Author's Note: chapters from here beta by joanhello (member from the megamind_movie Community on Livejournal)
Chapter 6
The Major General stopped some distance from them. He nodded to two of the soldiers, who lifted Jeremy up off the ground and took him back to one of the vehicles. The confused reporter seemed to be conscious, looking around at the street as he was being taken away.
"Oh, amazing work, like always," the older man said in a cheery tone. He saw the looks on the others' faces. Wayne and Roxanne watched at the military personnel worked.
Alan smiled warmly at the others. "These two are some of my top men. In your case, aliens." He gave a warm smile to the small group. "Well, what have you told them so far?"
"Only that you kept me and Minion safe."
"Ah! You two haven't told them the full truth then" Megamind shock his head, looked at his Uncle.
Roxanne shot a look at her boyfriend. "You told me you didn't have any more secrets."
Minion spoke up. "Sorry, Miss Ritchi, but we've had to keep this one." He smiled at her. "If everyone in Metro City knew we were helping the U. S. military, they might have thought that Sir had somehow taken over the government." He laughed. Megamind rolled his eyes.
Alan turned to one of his men for a moment. "Lewis, tell Faith the news that Mr Autumn has been taken care of and we'll be returning to base soon." The soldier nodded and rushed off.
Megamind noticed and turned around on the spot. He narrowed his eyes. "Uncle, you're not -" The rest of what he was going to say stayed in his mouth as he saw that white coated man again.
"Ah, yes, I remember our deal." The general turned slightly to see what Megamind had seen but he was a few seconds late as the man in the lab coat vanished behind a packed jeep. Looking back he saw Megamind talking to Minion with somewhat of a dark look in his eyes and Alan found himself wondering what was going on.
He had always looked out for these two he thought of both of them as, in some way, family after his brother adopted both aliens all those years ago to keep them safe. The best place for that in the early years was the Prison for the Criminally Gifted.
His mind went back to that one time when he got a call from his brother screaming madly down the phone that some crazed scientist had taken the fourteen-year-old Afeeke and Minion. Alan had personally tracked down the crazy scientist at his lab. He had been horrified to learn that it was on the same base he had been posted to previously to the Metro City posting. Alan had gone in with team Theta, which back then was only a four-man team. The group had found the cell that Minion was being held in. The scientist had left him alone in the cold cell in the dark; the small fish looked at his rescuers happily from within the large tank he had been put in. But he was more worried about his young master. When Alan found Afeeke, the crazed scientist had been doing tests on the boy; young alien had five deep wounds on his chest, arms and hands. As the wounds healed they left scars hence the reason for wearing his leather body suits. Alan didn't want to find out what other things had happen to the boy. The look in the young blue alien's eyes told Alan one thing: if this crazy scientist showed his face anywhere around here again he would be dead.
Rosina stepped back. "Roxanne, I really should get back and tell Carl everything is okay." Stepping forward, Alan nodded to another of his men, sending him to make sure she got back to the station safely.
Waiting until the camerawoman was in the car, the Major General turned to Megamind and Minion. "Megamind, we you help with finding out what happened to Mr Autumn." He noticed the others' confused looks and turned to face them.
Megamind glanced around then at Alan "sorry Uncle I have my hands full with plans for the city"
The older human nodded in understanding "Well if you feel any free time, you know where to find me".
Roxanne looked over at Megamind. She then looked to his human Uncle, but he didn't speak. She looked back at the blue alien and asked with her eyes, not words.
Megamind had his back to the others, slowly turned, then stopped and watched the men in the background working before he finally spoke. He was speaking to Wayne and Roxanne in a low tone "helping the U. S. military has been a little side project I've had for the last few years." He looked over at the ex-hero and reporter. "It all started four years ago," his eyes locked briefly with Wayne, "after we finished our fight that time. You remember the fight we had where I created robotic clones of Roxanne." Wayne gave a weak smiled at the memory of that fight, he then nodded and let Megamind continue "The day after you dropped me off back at the prison, Uncle Alan came to by with an offer for me and Minion to join his new team on a special ops mission. I asked, What's in it for me?" He looked over at the officer who was now stood with some of his men. "He said a the chance to clear my name as a villain" he smirked at what he said next "all this was done in secret of course, and yes the president knows".
Roxanne took a step closer "you mean to tells that you haven't been a villain for four years"
"Oh yes I was still was the villain up until the whole 'lets fake our death game'" he sighed in pure annoyances and looked at Wayne "anyway the good General asked us both if I could keep up the act of being a villain until the right time, so I agreed" he stepped a way from them and stood next Minion bent down to look over the damage "I asked him one only thing in return: that no armed forced set foot in Metrocity."
Wayne's eyes widened in complete understanding. If the armed forced ever came between them while they were fighting, there would have been a lot of death and that was one thing none of the three aliens ever wanted to see.
"You see, Miss Ritchi," said Minion, "We've been on the good side for years now, just not showing it publicly, or to the Doom Syndicate." The fish smiled warmly, then looked over at Markus. The fish asked "How are the rest of team?"
"Jack, Drcao, Caj and Able are all back at the base." He came walking over to them, mostly looking at Minion. "You two guys should come back with us." Greg and Katie now stood far behind.
The fish and blue hero looked at each and smiled. "Yeah, we'd love to, after all the mess is fixed."
"Oh, remember that last mission? It was a total blast," Greg said from where he was stood. Then he ran over and grabbed Megamind by his shoulders and danced around him. The blue man looked sideways at the hyper man with a raised eyebrow and a amused look in his eyes. "This guy saved us all this one time by using his watch of his. Wanted to show off his new toy he disguised himself to look like some high ranking boss man and walked right into the enemy base, freed us and than what did he go and do only use their own weapons against them" Greg grinned madly, "I still can't get the image of you driving that tank out of my head."
Hearing this Wayne and Roxanne's jaws dropped. They looked back and forth between Megamind and Minion, completely shocked.
Minion added "I wasn't there when Sir did that" his friend smiled "Miss Ritchi; I was back in Metro City planning the next thing against Metro Man."
Katie's voice called from where she stood. "Save the history for later. Afeeke, what do you think they're going to do with him?" She looked in the direction that the men had taken Jeremy.
Markus also turned his head in the blue alien's direction, waiting for him to speak. Taking a few steps away from the group, Megamind stood alone. He slowly turned to face Wayne, narrowing his eyes darkly. "If you don't mind finding that out," he said coldly. Wayne only nodded.
The ex-superhero focused his hearing, listening out for any voices that could help with any information about the ex-reporter. Once he found the owner of the voice he started to repeat everything to the others. As he listened to the other man's conversation, he frowned, keeping his focus. He looked Megamind in the eyes. "He's talking about what they plan to do with Jeremy; they're planning on -".
"Oh, we have a little super spy," a heartless voice echoed around.
Megamind's mind froze at hearing that voice, but the rest of group from Metro City turned to see a male figure, tall and very thin, wearing a long white lab coat. He had dark hair but with some gray mixed in. As he got closer he looked at each member of the group from Metro City and a very thin, uncaring smile appeared on his long face.
Roxanne noticed in the corner of her eye that both her boyfriend and fish were motionless and silent; in fact, neither had turned around to see the new man. She was about to ask one of them what was up when the man addressed a member of her group.
His voice held a tone that told everyone that he soulless; he stopped a few feet in front of them. He looked at her and smiled. It didn't hold any kindness and his whole presence sent chills down her back. He had his eyes now fixed on Megamind's back "Oh, if it isn't my little Azure, come back to see me."
Wayne stood far away from this man but was closer enough to Megamind to tell things were not; he glanced at Megamind. The blue alien's hands were tight fists his knuckles white and his face shadowed. The moment Megamind's head tilled back Wayne froze at the pure murderous look in the blue hero's eyes.
Without turning the new hero spoke with gritted teeth "I'd watch your back, doctor. There are dangerous people around this city." His voice suddenly lower to a more threatening tone, which shocked all but his closest friend. "I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to you."
Roxanne couldn't see his face so she only had to looked at the back of Megamind's head. She could tell by his tense body that he was fighting not to turn and do something not so heroic. She saw the look on his fishy friend's face. He sat on the ground close by while holding his boss' arm tightly. It set alarm bells off in her head; the fish never used his robotic suit like that, he was the only thing holding Megamind back.
The new, strange man smiled wider, clearly enjoying the effect his presence was having. His excitement increased. Then he spotted Wayne. His eyes widen as he spoke again. "Oh, this is wonderful. Finally! After all these years, I finally get to see you in person." He looked around wildly. "I've never been able to see what your body could tell me. Your stupid adoptive parents kept me away from you."
His words made Roxanne turn her head and look at Wayne, who was now glaring at the man.
The cold doctor voice continued. "I have to say, that our short time together all those years ago was so much fun." He let his arm fly wide. "But here we are again the two of us!"
Megamind's voice still held that promise of murderous threats and something more. "Last time was a one-off, doctor." He looked over his right shoulder at the strange man; Roxanne saw the dark spark flair up within those green eyes.
She and Wayne had always wondered: if Megamind really and truly put his mind into being a real, pure, evil villain, what he could do? He never would have admit it back then, but he really cared for the city. Looking back now, she realized that Megamind kept all the other villains in check. Even now, they still followed his rules. But what if something happened and he changed? What could he do?
Stood on both sides of white coated man were the three soldiers: Lieutenant Colonel, Major and First Lieutenant. The three straightened up a little when they noticed the Major General, they were not under his command but still knew to what rank this man was.
Katie had gone over and spoken to Alan, who snapped his head around at hearing at her words. He noticed the situation and he came over in a panicked rush. "Dr. Wallace, you're supposed to be at the base."
"Ah, my good, kind, wonderful Major General, I'm so pleased to see you again." He glanced at both Wayne and Megamind. "It's been a very long time." The doctor turned fully to Alan now and his smile widened. "I'm terrible sorry, but once I overheard one of your men, I think it was a Major Drcao Santino, saying something about how you had some important guests. I just had to stop by and say hello." He lazily looked back over at Megamind with a cold smile. "I look forward to talking to you again, my little Azure." He turned and walked away.
Alan took one look at Minion's face; the fish looked at him, worried, then back at Megamind. The fish called "Uncle, may we leave now?" The older man nodded.
"Afeeke, I didn't know." Megamind didn't reply.
Wayne and Roxanne looked at the blue alien's back and then down at the fish. Both could tell from the look on Minion's face that, whatever was going on, it was nothing good. With great difficulty, Minion used his good leg and the arm that wasn't hold Megamind's arm to make his way over to a car.
A low ranking soldier from Alan's team spoke, not knowing the full history behind this Doctor and Megamind. This man was new to the Major General's team and also a big fan of the new hero and didn't read the warning signals. "But, but Mr. Megamind, we only just got here."
Megamind turned like a flash to face this man, his toxic green eyes glowed with rage. "We're leaving now, Minion." He broke free of the robotic arm and began to walk without Minion, but his lifelong friend didn't turn to apologize; he kept faithfully following his friend.
Wayne and Roxanne looked at each other, both suddenly very worried. The two followed them silently.
Arriving back at the Lair, Roxanne thanked Greg, who dropped them off. She watched the jeep leave, then turned and headed in the Lair.
The drive back had been awkward beyond words. Megamind had sat in the front next to Greg, who was chatting about his latest girlfriend. Roxanne didn't listen and she knew Megamind wasn't listening, either; he had his back to them the whole time. Minion's suit was facing them but he was floating in the direction of his friend talking in a low and calm tone. She couldn't make out what he was saying.
Wayne watched with a worried expression as he heard what they were saying. He now knew what this Doctor had done to Megamind; he felt anger toward Wallace, but it wasn't his place to do anything.
Once in the Lair, things changed. Megamind walked slowly, ahead of the others, over to his work desk that was full of half-finished blueprints for new machines for the city's water system, to clean the bay, and the idea wall that was covered with new plans. He stopped just in front of it and stood with his back to them. He let his arms rest on the work top, breathing calmly, trying to regain control of himself. When he finally turned, an expression of solid calm was fixed on the blue face. Then, without any warning, it changed to complete rage and hatred; he spun around and started to grab random items and throw around the lair.
All the brainbots flew away and hid, not wanting to be in the line of their "daddy's" wrath.
The other three stood back. Both Minion and Wayne shielded Roxanne from any items that came at them. Neither the ex-hero nor the reporter had ever seen the villain-turned-hero like this in all the years of knowing him. Oh, he had been mad before, but nothing like this mental melt-down.
Minion forcefully told the other two to wait in the kitchen while he calmed Megamind down.
Roxanne had to duck as items that came at them. She took one looked at her blue hero in the maelstrom of rage, then ran to safety.
It was a good 3 hours later when Minion finally came back, without his enraged friend. At some point he had switched to an undamaged suit.
Looking to the door, waiting for the blue guy to appear, Wayne broke the silence. "Is he -"
Minion looked at him sadly. "I had to give Sir something to relax."
"You, you drugged him." Roxanne looked at the fish, shocked.
He replied quickly "Only to calm him, Miss Ritchi." He looked away, completely guilty and helpless. "I had to give him one of our strongest sedative, zodiapines. He'll be out for hours now."
Roxanne looked from the door that led from the kitchen into the main lair; she looked over at Wayne. He spoke at first to himself. "I wonder why he acted like that." Then Wayne looked up at Minion and asked again, "Why did he act like that?"
Minion walked over to the middle of the room and sat on one of the kitchen chairs, his large hands raised to his bowl. "I won't go into detail about what Sir and I have been through in the past." He turned from their faces. "But I will say this: Sir had it worse than I did, and I'm not talking about when we were at school."
Roxanne came and sat in one of the chairs next to him and held out her hand. "Minion," she started but stopped.
"Seeing Dr. Henri again after all these years has open old emotional wounds that Sir had thought would stay in the past." He looked at her. "I do believe Sir wants him dead even more that he did you, Mr Scott." The fish looked over at Wayne.
Wayne was slightly surprised by Minion calling him that. In the past, it had always been Metro Man or Goodie-two-shoes or something else.
Roxanne looked from the fish's face back toward the door, worried. "Will he be okay now?"
"I'm not sure." Minion gave a weak smile. "I thinking that trying to get him to focus on something would the best thing." Within Minion's mind flashed the safely of the city. He then looked at Wayne and asked "Would you mind patrolling the city until Sir's feeling better?"
"Oh, of course not, Minion." He looked back at the door.
Slowly blinking, he opened his eyes. His mind seemed very foggy. Still lying on the bed, he raised a hand to his head. The headache from previous day had returned and was hammering away. He tried to push it back but he felt weak. He somehow knew Minion had a part to play in this. He slowly turned his head to the right and saw a bottle with his writing on it. He could only make out 'zodiapines'.
He felt like he was going to fall sleep again any minute, but as he looked around in the dark room, he noticed that he was in his bed. He was thankful that Minion hadn't changed his clothes. He moved slightly and saw Roxanne in a chair not far away. She was fast a sleep with a blanket over her. He smiled.
His mind chose that moment to ruin the sweet mood by flashing back to the memory of seeing Doctor Henri Wallace and then what the man had done to him all those years ago. His hands balled tightly into fists.
The stronger sedative was working. He let out a sigh and looked away from her sleeping body. "I don't think I could ever tell you what he did to me," he whispered. His eyes dropped shut.
The last thing he saw before he fell asleep again was her sleeping form, then darkness.
Not long after Megamind fell asleep again Roxanne stretched out in the chair, letting the blanket fall to the ground. She looked over at the bed. Seeing that he was still lying there, she sighed, stood slowly, made her way over to him and kissed his cheek, then went into the kitchen.
She could hear music playing on low volume. It was the type that Minion loved. She push open the door and saw him happily dancing around the large room. She smirked at him until he saw her.
"Sorry. Did I wake you?"
"Oh no, you didn't." She looked over at the food. "Smells great."
He smiled. "It's Sir's favourite. It'll cheer him up."
She gave him a warm smile, then she looked back the way she had come. "Minion" she asked worriedly. "I've never seen him like that."
He turned in the bowl to face her. "When Sir calms down, it'll be okay." Minion gave a short laugh. "This is nothing, Miss Ritchi." He turned his whole body and walked off.
She followed him as he walked to another part of the Lair. She listened to him talk. "There were times when Sir would go off alone, either planning or to fight with Wayne, and it would be days or longer until I heard from him." He stopped near the car. "So I know he'll be okay. Just give him time with this."
Startling both, the Lair's the phone started to ring. Minion walked over to it and answered. Within seconds of listening to the caller, Minion turned to her. "No, I'm sorry, General, but Sir can't come right now."
The reporter's eyes locked with amber and she came closer. She could just make out some of the conversation. "Jeremy Autumn had a relapse," said the General's tinny voice, "and changed back into the lava monster, while he was being taken back to the base."
With phone in hand, Minion rushed over to the map and looked at it. "Yes, General, I see the road. It's not far from Glenfield housing estate. Don't worry. I'll be on my way." He pressed a button on the phone and hung up.
"Miss Ritchi." He turned his whole body. "Can you call Wayne? It'll take me a while to get there."
"What's up, Minion?"
"I know Sir needs time to get his head together, so we'll have to deal with this." He walked over to a hidden door and opened it.
"Deal with what?" the reporter asked "What's happening, Minion? You're not going to fight that thing, are you? You saw what it did to the streets and, and your suit."
"General Greenfield told me that Jeremy's turned back into that monster again. After what happened earlier between Sir and that so called Doctor," Minion turned in the bowl to her, "I don't think Sir would be much help."
Roxanne looked over his arm and her eyes widened, hanging up were tons of guns of all different sizes "Wow," she whispered.
Minion smirked. "Yes, they are very impressive, aren't they?" He grabbed the freeze gun.
"Right." She turned to walk over to the invisible car but was stopped by Minion. The fish was grinning happily.
"Miss Ritchi, can you stay here and watch Sir? Those sedative make him really dizzy and weak. I don't want him trying to start on anything until morning."
"All right, Minion, but be careful out there."
The fish smiled. "I will, Miss Ritchi." He walked over to the newly rebuild hoverbike, looked back at her and smiled.
"I'll call Wayne." She grinned at him and watch him fly off.
To be continued