by Joy
NOTE: Soon, I'll have a cool, movie-poster-style drawing up on my website created solely for this fan fiction! Check out http://randall.rocks.it for updates on when I'll have it up and where I'll be displaying it. ^_^ Oh yeah, and I'll be putting up the outtakes soon too!
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Chapter Six - Mission: Possible?
The quiet night in Monstropolis was shattered with the sounds of distant helicopters and sirens blaring on the top of CDA vehicles. Leia walkd past a electronics store where a small crowd of monsters had gathered to watch the news. There were several televisions displayed in the window that were broadcasting the news. Leia stopped as she noticed Randall had paused to watch. He pushed some monsters out of his way and made it to the front so he could get a better look.
The announcer was an orange, jelly-bean-shaped monster with three eyes. He looked serious as he broadcast the latest headlines. Live pictures of the CDA's helicopter search was displayed in the upper right corner of the screen.
"Today a very tragic catastrophe has hit the city, again coming from the company, Monsters Inc," the announcer reported, glancing down at his notes once an awhile. "According to our sources, the recent kidnappings of two hundred residents has been the result of another major security breach. Second one this year."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, just get to the point," Randall muttered.
"The governor warns citizens not to panic and that the CDA have everything under control," the announcer continued, abviously trying to keep his cool. "But, they ask that if anyone has seen any humans, that they should please report it to the station immediately or call them directly at 1-800-HELP. But overall, they advise for all residents to stay inside as much as possible."
Just then, a clap of thunder echoed in the distance, signalling the presence of rainclouds. The monsters making up the crowd began to disperse as rain sprinkled down from the sky. Now only Leia and Randall were left.
"The government is disclosing the identity of these humans to prevent an outbreak of panic among residents, so we're not allowed to give out any information abouth these invaders, except the fact that they're adults," the announcer said, straightening his stack of papers.
As he spoke, another monster's hand came from offstage and handed the announcer a paper. He took it and after a few moments, looked back at the camera. He had a distinctly fearful expression on now. "We've just gotten an update on the situation," he said, as if dreading the report. "It seems that there are. . . .a few more than we had previously thought. According to CDA analogy, there are approximately fifteen humans. . .or more roaming the city at this moment."
"Fifteen??" Leia exclaimed. "Last time they said only two!"
Randall glanced back at her for a moment then back at the screen. Neither of them really cared when it started pouring. Randall, it seemed, wanted more information. Leia, curious at this sudden interest, watched his expression as the next report came on.
"We have tried contacting the CEO of Monsters Inc. for a briefing on the situation," the news reporter said. "But it seems that all the phones at the factory have been cut off from incoming calls. And we can't seem to reach him from his home phone. But I'm sure it's just a minor inconvinence."
Randall seemed deep in thought. Well, Sulley DID mention that Ceila and Mike were gone. He was the CEO, so why couldn't his case be the same? Then the scientist he saw that night came to mind. There were more of them? What would that mean for the future of the monster world to have so many humans running loose?
Leia walked up next to Randall and a realization came over her as she looked at him. "You know something they don't. . ." she said solidly, her eyes focusing on him. "Don't you?"
He snapped out of it and glanced back at her through the sheets of rain that were pouring down on them. How was it that some girls could always tell what you were thinking? Rain dripped off of his nose and fronds as he stared at her, looking for the right words to say. Should he tell her?
"How did you know?" he asked.
"I can see it in your eyes," Leia replied, ignoring the rain herself. "What is it?"
Randall locked into her eyes and sighed, looking away for a moment. "I saw one of them earlier," he began. "And that's not all. . ."
"What do you mean?"
"I think I was the one who let them in."
She gasped. "You?"
"Hey, it's not like I did it on PURPOSE," Randall replied defensively. "I didn't even realize what I did 'til now."
"I figured that," she said gently.
Just then, the announcer on the television grabbed their attention. "The recent storm has grounded all search helicopters," he said in a serious tone. "And we've just gotten word that more monsters have been reported as kidnapped, including the CEO of Monsters Inc. We don't like to scare our viewers like this, but things are in a pretty serious position right now. So, I repeat, all monsters please stay in your homes with the doors locked until further notice."
Suddenly, the screen began to go fuzzy then snap back to normal. A few lights fell down from the rafters over the reporter's head and the existing lights began to flicker. A monster ran past him in front of the camera and sounds of panic could be heard in the background.
"Uh, this is Mr. Globster, signing off!" he said, just before the screen got fuzzy again and went black.
Leia looked back to Randall as the screen went blank. "You've got to do something," she said.
Randall laughed. "Me? You've got the wrong monster for the job, girl."
"I'm serious," she said, rain still dripping down her sopping wet bangs and fronds. "You're the only one who knows where they came from."
"Yeah, but-" he began.
Leia didn't give him the chance to finish, shooting him a challenging look. "But what? You scared?"
"Scared? Hah! Anything but," he replied. "You have to realize, Leia, that I'm just not the 'hero' type."
"I think you ARE," she shot back, her voice softening as she looked at him. "I see such potential in you, Randall. You just need to step out for once and do something. There are things I see in you that you might not even know you have. You have courage. That's what."
Randall blinked. She sure was persistant, but there was something about it that attracted him. "So, you're preposing that I get rid of these humans? Is that what you're getting at?" he asked.
She nodded. "You're a leader, Randall," she said. "I know that much. No one else is willing to even leave their houses except the CDA. And, besides, what do you think'll happen to the monster world if you don't do anything to stop this?"
Randall realized she was right. They were scientists. Clearly, they were the ones capturing the monsters of Monstropolis and causing mass chaos. They had to be kidnapping the monsters for a reason and that's where his dream began to make sense. The scientist were going to test them and eventually let the whole human world know that monsters were real!
It wasn't just the matter of Monstropolis' fate. It could turn into a worldwide disaster! Their world could go into ruins of they didn't irradicate these humans before it was too late. The prospect of Randall being a lab testing subject or on display as a specimen didn't appeal to him at all. He DID have to do something. . .soon.
"So. . .?" Leia asked, using her hand to keep the raindrops from falling in her eyes.
Randall ran a hand through his fronds and then looked back up at her with a bit of adoration. A half-grin began to form on his face. He had made his decision. It was now or never.
"You're right," he admitted. "I'm going to Monsters Inc."
"Okay," she replied softly, turning around to leave.
Randall bit his lip and hesitated before finally grabbing her hand. "Wait."
She turned around, a gentle smile spreading across her freckled face as she asked him what he wanted. Randall held her hand gently and met her eyes with his own green ones. "Look. Don't think I'm doing this on my own. . .I want you to come with me," he said.
Leia lowered an eyebrow and gave him a skeptical look. "You serious?"
"Absolutely."
"Sure, I'll come," she said. "It's not like I'm going to be going to work tomorrow with this invasion anyways. We going to walk? Monsters Inc is a long ways from here."
"Walk? No way," Randall said, his eyes wandering to a purple motorcycle parked near the curb. "We're going in style."
Leia followed his gaze and then looked back at him. "You're not planning to steal that are you?"
Randall chuckled. "Don't say that. Steal is a nasty word. I prefer the term 'temporary confiscation'."
Leia had to laugh. His sense of humor was very clever, she admired that in him. After all, what was she so worried about? They were going to use it for a good reason. She followed as he made his way across the street towards it. Randall handed her the helmet and she strapped it on.
"What about you?" she asked, subconsciously concerned for his safety as well as her own.
Randall waved her off and got onto the cycle. "Don't worry about it," he said confidently. "As long as I know how to use the brakes, we're gonna be fine."
"We're doomed," she joked.
"Aw, very funny," he replied, wapping her on the helmet lightly to let her know he didn't really take her doubt seriously. "Now, hop on before I change my mind."
Leia laughed again and hopped on the motorcycle behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. Randall adjusted his tail so it wouldn't be in her face and started the motor. "Hang on tight, cuz I'm gonna step on it."
"Don't worry, I am," she replied, just as he sped off down the deserted street, the moonlight guiding their path.
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"See? What'd I tell ya? We didn't die yet, did we?" Randall chided her as he pulled up to a parking spot in front of Monsters Inc.
"Nope, I still feel very alive," she admitted. "Lucky you, because if you did crash whatever's left of me would've kicked your butt."
Randall chuckled and cut the engine, getting off. Leia took off her helmet, giggling to herself, and got off. As she did, she lost her footing and fell forward. She was pleasantly surprised when she felt Randall's arms catch her before she hit the asphalt. Leia breathed a sigh of relief as he stood her upright. She blushed in embarrassment, looking up at him.
"Sorry," she said. "I'm a bit clumsy. Abviously. . ."
Randall smiled. "Don't worry about it."
He surprised her. When she first met him, he was mean and insulting. Now, he was actually being courteous and pretty nice towards her. Leia even surprised herself when she realized she was actually starting to fall for him. She was begining to feel really glad he asked her to come along and help.
He began to walk towards the entrance and she followed close behind. Pushing the doors open, they entered the main lobby. It was as if aliens had abducted everyone. It was quiet and darn inside, the only light coming in was the light given off by the moon, which shone in through the skylight. Their footsteps echoed off the walls of the room.
"The Scarefloors - er, LAUGH floors are down this way," he said. "If I remember right, I think I was on Floor G that day."
Leia picked up the pace to catch up with him. "Okay, I don't work here, so I'll just follow you," she replied.
Just as they got within a hallways' length of Laughfloor, Randall abruptly stopped, holding out a hand to stop her. Voices came from around the corner and he quickly blended out of sight.
"Hide!" he hissed to her.
Leia dove behind a potted plant, hoping she wouldn't be seen there. Then again, she could hardly even see through the branches of the monster-ear fern. She relied on her hearing to get a feel for what was going on. She heard the voices again, closer this time. Then came a hard thump as if someone had been tackled to the floor. She parted the branches to see what was going on.
"Hah! I got him!" Randall said, victoriously sitting on and holding the person.
"Aaaah! I just forgot to pick up my paperwork! Don't eat me!" the person pleaded.
Randall raised an eyebrow at the voice and looked down to see that he was restraining Caylin - not some crazy scientist. He rolled his eyes and got off of the gecko-monster. Caylin stood up and rubbed his back where Randall had been sitting, mumbling all the while.
"It's okay, you can come out Leia," he said. "It's just Caylin."
Leia stood up and got out from behind the potted plant. "Who's Caylin?"
"Him."
Caylin glanced at Randall, then back at the beautiful lizard-monster he had with him. He started getting ideas and a mischevious grin formed on his face. "Hey, Randall?"
"What?"
"Is that your giiiirlfriend?"
He recieved a firm whack on the back of the head.
"Ow!"
"No, she's just a friend," he stated decisively.
"Oh, so she's your FRIEND, okay, I believe you," Caylin said, not really meaning it. Randall plus a girl always meant a couple in his mind. "So, ahem, what are you two doing here at. . .two in the morning?"
"We're going to stop this invasion, that's what," Randall replied. "You heard didn't you?"
"Oh yeah, how could you miss that news clip where the whole news studio goes into chaos?" he asked. "It's all over the other news programs. And the CDA crawling everywhere is pretty hard to overlook too. . ." He paused, something sinking into his somewhat tiny mind. "Wait. Rewind. YOU'RE gonna do WHAT?"
"Stop the invasion," he repeated. "You in or are you going to run back home like all the reporters are saying you should?"
Caylin laughed. "No way man," he replied. "I laugh in the face of danger!. . .Provided of course, it doesn't get in my face first."
Leia laughed too. "Looks like we've got company," she said. "What now Randall?"
"We get a plan together," he said. "This isn't going to be easy to do with just three of us."
"I agree," Caylin said. "So, since you're leader of this mission. What do you suppose we do?"
Randall smirked and glanced at his two accomplices. "I think I have a plan. . ."