Within the folds of the Center District, sits a heavy and wide campus, stark in its appearance to the surrounding buildings, the structure having been constructed nearly a century ago, was built with the latest and finest technology in its era, however as the ever marching passage of time crept slowly onward, the once immaculate building slowly slumped forth and sagged under the weight of time. It's once secure red masonry walls that encircled its dimension now stood paled tribute to the ebb and flow of the living and the dead whom had made their stay either temporarily or permanently within this once stellar halls. Weaving to and fro within the stories that ensconced this place were the perpetual tales of this hospitals darker origin from times when those sick of the mind would be contained within its once hallowed halls, however such a past however prevalent would linger on in hushed whispers, or quiet rumor.
Within the confines of this labyrinthian establishment, Nick would twitch worriedly as he was hauled forth from his idle musing unto the stark white of his infirmary room, the hospital staff only approaching once a detail from the hospital security were present for the transfer of the patient to the lower levels of the structure. A stout ewe nurse would wearily draw forth, under the careful overwatch of a duo of wolf orderlies, whilst Nick stared on. Starkly confused and growing sharply unbemused at this utterly alien treatment, He would quickly purse his lips as the female figure slowly worked to unclasp his restraints, his eyes flicking down sharply to catch the shake and waiver of her hands as she worked, clearly each one of his even breaths causing her to flinch ever so slightly. His mind reeled in overwhelming concern, turning his head slowly and with careful deliberation towards Judy, whom had elected to remain at his side for the duration of the move.
Judy stood by, arms across her chest, idly chewing nervously upon her knuckle as she watches the nurse go about her work of unbinding Nick, she had thus far failed to make eye contact with him, her stance and posture one of weariness muddled heavily with the overtones of concern, she would speak up after a short while, much to the chagrin of the ewe working at her task, her voice soft and even. "Look, I understand the security concern presented here, but I am asking you, as a member of the Zootopia Police Commission… Just let me escort him down to the conference hall, we don't need all this… distress for what is going to be a simple walk."
The Ewe would huff, she turns from her task, shifting back several paces from Nick's side, his legs still firmly anchored to the bed, she reaches forth and taps her name tag sharply with a look of displeasure wrote plainly across her features, her harsh voice rumbling forth "What does this say? I am Mulfie, /head/ nurse of this ward, I am working under the instructions of the senior doctor and psychologist, your partner was deemed unfit for release and reintegration at this current moment.. I am aware of your authority Officer Hopps when it comes to jurisdiction, but you will understand that unless your superior orders me to release him, Officer Wilde will remain under restraint until we can properly diagnose his condition, your pushing your luck by forcing this meeting you all must so desperately hold… Sir, I need you to remain calm and brook no sudden movements, do you understand?" She glances sharply back at Nick, the two orderlies placing their paws upon their batons, watching silently with disdain upon their features.
Nick slowly shrugs his shoulders, refusing to move his arms under the threat of a pummelling it would seem from the orderlies, he nods slowly and calmly, ensuring they were aware of its intent to comply "Look, I.. Don't really know what happened, whatever you think I did, I can assure you I am completely innocent. R-Right Hopps? You can vouch for me on this one, aye? You know me I wouldn't hurt a fly… well.. Maybe a fly, he has to be really-"
Judy sharply clears her throat, casting daggers with her eyes at Nick, he sharply clamps his mouth shut and nods slowly, knowing full well she was not in the mood for jokes. He felt his heart sink, his mind racing to pry at the inky blackness that was his memory, he furrowed his brow attempting to peel back the layers of confusion and seeming emptiness that comprised what was approximately a four hour ordeal before he passed into the unconscious realm. The Nurse shifts, releasing Nick's legs as she gestures sharply for him to move about and stand, she lifts her hand and indicates for him to halt "You will stand still, you will be outfitted with a retention vest, do you understand? If you do not comply you will be sedated, understood?" She nods warningly as another nurse shuffles into the room, bearing a stark white garb, the abnormally long sleeves and heavy material slowly giving Nick a sense of clarity for what was at hand. "A… A strait jacket? Your.. your kidding right? I mean is all that really necessary, I.. I consent, this isn't permanent at least right?"
The nurse shifts and moves about, moving to outfit him, bodily moving him into the jacket as she slides his hands into the constricting sleeves, her head turning up with a mixture of resignation and firm caution "That determination is up to the senior staff and your Chief, until they formally instruct this to be removed you will remain in the vest during supervised and unsupervised spans." She nods moving to link the long and heavy sleeves into various loops that ran along the vests sides and upon its back. She moves nimbly lacing the vests sleeves about before locking them with a banded belt to his back, his arms now crossed at his stomach, he glances around. Upon his skin he feels the brush of pitted cloth, slits and cracks from the previous occupants throes of rage as they tore upon the vest, he begins to shake slightly, the panic slowly setting in upon him.
Judy shifts, catching the sharp twitching of Nick's ear, she finally breaks her stoic stance and moves over sliding along side of him, Nick's nose twitching as his lip quivers slightly, she reaches forth and lightly places a hand upon his upper arm, gesturing towards her face as she speaks quietly as the nurses depart momentarily. "Nick, hey listen to me, this is only temporary. They are just scared, alright? I know you, you're stronger than this alright? Just stay with me, we will talk with the chief, smooth things over and get you back home at least, sounds good?"
Nick casts a quick glance over towards her, his body shaking, his voice dropping to soft tone, clearly wavering "Judy… this, this is my worst nightmare, I.. I didn't do anything wrong right? I-I don't remember anything it was just… gone it's blank, you never answered my question why is this all happening? What could I possibly have done that…" He shifts and shakes his head sharply, not wishing to finish this statement, as he brushes his knuckles against the pits and claw torn threads of the sleeves "You know crazies wear these things right? I am not crazy, I don't deserve this…"
Before Judy could proffer a response, the nurse returned, wheeling a two wheeled hand truck, she glances up and nods, indicating for Nick to step on the platform it bore. He shifts wearily and moves, standing firmly upon the mover as the secondary nurse moves forth to bind his legs once more to the hand truck, several straps lashed across his chest as he stares at the overhead lights. Their sharp and stark sterile lights churning his stomach, as he was lashed down as if he were no more than some savage feral, the secondary nurse tugs sharply upon a heavy strap that ran across his chest, he grunts with a huff and flashes her a displeased look "Easy there, you know I am still here right? I am not a package yet…" She flashes him a displeased look and loops the straps tighter, much to his displeasure. After a few cursory inspections, and several chats with the orderlies, the duo of nurses finally departs, Nick firmly anchored to the hand truck, as he glances about, waiting for the inevitable. Judy shifts and stands at his side, clearly mulling over what she was to say to the chief when they finally meet him.
A few moments languished into a batch, before the larger of the wolf orderlies moved forth, clasping the handles at Nick's back before he turned about moving to push Nick free from the room, wheeling him about as they made their way into the hall. Nick cast swift glances to and fro down the length of the hall, taking in the scene about him. Stationed at both ends were a duo of armed guards, clearly keeping the footpath clear as the leading orderly moved to cart Nick forth down the corridor. The doors on either side of his head tightly clasped shut and most likely locked and sealed from within, he feels his stomach churn, what exactly had happened to instigate this level of security. He waits idly trundled down a lengthy stark corridor devoid of any presence aside from the ominous orderlies. Judy remains at his side as they round a corner, moving to approach a heavy and squat elevator, clearly far out of the way. It was readily apparent that this was not a elevator utilized by the common hospital goer, but for all intents and purposes was a freight elevator. Nick winced sharply as they board, the heavy truck bumping roughly upon the faded and brutally scuffed tile of the floor, with a flick of his paw, the orderly electronically clasped the doors shut and flicked one of the lower buttons on the call list. Nick narrows his eyes slightly when he spies the LED counter ticking down, moving past 1, well into the lower regions markers, displeased as the ticket counted firmly to LL 2, knowing full well that this was underground in some capacity.
Upon reaching the prescribed level, the heavy doors would shift hissing slightly as their pneumatic drives would slowly haul them aside, leaving the empty and barren corridor beyond, onward he was trundled. The corridors he was now travelling utterly alien compared to what he was enduring in the hospital above, the walls were composed of damp heavy red masonry bricks, their pitted and faded nature betraying their age, he shifts uneasily as the harsh incandescent lights over-head pass sparsely, their flashing glow only present every few seconds, the deep shadows betraying his sight and frazzling his nerves as he was carted further beyond, down a narrow string of corridors, till brought before a heavy steel door. The wide and heavy construction betrayed its purpose, the stout wrought iron of the frame clearly anchored the door itself and its frame into the stone with purposeful overhang, leaving the mind to wander over what was to be contained with such, the room beyond even more barren than the myriad of corridors winding and snaking to its juncture.
Sparse, was one of the myriad of words one would devise whilst in taking the view of the hospital's isolation ward, the well seated labyrinth that ran below the pavement and bustle of the city above was all but insulated against the world above and beyond its fold. The heavy walls stood stoically by, formed from an earlier age, heavy brick and mortar forming the foundations in which the small and damp room remained. The heavy arch of the masonry gave the room a slightly vaulted feeling, exposed wire conduit enclosed and shielded by a long tubing of PVC, running down the contours of the wall till it vanished between the shapes of two crimson bricks. The stark auburn colors of the room, gave it a somewhat ominous feeling and aura about it. Whilst not the first choice for the planned rendezvous with the Chief and his officers freshly returned from the field, it was at the insistence of the hospital's staff that they utilize the disused isolation ward as their location of correspondence.
A heavy steel table sat squarely in the center of the room, covering a small drainage hole that sat squarely below it, from what he could tell even the table itself was bolted to the floor, sitting across from Nick, sat the imposing form of the Chief. Bogo was leaning heavily upon his hand, his face firmly planted in his palm, as the orderlies wheeled Nick within and deposited him unceremoniously before the chief, failing even bother unlatching him, as they turn briskly on heel and move to depart, leaving the cold silence between the trio within the room. Nick glances towards Judy, unsure if he should begin speaking, she casts an equally confused look towards Nick before the guttural sound of Bogo's voice broke the silence. "Officer Wilde, Hopps. I want you to understand the great lengths I was forced to undergo to appropriate a room in which we were able to speak… I was due to review a list of cases that had swamped my desk a few hours ago when your call… Officer Hopps, came in across the radio." He glances up, rubbing his eyes slowly, with restrained care as he waits, the silence looming between them. He cracks his eye and glances between the two of them, voice low in tone "You may speak freely for this moment, I want to know what happened…"
Judy speaks up first moving forward, as she proffers both her hands in a placating gesture "Chief… I know this looks bad, but I can vouch for Nick, what happened in the warehouse wasn't his fault, nor when he was in ER. I filed my report fully and fairly sir, all the information is present at your disposal." She nods and shifts heavily from foot to foot, a bit nervous looking clearly reading something from the situation that was lost to Nick.
Nick nods his head slowly and speaks up, his tone even and collected, bearing only the slightest quiver of confusion over this discussion " I… I honestly haven't the foggiest of what's going on, truthfully Chief, the last thing I recall was fiddling with.. Whatever was in those black vials, I thumbed one and it flicked on. Yes, I know it's a stupid mistake and a rookie on at that, but there had to be other eve- Wait… What happened in the ER?" He pauses, his mind finally catching up with his mouth as he casts a worried glance towards Judy, whom was wringing her hands furiously, ears hanging low. "No, honestly, what happened in the ER? Did… I don't remember anything it's… It's just a void after I broke that container."
Bogo shifts, glancing up heavily as he places his hand upon his chin, resting idly as the veins in his formidable biceps slowly grew taut, his tone low in warning, laden heavily with deep and stinging sarcasm. "Oh? What happened in the ER you ask… Officer Wilde, I have dealt with a myriad of cases in my tenure as an officer with the ZPD. But never.. I repeat never have I dealt nor answered frantic calls to the hospital, that one of my officers mauled a student nurse that was supervising him…" He shifts, slapping his heavy hand upon the table as he leans over, jaw popping as he glances between the two of them. "When you were brought in, you were what the doctors feared was catatonic, unresponsive and unmoving. Your vitals were low…" He shifts flipping open a manilla folder upon the desk, staring at the duo as he continues "Your body was unresponsive to stimuli, and you remained in this state for… Oh let's give or take three hours, yeah?" He shifts and flicks the pages in silences for a few moments before glancing back up "Before you awoke, screaming like the dickens the nurses reported the following, the scene was caught on the hospitals closed circuit cameras, these stills are from a much longer video…" He shifts and removes several images from the folder, and slides them towards Nick turning them about.
"The first image is taken several moments after you awoke, you started screaming, clawing at the walls as you, and I quote 'Tried to scale the wall with tooth and nail'" He nods and slides the image across, and Nick recoiled in a mixture of disgust and horror, it was him. In the image, his frame having torn free from the gown they had presented him with, his face aflame in a look that he couldn't recognize. The images displayed showed him wreaking havoc upon the ER room, overturning the monitoring equipment as he tore at his own flesh. Nick recoils in horror, glancing back up, utterly mortified of what he was viewing. Bogo continues however, "After you started attempting to harm yourself, the nurses attempted to restrain you… You understand you put one young lasses into critical care? Do you recall any of this?"
The Chief would slide forth yet another barrage of images, screens from his manic outbreak, he tore savagely at the wires connecting him to the machines, leaving IV tubes hanging listlessly about as as he had rended a drip into nothing more than twisted and bent metal, the sheets ripped and shredded upon the cot in which they kept him, deep crimson stains remaining where he had laid. The second image in sequence, chilled Nick to the bone, it seemed as if a younger female nurse, a beaver had moved forth to try and ensnare Nick, he had somehow writhed free of her grip and wheeled about, the image frozen as his fangs latched horrifically down upon the pleading figure, her hands clasped around his muzzle in desperation as she spasmed in his grip as she was frozen in her muted cries…
Nick frantically shakes his head turning away in building panic "No.. No there is no way this is real, I couldn't I am not.. I am not like that..", breath coming quickly as he stared down in horror at the presented images. The images retelling the scene, his mind reeling in slowly blossoming panic as he could almost feel the scene replayed before his mind's eye, the horrified cries of the medical staff, a copper and salt taste hanging about his tongue, he swallows dryly as he nervously clenches and releases his fists within the confines of the increasingly smothering jacket, he glances to and fro as his heart rate continues to rise, feeling as if the room itself was constricting upon him, closing slowly about him as the air seemed to grow short in his lungs, his ears twitch slightly, there myriad and cascade of nervous ticks sharply drew Judy's attention, his eyes cast themselves over towards her, almost imploringly.
She would slowly intake a breath and speak up firmly and evenly "Chief Bogo, I would suspect it would be reasonable to presume that Officer Wilde was merely suffering the side-effects of the chemical he was exposed to, he seems lucid and aware now at least, I doubt he would have willingly undertaken such actions if he were not under external influences.." She nods quietly glancing at Nick, a worried but assured look wrote upon her countenance.
Nick springs for the life line cast to him and nods quickly, speaking up as his breath slowly caught back up with him, the ebbing shadows drifting away as his vision normalized. "Y-Yesh chief, I can assure you that none of this is in my waking mind, I wouldn't do anything to compromise the department nor our credibility as upstanding officers of the law, you have to believe me chief, I wouldn't want to hurt…" He pauses as his eyes drift yonder, lingering slightly upon one of the nurses present within the colored security footage, garbed in an estranged mustard colored attire, her uniform somewhat different than the others, identification was hard as she faced away from the camera, the pauses and nudges his nose towards the image "Hey… Hey who is that? She looks familiar.. Who is she?"
Bogo glances down and shifts to the image and glances once more back up towards Nick, inhaling slowly "I was hoping, that you would tell me Officer Wilde, As she has somehow slipped the security's ring and exited the building… The last time we saw her was within the room with you… well shortly before you…" Bogo shifts and lays down another image and slides it forth, contained within the still frame was a estranged nurse leaning over Nick's comatose frame, lightly dabbing his brow with a moist sponge, as she leaned forth, almost seeming as if she was speaking with him… Bogo glances up once more curtly at Nick and nods "Any idea what was being said here?"
Nick winces, something about the figures nature and their unerring cunning at evading police lines left him uneasy with the situation, he would glance down once more, watching the shimmers of light that were his memories proverbially dance merely out of reach,something striking him as inherently wrong with the figure. He would shake his head to and fro as his mind finally runs firmly out of possible suspects, he glances once more back at Bogo a long silence hanging between the group before he spoke, shattering the thin veil of contemplation the trio had undertaken "No Sir, I don't recall anything from my time up there in the warehouse or… during this spat in the ER"
He shifts about uneasily feeling the rough fabric of the jacket mull upon his fur and bare flesh, the deep stains within the jacket nothing none too well to calm his frazzled nerves. He would shift and speak up once more, a soft and imploring tone, inwardly aware that this rabbit hole proverbially just grew several meters deeper unto the unrelenting darkness of the unknown." … If.. if it's all the same to you sir, I would like to get back into the field… Unless there is something else I need to know?" He waited nervously as his words hung worriedly in the open air, the Chief's face contorted in contemplation, as he works his jaw, flipping back through the myriad of images laid before them, eyes lingering on the still frame of Nick, awash in scarlet rivulets of his own making, bloody furrows dancing upon his torso, as he leaped for the cowering nurses whom had drawn themselves away from him in panic…
After several agonizing moments, his coarse voice rumbles forth, the Chief locking eyes with Nick "... I don't have anything to hold you on, the folks in the lab are taking a look at the chemical but are yet to determine its precise nature or purpose… as such it's currently a dead end anyway to pursue…" The Chief drums his heavy fingers upon the metal table, the groaning metal creaking under his musings, he slowly shuts his eyes, and continues "You've never once given me cause to doubt your ability, you managed to handle the Night howler situation evenly enough on your own…Very well, I will have the nurse injured compensated from the city's funding.. As for you Officer Wilde you are under paid leave whilst we investigate and attempt to pin down the origin point for this… toxin.."
Judy releases a pent up sigh of relief, unknowingly having crossed her fingers, she speaks up and clears her throat as she gestures towards Nick "Chief, May I request permission to assume the watch detail over Officer Wilde, It would be wise to put him under observation until we can fully ascertain what exactly that chemical was comprised of…" She nods, glancing over at Nick with a clear face written and covered in relief, as the Chief would shift about in his chair, waving a dismissive hand gruffly.
"Very well Officer Hopps, You are on Nick's detail, I expect reports from you on his status, We've enough fresh blood coming in that we can afford to keep you on this duty for a time… However I expect you to go forth in this duty with clarity of mind, are we crystal?"
Judy would perk up, her ears standing upright as she snaps a crisp salute, moving to stand at Nick's side, perky as ever it would seem. "Of course Chief, I will ensure that Officer Wilde receives the proper care he requires and will remain in the location of your choice until the specified time or until relieved." She nods and moves to idly tug at Nick's straitjacket, idly moving as she works to unbind his legs, the Chief glances up at Nick and casts him a warning glance, something clearly was afoot that Bogo was unwilling to betray Nick surmised. The heavy bags below his eyes betraying a myriad nights lacking sleep, the weary movements of the Chiefs frame lead anyone with half a mind to surmise that there was more to this case than mere illicit trafficking.
With a heavy sigh the Chief rises and keys up his radio "Porkin, relay message as follows, Officer Wilde is cleared for release, alert the staff and instruct them to direct any problems with the situation to me, I will be handling it, I repeat Officer Wilde is cleared for release. Officer Hopps is the supervising agent, understood?" With one last long and forlorn look, Bogo would rise and head to depart as Judy worked to unbind Nick from the hand truck. Bogo mutters something under his breath as he leaves, leaving the duo once more alone in the cold confines and care of the unforgiving stone and unrelenting silence…