China Town Affair

Chapter 4

The night was late before they finally went to bed. After returning to the hotel room, Illya was brooding again about his sister and his inability to have stopped her from being hurt. Illya felt the need to talk and began telling his partner a story from their childhood in Kiev.

"There was a pond near to our home that was frozen over. We were out on it for the first time to try out the ice skates our father had brought home from the front when he came to visit. Josephina was five, and I was seven."

"We were supposed to wait for father and mama to join us, but were excited and took off across the pond. My little sister was chasing me around the ice when I heard it begin to crack and before I could stop her, she fell into the icy water. I remember racing to her, yelling for my father, but I could not pull her out of the water so I held her up until help came. Father pulled her out then held her as she sobbed in his arms. I felt so ashamed knowing we should not have disobeyed, but then father placed his other arm around me, allowing me also to hold her. I still remember the feeling that I was responsible for her almost dying."

"But Illya you were a child."

"We grew up fast in those days and had to be responsible."

Napoleon knew there was nothing he could say to his friend to change his feelings and hoped this ghost would not continue to haunt him.

….

The beeping of the communicator woke Napoleon once more, but at least it wasn't in the middle of the night this time.

"Solo," he answered as he tried to disentangle himself from the bed sheets. The night had been an uneasy one as he worried about Jo, who remained in guarded condition, and his partner who was still in his bad mood.

"We found Wung's destination after his plane landed in Seattle. His men are spending the night Red Lion Hotel. We have some of our men watching them but no sign of the man himself. Do you want us to move in?" Bose sounded tired.

"No, we want to take him so let's not risk spooking his men. Do we have an available jet?"

"Yes, sir. It's at UNCLE's private airport."

He had to smile; this man would make an excellent agent once he stopped trying to impress his superiors.

"Good, tell them to fuel up. We'll be there within an hour. Oh and Bose, we could use another agent if you're free to accompany us."

"Yes, sir!" The young agent answered with enthusiasm.

"Have a car pick us up in thirty then meet us at the airport."

Closing his communicator, he grabbed his pillow, launching it at his partner who was still under the covers, "Up tovarisch we have a plane to catch."

"I heard. Why is it when you make the arrangements, I am the one who misses a meal? What about breakfast?" Illya asked as he uncovered his head.

"I'm sure they'll have something on the plane," Napoleon said as he picked up the phone dialing Angelique's room.

"We leave in 30 minutes," he said as she answered.

"But darling what about my beauty sleep," she complained.

"You don't need any my dear, you're always beautiful."

Illya raised his eyebrows at the statement, giving him a scowl.

"We've found Wung, meet us downstairs." He hung and headed for bathroom to shower. "Be out in a few," he threw back over his shoulder.

After Illya finished his turn showering, he dressed while his partner updated their boss. Napoleon studied his partners face, now filled with worry.

"What's a matter, partner?"

"I am not sure, but something just seems wrong."

He knew his partner frequently had a sense of intuition that he always took it seriously. "What?"

"I will have to let you know when I figure it out."

…..

The found Angelique waiting for them, overdressed in a tight fitting dress, fur stole and high heels.

"You expect to function dressed like that if we encounter some action?" Illya asked with disgust.

"Darling, just because we get shot at doesn't mean a lady shouldn't dress up."

"Lady, humph," he said as he headed toward the waiting car.

Napoleon watched his partner climb into the car as he reached his arm out for her to take. "He does have a point."

"Russians are such downers." Angelique said. "Really I don't see what you see in either of them."

He gave no answer and simply shook his head as he led her to the car.

Once they were en route to the airport Illya questioned her about where she had gone last night.

"Why? Were you worried about me?" Angelique asked as she moved closer, leaning against him.

Illya pushed away from her. "No. Just concerned as to what you might have in store for us."

"You, Mr. Kuryakin, don't have to worry. There is nothing I would have to do with you much less do to you," she said glaring at him.

"Enough!" Napoleon said rather loudly. "Can we put this personal vendetta the two of you have against one another aside until we complete this assignment? It's beginning to give me a headache."

Neither of them said another word, and simply turned from each other in a huff.

….

They met Agent Bose at the jet, and once boarded they discuss the plans for rescuing Mr. Tang. UNCLE had him in a safe house within the San Francisco area, and though he agreed to stay there until Napoleon and Illya arrived, he was unhappy about the situation.

They were met and driven to the historical gate of the Chinese section of San Francisco, the archway marking the western entrance to old Chinatown.

"Wow, I never saw anything like that in San Francisco. I suppose all the things on it have meanings." Bose said, looking at the characters on the stones.

Illya began an explanation of the decorations. "The gate has upturned eaves because some Chinese believe that straight lines shoot strong energy, and the curves soften this effect. On its peach-colored ceramic roof, the ornaments include a dragon and a phoenix, said to keep out bad luck and welcome a flow of good air and the orb at the top represents a fireball from heaven bringing good luck. The colors of it-gold, yellow, green and blue are colors that the Emperors cherished. Finally, the Chinese writing on its top translates into 'China Gate'."

The San Francisco agent looked at the Russian with admiration, "Gee Mr. Kuryakin, you really know about this stuff."

"And you had to ask," Napoleon mumbled as he lead the way to the safe house making Illya smile just a little

Bose walked along with Angelique behind the other, not quite understanding what had just happened, though he knew something just had.

"It's a game they play," Angelique explained, leaning toward Bose. "Illya enjoys teasing his partner with his knowledge, and Napoleon pretends to get irritated. Each has their strengths and weakness, as I'm sure you are aware of.

"Well, they're the best, and I hope one day to be like them. And you Miss LaChien, what about you? I mean you're Thrush, why are you working with us?"

She smiled, "Orders, we all have them."

As they walked through section of town, finding many of the buildings in varying stages of renovation. Many had been destroyed or moved for the construction of Highway 5 that ran up along the West coast. There were new businesses and organizations popping up throughout the area, but many of the older restaurants continued to dish up traditional favorites. Small markets along the streets were stocked with fresh produce, and specialty stores offered anything from tropical fish to medicinal herbs.

Tang was under protection in a house owned by one of the agents who lived there. As the newly arrived agents approached the house, they heard gunfire coming from the back of it. Splitting up, Illya and Bose went around one side while Napoleon and Angelique took off the other way.

As they hit the back, they saw Tang being covered by the Seattle agents, his arm bleeding.

"Napoleon, about time you guys got here," Tsui, the Seattle chief yelled as he covered Tang.

"Give Bose your keys," Illya told Tsui as he joined them.

Tsui threw the keys to him, "We'll cover you. Take him to UNCLE medical and wait for us there. His car is out back of this building, a blue Ford," Napoleon ordered.

Bose and the other agents took Tang from the house while the rest of the agents protected their flank. As their car pulled away, the three New York agents split up leading Wung's men in different directions.

Illya and Angelique managed to lose their pursuers, but Napoleon was surrounded and taken captive.

Wung had him 'disciplined' for interfering with his plans. His arms were pulled cruelly behind him before they began to hit him hard and low. He lost count of the number of times the fists struck before he crumpled to the floor into unconscious.

Napoleon became conscience not opening his eyes just yet. He could feel the cold floor beneath him and heard the sounds of men talking above him. Opening his eyes, he saw five pairs of shoes. He moved slowly but a moan escaped his lips before he was able stop it and alerting his captors he was awake

"Mr. Solo, how nice to see you awake again. This is the second time you have interfered with my plans."

Napoleon was lifted off the floor and held by two guards, Wung stood before him.

Hongqi Wang was a small man whose face had been horribly scarred in a fire some time in his past. He stood barely five foot tall and scarcely one hundred pounds, and the guards surrounding him made him seem even smaller.

Napoleon remembered the coldness in the man eyes and his vindictive, mutilated grin from their last meeting.*

"I want Tang, and as the leader of the UNCLE group trying to stop me, you will know where he is. Will you tell or must we continue persuasion?"

Napoleon shook his head no, refusing to speak.

"You are a fool my friend to die for a man you do not even know."

With a shrug of his shoulders, Napoleon fell as one of the guards kidney punched him. He was yanked back up before they started to use him for a punching bag again darkness overtook him once more.

An alarm shrieked as Illya and Angelique entered the inner corridor of the complex where they knew Napoleon was being held. Before they could move farther in, Wung's men had them cut off from escaping. Once disarmed, they were led to an office.

"Ah Mr. Kuryakin, I knew that if Mr. Solo was around, you would not be far behind. But you surprise me Miss LaChien, why are you here?" Wung asked once both prisoners were bound to a chair before him.

Angelique smiled, "Thrush sent me to deal with you. They don't appreciate what you are planning to do."

He slammed his fist on the desk, "They dare to insult me by having a woman attempt to stop me!" He moved toward her with his hand raised to strike her.

"It was UNCLE's condition in helping Thrush out of this mess," Illya tried to draw his attention away from her.

Wung stopped. "It was UNCLE's ideas to use a woman to track me?"

"Actually, it was Napoleon's and my idea. We figured a woman would be all we needed to catch you, and it looks like it worked." Once more, he was trying to antagonize his captor to prevent someone else from being hurt.

Wung took out his anger on the UNCLE agent, with a nod of his head, one of the guards viciously backhanded him across the mouth before landing a solid blow into his unprotected stomach.

"Take them to the cells. I will deal with them later."

Illya went over to his partner finding him non-responsive and quickly checked him over, finding bruises and multiple cuts but no obvious broken bones.

His attention was pulled toward the Thrush agent when he heard her say miserably.

"This place is disgusting," Angelique grumbled.

"Not much different from where your people are always dumping us," Illya pointed out.

"Look Kuryakin, I didn't design the damn cells, so don't blame me." she said as she tried straightening her dress.

Illya looked at her for a moment. "I told you not to wear that outfit," he said as he searched for a way out.

"Why did you do something as stupid as telling that maniac that you requested me?"

"I was trying to prevent him from beating you. But as to why, I am not sure now."

"How badly are you hurt?" she asked moving next to him as she tired to check him out.

"Do not touch me. I am fine." He pulled away from her hand and moved to the next wall.

Before she could say anything, Napoleon woke with a groan, and Angelique went to him. She was surprised that he looked as if someone had thrown him into a meat grinder with bruises visible and cuts bleeding through his clothing.

She ripped the bottom of her dress into strips and soaked them in the water bucket.

"Please don't, that hurts," he complained as she tried to wipe his face and continued to do so each time she tried to touch him.

"Well, where doesn't it hurt then?" she sighed, giving up the attempt to help him.

"There's no place it doesn't hurt," he said while watching his partner rolled his eyes.

"Let me kiss and make it feel better?" She gave him a passionate kiss then leaned back asking him if it made a difference in how he felt.

"Some."

"Well, let's see if another one helps."

As he began pucker up his lips, Illya said, "Napoleon, I would think twice about that. Can you walk if I can find a way out of here?"

The interruption brought Napoleon back to his senses "Oh well, perhaps another time would be better my dear. First, where are we, and second, yes I think I can with your help?" He answered his partner, pushing himself painfully to his feet.

.

*Temples of the Gods Affair.