Monty's Master – Part 4

He knocked twice on the wooden door.

"Enter."

The answer came a little slower than usual, which already had Perry thinking.

Major Monogram's office was slightly more up-to-date than his own, with shelves full of thick folders and a picture window that took up the entire back wall.

Perry was thankful his office didn't have that, but the Major did not seem bothered by the lack of privacy as he stood with his hands clasped behind his back and his gaze fixed on the distant skyscrapers glistening in the sunlight.

He gave no sign of hearing him come in, so Perry closed the door perhaps a little more forcefully than was necessary.

Major Monogram dropped his hands and whirled around.

"Ah, Agent P." He took his seat, bellowing to the blue couch in front of the desk. "It's been a while since we've seen each other face to face."

Perry sat down without taking his eyes off him.

The Major tried a smile that was probably meant to be friendly, but Perry didn't miss the way he kept rubbing his fingers together.

"So, how do you like the new accommodations?"

"Well, they sure are… accommodating, sir."

"Ah, I'm glad you like it. I thought I'd redecorate a bit too," he said, gesturing randomly to the cat calendar hanging on the wall. "I think I should change the wallpaper. Leaf patterns, what do you think? It goes with our animal theme, right?"

Perry crossed his legs. Something told him that the Major hadn't just called him to discuss interior design ideas.

"Uh, right…" Monogram cleared his throat. "You should know that your former nemesis, Doctor Heinz Doofenshmirtz, seems to stay true to his word. Our hidden cameras have not reported any unusual activity so far. I know you vouched for him, but we cannot afford to leave such a capricious individual completely on the loose."

"I understand."

"At the smallest slip, we'll send someone in, but he is no longer your concern. It's true that his mad genius combined with his lack of self-control classified him as a first-degree threat, but let's face it – it was probably more like a summer job for you."

Perry nodded, though with some restraint.

"Of course, now that you no longer have a permanent nemesis, I think you are prepared to accept missions more fit for an agent of your caliber. We've actually received quite a few notifications lately, including some of our international collaborators. Carl is going to fill you in on your today's assignment."

"Right," Perry said, but made no attempt to get up.

Major Monogram glanced down at his folded hands.

"Anyway, I'm glad you're here, Agent P. We need all the help we can get, especially now that the junior induction program has started, not to mention the field agents' apprenticeship."

Before he could realize what he was doing, Perry dug his fingernails into the soft fabric of the couch.

"Must have slipped my mind," he kept his voice even, slowly unclasping his fist.

"But you still remember my son, Monty, right?"

Perry cocked an eyebrow and carefully replied, "Of course."

"Well now that he's graduated from H.S.W.C.A, I think it's time for him to take on a new level and begin his apprenticeship."

"Without initiation? Are you sure this is a good idea, sir?"

"I know it's a bit of a special case, but Monty is old enough, and I think we both agree he has already proven he has what it takes."

"I mean, he did help thwart two of Doofenshmirtz's inventions so far, but you said it yourself, Doofenshmirtz is not much of a threat compared to what else is out there," Perry said. "I know he's got potential, but fighting a gang of terrorists on top of a plane and joining the school cheerleading squad are two different things."

"Ah, Monty told you about that," said the Major with a smaller yet more sincere smile this time. "Well, I know it's a little off the cuff, but he won't be alone. I think all he needs is someone to point him in the right direction."

"So you already have someone in mind then?"

Major Monogram swiveled his office chair slightly to the left and glanced back towards the bright city.

"You could put it that way. Actually, I have one more task for you, actually no, don't think of it as a task, it's more of a request, a favor really... You see, Perry, you and Monty seem to get along pretty well already… and, well, I thought that perhaps—"

"Wait."

In an instant, Perry was back to his feet.

Despite all his secret agent instincts tingling he could have never seen this coming.

"You want me to be Monty's Master?"

Major Monogram turned to him, biting his lip.

"Sir, I think I'm missing something here," Perry said, slowly advancing toward the desk. "I thought apprentices are supposed to be taken over by field agents from older generations, I completed my own apprenticeship less than five years ago."

"And in less than five years you've probably gained more experience than half the agents who have already ended their careers. You are by far the best agent of your generation, the best we've had in years."

Perry pressed his hands on the desk. "Which is exactly why my missions tend to have a higher level of difficulty and risk. You can't be serious, sir. You know I work alone. It's been this way ever since…" He turned away and closed his eyes, "…ever since I graduated."

The Major let out a heavy sigh. "Perry, how long are you going to linger on the past? I think it's time you let go. And what better way to do this than by focusing on our future generation?"

"I can't," Perry said, opening his eyes just to narrow them again.

"I won't force this on you but you know Monty has looked up to you ever since he was young."

Perry took a step back and dropped his arms to his sides.

"I'm not just asking this of you as an agent," Monogram said gently, "but you're like a brother to him. As he got older I tried to keep him away from everything that involved being a secret agent. I didn't want to make him feel pressured to follow in my footsteps, but I could never stop him from sneaking in to watch you train."

Perry glanced up at him.

"That's when I realized that maybe I wouldn't mind so much if Monty actually followed in someone else's footsteps, even if they led in the same direction, as long as it was his own choice."

The Major stood up and walked around the desk.

"Agent P, I couldn't think of a single person better suited for this job," he said, placing a hand on his shoulder.

Perry sighed. "I'm sure going to regret this, but I suppose I could give it a try."

"That's the spirit!" said the Major, patting him lightly on the shoulder.

Perry appeared to be even more conflicted as he left the office than when he came in, at least if the intern spilling coffee on her shirt the moment she caught sight of him was any indication.

"Agent P!"

And there he was…

Monty Monogram came rushing down the corridor, causing the intern to almost drop the rest of the coffee as he passed her.

Monty came to a halt in front of him and there was a big grin on his face. "Looks like you and I are going to be partners from now on!"

He raised his hand and pointed eagerly at his palm, but Perry firmly kept his hands behind his back.

"So it seems."

Monty dropped his hand with a little shrug, and lunged at him without any warning, tightly wrapping his arms around his waist.

Both the intern and Agent Manny the Mongoose, to whom she handed what was left of the cup, gave Perry a fleeting glance and then stared at Monty as if he were completely out of his mind.

Perry swallowed a bit, then looked down and awkwardly patted Monty on the back.

"I can't wait for our first mission together!" Monty said, releasing him. "Come on! Carl is already waiting for us!"

Monty bolted in the same direction he'd come from, earning himself some sharp looks from Agent Herman the Hedgehog who was trying to pin up the portrait of a missing multimillionaire businessman.

Perry sighed, pulled his hat half over his eyes, and followed after him at a much slower pace.

He hadn't signed up for this.