Sixty Years Down the Line
Title: Sixty Years Down the Line
Genre: Man from UNCLE
Rating: G
Prompt: Sixty Years
llya Kuryakin slid his ear protection gear off and watched his superior leave.
“Napoleon, how old would you say Mr. Waverly is?”
Napoleon removed the empty clip from his weapon and pulled back the chamber to make sure it was clear. “I hadn’t really thought about it. Sixty, sixty-five, somewhere in there.”
“I was top of my class in marksmanship, and he makes me look like a rank amateur.” Illya checked his own weapon, still hot from target practice.
“He’s your boss; that’s his job. Compared to him, that’s exactly what you are.” Napoleon smiled to take the sting out of his words. “After all, he was one of the founding fathers of UNCLE.”
“I know, I just thought that youth had an advantage over being old… er.”
I
Napoleon led the way from the shooting range. Immediately, two other agents took their place. “It does, or so I hear. We won’t be there for a long time.”
“If ever the way I’m going. Time for some coffee?”
“Sure, why not. Sleep is overrated and I have a dozen reports to finish before we head home.”
They walked quietly along until they got to the canteen and Illya collected two cups of coffee while Napoleon sought out their favorite table. It was in the corner and away the other tables. From this spot, they could see anyone who came in or left the canteen.
“Have you ever thought about getting older?”
“I struggle just to get to the weekends some days. I’ll be back.” Napoleon slipped away and then returned a few minutes later with four doughnuts. “Finely-tuned machines like ours need fuel.”
Illya went for the closest one. “I have a feeling that some nutritionists would argue the point with you. Besides, I’m not feeling very finely tuned at the moment.”
“So Mr. Waverly made you feel inadequate. Imagine how some new recruits feel when they meet us.”
For several moments, they sat quietly, just content to be with each other and not having anyone trying to kill them.
“Napoleon, can I ask you a question?”
“You just did.“
“Another one then. Where do you see yourself in sixty years? I’m fairly certain Mr. Waverly didn’t see himself heading an international organization and playing at worldly peace keeping.”
“Good question, and I can honestly say I don’t know. I’ve never been much of a planner. Right now, it’s getting to be old enough to retire from the field and still have something useful to do. You’re lucky, you have your science and engineering background to fall back upon.” He dropped the last bit of his doughnut to the plate and wiped his fingers. “No idea what I’d be fit to do.”
“Teach.”
“What?”
“You could teach. You’re one of the best I’ve come across. It’s natural to you, not forced or learned. You freely share your knowledge, all of it, not just selected bits. You are never worried whether it might make someone look better than you.”
“Maybe.”
“There also the reality that you are slotted to take over when Mr. Waverly retires.”
“If ever.”
Illya smirked and nodded. “I can tell you one thing, though.”
“What’s that?”
“Wherever you are, I plan to be close at hand.”
Napoleon lifted his cup. “Together, then?
Illya nodded and touched his cup to the other. “Together.”
Genre: Man from UNCLE
Rating: G
Prompt: Sixty Years
llya Kuryakin slid his ear protection gear off and watched his superior leave.
“Napoleon, how old would you say Mr. Waverly is?”
Napoleon removed the empty clip from his weapon and pulled back the chamber to make sure it was clear. “I hadn’t really thought about it. Sixty, sixty-five, somewhere in there.”
“I was top of my class in marksmanship, and he makes me look like a rank amateur.” Illya checked his own weapon, still hot from target practice.
“He’s your boss; that’s his job. Compared to him, that’s exactly what you are.” Napoleon smiled to take the sting out of his words. “After all, he was one of the founding fathers of UNCLE.”
“I know, I just thought that youth had an advantage over being old… er.”
I
Napoleon led the way from the shooting range. Immediately, two other agents took their place. “It does, or so I hear. We won’t be there for a long time.”
“If ever the way I’m going. Time for some coffee?”
“Sure, why not. Sleep is overrated and I have a dozen reports to finish before we head home.”
They walked quietly along until they got to the canteen and Illya collected two cups of coffee while Napoleon sought out their favorite table. It was in the corner and away the other tables. From this spot, they could see anyone who came in or left the canteen.
“Have you ever thought about getting older?”
“I struggle just to get to the weekends some days. I’ll be back.” Napoleon slipped away and then returned a few minutes later with four doughnuts. “Finely-tuned machines like ours need fuel.”
Illya went for the closest one. “I have a feeling that some nutritionists would argue the point with you. Besides, I’m not feeling very finely tuned at the moment.”
“So Mr. Waverly made you feel inadequate. Imagine how some new recruits feel when they meet us.”
For several moments, they sat quietly, just content to be with each other and not having anyone trying to kill them.
“Napoleon, can I ask you a question?”
“You just did.“
“Another one then. Where do you see yourself in sixty years? I’m fairly certain Mr. Waverly didn’t see himself heading an international organization and playing at worldly peace keeping.”
“Good question, and I can honestly say I don’t know. I’ve never been much of a planner. Right now, it’s getting to be old enough to retire from the field and still have something useful to do. You’re lucky, you have your science and engineering background to fall back upon.” He dropped the last bit of his doughnut to the plate and wiped his fingers. “No idea what I’d be fit to do.”
“Teach.”
“What?”
“You could teach. You’re one of the best I’ve come across. It’s natural to you, not forced or learned. You freely share your knowledge, all of it, not just selected bits. You are never worried whether it might make someone look better than you.”
“Maybe.”
“There also the reality that you are slotted to take over when Mr. Waverly retires.”
“If ever.”
Illya smirked and nodded. “I can tell you one thing, though.”
“What’s that?”
“Wherever you are, I plan to be close at hand.”
Napoleon lifted his cup. “Together, then?
Illya nodded and touched his cup to the other. “Together.”