Gadget opened his eyes. He was still lying on the floor of the apartment. He had no idea how long he'd been there. It was still dark outside the window, but it could have been the same day, or any day.
"Wowsers! I should have remembered those educational spots. Never mess with electricity..."
He looked around. All the lights were working. But the furniture wasn't his. The flat was almost bare. There was no TV or sofa or Christmas tree, just a simple wooden table and two hard chairs, plus a worn armchair that stood in a corner. The photos of Penny and Brain had gone.
"I've been burgled! Who's been in my apartment? Who left this old junk here?"
He stepped slowly across the room. It felt damp, and mould was growing on the walls.
He jumped, as a small boy emerged from the kitchen. He was about ten, freckle-faced and ginger-haired, and his clothes were shabby. He looked in need of a wash.
"Ma! There's a guy in the living room!"
A woman of about thirty-five, also shabbily-dressed, came out of the bedroom.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?" She clasped the boy to her, protectively.
Gadget was quickly regaining his professionalism.
"It's OK, ma'am, I'm a police Inspector. I..." He reached into his pocket. He had never, ever been without his badge, but now it was gone. He searched every pocket. No badge. No ID.
The woman was backing towards the front door.
"We've got nothing worth stealing. No one here has. You better..."
There was a loud hammering on the door. Then someone kicked it in.
Gadget saw three purple-clad MAD agents, aiming gum guns at them. The biggest one stepped forward.
"Leila Ratcliffe? You owe MAD six weeks' rent."
"I'm out of work. I've been ill..." Leila yelped and clutched her son to her, as the MAD man shoved the gun in her face.
"By order of the Mayor and Mayoress, this flat is repossessed. Get 'em out of here..."
"No, please..." Leila was starting to cry, as another of the men pulled the boy away from her. The MAD operatives were hustling them both towards the door. "You can't throw us out on the streets! It's Christmas Eve!"
Gadget was already over there. Badge or not, he was still part of HQ.
"I'm a police officer, and I arrest you for common assault, and breaking and entering." He stopped, as the men hooted with laughter. "Oh, so you want proof, do you? Go-go-Gadget tear gas!"
Nothing happened. Gadget tried again.
"Go-go-Gadget handcuffs! Truncheon! Cruise missiles..."
Nothing happened. Then Gadget looked at his hands. He felt them, his arms, legs, the top of his head.
There were no gadgets there. Beneath the hat and trenchcoat, he was an ordinary man of flesh and blood.
Full story coming this December! Happy 40th birthday, Inspector Gadget!