Hidey ho, neighbours! Well, not neighbours...exactly...yeah. I just wanted to answer a few questions asked in reviews and to clarify a few things. Firstly, a question was asked about the first chapter, when Marie was shot, if Randall should've actually gone outside and found Marie's body to check whether she is actually dead or not, and maybe to even help her if she isn't. I completely agree with the fact that, yes, Randall would've done so, but I can't really reveal why I ddin't include it in the story- it wasn't because I forgot, but if Randall HAD gone and had a look, he wouldn't have found a body. I can't say any more, but all will be revealed...some time. Lets just say that, for now, the reason he hadn't gone and checked was because...err...it was raining outside?
And secondly, there was a question asked about the final chapter of 'Sabotaged Dreams'. Well, quite a lot was discussed in that chapter, but to make it clear and summarise it is easy enough- Zephyr basically explained that the ship full of explosives that Randall and co had found was headed to a scream factory, like Monsters, Inc., because the 'boss' wanted the monsters working there to be killed because they hadn't given him and his lackies access to the doors. They also discussed their relationship, and how Cy had blackmailed Zephyr into pretending that she loved Randall, though she actually ended up not pretending. That's pretty much it. So thanks for the reviews, and on with the second chapter!
Chapter 2- A Meeting Of Two Minds
"Good morning, this is Monsters, Incorporated, how may I help you? Oh, hello Mr Stevenson. You won't be coming into work today? Oh what a shame; that in-growing horn of yours isn't playing up again, is it? Oh...okay then, I'll tell him for you. Yes, don't worry, everything's sorted. Alright, let me just get a pen..." Celia fumbled about, looking underneath the reception desk, searching for what she needed as Mr Stevenson waited impatiently in the background.
"Ahem." The Cyclops's head popped up from underneath as Randall got her attention. Turning the pen between his fingers, he grinned slyly, flipping it over and backwards with ease as Celia watched crossly.
"Randall! Give it!- Oh, sorry Mr Stevenson. No, I was talking to someone else who won't give me the pen," she added, pointing to the handset and then making a writing motion. "Now!" she mouthed silently. Randall rolled his eyes, placing the pen on the desk, and folded his arms huffily. Relieved that the lizard-monster had given up, Celia began to write down what Mr Stevenson was saying, which was quite audible from Randall's distance. Mr Stevenson was known to be a bit of a pompous bossy-boots, his stately voice ringing out the instructions to Celia, and wasn't a very popular monster in the company. As soon as he had started talking, Randall began mouthing what he was saying, acting out a humorous impression of him, wagging his fingers and spitting everywhere as he was known to do. Celia began to snigger, then laughed outright.
"No..." she said, chuckling. "Sorry Mr Stevenson, my friend here...yes, Mr Stevenson. No, Mr Stevenson. Okay, Mr Stevenson, that's fine. Yes...ha ha HAA!" Randall had shifted colours to Mr Stevenson's sickly shade of dark green and had stretched his mouth as far as it could go to do an accurate impression of him, even if it was a little comical. Celia sniffed, trying to hold back her laughs.
"Yes, Mr Stevenson. Okay then, get well soon! Goodbye." Though she had hung up, the silent impression continued until Celia was close to tears. "Ahh...that was hilarious! But did you have to do it while I was on the phone? Mr Stevenson was talking about a very important matter..."
"Yes. His 'in-growing horn' or whatever. Really important." Randall's face was blank as he shifted back to his usual shade of purple.
"Well you know what Mr Stevenson is like. He's a very important man," Celia insisted, though the incredulous expression on Randall's face said it all.
"Ya call 'Head of the Janitorial Department' important?!"
"Talking of janitors...but, firstly, how's Felicity been doing at school recently? I heard her school were doing some sort of a fair-"
"SHUSH!" Randall's eyes darted to the left and right, and he turned right around looking at everyone, making sure that not a monster was in earshot. "I told you not to talk about...her here; who knows what might happen if someone finds out?" he muttered, leaning over the desk. Celia seemed slightly hurt at Randall's outburst, and also a tad worried.
"IS she okay?" Randall sighed wistfully.
"If only," he whispered. "She turns nine next month, but the second I mention a birthday party she gets all moody with me and storms into her bedroom." Shaking his head slowly, Randall buried his head in his hands. "I hear her crying every night..." Celia patted his arm sympathetically. "I know she's been through a lot...and school isn't helping...some of those kids..."
"It must be very hard for her, Randall, but you've got to give her a chance to get used to it all." Randall couldn't help but grit his teeth in exasperation.
"But she's had THREE YEARS, for Pete's sake! THREE YEARS to get over stuff, to get used to school, to get used to...me. But still, every day, when I wake up I'm..." He closed his eyes sadly. "...afraid...afraid to go into the kitchen, afraid to have her look at me in that way again, as though I'm some kind of a stranger...It's amazing, really, considering what she was like the first time we met." Rubbing his forehead, Randall snapped out of his little depression and turned back to his usual, jokey self, snorting. "Kids. All your life you dread having one around, then when one IS around, THEY end up being the one's who complain. Not that I'M complaining or anything..." The two smiled, but Celia remained concerned.
"Randall...I know you're worried about Fliss, but, well, I'm worried about you. You've been working so hard lately..."
"Hey, I'm fine." Randall winked cheerfully. "I'm ALWAYS fine." A little memory of earlier sparked in his mind, and he held up a finger pointedly, narrowing his eyes. "You were saying something about janitors...?"
"Oh." Celia giggled after a second, then...blushed? "Well, there's a new janitor around here."
"And I care because?"
"Well..."
Just as she was about to answer, Celia turned her head in the direction of a brash, loud and annoyingly sarcastic voice coming from around the corridor that led to some of the Scarefloors- E through G, to be more precise.
"Look Sul, I'm tellin' ya- you're MADE for the job! Just a bit of practice..."
It took Randall a few seconds to realize that he had stopped breathing. It wasn't surprising, though. As he stared at the two monsters only metres away from him, he felt a soft hand on his shoulder, but didn't react- not because he didn't want to, but because, at this moment in time, he couldn't. His brain was too overloaded to do anything other than stand and stare.
"Randall? Randall, you okay?" Celia asked. As she did so, the monster that had been talking so loudly turned around, facing the two of them, and smiled, running over to the reception with the grace of something very ungraceful. As soon as he had gotten near the desk, he straightened himself up, checking his breath and wiping back his eyebrow, and slowed the pace down to a merry strut.
"Celia!" he exclaimed, trying to sound surprised. "I didn't see you there! May I say what a pleasure it is to see...err...your lovely face...again..." He drifted off as the lizard-monster standing not half a metre away from him caught his attention.
"...Randall?" Randall didn't reply, instead opting to stay where he was with the same shocked expression on his face. Sulley eventually came over, carrying a mop and bucket, but was more welcoming than his friend, Mike.
"Err, hello there, Randall. It's...good to see you again!" But Mike destroyed his efforts almost immediately.
"LIZARD-BOY?! YOU WORK HERE?!" As though he was being blown away by the words that had just been shouted at him in extreme velocity, Randall gripped the reception desk for support and gasped just the once, shortly and quickly. After a moment, he let go, held his hands out as though he was waiting for someone to give him something, then blinked. He looked at Sulley, and then at Mike, then back at Sulley again, back and forth, still astounded. It took him a very long while to manage saying something.
"You work here now, don't you?" As Sulley slowly nodded, Randall mumbled an almost silent "damnit," took a deep breath, and relaxed himself. "I hope you have a nice time here." He turned to Sulley. "You the new janitor, then?" Once again, Sulley nodded.
"Yes, I am." He then turned to Mike, trying his best to enjoy the moment.
"And your job is?"
"Only a Scarer's Assistant, y'know," he replied, looking at his nails in an attempt to be modest. It clearly didn't work then.
"Oh. Good for you. I hope you both have a good time being a janitor..." A grin spread over his face. "And a Scarer's Assistant. I'm sure your parents are very proud. Always knew you'd make something of yourself.
"Well what are YOU then, Mr High-And-Mighty?"
"You'll find out soon enough. Though, if you look over there, where the Scarer of the Month photos are, I'm sure you'll get a clue." His smile couldn't be any bigger now- every single one of his pearly, sharp white teeth were in full view, making Mike inwardly nervous. "That good enough for you, Mr I-Was-High-And-Mighty-Before-Someone-Burst-My-Bubble?"
"Randall!" Celia glared at him, appalled at his rudeness. "Now, I know you two have history, but I'm sure that you both are able to make a fresh start. It has been years since you've seen each other, after all, and you both probably have changed since then. So why don't you shake hands and make up?"
"What, with Lizard-Boy here? No way!" Celia's glare went up a notch. "Heh heh...Sure honey, whatever you say!" Mike reluctantly held out a hand, waiting. Chuckling with ease, Randall shook his head.
"Celia, you can't manipulate me into doing anything coz, believe it or not, I don't fancy you. Therefore," he continued, leaning into Mike's face, "I don't have anyone to impress. Or try and impress, in this case." Randall strolled off, quietly satisfied with Mike's annoyed expression, and made his way to Scarefloor F. Staring after him, the fuming Cyclops cleared his head of any anger that he might have towards Randall and focused on Celia instead.
"So, my little...err...Shmoopsie-Poo, how has your day been so far?" Celia narrowed her eye, ignoring the little pet-name that Mike had given her.
"It was going very well, thank you, until you and Randall locked horns! I understand that there's..."
"History?" Sulley added helpfully.
"Yes, history, between you and him, but can't you at least try to get along?"
"But my honey-muffin, I just can't get along with him. It's IMPOSSIBLE!" Mike pleaded.
"No it isn't. And stop calling me those names. I'm not your honey-muffin. I barely even know you!" Throwing his hands up in the air, Mike sighed.
"There's NO reasoning with ya, is there?" He shook his head, his tone turning whiny. "I bet not even a date at Gregory's Diner would tempt you to change your mind..."
"Gregory's Diner? Is that all you think of me as- someone to take to GREGORY'S DINER?!"
"But Shmoopsie-Poo-"
"No, Mike. Either you and Randall make up, or you can't take me out for a date at all. And if you DO make up, you're NOT taking me to Gregory's Diner."
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The Scarers were half-way through their daily routine of stretches and were preparing for a day out on the Scarefloor. By this time, most had spilt up into their little 'friendship' groups, chattering away to themselves, leaving Randall on the outskirts. He busied himself with doing a few more basic stretches, but he couldn't help but feel a little bit empty and unaccepted. It wasn't as though he didn't have any friends- he had always sworn to himself that if that day ever came, the day when he had no friends, no allies, then he would have to sort it out some way or another. HOW he would sort it out was another matter entirely, and though Randall was never keen on being a Mr Popular sort of character, friends seemed to be as important to him, or even more important, then to anyone else.
Even Fungus had a group. Sort of. He lingered around with them during breaks and lunch, though Randall had always had the feeling that they thought of him as a bit of a peeve. But at least he had SOMEONE, even if they didn't particularly like him.
"Mornin' Randall." Swerving round to face the person who ad addressed him, Randall smiled and put up a hand.
"Hey there Fillip. How ya doin'?" The furry ball nodded, rolling backwards and forwards on the spot.
"Fine Randall, just fine," he replied in a gruff voice. "Heard a rumour that Waternoose wanted to have a talk with'cha. Dunno if it's true- just the gossip at the vending machine." Randall raised an eyebrow.
"Really? D'ya think I should go and check it out?" Fillip shrugged as best he could.
"Dunno. Didn't hear it from the most reliable of sources though, but it might be best to follow the trail."
"Yeah, just in case." Randall was about to go by Fillip when he stopped in his tracks and eyed the furry ball suspiciously. "This isn't a joke, is it?"
"Wouldn't know what you're talkin' 'bout." Randall sighed, not knowing whether to trust his 'friend' or not. He put his arms on his hips, considering the decision. Why does Fillip have to be so...? Ah well. 'Better be safe than sorry', I guess.
"Tell Fungus where I'm headed," he ordered the furry before sauntering out of the entrance to the Scarefloor and going down several corridors, muttering to himself as he went, and as he came to a modest set of double doors, he stopped. On either side of the door were portraits of old CEOs of this prestigious company, most of which were looking solemn, glum and serious. Randall swept back his fronds pensively, wondering whether this was the right thing to do or not, and held up a hand, rapping his knuckles on the door.
"Come in," a deep voice from within commanded. Randall's pulse went up rapidly. He slowly pushed a door open, popping his head round the corner, and seeing that Waternoose seemed to be in a good mood, smiling slightly, went in.
"Err, hello sir, someone said that you wanted to see me?" he babbled nervously, trying to keep his calm. Waternoose was the one who had been lenient enough to give him the job, so keeping him sweet was on the top of Randall's list of priorities concerning Monsters, Incorporated.
"It's okay, Randall my boy, come right in and take a seat." Randall didn't say a word, just walked across the room, his feet padding against the soft carpet, and sat down as he had been instructed to do, looking about him in awe. The room was quite bare, but this illusion was caused by its size. There were pictures and paintings dotted about the walls, the most prominent being a cluster in the corner of the room, occupied by portraits of Waternoose's family. "Randall?" Henry said, trying to get the lizard- monster's attention.
"Oh," he answered, waking up. "Sorry Mr Waternoose." Arching his hands, Waternoose slanted forward slightly, the formally happy expression on his face deadly serious.
"I have some very important matters to talk to you about, Mr Boggs, and I'd appreciate your full attention." Randall nodded quickly in reply; Waternoose was obviously keen to get right down to business, and he didn't want to stand in the way of creativity. But, although Randall was expecting something dramatic, (the expression on Waternoose's face couldn't be an ounce more sombre) he certainly wasn't expecting what his boss had laid before him.
"THIS is my future, your future, the company's future." Randall blinked, staring at it.
"A napkin? A...NAPKIN? This is the 'important matter'? What you used to wipe ketchup, by the looks of it, off your face the other day? A NAPKIN?! Sir, I don't want you to take this personally, but have you gone mad?" Waternoose chuckled, enjoying the reaction, then got on with it.
"There's no need for any panicking just yet, Randall." He nodded to the napkin. "Turn it over." Randall did as he was told, scrutinized the pathetic little crayon drawing on the unsoiled side of the napkin, and gasped as he realised exactly what he was looking at.
"The...Scream...Extractor...? All you've done," he said slowly and carefully, pronouncing every word with extreme emphasis, "is get...get my brother's design, and draw it rather pathetically, if I may so myself."
"Actually," Waternoose began, "it was my idea originally." Immediately shaking his head, Randall folded his arms, trying to avert his gaze.
"Yeah. Right. And how exactly did you get THAT idea?"
"My brother stole my design, and showed it to our father."
"And that's how your brother got the job of CEO first instead of you?"
"Exactly. Harold, my brother, asked your brother to build the machine as, according to Harold, he was very skilled when it came to mechanics. And he had the intelligence to go with it."
"Yeah, yeah..." Randall was fed up of talking about Cy, wanting to get to the roots of this meeting. "Okay, I believe you. But what's any of that got to do with me? Why'd ya draw Cy's machine on a napkin?"
"Look closer," Waternoose beckoned. Randall picked up the napkin, trying to avoid the tomato sauce, and widened his eyes as he understood what his boss was talking about.
"It's...different." Waternoose nodded slowly.
"Yes. It's a new design, better than its predecessor. And I want you, my Top Scarer, to build it." Randall started off sniggering, then chuckling, then finally laughing outright. He tilted his head back, letting it all out in his nervousness, almost coming to tears at the absurdity of what Waternoose had just said. Meanwhile, the CEO got to his feet, pushing his swivel chair back, and went around his desk until he came behind the laughing lizard-monster's chair. He bent down so his face was side by side with Randall's, making him stop his hysterics and look up in attention.
"This is no laughing matter," Waternoose growled in his ear. "And surprisingly, I don't see what's so funny."
"I'm sorry sir," Randall stuttered, realising how stupid he had been. But he knew he had a point. "But don't you see how...silly it is to ask me, of all people, to build this thing for you?"
"No, I don't."
"Well, think about it- my own brother built pretty much the same machine as you're asking me to build, but look what happened to him! If he hadn't got away when he had the chance, he would've been caught and sent to prison. This kind of stuff is illegal, and I just don't do illegal." Waternoose stepped away from Randall, going to the darkened corner of the room where his relatives were hung, his arms behind his back.
"Which is why I need you to be sworn to secrecy," he said, his family looking down at him sternly. "I can't afford anyone to find out about this." He turned around to face Randall once more. The lizard-monster was very wary at this point, and was keenly listening to every word his boss was saying; who knows; he could use some of it to his advantage. "You can use your brother's little hideaway, since I'm sure that there's still a few components that you might need to build the machine. It's also in quite a secretive place, so as long neither of us starts spreading the word..." Randall thought ferociously, then opened his mouth in shock.
"Hold on a second! Rewind! When exactly did you get it into your head that I had actually accepted your offer?" Now it was Waternoose's turn to have a little chuckle.
"Randall, Randall, Randall...so young...so naïve. You have a choice- you say yes, and that's settled. Or you say no, and I convince you to change your mind." The arrow of Randall's anxious-o-metre went into the red boundaries.
"And how do you plan about doing that?"
"I am being very sincere when I say this Randall, but I really don't want to have to use my forces of persuasion...especially not on someone as...unique as yourself." Though Randall was very worried at what Waternoose was thinking, he managed to keep his cool. Anyhow, that's exactly what Waternoose expected NOT to happen, so keeping quietly calm upped Randall's chances of escaping out of this awkward situation scotch-free.
"Try me." Unpredictably, Waternoose sighed sadly before giving his answer.
"Your father was a great monster, Randall. Don't make me have to threaten you with something so..."
"Try...me." Waternoose massaged his forehead with a hand, then glanced up.
"I will have no choice but to banish you." Astonished by what his boss had just thrown at him, Randall's eyes widened, his hands balling into tight fists.
"You wouldn't dare. You've probably already got enough illegal matters to sort out without me on the agenda." Outrage burned in the air.
"What are you implying?"
"I'm 'implying' that you don't mind dealing with issues on the other side of the law."
"How DARE-"
"C'mon, Waternoose. You're not fooling anyone. Especially me." Randall had got Waternoose backed away into a corner, or so he thought. The reality was was that it was the opposite- Waternoose was the one who could blackmail people by threatening them with the worst kind of punishment you could possibly receive in the Monster World; banishment. And not only could he get rid of Randall in a nanosecond, but he also held the key to Randall's job, something that he knew he held proud above anything else.
"That isn't anything to do with the matter in hand. What is your decision? Are you prepared to agree with my terms, or do we need to...renegotiate?" Randall knew EXACTLY what that cunning statement meant. There was silence except for the constant TICK...TOCK of the grandfather clock by the window as the lizard-monster thought things through very carefully. "Think about it Randall- finally, all of that respect that you have longed for your whole life at your feet in days. And I am prepared to pay you a lot of money for your services. A lot...of money." All of those unpaid bills, those worrying debts, to suddenly disappear would be absolute heaven for Randall- looking after a child was a lot more pricey than he would ever have thought before. They might even be able to move, get a better place...
Saying yes would make things very simple, but no matter how sweet Waternoose could make the deal seem, it was still illegal, not to mention a lot of hard, tiring work. And he had a child to come home to- a member of his family that he could trust with no-one else. Building the Scream Extractor would take up a lot of time and would be something that Randall had to be dedicated to one-hundred percent. Could he bear to leave Fliss at home by herself? The obvious answer was no. But there was still Fungus to look after her, perhaps...And hadn't Fliss been talking about something the other day, about how she wished she could be proud of her father? Maybe this would turn the tables. The Scream Extractor, if it worked, (which Randall would make sure it would- he was a perfectionist and a bit of a workaholic at heart, and if he began a project, he wouldn't finish it until every little detail had been thought of and completed) would have to be released, so to speak, at some point, and when it was, surely he would get the credit? And when he did, finally Fliss would have a father to be proud of...But there was something else that could just about match the idea of Fliss looking up to Randall and being able to say "That's MY father, and HE built the Scream Extractor."
The respect. All that respect. Everyone would praise him, support him, and just be nice to him in general. He'd have proper friends, not like he had now, but trustworthy, happy people who honestly liked him. This thought was so appealing that Randall felt like saying yes that very second, but he held the acceptance in. But if he DID say yes, the chances of banishment were nought, and for it to be anything above was a definite no. Randall breathed steeply, in and out, burying his face in his hands momentarily. When he looked up again, he had made his decision. Unfortunately for him, this was to be one of the worst decisions he would ever make in his entire life.
"Okay. I'll do it. But first, tell me a little more about the specifications of this thing..."
---------------------------
Randall got up, sliding his chair back awkwardly, and nodded once in confirmation. Waternoose also nodded, looking at the door directly behind the lizard-monster, and waving a hand towards it. Taking the hint, Randall carefully walked across the room and left, shutting the door softly behind him with sweating hands. The second he knew Randall was out of earshot, Waternoose picked up an antique phone and dialled a number, waiting for the person on the other end to pick up. Once the ringing tone had ended, the CEO began to speak quietly, uttering each word as silently as he could.
"...and I'm going to promote a lower worker. Yes, I have someone in mind. I'm going to ask my Top Scarer to train him- he knows what he's doing- but you're going to have to switch a few numbers round. Don't forget to make it tally up though- we don't want anyone getting suspicious now, do we? Good. That's right. Now get on with it; we haven't got much time." The dialling tone ringing in his ears, Waternoose put the phone down, satisfied. Everything was coming together quite nicely.
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The corridor was almost empty, save one janitor and his friend. They were nattering away, Mike with a pile of paperwork in his hands that was meant to be going to the main reception, Sulley with a soggy mop. Laughing and smiling, the two best friends were having a good time talking about matters that amused them. Mike pranced around Sulley, a hand above his head with only three fingers visible, and narrowed his eye, grimacing fakely.
"I'm Lizard-Boy, and I think I'm amazing!" Chuckling, Sulley waved a dismissive hand at Mike.
"Stop it, Mike! You know it's not nice to talk about people behind their backs." Mike stopped the act but retained the annoyed atmosphere.
"But HE deserves it! He thinks he's so...so..."
"Randall does have a high opinion of himself, but it still doesn't mean we can talk about him like this." Mike snorted.
"I bet you he talks about us behind OUR backs." Sulley took a few stumbling steps back, mouth agape as his friend looked on bewildered. "What?"
"Actually, I don't," a voice said from behind the Cyclops. "Though it's very tempting." The tone had a unique accent, and was easy to identify. Mike spun round, panicking at the grim look on Randall's face.
"Oh, hey there Randall! What a surprise to see you here-"
"Oh shuttup. Just get out of my way." Randall pushed Mike to one side, barely giving him a second look, and weaved his way around Sulley just as his tail was tugged. "What?" he snapped at the large furry, his eyes blazing with uncontrollable fury.
"If we've offended you-"Randall sneered at the pathetic apology, baring his teeth.
"You? Offend me? Haven't you learnt yet that no matter what you say to me, it doesn't hurt?"
"Randall-"
"I thought you had- that's what you've seemed to be thinking the past few years." He turned, hurrying down in the corridor, clearly not in the mood for having a little chat with his enemies. Obviously nothing had changed since High School.
"But Randall-"
"Stop bleating my name like that!" he shouted back, fed up with everything. He strode down the corridors and, catching sight of a dark little nook hidden away in a corner, wandered into the shadows and laid his head against the wall, his heart beating fast. Randall felt hot and bothered, but he was fair enough not to blame his state on Mike and Sulley. No, in essence, it was Waternoose's fault. He had just asked Randall to build some machine, to do something illegal, and Randall had accepted. He shook his head, annoyed with himself. Why didn't he think it through properly? Why didn't he ask Waternoose if he could sleep on it or something?
But Waternoose had seemed unusually desperate, and something in Randall's mind told him that he wouldn't be too happy about leaving the room without an answer. It was still no excuse though; Randall still should've taken the choice into more consideration.
But it was too late now. He had said yes, and there was no backing out of what he had agreed to.
Not until the end.
