One hour later, Inspector Gadget, Penny, Brain and Gary all stood outside a conference room on the fourth floor of HQ. Through the open door, Penny could see reporters and camera crews from across Metro City and the surrounding state. At the front of the room was a table, behind which sat young Talon and an embarrassed Chief Quimby, newly-released from the cupboard. Penny couldn't see the laser, but she knew it was there.

There was no sign of older Talon.

"Where'd he go?"

"He ran out of the cell, soon as they released us," said Gary. "He was gone before we got upstairs."

"Mind have known he'd run for it. The weasel! Trapping me in my own past." Penny paused. "I hope he's OK."

"I'm sure I could get us out of this," said Inspector Gadget. "I must have a gadget for capturing evil children."

"No, Uncle Gadget! He's threatening the Chief! And all of us. You'll just have to go through with it."

Slowly, Gadget opened the door and entered the room. There was a buzz of anticipation from the waiting media as he made his way to the table at the front. Penny slid in at the back, with her other colleagues. She was surprised at the size of the room.

"I've never been in here before. It's massive!"

At a sign from the young Talon, Chief Quimby spoke up.

"Good morning, everyone. And thank you all for coming. I'd like to introduce you to Talon Claw... who's somewhat younger than we're used to. And now, Inspector Gadget will make a statement on his behalf.

"Go-go-Gadget Throat Clearer!" There was a deafening HARUMPH! that nearly blew out every mike in the room. Everyone covered their ears.

Gadget picked up the crayon-smeared list. Talon had now added several new and amended items.

"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. I would like to announce several changes to the law of Metro City, to be implemented immediately. These include a complete ban on all vegetables, no homework to be set in any school, free candy for everyone under the age of nine, and a ban on baths for anyone who isn't a dog."

At the back of the room, Brain growled.

"All TV channels will show cartoons, day and night, and all teachers, dentists and the crazy old lady next door will be indefinitely imprisoned. Any infraction of any of these rules to be punished by catapult, laser or water-pistol."

"Hey, you can't do this!" A young reporter stood up in the front row. Young Talon produced his catapult and fired a laser pellet, hitting him neatly on the nose. The reporter quickly sat down.

"That's it," Chief Quimby said. He had the face of one who knew his career was over. "Any questions? Anyone else got anything to say?"

"Yeah," said a voice from the back. "I do."

They all looked round as teenage Talon entered. He directed his voice towards the small boy.

"I brought you here because I thought it might impress Penny. The girl I love."

Penny blushed.

"But you just reminded me what I was really like. And I don't want to be like you, any more. You wanted to join MAD. Now I want to get away from it. And from you."

"Oh yeah?" Young Talon stood up. "So what are you gonna do about it then, Smelly Boy?" He looked at the crowd. "He stinks of hair gel. He stinks of hair gel..."

Teenage Talon looked at the crowd too. For the first time, Penny noticed something strange about them.

Several of the reporters had the same faces...

"OK, everyone!" teenage Talon yelled. "NOW!"

All the photographers raised their cameras.

A series of blinding flashes went off, all around the room. They came together, in a blaze of golden light.

Then Penny saw the room, and the reporters, and the young Talon disappear.

She found herself in the simulator room again, with Uncle Gadget, Chief Quimby and the others all around her. Once again, the present-day Talon was at the controls.

"And so he's gone. Along with the rest of the simulation. It was easy enough to mock up a conference room and a few press."

Penny stared at him. He was always oddly attractive at moments like this.

"You sly little..."

"Talon, that was pretty smart," Chief Quimby said. He turned to Penny. "In the circumstances, Supervisor, I think we might overlook the misuse of HQ hardware?"

Penny hid a scowl.

"Yes, Chief."

"Now, shut all this down," said the Chief. "Professor Von Slickstein is running a training session at 2pm."

"Yes, sir," said Talon.

Chief Quimby turned and led the others out. Penny looked at the smug little smile on Talon's handsome face. She didn't know whether she wanted to hug or punch him.

"You just got away with it again, didn't you?" She went a little nearer to him. "Did you mean what you said? About MAD? About me?"

Talon hesitated. Then he nodded.

"Yeah. Totally."

"So what was that question you were gonna ask? Right back when this started?"

Talon reached for the controls.

"Lemme show you."

"No! Not another simulation!"

"I think you'll like this one."

Penny watched, as the room around her blurred and changed.

Final part coming soon!