Ok, ok, ok. This chapter tells about Randall's first practice and some of the team players. Phew....we really worked on this, so please review! Hope you enjoy this, although something came to happen that Randall didn't expect.
Chapter 3 The Team The Problem
It was Saturday. Randall had been cured of the pain in his chest overnight, assuring himself he was ready for practice. Randall and Randolph were now outside of Monstropolis Monstars Bowel, where the team practiced and played home field games.
"Ok ok....my first meeting with the team...ok" Randall said, taking in a deep breath. "You'll do fine..." Randolph said, "Just....be yourself Randall. "....Which self?" Randall asked. "Oh....get in there!" Randolph said with a smile, pushing Randall to the door a bit. "Ok.....I'll be here after work....I have a short shift today" Randolph said, heading off. "Ok! See ya later brother!" Randall shouted, making Randolph wave back at him. Randall then turned to the door, which was glass covered. "Ok Randall....I'm a nice guys...yeah" Randall said, making sure his smile was pleasant on the reflection as he headed in.
*
As Randall walked down the hall's, passing some janitors here and there, he noticed something. The hall's had been painted blue and white. Apparently, everything was due to because this was the Monstars home field. Soon, he came to a case full of Scarely Cups. In Monstropolis, after the best-of-seven cup championships, the Scarely cup was awarded to the MHL. For Monstropolis, their leading team was the Monstars of course. Smiling at those, he pressed on, hoping that a trophy in that case in the future would be there because of him. Soon, he found the locker room in a closed off area. Inside, he could see that the locker room wasn't all that different from the Monsters Inc. Locker room, except there weren't that many lockers. He saw that nobody else was here so he went in and looked for his locker. He then stopped and saw his name wasn't on a locker yet. So he tried them all. Each of the eleven he tried were locked. Then he tried number 08.
(Ching)
It opened revealing some gear inside. "Ah....so he got it ready for me..." Randall said, looking around. "Coach Orion! Coach?!" Randall said, walking over to the locker room's entrance and peeked outside seeing no one. "Hmm" He said, walking back over to his locker. Taking in no one was here yet, he sat down on the bench and started getting everything on. He pulled out the rolled jersey and unfolded it. He looked at it with a smile. On the back was his name and on the front was "08". "Oh...that was nice of him". Orion seemed to have gotten a new four sleeved jersey for Randall. He placed it on, easier now that he didn't have his helmet on now, and it fit perfectly.
"Hmm...fits nice...but I still don't prefer suits" Randall said to himself, picking up his helmet. He carefully placed it above his head and lowered it until it reached the top of his fronds. He moved the helmet slightly so they fit, and when he did, he placed the helmet on, letting his fronds slip into the holes. He snapped on the strap under his chin so it wouldn't fall off. "Good...." He said pleased with himself. He sat down and got his two pairs of skates out and sat them at his side. He was about to get them on when a crowd of voices reached listening range. He turned to the entrance to see what he hoped to see when he came in. It was the eleven Monstars players. They came in not noticing him at first, but stopped what they were doing when they saw him. At the point, Randall placed himself in a nervous mood.
"...Uh....hi?" Randall said with a smile and a small wave with his fingers. In response, the players crowded around their lockers. "....Who's the pip squeak?" said the monster directly in front of him. This monster had a bulky body under his jersey, but Randall could see he had two legs and arms and two bugging out blue eyes with a lobster type face. But Randall knew he wasn't going to take an insult from at least being a nice guy, although he wasn't thinking straight at the moment.
"Hey! I'm no pip squeak! I happen to be....Errrk!" Randall stopped, as the monster gripped him around the throat and held him up off the ground. "Orion never told us about a new player! We have a full roster....your a spy from those Comets aren't ya!?" The monster said, seeming as the others halve agreed. "No I'm...n..." Randall tried to say, trying to get the arm off.
"Hey!". They all stop and turned to the entrance to see Orion. "Let him down now Bruno!" Orion ordered. Bruno took one look and then released Randall, who feel to his feet like a cat would. "Ow" He said, rubbing his neck. "In case you all didn't know....this is our new Center....Randall Boggs" Orion said, seeing Randall was fine. "Oh! You are a player!.....Sorry" Bruno said to Randall, feeling a little stupid beyond his tough appearance. "Oh....its alright...I get it allot" Randall said, standing up straight. "Yeah...well...welcome to the group", "Nice to meet ya!", "Sorry about pushing you there", were some of the comments the others said. Bruno patted Randall on the shoulder and said sorry once more. When everything was fine, Randall sat back down on the bench and started getting on his skates when another bulky player came over, who had a goofy face on. This one was wearing pads through, showing he maybe wasn't all muscle, maybe big bone. He came over and sat by Randall, who was fixing his front right skate on.
"Hi! I'm Jonas, the front line Goalie" he said, holding out a hand, which Randall shook with his top right one, giving a "hi". Randall then turned to see the monster had black hair showing from under his helmet. His face was that of a turtle mixed with soft rubber like skin. His circle eyes, much like Randall's except they were completely in the head, were dark brown. He also had two arms and four legs. "Now...I'm sure you want to know...here's the thing with Bruno there...." Jonas began, point over to Bruno, who was getting on his helmet. "He's and enforcer.....not the kind you wanna make friends with...me...I'm fine". "....Thanks....I'll...remember that" Randall said, seeing Jonas miss his confuse face as he placed his feet on the ground, the skates on. Soon, Orion came over to him. "Sorry about the first impression Randall...these guy's don't like squealers..." Orion said. "Oh...its ok coach..." Randall said, standing up, his legs stabilizing him. "Yeah well....you ready to show me your stuff kid?" Orion asked with a smile, placing his cap on. "Sure..." Randall said, turning and heading out a door that led to the ice rink. Orion followed.
"Say Bruno...where's that other new enforcer?" Jonas asked as Randall and Orion was gone. "Ehh....I think he's on the ice" Bruno said, closing his locker.
*
Randall stepped out onto the ice first, doing some back and forth and circle motions to see if he was set. He stopped and looked up to see some banners with some of the teams championships. He looked to see one not marked blue and white....but was red. He shrugged thinking it was just their next game championship. He then turned his attention in front of him. "Huh?" He said almost silently. He could see someone else was already on the ice, in a Monstars attire. Randall couldn't clearly see him, but could tell by his body he was most likely and enforcer. Orion then came out, cones in his hands. He went over to one of the corners as the player skated over to him. Soon, the player came over to Randall. Soon, the players small walk on the ice stopped to a small slid. "Oh!" The player shouted from under a mask that shielded his eyes.
"Hey! you a new player t....hey...wait a minute...oh no!" Randall said, using his eyes to see through the shield. "No! It can't be!" Randall yelled. "Randall!?" The player said. Randall looked again.........the player.....was...Sully. "Sullivan! No! you can't be! Orion! Coach!" Randall shouted. "I didn't know you played hockey!?" Sully said, taking up the mask's shield. "No! This has to be wrong!" Randall continued. "Oh but it is...I'm on the team..." Sully said, smiling a bit. "No! I am never working with you!" Randall shouted, causing Orion to skate on over. "What is going on here!?" Orion asked, stopping between the two. "Is Sullivan on the team!?" Randall asked. "Of course he is....he's got the team colors on him" Orion said. "I am not working with him!" Randall shouted. "He's a good enforcer...we need him." Orion said. Randall grunted, turning his face to the left, knowing he wouldn't win. "Err...fine!" Randall said, making Orion go back to what he was doing.
"Hmph...Don't worry Randall...I won't play any tricks on you like I did in school....that park thing was just an opportunity Mike thought of" Sully said. "Yeah right! I'm doing this to support me and my brother! Your only doing it because of you want to keep bugging me through my life and take everything from me! So just stay away from me Sullivan!" Randall stated, skating over to Orion with angry thoughts. He couldn't think if Sullivan was apologizing or not, either way, Randall's reaction didn't change as he went over to Orion.
"Coach! Why is he on the team!?" Randall asked, throwing his hands up, showing frustration. "Good enforcer...we need him since our other enforcer went out" Orion said, looking over his board which kept his plays and various other coach related information. Randall sighed in frustration, looking at Orion with a serious look. "Listen....coach....me and that....there is no possible way we can work on the same team! I've despised him through my whole life! And if Randolph were here, he'd back me up!" Randall said. "Randall listen....you may hate Peter, but someday you have to work with him...and he'll work with you" Orion said, placing his board into the box where the players would sit in a game. Randall gripped his stick and closed his eyes, holding back his anger. "Err!.....Fine! But I'm still not working with him!" Randall ended , skating over to one of the edges of the rink, waiting for everything to begin. "(Working with Sullivan!? Never! He ruined me! Err....brother...please be here soon!)" Randall said in his thoughts. He looked up at a clock on one of the back wall's. Randolph wouldn't be here for at least an hour.
(Whistle!)
Orion blew his whistle that was around his neck, making everyone come over to him. Sully was on the right, the team in the middle, and Randall on the left.
"Alright....first off, we have 2 new players replacing Ranch and Dilbert...I want you all to welcome James P. Sullivan and Randall Boggs" Orion said, making the team clap and look at their new players. " Yes, yes yes,....so...lets see what they got. By that sudden announcement, Randall grinned thinking of something. He was going to beat Sullivan in this, show him that he was no longer a monster he could just fool around with anymore.
"Ok...Lets do a burst sprint just to get you guy's ready..." Orion said. Then everyone lined up side to side, a few feet apart so they wouldn't bump into each other. They placed their sticks into a cylinder container Orion brought out before getting ready. "(Try and catch me Sullivan!)" Randall snickered in his thoughts, looking over at Sullivan, then straight ahead. He got low and waited for the signal. "....Alright!" Orion said, blowing the whistle.
The team took off in speed, Randall in the lead, followed by some of the shooters. He quickly looked back to see Sully was at the lead of the enforcers in the back. He chuckled as he moved, but realized he didn't look back....
(Slam!)
He hit right into the North section boards. He moved his hands and pushed on the wall to get his body off it. He did, shaking his head a bit from he impact, seeming himself a little stupid. "You alright Randall!?" Orion asked with a shout. Randall trudged a bit to the left and the right, but shook his body to get it back to normal. He looked ahead to see the others had already started heading back to the starting line. With a gasp, he pulled back his hands and left feet and pushed forward to make himself get a burst of speed. He kept a steady pace and came in 1st, Bruno 2nd, and Sullivan about 5th. Randall stopped at the line, feeling a little dizzy as he went back over to the team that was near Orion.
"Jeez...you move fast for a thin guy" one of the players said. Randall just chuckled, looking over to Sully, who had a smile on his face. "Huh?" Randall questioned. "Alright...that was good...I see you guy's haven't lost a touch....ok then....Enforcers...lets test you guy's out first" Orion said. Randall gasped, making his fronds perk up and move, knowing why Sully was so happy.
Randall had always gotten pushed around by Sully in school, and knew if Sully got the chance to hurt him without getting in trouble, he'd take it. He growled at Sully, who just smiled. "Everyone else....sorry but your the prey.." Orion said, being a little different in terms of Hockey. This seemed to be a test for the enforcer skill and the team's evasion skill. The team discussed amongst themselves as Orion went over to Randall. "You alright Randall?" He asked. Randall thought. What if were to do something to Sully. He didn't have to just evade...he could do more. "Alright coach" Randall said. He got up and saw the team lining up. Although before heading over, he took off the gloves on his hands and placed them on one of the seats in the Players Box. Randall skated to the North wall as the enforces prepared in the south wall. The rest of the team split up. When Randall stopped and turned around, Orion blew his whistle. The three enforcers on the team ran out to take care of they're pray sorta speak. Just to show how good he was, Randall was gonna take out all three. He could see that they were strong, but maybe not that bright. He could see two players slam into the walls by Bruno as the other enforcer came over to Randall. Randall spread out his feet and opened his now un-gloved hands, standing his ground as the monster came closer. A split second later, he got low and went between the monsters two legs. "Wha!?" The monster yelled.
(Slam!)
He slammed into the wall. Randall got up, looking at him. "Poor, poor.....muscles don't count...." Randall said with a smile, trying not to be a mean guy to him. He turned back to see Bruno heading to him. He knew he had to try something else. Randall skated over to the west wall, and stopped at it. He placed his hands on the wall as Bruno came over. "Nowhere to run!" Bruno said, ready to slam into him. Randall grinned and climbed up the wall. He then pushed onto it and flipped over Bruno, landing back behind him as Bruno slammed into the wall. In the Monster world, this move wasn't illegal, although if he stayed on the wall out of reach, he would be violated for a minor penalty. But the way Randall did it, he didn't violate the rule. "Wow!" Orion shouted, seeing the site. Some of the other players were also impressed, but kept moving. But soon came Sully. Randall skated forward, as fast as he could as Sully concentrated on him. Randall then felt something behind him. He looked back to see Sully grab his tail and pull him backwards, making Randall lose his stability on his back feet, making him lose his stamina and trip. The sudden trip made Sully able to slam him into the south wall.
(Slam!)
Randall was pinned onto the wall, but dropped to the ground as Sully backed off, laughing. Randall got up, his head a little dizzy. Apparently, the only thing the other players saw was the check into the wall. Orion then came over, stopping at the two. "Wow Sully...you caught him...guess your our new enforcer" Orion said, making Sully smile. Randall got up, his head shaking a bit, but forced himself out of it. "Hey, hey! He made me trip by pulling my tail!" Randall yelled, gesturing Sully. "......I don't know what he's talking about coach" Sully said with a shrug. "(Lying, cheating fur pack!)" Randall shouted in his thoughts. "He tripped...probably...over confidence" Sully said, secretly smirking over at Randall, and saw some of the other players coming over with a laugh. Randall couldn't take it. He was about to pummel one of them, until Orion blew his whistle loud enough that the team had to cover.....wherever their eyes were. "Alright! That's enough!" He shouted, making Randall hold back his anger. Everyone stopped what they were doing and listened. "....Good!....Now that I have you attention, I think we should finish up! Ok!....Lets see some goal work! Jonas!" Orion called.
Jonas got up and got his goalie stick from the container and skates over to the far goal. Everyone grabbed theirs also, Randall first, seeing as how he didn't want to spend time around Sullivan. As Randall skated over to the net for the goal, he could see several normal pucks placed on the blue line. Figuring they were the ones they were using, he picked one up with his bottom left hand. "Hey Randall!" Jonas called. He was already positioned by the goal. Randall skated over to him, having a chat.
"You did some fancy work out there" Jonas said, being honest. "Yeah....up until Sullivan yanked me" Randall said, looking at his tail for a moment. "He really did do it?...well...that's illegal in my book" Jonas said, seeing Randall didn't seem as much like the lying type. Bruno soon came up between the two. "Hey Randall, come on this one's yours" Bruno said, taking Randall over as Jonas got his mask on. Randall, Bruno, and four other players made the shooters and the others the defenders. "Ok...first, we're gonna try your shooting, through enemy teams." Orion said, everyone understanding. "But since everyone knows, we're going to be doing shooting, passing, the we split, ok?" Orion said, blowing his whistle and heading over to the side lines as the team started.
The shooters split up, but were in range of Bruno, who had the puck on the side of his stick. Bruno was considered an enforcer and a shooter, making him one of the best players. They got close to the defenders. Bruno got close, but passed the puck to the player beside Randal, who passed it to one on his left. "(Huh!?)" Randall thought, seeming to think he was being avoided. But soon enough he got the puck. He only hand to deal with two defenders to get to the goal. Randall had a good idea. He got low and shot the puck slightly in between the two players, who concentrated their sites on the puck, but forgot to notice Randall pass by the right of one of them, being low. "Hey!" They said, turning around to see Randall move right, left, then did a wrist shot into the goal. "Yeah!" Randall said, holding his sick up with his top hands. The team wasn't that impressed with the move, but the two defenders were expecting he'd just shoot or pass it. Bruno and Jonas came over, patting him on the back for a good play. Sully was watching the whole time, feeling a little guilty he had lied.
"Well...good fast work..." Orion said, taking off his cap, brushing his hair, and placing the cap back on again. "Ok...but lets do it for real this time" Orion said with a whistle. Everyone went to the blue line. It seems the puck Randall had picked up, along with the ones the team later picked up, were going to be used for this. He did a small circle and placed the puck down and stopped at it with a grin. It was now his turn to play. This time, Randall was in the middle and Sully was in the middle. Everyone else stopped at the line as well, a little apart from each other.
"Ok, lets see how my team's shooting has improved in the off season" Orion said, looking over at Randall, who got low and gripped his stick, then Sully, who was looking determined. "Alright Make it through your enforcer and score and we'll be done for the day.......Just pass your enforcer and shoot....Jonas....just try to stop them" Orion said. Jonas was a good goalie, but....not that bright as some.
"Ok!" Orion said, holding up his whistle. "(Ok Sullivan! Lets see how good you are without Wazowski and others to back you up!)" Randall thought, laughing a bit silently.
(Whistle!)
The shooters took off. Randall was ahead with Bruno at his side. The enforcers then skated out to stop their shooters scores. Randall slowed down to see how Bruno took his. Bruno himself slammed enforcer into the ice, and skated right past him. Randall shook his head, getting a good idea once more. He then skate toward Sully.
"Gotcha!" Sully said, moving fast with his left arm, ready to knock Randall. "I don't think so" Randall replied. Randall immediately stopped, curving the stop to his side, making ice bits from his skates fly up and hit Sullies eyes.
"Ow! I can't see!" Sully said, trying to rub the ice from his eyes. Randall just laughed and, while still controlling the puck near his stick, casually skate walked over to the goal. Randall decided to test out his slap shot. he pulled back his stick, putting in momentum on it, and launched forward, making his body almost get on all eights. The puck sore, almost levitating from the ground, and sped right past the top of Jonas's shoulder.
Jonas turned, seeing the puck at his feet. "Oh Jonas!" Came some voices ahead. Jonas looked ahead, only to be pummeled by the other player's pucks.
*
After a few other minor things, it was time to go. "Marvelous work out there Randall...you too Sully" Orion said as the other players headed into the locker room. "We've been asked to take on a team here. Its a simple group who's like our practice team we go up against. Its not scheduled, so you can bring your family's, if your coming that is" Orion said, shaking both their hands as he walked in. Randall stood still. Being reminded by something like that.....He still had a brother, and he wouldn't miss Randall's first....kind of game. Randall started to head into the locker room but was stopped by a sudden pain.
"Ow!" Randall said, turning back to see Sully pull him back over by his tail. "You better not pull anything like that again! You could have ruined my eyes!" Sully said to him. Randall moved his tail to get out of Sullies grip, but Sully just let go. "Oh...Sorry....I was hoping you'd get blind" Randall said. Sully gasped as Randall headed into the locker room. By hearing that, Sully gripped his stick tightly, as if he were going to break it.
*
Randall placed his helmet in his locker and took off his jersey, feeling better not being in clothes, and placed it inside also. He sat down on the bench and started taking off his skates when Jonas and two other players came over.
"Hey Randall....," Jonas began, making Randall look up, "This here is Max and Drigo...those enforcers you took out".
Randall stood still, praying he wasn't going to be a scale surfaced punching bag. The two sat down with Randall in between them, making him feel a little hesitated. "Oh don't worry buddy, we're a team" Max said. Max looked like a turtle of some sort. Scales his front and small shell like plates on his back. He had four feet and two arms, both green but like Randall's that stabilized him. Randall was glad he didn't make Max slam into the wall with his back. He might have broken the glass or something. "Yeah...you did some fancy foot work and stick handling out there....you could be an enforcer" Drigo said. Randall thought about it, but looked at Drigo. Drigo had a body like that guy named Rainsford on the Scare Floor who had a son called Ranft. He had 4 eyes, two clawed hands and two others with short claws. He also had a plain thin purple tail. Randall wondered how he ever got into his jersey.
" Well...I" Randall began, not knowing how he should act. "Well...incase you want to be an enforcer, just tell Orion, we'll back you up" Max said with a smile. "Yeah well....I'll...keep that in mind..." Randall said, placing on a smile, and began to take off his front feet skates as Max and Drigo went back over to their lockers.
So, what you'd you think? Anyhow, me and Ran would like to give a thanks to Joy. Why? Well Joy, you know what I'm talking about. I hope you as well as everyone else enjoyed this chapter!