Suited Up -Conclusion

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

It's been quite a while since I started this and then got sidetracked with so many things.  You probably need to start from the beginning again, so the links for parts 1 & 2 are below.  This was originally a PicFic, but the conclusion is just the end of the story.
Part 1
Part 2
:~~~~~:~~~~~:~~~~~:


As the medical team worked to make Illya comfortable and hopefully free of any reciprocal damage from the encephalitic symptoms, Napoleon headed for his office and yet another meeting, this time with the team he would head up.  Their goal was to find the source of the virus that was threatening to end the career of Illya Kuryakin, and possibly endanger the lives of millions.

"Thrush obviously intended to show us that what they have is some sort of bargaining chip.  I believe that, in tipping their hand, the motive was manipulative.' Napoleon was stern faced as his team listened.  Mark Slate and April Dancer were there as were the team of Dan Kinser and Nancy Parker.  Without Illya at his side Napoleon felt like the odd man out rather than the one in charge.  Working with a partner had forever changed how the CEA viewed his work, his life…

"I don't think it mattered to them who showed up to retrieve that package, only the UNCLE would know something deadly was in the works.  What comes next is anyone's guess, but mine is that they will make a demand of some sort."

Mark nudged his partner at that last remark.  He had said as much to April on their way in, that THRUSH had a motive beyond hurting an UNCLE agent.

"So, where do we start?  Do you have any idea about the person who planted the information about that package?"  Napoleon looked at April, remembered her infatuation with Illya and what he surmised had happened in London a few months previous.  She seemed fine,  professional…

"Section IV has produced some intel regarding the 'tip' we received and traced it to a phone number originating from an office building.  We're going to head there now, and hope they don't know we're coming."

Nancy Parker, one of the newly appointed female operatives and a good agent according to her seasoned partner Dan Kinser, had a look on her face that prompted Napoleon to inquire if she was following his briefing.

"Do you have any questions Nancy?  You look a little puzzled."  She smiled back at her boss, a slight blush rising up from her dark blue turtleneck.

"I don't want to sound like it's a problem, but..."

"That's why we're here, Nancy.  What's on your mind?"  Nancy looked at her partner as though to gain his permission.  In return the blond agent nodded his head.

"Do you think that there will be … is this a trap?  What if the place is filled with this virus?"  It was hard, talking to Napoleon Solo as though she were an equal.  Deep down she still had a certain amount of fear when going out on a mission, enough that Nancy sometimes wondered how long she would last as a Section II.

Napoleon didn't think less of her for the question, he had considered the possibility himself.  The issue at hand, however, mandated that they take the risk in order to stop whoever this was and guarantee that THRUSH never had the opportunity that this incident seemed to suggest.

"It is entirely possible.  I think, however, that our people have managed to ascertain this location without setting off any alarms.  They are very good at what they do, and we are very good at what we do.'  Nancy nodded, ready to follow Napoleon wherever he would lead them.

"Any more questions or concerns?  No?  Okay then, let's head out."

Five agents headed down to the motor pool area and climbed into a van that was specially equipped with enough firepower to lay siege on a fortress.  Communications would be manned by a sixth agent from Section III, Greg LaCosta.

As the van pulled out, the team in Medical rushed to the bedside of Illya Kuryakin while he thrashed and gyrated, a seizure buffeting his body.  Dr. McGinnis felt the weight of his position as he ordered the Russian agent be put into an ice bath, a last hope for reducing the raging fever.  He couldn't promise anyone that Napoleon would ever see his partner alive again.

The UNCLE van pulled to within a half block of the target.  The message had come from a two story building whose history seemed evident in its crumbling facade and faded lettering.

"East Side Monument Company."  Mark read it and sighed.

"Perfect, they made tombstones here.  That sort of sets the mood, I'd say."  April smiled, her partner could be morose at times.

"Darling, don't be so fatalistic.  It doesn't look as though anyone has done business here for decades.  What do you think Napoleon?"

Solo was busy examining every window, looking for possible signs of life.  If THRUSH had a lab in this building it would be buried deep within the interior.  He wondered briefly how Illya was doing, then pushed that care aside.  The mission was the thing and his team needed him to be present and in charge.

"I think you're right April.  Dan and Nancy, take the back of the building.  Mark, you and April come with me.  Sleep darts everyone, we need information and it can't be had from a dead man."

Nancy and Dan circled to the back, climbing over weeds and discarded blocks of cement.  Several broken headstones littered the  path, another indication that the site had been abandoned for quite some time.

Mark and April flanked Napoleon as they entered through the front door, light hitting the old hardwood floors for what seemed the first time in many years.  Dust rose up with each step, leaving footprints in its wake.   The trio quickly ascertained that they were the first to come this way as they noticed no other footprints in the dirt and dust covered floor.

The trilling of Napoleon's communicator broke the tension.

"Solo here, what do you have?"

"Napoleon, the back door has been used recently.  Someone has actually cleaned this room we're in and by the looks of it someone has eaten in here."

"Okay Dan, we'll come through and meet you there.  This area looks undisturbed, so wherever the lab is we'll find it by going in through the back."

Napoleon put his communicator away and led his agents through a long corridor that emptied out into several other rooms on either side.  Heading straight back, they were soon met by Kinser and Parker.  Nancy pointed towards a stairwell that spiraled up to the second floor.

"Dan, you and Nancy stay here and keep an eye on things.  Do not engage anyone if they approach, just find a spot and stay out of sight for now. Let LaCosta know what we've found and what our status is.  Mark, April…"  Napoleon indicated the stairs with a nod and led the way up.

The second floor was one large room, it was also a laboratory that would make most scientist drool with envy; at least it seemed so to the non-scientists who stood at the threshold and peered into its depths.

"Wow, when THRUSH builds a lab they don't pinch penneys.  By the way, where are the THRUSH?"  April was scanning the room, as were the two men.  Nothing more could be seen, no one…

"Over there.  I think there's a white lab coat filled with a body."  Mark and Napoleon both turned to look at their female counterpart.

"Over there I said; quit looking at me."  It was annoying at times, they sometimes treated her like less than a field agent.

"Don't touch anything." Napoleon approached the prone figure and pulled a pair of gloves from his coat pocket.

"I don't see any blood, so chances are he was ex posed to the virus and…"

"Died?  He died from the virus… Do you think Illya will make it, Napoleon?"  April's voice sounded a little shaky, as though the gravity of the situation had finally, reluctantly, settled in.

"He's dead, and if our labs are correct, so is the virus.  It can't live longer than a few seconds and then it becomes completely devoid of danger."

Mark approached, gloved and cautious; he leaned over the man and then looked around at the beakers and various other lab accouterment that was evident.

"We need our lab people over here Napoleon.  We don't have a clue what to do next."  Napoleon nodded,  prompting Mark's call back to Headquarters.

Once more Napoleon's communicator warbled its tune.

"Solo here."  His concentration was centered on searching for clues as to why the man was dead.

"Napoleon, we have someone approaching.  I don't recognize anyone, but I'd lay odds they belong to THRUSH."  Dan was speaking low.

"How close Dan?"

"Thirty feet, and closing.  We're going to duck behind something… almost to the door now."

"Keep your communicator open, I want to hear what they're saying."

Dan didn't respond and Napoleon assumed he and Nancy had taken their places in whatever spot would conceal them.  The sound of voices came through the open communicator and Napoleon gave the shush sign to Mark and April, hoping that nothing would be heard from the other end.

"In here, and hurry up.  That lunatic scientist has doomed this project, the virus is dead and so is he."

"Abernathy is dead? How?"

"Are you brain dead Murphy?  The virus killed him, and he left the canister open and now it's dead as the proverbial doornail.  Sheesh,  you're such a schmuck."

The sound of footsteps coming up the stairs signaled the three agents to find their hiding places and wait.  As soon as the room below was clear, Dan and Nancy emerged from the closet they'd gone into for cover and  prepared to follow the THRUSH duo upstairs.

"Be careful, just in case."

"Just in case of what Leo?"  The one called Murphy seemed singularly disadvantaged.

"The virus, you numbskull.  Geez, how'd you ever get into THRUSH in the first place?  You need a …"

Napoleon emerged from his hiding spot, gun drawn and deadly agent personna in place.

"You can stop right there.  I believe you have information that we might find useful."  Napoleon's gaze bore a hole through the two men while Mark and April stood in strategic positions, ready to move into action if needed.

"UNCLE huh?  Well, well… I think maybe you already know that the virus is, shall we say, expired.  The brilliant scientist who developed it got sloppy and, well… you already found him so you know what happened."  Leo spoke with more confidence than he actually possessed.  Making a deal with the man seemed a better solution than being left for dead or, worse, for THRUSH.  His loyalties were only as deep as his need to survive.

Murphy seemed unsure, but was willing to follow the lead of his partner.

"Guns and whatever else you're carrying then, as I take it you're willing to cooperate."  Napoleon knew there would be no resistance.

Dan was left in charge of directing the clean up and collection of the materials inside the lab.  Doors were sealed and hazardous materials handlers sent in to thoroughly investigate the scene.  Napoleon waited for a team to pick up the THRUSH who went willingly enough to their interrogation, eventually yielding information that would lead to the apprehension of their superiors and the capture of another THRUSH satrapy.  All in all, a successful endeavor.

Back at Headquarters Napoleon went first to Mr. Waverly's office for a mission debriefing, after which he headed directly to Medical.  No mention had been made concerning Illya's condition, something that produced both encouragement and anxiety; not knowing anything battled against not hearing bad news.

The scene that greeted Napoleon caused him to stop in mid-stride, torn between a deep need to let down his guard and just be grateful.  Illya was sitting up, no sign of the struggle he had endured as his body battled against the effects of the virus.  He looked tired and, if possible, a shade whiter than before, but otherwise seemed to be fine.

"Illya, how do you feel?"  That was all he could come up with, but his partner smiled at him and waved him into the room.

"I am much better it seems, in spite of being nearly killed… again.  How is your suit?"  The wily Russian would probably not let the American forget this for a very long time.  But that was just fine with Napoleon, he could get another suit made… a hundred suits.

At last count, there was only one Kuryakin, and he was irreplaceable.

Comments

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Wow this one goes way back. Glad you were able to finish it. An quick ending! And yes Kuyakin is irreplaceable.

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

I know, it had to be finished. thanks for reading it, I hope it made sense after all this time.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

I needed to go back and scan parts one and two to jog my memory, so thanks for posting the links. Yep the ending, though quick, made sense.

[laurose8.livejournal.com]

Thanks for a good end. I'm glad Leo was one of the small minority of THRUSHies with a grain of common sense.

The lab scene was very well done, and I love the last line.

edit: Nancy's good, too.

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

Thanks for finishing this one, I felt bad for taking so long to give an ending.

[jantojones.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the links to the first two parts. Even though I remembered them, it was nice to read it from start to finish. The ending was excellent :-)

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

I appreciate that you were willing to finish the tale :D Thanks for commenting.