"OK," said Commissioner Gadget. "My first day in the job. And, as promised, mechanisation! The future of London's policing."
Lined up in New Scotland Yard was a whole army of Gadgetinis. Gadget had spent the last couple of days liaising with Professor Von Slickstein, in a series of video calls, and old Shaky had never been averse to a bit of moonlighting. He had built the robotic cops in his own time, and sent them to London by G-Portal.
They were rather more impressive than past Gadgetinis. They were all built to look like Gadget himself, but were all dressed in traditional British police uniforms, with helmets, and electronic truncheons at their belts.
Gadget looked very impressive in his own smart black uniform and peaked cap. But he had left his usual trenchcoat and hat hanging in his huge new office, just in case he ever needed them.
Around him were several other police officers, some senior, others the ordinary coppers who had the daily job of keeping London's streets safe. The seniors looked impressed at the robocops, though some of the younger ones looked unsure. Would their jobs be safe?
Gadget noticed their uncertainty.
"These mechanised police are here to assist, not replace, the existing force. They will help to plug the gaps caused by years of under-resourcing. As I will now demonstrate."
He took up a device that looked like a TV remote control and activated it. The Gadgetitis all saluted, then spoke in unison.
"Ello Ello Ello!
What's going on 'ere then?
Move along, please.
You can't park there.
Evening all!"
Gadget ended the demo. The Assistant Commissioner who had been at his interview turned to the junior officers.
"We're going to test these out using a very traditional patrol model. Bobbies on the beat. Each of you will take one Gadgetini out into your own section of the community."
Gadget activated another control. Accompanied by human police, the Gadgetinis started to march out into the streets of London.
Penny and Talon stared at the email. They had been joined by Brain, who had come in search of his mistress.
"He can't just leave us, like that! He...I..." Penny was feeling an odd sensation of panic. She was well used to handling cases on her own, but Uncle Gadget had always been around somewhere. Now he was gone, she felt oddly vulnerable, even with a husband and a dog to support her. "What's he gonna do, in London?"
Talon grinned. "God save dear old England."
"This is serious, Talon! He's never been in so senior a role! You know what he's like, when he strikes out on his own! And all the villains over here think he's a threat to them. How are we gonna keep the crime rate down?" She paused for breath. "Talon, we need to get him back."
Talon shrugged. "OK. I feel like a vacation."
He went back to the Chief's computer and started typing. Penny frowned.
"Talon, what are you doing? Stop that!"
Talon ignored her. The computer screen was reflected in his dark eyes.
"First, I'm shelving that email, so the Chief won't see it for a week. Second, I'm arranging some leave for us, so it looks like it was booked a month ago. And third, I'm making a G-Portal to get the three of us to London. Am I brilliant, or am I brilliant?"
He clicked at the mouse, and a G-Portal opened across the room, light swirling in blue and pink.
"OK. Let's go!"
He ran at the whirlpool. Penny was too late to stop him.
"But we haven't packed! We haven't..." She shook her head. Talon was already gone. Penny wished, just for a moment, that her husband wasn't such an impulsive guy. "OK, here we go, Brain."
She took Brain by the paw. They ran towards the Portal and jumped.
The next moment, they were standing in a busy London square. It was crowded with tourists taking pictures, and Penny saw a tour bus going by. They were surrounded by pigeons. Penny looked up and saw the figure of Admiral Lord Nelson, far above their heads.
"Hey, it's Trafalgar Square! Nelson's Column! This is where we first..." She smiled. "Talon, you old romantic."
They broke off as a mechanical police officer came marching towards them. A real one followed close behind. Penny blinked.
"It's a Gadgetini!"
The robocop cleared its throat.
"Move along please. You may be loitering."
Talon gave it a sour look.
"How'd you fancy a virus around your truncheon? Circuit Brain?"
He reached for the Codex on his wrist and was about to do just that, but Penny grabbed his hand.
"Talon! We only just got here." She turned to the policeman. "OK, Officer, we'll be moving on soon."
The Gadgetini saluted, and both police moved away. Talon shook his head.
"You're gonna do as they say?"
"Surprising as it may seem, Talon, some people do like to obey the law." Penny opened her own Codex. "Let's just try the local news, first. We might learn something."
A news bulletin appeared holographically before them.
"Good wishes have poured in today for Her Majesty the Queen, on the occasion of her Platinum Jubilee. Celebrations will begin on Saturday with a ceremonial parade throughout the streets of London, with the Queen expected to make a personal appearance in the Golden State Coach..."
Talon was miming a yawn. Penny ignored him. Then she stared at the screen.
"Hey, look!"
Gadget had appeared on the screen, in his new uniform. The newscaster was heard again, in voiceover.
"Meanwhile, security across the capital has been tightened as Commissioner Gadget begins his tenure as Britain's most senior police officer. In a shock move, he has introduced a part-mechanised police force, the Gadgetinis, and a new motto for London's police. We are always on duty."
Brain made a yelp of surprise, and Talon was looking amazed too.
"Penn. Maybe he'll be OK. Maybe he doesn't need our help."
The newscast went on.
"In a statement, the Commissioner said that Londoners can look forward to a new era of peaceful co-existence, combined with the latest techniques of law and order."
An explosion rang out across Trafalgar Square.
Penny, Talon and Brain looked up to see fire belching out from Nelson's Column. Then suddenly, the Column wasn't there anymore.
The statue of Nelson was tumbling downwards, heading straight for them.
