Illya continued to climb. It was difficult going with only one hand but he was nothing if not determined. His senses went on alert as he felt an odd tremor in his toes.

'Damn!'

He moved faster. He rolled over the edge of the pit and kept rolling as some sort of mining vehicle broke the surface.

'THRUSH must be busy little beavers to have improved on the last one so quickly.' he mused.

He scrambled into a dense thicket of trees to see who would emerge. He didn't have to wait long. A side hatch opened and three suited figures emerged. Illya waited for only a moment before he was in the hatch. The layout was extremely similar to the last model and it took him only a few tense minutes to find Napoleon. He leaned heavily against the door, his breathing labored. The pain in his wrist and ribs was beginning to seep around the edge of his iron will. He steadied himself and counted to three, shifting his attention to the door lock. It yielded quickly and Illya slipped in, low.

"Napoleon?" he whispered.

Get me out of this set up will you?" The exasperation was keen in his voice.

Illya slid along the table, his good, left hand fussing with Napoleon's wrist restraint.

"Come on, Come on..."

"Napoleon, I have only one good hand here and I will be going into shock in less than fifteen minutes, so shut up and let me get on with this will you?"

Napoleon shut up.

"Here... take this."

Napoleon felt Illya's special shoved into his now free hand.

"I'm slipping Napoleon. I need to rest a moment."

Napoleon set the gun next to his leg and with a hiss removed the irritating probe. He made short work of the rest of the restraints and turned his attention to Illya. He saw his partner white and thin lipped. His right arm was held closely to his chest. He could see sections turning black already. He lightly brushed his fingers along Illya's cheek.

"Let's get out of here, shall we?"

"My thoughts exactly."

Napoleon swooped Illya up from the floor and cringed at the gasp of pain. The blond paused only a moment to steady himself then led his partner through the vehicle.

"Keep sharp here Napoleon, Three of them came out."

Napoleon cracked the door. He saw two uniformed figures off to the left. Nothing of the third. He waited. Both men's hearts were pounding. Finally the third figure appeared. Napoleon took his chance. He gently guided Illya out the door and they slipped around the far side of the vehicle. When Napoleon was sure the bulk of the vehicle blocked any view of them, he abandoned stealth and ran for his life. Illya followed, panting. They tumbled to a halt in a dense thicket of trees.

"Napoleon. Get my jacket off. Sorry about your clothes but you'll just have to brazen it out. I set the distress call and the helicopter should be here soon."

Napoleon peeled Illya out of his jacket ad slipped it on. He leaned his partner carefully against a tree and squinted into the air.

"Ever efficient my friend. How do you feel?"

"Like passing out..."

Which Illya promptly did.