Violent material depicted in the chapter, read at your own risk!

...

March 26 (The Aftermath)

Jess: We're back to give you the latest update on the Angler City Massacre. While information is still sketchy for the most part, we've managed to get into contact with somebody who may give us a few clues on the current situation. Please give a warm welcome to the director of NSI: Mr. Hirsch! (Audience applause.)

Mr. Hirsch: Thank you for having me (Applause dies down.)

Jess: Do we know what type of military aircraft was used Mr. Hirsch?

Mr. Hirsch: We're still not exactly sure the model of the plane, but it was definitely an old aircraft, most likely a McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II.

Jess: Is that aircraft used extensively in the military?

Mr. Hirsch: Not anymore, it was used predominantly during the Niplian War for bombing campaigns.

Jess: Do we know the bombs used for the attack?

Mr. Hirsch: That can be answered with absolute confidence: it was a Mark 77 bomb or MK-77. Somebody could have modified the older aircraft to use the newer bomb.

Jess: I see. Was it manufactured by a human weapons manufacturing company or an animal weapons manufacturing company?

Mr. Hirsch: We're not sure yet but evidence is pointing towards...

(Transcript ends.)

…

(March 26)

With the Paktin tragedy still in the headlines and in everybody's mind Mayor Bellwether took every measure to try and alleviate tensions within Zootopia. By having me next to her during an address to the city she tried all she could to convince the population that I was not a threat. She allowed me to speak on the behalf of the human race and it seemed to have worked for the most part. Bellwether and I played golf and shared a drink before I headed back to my apartment for the day.

…

(March 27)

Some of the people I met at Zootopia University gave me a personal tour of the Natural History Museum today. Without the presence of Ryker, thanks to Mayor Bellwether, I felt a surge of relaxation finally take me: it was the first tour that I was given without a minder and I didn't feel so claustrophobic anymore (tip #2: if your minder ends up being a Rhinoceros, run back to the plane as fast as you can!)

Despite what has happened recently, the animals that excitedly ushered me along each section of the museum displayed no fear on their expressions whatsoever, or at least were good at hiding them in my presence. Perhaps they had no reason to fear a human: they were obviously interested in me and wished to share Zootopia with humans like the old days; they after all attempted to break the tensions between humans and animals by having me stand next to the mayor as a sign of peace and they continued to show respect towards me (something I returned most of the time).

Many of the works that I saw are what you would expect at any other natural history museum such prehistoric exhibits, yet I soon realized that there weren't any human fossils or models to be found anywhere. I asked them about this and they told me that it was one of the many things being renovated in the museum (since it is currently closed to the public for renovations).

Very large museum! There are dozens of exhibits to see and I was quite surprised at the sheer size of it all, but then again it's needed because of the larger animals.

The animal guiding us was Dr. Zander Orshack, a zebra and the curator of the museum. His wide glasses suggested intelligence beyond the average folk, and his ability to examine and explain every little detail in every exhibit suggested long-term experience with the job.

Near the end of my tour, Dr. Orshack invited us for lunch outside on a balcony overlooking City Hall, Zootopia Police Department, and the rest of Savanna Central. I took notice of the park in the middle of Savanna Central and how protests have recently increased in size there. It seemed as though situations all over the city are not getting better at all despite attempts made by Bellwether and her city.

By the time we finished eating, I asked one of the university professors about the mall that I visited days before (about the river inside and the natural vegetation that overwhelms the interior of the mall) and they told me that unlike other places outside of Zootopia the animals drink from the river and thus water is not provided in shops for people to buy at the mall: it's entirely free. I asked about this because in Savanna Central there is a pond and lake that visitors and locals drink from. Thus, this proved to me that water was not sold but generously provided by nature and shared by everyone who lives in Zootopia.

I said my goodbyes to my acquaintances and I boarded a tram that took me to the hotel.

Katherine...I want to get out of here...I want to get out of this place. I can't do this anymore...not after what happened today...

(The letter ends here)

I thought about how I would end my next letter as I was inside the tram surrounded by bigger and smaller animals: some looked at me with fear in their eyes and others ignore me completely, not considering me a threat. Some are reading from their phones, some are reading their newspapers, others are reading magazines or paperbacks that they bought at a store, and others just stare blankly outside the windows to pass the time.

It was not long before an argument began to arise near the other end of the tram: a couple of leopards, a family of them, are being tormented by a group of prey animals. An antelope walks forward to confront the father, "Your kind killed my ancestors! Zootopia doesn't need monsters like you!"

A crowd soon forms around the predator family as I try to remain distant from them.

"Mr. Human over there is the same exact thing!" The antelope turns around to face me before everybody else does the same. I stand up from my seat to confront the animal, "Don't bring me into this."

The antelope walks forward and pushes me, "You humans killed all those animals in Paktin! You're just like all the other predators here, only worse!"

"Nobody knows if that's true."

"Liar, you humans know exactly who did it!" He pushes me again in a much more aggressive manner, "If I was the mayor, I would have you hanged in the park!"

I stand my ground courageously, "Don't push me again."

"Or what, you'll bomb Savanna Central tonight?" The antelope retorts angrily. From behind the disruptive prey animals, the leopard family sees me and tries to help but to no avail.

Before the confrontation can escalate into a fist fight, a loud yell followed by several grunts and moans makes everybody look at a black bear that was right behind me. Confusion and then panic ensues when the animal begins to move about uncontrollably: it grasped its head as if something was taking over…I moved back in fear along with everybody else. I somehow knew exactly what was happening…the black bear was going savage!

"He's savage!" A woman yelled out.

"Get out, get out!" A zebra wearing a business suit shouted as he attempted to open the tram doors.

Most people crowded the exit and eventually busted out just as the black bear jumps on the antelope and began to tear him apart. Being next to him and witnessing the tragic event I yell frantically as squirts of liquid began to land on me while the antelope was emitting his death scream. I too gave a death scream but mine was different: I wasn't being eaten alive but I was next on the list. I was in such shock that I could not and would not move: I was used to seeing the severed bodies, the crying children mourning for their dead parents or siblings, or the last words of a dying old man, but never have I experienced somebody die gruesomely in front of my eyes, especially to a savage animal.

Somebody from behind me quickly drags me outside before officers quickly enter the tram and secure the rabid animal. The animal that saved me was a leopard, the father of the family being tormented. He helps me to my feet and leads me away from the chaos happening.

Things weren't the same after that.