Freeze Frame, Volume 7

by Disney Book Group

  Agent D, a dog wearing a fedora, barked in response.

  Major Monogram turned to another agent. “Agent C?” he asked hopefully.

  Agent C, a plump chicken, clucked and started pecking at the table.

  Major Monogram shook his head. It was hopeless! “Carl, remind me again why all the agents are animals.”

  Carl just shrugged in response. He didn’t make the rules!

  Chapter 4

  While Major Monogram tried to lead his secret agents in a sing-along, Agent P skillfully piloted Norm down the dark city streets. He checked the control panel, which was filled with blinking lights and high-tech screens.

  As Agent P confirmed the route on an interactive map, a female voice started to talk. “Estimated time to destination: three-point-zero-five minutes,” she announced.

  “We’ll be there in no time!” Norm’s robotic voice boomed out happily.

  Agent P started to relax. There was no sign of Phineas, Ferb, or Candace—the rocket boosters had left them far behind. In just a few minutes, he would personally deliver the CD to Major Monogram. And the risk of discovery would be over!

  Suddenly, a loud alarm sounded through the control room. “Warning! Oil level low!” the female voice reported. A flashing graph popped up on the screen. Norm’s water and gas levels were fine, but the giant robot was almost out of oil—and without oil, he would come to a grinding halt!

  Agent P looked worried. The last thing he wanted to do was stop for any reason. But if he didn’t, the whole mission would be in jeopardy. So, reluctantly, he steered Norm into an all-night gas station.

  “I could sure use an oily beverage!” Norm called out.

  Agent P parked the robot in front of the pumps. He pressed the controls to lift up Norm’s head so that he could pop out of the control room and help Norm refuel. There wasn’t a moment to lose!

  Agent P quickly ran over to the attendant and bought every can of oil in stock. He wasn’t sure how much oil a giant robot needed to run at rocket speed, but Agent P wasn’t going to take any chances!

  Back at agency headquarters, Major Monogram hadn’t given up on leading a secret-agent sing-along. He took out his guitar and decided to lead the agents in a new song that he’d written himself.

  Strumming a few chords repeatedly, Major Monogram sang, “And the kitty goes—”

  That was Agent K’s cue. “Meow!”

  “And the owl goes—” continued Major Monogram.

  “Hoo! Hoo!” Agent O hooted.

  “And the doggie goes—” Major Monogram added.

  “Woof! Woof!” barked Agent D.

  “And that’s how the animals go, go, go!” Major Monogram sang. “And that’s how the animals go! Okay, everyone, one more time, with feeling!”

  But despite his hearty singing, Major Monogram was worried. What could possibly be taking Agent P so long to return with the CD? He could only hope that his best agent hadn’t been caught!

  High above the city, Agent P poured can after can of oil into Norm’s tank. Suddenly, the platypus heard a strange noise. He grabbed his binoculars to get a closer look.

  There, on the street below, a bicycle was zooming toward the giant robot. But not just any bike. This bike had an enormous rocket strapped to it, and it was carrying Phineas, Ferb, and Candace!

  “Good thing we had this extra rocket engine, huh?” Phineas yelled. He and Ferb were loving every minute of the crazy ride!

  Candace, however, was terrified. She couldn’t even speak.

  Agent P knew he didn’t have a moment to lose. He tossed the oil cans overboard and leaped back into the control room in Norm’s head. With a deafening roar, Agent P fired up Norm’s rockets and the robot zoomed off down the street.

  “Whoa!” Norm yelled. “Here we go again!”

  But there was a problem—a big problem. Slippery, shiny black oil spurted out of Norm’s tank, coating the robot and the street below. Norm’s head began to turn around in a complete circle!

  “Uh-oh! Someone forgot to replace the oil cap!” Norm announced cheerfully.

  The enormous robot started to malfunction immediately. The wheels on his shoes popped off, and the rocket blasters soon followed.

  “I guess I’m walking!” Norm reported as he started to lumber down the street, the pavement shaking with every step he took.

  Without the rockets and wheels, it was impossible for Norm to outrun Phineas, Ferb, and Candace on their rocket-powered bike. And to make matters worse, the drawbridge ahead was about to open!

  But Agent P knew he had no choice. He had to get Norm over the drawbridge if he wanted to safely deliver the CD to his headquarters. Major Monogram—and the entire society of secret agents—was counting on him!

  So, fully aware of the risks, Agent P pushed Norm to cross the drawbridge as it started to open. With a little luck, Norm would make it over the bridge just in time—stranding Phineas, Ferb, and Candace on the other side!

  But luck was not on Agent P’s side tonight. The bridge opened wider and wider—and Norm found himself stuck with one foot on each side of it!

  Just then, Phineas, Ferb, and Candace arrived. Candace was hysterical and screaming at the top of her lungs. As the rocket-bike screeched to a halt, Ferb was propelled into the air. He landed just a few feet away from the robot and ran as fast as he could to tackle it.

  “Go get him, Ferb!” Phineas cheered.

  Ferb took a flying leap and landed on Norm’s back. He wrapped his arms around the front of the robot—and was ready to take back the disk!

  But Norm was still covered in slippery oil. Before Ferb could grab the CD, he started to slip down the robot. As he slid, he came closer and closer to falling into the river below!

  Inside the robot, Agent P frantically pushed some controls to make Norm twist around. He hoped that the motions would make Ferb fly off Norm and land safely on the other side of the bridge—instead of landing in the water.

  And that’s exactly what happened! Covered in slippery oil, Ferb slid down the bridge to the street below.

  But Agent P’s concern for Ferb had made things much worse for Norm. As the bridge continued to open, Norm stretched from tiptoe to tiptoe to cover the gap. Suddenly, he flipped over, hanging upside down from the bridge.

  “Boy, I’m sure in a pickle,” Norm reported as the oil made it even harder for him to balance on the edges of the bridge.

  Phineas saw his chance to rescue the CD. He raced up the bridge, across Norm’s legs, and plucked it from the robot’s pocket!

  “Whoo-hoo!” Candace yelled.

  But the slippery oil and smooth metal made Norm slide down the bridge even faster. “Perhaps I should have worn cleats,” he commented.

  Agent P knew he was in trouble—big trouble. Not only had he lost the CD again, but now Norm was about to fall into the river! And to make matters worse, Norm wasn’t the only one heading for disaster. Phineas was still standing on the upside-down robot, and now he was covered in oil, too!

  As Norm slipped even closer to falling completely off the bridge, Phineas took a big risk: he made a daring leap and grabbed the edge of the bridge just before Norm plunged into the river!

  The disk flew out of Phineas’s hand and wobbled on the edge of the bridge. Phineas tried with all his might to hold on—but his hands were covered in slick oil that made it impossible to get a good grip. He was slipping off the bridge, just like Norm had!

  “Candace, help!” Phineas yelled. “The oil! I’m slipping!”

  Candace raced to the edge of the bridge, “I’m coming!” she shouted. “Hold on, Phineas!”

  But when she reached the edge, Candace realized that she had to make a difficult choice.

  Both Phineas and the disk were about to fall into the river—and she could only save one of them! How would she ever make such a tough decision?

  “Candace!” Phineas cried as he started to lose his grip.

  Candace knew what she had to do. She leaped forward and grabbed Phineas
’s hands, just as he was about to fall into the water below!

  But by rescuing Phineas, she had lost the CD. It teetered back and forth once more before falling off the side of the bridge.

  “But Candace!” Phineas gasped. “The disk! You didn’t save it!”

  “What? And let you fall?” asked Candace. “You may be a pain, but you are my brother.” Candace reached down to give Phineas a big hug. Then she flashed him a smile. “Besides, I still have that big rocket for evidence!” She turned around to point at the rocket-bike that Phineas and Ferb had built.

  But there, lying on the bridge, was only the bike. The rocket had disappeared!

  “What happened to the rocket?” Candace asked, confused.

  Suddenly, Phineas and Candace heard a loud noise. They looked up to see the rocket flying in a loop before it exploded in a million dazzling, hot pink sparks! The rocket was gone—and so was Candace’s evidence.

  “Hmm,” Phineas said thoughtfully. “Good thing we got off of that, huh?”

  Just then, Ferb, wearing a backpack with a helicopter propeller attached to it, flew up from the river. Phineas and Candace looked at him in amazement. But even more amazing was the fact that Ferb had somehow grabbed the CD!

  “All right, Ferb! Cool!” Phineas and Candace cheered.

  But Ferb didn’t pilot his helicopter backpack into landing next to his siblings. Instead, he flew right over them!

  “Ferb? Ferb? Where are you going?” called Candace.

  “Ferb?” Phineas yelled.

  But Ferb just flew farther away, never even looking back.

  As the drawbridge closed, something even stranger happened: Ferb slid down to Candace and Phineas, covered in slick, black oil.

  “What did I miss?” Ferb asked.

  “Huh?” said Candace, who was utterly confused. Wasn’t Ferb just flying in the sky a second ago?

  “Well, that was almost weirder than the giant robot,” Phineas remarked. He looked over at Candace. If this was the real Ferb, then who was piloting the helicopter backpack?

  Chapter 5

  As soon as he was out of sight of Candace, Phineas, and Ferb, Agent P unzipped his Ferb disguise and tossed it aside. It was so much easier to pilot the helicopter backpack without wearing that costume!

  Agent P flew back to his agency’s headquarters as quickly as possible. When he arrived, all the secret agents, Carl, and Major Monogram were still waiting for him in the conference room.

  “Agent P!” Major Monogram exclaimed, sounding extremely relieved. “I trust that your mission was a complete success?”

  The platypus nodded. He proudly walked up to the table and presented the CD to his superior officer.

  “Good work,” Major Monogram replied. “Now hand it over for the special disposal procedure.”

  After Major Monogram put on a pair of protective rubber gloves, Agent P slid the CD across the table. Major Monogram picked it up as carefully as he could. Then Carl approached carrying a special pair of sturdy tongs.

  “Careful!” warned Major Monogram as Carl used the tongs to gently lift the disk. Then Carl marched over to an ordinary trash can—and dropped the disk inside. “Got it!” he exclaimed.

  If he wasn’t such a professional, Agent P would have rolled his eyes. All that work, all those special precautions—just to throw the disk away in a regular garbage can!

  But Agent P knew better than to question Major Monogram’s instructions. After all, they always managed to prevent evil somehow.

  “Agent P, you’ve saved this organization,” Major Monogram said gratefully. “If there’s anything we can do for you in return, don’t hesitate to ask.”

  Agent P raised his eyebrows. There was one thing he could think of. . . .

  The next day, Mr. Fletcher got another surprise in the mail. “Oh, I can’t believe it!” he exclaimed.

  Phineas, Ferb, and Candace stopped what they were doing and looked at their dad.

  “It seems my video traffic ticket’s been cleared!” their father continued happily. He pointed up toward the ceiling. “I guess there really is someone up there looking out for me!”

  Mr. Fletcher was absolutely right—because at the top of the stairs, watching his family below, sat Perry the Platypus!

  Back at agency headquarters, Major Monogram and the other secret agents decided to kick back and relax a little. Now that the danger of being revealed as secret agents had passed, the crew was ready to have a little fun! And what better way to have fun than with another sing-along!

  So once again, Major Monogram brought out his guitar. He sat on the floor and strummed his favorite chords as Agent C, Agent D, and Agent W the worm crowded around him.

  “Oh, the chicken goes—” sang Major Monogram.

  “Cluck!” replied Agent C.

  “And the dog goes—” Major Monogram continued.

  “Woof!” barked Agent D.

  “And the worm goes—” Major Monogram belted out.

  There was silence as Agent W had his very first solo.

  “Outstanding, Agent W!” cheered Major Monogram.

  Agent C thought Agent W did a fine job, too—and that he also looked like a fine snack! The chicken couldn’t help itself and started pecking at the ground around Agent W.

  “Agent C!” Major Monogram shouted. “Don’t do that.” Then he picked up his guitar and started strumming again to get the song back on track. “And the new guy goes—” he sang.

  “I’m Norm!” a giant metal robot announced suddenly. Somehow the robot had made it out of the river and found the secret spy headquarters!

  Major Monogram frowned and stopped playing. “You know, Carl, it’s weird that he’s not an animal,” he said. “We should fire him.”

  Carl whipped a clipboard out of his back pocket and made note. “I’m already on it, sir!”

  Major Monogram breathed a sigh of relief. The disk was secure; Agent P’s identity was still secret; and by the end of the day, all the agents would be animals. Everything was just the way it should be.

  No wonder Major Monogram felt like singing!

  Part Two

  Chapter 1

  The beautiful summer day was suddenly pierced by an earsplitting shriek. “Oh, my gosh, Stacy! Oh, my gosh! Jeremy asked me if I could meet him at the fair later today next to the Ferris wheel!” Candace Flynn squealed into her cell phone. She was chatting with her best friend, Stacy Hirano.

  Candace beamed. She had a huge crush on Jeremy Johnson, and now he wanted to hang out with her at the fair. And maybe even ride the Ferris wheel together!

  Suddenly, Candace’s smile disappeared. “Oh, no,” she groaned. “I almost forgot: I’m scared of heights! What am I going to do?”

  Just then, her mother called out, “Candace! We’re leaving now!”

  “Mom!” Candace yelled back. “I’m having a teenage crisis!”

  “Don’t forget, we’ll be going bowling,” Mrs. Flynn replied calmly. “We need you to keep an eye on the boys.”

  “Preferably two eyes!” joked Mr. Fletcher, Candace’s dad.

  The boys in question—Candace’s younger brothers, Phineas Flynn and Ferb Fletcher—stood next to their parents and grinned at each other. “Bowling? That sounds fun!” Phineas exclaimed. “Hey, Dad, is it all right if we use that old lawn-bowling set?”

  “Sure thing, boys,” his father replied. “Knock yourselves out.”

  “Toodles!” Mrs. Flynn called. She and her husband picked up their striped bowling bags and headed out the door.

  Candace flopped back on her bed, clutching her phone to her ear. Her personal Ferris-wheel crisis was far too important to be interrupted by her brothers!

  Downstairs, Phineas and Ferb were very excited. They grabbed the lawn-bowling kit and carried it outside.

  “You know, Ferb, with a few modifications, we could really zip up this old lawn-bowling set,” Phineas said as he examined the well-worn pins.

  “Hello, Phineas!” a voice suddenly called o
ut.

  It was Phineas and Ferb’s friend Baljeet Patel. “What are you doing?” he asked.

  “We’re going to build the world’s biggest and best bowling-ball game!” Phineas declared. Ferb nodded enthusiastically.

  Baljeet grinned and held up a thick book. “Well, according to The Most Pointless Book of World Records—”

  All of a sudden, Baljeet was interrupted by a blaring noise. The neighborhood bully, Buford Van Stomm, had arrived and was playing the trumpet.

  Baljeet paused until the music ended, and then he continued talking. “The world’s largest bowling ball is four feet in diameter,” he reported.

  Phineas’s eyes widened. “Four feet?” he repeated. “Ferb, we can beat that record in our sleep!”

  “You know, the officials from The Most Pointless Book of World Records—” Baljeet began. But once again, he had to stop talking because of Buford’s trumpet playing.

  As soon as the music stopped, Baljeet continued. “Will be at the fair today at three o’clock, handing out awards,” Baljeet finally finished.

  “Ferb, get the tools,” Phineas said quickly. “We’ve got a record to shatter!”

  Baljeet raised his book high in the air. “And then you will be in the next volume of—”

  Yet again, he was interrupted by Buford. With a frown, Baljeet turned around.

  “Is that absolutely necessary?” Baljeet asked him.

  “Why? Does it bug you?” Buford replied.

  “Well, yes—a little,” Baljeet admitted.

  “Then, yeah, it’s necessary,” Buford said with a smirk.

  “All right,” Baljeet sighed. “Fair enough.” Then Baljeet looked around the backyard. “Hey,” he said. “Where’s Perry?”