The next few hours were some of the best of Penny's life.

Talon took her everywhere – right across the city, then out into the open countryside, and up into the mountains. The rocket boots made it possible to cover vast distances at incredible speed. The people of the world were far below, and the two teens had the clear, blue skies to themselves. Talon was teaching her more tricks as they went along – how to nose-dive then swoop up before they reached the ground; then how to loop-the-loop. Penny began to see why he smothered his hair in gel. Her own hair was being blown all over the place, despite being tied back. After the first hour, it was falling about her face.

"You're looking good!" Talon shouted, and Penny laughed.

It was the day she had been longing to spend with him, ever since they met. No bantering, no evil schemes to foil. Just two kids, out having fun.

She had almost forgotten HQ, and Uncle Gadget, and Brain. They would have no idea where she had gone...

Eventually they flew back to the city. Penny felt more self-conscious there, with people looking up at them as they passed, but Talon didn't care. He led her right into the park and across the artificial lake, with the heels of his boots lightly skimming across the water. Penny still hadn't quite got the technique. Her feet were getting soaked. But the day was warm, and she didn't care.

Eventually they came to rest outside the park gates. Penny checked the time. It was after two o'clock, and Talon said:

"How about lunch now?"

He took her to one of those cheap and sleazy restaurants he always seemed to know. It was lit by lanterns and had dark red tablecloths and stained glass windows with pictures of battle scenes and burning buildings. They were the only diners, but Talon seemed perfectly at home. He ordered a steak: "blood-red", and was using his knife and fork only occasionally, tearing into the meat like a lion-cub. Penny ordered a salmon salad. She felt somehow that an agent from HQ shouldn't be eating here.

She had enjoyed the day, anyway.

"That was amazing, Talon. I felt so free, up there. I really felt like the world belonged to us."

Talon gave her a crafty look.

"So, why shouldn't it?"

"What?"

"I meant what I said, y'know. Equal partners. I'm..." He stopped, and checked the communicator on his wrist was off. "I'm gonna inherit MAD one day, Penn. I don't wanna be like my uncle, sitting in a chair, with a cat, all on my own. I want two chairs there. You get me?"

Penny's eyes widened. "You mean..."

"Ah, it's early days yet. But I've got plans, Penny, big plans. You could be part of 'em. You're good, seriously good. Why d'you waste your time trailing round after your uncle?"

"So why do you?"

Talon laughed. "Yeah. But I won't be the henchman forever. And you don't need to be the second hero, doing someone else's job for 'em. Think about it, Penny, yeah? We could rule the world."

Penny put her knife and fork down.

"I don't want to rule the world, Talon. I just want people to be happy, and free. I've been fighting your uncle most of my life..."

Talon snickered. "I know. Sometimes, I watch the videos."

"I'm serious."

"So what good's all this happiness and freedom done? Look at the world, Penn, look at the state it's in. It needs a strong leader."

"Oh, like you?"

Talon shrugged.

"And what happens to the ordinary people? When we're King and Queen of the world?"

"They'll be fine. 'Long as they do what we say."

"And that's why we'll never agree." Penny paused. She didn't want to seem ungrateful. "It's been a great day, Talon. I really like... I really do want to like you."

They were interrupted as a waitress appeared with their bill. Penny frowned when she saw Talon's charge card. It had the MAD logo.

"That what you're using to pay?"

Talon pointed to the logo.

"With that, we don't need to pay."

Penny was starting to feel uncomfortable. She really should be getting back to HQ...

She walked with him, into the city centre.

"I have to go, soon."

Talon stopped, outside a branch of the Metro City Bank.

"Wait there. I just need to get some money."

Penny frowned, as he disappeared inside. But she supposed even supervillains needed to draw out, sometimes.

She looked through the window of the bank. She couldn't see Talon. There were several large men waiting to be served, in dark purple suits that looked worryingly familiar...

She leapt about a mile, as there was a loud explosion from inside the bank.

Then the men came racing out, bags of cash in their hands. The bags were marked with dollar signs, in the time-honoured way.

Penny knew MAD agents when she saw them.

Her heart leapt again, as she saw who was at the centre of the robbers.

It was her. Or a perfect copy of her, right down to the red rocket boots.

She realised Talon was using another disguise.

Penny/Talon thrust another bag of notes into Penny's arms.

"C'mon! Run!"

Alarms were ringing inside the bank. And someone who didn't mind being clichéd was shouting: "Stop thieves!"

They ran.

"Talon!" Penny screamed. "Talon, what have you done?"

"What have you done, you mean?" The other Penny had Talon's voice. As soon as they were clear of the bank, he zapped back into his own form. He was laughing, enjoying himself. "It's you on camera. Just wanted to give you a taste of the future."

"Talon, I hate you!"

There was no sign of the other robbers. Talon had obviously made a plan for the MAD team to split up. Talon and Penny were on their own.

They were forcing their way through the crowded shopping mall. People were staring. Too late, Penny saw two sand sculptures in the middle of the mall: a lion and a unicorn. Making them was a young, fair-haired man in a t-shirt that said Metro City Art School.

Talon went straight through the lion, reducing it to grains of sand. Penny gave the young artist a look of apology as she went around the unicorn.

"Sorry."

They passed out of the mall. A main road lay ahead. Penny suddenly realised she could hear police sirens. Talon had heard them, too.

"Time to go, Penny. Been a great day."

"No... Talon!"

Talon was in the air in a second. Penny prepared to follow. But Talon had a small electronic device in his hand.

"Never showed you this, did I? Gives me remote control of the boots... or I can immobilise them!"

Penny tried to take off, and couldn't. She gave a yell.

"TALON!"

Talon gave her a wave, and disappeared over a nearby building.

Penny suddenly saw uniformed police officers, all around her. She was still holding the bag of money.

Slowly, she let it drop to the ground and raised her hands.