by Joy
NOTE: My last two chapters were kinda short (yes, I know they were). But from this chapter on they'll most likely be longer. So, enjoy!
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Chapter Three - A New Scheme
"This place is a mess!" Randall exclaimed.
He, Caylin, and Fungus were standing in the entrance of Randall's old lab and was greeted by a hardly recognizable place. There were cobwebs strung across many of the pipes and nearly everywhere there was an open space. His dusty Scream Extractor laid against the far wall amongst piles of clutter. The Scream Extractor chair was bent over to one side and unnamed things were strewn everywhere.
"Well," Caylin began. "It's not THAT bad. Looks like my apartment, actually. . ."
"I'm sure," Randall replied.
"Hey, we can clean it up," Fungus said.
Randall folded all four of his arms and leaned back a bit with an amused grin. "Okay, thanks for the offer, I'll be in the cafeteria," he said, heading out the way they came.
Flabbergasted, Fungus stared at him. "B-but I didn't mean-"
He was cut off when he realized that Randall was already gone. He walked through the dark, empty passageway of his lab with a determined firmness in each step. He needed time. Time to perfect his plan of revenge. But he couldn't do that with Caylin and Fungus tailing him, their 'offer' was just a handy excuse to get away for some thinking.
He opened the wall and made his way into the hallway of Monsters Inc, all the while keeping himself out of Sulley and Mike's sight, should they have been nearby. His tail swished gently behind him as he headed for the cafeteria. But something on the wall caught his eye. He stopped mid-step and backed up to take a look. It was a poster decorated with scary monsters and fall leaves. Words in bold orange read, 'Come to the annual Fall Fright Party!' and below that in smaller words was, 'October 25th at 7:00 pm'.
Randall rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Party huh?" he said, the hint of a sinister grin on his face. "Maybe this could be the chance I've been looking for. . ."
He looked up at the wall clock. It was fifteen till seven. Randall quickly made his way back to his lab, snatching another monster's snack along the way. He slithered inside to see his two assistants grudgingly sweeping and cleaning up.
"I hate dusting," Caylin complained, holding his nose while he brushed off the Scream Extractor. Dust flew into the air. "Why'd you even give that stupid offer Fungus? I thought you were a genius."
"Well, think of it this way," Fungus said cheerily. "At least I can collect five different kinds of lint!"
Caylin stared at him oddly. "I knew there was some reason why I stayed away from you. . ."
"Hey, boys," Randall spoke up. "Forget about dusting and all that junk - I've just gotten a brilliant idea."
Caylin turned around, excited about the simple idea of not having to clean and dust. "What is it?"
Randall went over to a wooden table in the corner and began clearing machine parts off of it. Curious, Caylin and Fungus joined him. He pushed papers and old blueprints for the Scream Extractor aside until he found a blank one. He picked up a dull pencil and began writing on it.
"We have fifteen minutes to get ready, but we're going to crash this 'fall party' of Sullivan's," he said.
"Why? We would just be the ones looking guilty," Caylin replied.
"NOT if we make it look like Sullivan did it. . ." Randall corrected.
"Ah. . .How do we do that?" he asked.
"I was getting to it! Ugh. . ." Randall replied, rolling his eyes. "Look. Sullivan's probably going to give an introduction - with Wazowski no doubt. And then they're gonna have entertainment. Right? You getting the picture here yet?"
Caylin paused for a moment, opening his mouth to speak. But he couldn't think of anything and abruptly shut it. "Uh, no, not yet."
Randall sighed and hit his forehead with his hand, shaking his head slowly. "We sabotage the stage! Get it?!" he replied.
"Oh. Then we make it look like Sulley did it, right?"
"Bingo, Einsten."
"Okay, I'm getting it now."
"Good. Here's what we do. . .Caylin, when I give you the signal-"
"What signal?"
"Like, ugh, a wave or something. Now stop interrupting me!"
"Okay. . ."
"Like I was saying, when I give the signal, you go backstage and start cutting the sandbags that hold up the curtain bar."
"Got it. But won't it hurt the entertainment?"
"So what? That's the general idea! It just makes Sulley even more guilty," Randall replied, putting his hands on his hips.
Fungus tugged on Randall's tail. "What about me?"
Randall looked down at him. "You just stay by the food or something until I need you," he explained. "Just act casual. And DON'T. I repeat. DON'T tell anyone what we're doing! Got it?"
Fungus jumped back at Randall's strict order and nodded nervously, adjusting his glasses. Randall could be really intimidating at times. Especially if he was twice as tall as you were. Randall then turned towards the entrance and headed back towards the main hallways of MI, Caylin and Fungus following.
Meanwhile, Mike and Sulley were also getting ready for the party. Mike was all dressed up in a black bowtie and matching hat while Sulley just wore his striped tie. Mike strutted towards the receptionist's desk from Sulley's office and grinned up at his big buddy.
"You know what Sulley?" he said. "I'm glad you decided to pull together this party, or I would've never found an excuse to take Ceila out again."
Sulley looked down at the green eyeball. "Why do you say that?"
"We've already been everywhere - twice!" Mike replied with a laugh, elbowing Sulley. "So thanks buddy!"
"Uh, you're welcome," he answered with a laugh. "But Mikey?"
"Yeah?" Mike asked casually.
"I really wish you would take off that hat," he replied. "It looks ridiculous."
"Really?" he asked, taking it off and looking it over. "Well, you're the boss. . ."
With that, Mike stuffed the hat in a trashcan as he passed by and marched towards the receptionist's desk by himself. He closed his eye for a moment. This night was gonna be the best night ever, he just knew it. But once he opened his eye again, he was greeted - not by Ceila's honeyed voice - but by an empty chair and ringing phones. His eye went wide. What happened to his girlfriend? Wasn't she supposed to be answering those phones with that oh-so-sweet voice of hers?
"Sulley! Sulley! Get over here now!" Mike exclaimed in a panic.
Sulley strolled over. "What is it?"
"Ceila! She's - not here! She's supposed to be here!" Mike babbled quickly.
"Maybe she's on a break?" Sulley tried.
"Break? Sulley, she's got five dozen phones going off the hook here! As if - as if. . .she wasn't here since this morning," Mike said, going more slowly on the last sentance, as if something had just dawned on him.
Sulley stared at the ballistically ringing phones and then back to Mike. He had a point. Ceila managed things much better than this. At most, when she went to pick up something, only one or two phones would be ringing by the time she returned. She would never leave this many calls unless something had happened. Then a horrible thought hit him.
"Do you think. . .?" he began, dreading the idea.
"Oh, I think alright," Mike replied defiantly. "Randall! Randall must have done this to get back at us! But then that means. . ."
"He's back," Sulley finished. "But that can't be possible. We saw the door smash to pieces."
"I know," Mike agreed, furious now. "But who else would do this?? He's got a perfect alibi to fit the crime!"
Sulley sighed. Mike was right once again. Randall was the only one he knew that had them on his hit list. He hated to think Randall could be creeping around the factory right now, watching them with that look that always sent shivers up his spine. He shivered just tinking about it and subconsiously looked around him. He wasn't surprised when he saw nothing but a few monsters passing by. Sulley glanced back at Mike.
"We can't start worrying about this now," he said. "I'm supposed to be in the wreck room hosting this party. We'll talk about this Randall situation later."
"But, Ceila. . ." Mike whimpered, glancing woefully at her empty chair. But when he looked back to where Sulley was standing, he was already on his way to the wreck room. Mike pressed the button to shut off the incoming calls and dragged his feet as he followed his buddy. Why did these things always happen to him? Why?
But if Sulley wasn't going to do anything about it now, he was. He'd keep a lookout for the culprit and take matters into his own green hands if he had to. No one messed with Ceila and got away with it - not even the lizard-monster that haunted his nightmares. .
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Randall walked though the MI hallway confidently. He had sent Caylin and Fungus ahead to the wreck room to get ready. He, on the other hand, was just taking his time. Mostly, to work out the details of his scheme. But if it worked out just right, every monster in the room would be willing to bet their tails that it was Sulley's fault. He smirked to himself as he imagined the look on Sulley's face. 'Priceless!' he thought to himself with glee.
He turned the corner only to run into another monster. They both collided and fell on the floor. He rubbed his head and glared at the other monster. She was abviously in a hurry.
"Watch where you're going, you idiot!" he said angrilly.
The other monster looked startled as she sat upright to look at him. She was an ocean blue lizard with gentle pink eyes and long, golden blonde hair. She was wearing a pink tank top and black skirt. Randall found himself staring at her speechlessly.
"I'm sorry," she told him, lifting the arc of sunny bangs out of her eyes. "It's just, I'm in a bit of a hurry and. . .Why are you looking at me like that?"
Randall suddenly realized he was beginning to get smitten and snapped himself out of it. He was not going to fall for another girl. Never. Memories of his past girlfriend flooded his mind and brang back memories he rather would have forgotten. He didn't need that kind of heartbreak again. Especially not now. He stood up.
"I was just. . .just wondering why you don't use your eyes when you have two of them," he replied insultingly. "Outta my way."
The girl monster got up and stood in his path. "Well," she replied. "Aren't you Prince Charming?"
"Anything but," Randall answered. "Then again, you don't seem to be much of a lady yourself. Now, move. Or do I need to help you?"
"Fine," she said, folding her two arms and stepping aside. "After you."
"Sorry to have made your aquaintance," Randall muttered, walking past towards the wreck room. "Women."
The girl watched him go and shook her head, heading in the opposite direction. "Men."