At nine that night, as promised, Randall was ready to meet the Nomads, who would then take him to free Fungus. He met them at their old hideout.
Mike was driving a rented truck that would hold Sulley and the turtles as well. They would wait for Randall's signal at the hideout to get in and help. Mike also had a cell phone they would use to call in the CDA when the criminals were subdued.
Randall had everything in place so they were out of sight of his enemies. He was inside now, looking around.
"I'm here, you crooks!" Randall called out. "Just as you wanted me to be!"
He kept on looking around and seeing nothing. Then, a big spotlight came on in the building, and Randall had to shield his eyes. He realized that he had made a mistake when he felt something wrapping around his body and lifting him off of his feet, making him curl almost into a ball. He was in a net!
"What the-? Let me out of here!" Randall called out. He immediately began to struggle.
"Good call, Swifty." the Creeper said as he came into Randall's view. "And look who we have here. The famous Boggs is back to rescue his friend. We never knew you were such a weak lizard."
"Where's Fungus? I came as you requested." Randall snarled. "Now let me out of here!" He squirmed in the net, trying to get free.
"Oh, we'll take you to him. And you are going to finish that machine and test it; or as we said before, he dies." Creeper warned. "Get him down."
The net was dropped, taking the wind out of Randall's lungs as he landed on his back. The net was then dragged to a transport truck and Randall was thrown inside.
Back in their own truck, Don was keeping tabs on Randall's tracker, and the turtles could all hear the transmissions from his hidden microphone.
"Get ready to drive, Mike." Don said.
"Gotcha." Mike replied.
"I hope he's alright." Mikey said.
"He'll be fine, Mikey." Leo rubbed his brother's shell. "He's been trained as one of us too."
Sulley and Mike wouldn't have doubted that. Then Don said, "They're on the move."
Mike started up the truck and Don told him directions.
…
After a half hour drive, the Creeper and Swifty, plus Knuckles arrived at their new hideout with Randall still in the net. Knuckles carried the net over his shoulders inside the new warehouse.
He was taken to where the machine was before the net was finally put down and taken off of him.
"Good to see you again, Randall." Waternoose said. "Now get to work! I want this machine done in two days, or Fungus here will be terminated!" He motioned to the scared, pink monster in the chair.
Randall knew he didn't have much choice, but he picked up a screwdriver and the new wires that he had asked for. He had plans to wire this thing so it would explode. He had learned about creative rewiring from Don.
Fungus gave him a sad look. Randall gave him a reassuring look in exchange. He began hooking up the extra wires.
Eventually, Randall took a look around, and he saw kids in the far back of this large room. He also saw a girl with black hair and brown eyes, that looked like a slightly older version of the little girl he had dealt with a couple of years ago. He went back to work.
At one point, Randall pretended he was scratching an itch on his chin, and whispered to the turtles. "If you're there guys, wait fifteen minutes."
Waternoose and the Nomads Gang were just sitting around, making sure he was working, or watching over Fungus. They brandished knives as motivation to keep Randall working.
Randall had finished wiring the machine. Now it would be no use to them.
Outside, Mike had pulled the truck up as close as he dared. He left some distance, in case of being seen. They got Randall's request.
"I finished adding the wires. It should be ready now." Randall said after ten minutes.
Waternoose was pleased. "Good, good. Now to bring out the test child."
Tank got the little girl known as Boo out of her cage. There was a chair she would be restrained in.
"No! NO! Let me go!" Boo cried out. She wanted to go home. Where was her Kitty?
Boo glanced at the big purple lizard that she had recalled from some time ago. He looked at her sadly. But he wasn't going to let this happen.
Just as Tank was about to strap her down into the chair, Randall made his move. He suddenly vanished and tripped the big tankish monster with his tail, making him cry out as he fell forward. Randall grabbed the kid in his hands before he hit the floor.
Randall reappeared. "Gotcha, Kid!" he said. But he was distracted long enough to get a slash on his neck from a knife.
Randall cried out, but didn't drop the girl. He turned and growled at the monster, Smasher, for cutting him. He held his neck. "Now, guys! NOW!" He yelled into the piece.
"That's the signal! Let's go!" Leo ordered.
The turtles and even Sulley got out of the truck and stormed the building. It really didn't matter if Randall had opened a door or not. Raphael could easily knock down doors, and Leonardo's katanas could slice through metal.
The gang was dumbfounded when the lizard had called out as if he was ordering back up to move in or something.
"And just who are you calling for, Randall?" Waternoose demanded.
The Creeper mocked him. "Help that will never come because they know you're a bad monster, like us."
"I'm not like you anymore." Randall said, as blood was oozing from his wound. It was a flesh wound, not one to the jugular or any other vital vein.
Boo was a little scared of the lizard holding her. She squirmed a bit, but he held her still.
"Hold still, Kid. You're fine." Randall said.
Raphael was itching for a fight. He ran for a door that he saw would get them inside. He did a flying leap and he kicked the door in, making it go crashing to the floor.
Waternoose and the Nomads were shocked at the door coming crashing down with a loud bang. There was a big, green creature they had never seen before standing on it, with what looked like long knives in his hands. Then Sullivan and three other green-shelled creatures came inside too, with swords, a staff, and nunchukus drawn.
"This ends here, Waternoose!" Sulley yelled at his old boss.
"This will never end, Sullivan! Scaring isn't enough anymore! And Laughing will never be what scaring was!" Waternoose snapped at him.
"That's right, it won't! It's even better!" Sulley said.
The turtles began to spread out.
"Leo! Over here! Fungus is in the chair!" Randall called out.
"Nomads! Attack these creatures!" The Creeper ordered.
Waternoose went to face Sulley. He wanted revenge on him for ruining his plans from before. Sulley was at a disadvantage, as he wasn't sure what to do against his old boss. He had never fought like this before.
Leo ran and jumped over the other monsters. He quickly cut Fungus free from the chair before jumping back into the fight. Randall put the girl down next to him and he joined in as well.
Randall vanished and leaped onto Swifty. He coiled his body around Swifty's upper half and squeezed the air out of him. Swifty tried to break free, but Randall's grip only tightened more. Swifty felt he couldn't breathe, then he lost consciousness. When Randall didn't feel resistance, he reappeared, and he let Swifty fall to the floor, winded and unconscious.
Leo went up against the Creeper, who tried slashing at the blue masked turtle with his knife. Leo threw a shuriken at his hand, knocking the knife away. Creeper backed up. But then, he charged at Leo. Leo sidestepped, and then he jumped at the monster, kicking him in the chest and sending him back into a wall - a move that he had once done to Hun too. The Creeper was winded.
Don went up against the Smasher. He tried to smash the turtle in, but using his bo, Don was able to get around him. Don struck him in the stomach and ribs, knocking the wind out of him and making him fall to the floor in pain. Then, Don saw Sulley was in danger.
Raph was up against Tank, now that he was up again. He jumped up and kicked the monster in the face and knocked him out.
Mikey was up against Knuckles. He hit him in the face and all over his body with his nunchukus. It got him knocked out too. Then he went up against Spyder, who was now threatening Fungus and Boo.
"Leave them alone!" Mikey yelled. He jumped onto the spider monster's back and held on for a wild ride. Spyder snarled madly, trying to get the energetic turtle off him before he was hit in the back of the head, making him go down.
Don landed on the floor a little behind Waternoose and as the crab monster was advancing on Sulley, who was backing up. Don threw his bo staff down low, it getting caught in between some of the crab's legs, getting him tangled up and he tripped too. He fell onto his side.
Don came up and collected his staff. Waternoose looked up and then there was a red masked turtle beside him. Raph had a mad look on his face. Then two more turtles appeared with their weapons drawn. Waternoose eyed the swords in the blue one's hands.
"This is over, Waternoose." Leo stated sternly.
Waternoose could see his cronies were all winded or out cold. He knew this battle was lost.
Randall and Fungus came forward with the child. Randall's neck and chest were covered in his own blood. At least he hadn't let the pain deter him from the fight.
The turtles began tying up the criminals after that, and freeing the kids from their cages. The kids were grateful for this. Seeing the turtles was like seeing something familiar from their own world, just in a more humanoid form.
Mike called the CDA after everyone was secured. The turtles and the kids waited in the rental truck. They couldn't be seen. Randall also pushed the scream machine's start button, making it burst into flames. It then exploded, taking the warehouse down with it.
The gang members and Waternoose were all ready for the authorities to take them to jail. The kids were ready to go home.
The CDA came and the criminals were taken into custody. There were even paramedics there that tended to Randall's neck wound. Fungus was alright too.
"We want to go home." The kids whined in the truck.
"You all will get to go home very soon. We promise." Don said gently. His soft voice was comforting to the kids.
The turtles just watched what went on outside. At least the criminals were now in custody.
Soon, everyone left and it was time to go home. When Sulley, Mike, Fungus and Randall returned to the rental truck, Randall had bandages on his neck.
This had been one big night. They went back to the factory and worked on where each child had come from and spent the night getting the kids home again.
…
The next day, they all took the day off from working and slept to get their energy back.
The crisis was finally over with. The Scream Extractor was no more. Randall was glad it was over with and that he would never see it again.
Sulley had finally seen the turtles in action, and they had been good fighters. The monsters wouldn't have been able to take down Waternoose and the Nomads without them. He was also indebted to Randall, for saving Boo.
Boo was the last child to be sent home, as she had made up with Randall. It had cost him a small price, the minor neck wound, but it was worth it in the end to hear that she forgave him for everything. She was old enough now to understand.
Don later took a look at the wound, and it was stitched. It would be fine. Randall also gave back the earpieces he had been given for the fight.
Sulley and Mike had been even surprised at how well Randall had fought alongside his friends. It was evident they were true allies to be trusted. Randall was a hero now instead of a bad guy. His friends, the turtles, were also heroes.
The turtles wanted to wait and see what the outcome of Randall's trial was going to be before they headed back to the human world, their world.
Roz would give it a week to let things settle down before the trial would begin. She and the CDA still didn't know of the turtles' presence. It was for the better.
…..
Over the next week, the turtles stayed in Sulley's apartment. Randall chose to stay at Fungus's apartment for the time being, awaiting the trial he had promised to face. Fungus only lived about four blocks away from Sulley's.
The turtles also went out patrolling at night, but not too far from Sulley's, as they didn't know this town like their own. They would get out of the apartment from a fire escape on the backside of the building. They visualized the surrounding areas so they could find their way back to Sulley's. They even went to Fungus's apartment to visit Randall.
Randall found himself doing all the cooking at Sulley's if he visited them there, because the turtles didn't know what food was good in this world. Mikey could make a meal out of anything, but Leo, Don, and Raph were much more careful of what they ate here.
One day before the trial would take place, Don came up with an idea. Sulley was at the factory working at the time.
"Guys, since we can't be there for Randall's trial, what if we recorded our voices to tell some of the things he's done that prove he's not who he used to be?" Don suggested.
"That sounds like a good idea, Donny." Leo agreed. "But remember, we can't mention humans. Not even Hun. They can't know he killed."
"But we can say he has helped us in our time of need." Raph said.
"Yes. We can say he's helped us with defending us, learned special lessons from us, and helped create things that are not dangerous, like cars. Surely, they could see no harm in that." Don explained. "We would just have to remain anonymous."
They waited until Sulley came home and ran it by him.
"That does show potential, guys." Sulley agreed.
"They do look for testimonies like that, don't they?" Don asked.
"Yes, they do. They want all traces of evidence before the final decision." Sulley said.
"Do you have a tape recorder, to record our voices?" Mikey asked.
"Yes. Somewhere." Sulley said. He began looking for it and found it in one of the kitchen drawers. He put in a tape and each turtle was recorded, being careful of what they said. They tried to make sure they didn't say anything related to the human world. Just things that the judge would find beneficial in that Randall was not a criminal and not be sentenced to jail. If he would be banished, this time legally, then at least he would have a place to go.
Sulley soon went to bed because he was going to the trial tomorrow as a witness. The turtles went over to Fungus's apartment soon after. They wanted to talk about this with Randall, so that he would know that they were on his side.
Randall heard the tapping on the window and went to let his friends inside. He was so nervous about tomorrow. He wished they could be there with him.
"You're probably thinking about the trial tomorrow, right?" Leo asked him.
"Yes. I can't help but be nervous about this." Randall replied, looking at the floor.
"Randall, Sulley agreed for us to give you a hand as well." Mikey said.
Randall looked up at him. "How?"
"He recorded our voices to tell them about things you've done alongside us, but we made sure to not mention anything from the human world, and we didn't mention anything about you having killed before." Don explained.
"It wasn't like I killed all the time, just when your lives where in danger."
"We know. And Sullivan promises to keep it a secret." Raph said.
"We just wanted to go over this with you before your trial, so we aren't keeping you in the dark about anything." Leo said.
Randall gave a smile. "Thanks, guys." True friends didn't leave their friends in the dark about important information.
"Well, we're going to go on patrol. Do you want to join us for a little while?" Leo asked.
"Sure. My nerves are fried right now." Randall said. He never used to do this before, but after having met the turtles, it had become a new part of who he was.
Buildings in Monstropolis were similar to New York's. They were right next to each other, wall to wall. So, it made it easy for the turtles and Randall to go running and jumping over rooftops, patrolling. Not that there was much out here, but it was nice, fresh air.
They covered a four block radius and found nothing. Then, they brought Randall back to Fungus's so he could get some sleep. He had a big day tomorrow that would decide his fate here in the Monster World. The turtles returned to Sulley's.
….
Leo, Raph, Don, and Mikey were all concerned on how the trial was going. They couldn't help but pace around the apartment.
Sulley, Fungus, Mike, Celia, and other monsters were at Randall's trial. It began at 10 am.
Randall was up in the defendant's area. There were many CDA agents around. He was going to be his own lawyer. He would try to use Leo and Splinter's teachings to remain as calm as he possibly could. He tried to steady his breathing and not panic. He had on a rented suit shirt.
He still had stitches in his neck that would come out tomorrow. He didn't want to look at them, so he kept them bandaged. Perhaps it would also convince the jury that he was not a bad monster any longer.
The judge came into the room, a big, brown square kind of monster, wearing a black jacket. He had his bottom fangs sticking out of his mouth. He had curvy horns, no tail, two legs, and hands with seven fingers on them. His dark eyes took in the defendant.
"All rise for the Judge Drax." came the order.
Witnesses and Randall alike arose in respect. Drax got to his seat and sat down. "Sit down." he said. He had a deep, booming voice. Everyone sat down. It wasn't easy for Randall to sit in just any chair like most other monsters.
Witnesses began to get called. Each one was asked that they would tell the truth. They all said yes.
There was many a monster that said that Randall wasn't a nice monster at his job, but he was a determined worker. His old supervisor had said that he had always been good about paying his rent and seemed to keep to himself, and he wasn't a trouble maker. At least up until two years ago when he had just disappeared. Then he had no choice but to evict him even though he wasn't there.
Sulley, Mike, and Celia definitely didn't have many nice things to say about Randall. Well, Mike had spoken about college, but that was a long time ago. Sulley did say how good Randall had been about stopping the bad guys in their latest encounter, getting a little hurt in the process. He had stopped the Scream Extractor once and for all.
It was still a mystery to the CDA how they had won the battle against the Nomads Gang. They were a tough gang to take on and get away unscathed. Randall and Sulley couldn't have done it alone.
Sulley also discussed Randall's mysterious actions when he mentioned that he had been staying with some friends who had been helping him for a long time. He explained that they had helped to take the Nomads down, but they couldn't come to the trial because of family emergencies - a made up excuse. Sulley asked if the recordings could be played.
The judge agreed.
The whole monster crowd listened as the turtles explained sides to Randall that no one had seen, and how he had been reformed into a better monster. He had built some good vehicles with some help, though not from around here. He had learned about compassion, honor, and humility. He had learned about some medical techniques. He had even protected his friends from others that were attacking them.
Each turtle used shortened versions of their first names, with the exception of Raph. They hadn't said what they were, just an anonymous group of Randall's friends who had helped him out when he was in a time of need, as his life was falling apart. They helped explain why he had mysteriously disappeared for two years.
Mike and Sulley knew the truth, but it was better if the monster world never heard it.
After all the evidence from witnesses was given, Randall was asked to take the stand. He took a deep breath, and he let it out. He got up and went to the stand. He swore to tell the truth.
A lawyer named Mr. Sarge came up to him. He was a blue monster, about four feet tall with two standing eyes, and tentacles for feet. He had two four fingered hands. "Who are these friends who helped you?"
"They are from out of town. They are anonymous." Randall replied calmly.
"And I looked on your public and health records, Randall. It said in the medical file that you also wear glasses. Is this true?"
"It was, yes. But I no longer need them. One of my friends is also a doctor, and he corrected my vision." Randall said.
"About the Scream Extractor, how did you become involved with it?" Sarge asked.
"At the time, Mr. Waternoose was my boss at Monsters, Inc. He wanted to keep his factory running despite not having enough Scream Energy. I thought of a way to do it, because I wanted to help our world avoid losing power. I had heard him talk before how he would do anything to keep the factory from going under. So, I invented the machine and approached Waternoose about it. I showed him blueprints of it and told him what it would eventually do when finished. I knew it might have its risks, but it was just to help our world. I needed Waternoose to fund my work, even though it was done in secret. It would have been announced if it had been successful."
"And when it was finally finished, we needed a test child. And that was how the child got in that time. But I didn't let her in. Someone else had, but I tried to do what I could to just get my machine tested. But the plans were destroyed. My machine was destroyed, and I started going mad. I know I almost did some terrible things to two individuals in here, and I'm truly sorry. I was just desperate at the time. But I wouldn't have intentionally brought harm to the child."
"That was years ago. More recently, Waternoose was acting of his own accord to rebuild my machine. He threatened to kill Fungus to make me work on it. I have learned that making that first machine was the biggest mistake of my life. It took away two years of my life, and I let my health get bad during that time. I was always busy on it. I hated it. Before building it, my boss had promised me fame, money, and respect, and recognition for my work. I truly am sorry for all the craziness that happened." Randall explained all of what he remembered and the reasons for his bad actions.
There had been sentiment in Randall's voice while he explained the chain of events. There were no other questions asked. They had just wanted to know what had happened to why he was involved in the first place.
"We will have our lunch recess and we will reconvene at three o'clock." Judge Drax announced, and he smacked his gavel on the desk. It dismissed the crowd for lunch.
Sulley, Fungus, Mike, and Celia went back to Sulley's for lunch. It would give them time to see the turtles to let them know how it was going, but the decision would be waiting for this afternoon.
"So, how did it go?" Leo asked when they stepped inside the apartment.
"We don't know yet." Sulley replied. "But your recordings were heard. I'm sure some of the other monsters had their doubts about who you are. There were many who didn't have nice things to say about Randall. But we're just hoping that his punishment will be a lighter one. It could be jail time, or banishment. I'm sure he's not getting off scot free for what happened."
"That's all we could do." Don said. "We tried to help as much as we could."
Randall was still nervous about what they were going to say his fate would be. If it was banishment, he knew where he would go. He didn't want to go anywhere else.
They all had lunch and Randall was too nervous to eat at all. Then the monster group had to go back to the courthouse for the verdict at three.
After everyone was settled, the judge asked, "Has the jury reached a verdict?"
"We have, Your Honor." An orange female answered.
The envelope was passed down and a guard took it to him. He read it, and gave it back. Then he said, "Defendant Boggs, please stand."
Randall stood up. He looked up with as much courage as he could muster. He would take the punishment, whatever it was. He knew if he went to jail, he would have to let his friends leave without him.
"Due to your involvement with Waternoose, your attempts to cause harm to two other monsters, conspiracy, and other actions that are not known to us, you are considered a threat to our society. Although your friends have said that you have been reformed, your illegal activities have continued. You are hereby charged as Guilty." Judge Drax declared. "The standing punishment will be in my office afterwards."
Many other monsters were glad he was found guilty. Mike was too for what he had done in the past and for so long. Sulley looked over at Randall, who now had his fronds flattened down to his head in sadness.
Guards took Randall to the back, putting cuffs on his wrists. He was taken to an investigator's room to wait for the judge, with a guard standing in the room. His hands were cuffed to the table.
Soon, the judge came into the room. "How is it that you didn't have a lawyer?"
"I couldn't afford one. It was so last minute." Randall replied.
"Now that I have gone over your records and considered the testimonies given about you and your actions, I have made my decision on what your punishment is." Drax said.
"I can take it." Randall said. "I want to get it out of the way so I can get on with my life."
"Given that you are a threat to our society, Mr. Boggs, you are hereby sentenced to…"
Randall swallowed, waiting for the words nervously.
"Banishment."
Randall lowered his head in shame. But at the same time, it was a miracle. He knew where he would go.
"You may stay until your injury is healed. Until it is time for your banishment, you are to be held in the CDA's custody." Drax ordered.
"Wait, why can't I spend it with my friends? I won't be any trouble, I promise." Randall said. "I did stop Waternoose and his cronies, didn't I? I need time to say goodbye."
"Fine. You can spend time with them just until it's time for you to go. Given your injury needs time to finish healing, spend these last days with them. You have two weeks."
Randall was grateful when he was released and free to go. He went with Sulley back to his apartment.
"So, was it decided?" Raphael asked in anticipation. The turtles were anxious about the decision.
"I didn't tell anyone until we got back so I only had to tell you once." Randall said. "The judge thought I was a threat to society. He banished me, but I have until the injury heals to stay."
"That wouldn't be a problem to look after back in our world." Don said.
"I want to be gone before the CDA comes for me." Randall said.
"Give us a couple of days, Randall. The weekend will be the best time for you and the turtles to go back." Sulley said.
"Very well." Leo said.
At least when Randall came back with them, now he had a clear conscience that his actions were justified, and he wouldn't have to come back here anymore. He had nothing in this world for him any longer. He had a new life to look forward to, however long it would be.
Sulley gave Randall a box of stuff that had been confiscated from his apartment. At least he would have something to remember this place, and his former life.