section7mfu | Likewise - PicFic 4/22/14

Flames were licking at their heels as two men ran for their lives over muddy terrain, through a smoke filled forest. Not twenty minutes ago they had set off an explosion that should have been nothing more than the extinguishment of yet another THRUSH satrapy. Instead, sparks had ignited a hidden trove of highly flammable uniforms near the exit to the main building. Those uniforms had been intended for some very unfortunate recruits whose fate would have been that of living sacrifices to the Hierarchy in another flamboyant and cruel illustration of its continuing need for submissive followers.

Now that the threat concerning the uniforms and the innocent recruits was solved, the greater problem at hand was the spontaneous blaze that had erupted in the wake of this mission’s earlier supposed success. Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin were ahead of the fire only because they had been on their way at the time of the explosion. In this part of the world there would be no fire brigade, no forest rangers. This fire would burn itself out eventually with no collateral damage except possibly the two UNCLE agents who had started it.

“Napoleon!” Kuryakin shouted at his partner, the roar of the fire was close enough now to partially drown out his voice. Solo finally heard his name being called, felt the hand on his arm pulling at him to stop.

“Napoleon, follow me this way.” Illya motioned for him to turn to the left down what was left of an old trail, reached into his rucksack and pulled out a compass.

“Why? Do you know where we are? I’m completely turned around...’ a look passed between them that held both consternation and assurance.

“I hope you have a plan, tovarisch, because I’m all out.” Napoleon wasn’t giving up, but he would give a week’s pay right now if Illya had a solution.

“This is the way we hiked in, and there is a cave over there...’ He pointed down the trail, seemingly not concerned that there was a cloud of smoke coming from that direction.

“There is also a creek that looked very close. I think we can survive this if we can get there and ...” Napoleon was nodding, already heading in the direction of the cave.

The cave and the creek were where Illya remembered. The men both dropped down into the water which and doused themselves and their clothing completely. Illya reached into his pack again, this time removing a folded piece of canvas that would have been used for a shelter had they spent the night camping out, as had been the original plan. He saturated it completely with water and took it in with them as they entered the small cave.

Already the heat of the fire was near enough for them to hear the crackling of flames. It would continue to move on, hopefully extinguishing as it went due to the high humidity. It had rained the night before and the ground was still soaked, something that should work in their favor. Illya and Napoleon pulled the wet canvas over them and huddled together beneath it, away from the cave’s entrance and hopefully safe from the suffocating smoke.

Time seemed to stand still as they waited.

Finally, after the roar of the fire had passed them by, they emerged from their cave. The earth was still muddy, but trees and shrubs that had been green and vibrant just minutes before were now singed or, in some cases, simply gone. Certainly the conditions could have been worse, and the two men were grateful for the fortuitous location of the creek and the cave.

Napoleon took out his communicator and called in their location. They would still need to hike out to a rendezvous point as had been previously planned. The only difference now was the increased difficulty of sloshing through muddy earth ravaged by fire.

When they finally made it to the rendezvous a helicopter was waiting, its blades churning the air as though to clear it of the smoky haze that still hung over the terrain.

“Looks like we made it. I think I’ll have to add this to my list of things I don’t ever want to repeat.” Napoleon had determined early on in life the three things he wished to avoid in life, reciting them to his partner and entrusting him with the duty of making sure they didn’t happen.

“I don’t want to drown, be eaten by anything or... did I say drown?” He would now add die in a raging forest fire.

“I shall not allow anything to eat you, Napoleon.” The smirk was a thinly veiled release from the tensions of the day.

“But you would let me drown?” Napoleon’s affectation was nearly comical.

“I have today saved you from the forest fire. I shall endeavor to keep you afloat should that become necessary. Really Napoleon, do you doubt me?”

A momentary pause.

“No. I never doubt you Illya.”

“Likewise.”