Chapter 3

Recaptured

The two men supported each other while they traveled as quickly as possible. Their appearance gave the impression that they had been in an explosion, which they actually had. The explosives that they had set had been substituted for their sometime during the trip and went off early.

The guards who were supposed to protect them were left behind when they left to search the site themselves. Now they were attempting to stay ahead of the group of Thrush soldier who were chasing them.

Both knew that the possibility of them making the climb over the next hill was extremely poor, but they pushed on. They needed to get the word of Thrush's takeover of the government to headquarters and the device they intended to use.

As they climbed, the blonde hair agent slipped taking the dark hair one with him. They fell down the hill into a hidden hole. Although both were shocked and hurt further from the fall, they believed that they were hidden from their pursuers.

Napoleon asked, "Illya how bad are you?" after the group searching for them passed by them.

"As normal, fine Napoleon," said his partner.

"Last time you told me that, you spend three weeks in Medical."

He knew his partner's tendency to downplay his injuries. Oh course he wasn't much better, but he was the senior agent and responsible for those he worked with including his stubborn partner.

"Do you still have the piece?"

They had stolen the direction pointer of the machine, and without it the machine wasn't worth anything. Unknown to them, the only person who could replace it was killed in their explosion and that Illya had destroyed all the papers that explained the operation of the device with the ill-timed explosion.

"Of course," came a sarcastic response. Illya moved slowly to sit up, "I am going to bury it in this hole with a tracer on it."

…..

Both men worked at climbing out of the hole, but failed, "This place must be at least 20 feet high," Napoleon complained.

"Wrong Mr. Solo," a shadow appeared over them at the top of the hole. "It is more like 25 feet, but we are willing to help you out. Throw your guns to the side please." Restrepo and a group of guards stood above them.

They shrugged their shoulders and dropped their guns. A rope ladder was lowered to them. Each man climbed the ladder and was bound as they reached the top.

The guards pushed them along the route that they had just had ran down. Once they arrived at the first clearing they were force into the back of the car. "At least we don't have to walk," Napoleon smiled at Illya as he looked over his partner. "I was getting tired, how about you."

Illya remained silent but his quick eye contact assured Napoleon that he was essentially OK.

…..

When they returned to the camp they had tried to destroy, they noticed the lab had stopped burning and the system lay on a table outside the lab. It still looked intact with slight damage visible. It distressed the agents that their assignment remained incomplete. At least without the piece Illya had hidden, it couldn't be fired.

With no discussion both men were thrown into a cell after their arms were unbounded. Stationed in from of the bars were four guards with rifles aimed toward them.

"I do not think they trust us Napoleon." Illya quirked as he examined their surroundings.

It held only two piles of hay and a hole that would service as their toilet. No water or food was in place.

"Guess we missed supper," Napoleon responded after his examination, "I don't think I give this place even one star."

Black and blue marks dotted their bodies. Their bruises and cuts were annoying and painful but not dangerous. They lay on the straw and waited for what would happen next. Once the fire was extinguished and the weapon tested, Restrepo would find out a piece was missing. At that time, the two agents knew they'd be in for intense questioning.

"We might as well get as much sleep as possible now, I've a feeling we won't be allowed to in a while," Napoleon suggested, then he noticed his partner had already sleeping. He never could understand how Illya could sleep anyplace or anytime but wish he could do the same.

"Where is the part?"

The banging of the cell doors and angry feet hurrying toward them brought the two men awake. "Must have found out the device is missing something," Illya said.

Napoleon agreed, "And he's not too happy about it."

Restrepo stepped through the cell door after it was opened. "Gentlemen, I want that piece right now."

Both men looked at each other with puzzled expressions, "Piece?" they questioned together.

"Do not play games with me. You know what I am talking about. We reviewed the video and saw you remove it Mr. Kuryakin. If you do not give it to me now, I will make your lives a que viven el infierno (living hell)."

"Illya do you know what he is talking about?"

"No, do you?" Illya responded.

"You will speak before I am done with you. Unless I have the piece now, you will live to regret any interaction we have." Turning he spoke to the guards. "Prepare them." And left the cell.

As the guards approached the two agents, they exploded into action. Napoleon dived into the right guards and Illya into the left guards. They were able to knock down a guard each but before they could overwhelm when other guards arrived and helped to overpower them.

…..

They were dragged to the courtyard of the camp and tired spread eagle to poles after their shirts had been removed. The tight ropes bite into their already painful arms. Hungry, thirsty and tired, neither man had the energy to hold themselves up to alleviate the pressure on their shoulders and back.

"Where is the part?" Restrepo demanded as he came from the building. His sadistic grin gave the impression he was hoping the men would not easily give them what he wanted.

Illya and Napoleon glared back at him. "I'm surprised Thrush Central wants you do to the interrogation. Usually they want Illya and I to be in shape for their torture," Napoleon taunted him. He was attempting to find out if Central knew of their capture, or if they only had to deal with the man before them.

Illya continued, "Maybe they are lowering their standards, Napoleon." This earned him a backhanded slap from Restrepo.

Restrepo ordered two men to come forward. Each held a riding crop and stood where the agents could see them. "You choice, the easy way or the hard way. You will tell me what I want to know."

Both men stared at him in cold defiance. With a wave of his hands, Restrepo's men took their place behind the agents.

The two prepared for the pain they knew was to come. The first lash struck and sent agony shooting throughout their bodies. Restrepo kept count as lash after lash attacked their bodies. The torture became searing and both men had to give up their silence for cries of pain. Finally both passed out some time after each heard the count of ten.

…..

They woke up each lying on the prickly straw mattresses. The excruciating pain increased with each move.

"Napoleon?" Illya had awakened first and now heard his partner moans increasing.

"I'm awake; anyways, I don't think I could feel this bad if I was still unconscious." He tried to move and found nausea threatened to overwhelm him.

"Try to avoid any sudden moves, it will cause your stomach to react more," Illya warned him.

"Now you tell me. Oh, my stomach doesn't seem to want to stay down. Good thing they didn't feed us before that little exercise."

Illya crawled over to Napoleon's pile of straw, "Let me see your back," he told Napoleon. It was crisscrossed with swelling welts and red deep cuts decorated his back.

Napoleon made a twisting gesture with his hand. Illya's was similarly patterned. Nothing in the cell allowed them to clean up the site or ease the pain. Illya returned to his straw and lay on his side.

…..

Both men sat up when they heard the guards approaching again. Instead of being taken out, they were given some bread, thin soup and water. Napoleon looked at Illya, "If they wanted us dead or drugged they could do it anyways. What do you think?"

Illya took a sip, "We better keep up our strength until we can get out of here," and ate what was before him. Napoleon also ate and then both laid down once more attempting to sleep.

Round Two

They were woke up when it was still dark. Dragged from the cell into another room where they were tied to a lab table. Pain exploded from their own weight on their back. They knew it was already getting infected and would only get worst.

The leather thongs binding them to the tables were tight enough to cut into their skin. Restrepo stood before them, "Good Morning, I believe you know what I want. If you give it to me, we can stop this useless punishment."

"No thank you," Illya responded pulling on the bindings. They were too tight even to move his wrists.

"Mr. Solo. We know it was your partner who took the piece. Why allow his actions to cause you such pain?"

"Illya," Napoleon said with mock surprise, "Have been indulging in your kleptomania tendencies again?"

"I have tried to curb them, but you know how hard it is."

"You are trying my patience," Restrepo picked up a needle. "You will notice that I believe in a different method of interrogation. Instead of separately, I believe in allowing the two of you to suffer together. It seems to get answers quicker when someone misery is the same as their friend."

"Interesting idea," Napoleon offered.

"You will find this truth drug very interesting. Besides lowering the UNCLE installed barriers, it produces pain by increasing the sensitivity of the nervous system. Which in your case has already been sensitized from the beating? Gentlemen, do you really want to listen to each other scream?"

Neither man answered him. Restrepo handed the syringe to the doctor, "Proceed."

…..

At first they felt nothing, and then the pain began to intensify; searing down their spines, spreading throughout the rest of their bodies. Refusing to answer Restrepo's questions added to the stress they felt, increasing the pain even more. The sound of their screams drowned out each other. After what seemed like hours, finally darkness came relieving them of this torture.

…..

Restrepo lifted the headset; he wasn't looking forward to this conversation. He hadn't informed Central of Solo or Kuryakin's capture and was wondering who had notified them. "Restrepo, here."

"Mr. Restrepo perhaps you will be so kind as to inform me why I was not notified of your prisoners?"

"Sir, I was trying to locate the essential piece of equipment they had taken."

"So, besides not notifying me of the prisoners' capture, you also failed to inform me that a vital part of the machine is missing. AM I CORRECT?"

"Yes sir, but I was planning on calling you as soon as I had recovered it. I'm sure it will not be much longer until one of them gives me the information I need."

"You will not proceed with the interrogations. I will have an expert there in the morning. Make sure that they are in condition to be questioned when we arrive. Do you understand?"

"But sir, they are so close to breaking now."

"Mr. Restrepo, I will not repeat myself. Mr. Solo and Mr. Kuryakin have not just your missing machine part but the information we need on a few other matters. You will see that they are able to be questioned by us. Give them whatever medical care they need and feed them. "

"Yes, sir."

"And we will discuss your actions when I get there." The phone went dead in his hands.

He intended to find out who had betrayed him, and after he was through with him, no one would ever challenge him again.