Metrocity skipped down the street, humming and zapping trashcans with her de-gun as she went. Things had been very quiet lately. The only crimes in Metro City in the last month were the occasional convenience store robbery, and they were never any fun. Everything was very boring. Except school, Metrocity reminded herself. School is only boring when we relearn things. And it's not boring when I play with Bernard, or when I invent things with Daddy. This last one made her smile.
Metrocity had recently taken up the art of invention, only to find she was good at it. Just the other day, Megamind had asked to see her newest prototype, and had praised her without end for the ingenious design and functionality, not to mention practicality. She had designed, without any references, a fully functioning hoverboard, as she put it, "because I'm too young to drive your skybike, but not to ride a skateboard".
Today, however, was just dull. The sky was gray, but there were no puddles or rain to play in, and no crime to fight. Bernard had been out sick all day, so at Recess she'd had to play with Jeanie and Lyle—not that she didn't like Jeanie and Lyle, but they weren't her bestest friends in the whole wide world like Bernard was, and the twins had very normal names. Lyle was a little less common, but Metrocity had always had a liking for esoteric and different names.
Bernard, for instance, was a name three people in the world had, in her eyes; the elf from The Santa Clause, the Bernard from the museum, and her best friend Bernard. And it wasn't just their names, either; they were just very ordinary kids. They were nice, and they played fun games, but they didn't do weird things or have weird habits or make weird hand gestures. The weirdest thing they did was hit one another when they got angry and then felt pain themselves. They were good friends to have, but after battling a giant robot-building villain and winning, or even just after fighting a bank robber, they didn't measure up too well.
As Metrocity entered the lair, she heard a ruckus going on in the next room, and popped her head in. "Hi Mr. Scott!" she said, spotting him immediately. Then she saw the police officer seated at the table beside her Mother and Father. Minion was standing in the corner, and everyone looked worried. "What's wrong?" she asked. She'd never known Megamind to call the police before, or even Roxanne.
"Metrocity, have you seen Bernard?" Roxanne asked, standing and walking over, kneeling down in front of her daughter.
"No, not since yesterday after shool. Why, what happened? Mrs. Tammy told me Mr. Scott had called him in sick and that I need to 'stop asking questions that don't need to be asked, young lady!'" she said, mimicking the bossy teacher as best she could, one hand on her hip and the other shaking in the air with index finger extended. Everyone in the room (police officer excluded) paled. "Why?" she asked, dropping her hands back to her sides, gaze evening out. "What's wrong? Did something happen? Is Bernard OK?"
"Metrocity," Minion said, walking over and setting a hand on her shoulder. "Bernard is missing."