There would be two legs to the journey, the second a rare encounter with luxury that surprised and delighted each of the four agents.

Because of the discovery and subsequent death of agent Dave Rogers, it seemed certain that THRUSH was somehow present in Indonesia, specifically Bali. In order to divert attention from his people as they arrived in Bali, Alexander Waverly purchased passage aboard the luxury liner SS Rotterdam, on its world cruise of 1965. Departing from New York in January, Napoleon and the others would board the ship in Hong Kong and travel to Bali, the next destination. It would be a short brush with luxury, but each of them relished the opportunity to travel in style.

Mark was the exception, his role as a steward aboard the Dutch liner would keep his profile low, but Waverly's keen sense of strategy knew in that position he was most likely to pick up any intelligence about THRUSH, if any were aboard ship.

The post Dutch government had been endeavoring to create a viable tourism industry similar to what had existed before the war. The trend towards partnering with Western entities seemed consistent with this French enterprise that was the destination for the team from UNCLE. It was located north of Kuta, the best known of the beachside vacation spots on the island, long admired for the white sand and tantalizing blue water. Diving was a popular activity, as was surfing, which attracted an international group far different from the cruise ship patrons.

The political climate in Indonesia was reflected in Bali as it struggled to maintain its cultural identity after World War II. Gaining independence from the Dutch colonial system had produced a strong nationalistic conscience, and an equally strong resistance to Westernization such as had dominated the cultivated images of colonialism.

The fifties saw the emergence of cultural art forms as a lure for the visitors whose dollars meant so much to a poverty stricken region. Teachers came from the West to help educate those being liberated from a caste system similar to that in India, another culture that was a dominant influence in Indonesia. Manipulating the various images, taking from those that had placed Bali on pathways of tourists in decades past, helped to develop a new and exotic picture that would draw those like the passengers on the SS Rotterdam to the idyllic place advertised.

Having endured the long flight to Hong Kong, with a stopover in Honolulu, it was with great relief that Napoleon, Illya, April and Mark finally boarded the ship that would carry them to their mission. They were deliberately separate as they made their ways to the assigned rooms. Mark's would be below decks, in the rooms reserved for crew members. He hoped to gain some information that might be useful once they arrived in Bali.

April and Illya were directed to their room, a comfortable suite with a bed that beckoned to the weary Russian. He hoped that April would offer no resistance to sharing the bed, having spotted a small settee in the sitting room. He was in no shape, or mood, to be unnecessarily chivalrous. She would just have to trust that he was, indeed, a gentleman.

Napoleon's room was adequate, comfortable. He was fortunate to have it to himself in spite of the second bed. Mr. Waverly had seen to it that no compromises to their security were made.

The three 'passengers' agreed to meet in the dining room, Mr. Waverly having also arranged the seating arrangements there. It was necessary to create a reason for them to be acquainted once they arrived in Bali, and a chance meeting aboard ship would serve the purpose.

Wardrobes were sent ahead of them, so that each one of them had appropriate clothing for their short voyage. Napoleon and Illya each had a tux, the evening meal being a formal affair. April had four evening dresses, one for each of the nights required during the five days of sailing.

It had been a bit of a rush getting from the airport to the Kowloon waterfront where the ship was preparing for departure. Passports were presented, directions given; the excitement was mixed with the usual measure of trepidation when embarking on a mission. April felt a surge of nausea begin to rise as she thought back to Survival School, then Paris. Now this, a strange world with people she hardly knew… her life was in their hands.

Napoleon recognized the signs of a new agent's turmoil. This was the life she had signed on for, but could never have imagined. He caught her eye and winked, then was relieved to see Illya put his arm around her shoulder as though sensing the same things. This young woman was a solitary figure in UNCLE's new policy; the first female agent. The only female agent, thus far.

At five o'clock in the afternoon the SS Rotterdam pulled up anchor, started her engines and began the next part of her journey. It would be an historic last voyage before entering a complete refitting later in the year.

Dinner was served at seven o'clock in the Grand Dining Room. The tables were set for eight people, three couples and two single travelers. Napoleon's cover as a travel journalist was an easy fit, after all he did travel the world for a living. The other single person at the table was a young woman who was enjoying the cruise as the winner of a contest sponsored by a large New York travel agency. Her diary of the experience would become part of an advertising campaign. It seemed a fortuitous circumstance that she should be sharing the table with a travel writer. Napoleon thought the coincidence not quite convincing.

The two couples at the table were sociable, older than the other four. Madelyn and Roger Durning were from Savannah, Georgia; Delilah and Neville Cheswick had boarded the ship in New York after flying over from England. They were happy to hear Illya's accent, and immediately launched into questions about his origins. Once again Napoleon wondered about the coincidental nature of these pairings. There would be considerable discussion about all of these things later in the evening.

Much to Illya's delight, the food was as fabulous as advertised. Even his shorn head could not deflate his enjoyment of the sumptuous meal before him. April thought watching Illya eat was one of the sexiest things about him.

"Here, you must try this stuffed shrimp darling." He cut a piece from his appetizer and directed the fork towards April's mouth. Surprised at the familiarity of the gesture, she opened wide and was fed the scrumptious morsel.

"Oh my, that is delicious. Thank you darling." April resisted the impulse to kiss him, but Illya sensed the spark that he hoped was evident to the others. It was the role they were playing, after all.

"Say, how long have you two been married?" Napoleon intervened, it was time to set these identities in motion. He didn't know who these people were, but if any of them were THRUSH then the game needed to be on.

April grinned, then turned to Illya. "We've been married for exactly one year. Our anniversary is tomorrow." Illya kissed her on the cheek then, exactly on cue.

"Oh, that is so sweet. What an elegant way to celebrate, here on the high seas." Delilah seemed quite taken with the couple, especially with the blue-eyed husband named Nick.

April caught it, that subtle undertone of covetousness that a woman sensed when her man was on another woman's radar.

"We thought so, and it seemed so exciting, sort of a second honeymoon. Although, I don't think the first one has ever ended." And then she kissed Illya, full on the mouth. Whoever this Delilah was, she needed to know that Nick belonged to her.

"My darling Rita, to us." Illya raised his glass to toast his 'wife', aware of the look passing between Delilah and Neville.

"Hear, hear, and cheers." Napoleon had seen it too.

It seemed the games would begin at sea.