~o~o~o~o~o~o~ When the five returned to the prison, they found the six children slamming their fists against the wall, clearly feeling the same anger and pain that Dr. Tecton was feeling. The agents got to work grabbing onto to each civilian and administering the cure.
It took a moment, but finally, Phineas's eyes began to flutter. Perry grinned when the boy began to stir in his arms.
"Do I.. Do I know you?"
Perry sighed. "Not very well. But it's okay. You're safe. My name's Perry. You remember me and my partner, Dr. Doofenshmirtz, right?"
Phineas blinked, but managed to focus on the scientist, who waved. "Oh.. yes. I do. Thank you. Hey, where's my step brother?"
"Not to worry." Perry replied. "Ferb is here. And safe too. It's all going to be okay."
"What happened?"
Perry frowned. He wasn't sure how much he could tell. But there was no point in trying to hide it from the boy; if not today, he was soon enough find out what happened to Danville.
"An evil man tried to take over the Tri-State Area." The platypus explained slowly. "He poisoned everyone in the city. But it's okay. The FBI are here, and they are making sure everyone is cured."
"And the evil man? Is he in prison?"
Perry hesitated. "Not yet. But we are after him."
"Can I see my brother?"
Perry nodded and helped lift the boy to his feet. Phineas was a little wobbly, but managed to climb out of the prison cell into the hallway. He was greeted by Ferb, Candace and his friends, who all piled around him, giving him a group hug. Perry couldn't help but smile. That was the family he knew and loved.
Suddenly, Phineas turned around and gave Perry a bear hug. The agent hesitated for a moment, before leaning down and returning it.
"Thank you for saving my friends." He whispered.
"Where are Mom and Dad?" Candace cried frantically.
"Don't worry." Perry reassured the children. "I promise, everyone will be safe. The FBI is making sure of it. But they want everyone in Danville to exit the city until the area has been cleared. You'll find your parents there."
Perry cracked his knuckles behind his back, thinking. Despite the major victory the good guys had just won, he knew there was no way Dr. Tecton was going to disappear, unless he confronted his fear. He had to end this.
Heinz seemed to notice the platypus's gaze, and lightly tapped him on the shoulder. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah." Perry sighed. The man's smile was intoxicating. He wished he could live with that smile every day. "I just.. I have to finish him. I have to."
Heinz sighed. "Let me come with you."
"I have to do it alone."
"Perry-"
"Plus, I need someone I trust to make sure my boys and their friends make it to the safe house. Can you do that? Please?"
Heinz nodded vigorously. "You can trust me."
Perry muttered, "Thank you." and stole another sweet kiss on the man's cheek, before turning to Peter and Lyla.
"Perry, we have a major problem." Lyla sighed.
The platypus raised an eyebrow.
"That rocket we witnessed.. well, I had my team run a few scans, and.." She held up her portable device with blueprints from the scans. Perry's mouth dropped.
"Wait, what's wrong?" Peter questioned.
Lyla sighed. "This rocket is filled with the drug. If I'm not mistaken, Dr. Tectonny, or whatever his name is, is going to shoot it into the ocean and poison the entire planet's water system!"
"I'm going after him. I'm going to finish him. For good." Perry cried.
The two agents began to argue with Perry, but he shot them both down. "It has to be me. He's injured. I'll use that to my advantage. Heinz is going to take the children to safety."
"Wait." Lyla suddenly gasped. "That's perfect. If you keep him distracted, then maybe we can dismantle the rocket before it's launched."
"Perfect!" Peter cried. "We have to contact the FBI. Now."
Perry shook Peter's hand and gave both Lyla and Vanessa a brief hug. Peter took off the rocket boots and offered them to the man, who gratefully put them on. His family waved to him as he flew off into the glistening summer afternoon.
Family. His family.
~o~o~o~o~o~o~
Perry expected his evil self to be hiding out at city hall. The building stood undisturbed, contrasting to the tortured and destructed city blocks around it. The agent didn't waste any time kicking down the front door and walking forward, his blaster pointed forwards. Upon entering, he checked all corners before moving his way down the hall.
Strange. Where was all the security?
Suddenly, something caught Perry's eye. Small blood splatters led a trail up the staircase and into the higher offices. Assuming they were from evil self's bullet wounds, the agent followed them.
They stopped at a closed door at broad double doors located at the end of the upper hallway. Rodger Doofenshmirtz's name was blazed in gold above the threshold. Perry cautiously touched the handles, and hissed when they ferociously shocked him.
Grunting, the agent holstered his blaster and pulled out the blue light saber he'd stolen. The blade cut smoothly through the hinges and wasn't affected by the raw energy. Once the door fell to the ground, Perry held the saber forward and continued his investigation.
The room was empty. Unfortunately, the blood trail stopped, meaning Dr. Tecton had probably cleaned up his wounds here. The small bullet casings and bloodied tools on the desk confirmed his thoughts.
Perry activated his communicator. "I lost the trail." He sighed. "Any luck?"
"We've infiltrated the rocket but the controls are proving difficult." Peter replied. "Don't worry, though. All of the agency's best are working on it."
Perry sighed. If he were wounded and on the verge of defeat, where would he disappear to? The platypus pondered for a second, before it hit him. He'd go a place he thought was safe. He'd go home.
"Guys, I think Dr. Tecton is leaving Danville."
"That's impossible." Lyla replied. "The whole city is under surveillance."
"For all I know he's built a cloaking device. He's headed towards Seattle."
"Are you absolutely sure?"
"Yes. Is there a way to track him?"
"Maybe." Peter answered. "Give me a minute."
Perry had already used the rocket boots to take to the skies when Peter texted him back with a link to the moving GPS coordinates. Sure enough, his evil self was flying a few miles outside of the city, heading west. Perry kicked the boots into full gear and sped up after him.
The man was using an invisibility device to keep himself hidden from the FBI, who were now behind them. Perry zoomed, light saber in hand, after his evil self, and let out a full swing.
Dr. Tecton swerved, and his invisibility crashed.
"Going somewhere?" Perry smirked.
The evil scientist growled. "Ah, no stupid O.W.C.A. agents to back you up? Don't you remember what I did to you the last time we fought?"
"I'm not afraid of you."
"Sure you are. You can't even stand to be around me." The scientist crossed his arms. "But.. it doesn't have to be this way. Surely a small part of you wants the power and wealth we so desperately crave. We can make our dreams a reality again."
"And don't you remember the last time we enacted on that fantasy?" Perry barked.
"Ah, Seattle. It was in our hands. And then you had to have a sudden change of heart. I'll never forgive Peter the Panda for permanently thwarting what should have been our victory!"
Perry hovered forwards. "I'm going to stop you."
Dr. Tecton chuckled. "Go ahead. But we both know you won't win. Because no matter how hard you try to forget, or how many years you wear that atrocious fedora, you are too delicate to face the truth. You're a monster. And that's all you'll ever be."
Furious, Perry opened the light saber and lunged. However, his evil self was too quick and blocked the attack with his own. Suddenly, both parties were flying about in their rocket boots, enacting a full on light saber battle.
They swung with full force, hit after hit after hit, but each time, their matched strengths only repelled and ended with both of them flying back. However, the severe gleam in Zachary's eyes was enough to tell Perry this wasn't ending without finishing it permanently.
The agent recanted with every trick he could think of, dodging, swinging, and fighting.
He pulled out his blaster and began to shoot. Dr. Tecton jumped around every bullet and swung the light saber again. The blades clicked and hissed in agony. Perry felt the heat around his face and neck as he tried pushing the man's saber off of his. They crashed into the sides of buildings and trees.
Dr. Tecton finally had enough, and kicked Perry in the chest, sending the agent to the ground. The platypus was only partially able to break his fall, and collapsed on the sidewalk with a painful groan.
The evil scientist landed, and held the light saber up to Perry's neck. "I had hoped we could reconcile. But you're weak."
"This is not who you are." Perry cried desperately. "You are not a monster. You're hurt. And scared. And angry. And I understand."
"At least I'm powerful." The man growled.
Perry began scooting back as his enemy stepped closer. "Power will never fill that hole in your heart." He breathed. "There really are good people out there who love you. Like Lyla. And Peter. And Heinz. And Phineas and Ferb.."
"They don't love you." The evil scientist smirked. "If they knew the real monster you are, they'd run as fast as they can."
"Heinz didn't. Peter didn't."
"They will eventually. They always do."
"You don't know that."
"Nobody will ever love you, Perry. I thought we'd finally established that. Power is much better. Then nobody will ever hurt us again. Lyla, Peter, Heinz, Phineas and Ferb.. They will only hurt you in the end. Let me save you."
Perry shook his head. "You're weak for not trying."
"Well.. good thing I'm making the decisions then, huh? Say goodbye, weakest link."
Dr. Tecton had his saber raised, and kicked Perry's out of his reach. The agent winced as the evil scientist swung the saber to release the final blow.
However, before Perry could feel the heat, a single gun shot fired. After a second, the agent looked up to see his evil self collapsed on the ground, bleeding from his chest. Perry then set his gaze higher. A man stood before him, a Glock in his hand. Perry opened his mouth to thank his savior, when he blinked as the gun was now pointed at his forehead.
"Major Monogram?.."