Chapter 36
Dr. Milldred sighed as she stood in front of her sister's locked bedroom door. The little girl hasn't said a word to her ever since she came home. Not a single hello, or even a starting conversation at dinner. She knew Penelope was mad at her for her the way she was treating the Gelflings. She could only hope that she would forgive her once she told her what she planned on doing next.
Dr. Milldred raised her hand and gently knocked on the door. "Penelope?" She called quietly. "Penelope, I need to talk to you."
"Go away, Milldred. I don't wanna see you."
"Penelope, please. I know you're angry, but please listen to me. I know how I can make this right now."
"You can make it right by letting them go, but you're not gonna do that. You love your job too much, just like daddy."
"Penelope. I've had some time to think it over… and you're right. What I'm doing is not right. It's not fair. Penelope, I wanna help set the Gelflings free."
"You're just saying that to make me happy. You're not really going to do it, even if you wanted to."
"But I do want to, Penny, and I'm going to… but I can't do it without you."
There was silence on the other side of the door. And then, the young woman heard shuffling coming from inside, before the lock on the door suddenly clicked. Dr. Milldred grabbed the handle of the door and twisted it, opening the door and stepping inside.
Penelope sat on her bed with her arms crossed, glaring intently at the door as her older sister stepped inside, Fritz the dog sitting next to her as he too seemed to be staring at the door. Dr. Milldred sighed and closed the door, giving themselves some privacy so that their mother couldn't hear them.
"So, you really wanna help my friends?" Penelope challenged.
"Yes, Penny. I wanna help them get home." Dr. Milldred nodded, her frown hard and determined. "You're right. I wouldn't like it very much if I know that my family and friends were in danger and I couldn't do anything to help them. I wouldn't want that on anybody. And if the Gelflings' home is in danger, then we need to help them get back to it."
Penelope sat there, staring at her sister for a long time, trying to search for the lie. When Dr. Milldred did not budge, the little girl slowly smiled.
"That's what I wanted to hear." She giggled. "Alright, how are we going to do it?"
"Deet is in Solitary Confinement, and so is Rian. I'm in charge of both of them, so getting them out should be easy. Dr. Rose is in charge of Brea, and Dr. Leeroy has Seladon and Baffi. Getting those three out may be a challenge." Dr. Milldred frowned, pacing back and forth as she thought of a plan. "There's also the fact that once we do get them out, the alarms will be sounded immediately. We'll have thirty seconds to get out before anyone catches us."
"What about the ship?" Penelope asked. "It's all the way in California."
"Palo Alto is a day away from us." Dr. Milldred nodded. "I'll drive us there. We'll have to lay low, so it may take us an extra day. We can't be too careful. Once it gets out that I have helped the Gelflings escape, NASA may send an alert out calling me a criminal. I'll be a wanted felon. We'll have the police on our tails after that. They know my Subaru, so I'll have to get us new car after we escape."
"Disguises!" Penelope suddenly bounced up. "We'll need disguises! If the police sends out your picture, you'll be recognized."
"Right, disguises. That's a good idea sis." Dr. Milldred nodded. "The Gelflings will need them especially, in case they are seen."
"Ok, so what's the plan on getting them out?"
Dr. Milldred frowned. How would she get them out without being spotted?
"We'll create a diversion. Send the attention of the scientists onto something else. Then I'll sneak the Gelflings out of the building and to the car."
"Ms. Deet won't go without her medicine." Penelope shook her head.
"Well then, it's lucky that I'm in charge of distributing her medicine." Dr. Milldred grinned. "I have all the vials and syringes needed for her treatment."
"That's perfect!" The little girl cried, standing up and jumping on her bed excitedly, Fritz barking and wagging his tail excitedly beside her. "How will we create a diversion?"
"We'll set the fire alarm off." Dr. Milldred decided. "That should be enough to get them panicking."
"Right! With them all panicking around, we'll be able to slip the Gelflings right past them!"
"That's right."
"Sis, I think we have our plan." Penelope giggled, hopping back onto her bum on the bed. "When will we do this?"
"Tomorrow. There's no time to waste." Dr. Milldred shook her head. "Every second they spend here on Earth, is another second their own home is in danger."
Penelope nodded. "Right. Tomorrow it is then. Let's hope this works."
"Right, because if it doesn't… we may not get a second chance."