Chapter 6
While Illya was in the shower, Napoleon's communicator beeped. "Solo, here."
"Napoleon, it's Gloria. Is Illya with you, I couldn't reach him?"
"He's in the shower; can I give him a message?" He knew if Gloria was trying to reach his partner, something had changed with Jo condition.
"I wanted you both to know that they had to take Jo back to surgery; she began to bleed out. She's back in her room now in satisfactory condition."
"Thanks Gloria for keeping us informed, I'll pass it on. I know Illya appreciates it, and so do I." As he disconnected, he noticed his partner standing in the doorway.
"You heard?"
"Yes, I did." Without another word, Illya finished packing then picked up his and Napoleon's suitcases. Walking down the hall, he slowed his pace to allow his partner to keep up to him, disappearing into himself once more.
When they met Angelique, a shake of Napoleon's head let her know not to start anything with his partner. Illya's funk deepened as they rode to the airport in silence.
….
After the plane took off, Napoleon slowly and carefully lowered himself in the seat next to his partner and a hiss the only verbal sign of his stay with Wung.
Illya sat looking vacantly out the window, turning his head once he felt Napoleon's hand on his arm.
"Are you okay, Napoleon?"
"I'm more worried about you. I'm here for you if you need to talk."
There was silence between them for a long time until Illya finally began to speak.
"After our father had returned to the front, the days became harder for all of us. We had to hunt for food daily. As I was turning eight and Jo had just turned six, we were out in the field one day just the two of us. I was supposed to be looking for food, but as usual, she had followed me. She believed that she could do whatever I did. On the way home, we were running playing tag when I saw her stop and stare at our home. The house and barn were burning. We ran toward it calling for Mama, babushka, and our younger brother and sister. As we reached the yard, the soldiers grabbed us."
"We fought, bit, and kicked but were unable to get away from them. We held onto each other tightly as they tried to separate us, but they finally did and took us away in different directions around the burning barn. We kept calling to each other, until they covered my mouth so that I could not call out, nor did I hear Jo any longer—they told me that they killed her, and took me away. What I did not know is they did the same to Jo. It was the last day I cried over anything that truly mattered. We never saw each other until that day in UNCLE."
Napoleon placed his hand on his partner's shoulder leaving it there until he felt him relax and drift off to sleep. He felt deeply touched by what his friend had shared with him. Usually Illya kept everything bottled up inside and suffered through it without help. He was honored at the trust that Illya had shown him and would never forget it or betray him.
Due to his body's discomfort, Napoleon hadn't slept on the plane and now woke his fellow passengers. He leaned over and lightly brushed his lips around Angelique cheek, "Wake up, we're almost there."
She smiled up at him, "At one time you would've giving me a much nicer wake up."
"You're right at one time I would've. We'll be landing in a few minutes."
He turned to his partner to see him looking at toward them. "The pilot said a car is waiting for us," Napoleon said. "Wung's plane is still on schedule according to our people."
"Good, we need to finish this here," Illya said gathering his belongings joining the other two in preparing for the final showdown.
….
Once they climbed into the UNCLE car that was sent there for them; they raced through the streets to Chinatown by-passing Chicago's headquarter because of the shortage of time.
Their arrival into the Chinatown district was preceded by the unique scents from the many restaurants, as well as the colorful and distinctive Chinese architecture as they headed through the streets to a place called "Woks".
The streets were congested with floats, bands and people along a parade route that would be held later that day to celebrate the festival of Duanwu, the Dragon Boat Festival.
When they arrived at the restaurant, they were met by local agents outside.
"Stay here until we get him out," Napoleon ordered the local agents.
They entered the small room behind Wok's restaurant and were met by the guns of the men who were protecting him. Pulling out their IDs and showing them to Wok, the Chinese leader ordered his men to relax. Illya noticed that relax only meant their guns were lowered but not put away.
"We have men outside to take you to our headquarters. After you leave, we'll wait here for Wung," said Napoleon.
Wok stood by the door and said, "You are brave people, may the gods of my ancestors protect you and help you in putting a stop to this mad man."
While other UNCLE agents escorted Wok and three of his guards into the armored car would take them to UNCLE headquarters, Napoleon, Illya and Angelique waited for the man that kept them running around the country.
As Wung's agents entered the office, the door behind them was pushed closed.
"Gentlemen, drop your weapons," Napoleon spoke from behind them.
Instead, the men turned, drawing their weapons firing but the quick reaction of the CEA had him dive for protection as he returned their fire. Wung's men fell, incapacitated by UNCLE sleep darts, but Wung was not among them
Illya heard steps going quickly away from them down the stairs. Throwing the door open, he led the others down to the street where they saw Wung disappearing into the crowds gathered for the passing parade.
"This ends here!" Illya hissed as he headed after the man.
The three agents ran after Wung. There were over 100 units participating in the celebration, including ornate floats, dancers in elaborate costumes performing as ferocious Chinese lions, exploding firecrackers; all potential victims of violence from the escaping man.
Wung ducked behind and in-between the numerous floats, martial arts groups, stilt walkers, and Chinese acrobatics. Finally, the agents chased him under the Golden Dragon dancing at the end of the parade. Weaving between the 100 men and women who were carrying the giant puppet, they couldn't shoot for fear of hitting innocent bystanders. Wung didn't care if he hit someone or not, as he fired indiscriminately at his pursuers.
At length, as Wung ran from beneath the dragon and they followed him down an alleyway that was crowded with the food stalls, and entertainers. Up ahead they could see the river and the vibrant colors of the dragon boats waiting for the fast-paced races to begin once the parade was finished.
Wung jumped into a waiting boat, with one of his men ready to leave the dock. Wung kept firing at the agents as the boat pulled quickly away. Illya leaped into the next boat, untying it while Napoleon and Angelique followed him aboard.
The two boats raced down the waterway. Without innocents in their way, shots were exchanged without any hesitation. While Illya and Napoleon rowed between shots, Angelique paused in answering the shots to used Napoleon communicator to call for assistance.
They caught up to Wung's boat, the partners jumped across from their boat to his. The frenzied struggle that followed finally tipped the boat, dumping them all into the water. Napoleon managed to get Wung into a headlock and pulled him toward their boat, and the awaiting Angelique.
"Darling you need to move, I don't want to hit you accidentally." Angelique stood above him attempting to aim at Wung.
"I can't let you do that; we have orders to bring him in alive. Put the gun up and move out of the way," Napoleon kept himself between Wung and the Thrush agent.
As he reached the boat, Illya saw Angelique aiming a weapon at their prisoner. He quickly pulled on side of the boat, rocking it off balance and sending her toppling into the river with a howl of dismay.
"You Russian ublyudok, I have my orders." She yelled as she surfaced.
He climbed into the boat, helping the others into it, saying to Angelique, "We do not kill unless ordered."
"My assignment…."
"I do not care what your orders or assignment is, our orders are to capture Wung and return him for punishment."
Napoleon shook his head sending his wet hair whipping backward, "Will the two of you stop?" he shouted as he tied Wung's hands with some twine from the boats decoration.
Illya and Angelique stared at him. "What's his problem?" she asked Illya.
"He does tend to get irritated easily."
Napoleon glared at the two of them, and was saved from saying anything else as backup arrived.
….
A few days later Napoleon sat on the end of Jo's bed telling her and Andreas how the case ended up.
"After our men arrived and took Wung off our hands, we returned the boat and explained to the gentleman why we borrowed it. A little financial compensation settled the matter."
"Wung will be confined in our secure prison up north. I believe we have seen the last of him and his hatred." Illya added.
"What about Angelique's orders to kill him?" Andreas wondered.
"I believe she is reporting to her superiors that the opportunity never presented itself."
Jo smiled at him and then teased, "So Napoleon did you manage to avoid Angelique charms during the assignment or did you succumb to them?"
"I managed to keep my honor intact, moya lyubov. Besides I had my Russian conscience with me to help me live up to your expectations," he said as he tilted his head toward Illya who was sitting in the chair next to her.
"Out both of you," Dr. Tower said as he entered the room. "I told you thirty minutes, not an hour! They both still need their rest. You can come back later."
With a quick kiss and a gentle brush to her cheek with is hand, Napoleon said his good-bye and followed Illya out the door.
…..
Later that evening, the two were seated at their favorite hideout for a quiet dinner and drinks. As they ate, the odor of Chanel #5 drifted their way.
"Angelique," Napoleon said as he stood turning toward her. "To what do we owe this honor?"
She sat on the chair between the two men. Napoleon pushed it in, giving her a quick peck on the cheek.
"I want you to know Kuryakin, it took a whole day and multiple washings to straighten out the damage that river water did my hair."
"Sorry," he said making it obvious that he wasn't.
"Enough, we're having a nice meal so let's not ruin it. What can we do for you my dear?"
"Just wanted to let you know, Dudek and Pehner won't be bothering you any longer. Seems Central didn't approve of the two of them taking matters into their own hands and nearly destroying the deal Central had made with UNCLE on this assignment."
Both agents knew that meant that neither man was alive any longer. Though they didn't agree with Thrush's actions, they wouldn't concern themselves over the men's deaths.
"And how did they feel about you not killing Wung?" Napoleon had a genuinely respect for the woman, even though she could kill him if it suited her. Still he hoped she wasn't in too much trouble with her superiors.
"They accepted my story that I wasn't able to kill him. Well darling it's been fun. I'll see you again," she said with a suggestive smile toward Napoleon.
"Sorry, but my time has other commitments now. Till we meet again," he said, kissing her hand as they stood.
"And you?" she asked Illya.
"Hopefully, it will be a long time before we have any new interactions," he answered returning to his supper without a second thought.
Angelique left, and they ate, talking quietly about other things on their minds.
"Thank you," Illya said suddenly.
"For what?" Napoleon was unsure of why Illya had said that. "Did I miss something?"
"For being there for me when I needed it. Napoleon, you know I am not used to sharing my experiences with anyone. What I shared with you, I would prefer what I shared with you, not be discussed with Jo until I tell her I confided in you. After all they are her memories as well, and I am not sure I had the right to tell you about them."
"Your secrets are safe with me. I feel honored that you felt you could share them. Now my friend what else would you to eat, maybe some dessert?"
Illya took Napoleon up on his offer, dessert was ordered, and they ate it in silence.
Trust between them was never an issue, and Illya's sharing parts of his life with Napoleon was proof that what they revelations went beyond partnership. Yes, they were partners, but more so friends, and tovarishchi. And because of Josephina Kuryakin, they were family.