The guard and Brown left, leaving Napoleon hovering over his friend and trying to comfort him. Illya's breathing became labored. He looked up to his friend, "I gue, gue, guess you won." He lifted his lips in a tight painful grimace. His eyes took on a panicked look as he threw himself away from Napoleon and vomited violently over and over again.

"Easy, tovarisch. Try to relax."

"I do not think I can, can, ca..relax." He heaved himself again to the side and vomited again.

"I'm so sorry, Illya."

"Not…your…fau..fault. You c..c..c..no…ha…known.."

Napoleon looked away. There was nothing he could do for his friend except watch him suffer.

"Na.. na…pol..eon, I thi…".

Whatever Illya was going to say was interrupted as he grabbed his abdomen and began to convulse.

"Illya…Illya! No, damnit! Illya!" Napoleon gathered the stricken man into his arms and rocked him as he waited for the convulsions to subside. "Please, Illya!" But his friend didn't hear him as he had slipped into unconsciousness.

About twenty minutes had passed when the Russian opened his eyes and smiled weakly.

"I'm so sorry, Illya! There's nothing I can do to help." Napoleon held back a sob.

"I o…Kay. Thanks for ev..er..y thing." Slowly, the light left the once bright blue eyes and his head lolled to one side.

"Nooooo! Oh God, please…no!" Napoleon felt for a pulse that he knew wouldn't be there, then pulled Illya even closer and sobbed into the blond hair.

"Oh how very touching! It does my heart good to see two friends who were so close." Brown stood at the cell door. "Frankly, I'm surprised he had any friends."

Napoleon looked up. "You fucking bastard!"

"Now, now Mr. Solo. Actually, you should know - he wasn't the one who was supposed to die! You see, I knew that pig was the better fencer and I fully expected him to turn you into a pin cushion. Only one of the épées had poison in its tip. He was supposed to get that weapon. Unfortunately, they got switched when that idiot guard dropped them and got them mixed up. Needless to say he won't be making any more mistakes.

"My plan was to have Kuryakin kill you and then he would be destroyed by the fact that he was responsible for your demise. I imagined that he would go back to UNCLE completely emotionally destroyed and perhaps even be so distraught he would kill himself. Or at least, be unable to continue as an agent. That way THRUSH would be rid of two UNCLE agents. Oh well, at least the pig is dead and I have my revenge!

"Now, I will bring the little girl down and release you, as promised." He opened the cell door keeping his distance from the distraught agent. The guards stood on either side of him with their rifles poised to shoot if necessary. "Take her home, Mr. Solo, then you are free to go back to New York."

"At least let me take Illya with me, so he can have a decent burial." Napoleon pleaded.

"I think not, Mr. Solo. Think of the fun Central will have dissecting him and studying what made the pipsqueak such a formidable enemy."

"You fucking bastard! Have you no sense of decency?"

Brown bowed his head for a moment, then looked up and smiled the most evil smile Solo had seen. "I'll tell you what, Mr. Solo. I'll give you a choice. You can get that little girl safely home, or you can have the pig's body. You choose."

Napoleon bowed his head in defeat. "Bring Lucinda down. I'll get her home."

Brown smiled, "I thought so…with you do-gooders integrity always wins. He turned away just as Napoleon rushed the cell door as it closed. "I'll be back with the girl in about fifteen minutes."

Napoleon turned back to Illya. First, he dragged the body away from the puddles of vomit. Slowly, he bent down and used his fingers to close his eyelids. Then he pulled Illya's trousers up his legs and over his hips, then button his pants. He was not going to leave his friend half naked. He sat down next to his friend and gently stroked his hair. "I'm so sorry, Illya. I would trade places with you if I could," he sobbed. "I don't want to leave you behind, my friend, but I have to get Lucinda home. I promise, though, I will bring you home! I will do everything I can to find you and bring you home." He continued stroking his friend's hair and sobbing softly.

It wasn't long before Brown came back with Lucinda. "Okay Solo, let's go. I'm keeping my end of the bargain."

Napoleon rose to his feet, straightened out his friend's body. "Goodbye, my friend," he whispered. As he left the cell he held out a hand to Lucinda who grasped his fingers.

"Is your friend sleeping?" She asked.

Napoleon choked, "Yes, Lucinda, he is very tired so he is taking a long nap.

Author's notes: I could never nor would I ever kill off our agents .

Part two in progress