Meanwhile, Penny had arrived within the ruins of the city. She was astounded... and saddened. This place had been a dwelling as vibrant and colourful as Metro City... and a lot more sophisticated. Now it was drowned, and falling to pieces beneath the waves.
She had little difficulty working out where to go. The map and its red cross led her straight to the Palace.
She hid behind a ruined building, and watched. Her mouth opened in horror as she saw the children and young people being used as slave labour... even handling explosives. She had to get them out of this. But she was outnumbered, several times, by Pincer agents. She had to strike at the heart of the operation.
She waited until all was clear, then swam back towards what must have been the Palace grounds. There was obviously a forcefield keeping them dry and habitable, as at James's place. This was proved when she found a window open.
She clambered through and found herself in some sort of staffroom, with a seating area and kitchenette. She could turn her virtual oxygen mask off, now. Though she kept it at the ready.
She went to a floor plan on the wall. This could come in useful...
"Hi."
Penny jumped, and stared, as a mermaid shuffled into the room, a beautiful young African-American girl in bikini top and fishtail. She slid over to Penny and smiled a dazzling smile.
"You're late. Don't worry, I won't tell Miss Pincer. You'd better get changed. Master Talon wants us again."
"Master Talon...?"
"He wants us to watch a movie with him. So he says. Hope he doesn't want us to give him another bath!"
Penny's eyes narrowed. So this was what Talon got up to, when she wasn't around!
She went behind a screen and quickly changed into the mermaid outfit. She joined a line of beautiful mermaids, heading towards a bedroom. It wasn't easy to walk, in these things. It was like having your feet tied together.
A voice came from the bedroom.
"That you, my li'l fishy friends? I've got the popcorn ready."
Penny pushed to the front of line, to cries of protest.
"Excuse me. I need to... make up the hours."
She entered the luxurious room. Talon was standing at the window, his back to the room, trying to look dramatic.
"So, who've I caught in the net this time?"
Penny went and tapped him on the shoulder.
"A man-eating shark!"
Talon spun round.
"Penn! Aaaaah... ha ha! Thank goodness you got here just in time... it's been a nightmare!"
"Yeah, it looks like it! What are you wearing?"
"What am I wearing?"
"You look like the first one off in The Apprentice."
"You're looking pretty good."
"Talon, stop... stop looking at me like that and tell me what's going on!"
"Yes," said a voice. "Do tell her, Talon."
Both teenagers looked round to see Jaq Pincer and James Pond standing in the doorway. Pond had the Water PPE trained on them. Even now, Talon couldn't resist a crack.
"Hey. It's The Bald And The Beautiful."
"So this is your little girl from HQ." Jaq went and took the envelope from Talon's inside pocket. "I work with people who are loyal to me, Talon. Now, both of you, come with me."
Outside the Palace, the treasure hunt was still going on. Chuck and some of the other kids were getting stroppy.
"I'm tired! When do we get a break?"
One of the agents came and pointed the Gum Gun at them.
"When I say so."
"You can't get away with this!" Gareth was far bigger and stronger than any of the other workers, but even his back was starting to ache. He put the shovel down.
The agent smirked.
"So, what are you gonna do? Musclehead?"
"I'll... I'll call the police!"
The agent hooted.
"Jerk! Where are ya gonna find police, down here?"
Everyone jumped, as a submarine came rushing towards them, blue light flashing and siren blaring. The children's and Gareth's faces lit up.
Instinctively, all the agents covered the Gadgetmarine with their guns. But none of them was sure what to do. They had Gum Guns, and one had a harpoon gun, but neither would be any use against the hull of a submarine.
Inside, Inspector Gadget was just as unsure.
"We should have brought back-up. Of course, in the old days, we'd say: get in the back of the van! Get in the top of the submarine just doesn't sound right."
He reached for the microphone on the control panel.
"Lay down your weapons! We have this ocean surrounded. Mainly by land."
"Yeah?" one of the Pincer agents yelled. "How about you make us!"
One of the other agents had ideas. He lit one of the sticks of dynamite and hurled it at the sub. The Gadgetmarine rocked as it went off.
Gadget leaned over the controls again.
"Now, that was very naughty. I'll ask you one more time..."
The Professor cleared his throat, nervously.
"Inspector Gadget, mind your elbow on that lever..."
There was a surge of power as a missile launched. The agents and young people yelped as it landed right in the centre of the ruins, blasting more ancient masonry across the waters and showering them with dust.
When the HQ team looked at the visi-screen again, all the agents had dropped their weapons and had their hands up. Everyone on the sub looked surprised, except Gadget.
"Oh. Smart work." The Professor reached for the controls to open the hatch. "All right, leave all those things where they are and come aboard!"
"Go-go-Gadget Handcuffs!" Gadget rolled up his coat sleeves, as several pairs of handcuffs flew from them.
It took some time to get all the villains aboard and cuffed, and even longer to get the children and young adults, but they managed it in the end. Jade hugged Gareth.
"Now," said Gadget. "Where's Penny? And Talon?"
Jade looked at the screen. The huge outline of the Palace was visible nearby.
"It's just an idea, but..."
"Right!" Gadget turned back to the controls. "Let's go!"
The Professor took command. The sub turned and headed for the Palace grounds.
No one had noticed that a single agent had been left behind. Once the Gadgetmarine had gone, he crept from amongst the ruins, and went to where the missile had landed. With difficulty, he pulled several stones aside.
Buried beneath them was an ancient metal chest.
Happily, he pulled it free and used his legs to swim after the Gadgetmarine, towards the Palace.
Back on board, among his captives, Gadget was looking happier.
"I think the tide has turned. If you'll excuse the expression. There comes a point in every mission where you just know..."
"INSPECTOR GADGET!"
Everyone jumped as Jaq Pincer and James Pond appeared on the visi-screen.
"Inspector Gadget, welcome to our Palace. You may be interested to know that we have your niece and her husband here, both held hostage."
Gadget saw Penny and Talon on the screen, bound and gagged.
"I had hoped my young cousin might join us, but he seems to have betrayed me. So, here's what happens. Get off the sub and come inside, alone. An entrance will be opened for you. Use any gadget, bring anyone else... and I'll feed your little girl and her flirty little partner to the sharks."