Perry mentally chuckled as the boys were berated by the cat-like creature. Phineas would have figured out how to crack this open by now AND how to work it. Although, it did seem odd that there wasn't a manual around here.

Perry took the opportunity of their distraction by Ratchet to start wandering around the time machine. He was smaller, closer to the ground. Maybe he could peek under or see something on the ground that they had missed.

And then perhaps check it out for himself to make sure the boys weren't going to destroy the time/space continuum just by turning this machine on.