Chapter 5: Exposure
At full pelt and my brain switched straight to alarm mode, I blasted down the corridors with elegance and silence. I was going to give my position away to that idiot who was now probably running for his life… Huh, he's scared of his own mother for heaven's sake! I suddenly screeched to a halt. I couldn't see Wazowski anywhere. Now was the time to focus and let my anger drag behind. I closed my bulging eyes and let my slippery snake-like tongue taste the air. This was one of my main advantages in any type of area. I could smell the sweet drift of coffee and a not so nice smell of horrible trash. I shivered at the odour and continued to concentrate. Hang on; I could smell that repulsive ball! Yes he was around 8 degrees south… I did say I was advanced you know! Opening my eyes, I trembled in the presence of my rage, throwing down the newspaper that I had been carrying though all of this stress. I sprinted off, rounding one sharp corner to the next until I reached a large painting of Waternoose. I looked at it curiously… until I heard the recognisable panting of a monster running around the bend. That was my cue and I quickly disappeared, blending into the colouring of the portrait. Wazowski flung himself onto the wall and looked round the bend to see if I was following him from behind. Little did HE know, I was right there breathing down his, uhh, well, neck (I think?). Ok, OK! Backside… He finally breathed a sigh of relief as I slowly revealed myself from my hiding place, my arms folded and head shaking in an act of annoyance. Placing his feet one after the other Mike turned to find: ME! "
"YIKES!" He shrieked, jumping off the ground in surprise. As he did so, I curled my body backwards in a quick slither, teeth bared and rammed into his body, sending myself and him flying into the back wall. This was no funny matter. I wanted to find out what all this secrecy with Wazowski was and I wanted that info NOW! I pulled onto his one massive eyelid, pinning him on the wooden surface.
"WHERE'S THE KID?!" I growled, fronds flying from my head movements. His open mouth contracted into a frightened and embarrassed glance.
"Kid? What kid?" He managed to squeak out. No time for funny business I knew for sure that he was behind this, and if Wazowski was in on this, than Sullivan must be too. I lowered myself away from him, letting his form drop onto the soft carpet.
"It's here in the factory, isn't it?" I stated, looking around the room.
"You're not pinning this on me." Wazowski splattered out in defence, raising his hands in defiance. "It never would have gotten out, if YOU hadn't been cheating last night!" My face turned into a look of shock and I pulled my fronds close to my raised skin. This idiot was accusing me of cheating! CHEATING I TELL YOU! I swear on my life that I would never, ever, EVER cheat! I blew up… nearly.
"CHEATING I…" I paused, figuring things up. If I could go along with what Wazowski was thinking, things might turn out ok for the both of us and Waternoose would never find out. "Cheating right… Ok, I think I know how to make this all go away." I concocted a smile before brushing up a question. "What happens when the whistle blows in five minutes?" Wazowksi looked dumbfounded.
"Uhh, I get a timeout?" Idiot again … I almost exploded.
"Everyone goes to lunch!" I had to keep my cool. "Which means… the scarefloor will be?" Wazowksi's lip retracted into his mouth in confusion.
"Painted?" That was the final straw! He just wanted to play it hard didn't he!
"EMPTY! IT I'LL BE EMPTY YOU IDIOT!" I raged, shaking Wazowski in frustration. I looked to the side to notice a boring looking clock ticking the time.
"You see that clock?" I pointed. Surely he wasn't that dumb! I grabbed Mike's hands. "The big hand is pointing UP…" I wrenched his arm up, hearing his tiny bones crack at the impact. "… and the little hand is pointing up…" another arm up. "The kid's door will be in MY station. But when the big hand points DOWN…" I pulled one of his arms over the top of the other, hearing his bones rattle once again. Wazowski started to whimper in fear. "The door will be gone. You have until then to put the kid BACK. Get the picture?" I waved two fingers in front of his face, hearing a tiny murmur in answer. "Now get going!" I shouted, pushing him onto the floor with all of my strength. He cowered in fright and clambered back on his feet, running off down the winded passages. I breathed a deep sigh of relief. Everything was going to be ok again… I was sure of it this time. Inside, I was admiring myself for scaring Wazowski into obedience. Outside, I was glad that soon this was all going to be over. For the first time in my life, I trusted Wazowski to do the RIGHT thing, for if it went smoothly, I could escape with my head still attached on my neck. Waternoose wasn't going to know anything about what I'd just found out, period.
My eyes suddenly opened wide. I better go and get ready! It was only three minutes to go until all of the scarers would retire to the lunchrooms to have the meal of the day. I scanned the area. I was sure I wasn't that far away from my secret basement, although in a place this size, it's quite easy to get lost. I always remember the course I take though… if you could replace the saying 'an elephant never forgets' to 'a lizard never forgets', than that would be believable. I finally set off on the journey back towards my 'dark room'. Finally, I found the hidden door once again and adjusted the spanner on the tool holder. Slipping inside, I shut the door behind me. Now was not the time for sneak peeks from any other monsters. After twisting through the many pipes, I reached the area to find Fungus sitting at the desk, studying the blueprints for what hopefully would be the last time. He suddenly jumped up, noticing I had entered the room.
"Oh Randall, you frightened me." He shivered.
"It's my job you know?" I answered smiling my trademark, actually looking on the bright side. "Look, I've found a way out of this mess." I continued as I readied my cart of fake canisters.
"Oh that's good news to hear! Not that you'd be telling me bad news anyway because we already have a lot of bad news…" He was rambling yet again. I raised my three-fingered hand for quiet. I started to push the trundle thing towards the exit before spotting a square box. That would be usefully to quietly catch the kid. I picked it up also with my lower set of hands, dragging it behind me. I swiftly bent down to collect the small keycard to call the door in my grasp on the way out. I smiled at my sudden thought…
"You know Fungus… maybe after this is done and dusted, I can build you a mouth controller." I chuckled quietly with glee. I could hear the jellybean monster give a quiet ha in the background. Rolling my eyes, I set off for my prize. Huh, it's nice to say a joke once in a while… I wouldn't call a day-to-day basis exciting. The corridors were surprisingly empty as it was now 12 noons. Ignoring my head, I continued onwards into the scarefloor. I carefully discarded the cart to the side and trundled over to the control pad. Sweeping the card through the caller, I waited patiently for the door to come rumbling down the overhead track, gently swaying in the air gushing from the force. My face fell into a tired glance. My emotions were changing once again… I just wanted this to be over so I for once could pull out the glasses, down some lovely slime and have a relaxing day. Not tired. Not overworked. Incredibly satisfied and fit. I'd drifted off in my daydreams again as I finally awoke to see the door straight in front of my muzzle. I smiled at the thought of finally taking a day off. Grasping the door, I pushed it open firmly and almost pranced inside, pulling the container behind me with effort.
"YOUCH!" I cried out suddenly. I fiddled my position, losing my balance. Damn it! I'd spoken too loud. I cringed at the thought and looked down to see a toy building block just a centimetre from my foot. Must have stood on the stupid thing. I kicked it aside, watching it pushed onto the wooden flooring. Nobody must have heard me. Oh good… Hmm, she's kind of a slob, this child, but what two year old isn't to clean up after themselves? Ignoring my throbbing toe, I lowered down onto all eight limbs and slithered soundless under the bed, pushing myself among the large amount of clutter. I had no idea what time it was… Finally, loud clobbering footsteps broke the annoying buzz of light bulbs and I saw a small figure place itself in the doorway. I was pretty sure it was Wazowski. Yep… around 3 foot tall, large and ball shaped. So the eyeball had been true to his word and had come to drop the kid off back into her inviting bedroom. Perfect. I couldn't hear what he was saying due to the density of the room, but I could hear another muffled voice that I knew instantly was Sullivan. So it was the twosome still. Like always… Mike seemed to be jumping around and having some kind of argument with Sullivan. Finally, what I presumed to be the child strutted into the room. The figure than jumped onto the wooden bed and began to bounce on the top. I coiled my muscles and spine in a tight position, ready to pounce at any moment. The mattress springs were making a horrible creeping noise with every movement. My fronds bristled the soft material, making it tickle horribly. Baring my teeth into a snarl, I flung up towards the top of the bed, the box in the top of my arms and smacked it down onto the bed, trapping the kid inside the considerably small space. I lifted it with a huff back onto my utmost arms, using my bottom set for support. Gosh, she was heavier than I though! Using my heat censoring pits, I left the room, pacing casually over to the cart. Would you believe that I consider my heat sensor system an extra hundred eyes! I swiftly positioned my tail ending around the knob and quickly closed it. With all of my strength, I opened the hidden lid and placed the box inside, bouncing over to the control panel afterwards and pressing the button to send the door back to its usual place in the vault. I watched it lift off, before returning to the trundle. Then off I went with a tired expression back towards my lair, the cart making a repeating noise as it met with the smooth, polished floor. As I neared the exit, I heard a noise. I froze in my steady tracks, all my senses switching to alert mode. I knew that somebody was here, watching me. I quickly vanished, swiftly running around the floor. I knocked into some canisters on the far end, making a noisy clatter before sprinting back and accidentally catching a piece of paper, which floated calmly to the floor. Where the heck was this wise guy?! I crept down near my desk, watching the view around me. I appeared again, scale by small scale. I was going to give this person a surprise. Narrowing my eyes, I watched carefully, checking for anything before… Suddenly, the loud bell sounding the end of lunch rang throughout the building. I gasped to myself, noticing the cart still in the middle of the room. I had to get to it before it was moved off AND I couldn't be noticed sneaking about in here anyway. Nobody would suspect me if I was calm, walking nice with this trolley in my grip. I took off, jolting about the floor, my agility allowing me to turn this way and that. After reaching the cart, I stood upright once again and went off on my track back towards the underground space. Whoever I thought must have been watching me was probably my nerves and imagination. Lack of sleep can do these things to you… Still being cautious I breathed a sigh of relief to myself. I had gotten the kid and we were now getting this business thing over and done with. Passing into the long hallways, I looked around, still suspicious, before quickly entering my lair, opening, entering and closing the door in a split second.
The loud pipes made the usual oppressing noise around me, whistling a repeating melody from the leaking steam pockets. Ok, from time to time, it does get a little creepy and eerie down here. You all know the stories about basements of big places. But the fact that I've been down here for almost countless long hours has dawned the fact that there is absolutely nothing here but old metal carrying scream energy and endless walkways which reach to all parts of the factory. Of course I've not been all around this place. I'd like to, but it's just unnatural. But someday… someday I'd love to see the doors vault and see all of the engineering and technology incorporated into the design! It's another one of those fantasy dreams. Echoing around the place, I heard tools connecting with other pieces of metal. I was sure it was Fungus, messing about with all of the contraptions and so called gadgetry. I finally entered the section of room, frightening him ONCE AGAIN! He really needs to be more alert sometimes and get out of that geeky brain of his.
"Oh Randall! You scared me." He jabbered on. "Not that I was completely scared, I was only a little scared because you always seem to creep up onto me. So did you manage to get the child?" I rolled my eyes in frustration. He can also be so dumb and a wiz at the same time. What is up with the guy!
"Yes! I got the kid." I replied in a sarcastic manner.
"Oh hazaar!" Well, he seemed happy… A little TOO happy in my opinion "That's great news. Not that I was concerned of course…" The little brainbox was doing it again! Somebody help me! I've had just about up to here of that rambling of his.
"Just get over here and help me!" I shouted, not wanting to waste any more time. I was getting aggravated still the same.
"Come on, come on, come on!" I said in a fast pace. "While were young here Fungus!" That's all he needed, a little bit of encouragement. We both paced round to the side of the cart and swiftly opened the hidden lid. We peered down into the darkness inside, eyeing the crate before we both reached down and grabbed the unusually heavy object. I exasperated a groan as I was nearly pulled down by the weight. We then started to carry on towards the chair.
"Kid needs to take off a few pounds." I spoke with a short struggle. I could also see Fungus shifting with the extra weight. Finally we reached that round thing of a chair and tipped the box's contents onto the seat, very surprised to see:
"WAZOWSKI!" I hollered. What the heck was he doing here! Oh goodness! The secret basement, the scream extractor and the whole plan… we were going to get discovered here! This issue, was now turning into a full scale problem… Suddenly, my shock of the discovery turned into desperation and anger. This little jerk had lied to me, and I wanted my end of the bargain!
"Where is it you one eyed cretin?" I seethed, pointing an angry index finger. He seemed to remain calm, although he still seemed to have that fear in his eyes, but I'm no mind reader…
"Ok, first of all its 'cree-ton', if your going to threaten me, do it properly…" The sarcastic little eyeball! I could rip his gut out, but I'm no killer! I folded my arms with a daring glance across my head. Wazowski even dared to continue his small speech.
"Second of all, your nuts if you think kidnapping ME will help YOU cheat your way to the top!" What the heck… I bought him down here into a place he's never been in his life and he is still as idiotic as ever? Did he still think this was about places on the damn scareboard? The whole scene was too much. I burst into laughter my tense body relaxing. After my outburst, I calmed down.
"You still think this about that STUPID scare record?" I especially emphasized the last words laying my hands in innocence. Well… at least I could clear this business up over 'cheating'.
"Uhh, I did, right up until you chuckled like that…" He looked dumbstricken enough to be a brick wall. "…and now I'm thinking I should just get out of here." He started to step out of the small seat. Oh no you don't! You're not getting away with this just like that. The bar suddenly clamped down, locking Mike in his place. I then went round fastening the claspers so he couldn't move his arms.
"I'm about to revolutionise the scaring industry. When I do, even the great JAMES P. SULLIVAN is gonna be working for ME." I explained carefully so he would understand, clasping my hands together in a sort of weird glee.
"Well, somebody's certainly been a busy bee." He replied in a nervous voice. He tried to cower away, but my bars held him in place. I suddenly flinched towards him, making him stay still and bite his lower lip.
"First I need to know where the kid is… and YOUR going to tell ME." I pointed slowly looking in his one, glassy eye. He started to protest.
"I don't know anything." He whimpered.
"Uh-huh, sure." I had had enough of the act he'd put on. It was plainly obvious he and that fur rug Sullivan were behind this child outbreak. I glanced over to Fungus, who nodded so fast his head might have fallen off. He then slid almost like a graceful swan across to the control pad for the machine and turned a few nozzles, pressed a few buttons before a loud whir was heard. A red LED started to wave around the room, turning the area into a deep, blood red as my work slowly moved it's way down towards the ground. Wazowski was moaning of course… He began to blabber on uncontrollably like their was never going to be an ending about what was happening. I can say that I think I've finally cracked his shell. He's finally understood what's about to happen to this company and the inhabitants of the whole of Monstropolis… no let me rephrase that… the whole MONSTER WORLD! Gosh it sounded exiting and I felt a sudden adrenaline rush. After Wazowski had finally stopped begging and pleading me for mercy, I rushed to the side of my now suspended but fascinating contraption and patted the main nozzle like it was a pet you would own. Well, it actual was the closet thing to a pet… I'm not a person for animals around the house.
"Say hello to the Scream Extractor." I grinned chesily, not really wanting to be where I was. Truth to be told, I wish I hadn't had done that. It made the wrong type of impression.
"Hello." Was the slow-bodied response from the eyeball that seemed to quiver in my own presence. My tense body relaxed and I almost seemed to drag myself over to the control pad. I was just now sick and tired of this whole thing. I wish that it had never happened as for now I was extremely deep. I couldn't let Waternoose find out any more information about which monsters already knew about our little secret.
"Hey where you going? Let's talk, come on, we'll have a latte!" More fowl begging from that annoying creature. I wasn't in the mood to contemplate, so I proceeded on my short stroll. I shoved my brain box assistant aside, letting the master take control. Mind you, he'd only probably just mess all of my things up. It's not like it doesn't happen on a daily bases. To show my most heart felt opinion, I think he gets some sort of twisted pleasure from making me turn furious on him. Sickening I know, but its life… I get on with it. Moving my fingers into position on the small levers, I gently pushed them into a working layout as I listened to the whirring of the starting up system.
"Hey, what is that sound?" Can't he just shut up for one second? That ear busting fool! I watched intently as his words became a muffled gabber as the mouthpiece moved closer to his emotionally addressed face. I began to smile, although I didn't know why… Here we all were in my secret area, Wazowski not even supposed to be here and I'm grinning. I need to say that I was actually having some type of feeling like a debt is being repaid to me. I was getting my own back for the first time since he'd entered this building. Plus this would contribute towards the SE's test time. Wazowski started to scream for help, literally. It must be chilling him to the bone to see my invention trying to suck the scream out of him.
Suddenly, startling me in shock, the machine whirred down to a halt, just touching his outstretched lips. I slumped over the controls with no patience left and full of offensive words.
"Oh for…" I glared at Fungus. "What did you do wrong THIS time?" It was like fluttering with him, but it must be him anyway. He always manages to do something wrong, believe me. I've known him for 4 years and he's gotten on my nerves all this time, but of course it was worse when that over troublesome pair came to work here. He decided to repulse against my conclusion.
"I don't know? I calibrated the driver…" Enough was enough…
"GO CHECK THE MACHINE!" I weaved my body round following him without taking a single step forward. He sprang off his moveable swing chair and went over with his favoured spanner to tighten a few bolts.
"There must be something wrong with the scream intake valve." He stuttered. I groaned for probably the 3rd time that day and lowered my head, shaking in dismay. Sometimes, I don't think he's all there… What the? I muttered in surprise at the movement of one of the many cables erupting from the base of the controls. It was twitching like an overused muscle. I gently coiled my snake body over the top of the area, pacing myself upon all eight feet, following the cords to investigate. I gently rose up and steadied myself around the area. I knew for sure now that this had to be with the SE's sudden interruption. As I rounded a tight bend, I saw it. The oversized plug that connected every piece to the main power system lay discarded on the floor, away from the socket. How the heck could that have gotten out? The thought crossed my mind, but I didn't really care. It may have just been pulled out by accident or something like that, although I didn't count on that idea. Anyway, I leaned down to clutch the plug and gently slid it back inside it's socket, with a flash of electricity and a new found whir of machinery, I realised that this was the problem of course. I sauntered back around the passages until I reached the too familiar setting of the room. My gaze then fixed upon the seat where Wazowski supposedly lay. What a surprise I had! My fronds rose high and my jaw nearly touched the floor as I found my partner, pale and barely breathing, transfixed to the machine. His breathing was in one long gasp and not in a steady normal rhythm as a lifetime of screams was being sucked out of him.
"What happened?!" I demanded. "Where's Wazowski?" All I got was a cross between a gurgle and a scream so I did the thing that I should have done the moment I had seen him… I pressed the button to release the contraption. It moved slowly away from his mouth and from what I could see, Fungus was left with rosy red, pouty lips. The sight was amusing, but I was in danger!
"Where is he!" He slowly pointed a weak finger towards the exit and wheezed in a desperate attempt to breath. I groaned and took off, not bothering to help my so-called 'friend'. This was all I needed… I knew now that there was no other way… It was my only choice and of course, I knew the consequences for these actions. But this was no time to decide. I had to act, like NOW! I was in big trouble now and I would be going to the dogs as some people call it. I knew they had the kid, I knew they were behind all of this mess, but I'd failed to stop this situation from turning into complete chaos. As I wondered into the corridors, racing against the clicking clock of time to the simulator room, where I would find old crabby features, I thought about my very distant colleagues who were probably doing the exact same thing right now. They had gone far beyond the line and it was now their time to fall off.
But what I didn't realise was that things were about to get from bad to worse…