Fine! Seat them at one of the middle tables," the bouncer instructed the hostess.

"Remember Solo, we'll be watching you. Don't get any ideas." As the agents were seated, they watched the bouncer on the phone. Soon three other THRUSH agents arrived at the front desk to watch them.

So far, the plan was successful; the THRUSH agents would be kept occupied watching Napoleon and his group, which would give Illya the time to search the lower floors of the building. In addition, it put the UNCLE agents in a good position to keep an eye on the singer.

The lights were lowered, and the DJ started his introduction.

"Tonight we are pleased to introduce a new singer to our club. Miss Josephina Nicholas is an international signer. She speaks at least 10 languages and will be entertaining us with songs from many countries in their language. When you entered tonight, you were asked for songs in the language of your country. Miss Nicholas will attempt to honor as many request as possible. Please welcome Miss Nicholas." As the audience clapped in welcome, Jo entered the spotlight.

When Jo appeared on stage, Napoleon stared open mouth. She was dressed in a body tight black long dress from neck to feet that emphasized each curve of her body. He knew she was carrying a gun and knife but couldn't see where they could possibly be hidden.

Her hair was piled on her head with onyx jewels throughout. A simple onyx necklace, bracelet, and earrings highlighted the outfit. My god, I thought she was beautiful when I met her, but now she's nothing less than gorgeous, Napoleon thought.

"Hey Solo", Jason teased, "Close your mouth before your chin hits the table. Going to make a play for her with your charm?"

None of the other UNCLE agents had met Illya's sister, yet this didn't seem like the right place to inform them, especially since he didn't know how they felt about it becoming common knowledge.

He brought his thoughts back to the assignment, "Guys we're here to give Illya time to snoop. Besides, you never know whose sister you might be talking about."

The agents couldn't believe that Napoleon Solo actually cared about whose sister she might be; he never had before. The men laughed and settled back to enjoy the show.

As the spotlight followed her, she started to sing, moving around the room, starting near Illya's table. This way as soon as she moved on, he'd be able to slip away without being seen.

As soon as she passed his table, Napoleon and his men began to give the THRUSH agents reasons to watch them closer in the darkened room, taking their attention from the area where Illya was located.

Illya silently left his table and headed for the basement of the building. Although there were some guards on duty, there were only a few as most were upstairs watching his partner and the other UNCLE agents. Quietly he approached the room where the mainframe was stored, ducking only once at the sound of approaching men.

"Boy, I can't believe Solo would actually show up here. Can't wait for them to try to leave. The guys upstairs will put a stop to that," one of the guards chuckled.

Illya quickly picked the lock on the computer room and took pictures of the set up for Jo.

After finishing there, he searched for the labs. A door at the end of the hall caught his attention. One guard was stationed there. As he attempted to think of a way to distract the guy, another guard approached.

"Hey, boss wants us upstairs, seems they're getting more worried about what Solo is up to." Both guards headed upstairs.

Illya released the door to the sub-basement and slipped down the stairs. He was able to take in the general layout and where the files were located. Just as quickly, he returned to the nightclub looking as if he had just returned from a trip to the bathroom.

Seeing Illya return, Jo continued to move around the floor and returned to Illya's side of the room.

During intermission, Jo spoke to members of the audience. Stopping at Illya's table to say hello as an excuse to get any information that he felt Napoleon needed immediately, she then continued visiting other tables.

Finally, she reached the UNCLE table. Solo made some advances toward her then gave her a small kiss.

"They are setting up an ambush when you leave," she whispered in his ear as she pushed away from him.

Napoleon smiled at her and offered her a seat. "Sorry, I need to visit with others in the audience," she said, and turned away from his table.

After intermission Jo sang again, this time inviting a few from the audience who could sing to join her from their tables. After inviting two others to sing with her, she stopped by Illya's table inviting him to sing a love song in Russian with her.

Illya knew that he was in for teasing from Solo but after giving Jo an irritating look, his strong baritone voice joined her gentle voice.

The agents at Solo's table were surprised. Although they knew Illya sang and played many instruments, they were taken aback at the sound the two were creating. Soon afterward, Illya left the nightclub.

As Napoleon and his table began to leave, they were met at the door by the group of THRUSH agents who had been watching them. Napoleon carefully showed his gun.

"We don't want to make a scene here do we," he suggested as the other UNCLE agents showed their guns. The THRUSH group moved back, and the UNCLE agents left without incident.

After the club had closed for the evening, Jo arrived at UNCLE to meet with Napoleon and Illya and to go over the pictures taken that night.

"Did you have to include me in your song," Illya demanded angrily.

"Dear brother, it has been since I was seven that you sang to me when I was frightened. U vas yestʹgolosangela.(You have the voice of an angel.) It always calmed me when something was wrong," she smiled at him. Napoleon laughed, as he understood what she had said. "Besides, you have many talents you hide from your friends."

Final plans were to be completed at headquarters at 10 a.m. that morning. Many of the THRUSH agents who had entered the club that night were not seen exiting. However, as Jo looked over the pictures, she noticed some similarities between pictures.

"I'm going to stay a while, and go over these more carefully," she explained to the men as they were leaving. "Do you mind if I use your office floor as my office is not set up yet." Napoleon assured her that it was fine and both men left for the night.

At 10:00 the next morning Kuryakin and Solo met Waverly at their office as all the material was still there. As the door opened, the agents and Waverly were surprised to see separate piles of pictures with circled areas spread across the floor and in the middle of the pictures, Jo was sleeping.

"Miss Kuryakin," Mr. Waverly demanded, "We do have sleep areas for our agents who stay the night. This isn't an acceptable alternative."

She jerked awake with her gun in her hand. After seeing the group before her, she blushed and replaced her gun in its holster.

"Sorry, just closed my eyes for a second."

Accepting Napoleon's hand, she rose from the floor and pointed.

"I think I found it. If you look at the pictures, you will see that there are small similarities between them. An ear shape, smile, or other facial points. I believe these are the same agents with some sort of non-surgical changes. The THRUSH agents are not missing; they are changed somehow." The men examined the changes and agreed.

"Gentlemen, Miss Kuryakin. We must stop this now. Tonight I expect this assignment to be completed, and all data returned to our R&D department for study. Miss Kuryakin, I suggest you go home and get some sleep. I expect all my agents to be at the top of their game, no exceptions."