Part 7: Do You Understand?
(A/N: One of these days, I really need to find some time for editing. Particularly, it seems that now days it's getting more and more difficult to find a good time to edit as I have to deal with finals and all. Did I ever tell you that I do not allow myself to edit past midnight, and I have my writing be self-edited at least three times before posting? Well, it just feels that lately it has become even harder to find enough time to edit. This is the main reason why this fanfiction as well as my other one take such a long time for me to update. So, sorry for updating later than I expected.
But you know, it's all worth it. It always makes me smile to read your, the reader's reviews. They always brighten up my day, no matter how great, or bad it has been! Whenever I post a new chapter I always eagerly await your responses, no matter how few! It particularly makes my happy to see people guess what's going to happen next or try to otherwise interpret stuff! In any case, I cherish each and every review, and it's you people who inspire me to write! Now since I don't want this note get too long, let's go on with the show! I think that I finally kinda know what I want to write!)
The only sound that accompanied us as we descended down the hallway was the taping of rubber soled shoes against the concrete floor, and the whir of my gears turning. Otherwise, it was silent in the high-arched passage. We all, in some form, hated this place. Even with its cathedral like appearance and its beautiful interior, it still made some of us feel ill. This was no place of worship, unless you praise the god of death. This place was a prison. No matter how much the architecture tried to point your attention to the barred skylights, revealing the maroon sky above, it could not distract from the thick metal doors that lay along each side of the hall, every few steps.
Everyone had heard the rumors of what happened here. If any rebel was caught this was where they were taken. People were brought into here perfectly strong and healthy, but were thrown back out broken and frail. Everything that made that man so dangerous and frightening was represented in this single, complex building. They had broken people here. Shattered their dreams, destroyed their futures with no hope for redemption, or a shard of their former hope. They crushed every bone in the body here, and stole people's ability to walk, talk, or even take care of one's self. They killed adults, children, and even unborn babies if they deemed it fit. Every inhumane experiment, every act of torture that had crawled out of the darkest nightmare, and every sadistic execution was carried out here, in this single building. I know, for sometimes I would be sent to 'work' here.
It wasn't our decision leave this building standing. I am certain that if we had any other choice, that just as the French tore down the Bastille, we would dismantle this building brick by brick until nothing remained. But we had to keep it. This was our only prison, and we had to store all the truly evil and insane people in this area somewhere. No matter how much we hated this building, we had to keep it, for this was the only place where justice could be served. For now, it would have to remain standing.
We finally came to the door at the end of the hall. It was taller and wider than the rest, with intricate carvings in the metal that depicted angels on its frame. I stared up at it in both awe and horror. This door once lead to the dungeon, where all criminals who were not horrible enough to be put in their own cell were kept. For amusement, that man would sometimes offer freedom for whoever could kill the most people in the room with their bare hands, or have some fine banquet put in their midst, and watch them tear each other apart to eat from it while he watched in comfort from his headquarters. However, now it only contained one prisoner.
The guard at the door, a Jeremy Johnson, saluted us as we approached. "Good evening, sir," he addressed Candace. "You have business with Doofenschmirtz today?" I couldn't help but notice that he was almost transfixed to Candace. I wondered if he even knew the rest of us were there.
"Yes, soldier, so if you would let us in?" Candace answered. I noticed that she almost seemed to relax around this boy. Her shoulders slumped down and her weight was positioned to her heels.
"Yes, sir. You are aware that your brother is already meeting with him at this moment, right?" He had a considerably cheerful smile on his face, despite his position. It may seem bizarre, but just his being there, it almost seemed to make the room just a bit brighter.
It seemed that Candace had the same impression of the boy as I noticed a light grin trying to flutter its way onto her lips. "Yes. We've come to collect him."
"So, are all of you going to see him?" the young man asked, turning to the rest of the group following us. Apparently he did notice that Candace had company.
The group consisted of: Ferb, who of course was closest friends with Phineas, and Candace's little brother. Whom if Candace didn't want him in the group, he would have come anyway. Isabella, being Candace's second in command who insisted on coming. Her weapons officer, Adyson, ready for combat in case they got into trouble. Baljeet, seeing this as an opportunity to learn a few things about how to repair me for future reference. Mr. Adina and his daughter Melissa, who were too worried about what was happening to go back to their lodgings for the night. And lastly, Benjamin Robins who insisted on coming, despite the dangers, just because he wanted to 'keep an eye' on us.
"No," Isabella responded for the rest of the group.
Baljeet looked like he wanted to say a word in protest, but Isabella put up a hand, silencing him.
"We'll be in the security chamber, watching if she needs help."
"Very well." Jeremy tossed her a single key. "If the door's locked, that should open it."
"Thank you." Isabella nodded to Jeremy, catching the key out the the air. She turned to lead the majority of the group away.
Now only Candace, Ferb, and I remained.
"So, do you mind letting us in?" Candace asked once the rest of the party had left.
"Of course sir," Jeremy replied, but didn't make any moves to open the door.
"Then why aren't you moving, soldier?"
"Well," he started, pointing to me, "are you certain that it's the best idea to bring him in here?"
I turned to the ground. Perhaps he was right. Perhaps I shouldn't be allowed into the same room with that man. I was a danger to everyone around me, and I didn't know what would happen to me in the presence of him. After all, the worst of my atrocities were done in the presence, under the orders, or for the sake of that man.
"Yes."
I blinked, looking up at Candace. She said it with such assertiveness, without a hint of hesitation. She looked straight into Jeremy's eyes having no doubt about what she was saying.
"Very well, sir. I trust your judgement." He turned to unlock the portal, then yanked at it's decorative handles to open it. This door was far thicker than the other openings in the building. It was made of solid steel, so it took a bit for him to pull them open.
As we stepped inside I took a moment to remember the room with its lofty ceilings, nearly impenetrable stone walls, and narrow windows peering to the outside, too small for anyone to fit through and impossible to reach. The once bare and bloody room was now adorned with a bed, a table, a few chairs, and other objects you may find in your average suburban living room. Among this pleasantly decorated prison cell he sat. From the moment we had entered, he was turned to face the only door, almost as if he was expecting us.
"What did you do to Phineas, you son of a-" Candace started, but that man held up a hand to silence her.
"Now, now, no reason to use such strong language." He lowered his hand then used it to indicate to someone sitting directly across from him. "Your brother's perfectly fine, can't you see?"
We all turned to look at the other side of the table where Phineas was seated. "Hey, sis," he waved to Candace as Ferb ran to take a place by his stepbrother's side.
Candace didn't react to her brother's presence and instead turned back to the man. "So, exactly why did you take Phineas?" she asked, getting right to the point.
"Sis, he didn't..." Phineas tried to answer, but was interrupted.
"I didn't take him," that man simply replied.
"Yeah, I..." Phineas tried to interject but was cut off again.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Candace was giving that man a viscous glare from behind her sunglasses.
"I don't know how I can say it any plainer. I did not take him." He was completely unaffected by Candace's attempts to intimidate him, and instead leaned back into his seat.
"Then how did you get to him?"
"I didn't go and get him. Quite on the contrary, he came to me."
"Impossible. Phineas wouldn't do that. You must be lying."
"Candace!" Phineas was finally able to intervene. "He's telling the truth."
She looked stunned for a moment before finally saying, "What? Why would you...?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Phineas asked, taking this chance to assert himself. "It's for Perry."
With that sentence the room went silent.
"Baljeet didn't know what was wrong with him, and he's the only mechanic that we've got!" Phineas went on to say, "Sure, perhaps the other me could fix him up in a jiffy, but I was powerless to help him! What else could I do? We couldn't do anything! He's the only one who can fix him." Phineas pointed to the man.
"But Phineas, you do know who we're talking about, right?" Candace asked after a few more seconds of silence. "This is Doofenschmirtz we're talking about. This is the man who took over our city and enslaved our friends and families. Doofenschmirtz here is the kind of man who could have hundreds tortured or killed without batting his single eye. Do you really think that we can trust him?"
"But... but he's changed! And what else can we do? He's the only one who would know what's going on with Perry. He's the only one who can fix him!" Phineas tried to sway his sister.
"How do you know that he won't try to reprogram him? How do you know he won't try to hurt us?" Candace nearly shouted at her brother.
"I... I..." Phineas looked lost for a second before staring at the ground.
"Exactly. You don't know. Phineas, you may just be a child, but did you even consider the consequences?" Candace asked, going over to her brother.
"I just... I just wanted to help..."
Candace sighed. "Of course you do, but are you sure you can trust him? Are you willing to take a chance with Doofenschmirtz?"
Phineas hesitated, but Ferb spoke for him. "Yeah, I'm willing to take that chance."
Candace kneeled down to him, putting her hand on Ferb's shoulder. "Are you certain?"
Ferb, just like his older sister only a few minutes ago, without hesitation or a hint of doubt in his eyes nodded.
"So, What about you?" She turned to Phineas.
Phineas nearly gawked at his brother for a moment before agreeing, "Y-yeah! We are."
Candace took a deep breath. "Fine, you win." She turned to the eye patched man who had been listening with intense interest the entire time. "I'll trust you for now, but if I find that you tampered with Perry in any way, you'll pay."
"Yeah, yeah, I get it, you are a close family and have to agree on everything, just peachy. However, are you sure that you're thinking of what your dear 'Perry' wants?" that man wondered aloud in a near-casual tone, gesturing towards me.
I was taken by surprise. Partially because I felt like I was being ignored, despite the conversation being about me, but mostly because of that man's concern. Since when did he care about my best interests? Since when did he start caring about anyone except himself? However, despite my surprise he had a point.
"Perry?" The boys turned to me in unison as Phineas asked, "What does he mean?"
If I could speak, I would tell them that I would do anything to stay away from that man. I would tell them that Candace was right, and that they shouldn't even consider letting him touch me. I would say that even by being in his presence bad things could happen. However, that man decided to speak for me.
"Can't you see? Look at the way he's standing, the way he looks around distracted. Look at how he almost tries to ignore what I'm saying by not looking at me when I speak, while he very willingly looks at the rest of you to hear what you have to say." I suddenly became very aware about how I was carrying myself. "In fact he's holding himself such that it almost looks like he's repelled from me."
Phineas looked at me for a second then turned back to him. "Yeah, So?"
"So?" He let out a dark cackle. "Haven't you learned yet that he holds his heart on his wrist? ... Or sleeve... Or however that saying goes. In any case, he can't hide his emotions, they're plain for everyone to see."
"Well... No, I haven't noticed, but what does that have to do with anything?" Phineas just didn't see what that man meant.
He sighed and shook his head. "It's a bit obvious you know, boy. He can hardly stand being around me. He is repulsed by my presence. If he can't be near me, how do you expect me to fix him?"
"But... But Perry knows what's best for him, he'll do the right thing!" Phineas was still trying to keep on a strong front, but I could tell that he was doubting himself.
"What is the 'right thing' then? Do you so readily forget the kind of things that he did? Even this very room is still stained with the blood he once shed." He held his arms wide, making the few red stains on the walls painfully easy to notice. "Then again, I suppose you would have to ignore all those atrocities to demote him to being a simple, domestic pet."
Phineas looked almost shocked, but mostly confused. "I... We haven't forgotten. We've just forgiven him."
"Or have you? Surely there is someone close to you that was hurt by him, a friend? A family member?"
At that suggestion Phineas flinched.
A hint which Doofenschmirtz looked all too happy to pounce upon. "So it was a family member. Let me guess... It was your... mother."
"It... it wasn't his fault... She was just in the wrong place at the wrong time... He didn't mean to..." Phineas was forced to look away from that man, who grinned in success.
"How do you know? Were you there?"
"No... but..." Phineas looked like words were becoming harder to get out.
"Why don't you ask him yourself?" that man mused.
Phineas turned to me, fear edging into his already confused eyes. "Perry... Did you... Did you hurt mommy on purpose?"
I had to take a second to process the question, even though I knew that it was coming. I was forced to remember that day again. Yes, I admitted to myself, as I examined my memory banks. I had to have known that Mrs. Garcia-Shapiro was hiding someone. I had full knowledge that she was hiding that someone in a cupboard in the kitchen, and I knew that it couldn't have been the agent because of the woman's reactions. Yet, I still decided, of my own free will to slowly kill the woman, forcing whoever was in the cupboard to witness the event. The event that made her paranoid of the outside world. So, yes I did hurt Linda on purpose.
"You see?" Doofenschmirtz accused as I began to nod my head. "He even admits to it."
Phineas looked horror stricken, unable to say a single word.
"So, do you still forgive him?" that man, a harsh edge in his voice.
"Shut up. You're just confusing him," Candace ordered.
"Like you should be talking." He spat, reproaching the leader of the resistance. "How many people did he kill in the rebellion? I think I specifically remember a special case of this one girl... If I recall correctly, she was a communications officer or something... What was her name again? Tracy? Lacey?"
Candace froze for a second before correcting him, "You mean Stacy?"
"Ah! Yes! That was her name! Unfortunately for her, she got caught. If I'm correct, General Platyborg decided to make a special example out of her," that man recalled.
"Wait!" Phineas interjected before his sister could respond. "Candace, didn't you say that Stacy was just hurt in a fight with the Normbots, so had to retire? You never said that she died!"
"No... She isn't dead..." It was now Candace who stared down at the ground.
"Not like that's much of a comfort," that man nearly scoffed, "I give the Platyborg credit for the creativity on this one. After all, what use is a deaf communication's officer?"
"Wait... She's deaf? Is that why you never call her anymore?" Phineas asked.
Candace nodded, she looked too upset to talk, but spoke anyway. "They... they took out her eardrums... It's physically impossible for her to hear anymore..."
"That's... horrible," Phineas admitted, but Candace wasn't finished.
"Then they removed her vocal chords. They had to make sure that she couldn't speak even if she tried... I don't know how they did it, but when we got her back, she was a physical and emotional wreck..."
I felt sickened by the memory of the operation.
"Why..." Phineas turned to me. "Perry... Why did you do that?"
I opened my mouth. I wanted to tell him that it was out of my control. That I was out of control. But I was faced with the painful fact that I could not speak. Besides, anything that I could say to comfort him would just become a lie. Instead, I shut my bill, and shook my head.
"Perry..." Phineas started, but Doofenschmirtz interrupted.
"So, what do you think? Should I still fix him up for you?" He gave us a coy grin as I felt that we had played into his hands. When there wasn't an immediate response he continued, "You know what? I'll even fix him up while you decide what to do with little 'Perry' here. When I'm done, you can tell me wether you still want him or not."
"I thought that you were against it," Candace noted.
"Nah, I was never against it. But, since I have nothing better to do, you know, being in jail and all, why shouldn't I fix him up for you?" That man gave a grin that didn't fool any of us.
Candace paused to furrow her brow. "... Who's side are you on anyway?"
"Me? Well I can't exactly be on yours, now can I?" He sneered. "I could be on Platyborg's side, I suppose, but since he appears to be against me at the moment, would that not be contradictory? I suppose that I'm on a side all my own."
"I see... Very well, proceed." Candace turned away from us and beckoned for Phineas and Ferb to follow.
"Sis, what do you think he meant?" Phineas asked, Ferb closely following him.
"I don't know... I think he's just trying to confuse us." I could hear Candace say, going across the room.
I felt a deep longing to follow them, for me to join Candace's side, but my feet seemed almost as if they rooted into the ground. Besides, they wouldn't want me there with them. They needed their privacy.
"Now, how about you come over here, Platyborg," Doofenschmirtz suggested.
I turned from my family to face that man. I found it almost surprising how easy it was to join his side after that single statement.
Without any resistance, I sat down in front of him, where he immediately went to work.
"Man... What were these kids thinking?" he muttered more to himself than me as he examined my wires. He scratched his head. "You're not a toy, you know. It's not really safe just playing with these wires... In fact it's a miracle that you're working at all." He let out a rather loud sigh. "Now let me see... If I do this..." Doofenschmirtz continued, starting the repairs with remarkable speed.
I was taken by surprise how fast he was going. He was going faster than even Baljeet at top speed. It's hard to explain, but as he worked, things started to feel... better. I felt like a great pressure that was crushing my chest was being lightened. As if my wires were flowing energy through them much easier than before. These adjustments made me almost feel as if there was anesthesia flowing through my body, easing the stress and pain of leading this life.
Doofenschmirtz, almost out of the blue sighed, catching my attention. "You know we used to do this a lot, especially when you first came to my side."
I let out a heavy breath. What he was saying was true. I was the first and only attempt at making a true cyborg. He didn't know what he was doing, but somehow through several educated guesses, and dumb luck, he was able to bring me to life. And through many more sessions of trial and error, he was able to create the ideal soldier. I didn't know how he managed to hobble me together, but finally, after so many adjustments, he finally created something that worked. The something that eventually became me.
"You know, despite you being my general, we did have some good times." I found it strange how he was trying to make pleasant conversation with me, but I could sense something behind his words. Something that I needed to hear. "Sometimes, I look up at the skylights and feel nostalgic for those times."
I couldn't exactly say that I felt the same way. While I did feel nostalgia sometimes, I truly missed the way things used to be before his rule. I longed for that bright blue sky that caressed the beating sun in the summer air, and for that peaceful, cloudy, wintery white. However, the sky was now just a sickly maroon shade. I wanted to go back to those peaceful days of childish dreams and a hopeful future. Those days of lazily baking under the sun watching the children play. Those days that I had far too few of.
"You know... I've had a lot of time to think in here," that man continued, interrupting my thoughts, "and I really regret what I've done. My search for power was foolish, and I should have spent my time better. Perhaps I should have tried to connect with my family more, especially my daughter."
I turned to him, surprised by what I was hearing. While I knew that he felt stupid for trying to take over the other dimension, I didn't know that he actually regretted all that he did while in power. I always saw him as a man who showed no mercy to anyone, and never looked back. It was only now that I suspected that my view of this man could be false.
"Perhaps, if I lived more like the other me, I would have become happier. But I suppose it's too late for that now."
I finally understood. Our other counterparts gave us each something that we needed. Something we could never find on our own. I looked to my family, talking amongst each other on the far side of the room. The others gave the boys hope and imagination, Candace was able to find her lost childhood, I received freedom. As for that man, he earned a conscience, and with it, regret.
He gave out a rather loud sigh that reclaimed my attention. "You already know that I no longer have the desire to rule anymore. However, I don't believe that anyone wants to be in prison."
I turned to him... What was he suggesting?
"There. All better," he said, placing his hands on my back. "Go on, test it out."
I stood up and stretched my arms. I took a few steps around the room and from the looks of it, everything was shipshape.
"All your operations working smoothly?" he asked me with genuine curiosity.
I faced him and nodded.
"Great, now come over here. I have some... business for you to attend to."
I raised an eyebrow. Business? He didn't mention any 'business' before. Against my better judgement, I came over to him.
"I understand you, Platyborg. I am your master and so understand you far more than they ever could," he told me, motioning to my distracted family.
I flinched. He didn't have to remind me of what I was to him.
"I know that you have always had a strong sense of justice, but I am asking you to be... irrational just this one time." He came uncomfortably close until his face was next to my ear. "Perry the Platyborg, would you have the courtesy to break me out of here?"
My eyes widened. Now his intentions were now abundantly clear. And I, as his servant, was expected to follow through with these commands.
(A/N: Now this seems like a good place to stop! Man I feel that this initially came out awkwardly... I apparently knew less than I thought I did for writing this chapter... Heavy duty editing time!
Well, I have a feeling that most of this is not exactly what you expected... Probably. You all seemed so fixated on the prospect that Doof kidnapped Phineas. Sorry, but that just wasn't the case! Good idea though!
Now Doof wants freedom from prison. What will Perry do? I would think it's obvious, then again, I'm the writer.
Whoo! Summer vacation is here for me! You know what that means? Awkward tan lines! Nah, I kid (though it's true). What it really means is more fanfic updates! Also is anyone else going to watch all of Phineas and Ferb, just to celebrate some of that summer freedom? So, I hope that everyone out there has a splendid summer vacation, and some awesome adventures! Also, don't forget, Carpe Diem!
In any case, as always, I hope you enjoyed, and please alert, favorite, and review, if you liked it! Don't forget to vote in my poll on my user page! I know that I'm flaky with the number of votes you can have, but I need your input!)