Writer's Choice - The Brave New UNCLE and The Lone Wolf Affair

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

Here are two shorter stories that go together in sequence.  New partnership, new challenges.
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The Brave New UNCLE

"Personally, I think the old man made a mistake bringing in the Soviet. I mean, we may be international, but that doesn't mean letting in avowed enemies. Does it?"

The setting was familiar; the grey walls suspended from ceilings of the same color, the floors fading underfoot as though one surface merely reflected an illusion of substance.

UNCLE headquarters was a melting pot of nationalities and cultures, but no one had garnered the attention of so many people as the new man in Section II, Illya Nickovetch Kuryakin: the Soviet.

His history was a maze of disinformation, purposefully crafted by Alexander Waverly himself. He knew that some things were better left unsaid, and his new recruit was a man whose experiences might be still more fodder for the gristmill, so to speak.

"Hrrmph, enemies indeed."

Oh, he knew what was said, and by whom. UNCLE was his house, and he kept it clean by methods not known in full by anyone save himself. He let his people wonder how he knew what he did, better to keep them on their toes. What he didn't like was the current flow of conversation, and the possibility that Kuryakin was viewed by too many as a threat.

"Miss McNabb, please have Mr. Solo and Mr. Kuryakin come to my office…immediately."

"Yes sir."

There was only one response to Mr. Waverly, and Heather McNabb was calling the two men in question immediately upon saying those two words.

Napoleon Solo had met the Russian, and found him to be affable, if not completely charming. He was reserved, possibly due to the cool reception he'd gotten when arriving here at the New York headquarters of the United Network Command for Law and Enforcement.

UNCLE was nothing if not apprehensive, regardless of whatever policies everyone swore to uphold. In a world that had been shaken by Soviet aggressions after the war, their support of North Korea and various double agents who had made headlines, it was not an easy assignment to come in and try to make himself at home among the doubters.

Of course, not everyone disliked Illya Kuryakin. But those who did had big mouths (wasn't that always the case?), and he seemed to have never spoken a word in defense of himself. Napoleon admired the ability of the man to simply walk away from the several rude remarks that he had heard spoken to his face, or sometimes as he passed by in the canteen or in the hallway.

As for Kuryakin, he dismissed all of it in a resigned way; he was resigned to prejudice in most Western countries. His reception in London had been only slightly better. But then the Profumo scandal hit, rocking British politics to their core. He had barely escaped UNCLE's London office with his scalp, arriving in New York to only slightly less hostility.

The two agents arrived at Waverly's office simultaneously, each of them aggressively responsive when answering the call of their punctilious superior. Kuryakin did it because he had never been without one. Napoleon Solo was not opposed to accommodating his boss, and usually considered it in his best interest to do so.

"Gentlemen, please take a seat."

The daylight visible from the only windows in the entire building shed little light on why they were both present. Solo, as his name announced, worked alone. He had resisted partnering with anyone, primarily due to his belief that no one worked as well with his style as he would require. It was a conceited point of view, but not without some merit. The missions on which he had been paired with another agent had not gone as smoothly as the old man would have liked, and Solo himself usually found the presence of another man an encumbrance to his rather unorthodox methods.

Illya Kuryakin had been so profoundly mistrusted on several occasions as to hinder the procurement of whatever had been the object of those missions. Alexander Waverly was entirely done with that nonsense.

Kuryakin's resume made him a poster boy for competence, his Survival School scores rivaled only by the other man sitting in this office. Together, these two men were the most accomplished and talented in the agency, of that Waverly had no doubts. The only thing left to him was to partner them, thus creating what might possibly be the winning edge in UNCLE's never ending battle with criminal elements like Thrush.

Law and Order, by whatever means necessary.

Before each man was a file folder, as yet unopened. Nothing happened before Waverly mandated it, not even perusing an assignment. Now he nodded his head, indicating they should read the contents of the folders. Each man responded, and in the next several minutes only the sound of measured breathing could be heard alongside the old man's softly tamping of his pipe bowl, the aroma of Isle of Dogs #22 wafting across the round table at which they were all seated.

Solo finished first, or so he thought. Figuring that the Russian probably needed more time to translate into English, he failed to notice the movement of his eyes; Kuryakin had read it once, then gone back to the top and started over again. He didn't want to look up just yet, not before being called upon.

"Mr. Solo, are you finished with that?"

Napoleon looked up, then at the blond next to him.

"Yes sir, I am. Umm…Am I to understand that we, that is Mr. Kuryakin and I, will be on this mission together?"

The grey eyes that viewed him from beneath the ominous looking eyebrows were like steel.

"Is that a problem, Mr. Solo?"

Illya didn't look at the two men, keeping his eyes downward, not daring to anticipate what Solo might say in response. He willed himself to not let out the sigh that was building.

"No sir, not at all. It's just that, well, I am used to working alone…"

That was probably the wrong thing to say, and he regretted it immediately.

"Yes, Mr. Solo, you usually do work alone, without back up; you too often exhibit the type of bravado that makes me concerned that you haven't a shred of common sense, something that Mr. Kuryakin has in spades."

Oh, so that's how it is…

The American agent straightened his head, indicating his censure was noted, although not appreciated. His lips pursed slightly, the top one an indulgent pout that did not go unnoticed by the old man watching him.

Sooner or later, Mr. Solo, we all come to terms…

The Russian's head with the halo of hair that was considered too long by most standards, (most notably those of Mr. Waverly), remained bowed down as though unable to take his eyes from the mission page in front of him. He didn't trust Solo's response, just as he mistrusted most of the people he met here. Only Waverly had made him feel secure in this overwrought city; his little apartment an island of respite from the turmoil that remained, as always, his life.

"Mr. Kuryakin, do you have anything to say about this? Our inability to partner you with an appropriate colleague is no less a concern to me. I am convinced that you and Mr. Solo are somehow fated for one another, given that neither of you can function satisfactorily with anyone else."

Illya braved a sidelong glance at his new partner, only to be met by a similar look from him. What was there about this that made him want to laugh out loud? Two errant schoolboys, set to rights in front of the headmaster…

Subduing a grin, the absurdity of the situation suddenly seemed an answer to his problems after all. Solo was well liked, most probably the next CEA of the Northwest Section… He could do worse.

"No sir, I am quite happy to be assigned as Mr. Solo's partner. I believe I shall learn quite a lot from him…sir."

Napoleon smirked a little, understanding the message.

Okay, I can do this too, comrade.

"Umm…yes, Mr. Waverly, I agree."

He caught a look from Illya, realizing how that sounded.

"Oh, not about learning from me…sorry. I mean that this seems like a good thing for us to…umm…try out, at least. Thank you, sir."

The old man looked at his agents, wary of their sudden acceptance of the situation, regardless of what mandates were taken for granted. No matter, he'd let them work that out themselves.

"Very well, then. Please familiarize yourselves with this mission agenda, and pick up your travel arrangements from Miss McNabb. That is all."

He put his head down, a whiff of smoke circling up from the pipe that he had managed to light during the briefing. The new partners departed the big office with the faint aroma of Mr. Waverly's tobacco as an escort.

Napoleon picked up the envelope with their plane tickets, and some additional details regarding their destination. Illya stood patiently by as he considered this new development. Napoleon's thoughts must have echoed those of the Russian as he turned to face him, extending his hand in what would become the first of many agreements.

"It seems we are now a team, Illya. Welcome to New York."

The blond gave him a glimpse of his smile, not yet willing to be completely deferential to this new comrade.

"Thank you, Napoleon. I believe Mr. Waverly has chosen well…for both of us."

Napoleon's own smile was slightly crooked, his affect one of having been caught slightly by surprise.

"Yes…I think you may be right, tovarisch. Say, are you hungry? I know a place…"

To each of them the thought occurred that having a partner might turn out to be a very good thing.

The Lone Wolf Affair

"He's sort of a lone wolf, isn't he..." The woman's voice trailed off as the slender agent passed by. UNCLE was known for its operatives abilities to work alone or in teams, but this one seemed always to be alone. He was willing enough to interact and be friendly, but when it came to a mission...

"Yeah, I heard that he's driven off more partners than Mr. Waverly has pipes." That brought a tinkling laugh from Ginger, a pert and friendly girl who worked in the secretarial pool of the United Network Command for Law and Enforcement. The Old Man (and no one ever actually called him that), was famous for the array of smoking utensils that he fingered while musing over his employees and the work they performed.

Sally, another secretary who had recently been rebuffed by the agent in question, chimed in with her own opinion. "I don't think he's anti-social really, just shy. I mean he does go out with women occasionally." She shot a look at Heather who remained impassive at the implication that a romance had been brewing in her life. "Hey, don't include me in this, we just happen to work together.. a lot. Anyway, I thought you were mad at him for not giving in to your little seduction."

Sally produced a skewered little smile, her memory of the attempt now slightly embarrassing. "He was really sweet about it, and it's hard to stay mad at him." The three agreed on that, Napoleon Solo was too charming, too handsome and definitely too good to be true. Sometimes men like that were better left to daydreams.

Later that same day the three women whose conversation had centered on Mr. Solo were again seated together, this time over lunch in the commissary. Ginger's chair faced the double doors and had a clear view of everyone who entered. In mid bite of a turkey on rye sandwich she stopped, her eyes widening as two men walked into the room that was quickly filling with agents and other employees. "Ginger, what is...?" Heather turned to look in the same direction, as did Sally. All three women sat and stared as Napoleon and someone else ambled by their table, quietly discussing something. The new man, a slightly built blond, was speaking and each woman heard a distinct and compelling accent as he passed by them. Ginger caught sight of brilliant blue eyes and immediately started thinking of a way to maneuver a way to meet this attractive man.

Heather was the first to speak. "Oh, he's the new agent from London. He's Russian... Illya Kuryakin." The others just nodded, each of them fighting an impulse to turn around and stare at the men. "Do you think he's going to be partnered with Mr. Solo? A Russian... wow... This should be interesting."

Sally was impressed, and curious. Her own family had some Russian ancestry, although she couldn't quite remember who it was. That was something she'd need to find out about, perhaps create a common ground with this intriguing new man.

Heather wasn't privy to everything that went on upstairs; only what Mr. Waverly needed for her to know. "I guess we'll find out, girls. In the meantime it seems that Mr. Solo's status has a new challenger." She canted her head to one side, prompting the other two woman to look in the direction indicated. All of the women in the room were looking (as inconspicuously as possible), towards the table where Solo and the new man were now seated.

Napoleon Solo had balked only momentarily when given the task of showing the new man around Headquarters. His objection was quickly countered by Mr. Waverly's stern insistence that things were about to change, hopefully for the better. Solo had heard about this new man, Kuryakin... a Soviet agent whose background was so full of holes it resembled a slice of Swiss cheese. The meeting upstairs, the one from which they had just recently been dismissed, had cleared the fog for both men: they were now partners. Something about Kuryakin's response had challenged Napoleon to give him the benefit of the doubt, see how the field looked with a Soviet spy for a partner.

Both Solo and Kuryakin took their seats even as they realized that most of the women in the room seemed to be looking at them. Illya had noted that Americans seemed to be a rude bunch, so unlike the British or his own Russian countrymen. Whether out of feigned disinterest or a need to not be noticed, it was preferable in his mind. "Are you accustomed to being watched by your own people, Mr. Solo?" The question took Napoleon by surprise. "What? No, oh the ladies? They're just ... I have dated a few of them."

Oh, so that was it... Illya understood now, he was paired with the office Casanova. So much the better, at least they would most likely leave him alone if Solo was the object of their combined affections. Napoleon noted the expression on Kuryakin's face and thought it wise to not venture into those waters. He didn't feel the need to defend his dating habits, not to ... "I can introduce you, if you're interested. There are some very nice girls here who would probably like ...' Illya frowned at the implication that he needed help with women.

"Thank you, but no. Romance is not at the top of my agenda at present." Rather than ending it, the remark made Napoleon curious. "Oh? Is there someone back in Russia? Or England, or France?' At the look on Illya's face Napoleon did some back peddling. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to intrude. I just thought you might like to go out with someone here, have some fun." Misunderstanding. Illya was beginning to think there would be many of those.

"I am sorry, Napoleon, for my abruptness. I appreciate your consideration, it is just that... how to explain it... With moving here and starting work in a new location, with a new partner...' Napoleon had to smile at that. "You understand, yes?" Napoleon did understand. How would he operate in a new country, surrounded by people who possibly mistrusted you? Illya was a Soviet agent, things couldn't have been easy.

Thinking on it, he supposed that dating wasn't high on his list of priorities. More likely survival. "I do, Illya. Just let me know when, or if, you'd like me to introduce you to someone. Then again, the girls around here aren't shy, so you may end up needing protection from me rather than connections." The two of them laughed at that, something that set them both at ease and underscored the importance of what Waverly had accomplished by pairing them.

Kuryakin had considered himself a lone wolf in this country, separated from his pack by politics and manipulations outside of his control. But he did have a partner now, so perhaps things were about to change.

Comments

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Yay more for Writer's Choice! Thank you!

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

I wondered where you were hiding ;) I can't remember if I've posted these before, but… oh well.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

I don't think you did...and of course I overslept....again.

[jantojones.livejournal.com]

Both of these are wonderful. It must have been a difficult time for any Soviet arriving in America, but for a Soviet Secret Agent, it must be terrifying.

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I always enjoy these 'early days' stories. It's fun to set the ground rules :D

[lindafishes8.livejournal.com]

You have a wonderful gift for revealing insights into our character's thoughts and emotions that I truly enjoy. The 'slice of swiss cheese' analogy was particularly good. Thanks for rec-ing this pair of new partnership stories here.

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the kind comment, it's much appreciated.