A/N: I'm hoping nobody was scared off by the opening chapter too badly. I do want to warn you that this will get much worse. Please let me know if you are liking the story or if you feel there could be improvements.
Disclaimer: I don't own Zootopia, thank god. I'm pretty fucked up.
Chapter 2 - Testing the limits
The bullpen was often very loud as all the different mammals of Precinct One would usually joke around, pushing and shoving each other. Each animal wanting to show they were the toughest on the force. Paw wrestling was quite popular between the larger predators and occasionally one of the rhinos would toss their horn into the ring. There would be some normal gossip between a few of the females in the back, mainly office rumors or talking about their love lives. And of course, the smallest partners in the room had their standard tradition of constant back and forth meaningless flirting, each seeing who could make the other one blush first or the heaviest, with the fox normally being the victor although lately the bunny had been getting bolder, turning the tide.
The mood in the bullpen today was anything but. For the Chief to call a meeting in the middle of the afternoon was rare and it was never a positive thing, the last being during the Nighthowler crisis. It left the officers concerned and restless. A few of the males started to fidget in their seats. Being kept in the dark was something no cop enjoyed and it began to gnaw on their nerves. The lone fox, Nick Wilde, tried to keep it light with a few jokes here and there but no one was buying into it. Truth be told, neither was he. They hadn't been told anything and yet the fear of the unknown was already encroaching on them.
A sound of hooves on the tile brought everyone to attention as the door opened softly and Chief Bogo entered the room. Normally the tough scowl of their boss was enough to get everyone fired up for the day. His glare was legendary, enough to make even an elephant flinch and was even known to shake up Wilde, something only his partner had ever been able to do. They were unprepared to see his stern face replaced with unusual contemplation. Even harder to fathom was when he looked up directly at Nick, his gaze more apologetic than accusatory. "Wilde. Step outside."
The room was a bit silent before a few muttering voices could be heard in the back of the room. His partner, Judy, looked up at him mouthing 'What did you do?' Nick could only shrug before mouthing back 'I have no idea.' She didn't look entirely convinced but her violet eyes conveyed her trust in him as well as her worry for him.
As he exited the room, Chief Bogo followed him and closed the door behind him. Eyeing the smaller fox, he could see the mammal start to sweat a bit, obviously wondering how he had fucked up now. Any other time, the Chief would have relished in the position the fox was in, but today was not that day. Not by a long shot. In fact, it may go down as one of the worst in his career.
Bogo sighed before placing a hoof on the young officer's shoulder. "Wilde-…Nick. I didn't take you out here to berate you. I'm going to be going into that room to deliver a very serious case to everyone. It's…disturbing on many levels. I'm giving you a heads up because of your attitude." Bogo raised his hoof as Nick opened his mouth to object. "Hold off, Wilde. You've been an officer for just over a year. In that time I learned to understand you better than you would like. I know you use humor as a defensive mechanism, especially when you feel cornered. This case is going to be pushing everyone's boundaries, especially your partner's. She's never seen anything like this and I need you to put aside your jokes and wisecracks. I need a rock in the room and because of how you've portrayed yourself in the past year, my strongest option is you. Can you handle that?"
Nick swallowed the lump in his throat. "I-I can sir."
The Chief sighed in relief. "Thank you, Nick." He made to move back towards the door before Nick stopped him.
"Before we go in there, can I see the file? If I'm gonna play the part I need to be prepared."
Bogo raised his brow before deciding he had a point. Handing the case file over, he watched as Nick slowly opened it, knowing what was coming next.
"Oh son of a BITCH!"
The side door opened and Chief Bogo walked back into the room followed by a very stoic Nick Wilde. As serious as Nick's face was, most of the other officers sat up very straight in their seats. Sliding back into place next to his partner, he kept his maw clamped shut, not willing to give away any of the feelings currently storming around inside of him. And it worked as it normally did against every mammal in the room, save for one. Brilliant purple eyes studied him closely, noticing the minute twitches of his ears. The stiffness in the fur on his tail. The tiny flick of his claws. Something had upset her partner greatly and it wasn't just fear. It was an emotion she had rarely ever felt from him. Hate.
Bogo reached the podium and cleared his throat as he looked up at his officers. "Listen up. We have a new case. This one takes priority over everything. Every officer will now be assigned to this case and nothing but this case. I have already arranged for some of the other precincts to send us their rookies to handle the normal patrols to cover for you." Glancing around, his eyes briefly rested on Judy before continuing. "What I'm about to show you is extremely disturbing. Most of our veteran officers will not have seen this before and this will be especially troubling for the newest of you." Again he looked at Judy. "Hopps, if you want to leave the room I will understand. Your partner can fill you in on it later."
Judy was taken aback as was every officer in the room. Whatever Bogo had in that file was serious indeed if he thought the rabbit officer might not be able to handle it. Judy had the same thoughts. Considering the offer for a moment, she shook her head. "Where my partner goes, I go, Chief." Feeling Nick's paw cover hers, she let him interlace them together and squeezed her paw. As she looked up at him he locked eyes with hers. His emerald orbs conveyed his worry for her but also a strong sense of support. He smiled sadly as he accepted her decision, knowing what this would do to her.
The Cape Buffalo paused before snorting. "We have a madman here in Zootopia. We don't know if he's a zealot, a crackpot, or just sadistic, but what we do know is he hosts an online broadcast where he tortures his victims in front of potentially thousands of viewers."
The room was completely silent. A few of the veterans sat rigid in their seats. A female cheetah in the back row looked she was going to be sick. Nick glanced at Judy, seeing her paw covering her mouth, a look of pure shock in her eyes. He squeezed her paw again to let her know he was there for her if she needed him.
Here was the part Bogo really wished he hadn't seen for himself. Lowering the projector, he opened his laptop. "What I have here is a recording of the broadcast. Apparently you can only view it if you have been 'invited' to. I was sent this by an old informant who shies away these activities but was able to obtain this recording. We learned there were two other broadcasts sent out in the month prior to this, but because the hosted site wipes itself after each stream, there is no digital evidence of them. So this is the only one we have to go on." Pressing play, he describes what he is seeing of the suspect. "He keeps himself concealed from head-to-toe, wearing a mask and clothes designed to conceal his species. We only know he is a male due to voice analysis showing he was not using a modulator." The scenes continued to play behind him showing the jackrabbit being brutalized causing several officers to grab a wastebasket to retch. Fast forwarding it to the end, he paused at the option that flashed on the screen. "This is the most important part of this video we have been given. The suspect gives the viewers a vote on how he will end the torture. If the victim has impressed the viewers with their strength and them being a 'credit to their species', they vote 'Merciful' to end the victim's suffering, usually through instantaneous, if not barbaric, means. However, if they feel the victim has been weak, they opt for the 'Merciless' choice, in which case the suspect lets the victim live but without something critical to them." he turned to Judy. "Hopps, I give you one last chance to leave the room."
Her face like stone, she sat up straight and shook her head. She was strong enough, she told herself.
Bogo gave her a look of pity as he resumed the video. Judy watched in horror as the hacksaw was placed to the rabbit's leg and began slowly sawing through it. The sound of several mammals heaving up their lunches was lost to the stunned bunny as she clutched her partner's paw with such strength he started to lose the feeling in it. She turned and buried her face into his side, letting out quiet sobs. He wrapped his arm around her, softly stroking her ears, telling her it was going to be okay. That they would find him. And that they would end this.