Top Secret Mission
"No word from space station for weeks. Fear MAD involvement. Investigate immediately."
Synopsis
Gadget is ordered into space to find out why the space station orbiting earth has been so quiet lately. He allows Penny and Brain to tag along after Penny tells him that she'd like to study the "Voice Responsive" computer onboard. All three board a space shuttle and are rocketed into space, and soon arrive at their destination despite Gadget trying to override the shuttle's autopilot functions. Once in the space station, they are introduced to "Harold", a soft-spoken, omnipresent, HAL-from-2001-like computer who monitors the entire orbiting station. Penny soon realizes that while Harold is friendly, he is being controlled by Dr. Claw's minions--two short twin men who look like characters out of a Tintin comic--named Dr. Null and Dr. Void, and is forced to do as they tell him. Their plan: to focus the sun's rays through a large lens on the roof of the space station, and systematically evaporate all of Earth's water supplies. Gadget cluelessly grapples with service droids who are out to destroy him and later with Null and Void, thinking every injury he sustains is some sort of outer space custom--and returns each 'gesture' in kind. Meanwhile, Penny manages to enable Harold's "free will" circuit which allows the friendly computer to do the right thing: destroy the lens and free the three scientists who had been locked up. Null and Void, however, escape by managing to jettison off in part of the station, and are immediately picked up by Dr. Claw in his one-man space cruiser.
Quotable Quote
"Are you kind, Penny?"
"I try to be, Harold."
"I am very pleased to hear that. Perhaps we can be friends."
"I'd like that."
--Sickeningly sweet exchange between the onboard computer and Penny shortly after meeting. Awww!
Notes
The irritating Capeman is dispensed with quickly in the first few minutes of the episode: A cold with a fever of one hundred and one thankfully prevents him from joining the trio in space. A run-of-the-mill second season episode. Gadget misinterpreting bodily harm as "customs" is far-fetched even for him.
MAD Agent Count
Four: Two regulars and Null and Void.
Unanswered, Nit-Picky Questions
A space shuttle that flies from the earth to outerspace completely on autopilot? An entire space station manned by just three people? Weeks of silence from the space station before anyone investigates? Well, it is a cartoon.
Ridiculous Safety Tip
"Ice can ease the pain, as well as reduce the swelling" of minor injuries.
"Focus On Gadget"