Part XIV
Napoleon was not a happy camper when he came back to consciousness. It really wasn't the indignity of getting caught – although that was most definately some of it. The part that really galled him was knowing for a fact that his bodyguards would never ever let him live this down. Taking a quick glance around convinced him of a few things. One – he really needed not to move his head too quickly until the effects of whatever that stuff was that had been tossed in the room finished getting out of his system. Two – whoever had done this had taken all of them. Three – whoever it was seemed to have a particular dislike for both his partner and Hannibal. Maybe they just didn't like men with light colored hair?
He, B.A. and Face were in the relatively comfortable position of being on a cold concrete floor and tethered to that same floor by shackles at their left ankles. They were all spaced far enough apart that they couldn't reach one another's tether. On the other hand, Illya and Hannibal were both hanging by shackles at their wrists from an overhead beam – a position he knew was painful from far too many past experiences.
He could tell both Face and B.A. were starting to stir. If Illya or Hannibal were coming to, they were playing possum. As he considered the pair, a frown formed. Who would Illya and Hannibal have in common as an enemy? He really couldn't think of anyone. Well, he could think of some, but in every case, he couldn't picture those two being the primary targets.
Even when a large man came in, walking with a cane and openly gloating over the hanging pair, it didn't bring anyone to mind for Napoleon. Unless the man was in disguise or had undergone massive facial surgery, Napoleon was sure they'd never met. Next to him, he heard Face take in a sharp breath. Well, if Peck recognized him, there was a tie to Hannibal at least. He wasn't going to question Peck about it while the man was still in the area with them though.
The man apparently heard the slight noise that Face had made. He turned and gave him a smile that would have done a shark proud.
"Lieutenant Peck, I see you are awake. Very good."
Russian accent. Well, that could have something to do with the connection between he and Illya. Or it could be a coincidence. If Napoleon believed in coincidence. Which he didn't.
The man's shark smile was now turned onto Hannibal and Illya as he began to circle the pair slowly. Whipping the cane out suddenly, he struck Illya sharply in the thigh. The fact that Illya was able to bite back part of the response was enough to tell Napoleon that his friend had been feigning unconsciousness. Hannibal got similar treatment a few seconds later. Napoleon had never really noticed before that Hannibal's eyes could get icy as well. Not quite to the glacial levels that Illya could achieve, but still impressive.
"Colonel Smith. We meet again. For the last time."
"Never a pleasure, Ivan. Why did you come back to see us? Shortage of widows and orphans?"
The cane whipped again, this time striking Hannibal at around the level of his navel.
"Americans. Always with the smart mouths. You will be next to last, Smith. Your Murdock has the honor of being last."
"Last? Last for what?"
"To die, of course. You will both get to watch the deaths of Sergeant Baracus and Lieutenant Peck, then the Captain will get to watch you die before I kill him myself."
"In case you hadn't noticed, he's not with us."
"Oh, I know. But he will be here. I sent him an invitation. Since your lives are on the line, I doubt that he will ignore it. Of course, you will all die any way, but he does not know that part yet. He thinks that I am willing to trade the three of your lives for his."
Turning toward where he came in, Ivan called out.
"Jordan! Clark! Take the Lieutenant outside and attach his tether to the post there. We want to make sure that the Captain knows that he has come to the right place."
As the men moved to secure Face, Ivan moved around to look over Illya.
"You are smaller than I imagined. No wonder they tossed you to the Americans."
Illya made no response whatsoever, but Napoleon knew his friend well enough to know that there was no recognition there either. So why the venom?
"Enjoy your stay - I will return once we have Captain Murdock secured."
The scene back at the hotel was rather chaotic. Pedavich and his people hadn't exactly gone for subtlety - at least not on their way out. As April flashed her credentials to get details from the officers in charge of the scene, Murdock eased his way over to one place that no-one was examining. Namely, the place where the team had left the van. It didn't take long for the note that had been left there for him to catch his eye.
He read it through quickly and then a second and a third time. Turning, Murdock looked around until he spotted Mark, then made a beeline over to him. There was no trace of teasing or playfulness in Murdock's eyes as they met Mark's.
"Agent Slate? We have an appointment."
The use of his real name got Mark moving faster than anything else out of Murdock's mouth could have done. He quickly made contact with April, who hurried over from her fill-in with the police.
"Agents Dancer and Slate - I know who we're dealing with now and it's not good."
April followed suit immediately. This was the Murdock that they met on mission in Cambodia.
"Who has them, Captain Murdock?"
"Mikhail Pedavich. Better known from 'Nam as Ivan the Terrible. He's major bad news."
Mark frowned a bit as he thought back.
"Hang on. Isn't he that bloke that tried to hijack that killer satellite? I think I recall hearing that the Russians hired some mercenaries to stop -"
Mark stopped dead and then looked at Murdock.
"That was your team that they hired?"
"Right on the first guess. They knew that we'd come across Pedavich over in 'Nam and knew how ruthless he was. I infiltrated -"
After a short pause, a smile began to form.
"You know, Pedavich never really met me. Not as me. I mean, I was with his group but I was undercover and in disguise."
"I know that look. You have an idea, don't you, Captain?"
"Better than that, Miss Dancer. I've got a plan."