"Vive Las Vegas"! for Picfic Tuesday September 15th

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

“I do dislike Las Vegas for the most part.”

“For the most part? Illya what’s that supposed to mean?”

“I dislike the hedonism, and decadence. The casinos prey upon people’s weaknesses and addictions. How many pensions have been lost here to one armed-bandits? Did I mention the heat as well?” The Russian tugged at his shirt collar despite the fact they were standing in the air conditioned hotel.

“True, when you put it that way but they’re all grownups here. People make their own decisions. There’s many’s the windfall that’s been made in Vegas as well; I think that’s the allure, the chance of winning big,” Napoleon pointed to an exit, “There is a swimming pool for you to cool off in tovarisch, not to mention our air conditioned hotel room? I did drop the thermostat just for you.”

Napoleon chuckled to himself, thinking he’d never imagined sleeping with an extra blanket to keep him warm while in Las Vegas.

“I appreciate that my friend. This is where I like my government in that respect. It makes decisions for you. There is no such thing like this place in Soviet Union.”

“No partner, but there are food shortages and lines to get basic necessities that are scarce.”

Kuryakin canted his head to the side; a twinkle in his blue eyes. ”I never said home was perfect.”

“So what’s the rest of your answer? Clarify ‘for the most part.”

“I do like the all you can eat buffets and that is exactly where I am heading right now.”

“We’ve been up all night; I would think a little shut-eye would come first. I wonder if our THRUSH contact chickened out?”

“I am prioritizing; I will sleep better on a full stomach. As far as the Thrushie is concerned...hopefully our search parties will locate him.”

“Illya, you and a full stomach...If that’s ever possible? I swear that yours is bottomless pit.”

“Then my goal is to fill it as much as possible and as often as possible, besides the buffet is free.”

“Ah now the truth comes out, you skinflint.” Napoleon shook his head...at least Illya was predictable when it came to food, especially if it cost him nothing. He was about to make a smart comment in regards to that, when he and Kuryakin heard a blood curdling scream from outside, back by the hotel pool.

The agents dashed through the doors, seeing a woman standing to the side, pointing in horror at the bright aqua blue water.

“There’s...there’s a dead body in the pool!”

Illya didn’t hesitate, knowing how much Solo disliked the water, and dove in head first.

He swam to the bottom of the tiled pool, seeing the body of a naked man suspended there. Grabbing the figure, he brought it to the shallow end where hotel employees helped him pull the man out of the water.

Kuryakin knelt at the man’s side, recognizing him instantly as their missing contact, Bill Connelly...a THRUSH turncoat.

Feeling for a pulse, Illya found none but started mouth to mouth resuscitation anyway while Napoleon called for an ambulance. Solo quickly returned and helped, using something he’d recently been trained in called cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR for short.  After a few minutes Connelly coughed up a mouthful of water as he gasped for air.

The employees covered the nude victim with a sheet and not long after, the ambulance arrived; whisking Connelly off to the nearest hospital.

A woman ran up to the agents, grabbing their arms...though Illya’s was still quite soggy.

“Thank you thank you! You saved my husband.”

“And you are?” Napoleon’s questioned her identity.

“Victoria Connelly. I know he was supposed to meet you here last night but he disappeared. He gave me this before he left our hotel room, and said to give this copy to you should anything happen to him.”  She shoved a folded paper into Solo’s hand.

“Do you know what this is?” He asked.

“Yes I do. I work for THRUSH as well. Though I think we’ll both be dead soon. Someone had to have found out what we were doing, I’m sure. How else could this have happened to my Bill?”  She seemed remarkably calm for one who just pronounced a death sentence on herself.

“You will be in good hands with UNCLE Madam,” Illya said. He was drying off himself with a towel someone had handed him.

One of the backup agents appeared on the scene, as he and several others had been searching for Connelly throughout the night.

“Mr. Solo, Mr. Kuryakin I just heard the news.”

“Mrs. Connelly, this is Agent Burrowes, go with him...he’ll take care of you. Burrowes, take her to one of our safe houses outside of town, and I want a security detail on her husband at the hospital. Stay sharp and keep them safe until we can get them to headquarters.”

“Yes sir Mr. Solo, right away.”

“Is this acceptable to you Mrs. Connelly?” Illya asked.

“Yes, and thank you, and you Mr. Solo for saving my husband’s life.”

“Think nothing of it,” Illya waved her off.”Now it is best you disappear with our agent. There are too many eyes and ears here. Leave your belongings behind; they can be replaced.”

The woman gave a little wave to them as she and Burrowes left.

“So I don’t know about you, but I think we need to retire to our room tovarisch,” Napoleon tucked the document into his suit pocket. “I need to think this over before reporting to Mr. Waverly. It seemed rather convenient that Mrs. Connelly showed up here just at the right moment, didn’t it?”

“Yes, and how did she know exactly where to go? Perhaps she was the assassin and is trying to set herself up for another shot at Connelly?”

“Or maybe she’s legitimate. I can do a quick search of his room and make sure it was a couple who checked in; she might really be his wife. Now you my soaked friend can’t exactly go traipsing through the hotel and break into Connelly’s room without sticking out like a sore thumb, so why don’t you go change, maybe hit that buffet of yours? I imagine you need to eat even more now after your refreshing swim. Let me take care of the search; I'll only take me a few minutes.”

Illya shook his head. “I think that unexpected, though refreshing swim in the pool has done me in. I am reprioritizing; now sleep would be the best thing after all.”

“Tell you what, I’ll order room service for us. How does that sound? On my account as thanks for taking the dive into the pool for me.”

“Thank you, but you know accounting will not be pleased my friend. They have warned you about such frivolous expenditures."

“Well it did save me putting in another chit for a ruined suit, but what the heck, to hell with them. What I have in my pocket just might make Alexander Waverly very happy and forgiving if a couple of his agents enjoy breakfast in bed...if the document is genuine.”

“That is a big ‘if ’ Napoleon. However, you are ever the strategist, and I will defer to your plan,” Illya finally smiled as he and Solo headed back inside the hotel and to the elevator.

Some of the guests gave the still dripping Russian a few stares, which he promptly ignored. His mind was focused on getting into his nice dry pajamas and enjoying that breakfast, before he caught a cold, as he so frequently did after such unscheduled altercations with water.

Later on, after he was rested; he could still go the the all you can eat buffet anyway...