I race through the trees in the park. I notice (not for the first time) that over eleven years my lungs aren't what they used to be. I stop by a tree, placing my paw over my chest to steady my breathing. I take a deep breath and look over my shoulder to find my arch nemesis tinkering with a new gadget. He's too busy concentrating to notice my arrival. I stride confidently forward, knowing full well that I'll fall into a trap. A whirring sound causes me to look to the left. Ropes spring up out of nowhere and somehow pin me to a nearby tree.

My nemesis turns around and looks at me with feigned shock.

"Perry the platypus how unexpected…and by unexpected of course I mean, completely expected!"

I leer at the gangly man in front of me. He's an evil scientist who for some reason dresses like a pharmacist. His head is abnormally shaped with a giant chin and tiny forehead. Messy brown hair matches his eyes and he has a thick German-esc accent. (It's really Gimbleshtump, but who cares?)

He smirks "Do you like my new machine? It's called the fog-inator! What does it do, you ask?"

I don't.

"Well I'll tell you!"

I roll my eyes but he doesn't notice.

"You see as a young lad in Gimbleshtump…"

Here we go..!

"…fog was naturally feared by everyone! When fog rolled in, chaos ensued and a brave man would step forward to proclaim temporary leadership. Well with this inator I will create a fog so thick that it cannot be removed and this fog will encompass the entire…Tri-State-Area! Ahahahahahaha! Then, when I step forward I, Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirts, will become supreme leader!"

I groan inwardly. These schemes get more and more ridiculous by the day!

"And don't give me the 'America doesn't work that way' Perry the platypus! I know this is going to work!"

Not if I can help it!

I manage to wriggle my paw free from the rope and reach into my hat. I pull out my handy pocket knife and slowly cut through the trap. Doof is so occupied with working the Fog-inator, he doesn't see me escape. I take a moment to catch my breath again.

These traps didn't used to leave me so winded!

I shake off the feeling of unease and sneak up on Dr. D. I jump up and place a well-timed kick to his back. He yelps and collapses. His arm comes down and activates the Fog-inator. I reach for the inator but a random gust of wind picks the machine up and it flies away. I look up to see my boys Phineas and Ferb flying a gigantic dragon-shaped rocket. I pull out my grappling hook and aim it at the machine.

When I get into the air I hear a faint "Curse you Perry the..!"

I ignore the cry and race toward the top of the Fog-inator to turn it off when I hear Phineas' voice.

"Where'd all this fog come from, Ferb? I was sure the weatherman said it would be sunny."

I don't hear a response but I'm sure Ferb probably shrugged or made some gesture of acknowledgement.

I fight the wind and make it to the inator's switch. I pull the lever up and watch as the fog slowly rolls away.

"Oh that's better!" Phineas cries in delight.

I push the inator off the dragon and watch it explode in midair. Then I rush to the compartment holding the boys and their friends. I take off my fedora and plop down next to Baljeet.

Phineas turns around to smile at me. "Oh there you are, Perry!"

I chatter back though I can still feel the strain of my latest mission. Maybe I'm just catching a cold…yeah that's it!

That night, I lay peacefully asleep on Ferb's bed. Just as I get up to join Phineas for the remainder of the night, my communicator goes off.

Thank goodness Ferb took Candace's room when she moved out! I stand on my hind paws in the middle of the hall and look at my watch.

Monty Monogram's face appears on the screen. It still takes me by surprise. Major Monogram retired a few years ago to spend some time with his wife and his son Monty had taken over the branch.

I chatter and salute. Monty nods and motions that he has something important to say and we need to speak privately. (When he took over, we adapted a non-verbal form of communicating when people are around or asleep.) I nod and head for the nearest chute. When I get down to the lair, I head for my red chair.

Monty looks down at me from the giant monitor. "Hey Agent P, I'm sorry for such a late call but this is important."

He looks slightly embarrassed and lets out a sigh. "Agent P as you know tomorrow is the second day of summer for your humans."

I nod, not sure where he's going with this.

"There's a fair going on tomorrow for potential interns that we discovered they are planning on attending. Normally, this wouldn't be a big deal but…our intelligence has discovered that Dr. Doofenshmirts is planning on setting up a booth there."

My eyes widen. What is he implying? I give him a level stare.

"Now we don't expect any of your boys or their friends to join him of course! You see…we've decided that it might be a good idea if…we try to recruit them ourselves!"

My jaw drops. As much as I'd love to work with my boys, I still remember how hurt and pissed Phineas was when he found out last time.

"I realize your concerns, which is why…" He bit his lip, obviously not happy about what he was going to say. "…we think it'd be best if…if you…retire, Agent P."

I stare up at him and I can tell he can see the hurt in my eyes.

"I swear Agent P, I wish it didn't have to be this way! And because it may be too painful…we've arranged for you to have a nice retirement home in…Australia…"

I frown. So you're basically firing me AND you're making me leave my family! I cross my arms and snarl.

"Come on Agent P, don't be like that! It won't be so bad! Besides…Penelope will be there!" He raises his eyebrow suggestively.

Penelope. The name makes me sigh. She's an Australian platypus I had teamed up with once to stop Dr. D and her nemesis, Dr. A. She's the most beautiful creature to walk the earth! She has periwinkle fur with curls adorning her head. Her brown eyes sparkle like stars and she looks amazing in her white fedora.

I admit. Retiring with her would be a dream come true, but…my boys. I'd miss them dearly. I sigh as I pull out my locket with a picture of me and the boys when we first met. I also reach into my hat to pull a perfectly preserved white flower. I had given it to Penelope when I first saw her. After our mission she gave it back along with a peck on the cheek to remember her by.

I look back and forth and then I think back to my mission from earlier today. It's not a cold…I'm getting too old for this… I think sadly. As a twelve-year old platypus, I'm about middle-aged and getting older.

I think about my boys. All these years and no one's been hurt yet. They're really smart and they would be good here…

I sigh and nod my head in resignation. Much as I hate to admit it, they don't need me anymore and honestly I do deserve a rest.

Monty gives me a sad smile, "I really am sorry Perry."

I start for a moment, unaccustomed to him calling me that.

"I promise if anything bad should happen, you'll be the first to know." He assures me.

I nod and cast him a grateful smile.

"Spend this last night with them Perry, your plane will leave tomorrow around 10AM while they're at the fair."

I grimace. This is all happening so fast. I walk back out of the lair, taking my fedora with me. It surprises me that Monty doesn't stop me, but perhaps he wants me to keep it. I hope so,' cause I'm taking it! I think scornfully.

I reach Phineas' room and place my fedora carefully in the back of his messy closet (he won't notice it by the time I leave.) I make my way to his bed and watch him sleep for a moment before pulling myself up and lying beside him. I try to sleep though I know I won't be able to and spend the rest of the night silently crying.