A smiling Illya greeted Napoleon as the door was opened in answer to his
knock, but the American noticed the smile didn't reach his eyes.  'I wonder
what an unreserved smile from the man would look like,' he thought as he
returned the smile and Illya's greeting.

"It's a little early for lunch," Illya observed.  "Where did you say we were
going, exactly?"

"I didn't, exactly," Napoleon replied.  "It's a surprise -- wait and see."

He'd have to wait longer than Napoleon had anticipated, however, as the
American's communicator sounded in the distinctive two tones, and he pulled
the cigarette-case shaped object from his pocket and opened it.

"Open Channel D."

"Mr. Solo," came the familiar sound of Waverly's voice, "how close are you
to Mr. Kuryakin's residence?"

"I'm presently there, sir."

"Excellent!  While I hate to interrupt your day off, something has come up
which requires Mr. Kuryakin's expertise, and I'd like you to accompany him
on the assignment.  How soon can the two of you be in my office?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The pair made excellent time to UNCLE North America HQ, and were soon in
Waverly's office for a pre-mission briefing.

"Under normal circumstances, you Mr. Solo -- being the senior agent -- would
be given the more visible, and riskier, assignment, while Mr. Kuryakin would
be an incognito backup," Waverly said.  "This mission, however, requires an
agent with a degree in Physics and enough knowledge not to be caught out by
a group of researchers and academics."

"Are you, by any chance, sir, referring to the upcoming Conference of
Applied Physics being held in Princeton, New Jersey?" Illya asked.

"I am.  According to our sources, one or more of the attendees may be
kidnapped by THRUSH.  Your credentials are sufficient to merit an invitation
to the conference, Mr. Kuryakin, and because it's the first time you've been
given the more visible assignment, I'm also giving you the most reliable
backup I have available -- Mr. Solo."  He placed two leather folders on the
table in front of him and spun it around so the folders were within the
agents' reach.  "You'll find programs for the conference, a list of
attendees, and everything else you might need for your mission in those.
Study them well, and the best of luck, gentlemen.  Dismissed."

The two men each picked up the folder in front of him and exited the office.

As they were walking down the hallway, Napoleon turned to Illya.  "There's
an extra desk in my office, if you'd care to use it."

"I would not be in the way?"

"Not at all.  If we're going to be partners, we might as well share an
office."

Illya nodded and followed him.  It would seem he had, however temporarily,
found a place here.

---

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