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DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Phineas and Ferb!
A few days later, after the boys made one of their amazing creations and cleaned it up, Perry and the boys were down in his lair. The boys had finished all the collars in one day, making Perry so proud. He and Phineas were on his computer searching through the Tri-State Area, trying to find L.O.V.E.M.U.F.F.I.N's hideout while Ferb was working on something else with his laptop and his own gadgets.
"What else would the hideout need?" Phineas asked as he typed in search perimeters.
"Definitely high power usage," Perry wrote. "Also, it'd need to be in an isolated area, somewhere where people won't look too closely."
"Okay, makes sense," Phineas said, typing.
"Pinky and Terry should be here soon with some of their gadgets," Perry wrote. "I told them yesterday that you guys would update them, like mine."
Phineas nodded. "I'll get started on them."
"What about Ferb?" Perry asked.
"He's working on something else," Phineas said. "I can handle it for now."
Perry nodded before he heard one of his tubes being activated, and Pinky and Terry dropped in after some of their gadgets clattered onto the ground.
"Hey, Perry," Pinky and Terry said and waved at the boys; no fedora on, like Perry.
"Those the gadgets?" Phineas asked and Pinky and Terry both nodded.
Phineas hopped off of the chair, heading over to the gadgets, picking each up and looking it over. "I'll get started. Ferb?" Ferb looked up and over. "How close are you to being finished?"
"I just need to download it onto this," Ferb said, holding up a tiny golden device, so Phineas nodded.
"What are they talking about?" Pinky asked.
"No idea," Perry said. "They've been very secretive about what Ferb's working on."
"What are you searching?" Terry asked, looking up at the large computer screen.
"Trying to see if we can narrow down the search coordinates of the hideout," Perry said, sitting down in the chair.
"What are the search perimeters?" Pinky said, standing next to Perry.
"Mostly anywhere that has high power usage, in an isolated area, abandoned, might have a lot of delivery trucks coming and going, and some other things," Perry said.
For the next two hours, Perry, Pinky, and Terry watched the computer while Phineas worked on Pinky and Terry's gadgets and Ferb finished his project. In another hour, Perry, Pinky, and Terry needed to meet the other animals in the park.
"Finished," Ferb said 30 minutes later, causing the other four to jump a bit in surprise.
"It's all done?" Phineas asked, a smile on his face. "Seriously?"
Ferb nodded.
"This is going to be so cool!" Phineas exclaimed, rushing over to his stepbrother. "Perry, come here a second."
Perry chattered, heading over to the boys with Pinky and Terry following in curiosity.
"Okay, remember when we told you we had the animal translator downloaded onto the computer?" Phineas asked and Perry nodded. "Well, we were working on a microchip that we could download the translator onto so it's portable, and then attach that onto your locket."
Perry, Pinky, and Terry just stared at him.
"It took a little longer than we expected, but it's finally done," Phineas said, still smiling. "Give me your locket."
Perry unfastened his locket, placing it in Phineas' palm. Phineas grabbed a tool and got to work on attaching the microchip to the locket and after about ten minutes, he got it attached. He refastened the locket around Perry's neck, smiling.
"Okay, like the GPS and camera, you just need to press it to activate it," Phineas said, his excitement bubbling over. "So, Perry, try it!"
Perry looked down at his locket before shaking his head.
"Why not?" Phineas complained. "I just want to see if it works." When Perry glanced at Pinky and Terry, Phineas quickly pressed the translator, turning it on.
Perry still refused to speak.
"Please, Perry!" Phineas said, hands clasped in front of him. "It'll be so much easier to communicate now."
Perry looked at Pinky and Terry one last time before sighing. "You're very persuasive."
Perry saw Phineas and Ferb's mouths drop open, even Pinky and Terry were in complete awe.
"Say something else," Phineas said, smiling.
"Why does me speaking matter so much?" Perry said, the translator working perfectly again. Perry's voice was very cool, calm, and collected, but also strong and commanding, yet strangely soothing in an almost parental way, and surprisingly deep with a hint of an Australian accent.
"'Cause you sound so awesome!" Phineas exclaimed. "Exactly how a super secret agent should sound."
"I want one!" Pinky and Terry exclaimed.
"What did they say?" Phineas asked.
"They want one too," Perry said, still a little in shock at hearing his own voice.
"Well, Ferb, you think we could make six more?" Phineas asked, looking at Ferb.
"I think we could," Ferb said.
"Six?" Perry asked.
"One for each of the other animals, including Pinky and Terry," Phineas said. "Oh, Pinky, Terry, you guys want your collars back?"
Pinky and Terry nodded.
Phineas grabbed Pinky's collar from the pile of collars and fastened it around the chihuahua's neck, then grabbed Terry's collar from the pile and fastened it around the turtle's neck. He then went on to show Pinky and Terry each of buttons and how they worked while Perry and Ferb looked on. Perry glanced down at his watch and saw it was 5 minutes to 3.
"Okay, Pinky, Terry, and I need to leave," Perry said. "How do I turn the translator off?"
"Just press it," Phineas said, bringing over the other collars. "Please be careful, Perry. You guys too, Pinky and Terry."
"We will be," Perry said, grabbing the collars. "Just stay in the house."
"Don't worry, Perry," Phineas said, going back over to the gadgets. "We know the drill. Ferb's gonna continue to work on the translator chips while I work on the gadgets, so we'll just stay down here. It's safer anyways."
"That's true," Perry said, nodding. "No one can find the access points to my lair, they're very well hidden. I'll lock the doors upstairs, but stay down here and-"
"Don't answer the door to strangers or leave the house or follow you," Phineas repeated. "We got it. Just go, you're late anyways."
Perry smiled at the boys before he, Pinky, and Terry rode the elevator up to the living room. Perry, with Pinky and Terry's help, went through the whole house, securing it before leaving through the doggy (platypus) door. Perry pressed his paw against the side of the doggy (platypus) door, seeing it scan his paw which locked the doggy (platypus) door.
"Neat," Terry said as they walked away. "When was that added?"
"I added it myself," Perry said, then winced when he heard his voice again. He clicked the microchip, turning it off. "I wanted some way to enter and leave the house so I didn't have to leave the doors unlocked."
"Smart," Pinky said. "I need to get me one of those."
"So, you think the other agents found anything?" Perry said as they all walked the short walk to the park.
"Probably not," Terry said. "You're probably the only one who thought to search the whole Tri-State Area with certain perimeters."
"Why do you guys and some of the other agents think I'm so much better than you?" Perry asked, honestly curious. "I'm not that much better."
"You're the one who thought of the evil ray gun thing, talked Major Monogram, basically the agency, into letting us stay with our owners, are calm when you have the biggest hit on you, you're definitely the best fighter out of us, the smartest, the quickest, and, most importantly, the love you have for your owners that drives you," Pinky said as they entered the park. "And said owners are also capable of amazing things and are willing to help us, even after what happened in the 2nd-Dimension."
Perry honestly didn't know what to say, but was saved when he saw the other agents in a circle at the same spot.
"You're late," Devon said.
"Sorry. Got held up," Perry said as he, Pinky, and Terry settled down before grabbing the collars and placing them in the middle of the circle. "Here are your collars. Find yours and put them on and I'll show you what they can do."
Perry watched as each of the agents found their collars and put them on, looking around like they were expecting something to happen. Perry, Pinky, and Terry looked at each other before smiling and laughing.
"Guys, a magical bubble isn't going to form around you," Perry said. "Just listen." Perry then spent ten minutes explaining how the collars worked, but left out where the GPS signal and camera feed would wind up. After making sure each agent knew how to use the collars, they each started asking the questions he dreaded.
"Who made these?" Calvin asked. "They're very high-tech and well done. Not a sloppy job."
"Who made them isn't important," Perry said. "Just be happy we have some way to get out if we get trapped."
"I think who made them is very important," Devon said.
Perry remained quiet.
"Well, we all know you didn't make them," Ferdinand said. "But the technology and design seem familiar."
Perry still said nothing.
"Why won't you tell us?" Bruce asked.
"Guys, he said drop it," Pinky and Terry both said firmly.
The other four agents looked between Terry, Pinky, and Perry before each one gasped.
"You guys know who made them!" Calvin exclaimed, giving an accusing glare to Pinky and Terry.
"Yes, but we're not talking either," Pinky said. "It's Perry's right to tell you when he feels he needs to."
"Why do Pinky and Terry get to know?" Devon asked Perry.
Perry just shrugged before sighing. "We need to focus on the problem at hand: finding the other agents."
"Fine. But this discussion isn't over," Calvin said.
Perry nodded, sighing in relief. "Well, I'm doing a search throughout the Tri-State Area with some perimeters, so maybe I'll get lucky. Any of you guys get anything?"
All of them shook their heads.
"Well, then there's nothing else we can do at the moment," Perry said. "Let's just go home and I'll contact all of you if my search produces anything. Everybody stay safe and keep your collars on."
All the animals got up and left the park, heading home. When Perry got to his block, he left Pinky and Terry to go home and went straight into the backyard, then into one of his secret entrances. Once the elevator opened, he smiled when he saw the boys still down there, working hard.
Perry looked down at his locket before sighing and turning on the translator. "I'm back." Both boys jumped in surprise at hearing Perry's voice instead of the chatter they're used to. "Still weird hearing my own voice."
"Same for us," Phineas said. "How was the meeting?"
"Unproductive," Perry said, going over to his computer. "How's the inventing going?"
"I got most of the gadgets Pinky and Terry brought over updated and Ferb has got three of the microchips done," Phineas said, wiping his face. "Did the other agents like their collars?"
"They were very appreciative," Perry said, then muttered, "But too curious."
"Curious?" Phineas asked, Perry surprised he heard. "About what?"
Perry sighed. "About who made them." He then walked over and sat down near Phineas.
"Why don't you just tell them it was us?" Phineas said, turning to put the platypus more in view.
"I don't know," Perry said. "I guess I'm just scared." He whispered the last part.
"You? Scared?" Phineas said in disbelief. "What would scare you?"
Perry glanced at Ferb, seeing him watching the conversation, before looking back at Phineas, then sighed. "Of one of the agents ratting me out and telling Major Monogram, or the agency in general, that you two remember." He felt tears spring unexpectedly in his eyes, so he blinked them away quickly. "Of losing you two."
Phineas glanced at his stepbrother, a silent conversation passing between them, then back at Perry. "After going through that period of 'not remembering,' there's nothing Major Monogram or the agency could do to take you away from us, Perry. We wouldn't let them."
Perry felt the tears back in his eyes, but didn't do anything to stop them from falling, and he smiled. With one look at both Phineas and Ferb, he believed them. He believed that they would stop at nothing to keep him right where he was. His love for the boys grew even more, if that was possible. He looked up when he felt Phineas place a hand on his shoulder.
"You okay, Perry?" Phineas asked, a little worried. "Did I say something wrong?"
Perry smiled even bigger, shaking his head, wiping the rest of his tears away. "You said everything right. I don't think you can understand how much that means to me, that you would fight to keep me. And I want both of you to know that, as long as you want me here, I won't be going anywhere, agency or no agency."
Phineas smiled, tears sparkling his eyes. "Perry, you should know by now that we will always want you with us. You're so much more to us than a pet."
"You're our best friend," Ferb finished for his stepbrother; even his silent owner was letting some emotion through.
Perry was about to speak when he heard a beep come from his computer. He got up and walked over to it, seeing one of the security camera's image on the screen. The image was showing Candace banging on Phineas and Ferb's bedroom door, yelling that it was dinner time. He beckoned the boys over to him before pointing to the screen, words not needed.
"Let's go," Phineas said.
Perry activated one of his tubes and all three of them were shot back up to their bedroom. Before going back to his mindless pet mode, he hugged both boys as tightly as he could without hurting them, nuzzling his head against both boys' chests. He let them go, smiling widely at both, before dropping back to all fours.
"PHINEAS! FERB!" Candace's shouting continued. "OPEN THIS DOOR! DINNER IS READY!"
"We'll be down in a minute," Phineas answered.
"Fine," Candace huffed, but left.
"Before we go down, I need to ask you a question, Perry," Phineas said.
"Okay," Perry said.
"Do you really like the pet food we feed you or do you want more human-like food?" Phineas asked, curiosity in his eyes.
"Either is fine," Perry said, shrugging. "The pet food isn't that bad. I've been eating it pretty much my whole life, so there isn't really a difference to me."
Phineas nodded. "Just wanted to make sure you weren't just eating it for our benefit."
"It's okay, Phineas," Perry said. "I may be a secret agent, but I'm a pet first. Always have been, always will be."
Phineas smiled and ruffled his head. "Let's go eat."
As Phineas opened the door, Perry made sure to switch off the translator before following the boys down the stairs and into the kitchen. He walked over to his pet bowl and ate his dinner as he listened to his family talk about their days, Phineas and Ferb obviously leaving out some details of theirs. After Perry finished his meal, he laid down by Phineas, rubbing his head against Phineas' leg.
"Hey, Perry," Phineas said after swallowing, petting him.
The family finished their dinner fifteen minutes later, and after helping clean up, the boys headed to their room, Perry following. Once the door was closed, Perry dropped his pet act and switched the translator back on. He jumped up onto Phineas' bed and watched the boys.
"Something wrong?" Phineas asked, tilting his head.
"Not really," Perry said. "I'm just worried about the other agents."
"If they're half as good as you are, Perry, I'm sure they're fine," Ferb said, sitting on his bed.
"Hopefully the search produces something," Phineas said, sitting next to Perry. "Then we'll be able to rescue them."
"Oh no. No, no, no," Perry said, shaking his head. "There is no we. Once the search produces something, I'll call the other agents and the animals who are trained to do this will rescue them. I want you two nowhere near L.O.V.E.M.U.F.F.I.N."
"Perry!" Phineas complained. "We've stayed out of your way whenever you asked us to, but we want to help save the other agents!"
Perry still shook his head.
"How do you know you're not going to send the remaining agents on a wild goose chase?" Ferb asked.
"What do you mean?" Perry asked, Phineas looking confused as well.
"Well, just because the computer gives you coordinates with the perimeters you entered, doesn't mean that's the place," Ferb explained. "And there is probably going to be more than one result."
Phineas smiled. "Yeah! At least let us come with you to scout out the places."
Perry thought over what the boys were saying, and they did have a point, but he still didn't want them in harm's way. He looked at both boys and saw absolute determination in their eyes. He sighed. Even if he said no, they'd probably follow him regardless.
"Fine," Perry said. "But just to look. Nothing more."
Phineas's smile was huge. "Yay! Thanks, Perry! This will be sooo much fun!"
Perry couldn't help but smile at his enthusiasm and even Ferb was smiling a little. Perry then heard footsteps heading towards the boys' room, so he dropped back down to all fours, laid down, and put his vacant expression back on. Phineas and Ferb looked at him funny before they heard a knock on the door and their mom stepped in. Phineas smiled at Perry before ruffling his head, then turned towards his mom.
"Hey, Mom," Phineas and Ferb said at the same time.
"Hey, boys," Linda said, smiling. "Isabella is on her way over. Vivian had to run a quick errand and I told her we'd watch Isabella for however long she was gone."
Perry looked over at Ferb, who looked like he was about to laugh, then over at Phineas, whose face was noticeably redder. Perry then remembered the kiss, which, in the excitement of the kidnappings, forgot that Phineas remembered it, and almost started laughing himself. Perry looked back over the past few weeks, when the boys would do their building, and focused on Phineas; he was more focused at the time on making sure the boys were safe. His duckbill almost curved up into a smile as he recalled all the moments when Isabella and Phineas would be near each other or Phineas would be talking to her, that he was always blushing and he'd act a little skittish.
"So, anyways, Isabella, and I think she's bringing Pinky, should be over in about five minutes," Linda said. "Just thought I'd let you know."
"Thanks, Mom," Phineas said, his face still red. Ferb just waved.
Once the door was closed, Perry sat back up and couldn't stop the laughter anymore and Ferb joined in as well. When Perry couldn't breathe, he let his laughter start to die down and looked up at Phineas, who was glaring at both him and Ferb, his face still red.
"I'm sorry, Phineas," Perry said breathlessly. "Your face is as red as a tomato."
"It is," Ferb said, still smiling.
"And I was looking back at the past few weeks and focused in on you," Perry said, smiling. "You've been red-faced and skittish around her the whole time."
"I'm surprised she hasn't noticed," Ferb said. "She's always watching you, whenever she can."
"Would you two stop it?!" Phineas shouted. "It's not funny."
"Yes, it is," Perry said, still smiling.
"No, it's not," Phineas said.
"Oh, yes it is," Perry said back.
"No, it's not," Phineas said again.
Perry was about to answer again, but Ferb's laughter stopped him. "You two sound like bickering brothers," Ferb said, still smiling.
Perry smiled at the thought, but Phineas was still mad, though there was a small smile on his face.
"We should have never built you that translator," Phineas muttered.
Perry laughed, rolling his eyes. "If I remember correctly, it was you who insisted I use it."
Phineas just humphed, sounding just like Candace.
"Ignore him, Perry," Ferb said. "He's just nervous about seeing Isabella, seeing how it's only the three of us instead of a backyard full of people."
"You two together are actually really annoying," Phineas said. "And, Ferb, since when do you talk this much?"
"Only when it's this much fun to do so," Ferb answered.
"Isabella's on her way over," Linda shouted. "She has Pinky with her."
Perry smiled, remembering what Phineas mentioned earlier. "Could one of you distract Isabella so me, Pinky, and another one of you can go down to my lair and attach the translator you finished onto Pinky's collar?"
"Ferb, you distract Isabella," Phineas all but shouted, speaking fast.
Ferb smiled again. "Since when are you a wimp?"
"Since Isabella kissed me out of the blue before having our memories wiped," Phineas said.
"She didn't kiss you 'out of the blue,' Phineas," Perry said, shaking his head.
"She specifically kissed you at the time she did because we were about to get our memories wiped," Ferb said. "But fine, I'll distract her."
"Good," Phineas sighed.
"Pinky will be very happy about having the translator," Perry said, changing the subject.
When Perry heard two sets of footsteps, well, footsteps and paw-steps, he laid back down, put his vacant expression back on, and clicked off his translator as the door opened and Isabella and Pinky entered the room. Isabella was smiling and Pinky was shaking, as usual. Perry looked over at Phineas and saw his face tomato red again. He exchanged a look with Ferb before looking back at the two guests.
"Hey, Phineas," Isabella said, her voice chipper. "Hey, Ferb. What'cha doin'?"
"Hey, Isabella," Phineas said. "We're not doing much, just talking."
"Sounds fun," Isabella said, sitting down next to Ferb on his bed, across from Phineas.
"Hey, Perry," Pinky said, jumping up onto Phineas' bed and laying down by Perry.
"Hey," Perry said.
"Has your search popped up anything?" Pinky asked.
"Nothing yet," Perry said. "The boys brought up a good point earlier, though."
"What?" Pinky asked.
"That, even if the search brings results, the place might not be where they are. Also, there will probably be more than one result," Perry said, sighing. "I told the boys that when the results get in, I'll bring them with me to scout out each one."
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Pinky asked.
"I really have no choice," Perry said. "They'd follow me regardless of what I say and I'd rather have them under my protection than trying to stealthily follow me and get hurt."
"I guess that makes sense," Pinky said. "Do you want me and Terry to come with you? Three agents are better than one and we'd all be able to keep an eye on the boys."
Perry almost smiled. "That'd be great, Pinky, thanks."
"I'll be right back, Isabella," Phineas said, smiling. "I need to go ask my mom something."
Perry glanced up at Phineas and saw him motioning him to follow. Oh, Ferb has Isabella distracted, Perry thought and gave Phineas a small nod.
"Pinky, come with," Perry said, hopping off the bed, Pinky following.
Phineas closed the door after Perry and Pinky got out. Once Perry was sure no one was watching, he and Pinky stood up, and Perry activated one of his hallway entrances; he, Phineas, and Pinky stepped inside and rode it down to his lair. Once the elevator opened, Perry stepped out, turned his translator back on, and turned to Pinky.
"When I got back from the meeting earlier, Ferb had gotten 3 of the translator microchips finished, so I thought you'd like yours now," Perry said.
Pinky smiled and nodded enthusiastically.
"Phineas?" Perry asked.
"I got it, Perry," Phineas said. "Could I have your collar?"
Pinky handed over his collar and Phineas got to work attaching the translator, and after five minutes, he had it attached. Phineas put the collar back on Pinky and clicked the translator on. He smiled at the chihuahua and motioned for him to talk.
"What do you think?" Pinky said, translator working. Pinky's voice was a lot like Perry's: cool, calm, and collected, but with a slight tremor (due to his constant shaking) and a slight Mexican accent.
"Awesome," Phineas said, smiling.
"Are those my gadgets?" Pinky asked, pointing to a pile of medal in a corner of the lair.
"Yeah, I finished them," Phineas said. "If you want to bring more over, I'll work on them too."
"Thanks, Phineas," Pinky said. "Also for the translator and the things for my collar."
"No problem, Pinky," Phineas said. "You're as much a friend to me as Isabella is. I want you to be safe too. Isabella would be devastated if something happened to you."
Pinky smiled, as did Perry. "Let's go relieve Ferb from distracting Isabella," Perry said, heading back to the elevator, first checking the security camera to make sure the hallway was clear.
The three of them got back into the elevator and rode up to the hallway. They got out and walked over to the bedroom door, both animals clicking off the translators and dropping back to all fours. Phineas smiled and opened the bedroom door, then stopped when he saw what Ferb was doing to keep Isabella busy: dancing.
"Nice moves, bro," Phineas said, walking the rest of the way in, both animals following him.
"Ferb was teaching me his moves so I could get my dancing patch," Isabella said, smiling.
Their door then opened and Linda peeked in. "Isabella, your mom is back. Why don't I walk you home?"
"Thanks, Mrs. Flynn-Fletcher," Isabella said. "I'll see you two tomorrow."
"Bye, Isabella," Phineas said, waving. "Bye, Pinky."
Pinky barked, but smiled when Isabella turned to face Linda and tipped his head in gratitude; he lifted his paw in a wave at Perry. Phineas closed the door when Linda, Isabella, and Pinky left their room. Perry sat up and switched his translator on again.
"I think Pinky likes the translator," Perry said. "Though the one person he would want to talk to the most can't know he's more than a pet."
"Isabella," Phineas said, nodding. "That must stink."
"I'd feel the same way if I couldn't talk to you two," Perry said, shrugging.
"So, the translator worked fine?" Ferb asked.
"Yeah," Phineas said. "Flawless work, bro."
"Oh, Pinky said he and Terry would come with us to scout out any possible results we get from the search. He wants to keep you safe as well," Perry said.
"So, you're still letting us come with you?" Phineas said, smiling. "You haven't changed your mind?"
"As much as I'd like to, no. I'm still bringing you with," Perry said.
A knock sounded on the door and Perry instantly dropped back to all fours. Their dad opened the door and stepped in the room. "Hey, boys,"
"Hi, Dad," Phineas said, petting Perry.
"Mum wanted me to tell you two to get to bed," Lawrence said.
"Okay, Dad," Phineas said. "Night."
"Night," Ferb echoed.
"Goodnight, boys," Lawrence said, shutting the door.
"That was close," Phineas said, still petting Perry.
Ferb nodded, grabbed his pajamas, and headed out to the bathroom, closing the door behind him.
"So, what are you two going to do tomorrow?" Perry asked, smiling.
"I don't know yet," Phineas said. "You still going to be here?" Phineas looked down at the bed, picking at random strings.
"Of course!" Perry exclaimed. "I'd rather be here every day and play with you two, but, duty calls. But since my nemesis is currently MIA, I'm here."
"Really?" Phineas asked, looking up at him. "You'd rather stay here with us than go on thrilling missions and kick your nemesis' butt everyday?"
"Definitely!" Perry said. "You wouldn't believe how boring doing the same thing everyday can be. And Doofenshmirtz isn't exactly the hardest person to beat. Half the time he ends up blowing his own -inators up."
That made Phineas laugh. "That's good to know. At least we don't have to worry too much about you being in terrible trouble every time you go on your missions."
"You don't need to worry any of the time I go on my missions," Perry said. "I will always come back. Always."
"I'm holding you to that," Phineas said, petting him. "But we'll still worry, Perry. Always."
Ferb came back into the room and climbed into his bed, so Phineas grabbed his pajamas and went to take a shower. Perry closed his eyes, tired after his busy day and was almost asleep when he felt the bed weigh down and looked up to see Phineas getting into it. Phineas smiled and turned the light off, falling asleep instantly. Perry climbed up the bed until he was next to Phineas and curled back up, and fell asleep as well.