Aussie's POV
It's been years since that day, but I still remember what happened then as if it had just occurred a minute ago. The memory plagues me really deeply. It would never stop haunting me in my sleep as well; I've had countless nightmares about the incident that day and the death of my parents. If only it would just get out of my mind!
Oww. It hurts. A lot. It's like my fur is being burned off of my body. No, I think it's more like my skin being melted under some excruciatingly intense heat. It hurts so much- Wait a second. I'm in a gym. There is only sports equipment around.
I don't want to be reminded of that. Honestly, I reckon it a miracle for me to survive. But now I have this grave angst for- I can't even take thinking of the word. That four letter word. Am I trembling? I feel a cold sweat going down my forehead. Oh, no, it's back. The sensation, the memory. I can sense myself getting weaker and weaker, as the fear deprives me of my strength.
Now I'm hearing that screaming voice again. That voice of someone calling my name has become somewhat familiar, although I still couldn't recognize whose voice it is. It's hotter and hotter in here. I need some water to cool down. Don't pass out, don't pass out, don't pass out...
I stagger to the O.W.C.A. pool, which is fortunately not too far from the gym, and I jump into the water, refreshed and calmed down once I feel the liquid brushing through my fur. In order to get rid of the horrible thought, I swim in the vacant pool for ten minutes before getting out and drying myself off.
"Aussie?" I bump into my trainer, Perry on my way back to the gym, "I thought you were at the gym."
"I was. But I left and took a ten-minute swim at the pool."
Perry knew by now I have the urge to get in the water whenever my fear comes back to me, so he didn't question me or blame me. In fact, he gave me permission to go swimming any time I need to only yesterday, and I'm very thankful for that.
"Are you resuming your workout?" asked Perry.
"Yes," I nodded firmly. We walked back to the gym together. Perry didn't ask me about what was going on with me in the gym before, and I'm pretty glad about it.
I'm so exhausted. My arms sore from all the pushings and pullings. Every inch of my fur is completely soaked up with sweat, and my body is weakened by fatigue. I could barely go on-
What, Perry isn't tired a bit yet? We have been working out just as long! Well, I guess that's what being a professional secret agent makes you, especially when you're the best agent the agency has ever had. He is really strong and full of energy, it's beyond imagination why he didn't become some muscular platypus with six-packs. It really makes me wonder.
"All right, I guess that's enough workout." Hearing this, I take my hand off the bars and got off the weight machine. "You could take a rest if you're tired," Perry addresses me as we step out of the room, "don't be too harsh on yourself and don't push yourself too hard, otherwise you might hurt yourself."
I let out a little sigh. "It's just that we look really alike, and I'm afraid if I don't become as strong as you are, I would be stuck in the image of 'Perry's weak doppelganger."
"I can see that. You insisted to come here right after you woke up from a blackout. You were trembling rather badly, but you still force yourself to do some exercise."
Having nothing to say, I stay silent while Perry continues, "but Rome wasn't built in a day."
"What are you saying? When is our topic about Rome?"
"Aussie, that's a saying. What I mean is that I am as strong as I am now after going through years of training and fighting. It is quite unlikely, nearly impossible, for anyone to attain my strength in a short time. And I don't expect you to. I don't want you to try."
"Perry, there's something I couldn't comprehend. Why do you think so highly of me when you know I'm the one who actually participated in your 100th battle, even though you know quite well that all that I did was unintentional. It was just a series of mindless actions which ended up serendipitously blowing up an evil scientist's machine."
Perry said, "when you fought Doofenshmirtz, you were actually following your instinct. And with so few moves on land as a platypus, you managed to accomplish what I do in a much more complex way. If I'm being honest, I don't reckon that I'd be able to do that myself had I been restricted to only use the moves you used.
Now imagine if you learned the fighting moves we secret agents use. I don't even have to tell you when to use them; once you've been taught how to perform the move, your instincts would know when you should use it in a fight. That is the 'feat' I've been talking about, and the biggest reason I praise you, Aussie, for fighting Doofenshmirtz mindlessly."
"Thank you. It really means a lot to me, especially as you're the best agent in this place," I said, still not sure if I deserve the compliment.
Perry began to sing in a register much higher than his speaking voice. There were no instruments to accompany him, all I hear is his light, soothing singing voice.
Don't you know you're extraordinary?
You're fantastic, can't you see?
I saw all your incredible feat
Imma show you if you don't believe
It is the worst decision to go down the tunnel a second time after I was tempted into an accidental secret agent mission by a sandwich. I was pinned to the ground in Perry's lair because he thought I'm an intruder. However, as it turned out, it is the best one, too. The results are brilliant after I took a risk and went into that lair... again.
I'm happy that I gave in to my curiosity; I wouldn't have gotten into this wonderful place if I hadn't. They say that curiosity kills a cat, but for me, curiosity led me to find something better than I have ever dreamed of.
