Zootopia: The Beast Within
Chapter 1
Night time in Zootopia. A time where most nocturnal animals were out and about partying before they went home to sleep all day. Most of them had excellent night vision, as well as relatively good hearing, but despite these special skills, most were unaware of what was happening right under their noses.
In downtown Zootopia, the moon shined brightly over a tall, circular building which stood on top of a tall hill and had an observation deck set a story or two below its roof while a storm started to roll in. A dark sign of things to come.
Above it, someone on a black hang glider flew over like a giant bat. The unknown stranger pressed a button on his chest, undoing the straps and causing him to free-fall down towards the structure. The glider burst into flames above him and went hurtling down to Earth slowly.
Inside, the top floor appeared to be a darkened laboratory of some sorts with various pieces of technological equipment of all shapes and size. A panel fell from the ceiling, and the mysterious mammal dropped in soon after it.
He gazed up ahead of him and saw a garden of some kind, a garden with blue flowers, which made him smile.
Some time after, the one who broke in was climbing the walls of another building while carrying a sack load of something along with him. and as he did so an alarm suddenly went off in the distance, though he or she did not seem to pay much attention to it.
Upon reaching the top, the light from the moon shined on the mammal, revealing him to be a Badger. Upon in front of him was another mammal, but this one kept himself out of the moon's light and stayed in the shadows.
"Your late." The unknown mammal hissed.
"Uh… sorry about that boss, took a bit longer to figure out how to get in then I thought…" The badger said, sheepishly.
"Never mind that, did you get them?" His boss questioned.
"Sure did! Take a look!" The badger said as he tossed over to him. His boss opened it and smiled when he saw what was inside. "Yeah, fresh Night Howlers! Once for studying… now for… uh… what are we gonna use them for again? I forget."
His boss then began to laugh softly before it become more and more maniacal and loud, creeping out his subordinate.
"Oh… you'll see soon enough R.J…" The unknown mammal said, sinisterly as he finally let the light from the moon show his face, revealing himself to be a jackal. "As will all of Zootopia."
He smiled an twisted looking smile as he said this.
The next day, it was a relatively quiet in Zootopia, the sun was out, things were relatively quiet, aside from the sounds of cars driving by and the mammals of Zootopia were all going about their everyday lives and all looked especially calm and happy. This was because, thanks to the efforts of the ZPD's best set of partner's, crime was down, not even a purse snatcher was in sight.
Still, the cops of the ZPD always had something to do thanks to Bogo, who still sent them each out on patrols just to be safe, much to the ire of many of them.
Though some couldn't complain, like Officer Nick Wilde for example, who had just entered the precinct, his shades still on, and was approaching the front desk, where Clawhauser was busy playing another Gazelle app.
"Hey Spots, how's it going?" he asked, casually.
The cheetah spotted him and lowered his phone. "Oh! Nick! Hi! Good to see ya!" he said pleased. "Is Officer Hopps with you?"
"Nah, Carrots said she had to take care of something first, but she said she'd be right over soon." Nick informed as he leaned against the desk. "But if she's not here soon… I'll send a carrot cake after her."
"Ooh, bet she'd like that." Clawhauser said, cheery.
"Yeah, bet she would…" Nick muttered, thoughtfully.
Clawhauser then looked ahead and let out a sharp gasp, causing him to cover his mouth with both paws and squeal happily. "Ooh! And speak of the devil!" he said as he pointed to the front door.
Nick then turned spotted Judy coming toward the building also and froze up a bit. When he finally realized that he was staring at her, practically entranced by her violet eyes and the way she walked, he turned away to adjust his tie and hid a certain smile on his face from her as his heart started to beat faster.
As of lately, he had been seeing Judy in a different light of sorts, as if his feelings for her were slowly moving beyond friendship. He knew he teased her a lot and usually called her by one of my many pet names but still he wondered if he did that because he felt something for her deep down.
The little bunny spotted her partner right away and smiled as she hopped on over to him. "Hey, Nick!" she said. "Hi, Clawhauser."
"Hi, Judy!" The cheetah waved.
The fox spun around quickly. "Oh! Hey, Carrots! Uh, h-how's it going?" he asked, trying not to stutter too much.
"Pretty good." Judy replied, as she held up her fist. "Ready to make the world a better place?"
"You know it." Nick smiled as the two bumped fists together, making Clawhauser squealed excitedly once more.
"Uh… Clawhauser? What's wrong?" Judy asked, concerned and bewildered by his behavior.
"Oh, nothing! It's just… wow! You two have such an incredible bond! It's like… Anjoeylina Joeylie and Brad Pittbull!" Ben told them.
"The couple from that Drama show Fur Loss?" Judy inquired.
"Uh-huh!" Clawhauser nodded. "They're such an adorable couple! …Just like you two!"
This completely caught the fox and bunny cop off-guard, making their eyes widen and their faces heat up and blush.
"What!? No, no, no, w-we're not dating see…" Judy stammered a bit as she tried to explain.
"Yeah, we're just friends, Spots." Nick stated.
"Exactly!" Judy agreed.
"Just. Friends!" They both said at the same time, before gasping and pointing at each other. "Jinx! Owe me a soda!"
"Uh-huh?" Clawhauser said, unconvinced with a suggestive smile and nod.
"And besides, we're partners and I don't think cop partners can date." Nick reasoned.
"Oh, well that's where your wrong." Ben revealed. The two glance at him, surprised. "Yeah, I heard that at Precinct Two, in Sahara Square, a camel and his partner were romantically involved and now they're married!"
Nick chuckled in amusement. "Come on, your pulling our tails here, aren't you pal?"
Clawhauser just held out his phone to them silently and they quickly saw the article that talked all about two camel officer's getting married, much to their surprised.
"Well, how about that?" The fox remarked, stunned.
"Yeah, well… there the same species and… Nick and I aren't." Judy pointed out.
Nick nodded. "Exactly, totally wouldn't work," he stated.
"Bradjoeylina are both different species." Ben pointed out.
"Ok, listen speedy, yes, we know interspecies couples are common and yes, me and Officer Hopps here are close, but that doesn't mean we're gonna automatically hook-up, got it?" Nick told Clawhauser, slowly.
"Yeah, I know but…" Ben began.
"Ah, ah, that's the end of the story, ok?" Nick said, firmly.
The cheetah sighed. "Ok…"
"Good." Nick nodded.
Wanting to change the subject, Judy quickly spoke up. "Uh… well, we'd better get to briefing, right Nick?"
"Right. Race ya there." Nick offered.
Hearing that made Judy chuckle. "Oh, you don't wanna race a bunny, slick."
"Hey, I like a challenge." Nick shrugged.
"Game on then." Judy smirked. She laughed as she zipped ahead of him to the bullpen while the fox tried his best to chase after and keep up with her. Ben continued to watch them go with a smile on his face and then sighed as he rested his head on the counter.
"Oh… they are so into each other…" he muttered, matter-of-factly.
"No, we're not!" He heard them yell from afar, surprising him greatly.
Nick and Judy soon walked into the bullpen where most of their coworkers were already seated and talking amongst themselves. They made their way over to their usual seat and each climbed one side of it till they were both standing on top of it side by side.
At that time, Chief Bogo entered the bullpen and stood in front of the stand.
"Alright, quiet down," he told them before speaking louder. "I said be quiet!"
All of the others quickly ceased talking.
"Thank you. Now, I know many of you have been enjoying life around here these past few weeks, what with crime being down." Chief Bogo said. "But I suggest you get over it because your rest and relaxation period is over."
"Aw, and I was looking forward to sunbathing today…" Nick remarked, with a wry grin.
"Enough Wilde, unless you don't want you and your partner to be assigned this new important case I have." Bogo told him, surprising the both of them. "If so, I'd be happy to move on everyone else's…"
"Wait, wait, wait!" Judy interjected, quickly. "Sorry to interrupt sir but… what assignment?"
"And more importantly… why us?" Nick added.
"Because… as much as I hate to admit it… the two of you possess talents that I, and especially the Mayor, believe can solve this particular case as it is… shall we say… 'right up your alley'." Bogo revealed.
"Translation?" Nick inquired, confused.
"We have reports of the plants used to create the Night Howler serum have all been stolen." Bogo finally said, stunning the duo and making everyone gasp. "Alright everybody calm down."
"Sir… when did this happen?" Judy asked, greatly concerned and alarmed.
"Apparently, the call came in late last night and quickly reached Mayor Cruz's office. They believe the Night Howler plants they were studying were stolen right under their noses." Chief Bogo explained. "And after the fiasco those flowers caused this city not to long ago, the Mayor wants it solved as soon as possible and who better to figure out who stole them and why… then the ones who solved the last case involving them."
"Can't argue with that logic." Nick shrugged. "Plus I still can't believe they elected a Hamster as the new Mayor of Zootopia."
"You and me both Wilde." Chief Bogo admitted.
"Uh, excuse me? Can we go back to the case please?" Judy spoke up, a little annoyed. "I mean… do we have any leads? Suspect's? Motive? Anything?"
"No. Whoever stole them didn't want us finding much of anything." Bogo answered.
"This guy must have been a pro." Nick realized. "Huh, I'd like to shake his paw if I could."
"Don't even think about it, Wilde." Bogo warned him.
"I-I just don't get it… Night Howler's nearly tore the city apart, who would dare use them now?" Judy wondered.
"Someone who wants to finish what former Mayor Bellwether started I'm guessing, and it's up to you two to find out just who." Chief Bogo told them. "First; check out where they were stolen, see if you can find anything that was missed, if you encounter any trouble; call for back-up. No exceptions. Understood?"
Judy saluted him. "We won't let you down, sir. Come on, Nick!" she said as she hopped out of the seat and headed for the door as fast as she could.
"Alright Fluff, don't pop a gasket." Nick said, as he got out of the chair also and followed her. As he left he heard one of the other officers, probably Wolford, making a sound that sounded like a whip, causing the other officers to burst out laughing and Nick to stop with his face flat. "Oh, grow up, guys!"
Nick begrudgingly walked out of the bullpen while the other officers kept on laughing.
"Alright, alright! Knock it off." Bogo told them. "SHUT IT!"
Everyone quickly did so while Bogo rubbed in-between his eyes and sighed, annoyed.
"I don't get paid enough for this…" he muttered.