A/N: I started writing the beginning to this two months ago, and tonight, I finally got into the rest of this chapter. Now, I've survived one week of school. I have Science, PE, Math, and Woodwork. Not as bad as Semester 2 will be next year.
I've been so busy with homework that I haven't been able to start Chapter Seven of ACiD, so the wait for that may be a little longer if I don't decide to start it tomorrow afternoon while I go publish this on FanFiction. If none of you look for Inspector Gadget stories on FanFiction, I suggest you do because there are some really good Talenny ones :) Look for one of my other ones I haven't posted here if you go over there.
So Talon will appear next chapter, as this chapter is to ease you guys into the setting of the FanFic. I guess it counts more as a Prologue than Chapter.
Anyways, Talenny to come. Chapter Two to come too soon.
Enjoy!
If you happened to of asked Penny to describe how the past year had gone by for her and her Uncle Gadget, she would answer with a depressing frown that too often glazed her pale, chapped lips.
It was official that 2016 was the second worse year in Penny's fifteen years of being on Earth. The all-time worst year was 2006; an entire, ten-year difference.
Too many horrible and uncalled for events have taken place in Penny's life during the previous 365 days.
MAD and Talon suddenly, but mysteriously, disappeared into thin air, a year ago.
Kayla got transferred to another agency for succeeding in an elective course that Penny didn't take.
Brain passed away from a cancerous lump that took him before the first month with the disease.
Inspector Gadget needed emergency treatment when oil from his mechanical limbs, leaked and mixed with his preserved blood and left him almost lethally poisoned.
(Luckily, HQ covered all medical expenses.)
Shaken, confused, remorseful, empty-heartedness, and guilt. Those were the only emotions that Penny could recognize anymore. It had been weeks since she last smiled; not even her beloved Uncle could make her giggle or crack a slight upward lip anymore.
Guilt ran its course on her body. It ate away at her heart like a it was a toddler enjoying a chocolate chip cookie.
The endless nights of crying, whining, and mourning over Talon had nearly destroyed her.
If only she had kept her mouth shut last Christmas, back in 2015...
The toll that her emotions took on her became noticeable to not just Brain, but everyone over at HQ.
A week or two after Brain's death, Chief Quimby referred her to a therapist to help with balancing her emotional and mental state, and though, it felt good to be able to vent to someone other than Kayla, it didn't help in the slightest way.
It left the poor agent to ponder even more over her life; her current year that was coming to an abrupt end in a few hours.
Tonight, it was New Year's eve.
And for once, Penny put a decent amount of effort into her appearance for this occasion.
There was a party, hosted by HQ's Chief Quimby, on top of a thirty-story tower in the heart of a buzzing city, up in British Columbia. There was due to be a firework show and hundreds of undercover HQ agents spread out from around the world attending.
Detective Data would not be attending for what she had tried to pull off at the HQ Reunion.
Penny stood in front of her mirror, inspecting her outfit from there. She wore a black v-neck, t-shirt, with a jean jacket over herself for both warmth and fashion. Her cleavage was very minimal, to the point that it wasn't even there.
She had dark gray leggings on, matching with a casual pair of sneakers.
Her blonde hair was straightened, now coming a few centimetres past her slender shoulders.
It wasn't at all "fancy-schmancy", but it was nice and comfortable for a night in Vancouver...
A quick, discreet knock came to her apartment bedroom. Clearing her throat, the girl spoke a quick "Come in."
The door creaked open, and her Uncle, uncharacteristically dressed in a tuxedo, peaked his head through the slight crack. "The limo is here, Penny, are you ready?"
Since going under treatment for the oil poisoning, Gadget had finally gotten some sense knocked into him. It shocked everyone that he wasn't as goofy and oblivious as he always was, but people liked him better this way.
Penny didn't need to assist him on missions anymore, and she could do her own without worry.
"Yeah," Penny replied after a short pause and took a few steps towards her guardian after her parents.
He smiled, but it faded quickly. He couldn't bare to smile at his broken niece too much, as he suspected that it only made things worse for her. But nevertheless, he kept his optimism.
Gadget opened the door more for Penny before walking off towards the entrance of the apartment, where an impatient honking of a car intruded through the walls from the outside. Penny followed behind him, shutting her bedroom door while straightening out her jean jacket.
It took around forty-five minutes for the two to arrive at the designated tower, and another ten minutes to get to the very top, considering that the elevator had to stop at every single floor.
Climbing up a short set of stairs, they finally reached the rooftop, where there was music blasting, and crowded yells and talking from obvious voices of agents. As they opened the door to the rooftop, immediately, they were greeted by Chief Quimby and Professor Von Slickstein and Sir Owen Von Stoner.
"Ha, Penny! You're here!" Slickstein cheered, overenthusiastically throwing his arms up into the air in excitement.
A giggle came from the young girl. Shocking her Uncle Gadget momentarily before he chuckled while his heart was gently touched.
"I'm going to take a guess that the New Year will bring our best, and only, junior agent some positive resolutions? Eh?" Quimby smiled after noticing the wide eyes on Gadget's face. He quickly caught onto what had just happened.
Penny opened her mouth to speak, but she closed it afterwards. She wasn't particularly shy but embarrassed to admit that she was planning on doing that.
Starting 2017 fresh sounded like the best alternative next to another therapist session that she had scheduled for next week, and maybe, just maybe, she'd skip it for her own enjoyment.
With a slight nod of her head, she signalled a positive reply. A yes.
Owen Von Stoner and Slickstein shared a laugh (I swear, they're gay for each other. OTP.) while Chief Quimby nodded approvingly. Gadget wrapped an extended, metal limb around her shoulders and gave a gentle squeeze of encouragement.
Penny smiled up at her Uncle.
The vibe from this party/get-together was affecting Penny's mood; in a very good way. Maybe she could actually let herself enjoy tonight without holding back. Go dance for a few minutes; let her mind run free. Maybe even Pasha would be here? Unlikely, but not entirely impossible to happen.
At least her Uncle would have someone else to bother other than Chief Quimby, which would be Pasha's Uncle.
In her short train of thought, Chief Quimby and Gadget had walked off over to a table, where varieties of cheese were out for takes. Slickstein and Stoner had walked off in another direction (supposedly towards a lounging area with luxury, leather couches which was something that Stoner enjoys).
Penny found herself walking towards a nearby table where there were drinks ranging from water, juice, pop, coffee, and tea. No alcohol beverages, though, even though everyone here was adults or seniors.
The agent grabbed a plastic cup before walking over to the water dispenser, which was cold with what looked like a lifetime supply of ice cubes.
She took a sip of the clear liquid, only to have it fizz on her tongue.
Carbonated.
Not her style, but definitely something she'd take over non-carbonated water or Coca-Cola.
Taking another sip, she nearly choked on the bubbling water when she was grabbed from behind, a loud, obnoxious squeal coming from whoever it was.
"Like, omigosh! Gurl, why didn't you tell me you'd be here?!"
Before Penny could turn around by herself, the teen behind that had her by her waist, turned her around first. Her cerulean eyes almost bulged out of their sockets at who she was face-to-face with.
"Kayla?"
All that came from the dark-skinned agent in front of her was an over-hyperactive giggle.
"You know it, P-nae! The one and only Kayla!" the girl screamed as she let go of Penny, who instead, pulled Kayla into a tight embrace.
How good it felt to finally see her best friend after nearly ten months of no interaction, was an incredibly good feeling.
Pride and content filled her lungs like it was oxygen.
A moment later, she let go, a very wide smile gracing her lips.
"So, how's HeadQuarter's 202?" Penny started off casually, fixing her straightened locks.
"Like, awes-mazing! I got some hot boyfriend who is SO into me." She giggled before continuing. "He's around here somewhere, he went to go get some cheese. Blue cheese."
Both agents shuddered at the mention of that foul dairy product.
The HQ agent smiled sheepishly, proud for Kayla's new relationship...even though she secretly wondered how this boy puts up with Kayla's non-stop chit-chat.
"So, how are you and Talon?"
Penny froze. Her smile gone, eyes wide with shock while they began watering slightly.
Kayla took the reaction into consideration, clueing in that things were the opposite of great.
"Sorry, change of subject. How's HQ?"
Those chocolate-brown eyes of his. Oh, how Penny missed them so much. The devilish smirk to match with them, and the scent of refreshing hair-gel streaming into her nostrils every time he came around. It was too obvious that she missed all of that.
But Talon was gone, for all she and HQ knew. His Uncle, Dr. Claw, was dead. Suspiciously.
Shrugging off the evil agent who was most probably dead out of her mind, Penny forced a smile back onto her lips.
"The usual. Brain..." she looked down to the give the hint.
"It different without that puppy around, isn't it?" Kayla continued for her, who nodded in response.
Kayla had left a month after his sudden passing.
Soon enough, the two agents had fallen into a flowing conversation, blocking out the world around them.
If everything tonight could be considered normal, it would be, but it wasn't.
On the other side of the table where the beverages were placed, stood a barn owl.
Robotic, definitely not a real specimen of the bird of prey.
It's colourless, black eyes stared intently at Penny and Kayla, who hadn't at all noticed the strange "bird."
