"Criminal spotted, criminal spotted," the gruff voice of officer Tuskon sounded loud and clear over the radio of the ZPD car driven by officer Nick Wilde.
Not ten minutes ago a lone caribou had committed a double crime of theft and assault. He was now racing his way down the crowded streets of Downtown Zootopia. He had however made a grave mistake in his get-away attempt. He had attracted the attention of ZPD's Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps. A stupendous error for any law-breaker to commit.
Judy, who was sitting, arms crossed, in the passanger seat of the pursuing car, was not happy.
She had been anticipated a quiet patrol with little to no need to flash about her badge. It was therefore somewhat of a surprise when she was nearly turned into rabbit pan-cake by the speeding caribou. To add to her irritation, her partner, upon seeing that she was unharmed, had said something stupid. This time it was about looking both ways before crossing the street. Not only that but as they ran to their car he had pushed passed her while yelling, "I'll drive!" In the six months that they had worked together, Judy had always been the one to drive. Not once had she seen the fox take to the wheel. That was about to change.
"Somebody's in a bad mood," Nick said cheerfully as they sped after the offending car.
"No, no I'm not," Judy huffed as she glared out of the front window.
Never in her entire life had she known a more annoying, sarcastic moron of an animal as her partner Nick. He was a complete and utter class A jerk but with a heart of gold that you just had to love.
"Get ready for some action baby bunny," Nick said as, with a quick flick of his paw, he placed a pair of sunglasses on his face.
Tearing down a busy road the fox took a sharp right turn, ignoring the old wolf lady that he nearly killed.
"Nick will you slow down!" Judy yelled as they zipped passed buildings and pedestrians.
"Cool dudes drive fast, Carrots," Nick replied, flashing her a smile that sent a tingle up her spine. It felt like spider legs on her back and she didn't know whether she loved or hated the sensation.
Next thing she knew they had gone air-born as Nick drove the car at reckless speed down a hill. Judy closed her eyes and allowed a few seconds of air-born bliss to calm her tense nerves. It was over too soon as a jolt and a bang brought the car back to its old friend the road.
"Look, Mr. Cool Dude, I know we don't want to lose the bad guy but perhaps you could stay within the speed limit," the rabbit said sternly.
"I am within the speed limit," Nick replied.
"You're fifteen miles over and you know it."
"Maybe," Nick said turning to her and wiggling his eyebrows.
"Eyes on the road," Judy screeched as they headed on a collision course with another car.
Nick, eyes wide, dug his claws into the soft fabric covering the car's wheel. Popping sounds were heard as he swung it. Using every ounce of strength in his foxy body, Nick somehow managed to swerve away from the oncoming vehicle. Almost.
The back of the ZPD car and the front of the other met each other in melancholy greeting with unpleasant results.
Nick and Judy threw their arms around each other and let out a scream as their car somersaulted through the air.
Loud as there scream was, it was bested by the scream which the caribou, who they had indeed caught up with, let out as the car flew towards him. The caribou had just enough time to jump out of his car before it was crushed flat by the one from the ZPD. He was in such a state that he didn't even try to run.
Somehow both Nick and Judy had survived the crash with only a few cuts and bruises. Groaning Judy opened what was left of the car door, allowing her and the fox to fall to the hard ground below them.
As they picked themselves up, Judy inquired as to who on earth had taught Nick how to drive.
Nick squared his shoulders, held his head up high and tried to look as aloof as possible.
"I'm afraid I can't answer that Miss Hopps. It would compromise a certain confidentiality I hold."
"It was Finnick, wasn't it?"
"Errr…well."
"Yeah, thought so," Judy said with scorn.
Turning her attention to the caribou, she cuffed him and announced that he was under arrest.
"Are you insane!" the caribou yelled in clear referral to the way Nick had caught up to him and prevented his get-away.
"Sorry to disappoint, but no," Nick said, his mouth splitting into a grin. "Officer insane is off on sick leave and we're covering for him. Officers Wilde and Hopps at your service."
Judy chuckled at this then said that she would take the caribou in if Nick took care of the victim.
"But he's five blocks away," Nick whined.
"Well you had better get going then hadn't you," the rabbit replied, just a hint of amusement in her voice.
Nick scowled and stormed away.
Nick was weary by the time he reached his destination. His foot-paws were going on strike and it was not to surprising either. It wasn't right to inflict pain on one's poor feet but duty called for it so Nick did what he must.
"Officer Grizzoli," the fox said as he spotted the white wolf officer who was talking to the crime victim.
Grizzoli nodded then said, "I hope you've got some good news for our friend Lewis here."
Lewis was a tiger. He looked to be in his mid-twenties and was noticeably handsome. He was, however, not overly tall, as Nick's ear tips reached the tiger's stomach. Nick also couldn't help but notice the stream of blood running down from the tiger's felt sorry for the unfortunate feline.
"Lewis, officer Wilde," Nick said, then added that he had some good and bad news. The good being that the criminal caribou was on his merry way to jail.
"Well, I'm sure that's great, but what about my…stuff," the tiger asked. Nick was sure he detected slight desperation in the others voice.
"Oh, well that would be the bad news," Nick said shoving his paws into his pockets. "I'm afraid they have been obliterated along with the desperado's car. Not to mention mine."
"How on earth did that happen?" Grizzoli asked with a puzzled look.
"A good question," the fox said with an innocent look. "I must tell you sometime."
The other cop just huffed in exasperation.
Turning back to the tiger Nick told him that he did hope he had lost nothing of value.
"Nothing of value! ," the big cat lamented. " a fancy watch worth nearly 200 dollers."
"Ah, hard luck. I wish I could do more, but there you go." Nick said, half meaning it.
"Wait a minute," Lewis said in horror, "are you telling me that not only have I been robbed and punched in the face by some nutter but now I've lost well over 3oo dollers worth of stuff? The watch wasn't all that was stolen."
"Yep. It's a bummer," the fox replied with a shrug then added in a genuinely sympathetic voice that he was sorry.
"You're sorry?" the disgruntled tiger mutter and walked away with a shake of the head.
"Well this has been an interesting morning," Grizzoli mused before heading to his car.
"Mind if I hop in with you?" Nick asked, running after him.
"Well yeah, sure, I mean you need to get back to HQ just as much as I do," the wolf replied. He then, in a state of innocent lack-of-knowledge, asked the fox if he would like to drive.
Nick needed no second bidding. Jumping into the divers seat he put on some shades, turned the radio to full blast and started the engine .
Poor Grizzoli had no idea what he had just done.
Clawhauser hummed happily to himself as he sorted his way through myriad files on his computer. The files ranged from appointments to cases to new regulations that were being brought into the ZPD. Truthfully, Clawhauser was finding it overwhelmingly boring. The one ray of sunshine was that he could spend his working time listening to the latest hits from pop-stars, even if it wasn't, strictly speaking, allowed.
The chubby cheetah was about to play the song, Sands of love, for the hundredth time when he heard somebody call his name. Turning in his chair his eyes fell upon Nick and Grizzoli as they walked toward the reception desk of the ZPD building. While Nick looked calm, happy and, for once, presentable, Grizzoli seemed to be the polar opposite. His fur was ruffled, his eyes were wide and he was twitching involuntarily.
Concerned, Clawhauser asked the wolf if he was feeling alright.
"He's absolutely peachy, aren't you buddy?" Nick said and clapped Grizzoli on the back.
Grizzoli let out a yelp and scrabbled away from Nick, right into Officer Johnson and his cup of hot coffee. By some immense force of will, the lion managed to retain his composure. It had been said many a time by members of the ZPD that you couldn't call yourself a real part of the team until you had been scolded by boiling liquid. Thanks mostly to Nick, Johnson was now a hard bitten veteran.
"Is everything okay mate?" he asked the wolf. A mistake, as it set Grizzoli off shouting gibberish.
"No…no…the car. My fault. Shouldn't have let him drive. A demon…"
"Alright man, alright. Let's just sit down shall we?" the lion said as he led the other away.
"Evil…evil in fox form. Take away his license! Take away his license!"
Horrified by what he had witnessed, Clawhauser turned back to Nick in the hope of some kind of explanation as to what was wrong with the wolf.
Grinning, the fox cop just shrugged and sweetly said, "Not a clue. Must be work stress. Did Judy come in yet?"
Judy propped herself up with an elbow and started on yet another report. It was a detestable thing, writing up reports, yet a necessary evil that her job called for. She had told Chief Bogo in person what had transpired earlier that morning and he seemed pleased enough with her performance. She had felt good about things until she had remembered a list of reports that had to be finished off ASAP. It had taken her a good hour to write up four out of the ten that needed taking care off. She was just starting on the next when her ears pricked up to the office door clicking open. She turned to see Nick standing in the doorway.
"Good. You're back. You can help be finish my work here."
"Great to see you too Carrots," he answered, offense clear in his voice.
"Oh Nick, don't be a grump. We were only apart for an hour and a half."
"That long," Nick gasped dramatically as he flopped down into a chair across from Judy. "I can hardly remember what you look like. Have you changed your eye colour? That new violet look really suits you."
Rolling her eyes, the rabbit kicked him hard.
Smack went the fox's head onto the table.
"Ow…sly bunny."
"Dumb fox," she replied, then told him to help her with the reports.
Nick did just that, dividing the remaining reports between the two of them. Work was steady going however it was interrupted every now and then by Nick. The fox would work a bit then sniggle at funny pictures on his phone. Judy tolerated this up to a point but after the twelfth time she reached over and snatched the phone of him.
"Mine," Nick called out pathetically and tried to grab his 'precious'.
"You'll get it back after work and not before." the rabbit said sternly.
Nick gave her a hard look then returned to his work muttering to himself.
Another long hour of dull repetitive labor and both had finished the paper-work that had become their daily enemy.
Not five seconds later the door reverberated with a heavy knocking.
"Intrude," Nick shouted out.
The door opened to reveal officer Snarlof.
"Chief's waiting for us in the bullpen," the polar bear said plainly, then hit his fist into his palm while looking at Nick.
Both bunny and fox hurried after the bigger animal as he walked into the bullpen.
"Alright, settle down everyone," Bogo said once Nick, Judy and Snarlof had found their seats.
"We have two items on the list today. First we have a new recruit with us. Officer Jack Lewis,who was robbed only this morning."
The bullpen filled with the mixed sound of cheers that Jack was with the ZPD and sympathy that he and been mugged.
"Is that the Jack Lewis from this morning's robbery? Did you know he was going to be working here?" Judy whispered to her partner.
"And you thought your first day was bad? And no I didn't," Nick whispered back.
"Second," Bogo boomed out, shutting the two cops up, "we have a kidnapping in Sahara Square. A young zebra aged nine. I'm sending Officer Hopps and Officer Annoying to see to the matter. The rest of you are to go about your current assignments. Lewis, I have something for you as well."
"Sir?" the tiger asked,standing to attention.
The ZPD chief handed him a case file. It contained reports about a small fox pretending to be a baby in a purple elephant suit. He was a hustler and had to be brought in. Jack was a little unsure as to why the chief hadn't just announced it in front of everybody. Still, chief must of had his reasons.
"I'll take care of it sir," the tiger said with a nod.
"Good. Everyone dismissed. Oh, Officer Hopps, one last thing.."
"Yes sir," the rabbit asked, hoping that she wasn't in any kind of trouble.
"In light of this morning's report I'm giving you this special order. You drive. Do not let Wilde anywhere near the wheel."
"Yes sir," Judy said with a smile, then sailed joyfully out of the room. Nick followed, paws shoved into his pockets and in a sulk.