Lowe closed the door of the house. The wind tore at the trees outside.

Perry stood in the living room, shivering. He had his wind back, but he was still unable to settle his nerves.

"Where is this?" He asked.

"My home." Lowe said. "I only come here when I can't be in my office." He helped Perry up the carpeted stairs into a larger living room with an entire wall of windows. "Lie down."

"I can stand."

"It's probably better if you don't. You're very shaken."

"Lowe, I'm fine."

"Lie down."

Perry sat down on a black couch facing the window. He tried to stop his hands from shaking.

"You need something." Lowe said. "Water? Milk?"

"…Anything… just anything."

Lowe started looking in his cupboards. "I'm sorry I had to remind you of your friend. I wouldn't have been able to tell it was you otherwise."

"That's okay… did he split me in half?"

"Yes, into two beings. You're fine now, Perry. Just lie down."

"His… story?"

"In a moment." Lowe said. He placed a glass of water on the table in front of Perry. Perry didn't touch it.

Lowe sat down across from him. "I should explain. We're safe here. I devoted myself to analyzing emotions ever since I was young. My father was insane. He loved music, and it was the only thing that calmed him. The year I joined the O.W.C.A, my father died. When I was a field agent, I heard his voice periodically, and sometimes his favorite music box would start playing in my lair, now my office. I thought nothing of it at first… I thought I was just a little crazy. But then, on the anniversary of his death, his ghost spoke to me again. It shouted at me. It hated me. He told me his "story" about how he defeated his worst enemy. I only remember pain after that. I was found unconscious and badly scratched in the main room of the agency. The items in my lair had been completely destroyed. I wrote Monogram about what happened, and he realized the other agents could be in peril. So he makes sure they all are gone on my father's death anniversary. I'm so sorry, Perry. I had no idea he would get angry before that time."

"So that- whatever was talking, that ghost- is your dad."

"Yes." Lowe said. "And it's very difficult to get him to leave me alone."

"I'm starving."

"There's a good restaurant not far from here. I can order in."

...

Phineas woke up and tried to stretch. For some reason, he couldn't move his arms.

"Ferb?"

It was completely dark. Phineas couldn't see a thing. Was he still in the hotel?

"Ferb?" He called again.

"I'm right here." His brother's voice said. "Your voice is higher than normal. What happened?"

"That's the other Phineas." A voice said. "They must have gotten him. I told Phineas to keep an eye on them…"

"I'm right here, ya know!" Another voice spat. "How was I supposed to keep an eye on them when I was tied up in the back of a truck?"

"Who are you?" Phineas asked nervously.

"This is Perry." The first voice said. "And Ferb, and you. Are Ferb and Perry with you?"

"Apparently."

"Not MY Ferb." Perry said. "Your Ferb."

"I don't know. I feel some people tied to me. I think it's Ferb. But no Perry. He went off last night."

"Ah."

A light came on. Phineas saw Perry all right- but it wasn't exactly Perry. He seemed to be a thousand years older than Perry. He was holding a match.

Tied to Perry were two men. The taller man looked like an adult version of Ferb. And the shorter man…

"I saw you in the hot dog line." Phineas said.

"That's you, Phineas." Old Perry said.

"And I know you. You're Perry's future self, right? The one he calls Agent. So… that must be… me and Ferb?"

"Aw, look, you're so smart." Older Ferb said to Older Phineas.

Older Phineas scowled.

"Why don't we just call them Flynn and Fletcher to save confusion?" Agent said. He held the match up a little higher. "Yes, Ferb is there. And… what's-his-face-shmirtz. I have trouble remembering names."

"Where are we?" Phineas asked.

"Kidnapped by the robots." Fletcher said.

"What robots?"

Flynn sighed.

"You see, Flynn here tried to make a bunch of bots that would cheer people up." Agent said. "Unfortunately, he forgot to screw in a certain bolt and… well, the robots became evil, threatened to kill us, and then stormed off through time to attack you guys here."

"You sent the glowing rock." Phineas said.

Agent nodded.

"It won't happen again." Flynn said. "I promise."

"What do you mean?" Phineas asked.

Flynn looked toward the wall. "I won't create any more robots."

"You can't just… not build stuff!" Phineas said. "You have to…"

Flynn looked back down at the ground.

"Don't mind him, he's crazy." Agent said. "No offense. Now that you're awake, I suppose we can figure out how to get out of here. You got any tools on you?"

"A couple of bolts. And a screwdriver."

"Excellent. I can use the screwdriver."

Phineas struggled to take it out of his pocket and handed it to him. Agent began using the screwdriver as a saw to cut through the ropes.

"Rope. Those bots aren't that smart at trapping things. See if you can wake your little friends there, Phinny."

"Ferb! Dr. D!" Phineas hissed. "Wake up!" He turned back to Agent. "Can the robots hear?"

"They can process soundwaves." Flynn said. "So yes, keep it low."

"Crankypants McGhee." Agent said. He broke through the ropes and started over to Phineas.

"Let me do that." Fletcher offered when Agent cleared half the distance and stopped to cough. He untied the knot that held Phineas, Ferb and Doofenshmirtz together.

Doofenshmirtz was revived when he fell on the floor. "OW! What's the big-"
"Shh." Phineas warned. He shook Ferb.

Ferb rubbed his eyes. "What happened?"

He looked up at Fletcher. His eyes grew wide.

"Yes, yes, that's you." Phineas said impatiently. "Come on. We have to get out of here. Giant robots I invented are going to destroy us."

"When did you invent giant robots?" Ferb asked.

"In the future. Come on!"

Agent opened the cell door and sniffed the air. "Seems safe enough. Come along."

They headed down a dark hallway.

Phineas held tightly onto Ferb's hand. He hoped that the robots weren't patrolling the area.

Flynn and Fletcher walked apart, on either side of Agent. Phineas didn't like seeing them so spaced apart. He clutched Ferb's hand tighter.

"So, these robots? Are they big?" Doofenshmirtz asked nervously.

"Big. But don't worry. We have no intention of meeting up with them." Agent said. "Wait, does he have a translator? I can't remember. Too long ago."

"He doesn't." Flynn said.

"So? Big robots? Guys?" Doofenshmirtz asked again.

...

Perry was hungry, but it was difficult to eat. He couldn't calm himself down enough to enjoy his meal.

Lowe watched him carefully.

"Stop staring at me." Perry said, accidentally dropping his fork.

Lowe went to his bookshelf and pulled out what Perry believed to be a dictionary. He flipped through it.

"What are you looking for?" Perry asked. He lay down on the couch.

"Take a nap." Lowe said quietly. He sat back down in his armchair and skimmed the pages.

"I'm not tired." Perry lied.

Lowe looked at him through the top of his glasses. "Worrying about them is going to put you in a conflicting position. Staying inside is the safest bet for now. Think about something that makes you happy."

Perry frowned. He had no idea what Lowe was talking about.

A slam sounded against the window. Lowe turned and gave a jolt.

"There's nothing there." Perry said.

But as he said the words, a scratch became visible on the window. Lowe's father was back. And he was writing a message.

HI LOWE.

"How can you see him?" Perry asked nervously.

Lowe pointed at his glasses. He closed the blinds. An aggravated shriek sounded from outside.

"This house is safe." Lowe said. "It's ghost-proof. Now please try to rest. Don't worry about your owners right now, it will only cause you more stress."

He was right. Half of the shakiness Perry felt inside was from fear of the ghost. But the rest was from his fear for his owners.

They were in danger. He felt it.