Another day, another mission from Chief Quimby – and another opportunity for Penny to help her Uncle Gadget save the day from whatever evil scheme M.A.D. had in store this time around… albeit, as usual, in the shadows. She was well-prepared, though: as usual, she had her trusty computer-book hybrid and video-communicator watch at the ready, using both to pinpoint where they would strike, all while her loyal (and very smart) dog Brain went undercover to help ‘nudge’ her hapless uncle and his wild assortment of gadgets in the right direction, which always worked like a charm.

Today’s caper had brought them into the heart of Metro City, where the blonde, pigtailed 10-year-old junior detective was snooping around each and every corner to get to her vantage point. Nothing new there, though at least she’d managed to evade any of M.A.D.’s goons in the process for longer than usual. She’d take the little victories where she could.

She didn’t want to jinx herself, though; if she ran into someone she shouldn’t, odds are she’d be held captive… again, and have to wait for either Brain or her uncle to rescue her… again.

Some people would find it repetitive to go through the same treatment over and over again, but to Penny, that was merely an occupational hazard – and she was usually halfway out by the time they came for her.

Typing into her computer-book’s keypad, she detected a strange signal coming from nearby that seemed pretty suspicious; if she could just get a closer look, then maybe she’d be able to work this out in her and her uncle’s favor.

But then, just her luck, as soon as she rounded the corner, she ended up colliding with somebody, falling onto her backside with an ‘oof’.

Well, that was fun while it lasted.

However, once she looked up, she found someone who… looked nothing like a M.A.D. agent. In fact, they didn’t look bad at all. They looked… weirdly normal.

Unless this was one of M.A.D.’s disguise tactics…

No, they didn’t look mean enough for that.

Still, Penny kept her guard up around this stranger and instead put on the ‘innocent little girl’ act, rubbing the back of her head with a sheepish smile.

“Oops, sorry… I guess I should be watchin’ where I’m going.” she said through a faint giggle.

To her surprise, instead of immediately grabbing her and carrying her away, the stranger instead offered a hand to help her back up.

Huh. That was new.

She blinked, stunned. “O-Oh, uh… thank you.”

Figuring she might as well be polite, she took their hand, and soon found herself back on her feet. Not grabbed, not caught, just helped.

This felt weird. But at the same time, it felt like the break in routine she needed despite her ultimately eager-minded personality.

Still. Better to be careful.

“So… bet you’re wondering what I’m doing back here, huh?” Penny soon said, an awkward grin on her little face.

Before she could explain herself, she soon noticed something about them. They looked normal, she’d established that – however, the fact that they were dressed inconspicuously and carried something that looked like a piece of tech she would have on her…

That could only mean…

“Wait… are you…?” she uttered in disbelief, holding up her own computer book to them.

Visibly surprised, the stranger brandished their own contraption, to which Penny’s eyes widened with a quiet (since she was still undercover) gasp.

“Oh my gosh…! You’re… you’re investigating too?”

Suddenly, this stranger felt way less strange to her.

“Wowsers…” Penny breathed in amazement… though a look of suspicion remained on her face as she eyed them over. “And you’re not working for Dr. Claw? Or M.A.D.?”

The face they pulled seemed to very much indicate otherwise, to Penny's keen, almost tickled amusement, who gave a fond shrug. “Just checking. You never know. Well, since you’re here, I guess I wouldn’t mind an extra hand. My Uncle Gadget’s on the case – kinda – and I’m trying to make sure he gets the job done. Wanna help?”

Realization struck after a beat, and her smile grew.

“Oh, my name’s Penny, by the way! What’s yours?”