(Unknown POV)
The wind was warm, the sky darkening in the night as the sun tucked below the horizon. The chirping of the day stopped as birds and every other animal tucked in their young and the city calmed down. I stood on the steps of the abandoned church, a cigarette in my hands. The burning tip lit the darkness every few moments. I shut my eyes, leaning against the dampened wood and contemplate my goals in life. Why was I here? What was I doing with my life? Was this really the right path to follow?
I shifted once, the tip of my firearm hitting the railing. A Glock 19, my weapon of choice. My life was just like this gun. It could be used for good or it could be used for evil. The result came down to the user. Beside the firearm was my police badge, the metal shining in the light of my cigarette. It sat on my hip, weighing me down in every choice I make. I pull off the badge, looking at the proud design and everything this object should mean. I made a vow to protect the innocent and look at me now.
I turn, heading into the church, sliding the dark black paper over the window once more after it shut. Paper-covered every window in the church to keep in the light. Glancing around at the busy workspace it was a sight to behold. All of the carpets and the pews had been ripped out. Cleared away for the tables and people now in their place. Beakers, test tubes, long plastic tubes were everywhere you looked. Each vile and beaker was filled with a different liquid, some blue others green and I watched slowly as they mixed and made a new colour.
The workers, scientists, stood by, closely monitoring the process, some dressed in hazmat suits, carefully picking up a few tubes and removing them from the smaller fires underneath and twisting them in the florescent lights while another person scribbled down the notes with gusto. I walked past the first stages, heading towards the back of the church and standing next to the last scientist, this one was wearing a lab coat and rubber gloves. A pair of large plastic goggles were over her eyes as she lifts up a test tube, turning a small wheel and watching slowly as the purple liquid flows up the tube to a large glass container.
"How much longer?" I ask, announcing my presence gently so I wouldn't startle her.
The female monster looks over at me, the tube still in her hands and a look on her face like it was obvious. I cross my arms, pushing the hilt of my sidearm out into the light for show and tap one foot impatiently.
"I'm working as fast as I can." She grumbles, twisting another wheel and adding a second mix of chemicals to the batch "You can't rush this process... but I think I've finally determined the right amount of ingredients." She turns looking at a large, old book. The words in another language and time period before nodding once "step back; if I have this wrong it will explode."
Two other scientists pull me back, stepping forwards with a plastic sheet, holding it up towards the table and taking a step in. The scientist sighs once, preparing herself for possible failure and slowly turns the third wheel. She pulls her head back, watching the last part of the concoction slide down the tube. We wait on bated breath to see what happens, the liquid pours into the tub slowly and after a few seconds, the mixture bubbles, going from red, to green, to orange and finally gold. The sheet goes down slowly as the scientist looks closer at the vile, shutting off the flame below and removing the glass.
"I did it." She chuckles, looking at me before chuckling "I actually did it!"
A few victorious cheers erupted through the room and for a moment a smile was on my face to but my thoughts were interrupted when my phone vibrated. I open the message and blow out the smoke through smiling lips. She was standing there in all her beauty, looking fierce and powerful as she stared down a larger bug-like monster. It was true. Every word our master had said. There she was... an exact replica of the princess.
Our princess.
All my previous doubts vanished like the smoke from my cigarette. I wanted to cry. I wanted to fall to my knees in front of my master and beg for his forgiveness. I was his right hand and this is how I thank his trust, by questioning it? I smash the bud of my cigarette on the edge of a table, hoping to somehow squash the guilt as well when a finger taps my shoulder.
"I did what you wanted," the lead scientist says "I finished the serum. Now please, let my daughter go. Let all of our children go."
The room was filled with a course of agreements as I walked over to the table.
"Oh, yes. About that..." picking up the glass container and placing it in the small padded black case, along with the old book in a cut-out pocket "it seems there was a slight confusion in the message."
Snapping the locks as I was met with a confused look, I answered with a smile before grabbing the case and pulling out my sidearm. For a second it was like the world slowed down, my heart beating in my chest as I emptied the clip to the same beat. Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang. Fifteen shots. Fifteen shots echoed around the room as screams of innocent people fill my ears; the only thing louder than the screams was the smile on my face. I'd finally found my place.
I walk back towards the door, holstering my gun and pull out two grenades. I slide the case higher up on my arm, gripping it tightly and grab my phone. I step over the bodies of the dead scientist as I made my way back front. The line rings three times before it clicks. I turn, pulling the pins out with my teeth and tossing the explosives deep into the church before walking down the steps.
"It's her, proceed with the plan. I'll be there in a few hours."
The back of the church explodes, the unstable mix of chemicals adding to the flames, the rest of the church goes up in flames in seconds, spreading across the old wood like gasoline. I turn to admire my handy work as the line goes dead.
(Sophia's POV)
When we got back to the dorms I came face to face with the destructive power of my brother. A once neat and tidy room was now littered with muddy hove prints scattered around the floor, the entire bookshelf was on the ground and books were littered around the room. The desk was tipped over, the lamp and books on the floor, the only thing still standing was the bed.
One bed.
The other tipped over on the floor like everything else. Michael had briefed me before about the scene, both of us standing at the window of the infirmary as the doctor looked over Randy. A flashlight in her hand as she went over a list of questions. With a checklist of things for Mike and me and a container of pills for Randell, we were let go.
"Here, sit down for a second." I place Randell on the ground, making sure he wouldn't tip over.
"You know, you don't have to do this," Mike says calmly as I pull the top of the tipped bed, using my foot to push the bottom and with Mike's help, we carefully place the bed the right way.
"It's fine." I say and grab a pillow now under the bed "I'm used to cleaning up after Sullivan." I sigh and look over at Randell "Randy, where are you?" the lizard looks over slowly "What's today's date?"
"Um, Monsters University." He mumbles leaning against the wall, clearly not wanting to answer the other half of the question.
Mike looks at me in concern but I shake my head, turning back to the task at hand.
"Sullivan..." Mike says, placing a few books on the desk along with the lamp "Wait? You mean the big jerk that wrecked my room?"
I smile at this, while unknown to Mike as my back was turned. Leave it to Mike to pick up on the subtle add-ons in the conversation. It was clear that like Randell, Mike wasn't one to take too lightly. I made a mental note to learn more about him from Mike himself, not just Randell.
"Yep..." I sigh "I kinda grew up with him" I slide an arm around Randell as I lift him up off the floor and over to his bed "My mother was his Nanny." Randell cuddles into the soft bed sheets the instant he's touching them "Randy, you're not supposed to sleep." I sigh.
"But I'm tired..." Randell all but whines, his head burying into the pillow.
"Sleep, Sleep..." Mike says, his finger sliding down the information sheet before stopping "Staying with the victim." He taps it twice "For the first twenty-four hours, stay with the victim. Do not leave them alone. Monitor their physical and cognitive function for any changes. If the victim wishes to sleep, wake the victim every quarter-hour for the first 2 hours, then every half hour for the following 2 hours, then hourly." Randell grunts at the simple thought but Mike continues "Every time you wake them, do the AVPU consciousness test as outlined above."
He hands me the paper and I look at the outlined questions, many of them already asked by the nurse earlier and continue reading.
"You want to continuously monitor their cognitive and physical state in case symptoms appear later or worsen. If the victim does not respond to being woken up, treat as an unconscious patient." I set down the paper "okay, easy enough."
I glance over at Randell, content on asking the questions again but the smaller reptile was already asleep, fingers clutching the pillow like a child, the only way it could be cuter was if he was sucking on his thumb. I pull out my phone, set a timer and place it on the counter before turning back to Mike.
"What was living with that jerk like?" Mike all but sneers at the mention of him, I chuckle.
"Well, it was a lot like today actually," I say, nodding to the bookcase. I grab one end and pull it up, wincing as the rest of the books hit the floor loudly "Sulley never had to work for anything." I say, grunting slightly as I push it back upright, the last few books falling on the ground like hail and Mike dives to the side to avoid the downpour "He's childish and clumsy and completely infuriating but he means well."
"You're defending him?!" Mike says astounded, I smirk once, shaking my head as I too bent down to grab some books.
"Believe me; if this" I motion to the room "is all the trouble Sulley causes in a day then you're lucky."
I can't help but chuckle at Mike's face. A complete look of disbelief as I place books back on the shelf. After Mike got over his shock and the five-minute grumbling about his annoyance for my brother we finished cleaning the room, Mike was leaning back on his chair at the desk, a book held loosely in his hand, as I was on the end of Randell's bed. I sigh, the day's events finally catching up to me and I too find my eyes shutting slowly. Mike had been silent for the first time this night, gently flipping a page in his book.
"What are your intentions with Randell?"
Mike's voice cuts across the room like a knife, his voice calm and not judgemental but his eyes curious. Eyes that I see after I slowly open mine, calm calculating eyes that picked apart Michael's question. At first, I would be insulted but I couldn't find a smidge of judgement in his eyes, only curiosity for his friend's benefit. I smile softly.
"I want to protect him."
"Nothing more?"
My eyebrow rises slowly but Mike's face hadn't changed. His eye was only more serious than before, calculating my response in return.
"Yes." I sigh, running a hand down my face.
"Why go through all that trouble for nothing to gain?" This time my eyes snap over to him, wide-eyed as I couldn't believe Michael had said that. Michael catches this and looks down, slightly embarrassed as his fingers slide along the smooth desktop like a child caught dipping into the cookie jar "I'm just saying, Randell, is very different than other people."
I smile softly but also sadly as clearly Michael hasn't had it easy. Almost shying away from people like Randell does. I'd assume he was alone most of his younger life and after a few years just started expecting the worst from people. Most people would but I really enjoyed Randell's company and the fierce protectiveness from Michael had me liking him as well.
"Do you really think so little of people Michael?"
"Well..." Michael tries but trails off defeated.
Tonight must have hit him pretty hard. Like this was 'just what monsters did' and Mike could do little more than pick up his heart after it was done. To sign up for the scaring program of all things meant there was one hell of a story but I had to tread gently. Unlike Randell, Michael was aware of the harshness of reality.
"Michael, I know there are many people that would do what I do for self-gain but I'm not like that." Mike looks at me "I don't judge a person on their looks or their bodies because I know first-hand how that feels." I run a hand through my hair "I understand that you don't trust me but you don't know me either." Mike's face twists slightly "Randell is beautiful, yes, but I simply don't have time to date people."
Mike sits there quietly, mauling over my words, my actions, my reasoning.
Then he smiles. Jumping off the chair Mike walks over to me.
"Hi" he shoves his hand in my face "I'm Mike, Mike Wazowski."
My eyes fall to his hand, a grin on my face.
"Sophia," I smirk, grasping his hand firmly "Sophia Jones."
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