by Joy
NOTE: Sorry it took so long to get this one put up - I've been busy busy busy. lol. Please let me know what you think of Leia so far. I've been putting much more thought into her personality and stuff - especially for this chapter. She's actually acting much more like me now. ^_^ Oh yeah, and the voices for Leia, Caylin, Naomi, Bruton, and Rayford can be found in my profile. (Yup, to get it just click on my author name at the top of this page - if you don't know how to bring it up already)
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Chapter Nine - Aftermath
Randall began to hear voices and the crackle of fire as he slowly began to regain consciousness. He flinched, again feeling the tight pain in his midsection. He stay laying for a few more moments, trying to figure out by sound and touch where he was. There was the heat from that fire he was hearing and what lay beneath him felt like a blanket. There was also the. . .rustling of leaves?
Someone sighed. "What's the damage report, Catrina?" he asked.
"Well, Mr. Boggs, I'm sorry to report this, but the above-ground level was totally annihilated," she replied. "The first two below-ground levels will most definately take several months to restore. . ."
"Did all the agents get down here safely?" Rayford asked.
"Not. . .all of them, sir. I'm sorry," Catrina replied regretfully. "Approximately a hundred of them couldn't get out in time. We have about sixty more that are injured. . ."
The sound of a stick stirring the embers of a fire reached Randall's ears as a long pause followed her report. Rayford then finally replied. "Does anyone have any clues to what caused all this destruction so quickly?" he asked, sounding frustrated and tired.
Naomi gave a soft reply. "Perhaps Bruton has built this 'Shockwave' thing that you've been looking into."
"That might be it - I saw it!" Caylin's voice spoke up. "Before the place fell in, I could see, like, black jet wings or something like that. There were several of them. . .I'm not sure exactly what all that means, but those things sure are powerful."
"Black jet wings huh?" Rayford replied with interest.
Randall was getting uncomfortable and rolled over on his blanket. Suddenly a shot of pain ran through his stomach and he groaned painfully. A gentle hand touched his shoulder. "Stay still, please. You'll hurt yourself further. . ." came Leia's worried voice.
He opened his eyes, slowly letting them focus on her soft expression. Above her branches and jungle vines swayed ever so slightly. He immediately knew where they were. This must have been the bio-training room, the last phase in their on-duty spy training. It was built to imitate a real jungle, with mechanical enemies, booby traps, and all sorts of tests. It was so big that it covered the whole last level of the SSO building, but it was considered a very valuable training method for new agents.
Leia ran a hand through his pink-tipped fronds and smiled. "How are you feeling?"
"Like I got hit by a truck."
She shook her head and turned to the first-aid kit. "I'm sure I've got something in here for that. . .Hang on."
Randall clutched his side gingerly and turned his head to look at the small group gathered around a good-sized campfire. He figured they were using it mostly for light, since the place was largely climate controlled. His parents were over there, along with Caylin, Catrina, and quite a few other agents. They were talking amongst themselves, some worried, others fearful, and even more seemed unsure about their current situation. Leia handed him a small glass with a orange liquid in it.
"Here, drink this," she said. "It'll make you feel better."
Randall eyed the strange-looking medicine, then glanced back at her. "You sure?"
"Hey, have I ever steered you wrong?" she smiled, shutting the first aid kit.
Randall shrugged his shoulders lightly and drank it. He began to sit up when Leia urged him to lay back down again. He rolled his eyes. "Now I suppose you're my nurse?" he said, a light chuckle escaping his lips. "I know how to take care of my - OW!"
He winced and let her help lower him down again. "On second thought, maybe a bit of rest would be a good idea right now. . ."
Leia laughed. "Yeah, you know, it might just help you, Tough Guy," she suggested. "And as for me being your 'nurse', it looks like you could use one."
"Har, har, har. I'm doing just fine - er, relatively speaking. . ." he replied.
"Well, even if that's true, I just want to make sure you're recovering okay," she said, scooting over closer to him and resting her back against a tree trunk. She pulled her knees up to her stomach and wrapped her arms around them, watching the group near the fire. "You had quite an episode back there. We were all worried."
Randall propped his pillow up against his tree so that he could partially sit up and he glanced at her. "We?"
"Yeah," she admitted. "You know, it scared me too how that boulder fell on you. Ever since your father brought you in here in the condition you were, me and Caylin were worried sick about you. I mean, you are one of my best friends, and well. . ." She paused, looking at him as he stared at her and blushed bashfully.
"Geez, what am I going on about?" Leia laughed uneasily. "Sorry if I'm rambling. Can I get you anything?"
Randall shook his head, a lopsided smile forming on his face. "It's okay," he said, settling down into his pillow. "In fact, it's kinda nice to know I have someone who cares that much about me - aside from my parents. The only friend I had that was really loyal to me was Caylin. Sad, really. . ."
Leia looked at his features, lit by the distant light of the fire and put her hand on his. "Why they'd leave you like that is beyond me," she said. "I mean, when I first met you, it wasn't too smooth. But once I got to know you, I found out what you were really like."
"And that is. . .?"
"Sweet. Yup, sweet and courageous."
Randall felt a hot red blush creeping onto his cheeks. "Er, thanks, I guess. . ." he muttered bashfully, looking over at the fire. "You're not too bad yourself."
"Thanks," she said, smiling. "Hey, how're you feeling now?"
"Pretty good actually, seems like that stuff of yours is working after all," he said, carefully trying to stand up.
Leia helped him and grinned, taking a quick glance at the group camped out around the fire. She wanted to let them know how Randall was doing and bring him over to join them, but they were still occupied with their own conversations. She decided that she'd wait a few minutes longer. Leia glanced back at where Randall was standing, but he was gone. Her eyes widened in surprise and she began to look through the ferns and foliage for him.
"Very funny Randall, but the least you can do is warn me before taking off like this. . ." she muttered, making her way further through the jungle.
She heard some rustling in the leaves of a tree nearby and parted the vines to see him walking towards a lovely-looking waterfall, much like the one in the main lobby. Leia slowed her pace, stunned at the beautiful atmosphere. Exotic flowers grew up around the pool at the bottom and plants of all types grew up through the rocks surrounding the spectacle. She caught her breath as Randall turned around, spotting her.
Randall grinned smugly. "Boy, you tail me everywhere don't you?" he teased, getting back to his normal tone once again. "Like it?"
"Wow. . ." she gasped. "This is so beautiful. I don't remember coming across this during training. . ."
"Yeah, when I was doing my run I came upon it," Randall said. "Really a nice place to sit and relax. By the way. . .I knew you'd be following me." He shot her a half-grin, before sitting next to the pool.
Leia smiled and folded her arms, shaking her head slowly. Randall sure was something. He patted a place next to him and she took it as an invitation. She made her way over and sat next to him, skimming her hand over the clear pool's surface. She looked back up at him.
"So, you brought me here on purpose huh?" she said.
"Hmm, let's see here. . .maybe. . .no. Oh yeah, I did," he joked, smiling at her.
Leia smiled gently and tucked her hair behind her cheek. "You're really sweet you know that?"
"Who? Me? You must be mistaken."
Leia laughed. "Of course I mean you, silly! Who else would I be talking about?" she replied.
Randall let his tail hang into the pool of water and grinned smugly. "Caylin maybe?"
"No. . . are you implying something?" she asked, eyeing him.
"Yup," he said. "Let me guess. . .You have a crush him?"
She laughed again. "Nope, but thanks for playing."
Randall got a mischevious grin on his face and, without moving his head, glanced at her casually out of the corner of his eye. "Here, let me try again. You have a crush on. . .me." His eyebrows raised with interest, curious to see what her reaction would be.
Leia's eyes widened at the mention and she looked at him. He gave her a lopsided grin. "Well. . ." she began unsurely, caught off-guard by the sudden question. Her eyes wandered from his with embarrassment, looking for the right words to say.
"You really do, don't you?" he concluded, hinting on her stuttered reply.
Leia blinked and met his eyes with her own. Could she really tell him? How would he react if she said yes? All the time she spent training and living with him and Caylin during the past month had made her care for him more and more every day. But she never thought he had caught on to her occasional giveaways.
She had always tried her best to conceal it, but it seemed Randall knew more than she had first realized. The kiss she gave him a couple of years ago on the poacher's truck was only a subconscious reaction. She was just so grateful to see him that day, but now? Her feelings had gotten much deeper than mere friendship. Did he feel the same? The chance of rejection was the primary reason she held her feelings in for so long - but now he was openly asking. Leia's eyes softened as she looked at him. It was now or never. . .
"Yes," she replied softly.
Now it was Randall's turn to be shocked. His eyebrows arched with surprise. He wasn't really expecting her to say yes, mostly he was just kidding around with her, but now she had admitted she really did have a crush on him! He blinked a couple of times, his eyes darting to the clear pool of water, deep in thought. She had a crush on him, he knew that now. But was it that he had a thing for her too? He tried to convince himself he didn't, but the truth was staring him right in the face.
Leia watched his expression change to a more serious one as she spoke. Her brow creased with disappointment. She knew what he was thinking. She was too straightforward - or just crazy. "I'm sorry, Randall," she apologised immediately. "It's just I - I don't know what I was thinking. . ."
Randall held a finger to her lips, indicating for her to hold that thought, and took a deep breath. He composed what he wanted to say in his head before meeting her eyes once again. "No, don't apologise, just give me a minute here," he interrupted calmly. "Look, the thing is. . .I think I have a thing for you too. . ."
Leia blinked. She was excited yet shocked at the same time. A warm smile spread across her face. Looking into his gentle, green eyes, she could tell he too was feeling the same way. "I was worried that you'd feel differently than I did," she admitted. "I was kinda wondering if it was just a girl thing I was going through, but it's nice to know I'm not alone. . ."
Randall placed his hand on hers and smiled softly. "Well, I guess now ya know. I was kinda wrestling with two different feelings myself. I just never thought about, y'know, finding love again - not after what my last girlfriend did to me. . ."
Leia furrowed her brow. "What did she do to you?"
Randall rolled his eyes at the memories. "Anything BUT love me. Basically, she was using me. She abviously had more important things in her life. . ."
Leia could hear the deep hurt in his voice and her expression softened sympathetically. She closed her eyes and tenderly rubbed her cheek against his. Randall smiled warmly at her touch and returned the gesture, a happiness suddenly rising in his chest. He was beginning to think that maybe admitting his love for her was one of the better choices he had made since returning to the monster world. Somehow he felt that she wouldn't betray him like Shani did. . .
Suddenly, a laugh came from behind them. Both spun around to see Caylin standing there with a smug grin on his face and his arms folded as he leaned against a tree. "Boy, I spend five whole minutes looking for you guys and here you are! Smooching and taking nice little swims together," he chuckled. "Looks like your little secret's out, guys."
Randall glared at him. "We weren't kissing. . .OR swimming together. We were just talking."
"Uh huh, shuuure buddy," Caylin teased. "So, how long have you been going together?"
"Cay-lin!" Randall groaned.
"How long have you been standing back there, Cay?" Leia asked, putting her hand on his hip.
Caylin give her a sly smile. "Long enough to know you two are an item."
Leia sighed and shot a sideways glance towards Randall. Randall caught the glance then stood from the rocky poolside area they were sitting on, looking at Caylin again. He suddenly cringed, feeling the burning pain from his injury come back as he moved. Leia caught one of his arms and helped him up.
"Okay, so we're an item now," Randall admitted openly, once the pain had subsided. "Everyone's gotta find out eventually, don't ya think?"
"Besides, Caylin, what are you doing following us?" Leia asked.
"Well, Randall's mom and dad were starting to get worried when they noticed you two gone," Caylin explained. "So, I said I'd find you guys and, well, here you are! Though I had no idea you were in love. Boy, your parents are gonna be proud of you Rand! You've finally found yourself a girl and you're 27. . .about time if ya ask me."
Randall sighed lightly and shook his head. "Let's just head back, okay Cay, save the taunting for-"
Caylin smirked deviously. ". . Your wedding?"
*SMACK*
Caylin rubbed the side of his head as Randall and Leia passed, heading back toward the 'camp'. Randall glanced over his shoulder and smirked at the gecko-monster, faking the "innocent look" as he disappeared behind the wall of vines.
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Rayford chuckled, as he sat around the dimming campfire with Leia, Randall, Caylin, Naomi, and a couple agents. "So, you two have decided to become an item huh?" he asked.
Randall and Leia knew they had to admit it to Randall's parents sooner or later, so they had told them of their feelings for one another. They sat side-by-side as Rayford gave his input. "Yeah," Randall replied simply.
Naomi smiled. "If you ask me, I think it's wonderful you've found a partner, Randall," she said, the proudness showing in her voice. "And I think Leia's a lovely choice. She's such a nice girl."
"I agree with your mother, son," Rayford said, smiling. "As long as you're happy, it's just fine with us."
Leia grinned. "Thanks Mrs. Boggs."
Randall too grinned. This was turning out to be going along much easier than it had when he was admitting it to Leia. Caylin sat back, propping himself up with his arms. He had a smile on his face. "Now if only I could find a cute little gecko-monster of my own, I'd settle down and have kids," he chuckled. "I love kids. . .Speaking of kids. . ."
"Don't - even - go there, Caylin," Randall interrupted, giving him a warning glare. He knew he'd never hear the end of this. Caylin loved teasing him when it came to relations with the opposite sex. . .
Caylin cleared his throat and nodded. "Right."
Suddenly, a bird-like monster with long legs, brown fur, and an official SSO suit on ran out of the jungle towards the campfire. Most of the other agents that had come out of the blast alive were already asleep in sleeping bags, but some awoke at the squawk of the frantic agent. He ran through the clearing towards Rayford and stopped, panting and saluted briefly. Randall noticed that his suit was torn in several places and patches of his fur were singed.
"Reporting back with u-urgent n-news, sir," he said in a nervous, somewhat shaky voice. "I've found t-the location where these p-p-planes are coming from."
Rayford stood up. "Great news, Tando," he said. "Where is it?"
"It's-it's. . .somewhere in the Firey Forests, sir," Tando reported.
"Wonderful," Naomi told him, standing up next to her husband. "Randall, I want you and Leia out there tomorrow before dark."
"Great! It's about time we got a mission," Randall replied.
"BUT," Naomi added.
"Ugh. Why is there always a 'but' when your parents are involved. . .?" Randall sighed, waiting for her to finish.
"You can only leave once your injury is better," she declared firmly. "I don't want you getting in a situation and hurting yourself again."
Randall grudgingly nodded in agreement. "Okay."
"Promise me," Naomi insisted. "I worry Randall. If you're hurt and you find yourself in a bad situation you could get killed."
"Your mother's right, Randall," Rayford enforced.
"I promise, Mom," Randall replied. "Don't worry about me."
Naomi stared at him calmly for a moment and then nodded, satisfied that he had meant it. She kissed him on the forehead and turned to walk towards her sleeping bag along with Rayford. Randall grinned and headed off for his own sleeping bag. Leia's was a few meters away from his and she smiled at him, pulling the covers over her shoulder. "Good night," she said.
He half-grinned and nodded to her, cautiously laying down in his own. "You too."
Meanwhile, Tando watched Randall walk off, a devious smirk on his beak. Little did they know. . .If everything worked according to plan, Bruton would get the Boggs family in his grasp. Once the SSO was weakened and their president gone, the BGB could make a move in overtaking Monstropolis. . .then the whole monster world. Now all they needed was time - and this double-agent was more than willing to wait. Maybe he'd recieve a prestigious place in the new BGB government. . .