Inspector Gadget: Reboot

Ch. 1: Crash and Burn

Being part of the special security force at UniTech wasn't all bad. It had a decent wage, you got to drive the new Ford police interceptor, and you saw the occasional bit of action. Mind you, it wasn't that much because UniTech was one of the most secure factories in the whole United States of America. The corporation was less than ten years old but its innovative defense and robotic technology quickly shot it up in the ranks. UniTech was still expanding and was getting more and more defense contracts. I was grateful to be on the security force but what I really wanted was to be a cop. That was my main ambition. What I didn't know w as that my dream was about to be fulfilled, just not quite in the way I imagined.

My shift was winding down and I was eager for it to be over. I had a date that night with my girlfriend of five years, Shelby Lutton. A smile crept onto my face as I reached into my pocket and felt the small velvet box with a ring in it that I had purchased a week ago. I took it out and flipped it open to look at the ring for the umpteenth time that day. Just as I was putting the box back I heard a noise coming from the shadows of the staff parking lot.

"Who's there?" I said as my hand went for my flashlight and my other hand dropped for my gun. I shined the light around the dim parking lot until I found the source of the noise. "Doctor Ramirez, I'd have thought that you'd have gone home with the rest of the staff."

Taylor Ramirez and her brother, John, were two of the most prominent cyberneticists at UniTech. Now the two of them were working on the company's top priority secret project. The only thing anyone not directly related to the project knew was that it had something to do with brain waves.

"Officer Harder, I'm sorry. My brother and I were working late and we made the breakthrough we need to keep the project afloat. I've barely gotten any sleep this week so John told me to go home or he'd sedate me," she explained with a s mile that almost looked painful.

"I see, well congratulations on the breakthrough. Have a good evening and drive safely," I smiled back and turned to walk away.

"Doctor Taylor Ramirez, it has been a while hasn't it?"

The voice was smooth and almost melodic as it cut through the still air in the limo as the owner watched Dr. Ramirez walk towards her car on a TV screen. A sliver of moonlight was filtering into the backseat of the limo and was illuminating a metal hand.

"Her brother's still inside boss, should we wait until he leaves?"

"If I know her brother then he'll be in that lab until he falls asleep. He'll be collateral damage. Activate the drones Hammer."

"Yes boss."

A white nondescript van parked across the street from UniTech suddenly turned on and drove towards the back of the company. It crashed through the chain link fence and stopped just before the wall of the building. The rear door opened and the van discharged its cargo: several small tank like drones that moved around on treads. The robots plowed through the UniTech wall like it wasn't there and proceeded straight for the Ramirez's lab.

Dr. John Ramirez was the happiest he'd been in a long time. He and his sister had completed work on the most important part of their project. It would literally drive the invention that they hoped to create. He was putting a glowing blue disc back in its case when four drones broke through the wall of the lab. The first drone went right to the computer and used a built in computer interface jack to hook up and download files. Two other tank drones collected the proof of concept tech that was in the lab. John finally came out of his shock and tried to take action.

"That's secret information! You can't do that!" He exclaimed as he went for the security alert button.

The fourth drone, however, stopped right in his path and faced him with an energy cannon. John's eyes went wide as he realized what was about to happen. The drone fired and followed the other three out the hole they had made and back to the van.

Dr. Ramirez and I were still close enough to the van's point of entry to hear it break down the fence. I got there in time to see the van pulling away from the building. I pulled my gun and fired a tracker round which stuck to the exterior of the vehicle before going to see what had happened in the lab. When I got into the lab dust was settling an d Dr. Ramirez was cradling her dead brother's head in her arms and crying silently. I hated to see someone die at the hands of another human and the sight lit a fire in me and a glint of determination flared to life in my eyes.

"I'm so sorry," I murmured as I kneeled down and looked Dr. Ramirez in the eyes. "I promise you I'll find whoever did this."

I got back up and ran for the lot where the interceptors were and got in one before radioing security.

"Security, this is Harder, we've had a break-in in the Ramirez's lab. Suspect is in an unlicensed white courier van, I am in pursuit and request backup," I requested as I activated the lights and siren.

"Harder, this is security. We have dispatched several cruisers."

I was a few yards behind the van when a limo pulled out in front and nearly caused me to swerve off the road.

"We're being followed boss," Hammer said .

"Don't worry, I have a surprise for our unwanted guest," he smiled and pressed a button on the console in front of him marked 'Oil Slick'.

Oil jets appeared in the rear of the limo and spewed the slippery substance onto the road. I hit it and immediately started skidding all over the place. I struggled to reassert control but it was hopeless. A window on the limo rolled down and a gun was pointed out. It fired a round that hit one of the tires which exploded and caused it to flip on its side. The interceptor continued to slide on the asphalt at a hair-raising speed until it hit a bill board.

"Stop the limo Hammer; I want to take care of business."

The sunroof of the limo opened as my vision cleared and a well groomed man appeared. He had a lean build, chiseled features, a square jaw, and brown hair. I grabbed the mike in the car and turned on the public address.

"This is security officer David Harder. Surrender or I will be forced to fire."

"Congratulations are in order officer," the man said. "No one has lasted that long before when I've used the oil slick. The accidents that follow are usually fatal. However, I have backup plans should the oil slick fail to dispose my pursuers. Care for a demonstration?" he asked as he brought out a small remote and used it.

The lights in my interceptor went out and the message 'Electronic Systems Failure' flashed on the computer monitor in the car.

"This is only step one, step two will prove to be the fatal step," the man in the limo smiled as he took an explosive o the limo and tossed it toward the interceptor. It stuck to the hood as I started the reboot of the electronic systems.

I looked up again and saw the man smile as he produced another remote and pressed the button.

"Feel free to stick around officer, although I'm sure it won't be for much longer. Meanwhile, I really must be going, " he stated and got back in the limo and drove off.

The electronic systems finally rebooted and I got out of the car as fast as I could. I had only run a few steps when the bomb exploded. I felt a searing burning pain run through my body followed by nothing.

A/N: So how did I do? Is this alright? Should I continue this fanfic or change anything? One review= another chapter. No flames. I know that this chapter is basically the first few minutes of Inspector Gadget rewritten but I can guarantee it'll get better and veer off of the path of the movie. Just follow the story. It'll take on a life of it's own on chapter 3 and onward. So hit that review button.

Disclaimer: I don't own Inspector Gadget. If I did then both movies would have been a lot different. I do own the characters of Taylor and John Ramirez and David Harder. Now I'd better not find a bunch of Mickey Mouse ear wearing Disney lawyers on my front doorstep in the morning .