Morning came as the sun rose. Shimmers of light peeked through the curtains in Penny's room. Her eyes flickered open as she slowly rose up. She noticed that she was now wearing a silk nightgown and sleeping in a bed in a house she had never seen before. The door opened and Alfred came walking through with a breakfast tray in hand that he gently places on the bed.
"Good morning, miss" Alfred said as he opened up the curtains. "Beautiful day, isn't it?"
"Yes, very" Penny replied. "If you don't mind me asking, sir, but who are you and where am I?"
"You are in Wayne Manor, home to Gotham's illustrious billionaire and philanthropist, Bruce Wayne. Unfortunately, he is out for the time being, so I'll be here to look after you. My name is Alfred Pennyworth. And what is your name, miss?
"Oh, Penny."
"How do you feel today?"
"Better. But my memory still feels fuzzy a bit."
"Well, in the meantime, this might help. Nothing says breakfast like a good helping of scrambled eggs, toast, and orange juice."
"Thank you very much. That is very kind of you."
"No bother at all. I'll be right down the hall if you need me."
Alfred exits leaving Penny as she begins to eat her breakfast, nibbling on her toast.
Coincidentally, Bruce Wayne has made his way to City Hall, now seated with other city officials as Mayor Hill stands at the podium to give a speech to the crowd of citizens and reporters gathering around.
"So what's all this about, Jim?" Bruce asked Gordon, who was sitting next to him.
"You got me, Bruce. Guess we'll find out together" Gordon replied.
"Ladies and Gentlemen! Since my re-election to office, I have promised to make Gotham City a safe haven for people to live in. But I also believe Gotham to be a place of fun and entertainment, especially for the children growing up in this town. So with the consent of both our officials and federal representatives from Washington, the Independence Festival will be held as planned tomorrow July 4th!"
Audience applauds.
"Mayor Hill" Summer Gleeson approached with a microphone, "Do you think it wise to hold one of the nation's most celebrated holidays so soon in the season with crime still plaguing the city?"
"Yes, Miss Gleeson, I'm quite aware of Gotham's tainted reputation" Hill replied sarcastically. "But this will change all that while instilling this town with a good old fashioned sense of patriotism and appreciation."
"And you're not just saying that because you think Batman will be on guard in case anything abnormal happens."
"Batman? Oh, I have something even better. Something to guarantee that this festival goes…uh…will be…uh…"untainted." Inspector, would you care to join us?"
Inspector Gadget emerges from City Hall's entrance.
"Go, Go, Gadget Arms!"
His arms extended towards the podium, grasping the edges, pulling him towards it.
"Inspector Gadget, at your service!" Gadget announced, flashing his badge to the audience.
"What in…." Bruce said incredulously before trailing off.
"And that's just the beginning. Would you give us another demonstration Inspector? Hill asked.
"Certainly. Go, Go, Gadget Legs!"
Springs popped out of his legs and jolted him ten feet into the air.
"Go, Go, Gadget Coat!"
He then pulled one of his coat buttons and his trench coat began to inflate like a balloon, setting him gently on the ground, and then deflating.
"Go, Go, Gadget Laser!"
He pulls his pointer finger out revealing his Gadget laser. Without warning, his laser accidentally fires a red beam at one of the city's officials, giving him a nice buzz cut down the middle. Smoke drifts out from his head.
"Don't worry, I'll put it out! Go, Go, Gadget Water Gun!"
He pulls out his other finger and sprays a thick stream of water at the official, drenching him from head to toe.
"What in blue blazes?" Gordon cried out, "What are you up to Hill? In case you've forgotten this city already has a defender who keep criminals at bay, and now you go behind our backs and decide to replace him with this…Robocop?"
"Inspector Gadget happens to be Metro City's number one police detective and one of Interpol's greatest agents. Whereas we all know that Batman is simply just a masked vigilante who has no regard for the rules whatsoever and has been lucky he hasn't caused further damage to this city than the criminals he puts away" Hill chided hastily.
"He wouldn't be saying that if that stunt backfired on him" Gordon muttered under his breath.
"A small incident. I assure you, it won't happen again. For Never fear! With Inspector Gadget on the job, this fair city will be far safe from the forces of M.A.D.!" Gadget declared.
Triumphantly, he walked down the stairs only to trip halfway down and collide into several bystanders nearby.
"Sorry folks, no time for autographs" Gadget said as he brushed himself off.
Cut to several hours later with Bruce at his crime computer in the Batcave. On the console next to him is a sheet of paper with the M.A.D. logo penciled onto it. Having scanned the image onto the computer's hard drive, the hardware is now searching for identical images.
"Thinking of getting a tattoo, sir?" Alfred stated as he entered the Batcave.
"Very funny" Bruce sarcastically added. "While I was investigating the break-in last night, I spotted this insignia on the van. These hoodlums were newbies, but not rookies. They must belong to a top criminal organization, syndicate, or institution that embodies this symbol.
Searching stops with no matches found.
"Hmm?" Bruce sat thinking, "Wait, Mayor Hill said that cyborg he hired was a member of Interpol.
"Interpol? The International Criminal Police Organization in France?"
"That's right. Its database is renowned to have the largest collection of syndicates, institutions, and organizations in the world. If I hack into their system, I'll bet they'll have more information on what I need."
He initiates the search again, bringing up one match, identified with the M.A.D. logo, similar to what Bruce had drawn on the sheet of paper.
"Malevolent Agency of Destruction, M.A.D." Bruce read, "A criminal/terrorist organization whose chief operatives are comitting crime and felonies, wreaking havoc and functioning above anything that is considered the law."
"Sounds like an honor society for villains" Alfred stated dryly.
"It operates under a chief exceutive branch headed by this man, Dr. Claw. No current photo on file. Interpol claims they have never actually gotten a glance at this man. Only a few of their agents have actually seen this man's face…Those that have were never seen again."
"My word."
"According to these reports, every scheme and plot M.A.D. has devised has been halted by the efforts of their top agent, Inspector Gadget" Bruce read amazed. "I thought he was just another clueless cop, but he's more well-known to the world than Batman is. Must be those gadgets…You know, Alfred…maybe he'd be better at the job then I would…."
"You know what they say: Looks can be deceiving, sir. How fortunate you're giving this all your free time…when there's a little girl upstairs just wanting some of that attention."
"How is she doing, Alfred?"
"Much better, sir, but the poor thing still doesn't remember anything from last night."
"I wonder if she has any connection to this M.A.D. organization. For all we know, Alfred, she could be a spy" Bruce said seriously, "Take a look at this."
Bruce held up her computer book and opened it revealing its technological mechanisms.
"It looks like an ordinary phonebook, but open it up and it encompasses what looks to be an advanced laptop with high-level technological equipment inside. Why, it looks more advanced than the gadgets I use. This is no ordinary girl, Alfred. It's possible she might almost have a genius level intellect. I wonder how long she's been at this."
"She could be a rising crime fighter" Alfred teased at first.
Bruce looks at Alfred skeptically.
"Seriously. With all due respect, sir, you've had such an impact on this city. The lives you've saved, criminals you've brought to justice, that I for one wouldn't be surprised if someone, in admiration of you, wanted to help purge sin and corruption from this city…All the while sir, the girl is downhearted and alone. Right now she needs someone to talk to – A friend."
He begins to walk out, but then pauses and turns back.
"After all…Isn't that what you needed, sir?"
He walks out, leaving Bruce alone in the cave, pondering.