Author: Robin

Serial: Yes

Part :     Three

Type           General

Disclaimer     I don't own the characters on the Man From U.N.C.L.E. tv series

Illya masked his apprehension as he watched Mr. Waverly's face for any signs of a decision. He knew that his fate hung in the balance. It would be determined by hissuperior's decree.

Mr. Waverly prolonged Illya's anxiety on purpose. He was observing his agent as well. He could tell a lot about a man by the way he handled pressure. The young man was handling the stress better than expected. "In that case," Waverly decided, "I'll consider Illya's emotional display as an aberration."

Mr. Waverly wasn't an ogre at heart. He finally said, "Have a seat, Mr. Kuryakin." Illya sat in the chair on the opposite side of the desk: still tense and wary.

"You may relax, Mr. Kuryakin. I'm going to do this once and once only. We're going to have an informal discussion. But I want you to be completely candid with me."

"Of course, I will be honest with you, sir."

"According to your background, you're not a naïve man."

"No, sir, I have never thought of myself as such."

Mr. Waverly pointed to the sanitary napkin in Illya's hand and asked, "Why did you bring that  into my office?"

"It was not my intention to offend you, sir."

"I'm quite certain it wasn't. Are you aware of how they are meant to be used?"

"I am sorry, but I am obviously unfamiliar with their proper usage. I had assumed that they were to be used in the same manner as tissues."

"They are sanitary napkins."

Illya favored him with a blank look.

Mr. Waverly sighed and said, "You must know about biology."

"Of course I do, Mr. Waverly. I am a scientist. Although my field is quantum mechanics, I am well versed in other aspects of academia as well."

"Then you must know about the birds and the bees."

"Ornithology and entomology? I have a passing knowledge in both subjects."

Mr. Waverly gave an exasperated sigh and declared , "No! The expression, the birds and the bees, is a euphemism for human reproduction. Surely you understand what I'm talking about."

"Ah, now I see," Illya replied with dawning awareness. "And the sanitary napkins are related to that in some manner."

"Precisely. They're used by a woman during her monthly menstruation cycle to absorb the flow of blood."

"No wonder I did not recognise them. In the Soviet Union, women use rags. They wash them and hang them out to dry so that they may be used over and over again."

Mr. Waverly said, "We will consider that matter closed. What does concern me is your adjustment to this country. It's taking longer than expected. You have moved many times in the past, Mr. Kuryakin. Why is this transition so difficult for you?"

"It's been difficult because of that very reason, this constant uprooting throughout my life. Whenever I adapt, I'm ordered to move again. It does not grow easier each time, only more arduous."

"I see," Mr. Waverly replied. He chose his words carefully before saying, "There's a possibility that your posting here could be made permanent."

"But my country does not allow someone to do such a thing. They would consider me a traitor."

"They'll also consider you a traitor if you return. By then, you'll have spent too much time in the West. Your government wouldn't be able to trust you."

"I am aware of what to expect when I am recalled. As I have said, I am not a naïve man."

"Have you considered the option of defecting? Of refusing to return?"

Illya looked straight into his Mr. Waverly's eyes. In a level voice he said, "For me, that is not a valid option , sir. If I am recalled, I will go back without creating a diplomatic incident. I swore to honor the agreement that you made with my government. I will not attempt to renege."

"And if the agreement were modified to allow you to stay?"

Illya replied in a soft voice, "In that case, I would prefer to remain here."

Mr. Waverly determined that he'd been correct in his original assessment of Illya. He was courageous man of honor and integrity. He'd make an excellent agent with the proper guidance.

Mr. Waverly decided to speak with the Soviets and renegotiate the terms of Illya's attachment to U.N.C.L.E. Illya was a man worth keeping.

He told Illya, "I will intercede on your behalf." He waved off Illya's gratitude and said, "The U.N.C.L.E. has a stake in doing this as well. If we are to use your full capabilities as an agent, we can't allow you to go back with our secrets, now can we?"

Their meeting was concluded. Mr. Waverly had turned towards the intercom. He pressed a button, and requested Heather's presence. She entered the office shortly thereafter.

Mr. Waverly addressed her and said, "Please accompany Mr. Kuryakin to a private area and dispose of those things." He indicated the sanitary napkins which Illya still held.

"I offered to take them before," Heather McNab replied.

Illya stood up and turned towards Heather. He said, "Please accept my apologies. I should not have acted in such a rude manner before. It is clear to me now that you had my best interests in mind."

"There's no need for an apology. You're not the first person to be pranked. Let me tell you about...."

Illya and Heather left the office together. When the door slid closed behind them, Mr. Waverly fiddled with the intercom system again. He paged Napoleon Solo and ordered the agent to report to his office.

It took only six minutes for Napoleon to make his way to Waverly's office and appear in the doorway.

Mr. Waverly waved him in and indicated that he should be seated. He toyed with his pipe while he considered the best course of action. Finally, he looked Napoleon in the eye and asked, "Are you familiar with our, er Soviet acquisition, young Mr. Kuryakin?"

Well, ah no, I can't say that I'm exactly familiar with him."

"But you are aware of the gentleman in question," Mr. Waverly said. It was a statement rather than a question.

"I've seen him around," Napoleon replied. He went on to describe Illya, saying, "Silky blond hair, sky blue eyes, uncircumcised, slight...."

"What was that Mr. Solo?"

"He has a slight build, but he's compact with well developed muscles."

"Before that."

"Well, I did catch a glimpse of him in the shower," Napoleon explained. He added, "You have told me on many occasions that a superior agent always notes every detail."

"Confound it all, man. Must my own words always come back to haunt me? At any rate, I want you to take him under your wing."

"I'll do as you request, sir."

"See that you do. He needs someone to teach him the ropes, Mr. Solo. And that someone will be you. But make certain that your womanizing ways don't rub off on him."

"That won't be a problem, sir. You're trust in me isn't misplaced."

"I'm pleased with your responses, Mr. Solo. There's a great deal of potential in that young man. With the proper guidance, he could become an excellent agent. I want you to provide that guidance. Mr. Kuryakin will be in your hands."

"I'll teach him all the necessary skills for a Section Two agent."

Mr. Waverly visibly relaxed upon hearing this. There would be an opening for the position of Chief Enforcement Agent in Section Two very shortly. Napoleon Solo had most of the necessary qualifications. His leadership skills had been tested while he'd been stationed in Korea. His fellow agents respected him as well.

However, there was still a facet to Napoleon's personality that disturbed Mr. Waverly. It wasn't the womanizing. "Lord knows," he thought to himself. "I was quite a ladies man myself in my younger days."

What disturbed Mr. Waverly was Napoleon's desire for acceptance: to be considered *one of the guys*. That characteristic wouldn't be acceptable in a Chief Enforcement Agent. The CEA would find it necessary to make unpopular decisions and stick by them.

Part of the CEA position would include disciplinary situations. Could Napoleon make the transition from friend to supervisor while at headquarters? Napoleon had done it while in the heat of battle. But could he do it here with men he considered his colleagues?

There was also the matter of Illya's difficulties with some of his peers. Mr. Waverly was privy to office gossip. He also kept close scrutiny over the building by means of hidden cameras and microphones. He was well aware of the faction that was causing Illya the unpleasantness. Of course, he could have stepped in and nipped it in the bud. He would have done so if the dislike was based on ethnicity or some other such factor.  However, it was basically a personality conflict, even though gratuitous slurs had been flung.

He'd decided that it would be in Illya's best interests to resolve the conflict on his own. If he stepped in, the resentment would linger. But  it would facilitate matters if Illya had a friend who wanted to stand by him. He knew that Napoleon hadn't taken part in the hazing. But he also knew that Napoleon had done nothing to stop it. A man with CEA qualifications would do so.

Mr. Waverly decided to test Napoleon's diplomatic skills as well. He would partner him with Illya Kuryakin. The men were diametrically different in personalities, temperaments, and backgrounds. Most partnerships worked out well when people were similar in these areas. But he felt that Illya and Napoleon's differences and attributes would create a superlative partnership.

"My plan is perfect. This test can't fail," Waverly thought to himself. "Hopefully, Napoleon will prove himself capable of the CEA position." Waverly would place his final judgement regarding the promotion on hold for now. It would be based on Napoleon's ability to mentor Illya.

Mr. Waverly told Napoleon, "Mr. Kuryakin must vacate his apartment immediately. You will take him home with you until a new unit is available. Will that be a problem, Mr. Solo?"

Napoleon replied, "My guest room is available. That should suit him."

"Very well then. If this works out, he'll be in need of a partner. Consider him yours, Mr. Solo."

"This is a no lose situation," Napoleon thought to himself. "I'll be training my new partner to do all of the tedious tasks."

"That will be all, Mr. Solo."

Napoleon left the office upon being dismissed. He had a spring to his step as he considered his upcoming promotion. If everything worked out well with Illya, he knew that the CEA position would be his. He recognized a test when he saw one.