ZOOTOPIA: THE SCALES OF FEAR

Disclaimer: Zootopia is property of Disney.


Chapter 09: Dragon's Reign


Date: Tuesday, March 17th, 2020

Darryl Keith looked at the helicopter with glee. "Oh dude, when do we get to fly this thing?" Darryl asked Sylvester. "When we are given orders to fly it," was Sylvester's curt response.

"What crawled up your ass and died?" Darryl asked the mercenary. "I just don't like Mr. Sharpo, and now Arjun wants us to work alongside him," Sylvester growled. "Hey, it's only temporary. Once Mister Sharpo has served his purpose, then... bam! Bye bye bear," Darryl said with a smirk. "I know, but that doesn't make me any happier about it," Sylvester replied bitterly.

"Ah, quit yer bitchin'," Darryl said as they began their inventory check of the helicopter and surrounding vehicles in the cargo hold of the Vera Alus.


Date: Sunday, March 22nd, 2020

Mr. Big looked up from the small car seat that Koslov had placed him in after leaving their church. "Today has been a pleasant day, has it not?" the shrew asked the bear. "Yes. I only wish Kevin and Louis were here to enjoy it as well," Koslov said. "I did not see your son here today, Boris. Nor was he here the previous two services. What has become of him?" Mr. Big asked the bear.

"He has... he is a teenager, and he has become rebellious. If I force him to do something, he will act against me, but if I give him the option of doing one thing or another, then he will remain tranquil. Besides, his room needs to be cleaned. It was either him doing that or church service, and he needs to learn how to clean up after himself if he is to survive on his own as an adult," Boris Koslov said.

"I see. And he is busy with school work the rest of the week? Why does he not do his chores on Saturday?" Mr. Big asked him. "Saturday is the only other day that he has no responsibilities," Boris replied as he strapped in his seat belt. He looked over his shoulder to the other van in church parking lot, where Raymond was ferrying Fru Fru and her husband's family.

"Boss?" Koslov asked, wanting to get something off his chest that had been bugging him for the past two weeks. "Yes, Boris?" Mr. Big asked in response. "Do you think that Louis and Kevin dying on the same day was really just a coincidence?" Boris asked hesitantly. "I do not know, Boris. Kevin's car was too badly damaged by that truck for any sufficient evidence to be collected. We have no way of knowing what took place before the crash, unfortunately," Mr. Big replied.

"I know, but... something seems off about it. There's just something... Louis's death was deliberate, but we were not close. Kevin was close to me," Boris said. "And you wish that you could avenge Kevin instead of Louis, is that right?" Mr. Big asked the bear. "Yes," Boris admitted sourly. "I am sorry, but we must live with the cards that we have been dealt," Mr. Big said.

"Louis must be avenged, as he was murdered. You cannot kill the driver of the truck, for we both know that a vehicle that large can not stop on a dime, especially not on the roads of our fair Tundra Town," Mr. Big said reluctantly. "Have we heard anything from the police about Louis's killer?" Boris asked.

"No, we have not. Our dear Officer Hopps, unfortunately, seems to be sticking her nose where it should not go. I do not wish for her to be harmed, however, merely warned. But how to do so in a way that does not turn her against us?" Mr. Big pondered. "I thought you said we would only act if she dug deeper?" Boris asked him.

"Unfortunately, while she has not pried me directly anymore, I have heard that she and Officer Wilde have joined a team of detective investigating the vermin that we took care of in January. So she is still digging, even if it is not where we can see her," Mr. Big said. "What should we do? How will Fru Fru act if she learns about this?" Boris asked his boss.

"What she does not know will bot concern her," Mr. Big replied. "But she thinks of Hopps as a friend. If we hurt Hopps, then your daughter may be on less than friendly terms with you," Boris said. "Then so be it, but Hopps must learn to mind her business. I have let her into my family, but I will not tolerate disrespect, not matter her position," Mr. Big said firmly. Boris nodded his head as he started the engine.

He looked into the mirrors and windows, not noticing that a few cubs and their parents were looking up to the sky. As he began to slowly pull out of the parking spot, he turned his head to look at the church, just in time to see a large figure smash into the hood. Boris hit the brakes and put the car in park, turning off the engine before unbuckling his seat belt and scooping his boss into his paws.

"What happened!? Boris, tell me what I cannot see!" Mr. Big exclaimed as Boris exited the vehicle, oblivious to the clamoring and screaming of the other animals around him. He walked around to the front of the vehicle, his eyes widening at the sight of a dead cougar, who had dented the hood enough that he was not sliding off.

Boris made a gesture with his paws before he gasped in recognition of the body. "Cecil?" Koslov asked in horror. He opened his paw enough for Mr. Big to look out, holding onto one large digit for support as he looked at the dead body of the cougar. Cecil had been an accountant for Mr. Big and had worked in money laundering for him on several occasions.

"Who? Who could do this?" Mr. Big asked in anger before he saw the series of bloody holes in the suit of the cat. "Something dropped him from the sky," Boris said as he looked up, noticing a distant figure flying away towards the mountains. "A bird... a goddamn bird!" Boris hissed in anger. "No. A dead bird!" Mr. Big yelled in anger.

"Koslov, the cat who spoke to me before Kevin's funeral said that a beak was responsible for cutting up Louis. I believe we now know who the culprit is," Mr. Big said. "But why? Why would a bird attack us?" Koslov asked. "Birds and reptiles share a close lineage, Boris. They are all vermin, and now, not even the ones living in the Outback Region will be safe from my wrath," Mr. Big snarled. "Did this bird know that lizard we killed?" Boris asked his boss.

"Maybe so, but I will not tolerate this disrespect. Vermin should know their place," Mr. Big said firmly. "I will make sure that they do," he added. "Yes, but how will we know which bird was responsible?" Boris asked him. "I care not, Boris, for all birds and reptiles are vermin. To eliminate as many as we can is to perform a service to the world," Mr. Big said.

Reluctantly, Boris nodded his head in agreement. "We shall begin preparations tonight, Boris. I want everyone at the meeting spot. Not one person of my employ is to be left out, is that clear?" Mr. Big asked. "Crystal," Boris replied. "Good. Now, let us call an ambulance," Mr. Big said, before he heard the sound of an ambulance approaching. "Boris, my lad, you truly work miracles," Mr. Big joked.


Judy Hopps sipped her milkshake as she watched Milius speak with an informant at a restaurant near Little Rodentia. "But you didn't hear it from me," the informant, a bushbuck, said before he walked away. "Huh? Did you say something?" Milius asked him, playing along. The bushbuck merely flipped him off as he continued walking. "Yeah, well your pants are stupid," Milius said before he slyly walked over to the table where Nick and Judy were sitting.

"So, what all did you manage to hear with those ears, Hopps?" Milius asked her. "I heard-" Judy's phone began vibrating. "Who could be calling me right now?" Judy asked as she reached in to retrieve her phone. Milius sighed in annoyance. "I'm gonna turn it off," Judy said. "Maybe it's your parents?" Nick suggested. "No. They know what my work hours are, and they never call this early on a Sunday. They'd still be at church or-oh, it's from Fru Fru," Judy said as she saw the caller ID.

"Answer it," Milius said firmly. "Excuse me?" Judy asked him. "That's Mister Big's daughter, Hopps. Take whatever information you can get from her," Milius said. Judy frowned at the big cat before answering the phone. "Hello?" she asked. "Judy! Oh my god, Judy! It's awful! Someone dropped one of my dad's accountants onto the hood of Koslov's car! It think it's Cecil! Oh god, Judy, he's dead! He's dead!" Fru Fru screamed frantically over the line.

Judy and Nick's eyes widened at the news, while Milius narrowed his eyes as the gears began turning in his head. "Fru Fru, calm down. Did anyone see who did it?" Judy asked her. "I think someone said that they saw a large bird flying over to the mountains just after it happened!" Fru Fru cried. "A... bird?" Judy asked rhetorically in a whisper. Milius and Nick both caught her words, however.


"Sylvester, Razak has just reached the rendezvous point. Pam is picking him up. Proceed to your target," Arjun said over the radio. "Understood," Sylvester said as he turned on the engine of the car and backed out of the parking lot. "Darryl, get your guns and knives ready," Sylvester said. "Finally!" Darryl exclaimed joyously.


Summer Side Apartments, Savanna Central

"I understand," Harold Polatti, a black bear who worked as a limousine driver for Mr. Big, said before hanging up his phone. He grabbed his keys and flexed his paws before practicing his swing to make sure that he could defend himself if attacked. "Damn birds," he muttered to himself as he unlocked the door to his apartment, stepping back in surprise as a dingo and a monitor lizard both stared at him with wide eyes.

"I told you he heard us," the lizard quipped. "Excuse me, but would you happen to be Harold Polatti?" the dingo asked him. "Yeah, what's it to ya?" Harold replied. "A lot," the dingo said before he rushed forward. The lizard pulled a knife out from his vest and slashed at Harold's legs.

The dingo stood back and kicked Harold in the chest, sending him toppling back onto the floor. "Don't struggle, mate. This'll all be over in a moment," the dingo said before the lizard dragged the knife across the bear's throat. He then ripped open the bear's shirt and carved a large smiley face into it with the blade. "That should do it," the lizard said. "Let's go. We have a long list to take care of this week. I'd rather get it taken care of quickly," the dingo said as he and the lizard turned around and exited the apartment.


Red Fern Drive, Savanna Central

Ian Cortez, a coyote, and Michael Blum, a gray wolf, both listened to their boss's words on Blum's phone. The wolf had it set to speaker mode. "We're on our way," Blum said as he hung up. "Make a U-Turn," Blum said. Cortez nodded his head as he sped up the car. After a few minutes, both canines saw a dark green-colored station wagon pulling up behind them before passing to the side and staying at their speed.

"What the hell?" Blum asked before the saw the driver's side window and rear passenger window open and a black-backed jackal grinned at him. Sitting in the passenger seat behind the jackal was a male spotted hyena, who had a grenade launcher in his paws. The hyena steadied the grenade launcher and fired the weapon at the front tires of Cortez's car, causing the vehicle to flip and tumble out of control. The hyena fired again, this time at the engine area, which burst into flames and debris as the car's engine was destroyed in a fiery explosion.

"Whoo!" the hyena yelled excitedly. "Oh man! I gotta thank that dingo for letting me use this! I love this thing!" the hyena exclaimed. "Glad to hear it," the jackal in the front said with a grin. "Now, which license plate is next on that list?" the jackal asked out loud as the grabbed a sheet of paper from the center console. "Okay, let's go to the next target," he said with a smirk before he pressed the gas pedal and sped up, leaving the flaming wreckage of the other car far behind.


Terry Tree Bar, Rainforest District

Virgil Waites, a jaguar who worked as an enforcer for Mr. Big, sat down next to Rinaldo Manchas at the bar. "You know... I don't remember what I was going to say," Virgil said as he looked into his drink. Manchas chuckled at his friend. "Keep thinking, maybe you'll remember," Manchas said with a smile.

"Don't say that. You know that thinking hurts my head," Virgil quipped playfully. "Yeah, but it keeps you quiet when you aren't drinking or on the job," Manchas said. "Yeah, just remember that the next time you accidentally give a ride to someone who isn't on Mr. Big's friend list. Then we'll see how friendly I am towards you," Virgil said.

"It was one time. Let it go," Manchas said. "Oh, don't say that," Virgil said. "Why not?" Manchas asked him. "Listen to the bartender. She's humming the beginning notes of that song now, and she's not gonna shut up until she's finished the whole damn thing," Virgil complained as he heard the female tapir start humming.

Suddenly, Manchas heard his phone ringing. "Hello?" he asked as he pulled it out. "Manchas, I need you to be on standby today," Mr. Big said. "What's wrong?" Manchas asked him. "Our dear friend Cecil has been killed today. He was dropped onto my car by a large bird just as Koslov and I were leaving our church," Mr. Big explained.

"Cecil? But he never hurt anyone," Manchas said. "What's this about Cecil?" Virgil asked after sipping his beer. Manchas looked at his fellow jaguar. "Cecil was killed today," Manchas said to him. Virgil's eyes widened and his jaw dropped. "W-What?" he asked in disbelief. "Manchas, I have already contacted Polatti and Largo, but I wish for you to remain at the ready today. I will be contacting Waites and Kusovo shortly," Mr. Big said.

"Sir, Waites is already sitting here at the bar with me," Manchas said. "Then inform him of the situation. I wish to see him later tonight at the standard meeting place. Relay that message, and have a safe day," Mr. Big said before hanging up. "Waites? The boss wants you to meet up with him at the usual meeting place later tonight," Manchas said. Virgil nodded his head in understanding.


Green Pine Mammals Club, Downtown Savanna Central

Barter Nantook and Melvin Hunsacker nodded at each other after Nantook turned off his phone. "Do you have our gear ready in the car?" Melvin, a Grizzly bear, asked him. "Of course. I never leave anywhere without it," Barter said as the two bears walked out of the private room where several unclothed female bears were whining in disappointment.

"Don't worry, ladies. We'll be back," Barter said as he and Melvin left the room and walked down the hallway. "Who the hell would target an accountant like Cecil? Actually, who would target an accountant, period?" Melvin asked rhetorically. "Someone who knew that Cecil worked for Mr. Big," Barter said darkly.

"Kevin, Louis, Cecil... someone's picking us off," Barter said. "But I thought that Kevin's death was an accident?" Melvin asked him. "It may look like an accident, but I'm willing to bet that there's more to it than that," Barter said as he and Melvin checked out at the front register and made their way outside.

The two bears walked the short distance to the car parked in the lot before Melvin unlocked the front doors. "Age before beauty," Melvin said. Barter rolled his eyes at the Grizzly before getting into the car, only to pause after hearing car tires stop. Both bears looked at a car that had parked just a fee meters away from them.

The passenger side window rolled down and they both saw the face of a rock monitor lizard. "Hey, this place is for mammals only! Get out of here, boot-skin!" Barter growled at the lizard. "So unfriendly," the lizard quipped before rolling up the window. The car then backed up.

"Yeah, go home to your nest! Stupid reptiles," Barter muttered. After backing up a certain distance, the car began moving forward, increasing speed before it lurched to a stop just feet in front of the bears. "Oh, you have got some nerve!" Barter yelled as he walked over to the driver's side of the car.

The driver's side window rolled down and Barter paused as he saw a dingo in the seat. "How ya doin'? Hm?" the dingo asked before aiming an SMG at him and firing a short burst at the polar bear. "Barter!?" Melvin gasped as he saw the larger bear step away with a cry of pain.

"Oh right, too much mass," the dingo quipped before firing another burst at the bear. This time, Barter fell back to the ground. "Barter!" Melvin cried before he grabbed his Desert Borer pistol from the glove compartment and fired the gun at the car, forcing the dingo to duck. The passenger side door opened and the lizard slinked out before quickly running over and firing an SMG of his own at the bear.

"How do ya like that!?" the lizard asked with a crazed smile as he saw the bear fall to the ground. The lizard then stowed his gun before taking out a big knife and twirling it in his clawed hand. "This won't hurt a bit," he lied as he ripped open the bear's shirt and began carving a bloody smiley face into the bear's chest.

"Let's go!" the dingo shouted at the lizard when he was done. He could see several mammals gathering in the lobby of the club. The lizard quickly got back in the car and the dingo drove off, speeding around past the oryx who had stepped outside first. "What the hell!?" the animal asked as the car sped off.


Mr. Big's Mansion, Later That Night...

Mr. Big, sitting securely in his chair on his desk, looked around at his various subordinates in the room. A few animals were just walking in as he began to frown. "You gentlemen should have been picked up by Polatti," he said as he recognized them. "He never showed up to find us," one of them, a gray wolf named Calvin Sanchez, said with concern.

"Where are Barter Nantook and Melvin Hunsacker?" Raymond asked as he looked around the room. "They were supposed to be here hours ago. And where is Vergil Waites?" Mr. Big asked in anger. "He was with Rinaldo Manchas, remember? He may have lost track of time," Koslov said. "Call him and tell him to get his ass over here," the shrew said firmly.

"Right away," Koslov said before picking up his phone. Mr. Big looked around the room, noticing that more than a fifth of his forces were missing. "Where are Cortez and Blum? Where is Kessler? Where are Frieburg and Potts? Where is Mauskawitz?" the shrew asked in frustration. "I've been trying to get ahold of Potts and Blum for the past ten minutes, sir. Neither of them are responding to my calls," Arnold Benchley, a polar bear, said with concern in his voice.

"Sir, I can only get Waites' voice mail. He isn't picking up," Koslov said with concern. "Call Manchas and see if he's passed out drunk," Mr. Big said. Virgil Waites had a history of problems involving drinking. "It's Koslov. Mr. Manchas, is Mr. Waites currently still with you at the bar?" Koslov asked into the phone.

Koslov nodded his head and his eyes widened. "And you haven't heard from him since then?" Koslov asked him. He then nodded his head. "I see. Thank you. Watch your back, Rinaldo, and stay safe," Koslov said before hanging up. "He said that Waites had left the bar hours ago to drive up here. He hasn't seen or heard from him since either," Koslov said.

Just then, Melvin Bergman and Nikolai Ozmayus, two polar bears, both entered the room. "Mr. Big, sir?" Melvin asked sadly. "Yes, Melvin?" the shrew asked in response as the bear walked closer to him. "Sir... I have unfortunate news," Melvin said. "Is it about our absent friends?" Mr. Big asked him. "Which ones?" Melvin asked before he turned and looked around the large room. "We are missing several animals, and many have not responded to our attempts to communicate with them," Mr. Big said.

"Well... Barter and Melvin Hunsacker were found dead at the Green Pine Mammals Club today. They were both shot to death, with Hunsacker having a symbol carved into his chest by a blade of some kind," Melvin Bergman said. "No," Mr. Big whispered. "It was in the parking lot, and the culprit got away before anyone else could arrive at the scene," Melvin said.

Mr. Big snarled as loud as was possible for a shrew. "This... this is unacceptable! Whoever is responsible for this has disrespected me, and all of you. We will find this animal, and they will suffer for their misdeeds," Mr. Big said. He took a breath to continue speaking, before he was interrupted by the sound of a phone ringing. "Who is it?" Mr. Big asked as he turned to see Koslov pulling out his phone. "It's from Waites, sir," Koslov said.

"Good. Put him on speaker," Mr. Big said. "I'm afraid that it's a text message, sir," Koslov said. "Then read it aloud for us," Mr. Big requested. "Yes sir," Koslov said. Koslov's eyes widened as he read the message. "Well? What is the problem?" Mr. Big asked him.

"Sir... this is not from Waites. Someone has acquired his phone," Koslov said. "Well, what is the message," Mr. Big asked again, his patience wearing thin. "It says... to Mr. Big, I hope that you have received my message and declaration. You may keep Tundra Town, but the rest of Zootopia shall belong to me," Koslov read. "Anything else?" Mr. Big asked. "No. That's the entirety of the message," Koslov said.

"Who is this animal who dares to challenge me?" Mr. Big asked with tranquil fury. Koslov sent a text message to Waites' phone, but received no response. Several minutes went by and Koslov sent another message. An hour passed and there was still no response. "So, that is the way they want things?" Mr. Big asked. "Koslov, see if you can find some way to trace the call and find the phone's location. If we find the phone, we find the bastard responsible for this," Mr. Big said.

Koslov nodded his head in understanding. "It's in Sahara Square," Koslov said. Mr. Big muttered something under his breath. "Very well. We shall all stay here tonight. Tomorrow, we begin the search for this new enemy. They will soon learn why no one crosses me, and we shall have justice," Mr. Big said firmly. The night wind outside of the homestead howled across the frozen plains of snow as the gathering of dozens of animals inside voiced their anger and desire for retribution against their newest foe.


Date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2020

Duke Weaselton hummed to himself as he counted the latest payment given to him by Arjun Rooter. "Duke, boy, you have outdone yourself," he said happily to himself before he stowed his money into a wallet that he'd bought the week prior. He'd been able to open a bank account the previous week on Outback Island thanks to Arjun Rooter vouching for him, and the weasel was now considering looking at a possible place to stay over there now.

Of course, he still had his current, dinky little apartment while he saved up his income, but soon enough, he'd be able to afford someplace nicer. Passing by a large TV screen, Duke saw a news report on several homicides that had been committed on Sunday, the majority of which shared a common factor of a bloody smiley face carved into the animals torsos.

That's... Darryl's handiwork, Duke thought to himself as he looked away from the screen. He forced himself to keep walking along the sidewalk as he made his way over to a nearby subway entrance. Don't think about it, Duke. No one's ever looked out for you, so don't worry about what happens to anyone else. It's not your concern, he mentally told himself.

He frowned as the thoughts of the dead continued running through his head. What does it matter, anyway? I mean, they would never have done anything nice to you anyway, Duke. If you'd ever done something nice for them, they'd just spit in your face and maybe even lie to the police about something you didn't even do, just because of who and what you are, Duke reminded himself as he walked through the subway station, making his way to the landing where he waited alongside several other animals for a train to arrive.

Don't go flaking out now, Duke. You have to look out for number one. No one else will, or ever has... except Mom and Dad. But they aren't here anymore, are they? Duke's paws balled into fists as he remembered finding his parents' bloodied corpses in an alleyway on the night he graduated from high school, all four years of which had been a hellish experience enough.

You aren't the one who killed them. You didn't have anything to do with what happened. Not then and not now. You didn't shoot up those animals on Sunday. You didn't carve them up with a knife. And you most certainly didn't kidnap or beat anyone to death either. You know how things work, Duke. They all worked for Mister Big, and he ain't a fan of you either.

Duke's head perked up when he heard the sound of the train approaching the landing platform. He stepped back a little bit to be safe as he watched the train slowly come to a stop before the doors opened and multiple animals stepped off. Many of them, being larger than him, nearly stepped on him several times as he tried avoiding their hooves and feet.

When it was clear, Duke quickly made his way inside the train car and took a seat near the door, looking at the map of the transit system on the wall. He was taking the Zootopia Loop to get to a stop at Liana Lane, where he would depart and meet up with Pam, one of the other monitor lizards working for Arjun. She was going to take him to meet up with Nelson Brookes and see about applying for a job as a dock worker or something else at one of the warehouses owned by UNI-WORLD Shipping.

Life's looking up for you, Duke. Don't fuck it up now by growin' a damn conscience. Why should you care about others when others have never cared about you? Even Arjun is just using you, though he's a lot nicer than any other bosses were towards you. Besides, he'll only hurt you if you turn on him, and that is exactly what these feelings are gonna lead to if you don't stop thinking about what's happening. Just focus on your job and your own business, Duke.

Duke tried listening to his own advice as the watched the train pass through the underground tunnel before eventually exiting on a ramp into the daylight. He watched the various buildings and parks pass by as the train moved back down another sloped into a underground section, since it would soon be crossing over from Savanna Central to Sahara Square. Sitting back in his seat, Duke glanced around at the other animals in the train car, noticing that some of them were eyeing him warily and some even had some very nasty looks on their faces. He ignored their glares and frowns and simply kept his eyes on the lights on the map, waiting for the train to reach his stop.


Authors Notes: What's this? Duke Weaselton having an inner conflict? Eh, it's probably just gas. It'll pass soon enough... or will it? In the next chapter, Mr. Big retaliates against Arjun's operation in an extremely disproportionate and horrific manner. What does that mean, exactly? You'll have to wait and find out when chapter ten is posted. Reviews and constructive criticism are appreciated, no matter how much those remind me that I'm not perfect.