One Year Later
-Recovery-
Metro City Police - Interrogation Room
"I wasn't about to let Penny die on the table." Prof. Slickstein told Chief Quimby.
"What do you mean die?" Gadget asked him. "do you mean to tell me that's would have happened to my niece after that MAD agent shot her in the back before they took her away from me." it was no use trying to hide the obvious alarm in his voice.
John Gadget's nerves were rattled.
"I had no choice in this matter when Dr. Claw gave me an ultimatum," Dr. Slickstein reminded the Inspector. "either allow Penny to die or use my knowledge of medical science and bionics to save her."
For a long moment Inspector Gadget was speechless the news struck him like a blow to the stomach. He was left breathless as if someone sucker punched him in the stomach leaving all the air escape from his lungs.
Now that he was aware of Penny was somewhere alone with their enemy, defenseless and completely vulnerable. The price he would pay to protect Metro City and his niece from Dr. Claw's murderous anger had culminated into his brief panic attack.
"Where is she now!" Gadget yelled.
"Another disclosed location I imagine after Dr. Claw knows about your meddling." Prof. Slickstein said, his voice was on the edge of anger. "I suppose you could say Dr. Claw had found out a way to engineer a perfect storm."
Dr. Slickstein handed Inspector Gadget a manila folder he retrieved showing him the reports. With a held breath, he thumbed through the pages, noting the improvements. His darkest fears had been confirmed. He mouthed breathlessly the word no. Dr. Claw had employed a team of programmers to effectively numb Penny's conscience so to speak.
Something Prof. Slickstein had never approved of.
One many aspects of someone's humanity he sought to preserve had been corrupted.
"So you don't know," Gadget said, in a harsh whisper. "you don't know where my niece is." coupled with his slow unsteady breathing, he swallowed hard trying to fight back tears.
"Only Dr. Claw had forced me prepare Penny's body for warfare." Prof. Slickstein said, quietly. "if there's any consolation and given our human nature and our shared need for survival. The heart remains and so does Penny's mind and even though Dr. Claw has found a way to effectively numb her conscience to suit his his own ambitions. he folded his arms across his chest. "I'm sure love will always win."
"You really think so," Chief Quimby said, raising a questionable eyebrow. "Inspector Gadget's love will override Dr. Claw's technological genius?"
"I guess you could say emotions were always my final line of defense," came Dr. Slickstein's kind, soft answer. "she is not human because Dr. Claw stolen all of her memories. Without the emotional baggage Penny will be less afraid of using her newfound abilities. She will never feel unsure of herself and perform Dr. Claw's bidding without the slightest hesitation."
"But she's only a child," Gadget shouted at him. "I refuse to fight against my niece."
"And what do you intend to do, Gadget?" Chief Quimby said, in a gruff tone of voice. "how else do you intend to disarm Penny?"
"I'm-I'm not sure," Gadget stammered.