Chapter Ten

THIRD PERSON

"Carl, what're you doing?" Major Monogram asked.

"Just studying this tape Agent P. found," Carl replied. "It looks like Rodney's trying to throw us off the trail."

"Whatever you do, don't let that happen."

"Yes, sir."

PNF

Platyborg flew over Danville, back toward Rodney's apartment, running over his plan again and again in his mind. He slipped in through a window to the hall of the fourth floor and made his way to the door numbered four thirteen. He pressed his ear to the door, only to hear rustling noises. Ultimately, he picked the lock and slipped inside.

The main light was on, and so was the Otherdimensionator in the corner. The shades were drawn, however, and it looked like they hadn't been disturbed in some time. He slipped into a nearby closet.

Rodney was reading what Platyborg took to be a newspaper, but if he understood anything, eyes could-and did-lie. Platyborg zoomed in. The newspaper, which it very much was, was several months old. Okay, now that's weird, he thought. If there was any way he could get a look at the inside of the newspaper...

That would have to wait, he thought, as Rodney glanced in his direction. He ducked further into the closet, waiting. Rodney set down his newspaper and walked over to the closet. Platyborg tensed, slipping deeper into the closet and wondering how exactly he would get out of this mess.

Rodney only gave the closet a superficial examination before returning to his newspaper, much to Platyborg's relief. Platyborg looked around the closet before spotting a vent at the top of the wall opposite him. It was much too small for his use, however, so he was forced to think another means of escape.

Platyborg finally peered out of the closet, back at Rodney and his newspaper. The portal to his home dimension seemed to go unnoticed, but he knew he wouldn't have the same luck if he attempted to cross the apartment. He slipped back into the closet's recesses and pulled up his mental map of Rodney's apartment. He was about to pull up his options list as well when he heard something interesting from Rodney. "I know what I'm going to do for the rest of the day."

He peered out of the closet. Rodney had set down the newspaper again and was crossing the apartment to the door. Change of plans, Platyborg thought as he followed Rodney.

PNF

"There, that ought to do it," Phineas said as he looked up to admire the work of himself and his stepbrother. The device in front of them looked remarkably like a platypult, save for a few modifications to its design for functionality purposes.

"Hey, Phineas," Isabella said as she walked into the yard. "Whatcha doin'?"

"We just finished the Platypult Two-Point-Oh."

"Two-Point-Oh?"

"Well, I have the impression that we already built a platypult, so we built another one, except to be more powerful and have a longer range."

"Oh, well, I guess that makes sense. What're you gonna do with it?"

"We don't know yet. We built this for Perry, because he's in the hospital."

"What happened?"

"He took a hard fall."

"Is he gonna be okay?"

"Perry's gonna be just fine."

"Well, that's good."

"So, got any ideas for what we do with it?"

Isabella paused, resting a hand on her chin and looking off into space. Then she said, "I've got nothing. Maybe we should talk to Perry."

"Good idea. We'll be right back."

"Uh, okay. You go do that. I'll wait here and watch the Platypult Two-Point-Oh," Isabella said, her voice getting just a little bit softer and her eyes lowering to the grass as she continued to speak.

Phineas and Ferb waved to her and retreated back into the house.