Roxanne Ritchie had no idea how it had come to this. Was it because she had been kidnapped too many times? Did she not give the station enough exclusive reports and breaking news before anyone else could in the city? Was all the bad karma she miraculously escaped in her life somehow compounding on her in this very moment? Were the fates toying with her?

When her thoughts became as dramatic as one of Megamind's 'glorious' monologues, Roxanne immediately stopped herself. She had to be professional; she was talking to her boss's boss, after all.

"So, Ms. Ritchie, have we come to an understanding?" asked Mr. Darius, wearing an expensive suit and a sleek pair of glasses on the end of his dignified nose.

"But sir, with all due respect," Roxanne said calmly, but not without an edge of exasperation, "Isn't this a little ridiculous? I mean, for a top news channel to report on such a matter-"

"Exactly, we are a top news channel, Ms. Ritchie," He cut her off, "and I want our ratings to continue to keep us where we are. Perhaps this stunt might even raise them. It is not every day that we get an opportunity as good as this one – and I'm not willing to pass it up." Mr. Darius stood from his high-backed tan leather office seat and walked around to oak desk to stand right beside her. She shifted in her seat to face him, still wary of what he was asking her.

"I'm sorry that you don't want to do this – no, let me finish," he held a hand up when she started to protest that of course she wanted to do everything she could for the good of the station, "I understand that it's a lot to handle, more than any of us are really used to, but they wouldn't agree on anyone else. And yes, I did ask them when you first said you didn't like the idea, but they were adamant."

Roxanne sighed, and knew that there wasn't anything she could do about this. She loved her job too much to put it in jeopardy by saying no. She was surprised by how much the station director and owner cared about what she thought, though… He had only talked to her a few times in the five years she worked there.

"I'll do it," she said, resigned. She smiled a little at the look of relief that came to his face when she agreed.

"Thank you for this," He replied earnestly. "And besides, it's not so bad, it just means that the fans like you a lot more than you thought. It'll be good for your career too, should you ever want to go on to a more prestigious news station."

"Come on, I couldn't leave this station, I love the city too much," She smiled brighter this time, happy to realize that the man who owned the station was a lot more than just a figure head.

"Still, I'll owe you for this. Its unorthodox, and personally, I wouldn't want to do it either," He said conspiratorially.

Roxanne laughed as she stood up and shook his hand before leaving. It seems she had some serious preparing to do before going on air in two days.

And what, you might ask, was Roxanne Ritchie going to report on that was so important?

Nothing. She wasn't reporting, she was being interviewed.

On a little show called…

Heart of Destiny.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Meanwhile, at the Station 8 studio, the head writer and head coordinator were arguing.

"Look, I can see why we made this deal for Ms. Ritchie, but this is just too much for us to handle," the coordinator, Tom Ferrien, said bluntly.

"I know there are risks involved – big risks – but if we don't do this, we'll end up like the show Firefly or The Cape. Our ratings may be good now, but in a few months, who's to say the station heads won't cancel us, for no other reason than that we're mediocre instead of crazy popular?" Berry Hudson, the head writer debated. His idea was exciting and insane – there was no denying that – but if it worked… their show would be the top of the line. Right up there with Opera.

"Berry…" Tom warned.

"Just give it a chance!" Berry encouraged. "If it doesn't work, it's my ass in the oven, I get that. But just imagine if it does…" he trailed off, letting Tom think it over before his excitement pushed the man to say no on principle. And Tom did consider it, objectively. He kind of wanted this to happen as much as Berry did, on the inside. But someone had to be the sane one in this industry full of artistic whackos. Nevertheless, he could at least understand that the show needed a pick me up.

"I'll give you one episode – not live." Tom exaggerated. The last thing they needed was for this to go balls up on primetime.

"I'll make sure you won't regret it." Berry assured, feeling the adrenaline build inside him.

He was going to make this happen, no matter what!

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Normally, Roxanne would have jumped at the chance to be interviewed on live TV, especially on a primary channel like channel 8, but Heart of Destiny wasn't a show that would interview you about your life and career, nope. They wanted to help her find the 'love of her life', like they had for other couples. She didn't disagree with the idea of the show, it was actually quite wonderful in her opinion, but to be forced into it like she was, she felt slightly violated and extremely peeved.

Her love life was no one's business, thank you very much.

On the other hand, maybe it wasn't the worst thing in the world. It wasn't like she had time for romance between her pursuit of her career and the constant showy kidnappings. Though she didn't appreciate the fact that she was going to be made to have dates and very personal interviews on TV, at least this might give her the chance to actually have a good time outside of her never-ending work schedule.

And, she was still getting paid her normal salary, plus a little bonus on the side for her troubles. All in all, it could be ten times worse…

She could have been chosen to be a contestant on Fear Factor. At the thought of that, she shivered. No matter how many times she been threatened by Megamind with horrendous heights and "deadly weapons", nothing would scare her more than if she had to be locked in a plastic casket full of water with no way out.

It wasn't like she was afraid of water or anything either, she was actually a fairly good swimmer. But being trapped like that, feeling like there was no way out and not even a smidgen of air to breathe, was terrifying.

Good thing Megamind doesn't get his villainous ideas from reality TV shows, she shook her head, almost gratefully thinking, He may be somewhat unoriginal, but at least there's that.

After tossing her keys on the table, she pulled her laptop bag off her shoulder. She plopped down on the couch before pulling out the survey that Mr. Darius had given her, saying it was from the Hearts of Destiny show as a pre-requisite to her involvement. He had given her the rest of the afternoon off to complete it, and told her that the show directors needed it by tomorrow morning.

So she curled up with the twenty-page packet and got to work, wondering all the while if her participation was going to be worthwhile or not.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Megamind dismounted from his flying motorcycle atop the apartment building Roxanne lived in. He opened the roof door with the broken lock (a previous courtesy he left for Minion and himself) and activated the holographic watch before alighting the stairs down to her floor. This time he was disguised as the building's custodian, a tall, brown-haired, lanky individual with menial good looks and pale skin. He passed someone in the hall, probably one of Roxanne's neighbors, who nodded his head upwards sharply in a gesture of recognition. Megamind attempted to imitate the man, but felt embarrassed doing so and got a weird look in return.

It made him walk faster. Curse these human greeting rituals, they're impossible and unnecessary.

The villain looked around as he approached Roxanne's door and quickly picked the lock. No one saw him. Once inside the apartment, he deactivated the watch and glanced around, not seeing the reporter. Megamind was sure she was at home, though. The brain bots had shown him so not ten minutes ago with an infrared scan.

He wondered around a bit before reaching the bedroom, still not seeing her. He heard something move behind the last closed door he hadn't checked yet and decided he wanted to attempt to scare her before knocking her out with the spray. Megamind hid swiftly in the closet – a kind that had white vertical folding doors with permanently down-turned blinds like some windows he had seen. Perfect.

This way he could see the best moment in which to strike.

A few moments alone in the room gloating with anticipation later and Roxanne emerged from behind the closed door. Megamind found that he was the one surprised.

She walked out wearing nothing but a towel. How the hell could he have missed that she was in the bathroom taking a shower? Now he couldn't jump out and scare her – he was liable to get himself murdered! Roxanne frustrated and annoyed he could take, but a pissed off Roxanne was a demon from hell. At least, that was what he found to be true through a painful experience the year before…

His horrified reminiscing ceased with all other thoughts when Roxanne let the towel slip from around her body. Megamind couldn't remember seeing a more beautiful, tantalizing sight before in his entire life. Her silky skin, the droplets that still travelled along her luscious curves, her gentle but defined muscles moving sensuously as she searched threw her chest of drawers for something comfortable to wear…

Something to wear… Dear Evil Heavens! Please don't let her look in the closet! His panic only grew as his frustration at not being able to see her better conflicted with the desire to get aware from a potentially fatal situation. He had to strain himself not to hyperventilate for the chance that she might hear him breathing.

Through some amazing stroke of luck Megamind had never heretofore experienced, Roxanne pulled all her clothes from the drawer and got dressed. He couldn't make himself look away even though he knew he should… it wasn't right for him to peep on her like this…

You're evil Megamind, you don't care about what's right! His mind screamed at him, besides, it's not like she'll ever know…

By the time he was done arguing with himself, she had left the room. He sighed softly as he heard the TV in the other room turn on and allowed himself to open the closet doors. Closing them behind him, he went over to the window of her bedroom. With the watch re-activated, he climbed out the fire escape and made sure to close the window up before heading back to the hover cycle.

And that was how he flew home to the Evil Lair that day, with his proverbial tail firmly between his legs.