"Go-go Gadget Flame-Thrower!" Inspector Gadget directed a jet of fire at the birthday cake, lighting the sixteen candles and most of the tablecloth. Brain hurled a glass of cola to put it out. "There. The perfect party table."
It was, in spite of the smoke. There were streamers and paper hats and a buffet for twenty. On top of the cake, Brain had iced HAPPY BIRTHDAY PENNY and decorated the edges with fresh strawberries, Penny's favourite.
Gadget looked at it proudly.
"You know, Brain, I'm thinking maybe I should have invited some guests."
Brain sank beneath the table and put his head in his paws. Gadget looked puzzled.
"You don't think we took this 'surprise party' thing too far, do you?"
He looked at the three watches that emerged from his left wrist.
"Where is Penny, anyway? I haven't seen her all day."
Both of them looked across the room, as the six o'clock news came on TV.
A picture of Penny filled the screen.
"Oh, there she is!"
Brain grabbed the remote and faded up the sound.
"The Metro City Bank was rocked by explosive action this afternoon, as this girl led a team of MAD agents and held up the entire staff, before blowing the safe with a sonic grenade. The daring young robber, Penny Gadget, sometimes known as Brown, was caught on seventeen security cameras and further identified by a passer-by. Will anyone who has further information..."
For once, even Gadget was listening. If there was one time his brain aligned with his gadgets, it was when Penny was in trouble.
He was already heading for the door.
"We need to see Chief Quimby. Now. Come on, Brain."
Brain shook his head, wearily. He blew out all sixteen candles and followed.
Gadget was skiing down the stairs, not waiting for the elevator.
"He'll still be in his office. We need to tell him there's been some terrible mistake."
"Chief Quimby," said Gadget. "There's been some terrible mistake."
Behind his desk, Chief Quimby looked awkward.
"It's a very difficult matter, Gadget, even for me. She was caught on camera. Identified. She's obviously been framed, but how do we prove that?"
"Chief, after all the missions we did together... once or twice, she's been almost helpful."
"I managed to get her into our custody. She's in one of the holding cells. We made it as comfortable as possible for her. But she needs to stay there, until a court decides what to do with her."
"Go-go-Gadget Desk Pounder!" A huge fist reached out of Gadget's head and started pounding the desk. "She's a junior agent. She deserves better. SHE-DESERVES-BETTER!"
"Gadget, stop that at once! And calm down!" Chief Quimby examined the dents in his desktop. "Now. We need to find out what really happened today. And she needs a good lawyer."
Gadget stopped, and thought. Then he said:
"Go-go-Gadget Attorney!"
In a moment, his hat slid aside and a barrister's wig emerged from his head. A black gown slid out of his shoulders. Brain assumed another disguise – a smart grey suit. He was carrying a pile of legal papers, tied with pink tape. Chief Quimby shook his head.
"I guess that's the best we can do, at this time of night."
It was indeed late as Gadget and Brain went down several floors in the elevator to the basement, where HQ had its cells. There were MAD agents in a couple of them, hammering on the doors and making a terrible din. They could be there a long time. Dr Claw didn't tolerate failure.
Gadget wasn't sure where Penny was, and had to open the little panels in the doors to see who was where.
"Excuse me. Oh, excuse me, sir. I mean, ma'am."
Finally they found her. Gadget tapped the security code into the keypad beside the door. On the third attempt, the door opened.
Brain gave a little whimper, and even Gadget blinked back a tear, as they saw Penny in custody. The Chief had indeed done his best – the narrow bed had a duvet, and the square table had a cloth and some flowers – but Penny still looked more forlorn than either of them had ever seen her. She was sitting on the bed, but leapt up as they entered.
"Uncle Gadget! Brain!" She came and hugged them, then stopped. "What are you wearing? Lawyers don't dress like that, over here."
"I know. But I kind of like the wig."
They sat at the table, and Penny told them the whole story, about her day with Talon, the robbery, Talon's false testimony and her arrest. For once, Gadget sat and listened. Finally, he said:
"Penny. I'm beginning to wonder if that boy's a suitable friend for you."
Brain was too busy scribbling notes.
"I was so stupid..." Penny finished. "But he brought me these boots... they're immobilised, now. I thought everyone else forgot my birthday."
"There's a cake waiting for you at home, right now. I'd have brought it, but they don't allow them in here, in case of files."
"Are you really gonna defend me, Uncle Gadget?"
"You bet. I did the HQ Insta-Lawyer course in 1992."
"Well, no offence, but you'll be up against a real lawyer. The MAD guys sending me Morse messages along the pipes say it could be Darren Dextrous."
"The Doyen of the DA's office?" Gadget shook his head. "That's bad."
"Well, the first thing we need to do is get the footage from the security cameras."
"You know, Penny, I think the first thing we need to do is get the footage from the security cameras." Gadget nodded to Brain, who wearily made a note. "If only we had an eyewitness of our own."
"Talon was himself, for a few minutes. Maybe check the footage from the shopping mall."
"And maybe we should check the footage from the shopping mall."
Penny gave up, and spoke directly to Brain.
"Put out an appeal to the public, too. Maybe someone else remembers Talon... There's a preliminary hearing tomorrow. I hope I get bail."
"If the Chief and I both speak up for you..."
Penny looked up in surprise. Uncle Gadget had actually said something sensible.
She found herself remembering all the times he had rescued her.
Finally, they had to leave her. From beneath his gown, Uncle Gadget produced a teddy bear and her old computer book.
"I thought these might keep you company, tonight."
The lights went out, then. It was bedtime for prisoners.
Penny hugged Uncle Gadget and Brain, once again. Then, she flinched as the cell door slammed shut after them.
Very slowly, she took her teddy and her book and went and lay on the bed, looking at the moon through the small, barred window high up on the wall.
When she finally fell asleep, she dreamed of Talon. He was laughing, and his voice boomed and echoed inside her head.
"Come and join us, Penny! We can be partneeeers! Come to MAAAAD!"