Penny quickly went into action. She ran to the computer bank, looking for the controls that would free the prisoners.
The computer bank seemed to be acting as a TV gallery. There was a main output screen which showed the ongoing broadcast of the concert, and other screens showing what the other cameras saw. Penny went on talking as she examined switches and buttons.
"There's millions watching this concert, here, in parks, at home. All over the world. If MAD is hijacking the music in some way... they can reach a lot of people."
Gary examined the shelves. "Hey, look."
Penny saw a row of large, glass bottles labelled EMOTIGAS. The contents were bright green. Gary reached behind the shelves and found an air duct. There was a metal rack mounted beneath.
"If they put that stuff in there... they can pump it right into the concert hall!"
Penny looked at the label on one of the bottles.
"Emotigas. For the instant emotional reaction. Brings out the innermost feelings. Keep out of reach of children." She was thinking, fast. "Everyone's really hyped up in there, with all this patriotic stuff. If the audience breathes that in..."
"One instant angry mob," said Talon.
Penny and Gary spun round to face him. He had drawn his gum gun from a shoulder holster beneath his jacket. Penny thought he'd been watching too many James Bond films.
"Welcome to your backstage tour."
"So that's it! You're gonna turn an audience... into an army!"
"It's amazing what love of country can make people do. That was my uncle's plan. But then... during Land of Hope and Glory... my plan starts!"
"You're putting a secret signal in the music?"
Talon hesitated. But Penny had known he could never resist the urge to show off.
"The gas is only temporary. We can use the music to transmit a control signal. Attuned directly to the rhythms of the human brain. One press of that red button over there will focus and amplify the music so it reaches everyone watching the concert. And then the angry mob becomes permanent! A complete MAD army, worldwide!"
Gary stared at him... as far as could be seen through his shades. "That's insane."
"Er... yeah! The clue was in the name MAD." Talon gave Gary a sly look. "Nice suit, Man in Black. Hope this isn't gonna stain."
He fired four balls of gum, pinning Gary's arms and legs to the wall alongside the captives. Before Penny could react, he did the same to her.
"Aw. I'm sorry to spoil your dress."
He went across and loaded two bottles of gas into the rack beneath the vent. He went back to the computer bank and hit a switch. On one of the screens, a countdown started. Then he headed for the two-way mirror.
"I'd best get back. Got Rule Britannia to sing. And then... the Last Night of the Progs becomes the First Night of MAD Rule!"
He slipped through the glass and disappeared.
Penny and Gary and the captured musicians lay back against the wall, watching the seconds tick down. Gary looked across at Penny.
"Any ideas?"
"Just one."
"HELP! HELP!"
They were bawling for ages, but no one came. Eventually they gave their voices a rest, and watched the second half of the concert unfolding on the screen. Penny was starting to wish she'd stayed in her seat. There were some fabulous choral performances, and soon, she would be missing Uncle Gadget's instrumental.
Then Gary said:
"Is it me or is it hot in here?" He managed to turn his head towards the vent. "Judging by the position of that thing... I reckon that's the boiler room, below us." He looked down. "Ooh."
The gum was hot too, and beginning to run. The heat from their bodies must be adding to that from the boiler. It was still holding them, but...
Gary strained every one of his many muscles, then, with a gasp, pulled his right arm free.
"So much for that."
"No, wait!" Penny looked to her left. "Can you reach my wrist?"
Gary tried. He grinned as his fingers touched Penny's watch.
"You're wearing your computer watch? That old thing?"
"Hey, they're back in now. If Talon can wear one... Can you see what you're doing? Apart from tickling me?"
"No."
"There are three buttons. You want the one on the left."
Gary pressed the button. Penny smiled. Sometimes the old methods were the best.
Two minutes later, they saw someone pawing at the mirror wall – literally. Penny raised her voice again.
"Brain! We're in here!"
Still in his evening suit, Brain came through the wall. Gary smiled.
"Oh, good boy."
Brain hadn't time to worry about being patronised. He went straight to the computer bank. Penny pulled against the gum.
"Brain, can you turn the heat up a bit more?"
Brain found a thermostat.
After two more minutes, the gum was sufficiently melted for Penny and Gary to prise themselves free. Then there were the captives to think about. Brain found the right controls again, and the laser ropes and gags disappeared.
"Oh!" Davyd Lowe got up, very painfully. "Tied up, locked up, and that new guy's murdering my music! We've had to watch, every night."
"Let's get moving." Penny went to the controls. "Gary, can you disable that gas thing, please? Brain, can you get these guys out of here, tell Uncle Gadget and Antonia what happened as soon as they come offstage?"
Brain made sounds of assent. He led the captives from the room.
Gary yanked the bottles free, one in each massive hand. He returned them to the shelf.
"Nice one!" Penny saw the countdown had stopped. "Exit one angry mob. But there's still the signal in the music... oh... we can't stop the performance! Everyone's watching! I'd best see what I can do here."
"We can arrest the MAD guys, 'soon as they come off. I'll go marshal the troops..."
"Oh, Gary, you've gotta come on more missions with us!"
Gary laughed. He made his exit.
Penny turned back to the controls. She examined the big red button. It was protected by a small glass panel.
"Oh no... it's fingerprint recognition! Must only open for Talon."
She looked at the screens again. Inspector Gadget was completing his medley. There was riotous applause. Penny smiled.
"Good old Uncle Gadget."
She stopped smiling.
"Oh, no."
Talon – otherwise known as Carlo – was stepping to the front of the stage. There were cheers from the crowd as the opening bars of Rule Britannia were played. He began to sing – or mime. As before, it sounded great.
Then, on another monitor Penny saw a playlist. There were all the songs Talon was singing – and some he wasn't. So this was where the livestream was coming from.
Slowly, a smile crossed Penny's face.
"OK, Carlo. Keep time with this."
She reached for the controls.
In the hall, the full ensemble of singers joined in Rule Britannia as it reached the chorus. Everyone was waving Union Jacks and singing along. Then Talon began the second verse.
Suddenly, his voice changed to a shrill soprano, still singing Rule Britannia. There was laughter. Talon was going red. Then the vocal switched back to tenor, but now at half-speed. He sounded as if his batteries were going. Then his voice went off like Mickey Mouse, as Penny doubled the speed. Finally, his lips continued moving, but the crowd heard a music-hall singer performing Knees Up, Mother Brown.
Talon had had enough. He turned and fled the stage, amidst laughter and cheers.
In the hidden room, Penny laughed until she cried.
That was fun. But she still had a signal to stop. It would be Land of Hope and Glory soon, and the MAD musicians would still be playing the hidden notes...
She leapt back as Talon burst through the wall, looking furious. He drew the gum gun again, and Penny backed away. She realised it might not have been a good idea to humiliate someone with a fragile ego in front of several million people.
He planted his fingers on the glass panel, and it slid aside. Talon turned up the sound of the concert so that it was deafening, as Land of Hope and Glory began.
"Hear that? That's the music of MAD. Let's see how it works on you."
He reached for the red button.