Chapter Text
“We’re going where?” Napoleon asked his partner who had picked him up from home for the affair Waverly had called him on.
“Kazakhstan.”
“I heard what you said but never heard of it,” Napoleon complained.
“Kazakhstan is landlocked in central Asia. It borders Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan with its coastline along the Caspian Sea. It is a constituent of the USSR which doesn’t consider it part of Central Asia. It does have physical and cultural geographic characteristics similar to other Central Asian Countries.”
“So another country that is so small that no one has ever heard of it,” Napoleon grumbled. “And what is Axios doing there.”
“Kazakhstan is the larger producer of the Safflower crop grown mostly in the eastern part.”
Napoleon was still confused, “That's a flower, I thought Axios was after the world vegetables.”
“It is a flower, but commercially cultivated for the vegetable oil extracted from its seeds. Also, Axios demanded tribute from the area to prevent him from doing more damage than done already,” Illya continued.
“And the USSR has asked for our help again?”
“It does seem so.”
“Look Illya, you have General Popov that hates you, why would Waverly send you in?”
“General Zhdanov personally asked for me. Half the world has people like General Popov. If I had to hide from them all, I couldn’t be an UNCLE agent.”
The men landed in Kazakhstan and were met by General Zhdanov. “My Illyavich,” he said hugging him. “I’m so glad you came. Mr. Solo its a pleasure to see you again. I’m afraid we were too late to stop the destruction, but we did catch the men who were responsible for it.”
“And what did the men say? After some persuasion, they stated Dr. Axios left right after he had handed the canisters with the gas to the pilots by helicopter. Took them he had a lot to set up after this one.”
“Did they say where he was going?” Napoleon asked.
“According to them, no. I would like you two to look over the fields, gather samples, and anything else you need,” Zhdanov led them to the car and then encouraged them to return to his office once they were done to talk to the prisoner.
“You scientists haven’t discovered anything?” Illya asked feeling something was wrong.
“That area is Popov area and according to him, there is nothing to fine. I had to admit, I don’t trust him. Here is a
The once beautiful yellow thistle Safflowers were now black and lying on the ground. The agents quickly gathered what they needed returning to the car to talk to the capture Thrush agents.
As the car stopped, the men noticed nothing but fields. “Something a matter?” Napoleon asked as Illya went for his gun.
“No sir,” the driver said as the window between them went up and gas filled the car before the agents could break the bulletproof window glass.
Napoleon woke up unrestrained, unhurt, and lying in a corner of a cell. Looking around he saw his partner in the next cell bound tightly, beaten, and locked to the wall.
“Illya,” he called out.
A rough voice said, “About time you woke up,”
“Where are we and what happened to you?”
“Popov, and his cells in USSR.”
“How long have we been here for that to happen to you?”
“I woke up yesterday. They gave you an injection to keep you out until this morning. He said he would let you go home, but don’t trust him. Accidents can happen when someone is driving on the roads outside of his home.”
A door opened, and Popov Axios and three men walked in. “Ah, Mr. Solo, we have arranged for you to go home in a few hours.”
“And my partner?”
“I’m afraid Kuryakin has a trial to attend for treason.”
“My partner,” Napoleon bit out, “Hasn’t committed treason and I will not leave without him.”
“Napoleon,” Illya tried to speak although it hurt, “Go.”
“Listen to him, Mr. Solo. You will not like what will happen if you don’t,” Popov glanced at Illya. “What you see, is my effect to obtain a confession. By the time I am done, I will.”
“Never,” Illya spit.
Nodding to the men, they entered Illya’s cell and began to beat him again. Popov and Axios watched before Popov turned to Napoleon.
"I would prefer not to have to convince you the same way, Mr. Solo.”
“Leave him alone,” Napoleon yelled reaching through the bars hoping to to reach Popov or Axios.
“Gentlemen enough. Help Mr. Solo upstairs and into the car to the airport,” Popov looked at Napoleon. “By the time you can complain about this situation, Kuryakin will be buried in so many levels of paperwork you’ll never find him.”
The two men opened the cell, pulling a struggling Napoleon out. “I’ll be back,” he yelled as they dragged him up the stairs."
"Goodbye, Mr. Solo. We'll never be meeting again," Axios said.
Napoleon knew they had arranged an accident on his way to the airport. Yelling back down the stairs, "Don't count on it Axios. I'll see you again, and next time you won't survive the meeting."
The man opened the cell door for Popov who walked up to Illya, “You will suffer until you give me what I want.” Then he walked back out nodding to his man.
The car taking Napoleon to the plane turned off onto a dirt road. Before the men could do anything, Napoleon began to choke one man while taking the gun and shooting the other. After the man stopped struggling, he took the dead man's phone calling General Zhdanov.
When the rescue came, Popov’s men pulled Illya out of the cell. Helping Illya out of the restraints, Napoleon led him to Zhdanov's car. Popov nor Axios weren’t anywhere to be found, but a passageway was located in the basement they believed Popov had used to escape.
“Illyavich, I’m sorry. I believed Popov was in Moscow, otherwise, I wouldn’t have asked for you two,” Zhdanov told him. “My medic will fix you up and I’ll escort you to the plane. Be aware Popov will be found, and he will pay for this.”
After some basic first aid, stitches, and bandages, Illya looked at Zhdanov. “Why did you ask for Napoleon and me when the problem had already happened?
“I owe you that much,” Zhdanov said sighing. “I suspect Popov is working with Dr. Axios. He is there whenever problems happen in our controlled countries, and Dr. Axios is seen with him. The samples he ‘gathers’ are always lost or destroyed somehow.”
Illya examined the man, “It would have helped to know this when we came. Come on Napoleon, let’s go home.”
“I am truly sorry,” General Zhdanov said as the door closed which Illya ignored.
The two agents headed home but only after Napoleon ensured the UNCLE agent in Russia would help find Popov and permanently make sure he was no longer a problem.