section7mfu | Breaking Away - What If? Challenge

Prompt: What if... Illya was CEO and Napoleon the new recruit?

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The young man seemed to move effortlessly as he covered the distance from elevator to office door. THE office door. The one belonging to Alexander Waverly.

On the other side of that grey, pneumatic wonder lay the future only dreamed of by most, coveted by others. For Illya Kuryakin, it meant a permanent position within the United Network Command for Law and Enforcement, UNCLE. His Soviet beginnings could no longer lay claim to his life or his future so long as he was CEA here in New York. He would be established, entrenched… safe.

Illya took a deep breath as the doors swished open, his eyes reflecting the spare bit of sunlight that streamed through the solitary window in Waverly's office. Kuryakin stood as tall as his slight stature would allow, the blond hair less askew than normal, his black suit a statement of solemn commitment to the cause. His cause.

Alexander Waverly looked up to observe his agent, gauging the confidence against whatever misgivings he still held concerning the young Russian. He had been warned against recruiting the man, held to a measurement not required when dealing with agents from other nations. The Soviets had created an environment of mistrust, and therefore any man sent to the Command from the bowels of the Kremlin had to be tested and re-tested; the scrutiny was enough to cause failure in a man of less substance.

Kuryakin had not failed. He had, in fact, excelled in every area. The bonus of his intellect and ability to contribute in multiple sections made him Waverly's star pupil, the recruit now envied by the other four regions. And in short order his rise to the top had procured the position he was now going to accept from the Old Man.

Chief Enforcement Agent.

"Mr. Kuryakin, please…' he motioned to the chair next to his…"have a seat."

Illya pulled out the chair and sat down, his hands folded atop the table automatically as he waited for Waverly to continue. He had assumed he was being given the position of CEA, but what if … Suddenly the anxiety of having to return to the Soviet Union crept up the back of his neck and surrounded his thoughts. That was not the life he wanted to live, forever in the grip of the government and the cruel men who governed. He was Russian, that would never change. But living in that darkness, having tasted freedom from those watchdogs…

"Mr. Kuryakin?" Waverly saw Illya's attention slip away, wondered why his color had drained from the already pale features.

"Sir? I … sorry sir, my thoughts … I am at your service, sir." That was a true enough statement. Illya felt a loyalty to Alexander Waverly that he had never developed for his superiors back home. This man had a vision for the world that Illya had adopted as his own, and it formed the backbone of the Command; it created the camaraderie within its walls.

"As I was saying, we are being joined by Mr. Solo.' As if on cue the doors swished open to reveal Napoleon Solo. He walked in with a leisurely attitude that defied the seriousness of his intentions.

"Ah, and here he is. Mr. Solo, I believe you already are acquainted with Mr. Kuryakin."

Illya stood to shake hands with the new arrival, and both men settled into their chairs and faced Waverly.

"Gentlemen, this meeting is two fold. First, I take this opportunity to congratulate and welcome Mr. Kuryakin into his new designation as Chief Enforcement Agent, Section II of the Northwest Region."

Illya sighed in relief at the statement, glad to have that finally settled. Napoleon reached out to shake his hand once more, a congratulatory gesture that held within it his own desire for advancement in due time.

"Secondly, as you two might have already surmised, a partnership between you is what I have designed and wish now to implement, going forward. Mr. Kuryakin needs a capable and clever man at his side and, you Mr. Solo, meet that criteria. Neither of you has settled amiably into a partnership, something which was my only concern in promoting you, Mr. Kuryakin, into this new position. Each of you will carry equal responsibility to succeed in this partnership, and even as you, Mr. Kuryakin, are now the top Section II agent, Mr. Solo is now your second."

Napoleon suppressed a wide smile outwardly, but on the inside he was grinning like a man just handed the biggest prize at the carnival. He wasn't on the job as long as Kuryakin, but here he was the second man on the totem pole. Not bad, Solo.

"Thank you, sir. I won't let you down." Waverly tamped at the pipe he held, a small smile creeping across the weathered features.

"I suspect you will not, Mr. Solo. Indeed, on most days, your lives will depend upon it.' His eyes settled on Kuryakin, whose expression had not changed during the conversation.

"Mr. Kuryakin, you have a file in front of you. Please read it, review its contents with Mr. Solo and be on the flight indicated. The Paris office is expecting you by eight o'clock tomorrow morning… their time. Thank you gentlemen, and good luck."

Waverly turned his chair to face the dials and buttons on the board behind him, leaving his two agents to depart the office and get to work.

Paris. Partners.

Freedom.