Lamour Than Meets the Eye
Chapter 1: Lana's Release
It was morning in Metro City, and Inspector Gadget was frying some eggs, while Brain was eating dog food, and Penny was pouring herself some cereal.
"I could cook you up some eggs, you know," Gadget said. "I'm quite the cook, you know."
"It's OK," Penny said, smiling innocently. "You don't have to go through the trouble."
"OK, but it's your loss," Gadget said, while flipping an egg with his third hand coming out of his hat. Gadget's top secret gadget phone started ringing. "I'd better take this." Gadget pulled up his phone antenna, then started speaking into his phone. "Hello, Chief." Gadget listened into his phone. "You're where?" Gadget started looking around, then opened the oven door, and Chief Quimby's head popped out.
"Here's your assignment," Chief Quimby said, handing a piece of paper to Inspector Gadget.
Gadget started reading the paper. "Due to a technicality, Lana Lamour being released from prison early. Expect her to exact revenge for her arrest. Stop her. This message will self-destruct." Gadget looked a bit confused. "The movie actress? She was arrested?"
"She was a MAD agent," Chief Quimby pointed out. "You stopped her two years ago."
"I did?" Gadget asked, clearly not remembering her having been a MAD agent. "I mean, I do remember her stunt double, who was pretty suspicious. You did get her, right?" Penny shook her head. "I do have a pretty good memory, after all." Gadget crumpled up the message, threw it into the oven, and closed the oven door. Soon after, there was an explosion inside the oven. "Penny, I think you left the oven on."
Penny shook her head, walked over to the oven, and opened it, and looked at the chief, charred and angry. "Have you ever considered regular paper? Maybe just burn it yourself?"
Dr. Claw was sitting in his MAD Mobile with MAD Cat, near Inspector Gadget's house, cackling, while watching Inspector Gadget in his kitchen on a monitor in his car. "And she will want revenge, won't she, MAD Cat?" Dr. Claw asked while stroking his cat, then switched the monitor to inside a prison cell, where a blonde woman and a raven-haired woman were.
"Hi Dr. Claw!" the raven-haired woman exclaimed, excited. "Did you know Lana gets out tomorrow?! Isn't that so exciting?!" Lana slapped her own face and shook her head.
"I am well aware, Agent Annie," Dr. Claw said, sounding irritated. "I would like to speak with Agent Lana."
"Ooh, of course!" Annie said, then pushed Lana toward the camera, who seemed somewhat annoyed by it all.
"Greetings, Dr. Claw," Lana said.
"You are getting out of prison tomorrow, if I'm not mistaken." Dr. Claw said.
"Yes," Lana said flatly.
"You don't sound too happy," Dr. Claw said. "You should be celebrating, that you will be able to get your revenge on Inspector Gadget!"
"You're so lucky," Annie said, somewhat pouty. "I wanted to get revenge on Inspector Gadget!"
Lana looked at Annie like she was nuts, then turned back to Dr. Claw. "Of course. It will be my pleasure."
Dr. Claw turned off the monitor, then started stroking MAD Cat once more. "Soon, MAD Cat, soon Gadget will be eliminated once and for all."
Back inside the prison cell, Annie glomped Lana. "I'm going to miss you! You've been such a great friend!"
Lana sighed. "You too." Lana tried to loosen Annie's grip a bit. "At least when you aren't annoying the hell out of me." Lana then walked over to her bed and lay down, just thinking to herself.
Annie really is one of the sweetest people I've ever met. Why did she become a MAD agent? She's never told me, though I don't necessarily blame her. I don't like talking about why I became a MAD agent, either. Most people don't talk about it. Louise talks about it. She needed money for her dream of becoming a reporter, Dr. Claw provided it, with strings attached, and she acts like she deserves all the sympathy, like the rest of us just had lifelong dreams of becoming MAD agents, since we don't like talking about it.
No one grows up with dreams of becoming a MAD agent. Except maybe Lenny. He's possibly an exception. Even then, I'm not sure. You grow up, and get the hand you're dealt.
"Thank goodness Lana Lamour is getting out today," Inspector Gadget said, sitting in his living room, with Penny leaning on his chair, and Brain standing nearby. "I wish I'd known she was in prison before, so I could have explained that they'd made a mistake in arresting her."
"She's a MAD agent," Penny mentioned. "She tried to kill you. Chief Quimby has reason to believe she's going to try to kill you again."
Gadget shook his head. "Penny, I know it's good to trust adults, and the police, but sometimes, even we can make mistakes. Sometimes innocent people slip through the cracks."
Penny sighed. "I guess you're right."
"Of course I am," Gadget said. "In fact, I plan to meet her outside the gates, to try to clear up this misunderstanding." Gadget stood up from his chair and headed toward the front door to leave. "Take care of Penny, Brain."
Penny looked to Brain. "You'd better following him, Brain. He's going to be in danger if he doesn't believe Lana's a MAD agent."
"Bow wow," Brain said, looking suspiciously at Penny.
Penny giggled. "OK, I mean even more danger than usual."
Lana had walked out of the prison gates, with Brain, disguised as a guard, beside her. A couple minutes later, Inspector Gadget arrived in the Gadgetmobile, and exited his car. "Greetings, Ms. Lamour." Gadget took Lana's hand. "I am Inspector Gadget, and I have been assigned to protect you." Brain rolled his eyes.
Lana looked confused at first, but then smiled a devious smile. "Of course," Lana said. "I do need protection. You had better take me to my home where it's nice and safe."
"Of course, right away," Gadget said. As Lana was walking to the car, Gadget hurried on over, realizing he wanted to open the door for her, but tripping before she opened the door herself. "I was going to get that for you."
"It's fine," Lana said coldly.
Gadget picked himself up off the ground, with the help of his gadget arms, rather embarrassed, and then made his way into the driver's seat. "Next stop: your place." Inspector Gadget then drove off. Brain shook his head, then hopped on a scooter and started following.