One
"Happy Birthday, Pretty Penny." Talon grins at me, causing my heart to melt for a moment, before I come to my senses. "No way, you're totally trying to trick me by pretending you actually care about my birthday." I'm surprised he knew, let alone got me something. "Is my present a bomb? Will the cake paralyse me? What lame plan are you trying this time?" I fire questions at him, but he just smiles that charming smile and flicks his raven hair from his eyes. "No tricks, I swear."
Somehow, I don't believe him. I'm in the middle of a mission to stop Dr Claw, of course Talon is involved. Besides, we're worst enemies. Even if he is kind of cute... Anyway, Uncle Gadget and Brain are on a vacation. Unsurprisingly, they're in different locations, Brain likes his space and my uncle considers himself retired.
I'm now eighteen, which is more than old enough to kick Talon's ass and take on M.A.D agents by myself. Not that it's easy with Talon around, but I love a challenge.
"You're planning something." I state, backing him into a corner. He puts his hands up in mock innocence and gives me a devillish smirk in return. "Okay, you got me. You're looking pretty hot, birthday girl." He laughs evilly, then tosses a small flashing orb in my direction, which explodes, generating a ring of fire around my feet. "With you trapped, Uncle Claw can finally rid the world of Inspector Gadget. It's an awesome plan because I came up with it." He puffs his chest out like a proud bird, obviously trying to show off, and continues, "We're going to use an orb just like this one to disable his gadgets, rendering him useless, and once he's defenseless and frozen, I'll bring him back to my Uncle Claw and we can-"
"Take over the world?" I interrupt, giving a roll of my eyes to show just how much I care about his so-called plan. Talon shrugs his slender shoulders, "I was going to say go on vacation, but whatever. Your idea works too."
I easily step over the ring of fire, raising an eyebrow. "I escaped." I state, leaping into the air as I aim to kick him, and he dodges, sliding across the floor beneath me. "Not so fast, Pretty Penny." He teases as I land, crouched and ready to pounce again. "Uncle Claw wants Gadget, but until then, you'll do."
He tosses another orb which shatters on contact and encases me in a strong, cold, thick resin. "Clever, right? Looks like ice but you can't break or melt it." Talon's taunting voice comes closer as he stops just inches from me, then purrs in my ear...
"Gotcha."