PicFic Challenge for 9/23/14

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(Continuation of Terminus )

When they entered the office, both Napoleon and Illya picked up on Mister Waverly's mood immediately, taking seats and remaining quiet under he turned to face them.

"I suppose you have heard that two of our men were found dead."

Illya nodded while Napoleon responded verbally.

"Yes, sir. We hadn't heard anything beyond that yet."

"There is a reason for that, gentlemen. I wish to preserve such dignity as they have remaining so I have forbidden the details of their retrieval from being discussed. I will tell it to the pair of you only because it has a direct bearing on your next assignment."

The briar pipe in Mister Waverly's hand was cold now, but he didn't put it down. Napoleon was beginning to get concerned as Mister Waverly had yet to meet their eyes - a highly unusual occurrence in a meeting with the Old Man. His gaze was still aimed toward his pipe as he finally began to speak again.

"As you are both aware, when it comes to a mission, all of us are expendable. That is an unfortunate fact, but a fact nonetheless. However, even in war, there should be standards of conduct and lines that are not crossed. Our men were clad in nothing but filthy gym shorts with their possessions - including their communicators - strewn around their resting place - a rancid pile of garbage. We were obviously intended to find them in that condition."

A scowl was already showing on Illya's face. Killing was one thing - deliberately desecrating a corpse was another. Napoleon's facial emotions were held closer in check, but his tone told of his own disgust.

"Might I presume that Mister Kuryakin and I are being sent to deal with the THRUSH agents responsible?"

"You may indeed, Mister Solo. The memorial service will be this afternoon and I expect the two of you to be on your way after its conclusion. I suppose I should also mention that you will be expected to say a few words - and not as their CEA."

Illya saw the puzzled look form on Napoleon's face.

"Then what capacity did you want me to speak in, sir?"

Instead of answering that question, Mister Waverly slid over a pair of folders.

"The names of the agents lost are Robert Derivaux and Stanley Kemp. I would like you both to familiarize yourselves with the results of the autopsies. I believe there may be some clues as to where they had been held before being dumped."

Now seeing Napoleon go pale, Illya reached out and picked up the folders.

"I will see you at 1400 hours for the service. Until them, gentlemen."

Illya rose at the dismissal, but Napoleon hesitated.

"Will they be buried together?"

"If by that, you mean side-by-side? Then yes, they will be. In matching coffins. We have no stated preferences on file for either man, but that seemed most appropriate."

"I agree. Thank you, sir."

As they exited the outer office, Illya let Napoleon take the lead. Instead of heading back to their office, Napoleon was going to the room where the memorial services were always held. The room was the equivalent of two-stories with the upper floor being a rafter area where coffins were stored until needed. All identical, pristine white with red crepe lining the sides. The lids of two of the coffins were now open - Illya supposed they were waiting for the bodies to be released from Medical.






Napoleon didn't say a word as he looked over the coffins and, after a few minutes, he turned and left. Illya trailed behind as before, their destination this time was their office. Illya sat behind his desk and opened the first folder, starting to read. Once he finished it, he laid it on Napoleon's desk, but otherwise did not interact with his partner. Napoleon would talk when he was ready.

The office remained silent until only half an hour remained until the service. Napoleon's clenched fist came down on his desk like a gavel.

"I hate this, Illya."

"I know you do, my friend. You knew them both better than most of the other agents, did you not?"

Napoleon's forehead lowered to rest on his clasped hands.

"Stan was my last partner before Mister Waverly teamed us up."

The blue eyes softened in sympathy. Unless a partnership ended due to a betrayal, an ex-partner was still a partner.

"And Derivaux?"

One of Napoleon's hands slid free of the other and pushed into his hair.

"Bob was also a former partner. Mister Waverly didn't like how they meshed with me, but he saw something and teamed them up three years ago. They've been . . . were one of the top teams ever since."

Napoleon went quiet again, but this time Illya moved to stand behind his partner, laying his hands on Napoleon's shoulders.

"Their deaths are not on you for no longer being their partner. They were a good team. Mister Waverly was correct - they were left as they were as a message to the rest of us. Likely an attempt to demoralize us. They did not have that effect on Mister Waverly and I, for one, look forward to showing them the error of their judgment."

"That's two of us, tovarich."

Illya left his hands on Napoleon's shoulder a little longer before removing them and speaking.

"Napoleon, it is time for us to go to the service."

Nodding, Napoleon stood and straightened his hair, taking a deep breath.

"Come on, pal. Let's go pay our respects to two of the best."

Comments

[avirra.livejournal.com]

Yep - definitely to be continued. next pic prompt *nod*