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Axios had finally done it. He demanded payment from the United States to prevent his men from destroying the Wakame crops. The FBI and CIA were looking into the problem but weren’t able to find how it was being done.
Illya had suggested that he and Napoleon investigate the problem and see if they could see how it was being done. So now the agents were on their way to the fields to see what they discovered.
The water was calm, the sun shining and Napoleon was in his glory stirring the UNCLE boat. He stood on the deck, wheel in hand directing them to the Wakme fields along the Alaska coast. Glaring around he laughed. His partner was hanging over the side, and asking how much longer every few minutes like Napoleon’s four-year-old nephew.
As they approached the area they needed to examine, Illya brought the file over and sat by Napoleon.
“You done vomiting, Illya.”
“Don’t talk about it.”
“I don’t understand why riding in a boat bothers you so,” Napoleon teased.
“And I don’t understand why you won’t go under the water,” Illya shot back. “Seeing the grim look on Napoleon's face, “Do you want to take this any further?”
“Why don’t you just give me the brief version of what we are here for.”
Smiling Illya said, “The Wakame is farmed along the cooler coast of Alaska. The farmers sell it for raw salads and soups, either chopped or leaves. Although it looks like a brown leave plant, it is a photosynthetic, multicellular stramenopile product.”
“Will tell me that in English?” Napoleon asked
Illya grins, “The leaves are thick external hairs.”
When they arrived at the spot they were to check out, Illya geared up. Attaching a rope, he instructed Napoleon that he would pull on in trouble then he fell back into the water.
Napoleon sat back with a bottle of water to watch the line.
Illya took a minute to enjoy the colorful fish. Algae, and coral. Moving toward the Wakame, he saw the brown was now black, and it wasn’t flowing like the rest of the algae. Under the Wakame patch was a container, he knew was trouble. While pulling it up and examining it, he didn’t notice bubbles coming toward him.
An arm went around his throat pulling him backward. Sending his elbow backward, Illya hit the mask of his attacker pushing it almost off his face. Causing the man to release his throat, While the man readjusting the mask, Illya grabbed it and sent it flying before using the tank to knock out the man and send the man flying from him. Pulling the rope, he was grabbed by a second man.
They struggled with each other as Illya wondered why Napoleon hadn’t pulled him up until he saw a third man holding the rope so the signal wouldn’t go up. Soon it was two against one. Illya gave as good as he received but was tiring. Suddenly he felt the rope pulling him up.
Napoleon waited for his partner to give the signal, however, the rope stayed still. Watching over the water, he notices bubbles increasing. Then the head of a man appeared, that wasn’t Illya. Something wasn’t right. Napoleon began to pull the rope and felt tension on the line. Continuing to pull, he saw Illya's head appear above the water then disappeared again. Pulling harder, he again had his partner above the water. A second head appeared hands around Illya’s throat. Without a second of hesitation. Holding onto the rope with one hand Napoleon grabbed his gun. A bullet between the eyes released Illya.
Helping his partner aboard, he laid back on the deck. “You okay?”
“Besides almost being drowned, yes. There is a canister down there we need to retrieve. I believe it is what is causing the issue.”
Napoleon looked almost green at the idea of diving, when Illya said, “Give me some time and I’ll get it.”
Relief was clear on Napoleon's face. After resting Illya went back down and retrieved the canister. The trip back was quick and a UNCLE plane took Napoleon, Illya, and the canister back to New York so that the scientist there could see what the formula contained that was different than the other samples they had. Waverly was able to assure the government they had stopped the destruction of the Wamake, once more thwarting Axios.