Despite the brightness of their headlights, the darkness ahead of Napoleon and Illya's car seemed to supress the light. The oppressiveness of the moonless, starless night reflected the mood within the vehicle perfectly.
Neither man was happy about the outcome of their last mission. It was technically a success, in that genocide had been prevented. However, because the deed was being perpetrated by the leader of a country, U.N.C.L.E. were unable to take direct action against him. A deposing would be arranged, but the command would be careful not to be found to be involved in it. Solo and Kuryakin hated the idea of not being able to fully finish the job, but cold accept the reasons for it.
Not a word had been exchanged between the two men for almost an hour, as they headed for the airport, along deserted country roads. Both of the agents allowed themselves to wallow in the own, private despondency. Being the good guys was surprisingly difficult at times.
A little way ahead of them, a yellow-orange glow appeared which, as the pair drew near, they realised was a lamp. It was being carried by a nun in white, who looked to be a novitiate. Behind her was a black-clad nun, whose face seemed to be obscured by her wimple. It wasn't until they got closer that Napoleon and Illya noticed that there was no face there at all; only a black void. Illya brought the car to a halt when the nun in white held up her hand.
"Do you need assistance, Sister?" he asked, still wondering why two brides of Christ were travelling through the dark, on foot.
He tried hard not to look at the faceless nun. His mind was telling him that something wasn't quite right with her, and he should be afraid but, both he and Napoleon felt only serenity coming from her.
"We are not the ones in need of assistance," the novitiate replied. "We do not show ourselves to the living if we can help it but, you are good men who are in need of reassurance."
"I don't understand," Napoleon told her, puzzled by her use of the word 'living'.
"You prevented the deaths of many today," the young nun told him. "But you could not do anything to inhibit the man who wished those deaths. As good men, you could not bring about the end of President Otero and this weighs heavily on your hearts. We are the Sisters of Blessed Vengeance, sent to complete this task for you. You may go home with the knowledge that President Otero will harm no-one ever again."
Turning away from the vehicle, the Sisters walked away, before fading into the night. Illya and Napoleon looked to each other for answers, but neither could find any explanation. They briefly discussed going after the nuns, but decided against it. Although they couldn't understand why, they somehow knew that they would arrive back in New York and discover that Otero had died.
Sure enough, it was the first thing Mr Waverly said to them as they entered his office. Reports stated that the president had been visited by two nuns, shortly before suffering a massive heart attack.