A/N: Good news guys! NattyMc wrote a scene for this chapter! I've divided her part with *'s, so that she gets full credit for her awesomeness! Thanks again NattyMc! It fit perfectly!

A Glitch in the System

AJ pressed a button on her watch. "Perry, the Regurgitator's ahead of schedule. We need you down here now."

He gave an answering chatter, and was on the move. She could hear him chatter to the boys even before the communication was cut off.

The tension in the air was thick as everyone scurried to complete their part of the plan in time. Nothing had to be perfect… but it would sure help.

She took a deep breath, and mentally checked of everything on her end of things, pausing to shoot an annoyed look at Doofenshmirtz.

The evil scientist was pouting again, and again, she had to remind herself what he'd done to all of them, just to keep herself from feeling sorry for him. She scowled in disgust at herself. People had always called her soft, and she'd never minded it before. But what kind of person could feel sorry for Doofenshmirtz?

Before she could reason it out anymore, Platyborg showed up, chattering anxiously. She had to smile at the glimmer of excitement that lit his eyes. She couldn't remember the last time he'd been so enthusiastic about a mission. It immediately cheered her up.

"We'd better get set up, Doofenshmirtz. He could be here any minute now."

For a second, she though he didn't hear her. Then he looked up, and nodded. Platyborg lead the way through the door, away from the rest of the group.

*They continued to walk down the long hallway, when Doofenshmirtz started to trail behind by a few feet. AJ called from over her shoulder to the scientist.

"I bet if we had that toy train of yours you'd go faster." She chuckled, but instead of a witty reply or threat she heard a pained groan "Doofenshmirtz?" AJ turned around to see the dictator on his knees and clutching his side.

Platyborg and AJ's eyes widened and they ran towards him.

"Are you alright?" When she didn't get an answer she removed his hand from his side; he resisted at first but gave up and let her pull his hand away.

AJ gasped at the sight of blood.

"I'm fine…it's just…a scratch" Doofenshmirtz breathed.

"Doofenshmirtz that's not a scratch! That's a bullet hole!"

Platyborg glared at him. How long did you think you were gonna hide this?

"I'm fine"

"You're not fine!" AJ argued.

The cyborg applied pressure to the wound.

"I'm fine! And will you get your hands off of me?"

"Don't yell at him! He's helping! We have to go back"*

Platyborg watched the two of them play verbal ping-pong, not sure what to do about the emotions that sprang up from nowhere. …die from blood loss…Doofenshmirtz?

The man was a crazy dictator, that had threatened his family, and turned him into a semi-mechanic egg laying mammal. It must be the years he'd spent programmed to protect and obey him that made him feel worried…

Doofenshmirtz was shaking his head.

*"Just go on without me"

"We can't do that! You made up the plan and we can't do it without you! What were you gonna do? Hide this from us until you die from blood loss? What would we do then?"

"I don't know! You could probably get along just fine without me! You two are trained agents, what am I? You could probably take down the Regurgitator yourselves, since you two are so attached anyways"

"Is that it? You're jealous?"

"I don't know what I am anymore! I'm not a dictator, not an agent, I haven't seen my daughter in who knows how long, I'm BARELY a scientist and to top it off I don't even know if I can be your nemesis anymore!" He turned to Platyborg "I just feel guilty…about everything but more importantly for what I did to you, I'm sorry Perry the Platypus"

Platyborg stared at Doofenshmirtz in shock.

He was sorry?*

….

Flynn-Fletcher House

Phineas quietly made his way toward the door, knife in hand.

Ferb was standing in front of it, with his arms crossed.

It only took Phineas a minute to remember what had happened last time, and how close he'd come to loosing his brother. "But, Ferb, they might need us!"

Ferb shook his head. "They want us here, where it's safe. We should finish these upgrades, or they won't be here when Perry needs them."

Phineas sighed. He had a bad feeling about the whole plan. But maybe Ferb was right…

…

Back at D.E.I.

"Everyone, listen up. We're calling this whole thing off. We need someone to distract the Regurgitator, ASAP. Preferably someone who can do that without compromising themselves." AJ's voice was commanding as she raced back through the room.

Candace motioned for two resistance members and Buford to take care of it, the followed her. "What happened?"

"Doofenshmirtz is down. We've got to get him help, or he wont make it." She searched through piled of junk for something she could use as a stretcher.

Candace crossed her arms. "Look, I'm as much for 'no man gets left behind as the next guy… but don't you think this is taking it too far? This is Doofenshmirtz we're talking about here… if he's taken a hit… well, too bad for him. Won't that solve a lot of problems down the road?"

AJ didn't stop searching, but she spared a glance at the younger girl. "We can't think like that. It's wrong, and you know it. You want to turn into someone like Doofensmirtz? Start playing by his kind of rules."

Candace's only answer was to help her with the cart she found.

…

Down the hall

Hurry up, AJ! Platyborg fought to keep the pressure on the wound, even though Alt. Doof kept pulling away. I'm trying to help you, you idiot! Hold still!

Doofenshmirtz glared at him weakly. "What did I tell you about that tone?"

Platyborg rolled his eye. Hate to tell you, but you're not at all intimidating at the moment.

He still couldn't believe what the man had said. Was he actually sorry? And what was he sorry for? For beating him? For ruining his life? That didn't sound like Doofenshmirtz.

The man groaned, and closed his eye.

Don't give up yet, you baby! Somehow, it felt like a member of the family was laying there in front of him. Not close family, like Candace, Phineas, Ferb, and AJ. He was like… an obnoxious uncle that annoyed you to death and got you into trouble, but you still liked.

"Never should have treated you like that."

Platyborg frowned.

"Always yelled at you. Tortured you with upgrades all the time. You were a good general. Loyal. Obedient. I treated you like dirt, just because I missed fighting you."

Doofenshmirtz finished with a tired sigh. "Never should have turned you into a cyborg."

Platyborg wasn't sure how to respond, so he just sat there, pressing his hand into the man's side, feeling helpless. He'd served him for five years… he hadn't wanted to, or chosen to… but he had…

He just wished he knew how to help him now…

To be continued…

A/N: Thanks again for reviewing guys! You are all awesome! :D

I reluctantly take credit for the new story cover. It's Platyborg with his new modifications (sort of) In my own defense, my only art program on my computer is Paint* and I'm too cheep to buy a better one. ; )

And again, thanks for the scene Natty! I loved reading it, and it was so much fun to work into the story!

Thanks for reading!