Notes: So I've had this second chapter kicking around for a while now, and well.. I dunno. It's a whole new sort of style for me. Experimenting with writing recently to challenge myself, and to move away from my normal style - which is to describe things in terrible detail and throw in a lot of internal thought processes. So I give you a chapter that is entirely dialogue. It'll either be good or terrible. It makes sense to me, but tell me if it ends up being a miss for anyone. I find that sometimes my dialogue is my weak part - I feel like I have to use excessive description of the speaker in order to get the emotion/tone I want from the speech. So I hoped that by relying purely on dialogue, I could practice this a bit better. Either way, this chapter, we hear from the Warden, the Scott's, and the local media about Megamind and Metro Man, at various points in their history. Also... sorry for posting this so late! It's already been out on Livejournal for a couple days, and I've just been too busy to post. Gah.

Warnings: None. This chapter is totally tame. Just potentially confusing... .;;

Disclaimer: 'Megamind' and all its characters are owned by Dreamworks. I own nothing.

"The Warden will now take questions from the press."

"Warden! Warden! Over here! Jennifer Rapley, Metro City Herald. Can you respond to the allegations that your prison has been harbouring a known extra-terrestrial being for the past four years?"

"The Metro City Prison for the Criminally Gifted and all of its personnel has conducted themselves with the interest of all prisoners and the public in mind. What we have done and continue to do is in the best interest of all those involved."

"That doesn't answer the question. Is there an alien child within your prison?"

"..."

"Warden?"

"There is a child present. I can neither confirm nor deny his origin as being alien... But I assure you, aside from being too smart for his own good, the child is harmless."

"Warden!"

"Warden, over here!"

"Sir! Alan Jameson, reporting for KMCP 8 News! How did the prison come to have this child?"

"He was abandoned. Our facilities are the only home he's ever had."

"Why has it taken so long for the prison to make this public?"

"For protection of the child, and the populace at large, we have maintained confidentiality of his existence until the appropriate authorities could be brought in."

"Metro City Gazette here. Our readers will want to know, should the populace at large be on alert? How dangerous is this alien?"
"He's harmless. Just a kid, like any other."

"What sort of authorities have been brought in to deal with this child?"

"Psychologists. Researchers. Government officials."

"Do you have any names for these professionals?"

"I think you've asked enough questions."

"Metro News, online edition, over here! How is it possible that the child has been allowed to remain in the prison's care? Where is the government in all of this? How can a prison be a fit place to raise a child, alien or not?"

"Look, this boy landed in our laps. Here, in Metro City. He's ours, whether we like it or not. I don't know where he's from, but this is the safest place for him to be. Safe for him, and safe for you. He's got papers now. He's a Metro City resident."

"And that makes him a criminal? You're housing an innocent behind bars! He's come to share his knowledge of the world's beyond and you're imprisoning him to do your tests and torture! Free the alien!"

"Who said that?"

"Set him free! He's just a child!"

"Who are you?"

"We're from the Metro City Extra Terrestrial Society! And we are here to protest the unjustified capture and abuse of a living being; a child no less! Free the alien!"

"Free E.T.! Free E.T.! Free E.T.!"

"Get them out of here!"

"Warden! Warden, another question!"

"Warden, over here!"

"Sir, a question!"

"Does the child have a name?"

"What does it look like?"

"Free E.T.!"

"Is there any connection with the December meteor landing, four years ago? With the Scott's boy?"

"Is it true there is a child andanother creature?"

"How can the prison legally confine a minor?"

"Free E.T.! Free E.T.!"

"Is it true the government has been involved in a conspiracy to keep the alien hidden from the public?"

"Has there been any contact with other planets in relation to the child?"

"What about the recent rumours that the government is planning on executing the alien child?"

"FREE E.T.!"

"Will the child be allowed out into the public at any point?"

"Is it true that tax-payer dollars are being put toward the child's care?"

"Free E.T.! You can't hide him forever Warden!"

"No comment! This press conference is over!"

"First of all, thank you so much for allowing us to conduct this interview."

"Oh, it's no problem at all."

"So, Mr. and Mrs. Scott, our viewers are very interested in your unique family."

"Yes, we are a happy family, isn't that right dear?"

"Mmm? Oh yes, of course darling."

"Can you tell us about your son Wayne?"

"Wayne? Yes, our boy is quite the character."

"How old is he now?"

"10. And quite the handsome little man too! Right dear?"

"Of course honey."

"Did you know our son is such a talent with music? He's so gifted. He goes to a private school, for children like himself. He's just so bright."

"I'm sure he is, Mrs. Scott. But I was hoping you could tell us a little about his more... special qualities?"

"He's just recently picked up the ukulele, you know. He's already excelling at his piano lessons, naturally, but I do think he enjoys the string instruments. We may push him towards the violin, because it's such an intellectual pursuit."

"His powers, Mrs. Scott?"

"Oh, yes, those. Well, of course, our son is exceptionally gifted."

"Tell us more."

"Wayne, well, he's always been a very strong child."

"Strong? How so?"

"Lifting his crib, cars, people, things like that. Right dear?"

"Yes, whatever you like."

"Honestly, darling, could you put down the paper? We're on the news."

"Hmm?"

"The news, darling. We're on it... Yes, Wayne has shown many talents since he was a baby."

"Is it correct to say that your son is able to fly?"

"Oh my yes, he's quite good at that. Really is very helpful while decorating for the holidays. Did you know we've won the West End Neighbourhood Committee's Christmas Cheer Contest eight years in a row?"

"That's... wonderful Mrs. Scott. But about your son..."

"Yes, he does enjoy helping. Although sometimes he complains-"

"Mrs. Scott, I hate to be a bother, but your son's powers..."

"Oh very well... Yes, Wayne has what you would call, super-powers. Laser vision, strength, flight... He cannot be hurt. I'm sure there's more I'm missing, but it's hard to remember it all."

"That's very interesting! Have you any idea how he came to have these powers?"

"He's always had them, from our knowledge."

"Is he your biological son?"

"He's our son."

"Mr. Scott?"

"He's our son as far as anyone is concerned, biological or not. He came to us, and he is our son."

"He's our miracle."

"That's wonderful. I understand that your son has been helping around the community?"

"Oh haha, yes, he has become quite the little hero."

"Can you tell me about the events of last week?"

"Oh, the little boy?"

"Yes, that's right. Wayne saved the life of a small child, did he not?"

"That's right. Unfortunate story, really. The fire took the family's home I understand, but Wayne was able to find the little boy before it was too late."

"That's very heroic."

"We're so proud of him, using his powers for good and all that. You know, we're very influential in the community. He must have gotten his sense of charity from us."

"I'm sure he did. Do you see a future for your son as, perhaps, a super hero? A real-world Superman?"

"We'd like him to become Senator."

"... I see. One last question. I understand that your son attended the... let me see... Lil' Gifted School for Lil' Gifted Kids, right?"

"Yes... That's correct."

"There was an incident, three years ago, involving another student."

"Oh."

"I don't suppose you could talk a little abou-"

"We don't talk about... that day."

"I'm sorry?"

"We don't know anything."

"So you don't have any information about the young boy from the Metro City Priso-"

"I said we don't talk about that."

"Some sources claim that your son may have connections to the alien child. They attended the same school for some time. And they're both very unique. Almost... out of this world?"

"I don't care for what you're insinuating. Wayne is our son, and he is a good boy. Nothing like that... thing. I think I've said all I have to say on the subject."

"...Yes, well thank you very much for your time."

"I tell ya, it was the damn near scariest thing I ever seen."

"Yea man, it was like... crazy. Seriously."

"Can you tell me what you saw that day?"

"Well, first, like... seriously? I never thought something like this would happen to me, you know?"

"Ya, it was terrifyin', is what it was. Mike here, and me, we was just sittin', mindin' our own-"

"Totally minding our own business, you know?"

"And then all of a sudden, there's this big... BANG!"

"Yea, like KAPLOW! You know, like some movie type shit."

"I damn near wet myself."

"Totally. He did."

"Where did this occur?"

"Oh. Oh yea, like... we were at the Flying K, you know? The truck stop down, like, RIGHT near the prison."

"Awful spot to have a truck stop, you ask me. Murderers waltzin' outta that jail, jackin' us poor truckers. We're just tryin'a do our honest days work. Know a boy down the line, got his head clean blasted off by escaped convict. Dangerous world out there, Ma'am."

"And what happened after the explosion? That day when you saw the escapee?"

"Oh yea, man, like seriously? It was CRAZY. Like, there was smoke EVERYWHERE."

"Couldn't hardly see nothin'."

"Nothing man. Seriously. And then, this... like robot thing-"

"Nah, it was a fish!"

"Bill, it was a robot."

"Well, sure as shoot had a fish fer a head."

"There was a second man there? In a costume like a robot?"

"Costume's don't move like dat."

"No way man."

"And there was a livin', breathin' fish up in that tank on top."

"Fish don't breathe Bill!"

"They breathe water, don't they?"

"Gentlemen, please. If you could continue?"

"Right, right. Well... this... fish-robot thing comes walking out of the smoke, like something from Mars Attacks, right? You know that movie?"

"One with the little green critters. Heads explode with country music."

"Yes, I'm familiar with that film."

"Yea, well it was totally just like that! Out comes this robot thin-"

"Fish."

"Shut up Bill and lemme tell the story! Right, out that thing walks, and then there's another one! And dude, seriously? Seriously? His head was like THIS."

"Another robot?"

"No-no-no man, an ALIEN."

"Just like dem aliens in that movie."

"Would you say he was wearing a mask?"

"I... I don't think so."

"Not any sort a' mask I ever seen."

"Would have to be like... a real custom job, you know? So life-like. You could see his mouth moving. Just like the aliens in the movies. 'Cept he was like... normal height, you know? And blue."

"Blue as my suede shoes, Ma'am. Swear on mah momma's grave."

"And what happened after that?"

"Well, he pulls out this like, glowing gun thing. He was all dressed in, like, you know... orange jumpsuit, from the prison? Just like on TV."

"And out he whips this contraption, glowin' like a neon sign. Ain't never seen no gun like that in all my days."

"Yea man, it was CRAZY. And he just starts laughin' his head off, aiming it at people."

"Crazy as a loon he was."

"What did you gentlemen do when he pulled the weapon?"

"Got the hell out of there!"

"Ma'am, I got a wife and kids at home. I gotta protect mahself, fer their sake."

"We ducked down behind a table, cuz we were like, eating in the restaurant, right?"

"What did the attacker want?"

"What you think he wanted? Money!"

"Oh yea, man, he like cleaned them OUT. Took everything. And food too!"

"Food?"

"Yes Ma'am. Him an' that unnatural creation, well they loaded themselves up with grub. Like they hadn't eaten in days. Doughnuts 'specially. Damn near had a conniption fit, he did, when he saw they had doughnuts. Like my boy done acted on Christmas opening one o' them gamin' boxes. Y Box? Z Box?"

"X Box, Bill. God, you're like a dinosaur."

"Shut yer trap Mike."

"What happened after that?"

"Well, they like... just kind of backed out of the big hole they blasted out of the wall, and ran off."

"Did you happen to see where they fled to?"

"No Ma'am. We was too busy thankin' the good Lord for savin' our skins that day."

"Was anyone injured during this attack?"

"You know, I don't think so? I mean, like maybe some old guy had a heart attack or somethin', but he never fired that gun. We were all just so, you know, freaked out that we didn't try anything."

"What you think we could have done? Fought that there robot? No-siree. I'm real sorry for them owners that got robbed and all, but I thank the Lord Jesus we made it out alive."

"There you have it. Firsthand accounts from two witnesses of the recent escaped convict from the Metro City Prison for the Criminally Gifted. Back to you Mark."

"Thanks Whitney. Again, that was Whitney Chen, KMCP 8's on-the-scene reporter, live. We want to remind our viewers that this individual, calling himself Megamind, is to be considered armed and very dangerous. We stress that the public is not to attempt to confront this individual, but should immediately contact local authorities and retreat to safety. If you have any information on the whereabouts of this dangerous felon, please contact emergency services. And now, let's go to Julie Anderson live from Metro City Prison for the Criminally Gifted. Julie?"

"Yes Mark."

"Now Julie, do you have any information about this current situation for the viewers at home?"

"Yes Mark. I have been, at this time, unable to speak with the Warden of this facility but what we know right now is that this individual's name is Megamind and this is his tenth escape to date. However, this is the first escape enacted by this prisoner in which he has threatened the lives of citizens in Metro City."

"What else do we know about Megamind at this time?"

"He has been a resident of this prison for many years. It has been well known for some time that the prison has had within its walls an extra-terrestrial being, and some viewers may recall an incident at a local one room school house for the gifted, nearly thirteen years ago where scandal broke out. The child once referred to as 'harmless' and simply 'too smart for his own good' then became a state wide person of interest. Controversy has surrounded this penitentiary and its Warden for nearly twenty years now in relation to the child, and his behaviour has continued to spiral dangerously out of control. He is now an escaped prisoner of this jail, considered very dangerous and the police have yet to locate his whereabouts."

"Tell us Julie, what makes this prisoner so dangerous?"

"It's his intelligence Mark. Reports have verified that this individual has been tested with well over genius levels of IQ. He has escaped ten times from this high security facility, often using extremely sophisticated and complex plans for his break-outs. He has also displayed an uncanny ability to develop and create weapons of increasingly more dangerous designs."

"What sorts of weapons?"

"Mostly those built to help him escape. Just last year, he was able to create a levitation device of sorts, that enabled him to rise over the fenced area you see behind me, out of scrap metal and wiring from electrical boxes around the prison, as well as a riot shield. He was later shot down by the prison marksmen from that tower, and sustained non-life threatening injuries before being detained and re-admitted to the prison."

"Any ideas Julie on how he made his daring escape this time?"

"He evidently escaped via a complex espionage involving several guards, inmates, and a large amount of chemical compounds."

"Chemical compounds, Julie?"

"That's right Mark. Reports are that this individual was able to form a crude incendiary device with common household and industrial cleaners found in the prison, as well as various toiletries that inmates are afforded for regular hygiene. The bomb was set off sometime around 3:15 PM yesterday, causing mass hysteria and injuring four guards on duty. The explosion gave time for the escapee to disguise himself in an officer's uniform, slipping out of detainment among others during a mandatory evacuation of the affected area."

"Are you saying that he was able to walk out of the prison without being noticed?"

"It is unclear exactly how he accomplished this, Mark. Speculation is that he received aid from outside the prison, evidenced by the damage to this fence you see behind me. The burn marks and melted metal here are extensive and authorities state that it would have taken someone, on their own, more than thirty minutes to do this form of damage without the aid of some sort of... intense heat source and machinery. It is unclear at this point if he has developed yet another dangerous weapon for this purpose."

"Is there any information in support of eye witness testimonies stating the suspect has a companion, described as being a... robot or space-aged android of some sort?"

"There are some eye witness reports testifying to that, yes, but if there is any sort of physical evidence to support that, we have not received word of it from either the Warden or the Chief of Police."

"Interesting. Julie, do the authorities have any leads on where this prisoner may be?"

"At this time, the Metro City Police Department has not released a statement, but a press conference has been scheduled for later today. The MCPD is scouring the city for this man, running on key witness testimony for their investigation. No word yet on any hot leads."

"Thank you Julie."

"You're welcome Mark."

"That was Julie Anderson from outside of the Metro City Prison for the Criminally Gifted, if you're just joining us. The city is on high alert this evening, for the escaped prisoner going only by the name Megamind. He is described, based on a stock photo, as standing 5'5", somewhere in his late teens, early twenties, appearing to have blue skin and an enlarged head. If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of this individual, please contact your local authorities. He is to be considered armed and very dangerous. We'll continue to bring you news as it develops, right after these messag—What? Wait, this just in. I'm being told that we're going live to Bradley Baker, our man on the street. Brad, are you there?"

"Hello Mark!"

"Brad, I can barely hear you, what's happening?"

"History in the making Mark! I'm here, live on location at Hot Crossed Buns Bakery, downtown Metro City, where grateful patrons, MCPD and passerbys alike are rejoicing! Delicious pastries and hot lattes aren't the only things on the menu today, because one unlucky crook in this quaint little shop was also served a steaming plate of justice!"

"Bradley, am I seeing things correctly?"

"You sure are Mark! Behind me you see the end result of a heroic good deed by one of Metro City's own local celebrities! That's right, our very own Wayne Scott, boy wonder and son to the prestigious Scott family, has captured and subdued Megamind!"

"Am I to understand that Megamind is now back within police custody?"

"That's right! Just moments ago, young Mr. Scott, a recent graduate of Metro City High, made a daring entrance to the bakery and cafe after hearing what he claimed was the silent alarm triggered by the shop owner, Barb MacIntosh. Barb, can you describe the events of today?"

"It was terrifying! He just came crashing in, with this huge robot, pointing that gun at everyone, demanding money, food, and everyone's cell phones and computers... I didn't know what to do!"

"Do you know the identity of the robbers?"

"That... Megamind, from the news!"

"And then what happened?"

"Well, I hit the alarm when he was distracted, and suddenly, Wayne came flying in like some sort of... of super-hero! He was so quick, and was able to knock that gun away. Oh goodness, if he hadn't been here, I don't know what I'd do. I think we all owe him our lives!"

"Thanks Barb. You can guess what happens after that, Mark. Patrons have told me that the two struggled in hand to hand combat, yelling and what one witness described as BANTERING back and forth. But Wayne easily out powered the robber, and used a metal railing that once stood here at the counter to wrap around his opponent, effectively subduing the criminal before any harm could come to the customers of the store."

"Bradley, is there any news on the whereabouts of Megamind's accomplice?"

"Sadly, it seems that during the scuffle, the other gunman escaped just before the Metro City Police Department arrived on sight, responding to the alarm as well. Only they were in for quite a surprise when they rushed to the scene and found that someone had beaten them... to the punch! Hahaha, isn't that right Wayne!"

"Hahaha, that's right Bradley. I'm just doing what any citizen would do if given the chance."

"Tell us Wayne, how does it feel to use those special powers of yours to take out a criminal like Megamind?"

"Well Brad, it feels good. I'm happy to do whatever I can to help keep our fair city safe for everyone."

"Spoken like a real man! Might I even say... Metro City's best man? Hahaha!"

"Metro City's Man, eh? Hah, it has a nice ring to it!"

"Well thank you so much Wayne, and I think I speak for everyone when I say we're happy to have you be a part of our city and I for one, feel a little safer out on those streets."

"Glad to help Bradley."

"There you have it! The day is saved, the bad guy is behind bars once again, and dare I say it? A new hero is born! This is Bradley Baker, signing off for KMCP 8 News! Back to you, Mark!"