"I never considered it." Sylvania tapped the long cane against the floor as her face scrunched in concentration.

"You should have, Illya is no child."

"Indeed not, but he is my child."

Angelique's laugh was not warm as she continued to file her nails. "And just what precisely would you know of a child you abandoned at ten?"

"You are becoming no longer useful." Sylvania snapped and stood up the point of the cane pressed into Angelique's throat, the end revealing a long spike that lightly pierced the skin. The THRUSH agent brushed the tip of the weapon aside and stood up.

"You may think so old woman, but regardless of your protestations, you came to us, and your masters are not going to be pleased."

"I have no masters." Sylvania spat and turned on her heel, showing her back in contempt to her companion.

"No? Then I am mistaken." The coldness in Angelique's voice could not be missed as she gathered her coat and handbag.

"About a great many things."

"No doubt, but then again, all we want is Illya compromised, either by your hand or ours." She shrugged elegantly and closed the door as she left.

"Better people than you have tried and failed." She said to the empty room. "I taught my son, some things." And her smile spoke volumes.

~~~***~~~

"Ah Mr. Solo." Alexander Waverley scrutinized the young agent in front of him and frowned as he tapped his pipe and refilled it from the humidor. Napoleon was not asked to sit down, a bad sign from the old man and he stood almost at attention.

"Sir?" Napoleon prompted when the wait became more than uncomfortable.

"I've had a disturbing report from the files section. I was unaware we were investigating Mr. Kuryakin, perhaps you'd care to enlighten me?"

"On Friday night Illya and I were approached by an elderly woman in a bar in Manhattan. She claimed to be Illya's mother."

"Sylvania?" Mr. Waverly sat forward all annoyance at his agent's purported impropriety gone in the face of concern.

"You know her?"

"We've met. Did Mr. Kuryakin identify her as his mother?"

"Yes sir, eventually."

"Meaning?"

"He was rude and openly hostile."

"Ah." The smallest of smiles flickered at the corners of his mouth as he took a satisfying draw of Isle of Dog number 22.

Napoleon shifted from foot to foot and Mr. Waverly frowned again. "Oh do sit down Mr. Solo." He finally commanded in a patriarchal tone.

"Sir, I had thought that Illya was an orphan and a ward of the state."

"He was."

"I don't follow."

"No? Alright then, as you've seen Mr. Kuryakin's relationship to his mother is acrimonious for very many reasons. Not the least of which is the abandonment."

"He told me some of it."

"But I'll warrant not all of it. Illya is a proud man Napoleon, and the information you are now asking for could compromise your relationship and your careers."

"With all due respect sir, Illya is my friend and if my career advancement is hampered by my knowledge it's something I will deal with later, right now, if Illya is threatened, then UNCLE is threatened."

"Too true. Mr. Kuryakin was ten years old, his father was a Colonel in the Galizien and was MIA presumed killed. The family lived on a small stipend from the government in Dnipropetrovs'k a rural area outside of Kiev. Unable to feed her children on many occasions Sylvania was known to entertain officers of her husband's old regiment who came to call."

"In the house with the children?"

"Yes, and whilst Illya was barely seven when this started his sister was only four. There were complications with Anaya's birth which resulted in paralysis. As you know there is no compensation from the state under a communist regime and Illya worked the fields to gain money for medicine for her."

"It sounds as if the mother had little choice."

"At the time and from an adult perspective she did not, and she managed admirably well. However, she was given the opportunity to go to Moscow and entertain dignitaries at the Kremlin. It promised money and a degree of power, this not withstanding the offer did not extend to the children."

"So she just left them?"

"So it seems, when the General's found out that she had abandoned the children she was already ensconced as mistress to one of the more powerful members of the Polit Bureau, so her crime would go unpunished and unnoticed."

"How long were they alone?"

"Nearly seven months. Anaya was very small and sickly but the time the snows had lifted the food was all but depleted. The report shows that there was some stale bread and potatoes we presume were offered from neighbours. Other than that?" Alexander shrugged.

Napoleon sighed and slouched down in his chair. "It certainly explains why Illya is so self reliant."

"He hated her from an early age, but as with all children he prayed she would come back. General Kirsova, while in the area made a point of visiting the children and took them to Kiev. Sylvania refused to see them, no doubt afraid she would loose her comfortable life and position and the General had them placed in the orphanage."

"That was no better." Solo spat.

"On the contrary, food was available, warm clothing and albeit limited medical attention, at least the pain was managed for Anaya."

"And no one wants to adopt out a child of ten."

"Mr. Kuryakin had many offers of adoption Mr. Solo, when he was moved from the facility he would become difficult so that he would be returned."

"Because his sister would not be taken in?"

"As I have said medication is expensive."

"Where is Anaya now?"

"She is a teacher for gifted children in Bridgeport at the University Private School. Mr. Kuryakin is a remarkable individual; he won a gymnastic scholarship at twelve and was on the Olympic team in 1952 whilst doing a degree in applied sciences."

"All from the orphanage?"

"No he was able to afford a small apartment on his scholarship money and was looking after his sister. She was part of the package when we orchestrated his move to the West."

"So it would be pertinent to visit Anaya then, see if Sylvania has made contact with her daughter."

"Agreed, Madame Kuryakin is well connected Mr. Solo, if she is here, she is here for a reason and it does not bode well. Under the circumstances it would be prudent for this to become your first priority. I want you and your partner to get to the bottom of this."

"Understood sir."

"And in the meantime, since she obviously has access to Mr. Kuryakin's movements, he will reside with you until housing can reassign him to a safer location. I will not loose a valuable agent."

"Women generally don't kill sir; she had a clear shot in the nightclub. Her plans are far more insidious than that."

"This woman is a master manipulator, and I will not allow her to compromise us in any way shape or form. Are we clear Mr. Solo?"

"Crystal sir."

---

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