In an interrogation room at ZPD Precinct 1, sat a sloth in business casual, he looked nervous as he sat across from two police officers, Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde. "So Flash, you mind explaining why you were speeding like crazy through Savannah Central?" Judy said; looking exhausted from having to deal with Flash a second time. Not to mention that she and Nick had spent most of the morning getting him into the station. Not through any aggression on Flash's part. But he walked very, very slowly. So Judy was on the verge of losing her temper with the sloth.
"Look, buddy. Why didn't you tell me, of all mammals that you were a racer? I mean a car that sweat." Nick whistled in appreciation. "I mean, why did you tell me about that?" Nick said.
"I... have... a life... outside... of you..." Flash said
"Complete sentence or?-"
"Nick... I... do not... have to... keep you... abreast... of everything..." Flash said.
"Done talking, or?-"
"I do... or have... besides... you know... perfectly... well, that... I have... a need... for speed! Nick." Flash said, Judy, looked annoyed as the Sloth finally finished talking.
"Look. Mr. Slothmore. Just tell us what on earth you were doing? Blatantly violating speed limits, and going 115 in broad-daylight? And you know... risked running someone over?" Judy said, trying to compose herself. Remembering all too well her first encounter with him at the DMV, it literally took the entire day to get the license plate number.
Though to be fair, it was largely Nick's fault that it took Flash so long to run the license plate number.
"I... know my... rights... I... would like... to speak... to my... lawyer." Flash said as he slowly folded his arms.
"Come on Flash, Flash, Flash Hundred Yard-Dash. Don't be like that." Nick said friendlily.
"Do you even have a lawyer... and please. PLEASE... Just say either yes or no." Judy said.
"No..." Flash said.
"Well then would-"
"I… do not... actually... have...-"
At this point, Judy was all but foaming at the mouth. "Listen Flash, Either you tell us what we want to know! Or so help me! I will personally charge you with resistance to police investigation! I don't remember if I can lock you up on that one or not. Frankly, I'm FAR TOO MAD TO REMEMBER CLEARLY! So please... cut the bull, and just give us a straight-forward answer... PLEASE!" Judy said angrily, standing on the table and looking Flash in the eye.
His face slowly turned into one of shock. "Well... when... you put it... that way... I was... practicing for... the big... drag race... tonight." Flash said.
"What kind of drag race?" Judy asked.
"The... Stampede... of Doom... it's... one of... the most... dangerous... races... in... Zootopia... and... I've won... every race... for the... last... two years." Flash said.
"And where and when will it be held?" Judy asked.
"It... should be... start at... about... seven... PM... Or eight... I've... heard that... they sometimes... change... it... to throw... off police... investigations. As for where... it is… being held… it's always... random... last year... it was... held... in Tundra Town... the year... before... it was... the... Rainforest District around… the… canals." Flash said.
"So you know when, but not where? That sound about right?" Nick asked. "Yes... can I... please... leave now?" Flash asked.
"Not until we learn more about this race," Judy said.
"Cool your jets Carrots. You scarred the guy enough as it is. If he doesn't know where this... 'Stampede of Doom is'. Which by the way, has got to be the WORST name for an underground drag race I've ever heard if I'm completely honest. Then he doesn't know." Nick said.
"But we need to know where this race is!" Judy said looking frazzled.
"Look Carrots, how about instead of yelling at Flash further. We just have cops staked out all over the city?" Nick asked.
"Would Bogo even agree to that?" Judy asked.
"And... this... day started... out... so well... to." Flash said dejectedly.
"So in short, you want me to assign officers to stake out across the city. To find this, 'Stampede of Doom' drag race? Was it called?" Bogo said as the two were now sitting in his office.
"Yeah, I don't think the names all that great either sir," Nick said. "It's due to start at about seven or eight tonight. But Flash doesn't know where specifically it'll be." Judy said.
"And this sloth Flash... he's won it for the last two years? And he thought the best thing to do was practice... during the day?" Bogo asked.
"Our thoughts exactly sir, but his slip up does give us a lead. Not a perfect lead, but it is a lead." Judy said.
"Well, you figured out the Night Howlers scare with a more shaky lead," Bogo said.
"So... are we going to get cops staked around the city?" Nick said.
"Yep... and guess who's going to be leading the search, right here in Savannah Central?" Bogo said with a small smile on his face.
"...us?" Nick asked, knowing full well what Bogo's response would be... or a rough approximation.
"Bingo Nicky-boy, now dismissed," Bogo said, and then Judy and Nick left his office.
"Isn't this exciting Nick? Your first day on the force, and already you're on a major case!" Judy said excitedly.
"Well, it's more interesting then conning ice cream places. Now if we're really lucky, we won't risk getting mauled by a savage jaguar. Or... you know. In general NOT, almost get killed." Nick said.
"It's part of the job Slick. Now let's get the lead out and-" Then Judy's phone rang.
"Yeah, not kidding here, I don't trust you driving and on the phone at the same time," Nick said.
"Just let me take this," Judy said, the caller ID showed that it was one of her brothers. Specifically, it was her twin brother Davies. She answered the phone.
"Davies? Yes, I am at work, but I'm not doing anything right now. Come on Davies, we both know you wouldn't call unless it was something important. No, I'm very happy that you're calling me... just wish you'd do it more often. Wait? What did you just say? Are you certain about that? No, I'm not saying that you're lying, I just... I mean wow! You're finally going somewhere. I never doubted you for a moment bro. So, I'm going to be going on my lunch break. Goodbye." Judy said.
"And I was left out of the loop because?" Nick asked.
"You don't need to know every detail of my life Nick. Besides, it was a family matter." Judy said.
"Okay... still what's the happy occasion?" Nick asked.
"My twin brother got a publishing deal, and with Blackpaw Publishing no less!" Judy said. "Oh is that so, eh Carrots? You're going to have to tell me more over lunch... seriously. I remember things easier on a full stomach. Also, I left my wallet at home." Nick said.
"No, no it's right here," Judy said, pulling up Nick's wallet. "What the heck?" Nick said as he checked his pockets.
"Relax Slick-Nick; all I took was a twenty. You still owed me from when we first met." Judy said as she gave Nick back the wallet.
"But those Jumbo Pops cost fifteen!" Nick said.
"Yeah, but I gave him a twenty, and let him keep the change. So you owed me twenty for that old con." Judy said.
"...okay, that actually sounds fair," Nick admitted.
Nick and Judy were in civilian clothes at a diner near Prescient 1. "So, your brother's been writing children's books?" Nick asked.
"Yeah, ever since we were kits actually. They were always about Monty." Judy said.
"And Monty is?" Nick asked.
"A giant stuffed penguin. Not kidding here, Monty is about the size of a full grown bunny." Judy said.
"And... he's your twin?" Nick asked.
"Twins can come in one boy and one girl Nick," Judy said.
"That must have been fun. Everyone getting you two mixed up, solving mysteries during the summer, matching costumes for Halloween." Nick said wistfully.
"...at first, when we were actually kits. But... well it's kind of awkward to talk about." Judy said.
"Puberty messed him up that bad?" Nick said.
"Never say that again. I know exactly what you're thinking Nick, and no. It wasn't like that at all. It's just... well he's more of an introvert." Judy said.
"An introverted bunny, now that's a new one," Nick said.
"Well... it's kind of a bit more complicated than that. Tell me, Nick... do you know anything about-"
"This is a robbery! Everybody on the ground! And nobody gets hurt!" An armed tapir said, bursting into the diner with a drawn gun... followed promptly by every police officer taking aim, including Nick and Judy with their tranquilizer guns.
"Didn't your mother ever tell you NOT to try to rob? Especially considering, you know. This place is so close to Precinct 1? Heck, your just lucky Bogo isn't here. He'd have thrown you out of a window as soon as you talked." Nick said sarcastically.
"This ain't even the first time folks try to rob the place." A waitress said from behind the counter.
The tapir tried to leave but was promptly buried under a dog pile, mainly by all the wolf officers. "Now, what were you saying before you were so rudely interrupted?" Nick asked as lunch continued.
"Well... Davies is autistic." Judy said.
"Oh... OOHHH... wow, I feel like such a jerk right now." Nick said awkwardly.
"And after that puberty comment, you should. At any rate, high school... wasn't kind to him." Judy said.
"Say no more Carrots... please. You don't have to explain things further." Nick said.
"But now he's going to be able to share his writings with the world!" Judy said excitedly.
"Good for him," Nick said, putting on an awkward smile.
"...you don't have some kind of baggage about him being autistic do you?" Judy asked.
"Order up, Officer Wilde and Hopps!" A waitress said.
"Finally, I thought we'd be here all day!" Nick said as the food was brought to their table.
Several hours later, Judy and Nick were sitting in there police cruiser, looking for any signs of the Stampede of Doom. "So... you've been uncharacteristically quiet. You know, since lunch... when I told you about Davies." Judy said to her partner.
"Hopps, it's not that I'm... I think less, of a bunny I haven't even met. Let's just say for now I have a bit of a history of sorts with autism. And when I say history... I mean one guy I knew by name in high school." Nick said, looking through a telescope.
"Oh cheese and crackers, you didn't con an aspie did you?" Judy asked.
"In my defense, I didn't know that he was autistic at the time. And he was a horse, not an aspie... what even is that a kind of donkey?" Nick said, Judy simply rolled her eyes as she and Nick waited for speeding cars.
"Nick, if I had a dollar for every time my brother, or I heard that exact same joke-" Judy was cut off from her train of thought, as a number of bright neon colors blurred past there cruiser.
"Think we found our stampede Carrots?" Nick asked.
"Oh yeah, now strap in your seat-belt because we're-" Judy was cut off again as another blur of neon lines speed by. "...because we're going to make the world-" Judy was cut off by another mass of streaking neon. "...the world-" A fourth time Judy was interrupted.
She said nothing further as she floored the gas pedal. "So that's what it takes to take the wind out of your sails," Nick said sardonically as he turned on the siren.
"Not. Now Nick." Judy said with a frustrated look on her face as the cruiser sped around the gaudy colored cars. And periodically the drivers stuck there heads out and shot out each other's tires. Causing destruction as the cars veered off in random directions. "Okay, Nick. Take down what exactly is going on here." Judy said as she shoved a notepad and her carrot pen at Nick.
"Dispatch! This is Cruiser 42. We've found the drag race, and we need back-up!" Judy said into the car's radio, as a large car, driven by a giraffe exploded by them. "Suspects are armed and dangerous. The race is going down Giraffa Way. Did you get that Clawhauser... Clawhauser?... CLAWHAUSER?!" Judy said.
"I heard you, Judy! Sheesh, no need to get snippy Ms. Grumpy tail. I'll get some cars to back you up, but it might be awhile." Benjamin said over the radio, as another car crashed through a street lamp and a mailbox.
"Well, this is going to be fun. So far just us and a few dozen adrenaline junkies with guns..." Nick said.
"It's not impossible Nick!" Judy said as she got her hands the speaker. "PULL OVER! ALL OF YOU!" Judy shouted into the speaker.
"Hmm... maybe you should shout louder. That could work, might get some attention in Bunnyburrow." Nick said sardonically.
"Not. Helping! NICKOLAS!" Judy said, gritting her teeth angrily.
Eventually, after dodging gunfire, and exploding cars. Judy and Nick reached the racer that was in the lead. Through the window, Nick could make out a rabbit as the driver. Dressed entirely in black and wearing a face-concealing helmet, with the only visible part of the drivers head being the driver's brown ears. "Hopps, I got a look at him. Definitely, a rabbit can't make out much else." Nick said, squinting at the driver.
"GUR! Where the heck is our backup!? Nick! Take the wheel!" Judy said. "What?! There's no way you can get a clear shot from your side." Nick said in surprise.
"DID I STUTTER WILDE?! Take. The wheel!" Judy said, Nick, fearing for his life took the drivers wheel. And Judy climbed out of the car through her door's window.
"JUDY! WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU THINKING?!" Nick shouted in concern as Judy jumped over to the car.
"PULL OVER! PULL OVER NOW!" Judy shouted as she latched onto the car. The driver said nothing. "YOU ARE BREAKING THE LAW! WILL YOU JUST STOP THE CAR!?" Judy shouted. The driver didn't respond. "OKAY! I AM GIVING YOU TO THE COUNT OF THREE BEFORE I BREAK OPEN THIS WINDOW!" Judy shouted as she brandished a baton. "ONE!... TWO!..." Judy shouted, and then the car window rolled down. "Okay... you're under arrest for speeding, participating in an illegal race, and resisting police authority. Pull over now!" Judy said, calming down a little.
"Your Judy Hopps, aren't you?" The driver said, his voice sounding distorted.
"What? Of course, I am! You know any other rabbits in the ZPD?" Judy asked. "I would surrender... but my livelihood depends on this race. So... I hope you will forgive me, for this." The driver said as he slammed on the breaks, in turn causing Judy to fly on ahead, and her neck the first thing to land on a street lamp.
"Judy... oh please wake up for real this time... I can only take so many false alarms..." Judy's eyes slowly opened, seeing an exhausted-looking Nick sitting beside her.
"Nick... you look terrible," Judy said.
"YES!" Nick said as he hugged Judy.
"Nick... what happened? The last thing I remember was trying to get that racer to pull over-"
"And you landed neck first into a lamp post... speaking of which," Nick said, glancing down at the neck-brace Judy was wearing.
"How long have I been out?" Judy asked.
"About three days," Nick said.
"And that race?" Judy asked
"Everyone who survived the Stampede of Doom's been arrested... except for the winner," Nick said.
"That bunny..." Judy said.
"Yeah, we got a good enough look to see the cotton-tail speed off with the prize money. It was actually really impressive. I got a copy of the security cam footage in slow motion!" Nick said as he showed the clip in question on his phone. The unknown bunny driver made a hard turn around the apparent host. Jumped out the window, grabbed the large novelty check, and neatly folded it up. Landed safely in his car, and sped off before the police arrived.
"No that... that's impossible. No bunny is THAT fast!" Judy said, noting that the bunny in question was moving at normal speed compared to the slowed down footage.
"You booted my stroller! I didn't even see you get the boot! But you got to admit, it's pretty impressive either way." Nick said.
"Slick... you better not tell me I can't get back to active duty despite this brace," Judy said.
"Okay... doctor Arma? Judy's finally awake!" Nick said with worry, then an armadillo entered.
"Good, you're finally conscious. Now I have good news and bad news. The good news is that your injury wasn't lethal, and should heal in a few days. The bad news is you'll need to be confined to bed until then. So there will no crime fighting for you young doe." The armadillo said. Judy's eye and ear twitched.
"What? You said not to tell you Carrots. And I didn't tell you any of that." Nick said, looking terrified.
"I... worked... my TAIL OFF! TO GET TO WHERE I AM TODAY! AND I AM NOT GOING TO JUST REST!" Judy shouted as she attempted to stand up, only to find her arms bound to her bed.
"Okay, one, you need to calm down. I'm honestly amazed you haven't blown out your voice last night. Second... what you did during that race scared me. I mean, if you were just trying to shoot out tires, I wouldn't have minded. But you climbed onto a moving police car... TO JUMP ONTO A RACE CAR! And it wasn't even on the same side as the driver's seat! That's just... even after the stuff you pulled off during the Night Howler Scare. INCLUDING! Trapping a savage jaguar, and narrowly avoiding a train crash! That's... what were you thinking Judy?" Nick asked.
"I was doing my job," Judy said bluntly.
"Oh really Carrots, is that your job? Because I don't recall at any point, seeing 'risk life in poorly thought out stunt', in the job description for a police officer, I'm not kidding! I keep a copy of the job description on me." Nick said as he pulled out a copy in question.
"...alright Nick, I see your point. What I did was reckless, and I'm lucky to have survived at all." Judy said.
Nick was quiet for a moment.
"...is there going to be a 'but' or..." Nick asked.
"No, I'm not making any buts. I did something really... REALLY stupid and nearly got myself killed in a poorly thought out attempt to get a driver to pull over." Judy said.
"...talking to Flash got you wound up?"
"That's one of them. But... talking about Davies… it's always frustrating to talk about him with other people." Judy said.
"Say no more Carrots... seriously. It's good to hear you speak. But you need to rest all the same." Nick said.
"Fine... just don't forget to visit okay... and can someone remove these bindings? Please?" Judy asked.
"Only if you don't try to run off, and agree to your painkiller medication, trust me after what you put your neck through you'll need it!" Dr. Arma said as he went to undo Judy's bindings.
Several hours later. Judy was on the phone with Davies again. "Okay... so let me get this straight. Not only do you get a new job. But the head of Blackpaw Publishing wants to meet with you in Zootopia personally?!" Judy said in disbelief.
"Yes... you literally just repeated what I said. It's… honestly kind of creepy. But that is the situation, it's too good to be true I know, but that's what I heard from that creepy bat who called me." Davies said.
"How do you know he was a bat?" Judy asked.
"He said he was a bat... I'm not kidding. He actually screamed 'I'M A BAT' when I answered. So either he's a bat, or completely crazy... or both." Davies said.
"Well regardless, I'd love to pick you up at the train station. But I had… a bit of an accident." Judy said sheepishly.
"Yes, I know. Mom and dad went ballistic when they got the call. I overheard the whole thing... they drove the poor sap on the other end to tears, shouting on and on about how you shouldn't have been in danger and so on. It was really awkward, to be honest." Davies said.
"And your take bro-bro?" Judy asked.
"It's part of your job... I don't like it anymore then mom or dad. But you've been adamant about being a cop since we were kits. So if it's what you want to do then, by all means, do so." Davies said.
"I think I can still arrange transport for you Davies, he's a friend at work," Judy said. "You don't have to do that Jude," Davies said.
"Oh please, we both know how much you HATE public transit. The smells, the lack of personal space, believe me, I'm doing you a favor." Judy said.
"For the numerous times, I had to pretend to be you to avoid awkward social activities with bucks? Because as I've said, many, many, MANY. Times before, it was fun at first. But the underwear... it is not comfy at all! And let me tell you another thing that, I may have told you before but I don't entirely remember. You were very... VERY popular with the boys back in the day, I count my lucky stars that none of them got frisky." Davies ranted.
"I know, but trust me. You'll like who'll pick you up." Judy said.
"It's Nick isn't it?" Davies said.
"Well, who else would it be? Chief Bogo? I know how nervous you usually are around larger mammals." Judy asked.
"I just remember when you came back to Bunnyburrow in disgrace... crying about how you effectively betrayed the one friend you made. Even if you did blackmail him, and he conned you the day before, and by extension starting a race war in Zootopia itself entirely by accident. Remember? I let you sleep with Monty the entire time you were home during that whole 'Nighthowler Crisis'. But you did better than own up to your mistake. You made it right." Davies said at length.
"Well... just give Nick a chance okay, for your Jude?" Judy asked.
"You know it sounds weird when you phrase things like that right?" Davies said.
"Look, Nick will pick you up at the train station. And he'll get you to where you need to go. Trust me; he knows this city like the back of his paw." Judy said.
"That sounds smart, trust the complete stranger... look, I'll trust him so long as YOU trust him," Davies said.
"Well, that's better than usual. You don't trust anybody outside the family." Judy said.
"That's a gross oversimplification and you know it, but... I understand your point. Bye, I have a train to catch. With luck, I won't be away too long." Davies said.
"Bye Davies," Judy said as she hung up. "...and now to see if there's anything good on TV, will I be disappointed? And will the answer have anything to do with the latter half of the alphabet... specifically the last thirteenth?" Judy said as she started to flip through channels.