Archive of Our Own ^beta

Dr. Claw sat in the dim glow of his command center, stroking his ever-loyal cat, Mad Cat, who purred lazily on the armrest of his high-tech throne. The screens in front of him flickered with ominous red light as he pressed a button on his chair’s armrest. A holographic communicator activated, and a second later, the face of his nephew, Talon, appeared on the screen.

"Uncle Claw," Talon said, leaning back in his chair. "What’s up?"

Dr. Claw’s metal hand clenched into a fist. "I have a new plan, Talon. This one is foolproof."

Talon smirked. "Oh yeah? What’s the scheme this time?"

Dr. Claw’s voice rumbled with sinister delight. "We will lure 456 desperate people into a high-stakes survival game—each one competing for a grand prize of 45.6 million dollars."

Talon raised an eyebrow. "Wait... like in—"

"Exactly," Dr. Claw interrupted. "Each game will be a twisted version of a childhood pastime. Those who fail... will be eliminated."

Talon chuckled, but then realization hit. "Hold on, wait, you’re serious? Where are you gonna find 456 people desperate enough to agree to that?"

Dr. Claw leaned forward, his voice dripping with malice. "You will find them. The world is full of desperate fools willing to risk everything for money. And among them... will be Inspector Gadget."

Talon blinked. "You want Gadget to compete?"

"Yes," Dr. Claw hissed. "The fool relies on luck and gadgets to save him, but in a game of true survival, he will be outmatched. Eventually, he will be eliminated... permanently."

Talon rubbed the back of his head, skeptical. "I dunno, Uncle Claw. This sounds... extreme. Even for you."

Dr. Claw’s mechanical fist slammed onto the table, making Mad Cat jump. "Are you questioning my genius, Talon?"

Talon sighed. He knew better than to argue. When Dr. Claw had an idea, there was no talking him out of it. "Alright, alright. I’ll go round up 456 desperate people. And I’ll make sure Gadget is one of them."

"Excellent," Dr. Claw growled, his eyes gleaming with wicked anticipation. "Let the games begin!"

Mad Cat let out a low, sinister meow as the screen faded to black.

---

Inside Gadget’s cozy apartment, the morning sun streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow over the breakfast table. Inspector Gadget sat cheerfully, chomping down on a stack of pancakes drenched in syrup, while his niece, Penny, sipped orange juice and fed Brain, their ever-loyal dog, a slice of bacon under the table.

"Ah, nothing like a hearty breakfast to start the day!" Gadget declared, patting his stomach. "A good meal is essential for a top-class investigator like myself!"

Brain, ever watchful, glanced around nervously. Something always seemed to happen when things were too peaceful. Penny, meanwhile, scrolled through news reports on her computer. "Uncle Gadget, have you seen the headlines? People have been disappearing all over the country!"

"Nonsense, Penny! People don’t just vanish!" Gadget waved dismissively, right before reaching for his coffee cup.

The moment he lifted it, Chief Quimby’s head suddenly popped out from inside the steaming cup, making Penny and Brain yelp in surprise.

"Morning, Gadget!" Quimby said, unfazed by the absurdity of his situation.

"GAH!" Gadget recoiled, nearly dropping the cup. "Chief! You need some coffee too?"

Quimby, ignoring him, handed over a mission ball. "This is top priority, Gadget! There’s been a massive spike in reported kidnappings. Just last night alone, dozens of people have gone missing. Our analysts are 99.7% sure that MAD is behind this—Sigma 3 confidence level!"

Gadget took the mission ball and pressed the button. A small holographic screen projected above it, displaying blurry security footage of people being snatched off the streets by masked operatives.

"Your mission, Gadget, is to investigate these kidnappings and put a stop to whatever MAD is planning!" Quimby continued. "This message will self-destruct in five seconds."

Gadget nodded seriously. "Don't worry, Chief! I'm always on duty!" He tossed the mission ball over his shoulder… right into Quimby’s still-floating head.

BANG!

The coffee cup exploded, sending Quimby flying across the room in a blast of smoke and singed paper.

Penny sighed.

Brain facepalmed.

Gadget, oblivious as always, adjusted his hat. "Come on, team! To the Gadgetmobile!"

Without missing a beat, Penny followed, Brain barked excitedly, and the three of them rushed out the door, ready to unravel MAD’s latest sinister plot.

---

The Gadgetmobile zipped through the streets of Detroit, a city hit particularly hard by the recent wave of kidnappings. The neon signs of 24-hour diners flickered in the twilight, and alleyways stretched into darkness, filled with the restless murmurs of people trying to make it through another night. Penny sat in the passenger seat, her mind already analyzing the case.

"This is where most of the disappearances have happened," she said, pointing at her computer screen. "A lot of the victims were homeless, unemployed, or in serious debt. Whatever MAD is planning, they’re targeting desperate people."

Gadget, behind the wheel, gave her a confident thumbs-up. "Don’t worry, Penny! With my superior detective skills, this case will be solved in no time!"

Brain, sitting in the back, groaned internally.

As soon as they reached a dimly lit intersection, the team scattered to investigate.

Brain followed Gadget from a distance, ready to step in at the first sign of disaster—which, knowing Gadget, was inevitable. The detective wandered the streets, peering into alleyways and knocking on trash cans.

"Hmm... no signs of MAD yet," Gadget muttered, then frowned at a streetlight. "This lamp post looks suspicious!"

Brain slapped his forehead. Here we go again.

---

Meanwhile, Penny moved through the district, observing the people around her. Hunched figures sat wrapped in blankets near subway entrances, and others rummaged through trash cans, hoping to find anything of value. The weight of the scene settled on her chest.

She clenched her fists. This is who MAD is exploiting. People who had already lost everything, now being used for some twisted game. It made her blood boil.

Her thoughts drifted to Talon. He was part of MAD. He worked for Dr. Claw. That should make him irredeemable, right?

But then again...

She bit her lip, crossing her arms. Did he have to be so ridiculously good-looking? Seriously, it wasn’t fair. That smirk, that hair, those eyes—ugh. How could someone so undeniably evil also be so... distractingly handsome?

Get it together, Penny.

She shook the thoughts away. She wasn’t shallow. She knew better than to judge someone just by appearances. But was there more to Talon than what he let on? Was there a reason he stuck by his uncle’s side?

"Ugh, later," she muttered under her breath. Right now, she had a mission to focus on.

Just then, she noticed something—several fresh footprints leading into a dark alley. Penny’s instincts kicked in. She was close.

She pulled out her communicator. "Brain, I think I found something!"

In the distance, she heard a crash, followed by Gadget shouting, "Aha! Just as I suspected—this was NOT a secret MAD hideout. Just a mailbox!"

Brain groaned.

Penny sighed. This was going to be a long night.

---

The subway station was damp and buzzing with the sounds of tired commuters, muffled train announcements, and the occasional street musician playing for spare change. Among the scattered crowd of people waiting for their next ride or simply trying to escape the cold, a sharply dressed man in a black tuxedo and matching tie stood out like a diamond in a junkyard.

Talon adjusted his cuffs, flashing his signature smirk as he approached a group of exhausted, desperate-looking individuals huddled near a vending machine.

"Evening, folks," he said smoothly, pulling a sleek glass bottle from a briefcase. "Care to try your luck? One simple game—flip the bottle, land it upright, and you walk away a hundred bucks richer."

A scruffy-looking man, probably in his late thirties, frowned. "And if we lose?"

Talon’s smirk widened, eyes gleaming with playful malice. "You pay with your body."

The group exchanged confused glances. "Uh... what?"

Talon chuckled. "Relax, I just mean a little friendly slap. Nothing personal." He patted his gloved hand against his palm, emphasizing the deal. "So, what do you say?"

There was hesitation, but the promise of quick money was too good to resist. One by one, the players took their turns.

Thud. A bottle missed. Talon slapped the man across the face. Hard.

"Ah! What the hell, dude?!" the man yelped, holding his cheek.

Talon shrugged. "Rules are rules."

Another man took his turn. Thud. Missed again.

SMACK.

A woman stepped up, clearly nervous, but determined. She flipped... landed it.

Talon grinned, clapping his hands together. "Well, well, well! Looks like we’ve got a winner!" He reached into his pocket and pulled out a crisp $100 bill, handing it to her. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he revealed a small black card with nothing but a mysterious phone number printed in gold.

"If you're interested in making more—way more—give this number a call," he said, voice dripping with intrigue.

The woman stared at the card, conflicted, but quickly pocketed it.

Talon turned away, ready to scout for more potential recruits—when something caught his attention.

Or rather, someone.

A flash of red hoodie, blue pants, captivating blonde hair, and piercing blue eyes.

His stomach did a little flip. Penny.

Of course.

Cute as ever, she was lingering in the distance, trying to blend in, but Talon could tell she was watching him. She thought she was being sneaky. Adorable.

He fought the urge to smirk and instead pretended not to see her. If she wanted to play spy, he’d let her. After all, two could play at that game.

Casually, he adjusted his tie, picked up his briefcase, and started strolling away, his pace slow and calculated.

And just as he expected...

Penny took the bait.

She began following him, thinking he hadn’t noticed.

Oh, this is going to be fun.

---

Talon stepped into the train car as the doors slid open with a mechanical hiss, blending effortlessly into the sea of passengers. He didn’t even glance back—he didn’t have to. He knew Penny would follow.

And sure enough…

Penny darted in right after him, her heart pounding. Where is he? She scanned the crowd, but the train was packed—shoulder to shoulder with commuters, street performers, and exhausted workers heading home.

She bit her lip. Damn it. He was just here.

Shuffling forward, she tried to squeeze past a man holding a giant grocery bag, then nearly tripped over someone’s backpack. She stood on her toes, hoping to spot Talon’s slick tuxedo, but he was nowhere to be seen.

Did she lose him? No way.

Penny sighed in frustration, running a hand through her hair. She had been so focused on trailing him that she had completely forgotten to buy a ticket.

And that’s when she felt a tap on her shoulder.

She turned around to see a tall, official-looking man in a ticket inspector uniform, staring at her with a neutral expression.

"Miss," he said, adjusting his cap, "ticket, please."

Penny’s stomach dropped.

Oh. Oh no.

Her face immediately flushed red. "Uh—um—I…" she stammered, reaching into her pockets even though she knew there was no ticket in there.

The inspector gave her a knowing look. "Did you forget to buy one?"

Penny gulped. Oh my God, this is so embarrassing.

"Uh... yeah," she admitted, feeling her entire face heat up. "I was in a hurry and—"

The inspector suddenly reached forward and grabbed her wrist, his grip firm.

"You’ll have to come with me," he said. "Next station. No exceptions."

Penny blinked. "W-Wait, what? Can't I just—"

"Rules are rules," the inspector said, giving her a little smirk.

A smirk that sent a shiver down her spine.

---

Before she could react, the train screeched to a halt at the next station. He didn’t give her a chance to struggle—he simply pulled her along, guiding her onto the empty platform. Penny was still too flustered from embarrassment to think straight, so she followed without resisting, her brain trying to catch up to what was happening.

It wasn’t until he led her into a secluded side alley next to the station that her instincts kicked in.

"Wait a minute—!"

FWOOMP!

Talon suddenly spun around and fired something pink and fast from his hand.

Before Penny could dodge, a sticky, stretchy mass of bubblegum-like goo slammed into her arms and torso, gluing her to the brick wall behind her.

"WHAT THE—?!"

She struggled, but the pink goo stretched and snapped back, holding her in place like a fly caught in a web.

Talon, now very much not dressed as a ticket inspector, casually tucked away his gum gun, brushing some nonexistent dust off his tuxedo.

"Well, that was easy," he mused. "I expected more of a fight from you, Princess."

Penny glared at him. "Ugh! You tricked me!"

He grinned, crossing his arms. "Correction: You fell for it. I just happened to have a little fun."

Penny tugged at the goo holding her. "Let me go, Talon!"

"Yeah, no," he said lazily, inspecting his nails. "I’ve got places to be, so we’ll continue this little date later."

Penny’s face flamed. "THIS ISN’T A DATE!"

Talon chuckled, then with a swift movement, he pressed a button on his belt—igniting his rocket boots. The moment the blue flames flared to life, he gave Penny a playful salute.

"Try not to miss me too much, Blondie."

And with that, he blasted into the sky, leaving Penny stuck to the wall, fuming.

She let out a frustrated groan, throwing her head back. "Ughhhhhh!"

He was never going to let her live this down.

---

Talon, now back in his black tuxedo and tie, adjusted his cuffs and smirked. With Penny out of the way, nothing stood between him and his real target—Inspector Gadget.

He casually strolled through the dimly lit district, keeping his eyes peeled. Where was that bumbling cyborg?

Then he spotted him.

Inspector Gadget stood in the middle of the street, completely oblivious to his surroundings.

The detective was investigating in the only way he knew how—by making a complete mess.

"Go-Go-Gadget Magnifying Glass!"

A gigantic magnifying glass extended from his hat, nearly blinding a passing pedestrian with reflected light.

"Go-Go-Gadget Periscope!"

A metal pole shot out of his back, lifting his head high above the buildings like a submarine scope, causing several people to scream in terror.

Talon blinked. "…Okay, what the hell am I even looking at?"

Still, he had a job to do. He put on his most charming salesman smile and approached.

"Excuse me, sir! You look like a man who appreciates a good deal!"

Gadget turned, still perched on his extended periscope. "Ah-ha! A salesman! What are you selling, my good man?"

Brain, standing beside Gadget, immediately stiffened. He knew that voice. He snarled, baring his teeth.

It was Talon.

Talon grinned, keeping his cool. "Oh, just a unique opportunity! A once-in-a-lifetime chance to earn big money with just a few simple games!" He held up a mysterious black card with a golden number.

Gadget rubbed his chin. "Hmm, sounds intriguing!"

Brain frantically shook his head, barking wildly.

"Your dog seems awfully suspicious," Talon noted, smirking. "Something wrong, boy?"

Brain lunged.

Talon barely dodged, stepping back just as Brain swiped at his tuxedo with razor-sharp claws.

"Whoa! Down, Cujo!" Talon snapped, kicking off the ground and flipping backwards.

Brain growled, crouching low, ready to pounce.

Talon sighed, loosening his tie. "Alright, fine. You wanna throw hands, Lassie? Let’s go."

Brain and Talon clashed.

Brain went for a bite—Talon dodged.

Talon countered with a quick roundhouse kick—Brain ducked.

Brain lunged, knocking Talon into a trash can.

Talon groaned. "Ugh, gross! Why do I always end up in these?!"

Just as he was about to retaliate, a deafening explosion rocked the area.

Talon’s eyes widened.

Oh, no.

---

Inspector Gadget, in his usual fashion, had stumbled upon the secret jet—the very jet Talon was supposed to use to transport the kidnapped participants, including Gadget, to the game location.

"Go-Go-Gadget Can Opener!"

A massive metal blade shot out of his hat, ripping into the jet’s hull.

Sparks flew. Alarms blared. The jet started collapsing in on itself.

The doors burst open, and several kidnapped people, realizing their chance to escape, fled into the streets.

Talon’s face drained of color. "You have GOT to be kidding me!"

Then, just to make things even worse—HQ agents arrived.

A fleet of black SUVs screeched to a halt, and agents in tactical gear poured out, weapons drawn.

Talon gritted his teeth. "Oh, come on!"

Brain grinned smugly.

Talon knew when he was beaten. "Alright, fine. Whatever. You win this round."

With one swift motion, he activated his rocket boots, blasting off into the sky in a trail of blue flames.

As he soared into the night, he groaned.

His uncle was NOT going to be happy about this.