Chapter Three: The Vial
Freeing Dr. Nefario from carbonite was a scenario that had seemed more and more remote to Gru. Yet here it was, finally within his grasp- the solution.
He'd read the note from Dru twice over, and had Lucy do the same, just to be sure they'd had it all down, when the girls returned to the kitchen. No sooner had Gru made his announcement than Margo exclaimed: "What? How?"
"This vial, apparently," Gru said, holding up the object in question. "Or rather, what's in it."
"Pour it on the carbonite and it all melts away," Lucy added. "Leastways, that's what the note says."
"Where'd he get that?" Edith asked.
"He didn't say," Gru replied.
Agnes was already headed for the kitchen door. "I'll go wait in the lab 'till everyone's ready," she said. As she left the room, Gru heard her shouting: "We're unfreezing the doctor. Yay!"
"Go with her, Margo," Lucy said.
As Margo left, Gru turned to Edith. "Edith, dear," he said, "Could you go get Dave and Jerry to the lab? If they're still asleep…"
Edith made a fist and slapped it against the palm of her other hand. "Not a problem," she said before hurrying off. Gru smiled as he watched her go, then dropped his smile.
"What if it doesn't work?" he said.
"It'll work," Lucy replied, patting him on the shoulder. "Dru said he was sure."
"Yes, well…this is Dru we're talking about," Gru said. "He's a good man, but not always the brightest."
"The letter made him sound really sure," said Lucy. "Maybe he saw it get tested or something."
Gru looked at the vial again. "Only one way to find out."
Edith found Dave and Jerry passed out on a couch in a side room of the house. The former of the two Minions was in an upright sitting position, while the latter was flat on his back, head and arms hanging over the edge of the couch seat. Several empty bottles were scattered about the floor.
"Hey," she said as she stepped into the room. "You two, get up."
The Minions made no sound.
Edith walked directly over to Dave and Jerry. "Hey!" she said again, louder this time. "You two, get up!"
Still, the two Minions made no sound. They were oblivious to the world.
With a snort of annoyance, Edith leaned over their heads. "Hey!" she shouted. "You two, get up!"
Dave and Jerry's eyes snapped open as one. Dave fell forward onto his face, while Jerry tumbled head over heels onto the floor, prompting Edith to jump backwards. She nearly tripped over a bottle, only barely managing to steady herself.
"Watch it!" she exclaimed. "What's with you guys?"
"Itay paty, ka drunk," Dave said, sitting up.
"Kada hangover baaaad," Jerry added with a groan.
"Well, whatever, just get to the lab," Edith said. "Gru's going to unfreeze Dr. Nefario- we think."
The Minions blinked for a moment, then their eyes went wide. As one, they scrambled upright and staggered towards the door.
Edith turned to follow them, then stopped. She cast her eyes about the floor.
"Guess we'll clean up the mess later," she said. "Well, they'll clean it up. I've got nothing to do with this one."
When everyone had reached the lab, they gathered about the carbonite block. Gru turned to face his family, prepared to speak. Noticing Dave and Jerry, he said: "You two look awful."
"Paty late," Jerry explained. He gestured towards the carbonite block. "Pala doctor melta."
"Alright, alright, I'll go ahead," Gru replied, rolling his eyes. Turning back to his family, he added, "Dru says we pour the vial's contents on the block and it'll melt away. I…" He hesitated, not wanting to voice his fears out loud. His vision seemed to blur for a moment.
If it doesn't work…what do I do?
It was Agnes' voice that brought Gru back to the moment. "Go ahead," she said.
Gru rubbed his eyes, clearing his vision of the-
"Sand in my eyes," he muttered. So annoying."
He glanced down at Agnes, who was smiling softly. Edith was smiling too, a bit more cheekily. Margo wasn't smiling, but her eyes had a look in them halfway between understanding and gentle laughter.
"Well, go on, dear," Lucy said, touching his arm. Gru nodded. Turning to the carbonite, he opened the vial. Then, carefully, he emptied the contents onto one of the doctor's frozen hands.
Gru stepped back from the carbonite block and waited. The minutes passed.
Nothing happened.
Gru sighed. Turning to the others once more, he said: "I guess…it wasn't meant to be."
Nobody's eyes were on Fru. Instead, they were all on the carbonite block still.
"What is it?" Gru said. "Can't you see it's not working?"
"Look!" Agnes exclaimed, pointing. Gru turned. A red ripple had begun to spread across the block.
"It's…it's working?" Gru whispered, hardly daring to believe it.
The ripple continued for several moments. Then it ceased. A few seconds later, the outline of Nefario's frozen form began to glow a soft red. This continued for about a minute until finally, the carbonite began to dissolve. When enough of the block's front had melted away, Dr. Nefario, free once more, slumped forward towards the floor. Gru caught him with both arms and steadied him.
"Hmmm," Nefario grunted. "Finally, able to move again."
"Doctor Nefario!" the girls exclaimed as one, jostling forward. Gru helped the doctor into a sitting position before his daughters had finished swarming forward. As they began chattering excitedly, Nefario grinned briefly, before remarking: "I can't understand a word any of you three are saying."
"Give him space, girls," Lucy said. The girls backed away a short distance. At that moment, Dave and Jerry, who had been waiting for their turn, stepped forward and chattered briefly at the doctor.
"I seem to remember there being more of you," Nefario said.
"Yeah, that's a bit of a story," Gru said. "We'll get to that. First thing's first. How'd you get frozen in the first place?"
Dr. Nefario gave Gru a quizzical look. "How'd I get a raisin? What raisin?"
"No, no," Gru said, this time more loudly. "How did you get frozen?"
"I don't know, Gru," Nefario replied. "To tell you the truth, I don't remember."