A Chance of Talenny

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"So you know, like, yah, you totally missed the HQ briefing on Talon's relocation." Kayla balanced a hot cappuccino and a plate of tuna sandwiches atop a tray as she rambled on and on to Penny.

"Oh, shoot!" Penny slapped her forehead. "That was yesterday? I totally forgot!"

Thanks to her immense carelessness, she had missed out on a vital opportunity to gleam vital information that might help Talon. She was so stupid! Penny could barely focus as she meaninglessly chewed HQ cafeteria food while Kayla was going on about the cafeteria's poor interior design. She was silently scolding herself for being such a fool, partly for missing out on this chance, and mostly for being the one who caused this whole mess. Penny got up and left, leaving Kayla puzzled and confused.

"Brain, I need your help," Penny found Brain waiting for her by her locker. "I need you to provide a distraction aimed at the four guards standing by Quimby's office. Besides, you owe me for helping you get back at the neighbour's cat for shredding up your bunny slippers."

Brain rolled his eyes, but he nodded his head. Activating an old lady disguise, he awaited Penny's further instructions. Penny fished a small robot out of her locker. It was painted to look exactly like a fly, just slightly bigger. It's eyes glowed intelligently when Penny switched it on. "Activate Spy Mode," she commanded, and the fly's wings whirred quietly as it lifted into the air. A live feed from the robotic fly's camera eyes showed up on Penny's CodeX. Penny had meticulously crafted the fly to look as realistic as a real fly to avoid suspicion. It had taken her almost all night to fit a tiny precision camera into its eyes, and design its movable parts. "Brain, while you're distracting the guards, I'll creep over to that alcove over there, since my fly here won't work long-distance."

Brain nodded, and Penny expertly ducked behind a locker, manoeuvring the robotic fly to hover in wait. Brain gesticulated wildly in front of the momentarily confused guards, his white wig bobbing on his head. He jabbed one of the guards in the stomach with his walking stick, and took off down the corridor. The guards took off in pursuit. Several HQ agents stopped and stared, a couple whipping out their CodeXs to snap a picture of the guards chasing an old lady. Penny smiled, Brain was the best. From her commands on her CodeX, the fly flew through the small gap under the door to Chief Quimby's office. Chief Quimby's secretary sat in the waiting room, fingers banging away at the keyboard. She looked grim and serious, but Penny knew that in reality she was afraid of her shadow. No wonder Quimby never sent her out on field. Chief Quimby sat at his desk, sipping a cup of intensely black coffee and studying a stack of papers. The fly flew in and perched on the top of his chair for a closer look.

A-ha! The papers for Talon's transfer! I've gotta keep him from signing them to give me some time to carry out my plan! Penny flew the fly around Chief Quimby's head as it emitted a hight-pitched buzzing noise. Chief Quimby was clearly irritated, and he tried to swat at the fly, but Penny's robotic invention was too fast for him. Chief Quimby was looking for the fly on the other side of the room. He could hear it buzzing, but he couldn't see it. Penny had cleverly incorporated a camouflage option into her fly's coding. The "invisible" fly buzzed through the air, and with a robotic grappler, it hooked onto the paperwork while Chief Quimby was distracted, and silently flew out of the office and snuck past the oblivious secretary. Penny grinned when she retrieved the papers. This would give her enough time to rescue Talon and find out more about the whole operation.

Penny felt a pang of guilt as she fingered her HQ badge pinned to her uniform. She pressed it down and dashed back to her locker where she was supposed to meet Brain.