"Move! Move! Move! Move! Come on get to cover! Those bastards are all around us! Start covering fire!" The captain shouted as the crackle of gunfire cut through the air. Delta squad was about to finish a patrol when they came under fire. Now they had two choices fight and live or be sent home in a casket.

"Sir the recon found that IEDs are down the rode surround the complex." A young private said carrying his weapon in his hands ready to fire.

"Looks like they expected our presence. Ok we star-" Was all could say before he was shoved ten feet away as the young soldier said "it's been as pleasure sir." Before he saw the resin he was shoved away a RPG was headed straight for him and the place were the office was standing moments ago. Then the horrible moment came. The explosive dropped short detonating on the ground inches next to the Private sending him flying through the air. As the smoke and rubble fell away he saw the worst sight to see. The young man was slumped against a wall of a building blood dripping from his mouth. The most noticeable thing was his legs. The explosive had rendered them into bleeding and useless stumps. It looked as if he was dead but his head moved and he looked up his face blackened and twisted into a pained grimace. The man he had saved sprinted over to the soldier.

"Kid! What is your name son!?" The sergeant asked as he looked him over finding a long peace of shrapnel in his side. He was not willing to admit it but the boy was a goner. His last act would be saving his commander's life.

"Mathew Turner sir. Can you do something for me?" Mathew asked as he looked the man he saved in the eye.

"Sure sone what is it?" The commander asked his voice low.

"I was supposed to be on leave tomorrow and I promised my little cousin I would visit him. It's his birthday so I got him a DVD of that new film. It's in my footlocker can you give it to him?" Mathew asked very weak.

"Yes I will son and I will tell him that you have earned the Purple Heart today." The sergeant said to the man.

"Well I guess I will be seeing you sir." Mathew rasped as his head fell for the last time. Looking down the sergeant saw he was kneeling in the boy's blood.

He remembered the first time the boy was out in the field. He was energetic and helpful now he was gone. His last wish was that his cousin be given a DVD that he bought. Just as he stood two jets flew overhead and loud explosions were heard as large pillars of dust flew up around the valley. Then the gunshots were gone. Doing a head count the officer noted that there was only one dead the rest had lived. As Mathew's former squad gathered around they looked at him they picked him up and before they put him in a body bag they saw a smile on the boys face as well a single clean streak under his right eye. Then the company returned to base. As the boy's body was placed in a casket the sergeant did as promised. He went to Mathew's footlocker and opened it there he saw on top of all his possessions a single wrapped square with a name tag on it that read out. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUD!" In black sharpie there was two more lines. They read out. "To Leo from Mathew."

Seargent Baker's POV

Time skip. 4:30 am. Then the most somber time came and it hit us hard. The time had come for the final role call and ceremony. It destroyed me to see the picture of the young man that gave his life in exchange for mine looking at his squad mates I could see the same look of hurt in their eyes. To them he was like a brother, a friend, many times a kind helping hand. Most of us had straight faces but I saw lieutenant Bailey crying into a tissue. Bailey and Turner had been going out for three months now and I could tell her heart was shattered beyond anything else. Then I saw Renolds he was like a brother to all and Mathew was no different. I could see his bloodshot eyes from here. Then there was me the man who he saved, who heard his last words, and who was going to for full his last request. I had tears in my eyes as Taps played and the casket was loaded up. Soon I was in the same plane a the fallen on my way to see the Turners. As the plane landed I got ready for the mental battle that would come soon. And it came fast because as I rounded the corner to landings I saw a group of people standing there looking for someone. Then as I looked closer I saw the sign that read MATHEW in the hands of an elderly man. As I walked closer I pulled out three things. One was a folded flag inside twenty one bullet shells. The second was a clack box holding the Medal of Honor and the Purple Heart. The last the DVD that Mathew told me to give to his younger cousin. The man reconized the iteams immediately and dropped the sign and began to cry the old lady did the same soon the whole family was weeping exept two kids one roughly fourteen the other ten who looked in confusion. The younger one asked "grandpa who is he and we're is uncle Mathew?"

The old man replied "Mathew is gone honey he is with Jesus now." That brought the two to a horrible realization soon they were crying. After ten minutes the old man stepped forward to me. He asked me with watery eyes. "How did he go out?"

"Your boy saved me from an RPG. He was a good soldier. Everyone was like family to him. I was the last to see him live. His last wish was that I bring his cousin a present that Mathew wanted to give him for his birthday." I answered handing him the flag and box containing the medals. The fourteen year old stepped out to me. I looked at him and asked him his name.

"My name is Leo Turner sir!" He replied almost like Mathew did when he was first assigned to me.

"Then this is for you." I said handing him the gift. "Well I have to get back I am truly sorry for your loss. He was like a little brother to me." I said before I left for my plane. I really wish I could stay but I couldn't. All I knew was that Mathew was in a better place.

BACK TO MATHEW

As a multitude of thoughts rushed through his head the most pronounced was about how his family would react if the Sarge even finish his request of how Bailey was holding up but they were soon figured out and put aside as of now he needed to move. So Mathew opened his eyes. He was in a sitting position leaning against a tree were he woke up was in a meadow the pain in his legs gone. Mathew still had his military uniform on the desert camo print seemed to be as it should then he checked himself. The piece of metal in his side was gone and his legs were back. Only they weren't legs as he knew anymore they were paws. Moving up to his feet Mathew looked around and saw his helmet, pack, and gun laying there next to him his side arm strapped in its holster at his belt. He then saw his hands as he picked up all his other items. They were paws too they had a gray fur going up on my arm and back of his hand. Then he had it he opened the bag and took out a mirror. There starring back at him was a gray wolf with blue eyes white pointed fangs. He was taken aback and was in complete shock. Then he looked around. Instead of the desert Mathew was fighting and definitely died in he saw that he was in a lush meadow. Mathew continued to take in his surroundings and saw skyscrapers as he never saw before.

Looking back around he saw that nobody was there so he grabbed his bag and put the mirror back zipped it up and slung it on his back. After that he started to placed his helmet helmet back on his head but before he could he noticed there were two slots on the top. Reaching up he felt around and found that he had pointed ears standing up. Figuring out that the opening were meant for my ears he placed the helmet on and his ears pierced up from the top. Smiling he picked up the rifle and slung it over his right shoulder and started to walk to the city. As he walked on a wind blew from the north Mathew breathed through his nose and began to smell so many smells but they all seemed to make sense and he somehow knew what they were. They were other animals there was too much in the air so it was just a jumble but they were close. So he started walking in that direction. Soon Mathew saw a fascinating sight. Fully clothed anthropomorphic animals were doing what a human would do. But Matthew was snapped out of it when He got hit by something red and blonde.

As he looked up from the ground he saw a gazelle standing over him with a look of shock and worry. A long strand of blond hair covered her one eye but he saw everything in the other. Picking himself up he smiled at her.

"Hello I'm Private Mathew Turner what is your name miss?" Mathew asked as he put the bag over his shoulder and gun were it was.

"My name is Gazelle. I am truly sorry that I knocked you down. It's bad enuf for a regular citizen but one of Zootopia's bravest? Please don't be upset." She said as she multiple mammals looked on.

"Don't worry about it you didn't blow my legs off today so I'm fine." Mathew said earning confused glances.

"Really you aren't mad?" Gazelle asked curious.

"Why would I be?" Mathew asked back. "Well I am off to find a job or something." He said walking off. "Can you point me to the police station?" Mathew asked turning around.

"I can do you one better follow me." Gazelle said walking through the crowd.

"Thanks miss Gazelle." Mathew said walking beside the pop star.

"No problem at all. I for one know that my biggest fan is sitting at the front desk at Precinct One right now probably listening to one of my albums." The singer said smiling. Then after about twenty minutes of walking they made it to the police station. It was in the desert environment one environment that brought memories back some good others bad. But as they stepped into the station the cool air wafted onto them in a wave. As the line kept moving forward se,verbal officers saw Mathew's uniform,posture, and weapons. Those three things told them a hero was walking along side the biggest idol of their time. As the two reached the front the officer at the desk nearly fell from his chair. It was a overweight cheetah covered in crumbs with a badge that read CLAWHOUSER.

"H how can I h help you t today?" He stuttered as he asked the pair in front of him.

"I would like a application for please." Mathew requested as Clawhouser straightened up.

"You would need to meet with the chief then Mr?" Clawhouser said asking for the name of the wolf.

"Okay then my name is Mathew Turner ex infantry man. Is your name just Clawhouser or do you have a first name?" Mathew asked extending a paw.

"My full name is Benjamin Clawhouser but call me Ben. I must say it is a honor to say the least." Ben then pressed a button on the mic and then spoke. "Chief there is an ex soldier here for a job should I send him up?" Waiting for an answer Mathew noticed that he was having trouble keeping his cool.

"Yes send him up and take his gun away for God's sake it's making me nervous." A gruff voice said back.

"Yes sir. Okay then go that way bull pen is to the left. But you have to leave the rifle and pistol with me though." Ben said

"Okay thanks and here you go. These things have live ammunition in them so be careful." Mathew said handing his guns over. "Oh and before I do forget take this too." He added sliding a Bowie knife over.

"Alright then best of luck." He shouted before turning his attention to Gazelle and started going nuts.

As Mathew walked down the hall to the bullpen he saw all the offices he passed stare at him. As he passed them his nose picked up and categorized the sent of each one. Then he got to the door walking through he saw a rabbit and fox working at a desk as he closed the door they looked up at him. Their bored expressions turned to one of shock as the soldier walked through a door that was labeled BOGO head held high. He heard the fox say something about a bet between them the rest he didn't hear. Sitting at the desk was a buff Cape Buffalo.

"Sir!" Mathew said snapping at attention as he did thousands of times before.

"At ease cadet. Take a seat." Bogo said gesturing to the seat in front of him.

"Sir I wish to join your ranks!" Mathew said enthusiastically as he sat.

"So I hear. Tell me did you see deployment in a war zone?" The chief asked.

"Yes I did but the where will be really hard to explain. Just let me check if I still have the picture of my group." Mathew said before going through his bag and finally finding the picture which to his utter surprise had his human form kneeling in front of a group of men and women he had his rifle pointed forward while to others held their guns right or left depending on were they were. Sliding the picture over he pointed at himself and said "That creature there. That is me before I was killed in Iraq."

"So you were killed and reborn here in the land of dreams?" The buffalo asked in utter confusion.

"You know as much as I do sir. I was bleeding out while laying on a wall making my final wish then boom here I am with all the gear I had when my legs were blown away." Mathew said as a stag bolted through the door. In his hooves he held a phone.

"Police Chief Bogo you need to see this!" He panted as he layer the phone on his desk and played a video. Mathew walked around to watch it to. There he saw a silhouette of a man who lost his legs shrink down to the size of a wolf from there they saw Mathew as he sutured and awoke and took in his surroundings after checking for any injury. There the video stopped and the two other animals looked at the wolf who stared shocked and rubbing his legs.

"So it really did happen well damn. Is there any chance I can still be part of the force sir? I mean it's not like I have anywhere to go." Mathew said

"Well I need to create your whole life from birth to enlistment to now but I can do it as for residency Hopes and Wilde can help. They are our best and brightest. Or you can ask Gazelle." Bogo said in annoyance while rubbing his temples.

"Really you would do that!? Oh thank you sir. So who are these Hopes and Wilde peo- ER mammals?" Mathew asked earning a chuckle from the stag.

"You don't know who they are?! Man they are the mammals who saved the city not three months back!" The stag said laughing.

"Well so you know I just died due to an RPG blast thank you very much. And that video is dated about an hour. So yea I haven't been around long." Mathew said in annoyance.

"There were a Fox and Rabbit out there doing paperwork. That is officer Judy Hopes and officer Nick Wilde. They will also teach you the fundamentals of being a cop. But you won't be on the street I'm having you on the SAWT team. Now can you call those two in here. And Mr. you are to leave now but before you get that phone back I will have the video copied for the archives and I will send it to your house just fill out this form and give it to our greeter on the way out." Bogo said sliding a green sheet over.

"Okay then." The stag said taking the paper and leaving.

"Officers Hopes and Wilde come in here for a minute." Mathew said out the door. Not a minute after the duo walked in and looked at their boss and the soldier.

"Whatever you think I did I didn't do it." Was all the fox named Nick said as he and Judy climbed into the seat.

"You have not done anything wrong. But you will be having a house guest for a while. Mr. Turner has no connection to this city and no wages from the armed forces. So he has no home but he will be working here from now until he resigns and from his age it won't happen for another what forty years?" Bogo said as The wolf in question stepped forward. "Now this is highly confidential. He was killed in action in what did you say it was Iraq and what's more is he has not been a wolf for more than two previous self is here." Bogo said sliding the picture of a human Mathew to the officers.

"How did he die if I may ask?" Nick asked after looking up.

"He bled out after his legs were blown off." Bogo admitted after he saw a nod from Mathew.

"Then his end was somewhat EXPLOSIVE!" Nick exclaimed as Mathew cringed at the memory.

"That was in really bad taste man. Hey um Hopes was it you mind hitting him for me?" Mathew asked and Judy complied by punching Nick in the mouth.

"Hey what was that for?" The fox whimpered.

"Well for making an slow and horrible death a joke for one!" Judy yelled in anger. "Look at all the people he lost some of them may have died with him!" Judy exclaimed shoveling the picture in his face.

"No actually I was the only one my commander was supposed to die with me but I shoved him away before it could happen. And they were like a second family to me! The girl behind me there was my girlfriend! And now it is all gone torn away by a single rocket." Mathew exclaimed tears building up. The others stood frozen they knew it would be sad but this. This hurt them more even the emotionless buffalo hurt hearing this.

"Wow now I feel bad. And I did deserve that punch." Nick said looking down.

"It's fine might as well forgive and forget." Mathew said patting Nick on the shoulder. "We will be living together anyway. Oh and cheif am I going to have to turn my guns in or can I keep them?" Mathew asked turning to his boss.

"You can have them back but bring them in three days when you start work." Bogo said. "Now get out of my office all of you." He said and the three left. Nick and Judy sat back on their desk to finish up and Mathew walked down to tell Gazelle that he would be with the city wide heroes.