A rabbit answered the Flynn-Fletcher door when Pinky knocked.
"Hi…" He said. He hadn't actually been expecting a rabbit.
"Is Perry there?" Devon asked.
"I dunno." The rabbit turned toward the inside of the house. "PERRY!"
No answer.
"PERRY!"
After another moment, she turned around again. "Maybe he went out to buy something."
"What are you doing here?" Devon asked.
"I'm helping him around the house. I needed work experience."
"Can we come in?"
"I don't know, I'd have to ask Perry. And he's not here."
"It's okay, we're friends of his. We'll wait."
"I guess…" The rabbit hesitated. "I guess you can come in."
She led them into the living room.
Pinky and Devon sat on the couch.
The rabbit sat across from them, on the floor.
"You're young." Pinky commented.
The rabbit shrugged. "I guess."
Dennis paced in front of Perry. "Let me rephrase my question: Now that you've quit the agency, will you join the rogues?"
"No."
"Denise told me that you recently received a letter from your traitorous father. Had you not gotten that letter, would you join the rogues?"
"No."
"You're quite stubborn."
"You got what you wanted, Dennis. You got a kid you could train from a young age. Why would you need me?"
"Denise is smart, but she's not quite up to your level yet. And I'm not that patient. I want to make a move to take over the agency soon. I can't take over with the help of a baby bunny."
"The doorbell rang a few minutes ago. It's probably someone coming to look for me."
"They'll never think to look in the basement. You're certain you aren't joining?"
"I'm sure."
"Good luck, then." Dennis started walking up the stairs.
"You're leaving me here?"
"Who knows, if you don't die of starvation, then perhaps the rats will find you and chew the ropes you're tied up in. Or maybe they'll be hungry for some meat. I'm not sticking around to find out." Dennis opened the basement door and left.
Perry waited for a moment. Then he opened his mouth and let out a high-pitched screech.
"What is that NOISE?" Devon put his hands over his ears.
"Sounds like a fire engine." Pinky said.
"Or an animal in distress." Devon said.
"What kind of animal?"
"How am I supposed to know? All animals make pretty much the same weird noise when they're hurt or dying or something. Except for fish. Fish can't talk."
"Yes, they can. They signal each other with bubbles or something."
"That's not talking."
"Hey, where'd the bunny go?" Pinky pointed at the spot where the rabbit had been.
It was empty.
A loud thump sounded from under the floor. Then another.
"Is this house haunted?" Devon asked nervously.
"Fortunado!" Pinky shouted.
"Not funny."
"But seriously, that sounded like it was coming from the basement. What if someone built a wall over a chained man in Perry's basement, like in that story? Or if it's a ghost?"
"What if it's Perry?" Devon said slowly. "That rabbit didn't seem… well… you know…"
"Platypuses slam their tails against the floor when they're angry."
"What about when they're scared?"
"They chatter."
Another thump.
"They could have a distress squeal."
"I don't know if they have the voicebox for that."
"Come on." Devon got down from the couch and went to the basement door. "Let's check."
Perry slammed his tail against the floor again. He'd already tried chewing the ropes, but his teeth weren't strong enough.
Devon came padding down the basement stairs.
"About time!" Perry snapped, even though he was glad to see him.
"I told you it was him!" Devon ran over to Perry and untied him. "You okay?"
"I am now." Perry hugged him. "Thanks."
Pinky came down the stairs next. "What happened?"
"Dennis adopted a new daughter. She kind of left me here."
"Stupid rogues." Pinky shook his head.
"You think they'll let me back in the agency?" Perry asked.
Pinky smiled. "You're coming back?"
Perry smiled back. "Why not?"
Perry lay down in his pet bed. What a great day. Monogram had actually hugged him when he returned. His lair had been rebuilt. And as for his promotion… well, it didn't bug him so much anymore. He'd remember to put more stuff on the form next year.
The front door opened. Perry sat up. His family must have returned.
"…And tomorrow, Ferb and I are gonna build a huge playground!" Phineas was telling his mother.
"It's going to be wild." Ferb said.
"You two have such adorable imaginations." Linda said.
"Perry, we're home!" Phineas ran into the room and scooped Perry up in a huge hug. "I missed you so much! Ferb, Perry's purring!"
Ferb came over and hugged both Perry and Phineas at the same time.
Perry was shocked that the boys were suddenly getting along again.
Shocked, but happy.
He leaned his head against Ferb's shoulder and smiled. Tomorrow he would fight Doofenshmirtz for the first time since he had quit.
And he was going to win.