Takes place after the events of the movie. Megamind contemplates his life and wants answers to questions that only the warden can provide after an unexpected event. Enjoy.

*Why can't I just…sleep? Ugh…that does it I am getting up.* Megamind made a move to get up, but found himself stuck. *Right.* Roxanne had both her arms wrapped around him, one draped around his shoulder and the other lazily draped across his chest her hand pressed to his heart. Slowly and carefully he untangled himself from her grasp. He reached a hand toward one of her hands and gently set it down at her side and the other offered no resistance as he slid out to the side.

"What time is it anyway?" The red digital clock on the nightstand by his side of the bed read 12:01—one minute after mid-night. "This is going to be a long night," Megamind said in a tone just above a whisper.

"Uhm, hhhmmm…." Roxanne groaned in her sleep.

"Still asleep." Megamind sighed in relief. The room was virtually pitch black, but Megamind figured he knew the layout of the room well enough he could get out without turning on a light. *There's that, there's that. Ok I don't feel anything-nothing but air…* "OOOWWW!" Megamind kicked his big toe into a large oak dresser and started frantically jumping up and down both hands clutching at his left big toe. "Uhhhhhh…jumping around in the dark on one foot can be hazardous to your health." Megamind was laid out flat on his back staring up at the ceiling.

"This is Roxanne Ritchi reporting from…" Lifting up his head from the floor just enough Megamind could see Roxann was still fast asleep. It was only then Megamind remembered a piece of carpet ran the length of the room from the door to his side of the bed and he managed to crawl the rest of the way to the door without further incident.

"It's so…quiet, sooo…peaceful. It is actually…nice." Megamind said looking out over the balcony of Roxanne's apartment, his hands sitting on top of the railing and his upper body slightly leaning forward. With buildings the same size or bigger surrounding the apartment building there wasn't all that much to look at, but on this night it was a full moon. Normally Megamind would have scoffed at his surroundings being quiet and peaceful and done something to stir the pot, but now he found himself wanting nothing more than some alone time. Particularly the past two weeks.

/

Before Roxan he had never had a girlfriend. It was nice having someone he could open up to. Minion was his friend and confidant, but because they were so close he dare not speak some of the more troubling and disturbing thoughts coursing through his head. Although Minion and Megamind had made up he had not forgotten about Minion becoming upset when he said, "maybe I don't want to be the bad guy anymore."

But something about Roxan made him want to talk about even those deepest, darkest feelings and thoughts. Yet, he also knew such things could have unforeseen consequences. Those soap operas that he loved to hate did offer a good lesson. Eventually the truth comes out no matter how many lies you tell to cover for the other lies it almost always comes out. He wanted to do things right. He wanted to be honest, but how much could he expect Roxanne to be understanding and accepting of? He was still getting used to the idea of someone asking him if he was ok when he seemed down, stressed, overwhelmed or tired. Sure Minion did that too, but he could get away with ignoring Minion, if he refused to answer Roxan when she asked these types of questions…she could eventually decide he was too much trouble and leave…him. He also considered the thought that some things just should not see the light of day. What if he voiced his thoughts and they were too unnerving to bear. What would she think of him?

Since being embraced as the new protector of Metro City Megamind's life consisted of a nearly endless parade of: press conferences, interviews, pep talks, fund raising events all the while jumping into action at the spur of the moment to catch petty criminals since there are no super villains to challenge him.

People were practically popping up out of the cement pavement and parachuting out of airplanes within several feet of him to get close to him and offer their services-ranging anything from physical fitness advice, personal finance, developing ESP, image consulting, spiritual advice and businesses trying to patent some of his inventions.

Megamind had even been extended an invitation to meet President Obama. At the thought of it he couldn't help but smirk, thinking about the poster with his face with the phrase, "No You Can't." He gladly accepted the invitation, but stated he needed some time to adjust and settle into his new life and would gladly meet with the president at a time of mutual convenience.

Then there were the leeches. Those people who wanted to get close to him so they could be seen and heard and possibly convince him to endorse some product or their movement to save the whales, better schools for kids now, feed the homeless.

While initially he found all the attention quite flattering it was now becoming too much to deal with. It seemed one day they were curious to know his life story and the most trivial details of his daily routine and the next day the gossip columnists and the conspiracy theorists took their turn: "A Side of Megamind Few Have Ever Seen," read on article claiming to have nude photos of him. "Megamind and Roxan: the inside scoop on their relationship." "Megamind the First Phase of a New Alien World Order." "The Megamind Files: U.S. Experimentation with Alien DNA Revealed."

A lot of these so called stories he could take in stride and laugh off. He had had plenty of practice taking the sometimes cruel remarks and antics of the prison security guards. Then things took a turn, he could not have been more furious about the journalists and news channels suggesting...

It strained his fatigued mind too much to articulate the depth of his anger, but he could not stop replaying in his mind the paraphrased comments aired on several of the cable news channels. "Megamind is proof that the average white person is being pushed to the bottom of the social hierarchy. Something needs to be done to keep whites from being replaced by minority groups, illegal aliens and space aliens."

"I am not fooled by Megamind for one second. Sure he is a hero now, but when things don't go his way or things get tough I am not going to rely on him to save the day."

"Megamind has been convicted and sentenced to multiple life sentences and now because he defeats one bad apple we should just let him be free?"

"On the basis that Megamind was not born here he is not a U.S. citizen and should be sent away or put away some place."

"Megamind GO HOME we don't need you and we don't want you."

*I never asked for any of this…this is not my fault...* Megamind thought clenching his jaw and contemplated all the nasty, wicked and painful ways he would make them suffer. It was something he was trying to fight given how things were different and in the end these thoughts were not all that helpful, but so far it was proving a difficult habit to break.

His thoughts returned to the re-commissioning of the Metro Man museum into the Megamind museum. Later that day when the crowd had dispersed there was a fancy dress party and a private tour of the museum consisting mostly of prominent city officials and anyone who had some standing in the business world. He half heartedly hoped that the warden of the prison that had been his home for so many years would show up…and say something, anything.

*Megamind I'm sorry. You really came through for Metro City. Best of luck.*

*Megamind it was wrong for you to have lived in a prison for so many years and at such a young age. I should have done more to try to help you.*

*I always knew you had potential.*

For all the times he had tried to physically injure, harm and otherwise humiliate and otherwise murder-even Metro Man seemed to forgive him and offer his vote of confidence in his abilities.

/

Over the past 3 months Megamind had, had many long conversation with Roxan to better understand aspects of American culture he did not fully understand. Almost literally Megamind had lived in a bubble for the vast majority of his life if he was not isolated from living in prison he lived in self imposed isolation because of being wanted by the authorities. At some point around the time he started school it was decided he should have his own cell. A little later they finished a new cell made with him in mind. It was a circular room with no windows, a TV, a stationary swivel chair and a paint job only a parent of a new born could appreciate. The cell was completely cut off from the rest of the prison inmates.

In the proceeding years with his many successful escapes it was decided he could no longer go out to the "yard" to exercise and was forbidden from having any direct contact with any of the other inmates. The only time he was let out of his cell if not for a televised hearing was to eat and during his earlier years of imprisonment to work.

*The very first time I escaped the guards were watching some Super Foot Ball…type…thing and I went through the fence by slicing a nice big hole in it with an improvised chain saw. No, that came a little later one of the guards left me unattended outside my cell and I managed to sneak right out the front gate.*

True he did eventually have a TV with cable, which served as his window on the world. However, it in no way was a substitute for experiencing the world. Roxanne found Megamind's curiosity endearing and was happy to discuss his questions at length.

He had wanted to talk to her about one topic in particular, but could not bring himself to ask. It was during one of his recent public appearances that someone from the crowd jumped out in front of him and pressed a pamphlet into his hands. The person was quickly grabbed and taken away. For his part Megamind pocketed the pamphlet and went about his business as if nothing unusual had happened. He had not looked at the pamphlet all day and it was only after going through his pockets and getting undressed he pulled it out and looked at it.

The pamphlet was a khaki color with an image of people wearing orange prison uniforms sitting unhappily in a large cell. Underneath the picture was a title in large, bold black letters. FOREVER PUNISHED: Why Our Criminal Justice System is Broken. In brief and concise terms the pamphlet detailed existing inequalities within the criminal justice system across: sex, race and class. How corporations are turning a profit at the expense of tax payers and the rights of prisoners and how programs designed to rehabilitate, educate and integrate criminals back into society are disappearing or non-existent.

Megamind had been thinking about a lot of things since he was now free to live his life. But thinking about his time spent in prison was something he desperately wanted to distance himself from.

Questions began to surface that he had never thought to ask before…which was further facilitated by his lengthy conversations with Roxan.

*Roxan cannot give me an answer. What point would it serve asking her for something she has no way of knowing? But the warden…he would have an answer.* He wanted some answers, but how to go about it? He couldn't just go up to the warden's house ring the door bell and have the warden graciously invite him in to answer a few questions—could he? *If I am going to do this I don't want anyone else to know. This is between me and him.* His thoughts were racing. It seemed like the more he tried to suppress these thoughts the stronger they grew. *Ok, I can think this through: recon, plan then execute.* Magemind turned around both Roxanne and Minion were asleep. The night was still young he could do the deed and be back before either of them woke up and they wouldn't have to know. *I am going tonight! I'm coming for you warden-ready or not.*

That's all for now. The 2nd installment is basically done, but I don't want to post it until I have a feel for how the 3rd and final installment is going to pan out so there are not any problems with continuity.