Outside of town near the corner of Broome and Finger Street, police barrier tape and several squads of security forces surrounded Wayne Enterprises' storage facility. When suddenly, an armored car tore through the streets, making a sudden turn into the building complex. One of the security officers stepped in front of the car, signaling it to halt. It did. He walked over towards the vehicle, glancing at the driver
"What the blazes? What's all this?" a security officer asked, interrogating the driver. "I want to see some identification, pronto!"
"Why of course. Here you are, officer" the driver smiled.
He hands the officer what looks to be an ID card, but in fact is just a piece of cardstock paper with a joke written in bold letters: What did psycho say to the police officer?
"What is this - "
His words were cut short as he looked and saw a big, red punching glove shoot out and belt him across the jaw.
"DROP DEAD!" Joker shouted the answer gleefully.
The blow knocked him to the ground, out cold. From the adjacent window in the passenger seat, a M.A.D. Agent dressed as a security officer threw a grenade at the remaining officers. The grenade exploded engulfing the officers in a cloud of knockout gas, causing them to drop unconsciously to the ground as well. The driver exits from the vehicle and removes his hat, revealing his face to be that of The Joker, who blows a police whistle, signaling the agents. The back doors of the armored car open as M.A.D. Agents dressed in uniforms file out one by one. Joker draws them closer, similar to a football huddle.
"All right men! Here's the plan!" Joker announced like a coach. "I need Squad 1 over there to loot the facility for explosives while Squad 2…Um…Uh…Oh, just stand guard by the armored car and shoot anything that moves. Ready, BREAK!"
They break up like a football squad and proceed to do their assigned tasks.
"As for me, I'll just be over here, taking a load off."
Placing his hat and sunglasses back on, he goes back to the driver's seat and lounges watching Claw's agents load the cargo.
"Ah! Makes me feel as fresh as a daisy watching men toil and strive under my every command. Just gives you a warm feeling inside. HA. All I need now is big leather chair and a fat, lazy cat to pet."
All this while, Penny had been exploring the corridors, rooms, and accommodations of Wayne Manor. She has changed out of her nightgown and dressed in her shirt, green jeans, and red sneakers as she walked down the staircase to his lavish living room.
"Golly gosh! This place is huge!" Penny exclaimed quietly.
The place had a high ceiling that seemed to go on forever as Penny frequently stared at it. The room was decorated with couches and furniture, a television and table, and several bookcases filled with appeared to be literature. She walked over to one and pulled it out to take a closer look.
"This Mr. Wayne must be filthy rich to live in a palace like this."
Placing it back on the shelf, Penny then spotted a grandfather clock near the corner of the wall.
"Early 20th century by the look of it" Penny thought to herself, "Funny. I wonder why the hands don't move."
"It's nice, I'll admit. Had a recent accident with it a while back, but it's still nice to look at."
Penny, startled, placed the book down and jerked her head backwards to see Bruce and Alfred coming down the stairs towards the area themselves.
"Hello. I'm Bruce Wayne, welcome to my home" Bruce said friendly, offering his hand to Penny.
"Please to meet you, Mr. Wayne. Your house is very charming and intriguing as well" Penny replied taking his hand and shaking it.
"You can call me Bruce, if you want."
"Okay, Bruce. My name's Penny."
Bruce motions and they both sit on the couch together.
"How…How did I get here?" Penny asked, "I don't remember anything that happened last night, but I do know that I never started out in this…palace."
"I received a call from my friend, James Gordon, Gotham's police commissioner" Bruce nonchalantly lied, in order to cover up the event. "He informed me that the vigilante, The Batman, had dropped off a young girl at police headquarters, in bad condition. He claimed she was the victim of a robbery near Broome Street. Well, I didn't want to just stand there and let an innocent life suffer, so I volunteered to take you home and let you recuperate."
"The Batman?" Penny gasped. "I think…I…Yes, yes, I remember him…from…from…I can't recall. The last thing I remember I was on my bed at home looking at some old photos, and then it's all a blank until I see him, The Batman, pulling me out of a wrecked van…I don't know why, but I know he saved my life that night. Everything else is a blur, but I'll never forget him. He made quite an impression on me…."
"Yes, he does that to a lot of people" Bruce acknowledged. "Penny, now…I know you don't remember much…but suppose you tell me what you were doing with this?"
Bruce holds up Penny's computer book for her too see. Penny paused for a moment. Of course she knew the answer in a heartbeat, but was unsure of how to respond since she had never seen this man before in her life. He could be a member of M.A.D. for all she knew.
"Well…uh…um…It's a…science project I've been working on…for school" Penny explained, trying to talk her way out of the predicament.
"I've never seen you around here. Do you go to school here in Gotham?"
"Oh no. I go to public school in my hometown, Metro City."
"Right" Bruce eyed her suspiciously. "Well, you must be very smart to invent something like this."
"Well, I am quite skilled with machinery. Science has always been my area of expertise."
"Quite a prodigy you are. Your parents must be very proud of you."
"I guess…If they were still with me…." Penny said in a dejected manner.
"Are you….Are you orphaned?"
"Yes, sir…I am. I'm supposed to be vacationing here with my uncle. Well, I was…That is until he…he…he…" Penny stuttered.
Bruce put his hands around her to comfort her.
"Penny. If you're not comfortable sharing this information with me right now, you don't have to" Bruce reassured her.
"Thank you...Bruce" Penny said and then thought to herself: "He can't be a M.A.D. agent. He's seems too kind for that. I think I should give him a chance."
"She seems reticent to give me information. She's probably scared. She seems kindhearted though. She's orphaned I can tell, they must've passed away leaving her alone in the world" Bruce thought to himself. "Hmmm…I wonder if this is a sign…to begin a new life. To start over. Give it a chance, Bruce."
"Listen. I've got some free time today. Would you like to…to…uh…Well, what would you like to do?"
"Well, I've never been to Gotham City before. I sure would like to explore more of this city."
"Why don't we spend the rest of the day exploring uptown and downtown Gotham. I'll show you what this city has to offer."
Inspector Gadget was strolling down Gotham's streets, checking out the sights when he came across to the sight of police officers (disguised M.A.D. agents) loading boxes into an armored car.
"Hi there! My fellow officers! Need some help?"
"It's a flatfoot boys, shoot him down!"
The agents armed with guns opened fire at Gadget whom would have been hit if it wasn't for his Gadget Legs, which sprang him in the air behind the armed agents. The agents sprung around and dropped their guns in shock.
"That's some nice shooting there. But you should be careful where you fire those things, you could've killed me."
At that moment Joker got out and walked towards Gadget.
"Who are you?" he asked incredulously.
"Inspector Gadget, at your service. Hmmm. You must really do something about your complexion. You look awful. A few days in the sun would do you good.
Gadget then notices the boxes the agents are carting away from the complex.
"What are you up to?"
"Well, we…we're loading up the remaining shipments, just in case anyone else decides to infiltrate the place. We need to take the shipments back to headquarters for further inspection."
"What a great idea. It's always nice to be one step ahead. Please, let me help you."
Gadget walks towards the facility and begins to load more boxes into the armored car.
"Time to leave, boys. For this is our farewell to Inspector Gadget" Joker said, as he examined the truckful of boxes "I think half the explosives in this joint will be enough firepower for our plan….Whatever it is anyway. Leaving the rest in the facility to be Gadget's own Crematorium! HAHAHAHA!!"
The M.A.D. agents begin to pile in the armored car with Joker shutting the doors behind them. Gadget returns to the facility to grab another box as Joker pushes him in and presses the button for the automatic doors, sealing him in. But before the doors close all the way, Joker manages to throw a grenade underneath while running towards the car, grabbing the back as it takes off.
"It's pitch black in here. I can't see a thing! Go, Go, Gadget Flashlight – NO! Not Gadget Jets!"
BOOM!! A massive wave of fire and smoke engulfed the facility, blowing debris everywhere.
"So long, sucker! Next time my car needs a fast tune-up, it'll be your parts donated for the cause! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!"