"Agent P, your mission with Doofenshmirtz today is more critical than normal. He called in before breakfast saying that he wanted to talk about retiring from evil, but that he'd only speak to AJ. I thought it was strange, myself, given the dynamics of the situation, but now it appears that it was all a trap. Either that, or they're still just talking. Either way, get over there and save your partner Agent P!"
He saluted, and fired up his jetpack.
On the off chance that the only thing he had to save Annie from was Doof's rambling, he flew in an open window. Doof was in a newly installed command center, looking smug. "Ah, Perry the platypus, I was wondering when you'd show up. Do you remember back a few schemes ago when I made you mistrust your partner?"
Perry crossed his arms.
"Good! I got thinking and I happened to remember a little device that you may or may not also recall. The Butler-Inator! And it's not using the same scheme twice, because I tinkered with it, and it is now, the Personal Assistant-Inator!" He pressed a button. "M.C. we have an unwanted house guest. Get in here and get rid of him, and fire off that -Inator while you're at it." He laughed. "You see, Perry the platypus, your annoying little friend is a better fighter than I am, also, hitting your former partner should prove to be a little harder than punching your nemesis in the face. Haha! Lose/lose for you!"
He swallowed, glancing at the door as it slowly started to open. This must be how the Annie from the second dimension felt when the other Perry was turned into Platyborg… okay, not quite.
Annie came out, dressed like she was heading for the office, multi-tasking until she glanced up.
"Alright M.C. you know what to do!"
No problem, I had to fight Annie a little while ago. Sure it's still not her fault, but if I have to fight her to save her, so be it.
How far he was willing to go would only have to be addressed when he knew what this Inator did.
"Oops, I'm forgetting. That was only full ex-closure of the execution of my plan. On the balcony sits my P.A.-Inator. It's going to zap everyone in the Tri-State-Area! That will make it so much easier to rule, I don't why I didn't think of this a long time ago."
Drat, the stakes just went up.
"M.C. Put that clipboard down, and fire the -Inator!"
She set the clipboard down, and started towards the machine.
His move. He darted in front of her, and blocked her way, shaking his head. C'mon, Annie. The programing isn't that strong.
She paused.
"M.C. do whatever it takes to press that button."
She shrugged, and tried to sweep his feet out from under him. He dodged easily, and returned the favor. Sorry, Annie.
She fell to the floor, eyes narrowing.
"Including defeating Perry the platypus… he's the unwanted guest… I would've thought that would be clear by now…"
"Alright, Perry the platypus, if you don't take your leave, I will be forced to forcefully escort you from Dr. Doofenshmirtz's premises."
He knocked her down again with a light spin kick, but she recovered much quicker. "Have it your way."
He flipped backwards, leading her away from the -Inator, staying just out of range, then darted around her, grabbing his gun to fire at the self-destruct button. Before he could take the shot, he was tackled to the ground. He watched the gun spin across the floor, almost all the way back to the -Inator. Her fighting really is improving since we started sparring.
Doof's smug grin still in place. "Looks like you're trapped, Perry the platypus."
He rolled to his back and was about to kick her away when another idea popped into his head. He wrestled free of her grip. It only took her a second to get to her feet, but that was all he needed; he lunged, wrapping his arms around her neck.
"What?" She pulled him off, holding him at arms length, confusion all over her face.
He gave as pathetic a chatter as he could muster. We're friends.
"M.C. what the heck are you waiting for?"
She frowned, walked to the door, and set him outside. Before she could close it, he grabbed her leg and clung to it. She bent to pry him off, giving him the time he needed to grab his wallet. He didn't have any pictures of the kids in it, too risky, but he had plenty of shots of him and his nemesis. It was the pictures of him and his partner that caught her attention. Something flashed behind her eyes.
Her face suddenly steeled, and she set him back outside the door. He barely caught the whisper. "Air vent three leads to Doof."
He winked, and raced off the minute the door was shut.
"Hurry up, M.C.! He can break down doors you know! Maybe I should have been more specific…" The scientist turned as he slammed the grate open.
"Perry the platypus! How'd you find me so quickly!"
He had no qualms about not taking it easy on Doof today. You're taking things too far again!
"Ow! Hey! Wait… just let me… OW!"
He pinned his nemesis. "Well, fine, but no matter. You left M.C. out there, and that big noise out there was the sound of her firing the -Inator!"
"Guess again, Doof." She handed Perry back his gun. He let Doof stand, and stepped back, holding his hand out. He's all yours.
She nodded, and swiped the scientist's feet out from under him. "That's for wiping my mind and making me follow your orders."
She turned as Doof stood and brushed himself off, then suddenly she spun around again. And punched him in the face. "And that's for making me fight Perry, you creep!"
Perry landed another punch for good measure. They walked out into the lab where the remains of the -Inator were still smoking. As the door shut, he handed her the hat he'd found in the control room.
She put it on with a smile. "Thanks, partner. I brought my car over so you can head home if you want."
He tipped his hat, and started up the jet-pack.
A/N: Obviously I watched a lot of Remains of a Platypus while I was away. Anywho... there's another chapter!
Thanks for reading!