Saturday morning:

Ferb woke up the next morning and got ready. He double checked the contents of his briefcase then ordered some room service for his family. Once he was finished his breakfast, he made his way to the conference rooms in the hotel and got everything set up.

"Morning Fletcher, how's the family?" Bradley Harrison asked as Ferb walked into the room. Ferb nodded. "Fine Harrison, we're all fine." He replied and put his case on the table and pulled out his computer. "Brad, have you read over any of these CVs?" Brad nodded. "Yeah. There seems to be some great potential in some of these people. I hope that we can get at least three of them."

"We'll use the same procedure we did in Asia. Put all recruits into one boardroom with some blueprints and observe their interactions for half an hour or so. Gillian can interact with them for a bit. Then you go in and talk with them. I'll sit here and monitor everything." Ferb said. "Why don't you go in and talk with them Ferb? You've got a way with people." Brad said encouragingly. Ferb snorted and shook his head. "Upon review of the CVs, I don't think that would be wise. I might have crossed paths with a few of the recruits over the years. That might come across as favouritism. We don't want that." Ferb said seriously. Brad looked at him. "The CVs are anonymous. How could you possibly know who's coming in." He said. Ferb stood up and placed his hands on the table. "Call it a gut feeling. Though, I know for a fact I know one of them. He's good, really good." Brad looked sceptically at his business partner. "You know for a fact. That's something I'll have to see to believe." Ferb shrugged his shoulders in response and said. "I left a test on the boardroom table. If I'm correct we're going to see pure genius at work." Brad laughed. "I've worked with you for ten years Ferb. I've seen 'pure genius' at work on a routine basis." Ferb shot a sideways glance at his partner. "Don't try to deny it. You're a genius. How else could the company have a hand in practically every industry in the world?" Brad Harrison pointed out. "We have a good team of talented professionals." Ferb replied. "You're the one in charge of everyone. Their successes are your successes." Brad said. "That's where you're wrong Brad. I don't take credit for someone else's accomplishments." Then in a quieter voice continued. "I'm only responsible for failures."

Phineas was walking down the corridor of The Danville Hotel, a four diamond hotel in the middle of down town, towards the conference and boardrooms. He checked the signs beside the doors. "MHTFtech. This is where I'm supposed to be. Umm, the interview isn't supposed to start for another 15 minutes. Better early than late I suppose." Phineas tried the door and it opened. He looked around. The table was huge with fifteen seats around it. He walked over and noticed some papers displayed on the table. He looked around and took a closer look at a few of them. As Phineas was looking at a few of the pages he noticed that he was looking at blueprints. One in particular looked familiar. It was a blueprint for a teleportation device.

Ferb was sitting in the adjacent room intent on one monitor. 'Come on, put two and two together… you can do this.' He thought to himself. 'I couldn't say anything to you last night. Stop being a git. Get it through your thick skull. I knew you'd be early, that's why I arranged the blueprints so that the teleportation device was where you would see it; where you would recognise it."

Phineas jumped when the door opened again and a few more people came in and started milling about. "Phineas? Is that you?" Phineas turned around to see Baljeet. "I should have guessed you'd be here Jeet." Phineas replied to his friend. Both men greeted each other. "I do not understand, is this a meeting or an interview?" Baljeet inquired of his friend who shook his head. "I don't know."

In the other room, watching the monitors Ferb's smile grew. "Brad." Ferb whispered, "come here". Brad came over and stood beside his friend and co-worker. "You see those two? The red-head and the Indian man he's talking to?" Brad indicated that he did. "I know them. That's why you have to… You've got to be kidding me. I…" Ferb's eyes went wide. "What's wrong?" Brad asked. Ferb pushed his chair away from the desk and stood up. "Those three, right there. Between the three of them and add talent from our current pool…" Ferb started and the smile on his face was the widest Brad had ever seen. "Anything is possible. Do you want the fountain of youth? They'll find a way to make it happen. Set them to work on Stem cells… between the three of them everything will be learned in a day. Alternative fuels? They'll develop an engine that runs on oxygen." He said. Brad just looked at him. "I'd say that's impossible, but you've proven the impossible to be possible. How do you know them?" Ferb looked at his partner. "I can't tell you that Brad. Trust me, we have to find a way to convince them that they want the job." He said. "Ferb? Are you feeling all right? Do I need to summon Alison? You actually look happy. I've not seen you this happy in… years." Brad said cautiously to Ferb who replied. "I feel fine. You're almost right. I've not had reason to be this excited in years." He said indicating the interview room.

"Gretchen! How are you? I have not seen you in a few years. How is everything?" Baljeet inquired of his childhood friend. "Everything's going great Baljeet, and yourself?" She replied.

Other people came into the room and took seats. "Guys." Phineas spoke to his two friends. "Take a look at this. Does that look…" He lowered his voice. "Familiar?" Gretchen and Baljeet both took a look at the blueprint on the table.

Gillian, a professional looking blond, came into the room and everyone's attention turned towards her. "Welcome everyone. I'm sorry to say that Mister Harrison is running a little behind schedule. He is on his way. Would anyone like anything? Coffee, or other refreshments? If so, please don't hesitate to let me know. Just mingle amongst yourselves." She said in a Scottish accent and moved off to the back of the room.

Some people started talking amongst themselves about various topics. A few others were checking over a hard copy of their résumé. One person in particular was sitting observing everyone with disdain. When they were asked something by one of the other interviewees they'd respond with "Why should I talk to you?" or "When is the interviewer going to get here, don't they realize that some of us have other places we have to be?"

"Hey! Aren't you Phineas Flynn?" One of the men in the room said as he walked over. "Yes. And you are?" Phineas replied. "Davis, Charles Davis. What happened to your step-brother, you know the one who was always hanging around you and your group of friends?" Davis replied. Phineas looked at the design then at the floor for a moment before looking back up. "Ferb is my brother, and he was a part of our group of friends… before…" Phineas trailed off. "Before that fire. Right. Sorry about that." Davis said in response. Phineas looked directly at him. "No. He… Why am I talking about this to you? I don't even know you."

As Davis walked away, Baljeet pulled the page over and the three of them stood at the table looking at it. "The calculations are wrong." Phineas said. "Look it's supposed to be…" Phineas looked up and around the room. "I've got a funny feeling guys. It's as though…"

Ferb and Brad were watching the monitors. "Those three just started looking at the plans. What's he doing? He's looking around for something…" Brad said. Ferb's eyes lit up in a way no one has seen in a long time. "He thinks he's being watched. You better get back on schedule Mr. Harrison." Ferb replied smugly and leaned back in his chair.

"Don't touch those. We don't want to get into trouble." One of the others in the room admonished Phineas. "I'm just looking over a few things… I'm not sure about this… This seems rather. It's a test everyone. We're being tested right now. This is the interview. To see how well we can get along." Phineas announced to the room in general. "Stop it. You're being absurd. Why should I get along with any of you?" Someone else said. Others agreed. "What does getting along have to do with getting a job?" Almost everyone in the room was arguing.

Brad Harrison walked in to find eight people arguing about getting along as if they were in primary school. One person sitting in a chair at the end of the table and the three Ferb had pointed out talking amongst themselves and looking at the blueprints. "Thank you all for coming." He started, then looked to the red-head his co-worker pointed out. "You're right. It was a test. A cooperation test." Brad then addressed the room as a whole. "You see. We're a technology company based on cooperation. If one member of the team falls, the rest pick up the slack. One person is not solely responsible for the success or failure of an idea or project." Brad looked directly at a spot he knew a camera to be as he said this last part.

Ferb was sitting monitoring Brad's speech to the room and the last comment was not lost on him. "Brad, you're such a bastard." He whispered. "One person is responsible, when they're the one in charge."

Phineas was listening to Mr. Harrison talk. 'He's got a British accent as well.' He thought to himself. 'I'm not sure what his exact job description is… he's never told me.' Phineas remembered what Candace said last night. "Excuse me a moment guys." Phineas said to Gretchen and Baljeet.

Brad was talking to the assembled interviewees. "If anyone would like to leave now, please feel free to do so. If you would like to continue with the interview please feel free to stay. A few people, Davis included, left. Leaving Phineas, Baljeet, Gretchen and four others.

"Excuse me, Mr. Harrison?" Phineas said as he walked up to Brad, who looked at him and smiled. "How can I help you?" Brad replied. The red-head looked directly at the interviewer and lowered his voice. "Do you know a Ferb Fletcher?"

"No. No. You don't! Don't admit it. Not yet. It's too soon." Ferb called into the mic attached to the discrete ear piece Brad was wearing. "I'm sorry. I have no idea whom you're referring to." Brad said cautiously. Phineas looked perplexed. "It's just that… a few things seemed familiar. Sorry." Phineas said and returned to his friends. Brad shot the camera a look that said "What the hell was that outburst for? What is your problem Fletcher?" When he got no response, he looked over at Gillian and motioned for her to check on Ferb.

Gillian left the boardroom through the side door and entered into the adjacent room to see her friend's husband as he sat in the plush leather chair looking at the computer monitors. "Is everything all right Mr. Fletcher?" Ferb blinked and shook his head. "Yes, of course." Gillian came closer and stood beside him. "Brad's wondering what's wrong." Ferb looked at her. "Nothing. Nothings wrong. I should probably go in there."

Ferb stood up and got as far as the door, but before he could open it he turned around and looked at Gillian. "Call Alison." He gasped. Gillian looked back at him. "Excuse me?" Ferb gripped the door frame. "Are you bloody deaf? I said call Alison." He was trying desperately to breath, he knew he was failing.

Ferb made his way back to the chair and sat down. Alison came rushing in with Sian and Devon in tow. "What's happened?" Ferb looked up at her. "I can't do this." He whispered. "I'm sorry, I just can't do this." Alison reached out for his hand. "Ferb honey." She said. She loosened his tie and undid the top button on his shirt. His heart was hammering against his chest. "It's okay. Relax, sit back for a moment. I've called Candace, she's coming for the kids. She'll take them in for a couple of days." Ferb shook his head. "No. I'm not going to shirk my responsibilities to them." He said. Alison ran her hand through his hair. "Ferb. Listen to me. It's for the best. You need to calm down." She turned and looked at the monitor. "That's your brother. You've been wishing you could work with him again. Now is your chance." Ferb looked into his wife's eyes. "Alison, I don't…" His wife looked at him seriously. "You'll be fine. Just relax and get the job done." She told him. He looked into her eyes for a few moments, he was always able to draw strength from her. Alison smiled mischievously at him then leaned in and whispered something in his ear as she readjusted his tie. Ferb responded with a smirk and a raised eyebrow.

Ferb opened the connecting door between the conference room and the boardroom. He casually walked in and started talking with a couple of people. He didn't look in the direction of his brother or childhood friends. Ferb made his way around the room, finally getting to Phineas, Baljeet and Gretchen. "Good morning and thank you for coming today." He said professionally, with a smile and made eye contact with Phineas. Baljeet and Gretchen gasped. Ferb nodded acknowledgement to them.

Gillian and Alison were watching the monitors, there was a knock on the conference room door. Gillian went to answer it. Candace Johnson walked in. "What happened?" She inquired of Alison. "Panic attack. I've not seen him this stressed since we got married." Alison replied and went over to her children. "You'll be staying with Auntie Candace for a day or two."

Alison observed the monitors when Candace came over. "This is the interview that Phineas was attending?" Candace inquired. Alison nodded. "Yes, Brad started the interview with twelve potentials a few left, looks as though they've got seven remaining." She said. Candace took a closer look at the monitors. "Do you know why the interview, if that's what it is, is being shown on monitors in this room? Why is Ferb acting so formal with Phineas?" Candace looked at Alison and Gillian for the answers. "I should get back into the boardroom." Gillian stated and left. Alison motioned Candace to sit beside her. "Ferb and Brad work different aspects of Research and Development. Ferb's in charge of creation and implementation, and Brad's head of the R&D Legal team, his speciality is patents and trademarks. Gillian's our primary programmer. My speciality within the company is bioengineering. We actually record the interviews and scrutinize them later. We look for people's strengths and weaknesses. Something that's not always apparent, or observed during the actual interview." Candace stared gape-jawed at her sister-in-law. "But why is Ferb acting so formal with his brother?" She said. Alison patted her hand reassuringly. "He can't let his emotions cloud his judgement. He's uncomfortable, see that tendon in his neck?" Alison zoomed the camera in and pointed out a taught tendon on Ferb's neck. Candace looked closer at the monitor. "Is that dangerous?" Alison laughed lightly. "He'll need a massage later, but it's not life threatening if that's what you're asking. Ferb's trying desperately to stay professional, looks as though the other two have picked up on a cue and are not exacerbating the situation."

"I noticed that you were looking over some designs my team have come up with." Ferb stated. Phineas looked at the blueprints on the table. "This is an old design that you came up with when we were kids." Phineas replied as he pulled the sketch of an engine over. "Ferb." Ferb narrowed his eyes at the man he was interviewing. "My team. Came up with the design." Ferb said slowly and quietly. "Mrs. Thompson, Mr. Tjinder; welcome." Ferb said as he greeted them. "Mr. Fletcher?" Baljeet said tentatively, he wasn't used to referring to a friend in such a formal manner. Ferb blinked and replied. "Have you any questions?" Baljeet looked to the blueprints that Phineas had pulled over. "I was wondering how it is that we… that I was contacted for an interview when I know I did not make any application." He said. Ferb relaxed ever so slightly and smiled. "I am aware of that. We were contacted on your behalf by your current employers alerting us to your abilities." Gretchen stood stunned for a moment. "You're telling me that the company I work for wants me to find a new job? Why?" She said. Ferb looked pensive for a moment. "No. You're not being let go from your current place of employment. If you accept the position offered…" Ferb took a deep breath and continued. "You will be a go-between, between your employer and us. You will still work at your current job in your current capacity, yet at the same time have access to the resources and expertise that we have to offer. You will have opportunities to discuss concepts and methods of implementation with some of the best minds in your fields. Thus, increasing your value to your employer while making sure that you receive full credit for your works."

The other four interviewees had left the boardroom, leaving only Phineas, Gretchen, Baljeet, Brad, Gillian and Ferb. Alison had casually walked into the room. Candace had taken the children. Brad glanced around and announced casually. "Hey, Fletcher. Do they have what it takes to be an integral part of the team?" Ferb nodded. "I think we might be able to work with them. They seem to have a basic knowledge of…" Ferb couldn't help himself, he started to laugh. He then started to rub at his temples. Alison came up behind him and started to massage his shoulders and neck. "Phineas. It's good to see you again. I'm sorry we couldn't say anything last night about this. We have to keep our professional and personal lives separate." She said. "I don't get it Ferb. What is your job? Last night you said you work in an office." Ferb closed his eyes tight, Alison had found a knot and was working it out. Brad looked over at the redhead. "He does work in an office. He works from home most of the time. He's the head of Research and Development."

Phineas arrived home as Fiona and Cassandra were finishing their lunch. "How was the interview dear? Did you get the job?" Isabella came up to Phineas and kissed him. "I got the job." Phineas said and smiled. "I can't wait to see the look on Ferb's face when he finds out that you've got a fantastic new job with a large technology company." Isabella said and Phineas' smile fell. "Right. Isabella, there's something you should know." He said as she turned away and dished out his lunch for him. "It's strange for an interview to take place on a Saturday morning though." She said as she handed him a plate. "If you think about it, no. That way the new company can take care of interviews without disrupting the flow of work and one's current employer doesn't lose out on a day's productivity." Phineas replied. Isabella sat across from her husband. "So, what is your new job? When do you start?" She said sweetly while subconsciously twirling a finger through her long black hair. "Uh, I will be working in research and development. I'm working with a great team of people." Phineas let out a small, nervous laugh. "I'm not sure exactly when I start, though I won't be leaving my current job. I'll be working both. It's actually difficult to explain." He finished. Isabella's eyes lit up. "Don't work yourself too hard Phin. I don't want you to burn out like your brother…" She said this with disdain. "…did. He looked terrible last night." She finished. Phineas looked at the table suddenly not very hungry. "Yeah, he did look terrible last night. Though as Candace said, it was probably the jet-lag."