Well, it's been just about a month since I've updated. I know, I know, I suck and I'm a terrible person. I promise I'll update sooner next chapter!

/sigh/ Yeah, I don't believe it either.

Chapter X: Something Else Goes Wrong

Monogram-1's POV

As the pursuit unfolded on the monitors, Major Monogram leaned back in his executive chair and heaved a sigh.

"This has not been a good night, Carl," he said in an exhausted tone. "We're going to have such a mess to clean up after this is done."

"I know, sir," Carl replied. "I've been through this whole night, too, you know."

"We'll need to wipe the kids' memory, figure out what to do about the other Isabella," Monogram continued muttering, apparently not noticing that Carl had spoken. "Get the warehouse back in order, find out what all the agents' nemeses have been up to while all the agents were back recalled..."

"Don't remind me, sir. I have a lot to do myself, you know."

"And why?"

Monogram's question got Carl to look away from the monitors, looking a bit confused.

"Excuse me, sir?" he asked.

"Why?" Monogram repeated. "Why are we trying to capture these kids?"

"Well, they broke into one of our facilities. They're a security risk."

"If they broke in once, they'll probably do it again, whether or not we wipe their memories. It seems awfully inefficient to try and just capture them."
"Well, what else do you propo..." Carl's voice trailed off as he realized just what Major Monogram was suggesting.

"No. Sir, you cannot possibly be suggesting-"

"Well, why not?" Monogram asked. "There are ways around the 'animals only' restriction- even Doofenshmirtz was an agent for a while."

Carl rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, and we both remember how well that turned out," he said. "Sir, ignoring for a moment the fact that they're not animals, they are a proven danger to the O.W.C.A.! If I may remind you, they've just broken into our headquarters, caused, by my estimates, just over half a million dollars of damage to our equipment, and may be about to get away with it!"

"Exactly!" Monogram exclaimed, a steely glint in his eyes. "They've done what so few of our enemies in the history of the O.W.C.A. have managed: broken in. They have shown abilities beyond some of our best agents. They could be an enormous asset to the agency."

Carl just stared at Monogram for a few moments, apparently trying to restrain his anger. When he regained his composure, he asked, in a hoarse tone "So, you're saying that we need to hire these kids precisely because they're a security risk?"

Monogram nodded. "That's right."

Carl closed his eyes and inhaled deeply.

"Well, sir seeing as you outrank me, I have only one thing to say about this decision," he said, and pointed his finger towards the monitors. It gave a perfect view of the melee that had just broken out between some of the kids and a few agents who'd finally managed to catch up to them.

"We have attacked, harried, and generally pursued these kids every moment for the last hour or so. I'd be amazed if they made it out of this without more than a few broken bones. After what we've put them through tonight, do you honestly think any of them will be inclined to listen to us at all?"

Monogram opened his mouth to respond, then closed it after nothing came out. On the monitors, Baljeet dispersed the agents he was engaged in combat with with a roundhouse kick, and then resumed his flight. Carl glared at Monogram as he soaked in what he'd just said.

He gave a sigh. "I suppose you're right, Carl."

Carl's expression softened.

"Yes," he said. "Yes, I am, sir."

Monogram looked abashedly at the floor, and then looked up again, a thought apparently having occurred to him.

"Carl, bring up their location on one of the monitors."

Carl immediately did as he was told, apparently relieved that Monogram was back to his usual stern self. Once the image was on the screen, Monogram's eyes ran over it, and he swore loudly.

"The exits," he muttered to himself. "We didn't secure the exits! We put too much stake on the agents capturing them in the initial strike."

Having realized the gravity of the situation, Carl immediately started up the warehouse security system controls.

"Which doors, sir?" he asked. Monogram took a few moments to look around the screens, and then listed off a series of letter and number serial codes. Once he was done, his eyes kept flitting between the map of the kids position and the video feed from the agents' chase. On the screen showing the latter, the door he'd just listed off came into view. It began closing, but too slowly.

"Faster, Carl!" Monogram exclaimed. Carl didn't respond, too busy already carrying out his orders. As the kids drew closer to the door, it closed more and more, until only a small slit at the bottom was still open. The tension in the room was palpable, both Monogram and Carl staring at the screen as if afraid they would would miss some crucial piece of information if they so much as blinked.

As the door thudded to a close and the agents swarmed up to it, neither of them spoke for the better part of thirty seconds.

Finally, Monogram broke the silence with a long series of swear words.

Carl, rather wisely, chose not to interrupt Monogram's rant.

When he finished, he just stood there, panting heavily.

"Now, that's half a million dollars of property damage that we have nothing to show for," he said in a gravelly tone.

"Um, sir?" Carl asked.

"What?" Monogram asked angrily. "What is it?"

In lieu of a response, Carl pointed at the screen. Monogram followed his gaze.

His expression began to soften.

"Well," he said. "Perhaps tonight wasn't a total loss after all."

Isabella-2's POV

Two minutes later

I finally pulled to a stop in the metal corridor, allowing everybody else to do the same.

"Alright," I said, panting. "We've probably made it far enough away now."

Once I'd gotten my breath back, I walked down the hallway and did a quick headcount of the other assembled kids. When I was finished, I froze, and then did it again.

"Ah, crud," I exclaimed. "Where's Buford?"

Thanks to all of you reviewed!

14AmyChan: Oh, just you wait. The worst is yet to come. Not for a while, but it will come.

Sleeping Kangaroo: I'm considering making the metaphor of a small animal on drugs a running joke in this story.

fan-like-irving: Well, I can't tell you anything, but don't worry, you won't be disappointed.

Concerned Guest (anonymous): If you're going to be addicted to something, I would recommend something a bit more reliable than my fic update schedule. Like Mountain Dew!
But keep reviewing anyways!

FanFicCriTicTheThird: Well, I'll see if you can guess before then. Of course, I hope I don't make it too obvious...

random rebel (anonymous): Thanks! I like my story, too, but it's always nice to have someone else tell me it, too.

CendrawashiError: I know. If these people care enough to read the story, why can't they care enough to review? THEY'RE SO CRUEL

PNFAA LOVR (anonymous): Don't worry, I will!

Anyway, that's it for now! Review, please! It's good for my mental health!

... Please. I'm begging you.