CHAPTER 4

U.N.C.L.E. Headquarters, Alexander Waverly's office.

After all the introductions were made, Nadia repeated her story to Waverly. When she was done, he began.

"After speaking with Napoleon, we found out that this Boris Vasilyev is indeed in New York. We got several leads as to where he could be; I'm just waiting to hear from one of the field agents if they've seen him. Once we get that information, we can send you in."

"What's the plan?" Napoleon asked.

"Capture him alive; Russia wants him back to face charges and we have agreed to assist them"

Napoleon just nodded, but both Illya and Nadia became tense. Waverly noticed this.

"I know how you both feel about this man, how he's damaged both your families; but justice will be served by having him tried and sentenced"

Illya gritted his teeth. He clenched his fists in that way-too-familiar habit he had when he was trying to control his emotions.

"Justice will not be served if this monster is not killed; but I will obey your orders"

Nadia blurted out. Waverly hesitated before he took a breath and said,

"Naddia, in the eyes of the United States government, you are a Russian citizen seeking sanctuary, you are no longer a KGB agent. You are not authorized to participate in this mission."

As he said this, Nadia became enraged.

"Pardon me, Mr. Waverly, but I have started this mission... I have the right to see that monster captured so I can spit in his eye!"

"Gentlemen, would you kindly leave me and Nadia alone?"

Without question, as Napoleon and Illya stood to leave, Waverly slipped Napoleon an envelope. He quickly put it in his jacket pocket and left the room. Waverly sat Nadia down, and stood before her.

"Naddia, when you decided to reach out to Illya, the chain of events catapulted into something neither you nor I have any control over. This man was particularly brutal and barbaric, and many people deserve to see him punished. I have read your dossier and you are an incredibly brave and loyal agent; however, if we have any chance of keeping you safe, I have to follow my orders. I am going to have Napoleon take you to a safe house until our mission is a go. Now, I have business to discuss with Illya." He got up and opened the door.

"When we're ready to begin, I'll be notifying Solo."

Nadia held out her hand. She kept her fury hidden as Waverly shook it.

"Good luck" he said.

When she met up with Napoleon and Illya, she realized they already knew Waverly's plan. That made her angry, but like any good spy she shook it off and maintained an air of nonchalance. She had no intention of being left behind; but nobody need know that. Smiling at Napoleon she said,

"I believe we have a safe house to get to?"

Napoleon raised a brow as he watched her pass. He didn't know her well, but he knew a look of determination and quiet defiance when he saw one, and he was not happy. Before Illya went to speak with Waverly, he said to Napoleon.

"Take care of her and keep her safe, Cowboy."

On their ride to the house, Nadia had a lot of thoughts swirling around...Nothing or no one was going to get in her way of getting her revenge on Boris Vasilyev. There was a part of her story she hadn't told anyone. But, she had to remain calm and cooperative and outsmart them all. She didn't realize she was smiling.

"I have to say, Naddia, you grinning like that is disarming." Napoleon observed. She turned to look at him,

"I am hungry and tired and was thinking about food and rest"

"Well, I'm sure the house kitchen is fully stocked..."

She snickered looking back out the window, "I do not cook"

He chuckled, "I do..."

She glanced over at him. They just looked at each other for a moment.

"So many things to learn about you..." She muttered.

He smiled and had a twinkle in those amazing blue eyes,

"You have no idea..."

Nadia looked away.

"Yes, I think I do..." she said, trying to quell the tingling she felt.

The safe house was equipped with everything they needed. Nadia took an upstairs bedroom. Napoleon took one downstairs. While in her room, she took out her fully loaded weapon and secreted it under her pillow. Then she stood in front of the large dresser mirror to fix her hair. She rolled up her right sleeve to expose the large bandage she kept on her upper arm. She slowly peeled it away to expose the large red scar left by a red hot knife. She shut her eyes and her thoughts went back to that day when she was only 18.

In the dark woods of Barsky Forest, Russia, a group of young trainees were on an exercise. Nadia Kozlov trudged along the damp footpath. Boris Vasilyev whistled, and signaled her to leave the footpath to her right. She obeyed…and after awhile of walking, found herself alone. Behind her she heard a twig snap, and something hit her head and she fell unconscious. When she woke up, there was a gag in her mouth. She was standing up tied to a tree. Her head ached. Before she could truly panic, she saw Boris Vasilyev coming toward her. He spoke quietly in Russian.

"You think you are better than me, yes? You ignore my advances and spit at my name.

Well, now I show you." He got up and went to her with his knife. He slowly cut open her uniform jacket and shirt, then her brassiere. He roughly grabbed her breasts and squeezed, making her eyes tear. Then he cut through her belt, and pulled her pants and underwear down. He stared at her fear. "I like you to cry my little whore…I will make you cry…" He raped her several times. He punched her and slapped her. He cruelly kissed her mouth and bit her. All she wanted was to die, but she couldn't even faint. He was not done. He made a small fire and put his knife in it. When it was red hot, he took it out. He held it close to her eyes. She could feel its heat.

"I give you this and you will always remember me. You speak of this and I will find you and do more, you understand my little whore? I will send you to a whorehouse and you will never been found." He laughed quietly. "Maybe my seed will grow in you…"

He put an "X" on her right upper arm. She screamed into the gag, her tears flowed freely down her face. Finally, she fainted.

Nadia came back from the memory, and quickly ran to the bathroom to vomit. She splashed cold water on her face and rolled down her sleeve. The filthy memory of what Boris Vasilyev inflicted on her was quickly consuming her. She was becoming too emotional. She must remain focused, or she going to do something foolish. Taking a deep breath, she left her room to find Solo.

Meanwhile, Napoleon sat on the bed in his room, reading the one page dossier of Nadia that Waverly handed him. Part of it covered an incident where she was found in the woods after an exercise and was badly beaten. She stated she was attacked from behind and remembered nothing. She was treated and reported back to duty.

Napoleon frowned…that's pretty cryptic…no details.

Napoleon put the papers back in the envelope and put it in his jacket pocket. Somebody got her alone in the woods and did God-knows-what, but she never said who. Why? What did she fear? He decided to find out.