Ch. 10: Unexpected Encounter
Previously on Inspector Gadget: Body of Steel:
"Just moments earlier a police officer entered city hall with the intent of freeing the hostages but was caught. His fate remains unknown at this time but we do believe that he is dead. Wait, Lt. Bettencourt is receiving a call. The situation has been neutralized, the hostages are free! And here comes the officer now that did this!"
As I walked down the front steps of city hall carrying Bern and one of his associates over my shoulder I was swarmed by reporters and news crews snapping pictures and shouting questions. It might have been a bit disorientating to a normal human but has little to no effect on me. I ignored them for the moment and made my way to Bettencourt.
"Here you are, lieutenant, one giftwrapped mob boss. The rest of his men are still unconscious as are the civilians in the lobby. By the way, I had my car scan the building and there are no signs of explosives. Bern was bluffing."
"Well, thanks for your help, inspector. You really came through."
"It's what I was designed for," I grinned before turning around and walking back to Gadgetmobile with the press still shouting questions. Just as I was about to get in one reporter shouted a question that caught my attention above all the rest.
"Sir? What's your name?"
I turned my head and saw the reporter. He had a youngish face and was visibly hoping for an answer. I looked at him for a few seconds before giving him what he wanted. But what name should I give him?
"My name is… Inspector Gadget."
"Secondary systems check out OK, neural interface is perfect, and life support is functioning at maximum efficiency. You're perfect," Taylor announced as she unhooked the diagnostic cables from the interface jack at the base of my neck.
"Glad to hear it," I smiled as I rose out of my chair which reminded me of the one in a dentist's office and started getting back into my full outfit.
"How are the clothes working for you?" asked Jay.
"I'll admit that they are growing on me a bit but I still feel a bit silly wearing them," I answered as I finished knotting my tie.
"Well I can tell you that you're already making an impact. On my way in to work today I saw a kid, probably at least thirteen, wearing a hat and coat like yours," commented Taylor.
"It's gratifying to know that I'm having a positive impact on the city's youth, perhaps we won't have to worry as much about some of them becoming criminals."
"I think that that's a distinct possibility," said a new voice.
I turned around and saw a very familiar face framed by shoulder length red hair that triggered a flash of memories. The memories were really just snippets, but I knew right away that this was a person I cared greatly about. The flash caught me off guard, though, and I ended up clutching the arm of my chair to steady myself.
"Are you alright?" asked Taylor as my senses recovered.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just… some memories coming back," I assured and let go of the armrest before addressing the woman who had just walked in. "It's Shelby, right?"
"Yes, we're very close," she said a bit hesitantly. "What do you remember about me?"
"I do know that I care for you a great deal and that we have had some truly great times together, but beyond that… not much I'm afraid. I just know I'm going to be embarrassed by this when my memory returns fully."
"Yeah, you probably will," Shelby grinned. "And then you'll spend probably a week apologizing profusely for forgetting this much about me."
I grinned as well and rubbed the back of my neck as my gaze was drawn to an engagement ring on her finger. That triggered another memory flash of buying the ring at a jeweler's.
"At least I know that I care enough about you to have asked you to marry me."
"You remember that at least?"
"No, not really, but I do remember buying the engagement ring you're wearing."
"I suppose that's better than nothing."
"Hey, maybe with your help my memory will return faster," I said as I pulled her closer to me and planted a light kiss on her lips.
"I'll do whatever I can to help you."
There was a sudden gagging noise that turned out to be coming from Jay.
"Oh grow up!" I rolled my eyes.
"Sorry, you two are getting just a bit too lovey-dovey for me."
I extended my arm across the room and slapped him on the back of the head.
"Ow!"
"I think we're entitled to a little PDA, she is my fiancée after all."
"Alright," Jay groaned. "Just warn me before hand."
"You are such a child sometimes," Taylor shook her head.
"Well, I wish I could stay a bit longer to poke fun at Jay's habits but I have a shift to pull. Crime waits for no one," I announced and donned my coat and hat with a flourish.
"I'll meet you at your house this evening then," said Shelby. "You do remember where you live right?"
"Of course I do, 263 Johnson Avenue," I answered as I walked out towards the garage for Gadgetmobile.
Mr. King was watching the morning news in his office at the top of Archangel Tower and it seemed that every other story was about me rescuing the hostages. In addition to that, I had also stopped an assault and robbery, two murders, a comic shop robbery, and an attempted rape. All of this was generating great publicity for Archangel whose stock had skyrocketed. It seemed now that it was only a matter of time before ground could be broke for New Detroit.
Kenton walked into King's office with the latest polls in hand.
"Sir, Inspector Gadget is an unprecedented success! Our stock is up twenty points since last night and the media can't get enough of him. We've already received calls asking for him to appear on some talk shows! He is great for PR, we have to let him on one of the shows."
"That's all well and good but for now I feel he is best put to use on the streets, wouldn't you say?"
"Of course, sir, but we've been flooded with calls since last night; they don't show signs of stopping anytime soon. I think it best to give the media something to satisfy its hunger."
"So be it, arrange for a press conference where Gadget can do a demonstration and answer questions with Doctor's Ramirez and Powell."
"Of course, sir, right away!"
On my way to the garage where Gadgetmobile was kept I walked past Ashley who turned around to run after me and got my attention.
"Inspector, excuse me! Hi, you may or may not remember me but I'm your partner, Ashley Miller."
"You look familiar, and I rarely forget a face even if I do forget a name. It's nice to meet you again," I smiled and offered my hand which Ashley shook firmly.
"It's great to see you walking again after the past several months."
"It's great to be walking again! From what I understand I probably would have been confined to a wheelchair before Dr. Ramirez made me the offer. I would have gone crazy!"
"I don't doubt it. In the short time I knew you before the explosion you came across as someone who can't always sit still for long."
"You're right. How have things been while I was out?"
"Rough to say the least. Violence has gotten a bit more rampant it seems and there just aren't enough of us to respond to every single call."
"Well maybe with me playing for the home team we can even the score."
"What did the doctors at Archangel do to you?"
"Essentially they gave me a whole new body. I look like a normal human on the outside but peel away the skin and there's a terminator underneath."
"Really?"
"Not literally, of course, but that's kind of what it looks like. For the most part my body is robotic now and it gives me some capabilities for an edge over the people we put away for a living."
"What can you do now?"
"A lot if even half of what Doctor's Ramirez and Powell are telling me is true. The base for all of my gadgets is nanites. There's a whole bunch of them in my body and they make the majority of my new abilities possible such as the helicopter hat."
"There's a helicopter in your hat?"
"That was my reaction exactly. The contraption is possible only because of the nanites. Without them I'd just be the Six-Million Dollar Man."
"Gadgetmobile to Inspector Gadget."
I raised my wrist and pressed one of the buttons on my watch.
"Gadget here."
"Inspector, your shift was scheduled to begin five minutes ago and you're not here."
"Lighten up, Gadgetmobile, I'm talking to my partner."
"Nevertheless you're late for your shift. I hope you don't plan on making a habit out of it."
"Of course not, I'm on my way."
"Who was that?" Ashley asked after I removed my finger from the button."
"That was my car, warning to move my ass or else."
"Your car?"
"Yeah, it has artificial intelligence and can talk."
"Are you pulling my leg?"
"No, I can show you if you like, though."
"I'm on duty, I was on my way to my car."
"You can come with me, after all, you said we're partners. We still are, right?"
"Yes, we're still partners."
"Then there's no problem, come on!" I grinned and resumed walking towards the garage.
"Wow, that is a nice car! A 2034 Mustang GT right?" whistled Ashley when she saw Gadgetmobile.
"Right, the Mustang is the one car that Ford makes that never loses its good looks, unlike some other cars.
"I know, Ferrari isn't doing too well right now in that department is it?"
"No they are not. It's a disappointment."
"It may be a disappointment but can any of those cars do half the things I can?" asked Gadgetmobile as we got in.
"Of course not, you're one of a kind, Gadgetmobile," I grinned.
"He is a bit full of himself though, isn't he?" asked Ashley.
"I beg your pardon, I am not, as you say, 'full of it.' And even if I was, there'd be good reason for it. Cars won't have the kind of technology that's inside me for at least the next two decades. I am, shall we say, a Da Vinci in a medieval world."
"Yep, he's full of himself," I smirked as we pulled out into traffic.
Gadgetmobile made a noise that sounded like a snort.
Emil had been out for a night on the town when the fuel light on his motorcycle came on. He pulled into a gas station, took out his gun, and shot the cameras. The dozing attendant that was working shot up in his seat and when his eyes came into focus was staring down the barrel of a .45 caliber gun.
"Fill it up on number four and empty the register," ordered Emil with a smile.
The attendant hurried to start the pump and remove the cash from the register. Emil laughed as he backed up to his motorcycle to fill it up.
"Now don't try anything stupid man!" he warned. "I'm watching you and I'm a good shot! I can hit you in the eye from here."
"Inspector, there is a crime in progress at the gas station."
"We see it," I acknowledged and made for the freeway exit.
I pulled Gadgetmobile up beside the small attendant's station as Emil was starting to threaten the man working there.
"You think you can dodge a bullet? Well, can you?"
I slammed my door and got his attention.
"Drop it!" I ordered as I leveled my auto gun.
"Do as he says!" added Ashley as she took up a protected position on the other side of Gadgetmobile.
"Hey, wait a minute… I know you!" he exclaimed as he recognized me. "You're dead! We killed you!"
Emil shot at me but the bullets bounced off harmlessly. I didn't notice, though, as I was in a stupor from what he said. Something was stirring in my memory.
"David? David, can you hear me?" asked Ashley but ducked as bullets hit the hood.
She returned fire but stopped as the target ducked behind a filling station.
"David!"
I finally came back to reality and saw Emil mounting his cycle in a hurry. But he wouldn't be getting far at all if I had anything to say about it.
TARGETING_
My little friend spoke once and the chain on the motorcycle broke, threw off Emil's balance, and caused him to fall and slide across the tarmac.
"Who are you?" I growled as I picked him up by the collar of his jacket. All I got in response was an unintelligible groan.
"David, are you alright?" Ashley asked tentatively as I clapped the cuffs on Emil.
"Yeah, I'll be fine once I find out what this scum's connection to my attempted murder is. I have a memory of him but it's incomplete."
"He's one of Slater's gang. He was with them when we busted them several months ago."
My memory flashed in front of me again. It was a vague image, just the faces of the men we had arrested that day and of my car alarm going off accompanied by a cruel laugh.
I still didn't have the full picture of what had happened to me but I was starting to remember more and now I had a lead to follow. It was time to hunt the most dangerous game.
A/N: Gadget has a lead now and he's going ot be kicking someone's ass soon.
Gadget: How about I kick yours?
Me: Fall down a trap door.
Gadget: (with helicopter) Nice try.
Me: Glitch.
Helicopter dies and Gadget falls.
Gadget: I'll get you next time!
Me: Maybe. Now post that review or no new chapter.