"The Castex Experiment-Chapter 3 the conclusion"- for Ladies First

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Chapter 1
Chapter 2

                               

Napoleon remained still, continuing to study the control panel while trying to ignore Castex as he bellowed with laughter.

The man was finally silenced when several other guards entered the control room; dressed in typical green T.H.R.U.S.H. coveralls and wearing black berets. One of them was a little short compared to the others and seemed to be staying behind them as if he were trying to remain out of view.

There was something very familiar with the man’s gait and realizing that, Napoleon smiled again for a second time.

Following after the guards, a platinum haired woman sauntered in; her sultry walk exuded confidence. Her presence immediately wiped the grin from Solo’s lips.

“Welcome Miss Le Chien,” Dr. Castex oozed.”And what did you think of my little demonstration?”

She ignored him, focusing her attention instead upon Napoleon.

Walking directly to him, she grabbed Solo by his bow tie, pulling him to her waiting lips. When they parted, she quickly whispered into his ear. “Russian is here.”

“Miss Le Chien!” Castex blurted out. He was astonished to see such fraternization between a THRUSH woman and an UNCLE agent, but then Angelique's reputation preceeded her. She was no ordinary woman, and there were things about her the good doctor detested.

She was here to observe his experiment and report back to Central on its success and Castex was not happy about his project being in her hands.

“Please Doctor, Mr. Solo and I are old acquaintances and what happens between the two of us is my business, understood?”

Emile shook his head, not able to fathom such things. He had no patience for women's games and to him they did not belong as field operatives; still they had their uses for other things. Honey Dearest, after all made for a superior body guard, but then again she was completely obedient to his every command. Le Chien had too much power in his estimation. The little man shook himself free of those thoughts for the moment.

“You didn’t answer my question. What did you think of the demonstration?”

Angelique smiled, slithering around behind Napoleon, running her hands along his body.

“Oh Emile...may I call you Emile? You mustn't focus on business all the time. We can talk about that later. Perhaps Mr. Solo is a bit hungry, I know I am. Let’s go upstairs to the mansion and have a bit of a repast, n’est ce pas? “

Castex wasn’t happy with her tip toeing around answering him, but since she was Central’s representative he had to play her little game for now. Once word of the success of his work as well as the death of Illya Kuryakin was made known, his seat on the Council would be guaranteed.

He detested game playing, and this one was well known for that, perhaps too much to his liking. The way she kissed Solo, and how she touched him told Castex she’d slept with the man. He had no doubt of it. That to him was completely unacceptable. Sleeping with the enemy has it's uses but, the end result of which should be disposing of said enemy, and since Solo was still alive... He would see to it that his woman met with an unfortunate accident once he had the power of the Council in his corner.

“Fine Angelique...if I may call you that? Dining arrangements shall be made.” Castex pressed a button on the console and moments later Honey Dearest appeared.

“My Dearest please see to it that dinner is ready.”

She looked at the doctor, canting her head as she studied the others. “How many Doctor?"

“Setting for six.” You will be joining us as will Monsieur Boucher. The other guests?"

"Have all left Doctor, and they were quite generous in supporting your project," Honey nodded as she smiled

"Excellent," Dr. Castex grinned.

The guards escorted Solo, accompanied by the blonde temptress to the green terrace outside the bunker.

“Ladies first,” Napoleon said as the door opened, though he was still handcuffed and was unable to gesture.

As they walked towards the elevator, all hell broke suddenly loose.

The smaller guard slammed the other two with his rifle butt, knocking one out and darting them both into silence.

“I knew it was you,” Solo smiled, seeing his partner’s blue eye wink at him from beneath the black beret. “What took you so long?” It wasn't the time or place to discuss it, but but he was ever so grateful his partner wasn't dead.

“I found myself in a bit of a soggy situation, if you had not noticed.” Illya turned his attention to Angelique.

“Now Madam if you will do as we agreed please?”

“What’s that?” Napoleon, rubbing his wrists as the handcuffs were removed.

“She is to pretend that you overtook her, that way she cannot be implicated in your escape.”

“And why said assistance?” Napoleon looked to her.

“Castex cannot be allowed to succeed darling. He plans to do away with me once he becomes a member of the T.H.R.U.S.H. Council and that just won’t do.”

“Oh so a little power play going on,” Napoleon smiled. “And what exactly is the benefit to U.N.C.L.E. in this little endeavor?”

“Why your lives of course.”

“Oh is that all? Solo pulled her to him, kissing her hard.

“Enough! We have to go,” Illya hissed.

Napoleon took Angelique by the hands, gently lowering her to the ground, and putting his handcuffs on her wrists.

“Sorry Angelique, but I lied,” Illya smiled, aiming his rifle at her and shooting her with a sleep dart right in her rump.

“You little Russian bastarrrrrr….”

Kuryakin had promised to let the Castex Experiment remain intact but that he wasn't about to let happen.

Without another word, Solo grabbed one of the other rifles and headed back to the bunker entrance, punching the entry code in the door.

“Illya I saw you go overboard as the yacht was foundering. How did you survive?” Napoleon whispered.

“I swam beneath the boat to retrieve diving gear that I had secured to the hull in anticipation of having to perform some night maneuvers in order to assist you. Once I was able to put on the equipment, I remained underwater until the storm subsided, though I found it necessary to evade their search teams along with a few sharks,"

“Clever Russian.”

“Nice of you to notice.”

The two headed down the darkened grey corridor, entering the control room, though finding it empty.

Illya began studying the controls, marveling at it. attempting to ascertain what he could do to rewire it to make it overload, should the system go on-line again. "I think T.H.R.U.S.H. has outdone themselves this time. This is a very complicated machine."

“Don’t bother tovarisch.” Napoleon pointed to the buttons on his vest.” They missed these when they searched me.”

Solo popped off the black buttons and as he and Illya stepped back, he tossed them at the controls. They exploded, destroying most of it, and the rest began to burn.

Behind them, they suddenly heard a high pitched scream like the yowling of a banshee. In charged Honey Dearest; her eyes wide like a mad woman.

She dove at Napoleon, doing a cartwheel and when swinging her legs around she caught him in a scissor lock, squeezing the life out of him with her powerful muscles. The rifle dropped from his hands as he tried to break the grip she had on him. He pushed her backwards, slamming her hard against the wall, but nothing seemed to faze her.

Illya dropped to one knee, aimed his rifle and fired, hitting the woman directly in the forehead; not with a sleep dart but a live round.

Napoleon pulled himself free, looking down at her while shaking his head. “What a waste.”

They dashed back out the bunker exit, discovering Angelique was no longer there. The air around the two agents was unexpectedly whipped as a helicopter whirred past them. It hovered, turning and faced their direction.

“Down!” Illya yelled, spotting the armaments on the chopper.

Rockets whizzed overhead; the agents apparently weren’t the target. On the upper terrace the mansion exploded with a loud boom, followed by another before the helicopter turned away and disappeared into the distance.

“Okay,” Napoleon said, brushing himself off as he rose, offering a hand to help his partner rise.

”What just happened?”

“Good question,” Illya shook his head.

Taking the elevator to the upper terrace, they found what was left of the smouldering house. The body of Emile-Georges Castex was lying dead beside the pool...he’d been shot, but who did the shooting?"

“Angelique,” Napoleon whispered his suspicion aloud.

“One can only presume my friend.”

After a thorough search, her body wasn’t found, neither was the body of Theo Boucher or that of Peadar, the doctor's assistant.

“This affair isn’t over by any means,” Napoleon said. “I suspect Peadar knows Castex’s secrets and if he’s with Boucher...”

Suddenly they again heard the sound of helicopter blades behind them, perhaps returning to finish the job?

It landed beside the pool and Angelique stepped out; her meticulous hair undone in the breeze.

“Well darlings are you coming?” She beckoned them to the chopper.

Illya cast a nervous glance to his partner, wondering what she had in mind for his darting her.

“Oh don’t worry Kuryakin, I forgive you this time.”

Napoleon shrugged response.”Why look a gift horse in the mouth chum.”

They climbed on board the chopper, heading off with Angelique who suggested they take a little time off, and relax in the islands.

“I think we need to get back to New York, though the idea is enticing,” Napoleon said.”Angelique, why the rescue?”

“Oh you two did me a favor. You destroyed Castex’s machine which is what I expected to you do. I never thought you'd agree not to Kuryakin. And me...I took care of the little man myself. yet U.N.C.L.E. takes the blame for it with T.H.R.U.S.H. All part of my plan, really. Et voila, my position with Central remains secure."

Napoleon made a point of not mentioning Peadar or Boucher...

“Makes sense,” Illya nodded to Angelique.”A brilliant plan. A successful power play and getting us to do your dirty work for you."

“You know darling that’s one of the nicest things you’ve ever said to me…”

“Try not to get used to it,”Illya said as he crossed his arms in front of his chest, closing his eyes.

Comments

[lindafishes8.livejournal.com]

Ah, my favorite femme fatale to the rescue. You had me worried there.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Thanks! This isn't exactly how I though the story would go, then I realized I needed to do a Ladies First fic and figured what the heck. I didn't want to make eveyrone wait until the next PicFic.