Inspector Gadget stood at the rear entrance of HQ, watching as Penny and Talon led two villains into the holding area outside the cells.

As ever, he was ready and willing to lend a hand. Always on duty. But the two young agents didn't need any help. They had used the virtual handcuffs that Professor Von Slickstein had invented, and also had a police dog, namely Brain. The villains were teenage muggers, barely older than Penny and Talon themselves. They were going into the cells whether they liked it or not. They were vocal, though. Penny was getting all sorts of evil remarks, which she ignored with a professional smile. The older of the villains turned to face Talon.

"You traitor, Talon! After all I did for you and your lousy uncle!"

He spat into Talon's face. Talon's eyes blazed. But he remained a cop. He steered the young robber into captivity.

Chief Quimby appeared in the corridor outside the cells.

"Smart work, you two. We've been after these young men for some time."

The cell doors clanged shut. Only then did the Chief turn round.

"Sorry, Gadget... was there something you wanted?"

Gadget shook his head. The Chief turned back, and continued the congratulations.

Gadget walked upstairs, to his empty office, and sat at his mostly-empty desk.

The incident had proved what he'd long suspected. With MAD gone from Metro City, and both Dr Claw and Jaq Pincer lost in space, HQ didn't really need him, anymore. Penny had her own life now, and her own husband, and her own career.

There was nothing left for him but traffic reports. He had his work done in under half an hour. He realised no one would notice if he went home, and only his strong sense of duty prevented him from doing so.

"Go-go-Gadget Mirror!"

A mirror emerged from his hat. Gadget looked into it. He wasn't yet an old man. He wasn't ready to retire.

"You deserve a new challenge, Gadget," he told himself. "You still have a great deal to offer. With your experience, you should be Chief Inspector at the very least."

He sat at his desk a while longer, reading the Metro Police Gazette. His eyes automatically went to the word WANTED. Then he realised it wasn't a villain on the page, but a job advertisement.

WANTED

New Police Commissioner for the City of London

Good salary and pension

Snazzy uniform

Occasional visits to Downing Street

Possible seat in the House of Lords etc.

Apply New Scotland Yard, London, England

He had always liked England. He had been to London many times, and in many times, during the period when he and a younger Penny had time-travelled. His Victorian ancestors, Char and Chimney Gadget, had been Londoners. Most recently, he had helped to foil MAD at the Royal Concert Hall.

It would be a considerable promotion.

Gadget came to a decision. He turned to his computer.

"Go-go-Gadget touch type!"

Four extra fingers and one extra thumb slid into view upon each hand. He began to type at an incredible rate, until smoke was pouring from his keyboard.

Within twenty minutes, he had downloaded the application form, filled in every section and sent it.

He knew that everyone would be clustering around Penny and Talon in the canteen, so he went out to lunch at the Inspectors' Club. Then he walked around Metro City for over an hour, pretending, to himself and everyone else, that he was on patrol. He was too nervous to go back to the office and look.

Finally he did.

There was a reply already. This was obviously urgent.

Dear Inspector Gadget

Thank you for your interest in the post of Police Commissioner.

A decline was coming, he could tell.

We would like to invite you for interview at New Scotland Yard...