by Joy
NOTE: I won't go through the boring, meaningless process of explaining the morning of departure. Why? One: I can't think of anything meaningful to say in it. lol. Two: There are much more important (and not to mention more interesting) things to be done after they arrive. ^_^ So, I'll be skipping over a bit of time here to spare you the boredom. ^_~
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Chapter Two - Call to Duty
"Here we are!" Leia said, stepping onto a patch of still-warm sand.
Since the Boggs' family had the week off, they had decided to spend their time in the monster world's version of Hawaii. Leia used to live there for awhile with her parents before moving to Monstropolis to join the BGB. So, the beach-side house that her family had built was still in their ownership - which meant there was no need for a hotel. They figured that the Hawaii trip would be a relaxing way to spend the week.
But, right now, it was sunset. They had just finished eating dinner but nonetheless, as light began to fade, the kids were begging to take a swim and play in the sand. So, they headed out the door to the beach, which stood only several meters away. The colors of the sunset radiated across the waves and painted the sky with striking hues. The sound of monster-ear palms swaying in the wind, waves rolling, and the caws of prehistoric-looking seabirds were the only sounds that could be heard. It was truly a peaceful destination.
"Yay!" arose the cheers of the twins, immediately running past their parents and making their way towards the water.
Randall half-grinned, stepping out of their way. He peered over his dark sunglasses at Leia, raising a brow. "You really think they like this better than visiting my parents?" he chuckled.
Leia chuckled too. "It's probably not that. You know how they love your parents. But I think they just like going somewhere outside of Monstropolis for once."
They sat down on the sand and watched as Cody tackled his sister under the waves. Leia sighed, thinking of her own parents. They hadn't even met Randall - nonetheless their twins. Her mother had never even been able to attend their wedding and she definately didn't bother telling her father about their commitment. All he could think about was ruling the world and getting his family to help him. She subconsiously rolled her eyes. Like that would happen.
Her mother didn't work for the BGB, but she had been forced by Leia's father to cut off all ties with their daughter as well. And that was just when they heard she had married Randall! She didn't dare to dream what her father would think if she told him they had two kids now. Did he know?
She sighed again, resting her head against Randall's top right shoulder. Sometimes it troubled her. But Randall's parents had - since their marrage - treated her as if she really was their daughter, not just their daughter-in-law. That fact made things somewhat easier for her, but it still wasn't the same.
Randall glanced at his wife. "What's wrong, Lei?"
"Mmm," she began, trying to hide the disappointment in her voice. "I was just thinking about my parents. I think that was the one mission we never really accomplished. . ."
Randall took off his sunglasses and gazed at her for a moment. He really didn't have much comfort to give her in that category. They had tried to bring her parents into the family, but things just never went in their favor. Her father wanted nothing at all to do with Randall. He had even threatened that if they got married, he would never speak to Leia again. He had kept his word. He even went as far as warning that he'd "do away" with Randall, if he joined the SSO again.
"Well," Randall began awkwardly. "At least we can say we tried."
Leia nodded slightly and he put his right arms around her. "Yeah," she replied. "I just feel like we could have done more. But I suppose it's too late for talk now. My father won't even speak my name anymore. . ."
Her husband looked at her sympathetically, his lime green eyes focused on her pink ones. He knew how it felt to be the family outcast. "He'll come around eventually," he finally managed to say, in his meek attempt to make her cheer up. "I mean, you're his daughter. He can't just disown you like that. . .And if he does, well, he has no clue what he's giving up."
Leia smiled, looking up at him. "I suppose you're right. ." she said thoughtfully.
Their conversation was interrupted by a scream from one of the twins. Randall's fronds immediately jerked upright in surprise and he turned to look at where the sound was coming from. It was starting to get dark, so things were getting a bit hard to see clearly, but he spotted Hayley running out of the water. He exchanged worried glances with Leia before running over to her.
"What is it? Are you alright??" Randall asked, taking her hand and leading her towards him.
She pouted and turned around to show him her tail - on it was a crab-like creature. "The cockroach bit me!"
Cody came up out of the shallow water behind her, laughing.
Hayley pointed accusingly at Cody. "And it's all his fault! Make him eat the cockroach, Dad!"
Randall laughed, relieved that it wasn't anything serious, and leaned down to remove the offender. "It's not a cockroach, Hayley," he replied. "It's a cray-ster."
"Oh," she replied, wincing as he loosened the painful grip the cray-ster's claws had on her tail. "Well, make Cody eat it! He's mean!"
Leia folded her arms, looking at Cody. "Why is it you two can never get along?"
Cody glanced down at his feet innocently. "Well. . .she said I had big feet first."
"Did not!" Hayley countered.
Leia sighed, glancing at Randall, who just shrugged. He tossed the cray-ster into the waves, just as Cody tackled his sister into the water. They wrestled in the waves, growling at each other. Their parents ran over to break it up. Randall heaved Cody into his arms while Leia held Hayley back. The twins simply stuck their forked, purple tongues out at each other, since they weren't able to do anything else.
"Okay, okay you two," Randall said accusingly, growing impatient with their constant bickering. "I think it's time for the BOTH of you to go to bed."
Cody sighed and wiggled around in his father's awkward grip. "But Daaaad. . ."
"Your father's right, you know," Leia replied, carrying an equally dismayed Hayley towards the house. "Besides, it's starting to get dark."
Grumbling a bit, Cody let his dad carry him off into the house. Parents were no fun. They also didn't allow you to have your proper revenge. . .even if you did have big feet. Randall closed the door behind them with his tail as they entered the beach house. It was your typical Hawaiian home - lots of light colors; tropical houseplants; open, airy rooms; and a huge panoramic view of the ocean from the back porch. It was easily a place where a monster could kick back and relax.
Randall leaned down and let Cody back onto his feet. "Now, go upstairs and get ready for bed, kids," he said, turning towards the kitchen. But he stopped, suddenly remembering something, and turned back towards his son. "And, uh, Cody? Don't squeeze the toothpaste in your sister's hair."
Cody gave his father a big, toothy, innocent grin, nodding, and hopped up the stairs to the second floor.
Randall pursed his lips, watching the two push and shove each other as they raced up the stairs. He couldn't understand why the twins could never work together on accomplishing anything. Every time they turned around they were arguing about something. Leia suggested that perhaps it was the fact that they spent too much time together.
He didn't know. As far as Randall was concerned, having the twins was a big learning curve - not to mention a challenge. Working with kids was not something he was too familiar with either, making it just that much harder. But, all the same, he loved his offspring as a proud father would.
Leia approached him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I guess they still need work, huh?" she said, smiling.
It was as if she could read his mind. He still couldn't figure out how she did it, but he nodded nonetheless. "Yeah," he said. "If they tear down the house, do you want me to call the fire department or animal control?"
"Very funny, Randy," she said, slapping him lightly on the arm. But Randall could tell she was trying to hold back a big grin. "I doubt they'll do that much damage. They're only eight."
"Who knows?" Randall said, shooting her a grin to let her know he was only joking.
Leia smiled and shook her head, patting his shoulder. "I'm going to unpack my suitcase," she said. "I STILL haven't gotten that done. So, I suppose I should do it now."
Randall nodded. "Yeah, sure thing," he replied. "I'm just gonna kick back on the couch and. . ."
*BRRRRRIING! BRRRIIING!*
". . .answer the phone."
Leia laughed. "Okay, have fun, honey," she said, heading upstairs to their room.
Randall smirked and picked up the wall-mounted phone, plopping down casually in a chair beside the dining table. He rested his feet on the tabletop. "Talk to me."
"Randall?" came a familiar voice from the other end.
"Oh, hey Caylin," Randall replied, immediately recognizing his friend's voice. "What's up?"
"Uh. . .the sky? I thought you knew that already," Caylin answered.
"No, no, no," Randall sighed. "I meant why'd you call me at. . ." He glanced up at the wall clock. ". . .nine in the evening?"
Caylin chuckled. "Believe me, buddy, it's much later over here," he replied.
Randall leaned back in his chair some more, absentmindedly twirling the phone cord around his finger. "Well? What's goin' on down there Caylin?" he urged again.
"Oh! Yeah. That. Okay," Caylin said, clearing his throat. "Okie dokie - case in point, dude. . .We've got some terrible things going on here at the SSO. REALLY terrible things. My boss told me to contact you immediately, since you're my best buddy 'n' all that."
Randall's expression suddenly became serious and he set his feet down on the ground again. "What do you mean?"
"Well, uh. . ."
"What 'terrible things'??"
Caylin sighed. "Uh, I'm not allowed to talk about it over the phone," he said. "The SSO put lots of restrictions on the issue, sorry man. But I REALLY called to tell you they want you guys back - immediately."
"What??" Randall gasped. "But, don't they know. . .?"
Caylin interrupted him. "Cody and Hayley?"
Randall nodded. "Yeah."
"They know that, dude," Caylin replied. "But you have no idea what's happened! Chaos man! The SSO Vice President needs you and Lei here as soon as possible. He even offers to pay for your flight back. . .You lucky lizard, you. So, whaddya say?"
Randall was stunned, not able to speak. Here he was, the first day of his vacation, and now - of all days - the SSO was asking he and his wife to join up again! Right out of the blue! Had they lost their minds?? He finally sighed deeply, running a hand through his fronds, pondering on what response he should give his friend.
"Er. . .Tell them. . .I'll. . .think about it," Randall said. "I need to consult Leia, first."
"Ooh, right. Mrs. Boggs. . .didn't think about that," Caylin muttered from the other end. "Okay then! I'll tell 'em that! G'night!"
"Yeah. . .G'night," Randall replied slowly.
He stood from his chair and hung up the phone again. He placed his hand on the wall, deeply in thought. He didn't know what they'd do with the kids if they accepted the SSO's petition. They had vowed never to get their kids aware of this dangerous spy stuff, they had been involved in one upon a time. But, then again, they didn't seem to have much choice in the matter either. It was a sticky situation any way you entered into it and Randall knew it.
However, the SSO needed them. Obviously, it was pretty bad back at headquarters - or they wouldn't have bothered calling them up. Caylin sounded more serious than usual too, though he still stuck his normal jokes in wherever they'd fit. Maybe Leia'd clear up his confusion on this situation. . .
He sure hoped so. She always seemed to have an answer for just about anything.
Randall slowly headed up the stairs and glanced into the twins' room. They already seemed to be asleep. Cody laid on his stomach in bed, his blankets totally crumpled up, and Hayley was cuddling the old, stuffed lizard Randall had picked up for her on a scare one day. She loved that thing ever since. Randall smiled gently and slid their door partially closed, before checking in on his wife. Randall strolled through the dim, second-floor hall and walked through the open doorway into their room.
Leia was inside, unpacking the last of her clothes. However, she looked up as her husband entered the bedroom. "Oh, hello Randall," she said, her attention shifting back to her suitcase. "Who was it?"
Randall leaned his shoulder against the doorframe. "Caylin," he replied simply.
"Really?" she asked, sounding a bit surprised but interested. "Well, what did he have to say?"
Her husband sighed. "You can just say that maybe you should forget about unpacking your stuff," he replied.
That got her attention. Leia stood upright, looking at him oddly. "What do you mean?"
Randall took a glance into the hallway at the kids' door, just to make sure they were asleep, before turning his attention back to her. He walked inside and rubbed the back of his neck uneasily. "Lei, Caylin was telling me that the SSO needs us back. . ."
Leia was shocked. "Now??"
"Now," Randall calmly replied, though there was a hint of uneasiness in his tone. "There are some terrible things going on back at headquarters."
Leia sat down on the side of the bed, listening intently as he spoke. "Okay. . .tell me everything Caylin told you. . ."
Meanwhile, in the twins' room, Hayley turned over in bed and stared up at the darkened ceiling. She couldn't sleep. She wasn't sure why, but she just couldn't. Maybe it was the excitement of being somewhere new, or perhaps it was just the stomach ache she got from eating those stashed candy bars she had in her suitcase. But whatever it was, no matter how hard she tried, sleep just wouldn't come. Hayley hugged her stuffed monitor lizard, Aussie, close as she thought.
She must have been stirring quite alot, because her brother groaned sleepily from the bottom bunk. "Stop it Hayley!" he complained, rolling over and pulling the covers over his shoulder. "Dad told you never to eat five candy bars before bedtime. . ."
"So what? I was hungry," Hayley shot back.
Cody just sighed, to sleepy to argue, and went back to sleep. Hayley sighed as well, her stomach rumbling as she thought about the five candy bars she had eaten. Maybe her brother - and dad - were right. Hayley slipped out of bed, leaving Aussie, and headed out the door to ask her parents for something to relieve her stomach. She shuffled down the hall towards her parents' room. The door was partially open and she could hear them talking inside. . .
"Randy, you know we can't go back to working for the SSO," Leia gently chided her husband. "Don't they know we have children now?"
"I know, I know. . .I was thinking the same thing," Randall replied, trying to negotiate. "But it seems that the SSO really needs us now."
Hayley's short fronds perked up alertly as she heard them. SSO? What was that? Suddenly, she forgot all about her stomach and peeked through the open door, listening to anything else they had to say.
"We just can't go back again," Leia insisted, turning to look out the window. "Randall. It's too dangerous."
Randall, sitting on the bed, nodded. "I know that, baby," he replied, standing up to join her. "I want to protect Cody and Hayley from this as much as you do. . ." He wrapped his arms around her from behind and hugged her lightly, trying to ease her distress. "But I really don't think we have much choice. We're a couple of their best agents and if they need us that much, I think we should go. I'm sure Caylin and Siarra can babysit the kids for awhile. . ."
Leia sighed and nodded, caressing her cheek against his. "I know," she replied. "I. . .I'm still not so sure it's a good idea, though."
Randall gave her a lopsided smile and kissed her on the cheek. "Alright, but try and make a decision by morning, okay?" he said. "The next flight out to Monstropolis is at ten and they want us at headquarters asap."
Leia nodded again, a smile forming on her face at the kiss, and watched him head off to bed. She put her suitcase on the dresser before joining him.
Outside, in the hallway, Hayley ducked out of sight as her parents went to bed. She pressed her back against the wall. Her parents never told her they were in some kind of SSO. . .whatever that was. Hayley was more intrigued than ever by this. It was like some kind of mystery! Maybe she could find out more. It seemed that her Uncle Caylin knew about it too. Perhaps she could ask him when they got back home! So many questions and thoughts ran through her mind.
"I've gotta tell Cody!" she whispered to herself, running back into their room.
She ran inside and approached Cody's bedside, shaking his shoulder excitedly. "Cody! Wake up!" she hissed.
Cody opened one eye sleepily. "Wha?"
"Mom and Dad are up to something," she explained. "They're talking about some SSO place and all of this other stuff I don't understand. I think we're going back home tomorrow."
Cody yawned and waved her off. "Okay, that's nice, Hayley. . ." he said, rolling over and going back to sleep. "Good night."
Hayley sighed in frustration. He wasn't listening! She shook him again, but it was too late - he was a goner. Her brother wouldn't wake up. Hayley just shook her head and climbed back up into her bunk, grabbing Aussie. She curled up in bed again and pulled the covers over her. Brothers. . .
She didn't think she'd be able to get to sleep with all the excitement - but she was proved wrong. Soon, she drifted off.
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*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*
Hayley was jolted awake, hearing a heavy thumping on the front door. Her wavy golden hair hung in her face as she lifted her head. The young girl threw back her hair and rubbed her eyes, so that her vision would clear up again. Hayley looked on the bedside table at their alarm clock. It was one in the morning! What was anyone doing knocking on their door at a time such as this?
Maybe her parents heard it and were going over to answer the door. . .
*KNOCK KNOCK*
Nope.
Hayley got out of bed and headed for the hallway in her pajamas. The house was dark as she headed out. It kinda gave her the creeps. She didn't like the dark. In fact, she was terrified if she couldn't see everything around her clearly. But she gulped and made herself keep going, inching her way slowly down the stairs.
The angry knocking persisted. Hayley went down the stairs far enough to look at the front door. She crouched down to see it better and, through the glass of the door, saw several tall figures she didn't recognize. They were talking to each other for a moment, their voices were muffled and unaudible through the door. A cold shiver ran up her spine.
Something inside her told her that it wouldn't be wise to answer it herself.
Hayley hopped to her feet and jogged up the stairs, running towards her parents' room. She opened their door all the way and approached her father's side of the bed. She knew her parents were pretty deep sleepers - especially her father. As she expected, Randall was deeply asleep - his arms tucked under the pillow as he snored softly. Leia laid on her back, one arm hanging off the side of the bed.
Hayley shook Randall's shoulder. "Dad!" she said.
Her father seemed to stir just a bit, but nothing more. Hayley climbed into bed and sat on his tail, which lay hidden under the covers. "Daaad! Mom!" she urged again, climbing over her dad.
*THUMP THUMP THUMP*
Randall slowly opened his eyes, hearing Hayley's calls, and yawned. It took a few moments before his vision cleared enough for him to see who exactly it was. "Hayley?" he asked, his voice a bit hoarse still. He cleared his throat and sat up, looking at her with concern in his eyes. "What is it?"
Hayley climbed onto his lap and he grinned, putting his arms around her. For some reason, it made her feel safer - even more bold - to be in his protective arms. "There's a bunch of big guys knocking on the door downstairs. . ." she said, her big green eyes looking up at him worriedly.
"Really?" he said, sounding surprised. "It's the middle of the night. . .What would a bunch of guys be doing at our door?"
"I don't know. ." Hayley replied. "But I saw them!"
*KNOCK KNOCK*
Randall's fronds perked up at the sound and he turned his head to look at the hallway. Perhaps his daughter wasn't dreaming after all, as he had previously suspected. His eyes hardened a bit. Who in their right mind would come to their door at one in the morning? The last time he had someone come into his room at this time of night, he was kidnapped. He didn't care to have a repeat of that episode. But, it seemed, this was different. At least, these guys were knocking. . .
"Wake your mother, Hayley," he instructed his daughter, gently coaxing her off his lap. "Tell her to join me at the front door. You kids stay up here."
Hayley nodded slowly. .uneasily. "Okay Dad. . ."
Randall got out of bed and made his way through the hallway and down the stairs. He passed a drowsy Cody along the way. Cody looked down at him from the top of the stairwell, unsuccessfully rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. "Who are those guys outside?"
"I'm gonna find out," Randall replied, looking up at him for a moment before continuing. "You stay up here with your sister, okay?"
Cody sleepily nodded, heading into the master bedroom to join the rest of his family. Randall stared at the door as he reached the bottom of the staircase. Hayley was right on the money. There were several guys outside that were quite a bit taller than he was. He didn't recognize them. Soon, Leia joined him, jogging down the stairs. She stopped at his side.
"The kids are safely in our room," she said.
Randall nodded silently. "Okay, good," he replied, heading for the door. His mind was debating with itself whether to leave the visitors outside or to let them in. He was nervous, to say the least.
*THUMP THUMP THUMP!*
He unlocked the door and reached for the knob when he suddenly heard a loud crash coming from upstairs. His eyes widened in alarm and he looked back at his wife in panic. They could hear screams coming from upstairs and little feet running.
"Hayley!" Randall yelled, turning around towards the staircase without hesitation.
"Cody!" Leia joined in, following him.
But Randall suddenly stopped in his tracks, his mind rewound back to the front door. "Leia," he said, an urgent tone overshadowing the worry in his voice. "Find the kids and you guys get back down here! I've gotta lock the door again."
Leia did little more than nod before running up the stairs. Randall ran back towards the door and immediately locked it again.
*CRASH!!*
Glass and wood flew everywhere as the "visitors" broke in through their front door with an axe. Randall raised his arms to shield his face from the flying pieces of glass and backed up. Once he felt it was over, he slowly lowered his arms. His eyes widened in shock as he noted the label on their shirts.
It read. . ."BGB Special Service Agent". . .
