Chapter 6:

"So, Kozlov. He's who you were scared of in the interview isn't he?"

"Yup."

"Can't blame you, I've heard stories."

"So have I. By and large I've kept a good relationship with him. His kid loves me for a start, and he'll do anything for little Boris. In any case, I phoned him in my shower and he said he's fine with us coming over. He wants me there for his little boy's big day."

"So that's why you wanted to go home? To make sure that he's cool. How do you know he's not lying?"

"I know when he's pissed. Not happened to me, but to someone else during a meeting when presenting my business case. If he was angry, I'd be heading straight over to Sahara square and booking a room in the hottest hotel available. It was fully 1% of the reason I wanted to go home."

Judy guffawed after a bit. "I don't know why, but I'm beginning to like you."

"Suppose it's because you no longer see me as a just a savage predator."

"Calm down, I still don't trust you."

"First left here."

The two shuffled out of the car and walked towards the entrance of Kozlov's palace. The Caribou bouncers at the door asked for Nicks booking number, to which Nick replied "I'm Kozlov's special guest."

After a dozen or so minutes the two entered the bar. It was sculpted of Ice and the warm glow of lightbulbs gave the place an auburn glow like before sunrise. The place was heaving with Tundra Town residents, each talking about various business deals being conducted. Wandering towards a Jukebox, Nick took a seat and began to idle through the play listings before selecting a song and putting in a quarter.

"If you've put on that stupid rabbit song that was playing in your park…."

The song came on with a similar tune but the lyrics were different. They settled down and waited for two polar bear escorts to arrive. Travelling through the building, they reached the back of a room with a host of polar bears in it. The place looked like a wedding and in the centre Kozlov was finishing a speech.

"And today, my son, you are a man and with this you take on the responsibilities of adulthood. Your impulses and instincts are your responsibility now and this Collar shows that you are trusted to take care of them patiently and responsibly."

The Collar snapped on the little Polar bear who was by the stage and some party music began playing. The little bear began prancing about, screaming and whooping.

"Not good, not good" muttered Nick as Kozlov spotted his son and began to calm him down. But it was too late and with a small Zap the joy stopped. Boris turned to his father with a trembling lip and embraced him.

"Moving through, moving through" muttered Nick as he pushed to the front while Judy, behind in began tugging back "you can't just interrupt him like this, what happens when…."

"NIX! NIX!" cried the little cub as he turned and ran into Nicks hands. "It's Nick, Boris, and my you've grown. You're the strong Polar bear now aren't you. Aren't you. Look at your fir all nicely shaven and trimmed. And your collar too"

"I… I don't like it any more. It hurt me. I want to take it off."

"Can't do that. When I was young I tried to take it off and it gave me a red shock. If you do that now it'll Zap you till you keel over. You just received a little yellow shock. It's not that bad."

A concerned Judy looked up at the hulking polar bear above her. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't want to intrude, he dragged me in…."

"Don't worry, I won't hurt my boys best friend. He was missing you Nick."

"So much so he forgot my name."

"He's a little boy, time goes fast for him. He was ecstatic when I told him that you would be here seeing as, after Wild Times closed, I told him you were put away for so long. He was devastated back last year when that event happened."

"Your preaching to the choir, my old friend. Just remember whose Magnum Opus that was."

"I know, and you brought in the little witch who closed it down. Shame you didn't get here earlier; Boris could have had a go at her before he got his collar on". Kozlov's gaze and tone had grown darker and Judy pulled her ears back. The bit about Boris attacking Judy certainly sounded sincere.

"Kozlov, you gave me your word that she would be unharmed. You realize that if she gets hurt, I go back in for 39 years. I'll be in my 70's and the combination of prison life and heavy duty collars isn't conductive to longevity, no matter how many miracle medical breakthroughs are made in the meantime."

"I do not intend to force any pain on her, besides, we are here for business".

The three people walked into an office in the side and sat down. Judy presented Kozlov with a copy of two pictures. One was the suspect captured on photo by the victim, the other was at Wild times.

"Manchas. I haven't seen him in a long time. Used to drive me around town. Need his address?"

"Yes please" answered Judy, "and can we have his real full name?"

"Manches Manossa."

"He only changed one letter to make his fake name?"

"Yes, I never got it either…."

The three erupted into laughter which was only curtailed as Nick and Kozlov's tame collars came on.

"The feeling of social sobriety. Tell me, Rabbit? Have you ever tasted it?".

"No, in training we deal with stun guns and batons but not collars."

"My Wife Natasha is 7 months pregnant. With high intensity turned on, she's already in hospital so that her collar can come off as soon as her contractions start. Imagine the furore that would happen if a rabbit had to be whipped earth time they had a new child?"

"I'm sorry, but it's for the greater good…."

In one fell movement Kozlov had grabbed Judy and holding her above her strength. The size difference was large enough that anger wasn't needed and Kozlov took every calculated step with precision.

"Put her down Kozlov! She's my ticke…. AHHH!"

"Indeed old friend, and I said I would force no harm on her. It's just that I didn't know which of the two 'nicest' collars my son would like best so I purchased two. I happen to have a spare and I think it would suit our little friend."

"Kozlov" said Nick, trying to keep himself calm, "that's my ticket to freedom. That's 39 years of my life. Don't do this to me."

"How many times did you tell me on the phone, how you wished to put those who oppressed us into their own torture creation?"

An aid was already fitting the collar around Judies neck as she squirmed inside Kozlov's fist, ears pointing out the top.

"That was joking, for god's sake you wanted me back and now you're throwing me into the clink."

"You think they meant the truth? With that 39 year pardon? Pahhh. You would still have at least 20 years behind bars. This whole thing was a ruse. I'll cut your cuffs and find you a nice safe house. She on the other hand will never police again."

With a snap, the spare collar was on Judy and Kozlov dropped her. Within seconds the light flash green and then up to orange. Judy scream and convulsed on the chair before seeming to calm down for a second.

"You vile mon….. AHHH!"

"Strike one."

"Brute….. AHHH!"

"Strike two."

"Pred scum…"

"strike three."

"KOZLOV, A JOKE IS A JOKE, LET HER OUT …. AHHH!"

"No Key Nick, we cut the chain and dump her in an unsuspecting car heading back into town. Strike 6. Unless of course you want to drag her around town on this fool errand of a pardon. Make no mistake however, turn down my offer here and It closes permanently. Boris's loss aside, this is my day and my justice. Strike 10…. That breaks Finnick's record!"

"I'm sorry Kozlov, but just because I suffered doesn't mean I can le…AHHHHHH!"

Judies collar had lost patience and gone straight to red. The current quickly knocked her out but also travelled through the handcuffs to Nick.

"Your choice friend. So be it."