Chapter 8:

Judy woke up with a sore head. She was weak, drowsy and scared. Her neck was sore and as she rubbed it, she realised that Kozlov's collar had been removed. Looking around, she found herself in a small room in what looked like a cupboard. Opening it out, she saw Nick, the little Fennec fox, a fat cheater and a very grumpy looking badger.

"What is wrong with you people. In a civilized society the strong look after the weak yet it's in your nature to steal, hurt and humiliate whichever small animal is the punch bag of the day! Every waking moment since Kozlov put that thing on me has been agony. Why would any person put such a thing on someone who has no need for it?"

"Look at the kettle calling the pot black, Judy." replied a suddenly angry Nick. "I spilt some of my worst moments out to you a few days ago and you seem to at least have some empathy. But because some grumpy bear comes along and does something mean to you, you think all predators are the same. WORSE, you call tame collars barbaric after wearing one for a few hours. Guess what, I've had this one on most of the time for the last 26 years! It's gone off when I've been scared, frightened, excited and yes angry. Now we're facing a chief of police who wants them to come on when we're also having panic attacks, romantic evenings or are in serious pain! Every morning I've had to deal with it chaffing my skin, every time someone threatens me, it's there reminding me that I can't defend myself. In a 'civilized society' surely this wouldn't happen?"

"Nick, you're a stupid fox who would of gone berserk and eaten me by now if he didn't have his collar on. I'm sorry if your natural instincts mean you can't behave but that's just tough!"

Nick paused for a second before shouting back: "Tough! Tough? You talked about things being tough but I'm a Fox! My species is a byword for bad behaviour. Even if I say that I'm trustworthy and loyal, most people will look back and laugh! 'It's not in our nature'. This nature was forced on us and we had no choice but to conform or die! As for that bogus instinct stuff, guess what. We could take your collar off so why not ours?"

Judy paused as she double checked each predator. They each had no tame collars on.

"Wait what, why aren't you attacking me?" Judy said, perplexed and crawling back into a ball.

"Newsflash little lady", cried the little Fennec fox, "we don't need those pain collars. As Nick said, this instinct stuff is all a load of media made up mumbo jumbo. Snap out of it."

Judy unfurled, and slowly got up. "I'm… I'm sorry for that. Looking back, it seemed I needed the collar more than you did. It's…. horrible." A small smile unfurled on her face as the two remaining members of the group, Clawhauser the fat cheetah and Honey the badger introduced themselves. Honey set out breakfast with Finnick popping out to retrieve some bread delivered by Bat. Settling down for breakfast, Nick explained how Clawhauser had worked at Wild Times and had been lying low since the raid. Honey, on the other hand, was a computer whiz who counterfeited collar keys and was obsessed by a sheep conspiracy. After clearing up, they set things away and met to plan their next moves.

"Heads up Judy, the world thinks I killed you which would be enough to put me behind bars for life when combined with my current sentence. Brison is now chief of police, claims that I hold responsibility for all the predator murders and has vowed that once captured I'll also spend the rest of my life behind bars. Us predators are going to find raising families impossible with the upcoming collar upgrades which are set to go ahead despite a SMERSH protest forecast to contain 15% of the zootopian population and being headlined by Gazelle".

"Wow, let me have a look". Peering through the details, Judies anger began to rise. "When I joined the police, I never wanted to be part of this. Ohh, Nick, I think your favouri…"

"STOP!, STOP!, STOP!" cried Finnick but it was too late. Nick had swiped back the phone and was drooling with excitement. "It's a Slicks Reunion… A SLICKS REUNION!"

"CALM IT NICK!" cried Finnick, and while Nick stopped shouting he hadn't stopped shaking with excitement.

"Back to business," cried honey as she swivelled around and began working at her desk. "We have found the latest evidence of the vile machinations of the great sheep flock."

"No you haven't" beckoned an irate Finnick.

"Oh but I have. In the last year Clawhauser learnt some basic hacking skills and together we looked up some medical records for our killer."

"And what, is he allergic to wool."

"No, but he was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour and agreed to visit a certain hospital for experimental surgery."

Nick stopped giggling and looked up, "Oh God, I didn't realise. Poor Manchas."

"But people die of deadly diseases all the time. It's only natural to seek a cure even if there's only a slim chance" retorted Judy.

"That's what I thought, until I saw the bigger picture" replied Clawhauser, "you can separate the attack sprees into waves. And just before each wave you have a dying predator transferred to this unit and just after said predator is returned as a body and undergoes an operation before being buried."

"So wait," a sceptical Nick butted in "Your saying that these attacks are being committed by brain cancer patients who, instead of being given special treatment, are being mind controlled. But how?"

"The lab where they are transferred to is run by the government" replied Honey. "and 10 years ago they developed spine and nerve replacements for those suffering from paralysis. Why would they change from that line of research to one so different?"

"I'm not following you" Judy butted in. "Let's say that they turned tech allowing brains to control broken limbs into tech that allowed brain control. Why?"

"Power" replied Nick.

"Not you Nick! First Honey, then Clawhauser. I'm I and the rabbit the only sane ones left?"

Judy butted in "he has a point Finnick. These past days have seen predator rights reduced to the smallest level seen since records began while the mayor has put in place a lunatic as chief of police. Although he is a Bison, not a sheep Honey."

"Could be a sheep in disguise?" Honey replied to the quiet bunker before guffawing into her hand. The entire bunker soon followed and relaxed down.

"So we've got a weird theory and a weird motive. What other evidence do we have boys?"

Finnick looked at Judy and stood up. "well, for one, if these killings are a reversion to basic instincts, why aren't the predators stashing the food? I learned it in biology, looking at solitary insects. Most hunting animals will establish a territory, guard it, kill occasionally and stash or protect the body till it's all been eaten. These killings are just a bite to the neck, clawing at the chest and then done."

"Finnick… you're a genius!" exclaimed Judy. "How could I miss it. Each killing was in an alley or locked house with no witnesses. There had to be some intelligence behind it. Pure savagery would just have an attack out in the open."

"Well", Clawhauser called out, "We've proven a Honey theory plausible before she got a boyfriend. You two foxes each owe be 50 bucks".

The two foxes grumbled and handed money over. Judy, then took her turn to speak "It's been an interesting few days, but I need to return home. My parents probably think I'm dead and anything that can defuse the tension building up is a good thing. I'll repeat the current story, mention Kozlov putting a collar on me and I'll state that your place is somewhere it isn't."

"I'll walk you out to the rainforest, desert border Judy" said Nick, grabbing his suit, collar and a blindfold. "This last thing is just to keep Honey happy, You'll be home soon enough". Nick stuck the blindfold on Judy and walked up the ladder. As the rabbit grabbed the lower rung, Finnick tugged her tail. "So, what dirt did you get of Nick. Find out why one night he walked down a street crying while in….."

With a tug Judy was pulled up and away from Finnick and out of the bunker.