Chapter 28: Precious Memories
Perry released a heavy sigh as the panda got taken out of the building by OWCA workers. When the unconscious Panda was gone, Perry fell back on to the ground, placing a hand over his heart to steady his breathing. He took in huge breaths, paying back the oxygen debt. He looked over to Agent T, who already started to leave. "Thank you," he said to her.
The senior agent turned her large head to him, nodded, then proceeded to leave without a trace.
Terry came to his mentor, falling back the same way. Chester and Brown sat to his left. "Okay, that was scary," the dog said, lolling his tongue out.
"I do not want to experience that again," Chester agreed.
"Very intense," Terry offered.
Doof stood a little ways off from all the agents that were now starting to leave. Brown left with them, pulling Chester along. Terry stayed with his now-human friend. "I'll catch up later," they both called to the cat and dog.
The room fell again to silence as the trio waited. Doof didn't really understand what seemed to be going on. Confused, he walked up to Perry, sitting next to him in the same position. "So uh, what's going on?"
Emotionlessly Perry answered, "I suspect Karl and Monogram will be here any second now to give us a scolding on our rashness at this whole thing."
"Us?"
Perry's head snapped at him, "Well it is your fault."
"What? How?"
"If you didn't become nemesis's with Peter back then, none of this wouldn't happen." Terry raised an eyebrow at his mentor, shocked at his naivety. He didn't question him however; he knew that his younger mentor needed to get this out of his system while he could still have an honest talk with his nemesis. It came to the turtle in that moment, that no words needed to be spoken from him at this time.
"Oh come on! Are you never going to give that up? I'm sorry okay? I chose you, you're my nemesis! I don't want Peter the Panda okay? I thought I made that clear!"
"Yeah before you tried to turn us in to statues!"
"I had to do something the evil scientists would like or they would have kicked me out!" Doof insisted stubbornly. "Besides, the freezinator then wore off eventually. You wouldn't have been statues forever. Only for about a week or so, just enough time for the other evil scientists to forget about it."
Perry glared at Doof, looking away stubbornly. So that's where the giant escaping dino legend came from.
Terry watched with intense curiosity. What were they going to do now?
"I'm sorry, okay?" Doof said, more stubbornly now. Perry looked over at him, raising a teal eyebrow. He pulled his hat (which had grown to human size) down over one side of his head. Doof looked up at him, "Can you forgive me?"
Perry looked him up an down, a sour expression on his face. "For now."
The evil scientist sighed, resting his head between his knees. Terry released his breath too, glad the tension of the room could return back to normal. He knew it wouldn't last however.
Several moments of silence passed in the room before Perry spoke, "Hey, Dr. D?"
The scientist looked over at Perry. "Yes?"
"Thanks for, wanting to give me a family. I never could have found one on my own. I'm glad I had someone to take care of me. I'm sorry I couldn't go with you."
Doof nodded. "You don't have to be sorry. I'm just glad you're alive." He asked, "So how did they think you were dead?"
"When I was letting my mom go, I did fall in the river. Fred thought I had drowned because I didn't come up for a long time. I could just hold my breath I guess."
Doof nodded. "I understand."
I feel invisible, Terry mused to himself.
The trio looked up at the door as Monogram walked in, flanked by Karl and a dozen agents. They all stood behind Monogram, their hands being held behind their backs. Upon their entry Perry and Terry rose to their feet, saluting the major until he returned it. Monogram scanned over Perry's 'condition'. "Um, Karl, this is going to be a problem."
"Of course sir. That's why I brought these just in case." Karl held up a bag, it's contents unknown.
"A present?"
"Kind of. Here Agent P." Karl walked up and handed Perry the bag.
"You knew this was going to happen Karl?"
"I guessed."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"You never asked."
Perry took the bag. Karl nodded at him with a smirk on his face. Silently Perry walked over to the bathroom, coming out a few minutes later wearing a brown suit with a white shirt underneath it, matching brown pants and black shoes. The tie he wore was the same color as his hair. Karl tossed him a hairbrush to smooth out his hair, which he seemed to have trouble with.
Doofenshmirtz sighed audibly. "Oh my gosh just let me do it."
The evil scientist walked over to the former-platypus, taking the hairbrush from him to start pulling through his hair. Monogram looked over them, the evil scientist and his nemesis. They were almost the same height. Amusingly, Perry was taller than Doof, a good half a foot taller than him. Perry complained, "Ow that hurts!"
"Well maybe if you stand still it won't hurt as much! How'd you let it get all tangled like this?"
"I don't know maybe fighting for my life?"
"Don't get cocky Kid."
"Don't call me that!"
"Make me!"
Karl hid behind a snicker of amusement. The agents whispered among themselves so the room wouldn't be enshrouded in complete silence. Terry walked over to Chester and Brown, quietly murmuring to him. Doof glanced over at them, now solemn faced as his hair began to straighten out. "Hey ginger!"
"What?" the cat and turtle snapped.
"One of you go get me some scissors. His hair is driving me crazy."
"You're going to cut my hair?" Perry asked, turning his head a little to look at Doof.
"Yes. It's much too long. If it's longer than mine you know something is wrong," Doof muttered.
"Fine," Perry said stubbornly.
Terry handed the evil scientist the scissors. The sound of clipping fell upon the room. Locks of now smooth teal hair fell in soft clumps here and there. In about half an hour it was over. Perry's hair looked to be a good six inches shorter so the hair only fell to his ears. Chester handed the human a mirror. Perry looked over himself. "It's better," he admit, giving his head a quick little shake, freeing some of the extras left over. His head felt a lot lighter now.
"Back on schedule," Monogram said. Agents, over here please."
Perry walked over to his superior, standing behind him. Karl looked a little sad, avoiding the former-platypus's eyes. Doof stared at them. Monogram cleared his throat and spoke. "Doofenshmirtz, we're sorry to tell you, but, we have to erase your memory with an Amnesia-inator."
"Did I make that?"
"Yes. Yes you did."
"I would have remembered if I did wouldn't I?" From within the crowd, Perry flinched.
"Well, anyway, we need to erase your memory."
"Why?"
"You know too much, where the OWCA is, that our agents can talk, and that your nemesis is a human. It's a danger to us. I'm sorry."
Doof's arms were grabbed, quickly held and tied behind his back by Agent Snake. The reptile slithered away when the deed was done. Doof looked up to Perry, who refused to look at him.
"N-No you can't take my memories! They're my memories! Can't you just relocate or something?"
"We've been in the same building for generations now. It's too late to just move to another building."
"But, but!"
"Agent P, you may say your goodbyes."
The agent nodded, walking up slowly to the captive. He raised his eyes to him, apologies gleaming in his brown orbs. "I'm sorry," he murmured.
Doof glared at him. "I thought you were better than this Kid," he murmured. "I thought agents were all about honor and nobility. Now I see you're just another dog to the higher-ups." A disgusted sneer grew over Doof's face. Perry flinched, moving his eyes back down. "I mean, I thought I knew you, but you're just a-"
The evil scientist got cut off from his speaking as Perry's arms wrapped around Doof, giving him a tight hug. Heinz stiffened, shocked by this sudden movement. "I'm sorry," Perry whispered. "I never wanted this to happen."
Doof couldn't really hug back, so he settled for placing his head on Perry's shoulders. "It's okay," he spoke quietly. "You'll just have to be strong okay?"
Perry nodded weakly. From behind Monogram could be heard. "Karl will you stop it? I'm only sweating through my eyes! I am not crying!"
"Sure sir."
Perry stepped away from Doof, turning to Monogram. He held his arms out, as if to shield Doofenshmirtz. "No. Not again Monogram. I can't take it."
All emotion in the major hardened to nothing. "Agent P, stop right there. You know that this is the only thing we can do. If we let him remember we compromise the entire agency."
"Please Major. I don't think I can go through with it a second time."
"Are you resigning from the OWCA?
"No sir!"
"Then stand back."
"A second time?" Doof asked, clearly in the confused territory.
Perry hushed him, "How much does he have to forget?"
"Pretty much the entire day."
"But-"
"Agent P." Monogram glared at him. "Don't push it."
Feeling defeated, Perry looked over at Doofenshmirtz, who stared back at him with wide eyes. But then he'd be sad again. He couldn't bear the thought of Doofenshmirtz going back to thinking he was dead. Perry turned back to Monogram. "Please sir, at least let him remember who I am."
"Can't."
Perry stared at Doofenshmirtz brokenly. He gave the evil scientist one more hug before walking over to stand beside Monogram. "Are you calmed down now Agent P?"
"Yes sir."
"Good. Karl, you're up."
Karl pulled out a small ray (inators, portable size now!) pointed it at Doofenshmirtz, and fired.
The man fell unconscious on to the ground. Perry winced where he stood when Doof landed. Chester climbed up on to his shoulders, patting him kindly. The cat felt the weakness in his student's soul. He climbed down in to his arms, purring kindly. Perry held him tightly, not wanting to ever let go.
Short again sorry!
lolz so i came back from winter retreat with a bump on my head. i fell off a sled that was going down a hill really fast by putting my feet down in the ground to slow down, therefore getting careened out of the sled and face-first in to the snow. the first layer was kind of brittle so i got cut up a little :3 it was scary at first because i couldn't breathe after i rolled over. then after that i just walked it off XD
anywayz, now one side of my face is all cut up with this big one on my forehead where a layer of skin was torn off, that ones the worst i think :3 so i'll be ok. hatsu is awesome though. we were kind of play-arguing about something and she's started calling it my 'incisor mauled face' X3 loves you hatsu!
