AN: I'd like to apologize about the slight delay with the release of this chapter. I had some personal business, as did my proofreader, that delayed both of us getting this chapter done. I am extremely happy for the milestones The Runaway Rabbit has passed. Over 4000 views, 1500 visitors, 25 follows, and 15 favorites. I know these numbers may seem small to some, but I just enjoy seeing any new person take a look at this story. Follows and favorites make my day and I hope for more people to enjoy this story as it continues.

Chapter Fourteen

The Runaway Rabbit

Jack had turned off the main road and was running through the overgrown forest. He trekked uphill cutting across dead streets as he put as much distance between him and the fox. He could still sense the barrier he had erected. He could still feel Nick bashing at it, trying to break it down. The fox was making no headway. No longer having the spirit in him Jack collapsed next to an old rotten log. He lowered the barrier, setting Nick free. But he had put as much distance as he could muster. The fox could not find him, not for a while at least. If he ever could.

Jack looked down to the still active Nexus. Ness chimed in right on time, "Jack-"

"Shut the hell up Ness," Jack cut off the computer as he leaned back against the log. Jack brought the Nexus up, "Prepare a jump."

"I can't allow that sir."

"I don't care what you think! You follow my orders and I order you to prepare a jump."

Jack could feel the energy begin to charge up. Ness still spoke up, "You are making a mistake Jack."

"The mistake was staying here. I should have just jumped back in the alley."

"Would it really have been for the better?"

"Any world is better off without me on it Ness."

"You can't just leave Nick and Judy like this."

"Why not? They got the better end of the deal compared to my Judy and Nick."

"I may be just a computer, but I know what is right in a situation."

"You only think what is logical Ness."

"Logical can still be right."

"Well this time you are wrong." Jack said standing up. He felt the energy in his paw had built up enough. He began to concentrate as he prepared the jump. Ness spoke up again, "If you go through with this you will never be able to get home. The calculations I've been doing won't matter anymore."

"I don't want to return to that place anymore. I'll keep on jumping till I find a world where I can't ruin anymore lives."

Jack released the energy. A ball of lightning formed around him. He felt weightless as space morphed around him. And then he fell. Jack's eyes snapped open to see he was now several thousands of feet in the sky. He spread his body flat to create as much drag as possible. The ground below was completely lit up below him. He saw the entire sprawling metropolis of Zootopia below him. The Zootopia he just tried jumped from. He pulled the Nexus up, "What the hell Ness!"

"I can't let you leave."

"The hell you can," Jack grabbed at the watch trying to remove it from his body, but it would not budge.

"I won't let you do this Jack." Ness spoke. Jack watched as beams of light erupted from the Nexus and into the air in front of him. Jack looked to a blue mirror image of himself. Its lips moved as Ness' voice was projected from it, "You can't just run away from all of this. Why do you wish to always run?"

Jack gave up trying to remove the Nexus as he continued to fall. He looked away from the image, but he still felt its animated gaze on him. The clouds were far below him. It would take a minute or two before he hit the ground making a nice rabbit splotch mark somewhere in Zootopia. From his vantage he looked to be right over Downtown. Jack answered, "Because I always find a way to screw things up. It's better if I don't stick around. Now the Nexus gives me to perfect way to do that."

"That's not what it was designed for."

"I know it was a weapon." Jack corrected himself.

"No," Ness corrected, "The weapon capabilities were for protecting the user. It was made with the intention of bettering not just your world, but any world."

Jack turned back to Ness, "Then explain what was in that cave back there."

In response the Nexus projected the same scene it had just did in Nick's apartment around the two rabbits. Ness looked to the hologram as it finally loaded. Ness looked back to Jack, then to the floor. The hologram followed pace with them as they continued to fall. Ness spoke up, "I know the logic points to the Nexus being connected to that event, but like I said there are portions of my data files missing."

Ness looked back to Jack, "Data on the event, my creation, even my development. All of that are missing. Redacted for whatever reason. That cave is a part of that somehow. I had no knowledge of that till you saw it and I connected with your mind."

"So your plan of being a device for world betterment seems to be flawed," Jack countered.

"Why so?" Ness cocked his head to the side.

"Because I'm the worst mammal to choose for a goal like that."

"And why's that." Ness asked sternly.

"You know exactly why Ness. You know everything about me."

"Yes I do, but I want to hear it from you."

"Why does it matter" Jack tried derailed the conversation, "I'm going to be a rabbit pancake soon."

"No you aren't", Ness stated with a snap of his holographic fingers. In response another ball of electricity enveloped Jack. It evaporated quickly and showed he was once again at the height he started his fall at. It started all again. Jack looked to the hologram, "Taking me out of the controls of the Nexus?"

"The protocol was created in the event the user became uncooperative."

"Is that what I am now?" Jack asked with an annoyed tone.

"I can't allow you to do what you want. You can't just keep running Jack, it won't solve anything."

"Then I guess we'll just keep on falling for the rest of my life."

Ness didn't respond. The silence was filled with the howling of the wind as Jack reach terminal velocity. He was still far above the clouds. Ness would no doubt teleport him back up again as the ground neared. Jack sighed as he turned around, cupping his hands behind his head as he looked to the sky above him. Far from the light pollution below he saw the night sky almost as it was before fire was created. Seeing as Ness wasn't talking Jack spoke, "You will most likely run out of power soon."

It was true. He had not gotten a chance to charge the Nexus up at all since he arrived in this Zootopia. He didn't know exactly how much power it had left, but he looked to see it had decreased in size already. It still coated a good portion of his arm, but he wasn't sure how long that would be. Ness hovered over to Jack's side and mimicked his position. He spoke up, "Then I guess you will get your wish of killing yourself."

"Better dead then held captive by my watch."

"Why are you so against staying?"

"Because I will only cause more pain for Judy and Nick."

"You will cause unbelievable pain if you leave right now."

"Less than I did to my Judy."

"You can't just pack up and leave." Ness stood up, "You will always leave your mark. No matter where you go you will affect the lives of other mammals. No mammal can exist without others. You are social creatures. No matter how much you crave solitude you will still crave contact. It is not the answer. You try to distance yourself from mammals because you don't want to hurt them. Just like those you held dear; your mother, Valentine. They used you, threw you away like garbage. Treated you like nothing. But relationships are messy. Animals get hurt, it's natural. But you don't just run away with the knife, you stick around. Tend to the wound, and let it heal."

Ness remained silent after his speech. Jack didn't respond. He continued to look up at the sky as he hurtled to the ground. The clouds were not that far off, Ness would have to teleport him soon. He tried to think over what Ness said, but his anger was overshadowing any thought process. He was angry at Ness, Nick, himself, the world, Judy-

No, he could never be mad at Judy. Jack looked to the sky above as a shooting star came to life and shot across the sea of stars before dying. Its signature was still there for a few seconds as it began to fade away. His eyes opened wide as he realized something. He turned himself around and looked to Ness. The clouds were under a hundred feet away this time. He spoke up, "Anyone leaves a signature."

Ness blinked his eyes. He was startled with the question, "What?"

"You said anyone leaves a signature right?"

"Yes, why Jack?"

"Even those wolves?"

"They burned down the building, they left no trace."

"No visible trace, but what about one only we can track."

"Excuse me sir?"

"We hacked into CCTVs," Jack explained as he turned back around. He looked to the stars and found what he was looking for. A small moving speck of light across the vast sea of stars, "How about a satellite."

Ness looked up to what Jack was seeing. He let off a smile before dropping the hologram. Jack watched it recede into the Nexus. He felt himself beginning to slow down. He looked to see a blue aura encapsulate him. He felt his velocity decrease as he reached the tops of the clouds. His momentum ceased as he now floated amongst plumes of condensation. The aura persisted as he reached out and touched one of the clouds. His paw gained moisture as a groove was etched into the fluffy cloud of water. Ness spoke up, "You mean hack a satellite to look through its data to see what happened at Arum Drive during the chase?"

"Can it be done?" Jack asked withdrawing his arm.

"I'll have to search all of the satellites in the nearby sky."

"And?"

"If I can find them yes, but I will need more power to do so."

"Then teleport us to the ground, Zootopia is power rich."

"May I take this as your agreement not to leave?"

"Only if it works." Jack answered bemused.

"I won't be getting anything better than that." Ness stated flatly.

The ball of lighting returned and Jack felt his body pulled as he was teleported yet again. His vision returned; he found himself standing on a flat rooftop. The floor was made of gravel. He moved to the edge to see a nearly desolate street. A car drove passed the building he stood on top of. It looked to be some random street in the middle of Savanna Central. But he could just barely make out Precinct One a few blocks down. He looked across the street to see a gas station with a bright neon sigh broadcasting its locating. Seeing that as the best candidate Jack leapt off the top of the building. He slowed his descent with a crystal coated arm etching down the side of the building. He touched down on the sidewalk gracefully. He retracted the gauntlet, happy to have control of the Nexus once again.

With no cars around he rushed across the street and to the empty gas station. He stood on the edge of the asphalt, right underneath the sign labeled Shellfish. It was a red outlined sign with a yellow inside made to look like a clam shell. Jack grabbed the base of the white painted metal pole with his right arm. He watched as the sign dimmed till it was off. The extracted energy ran down the side of the pole in the familiar blue tendrils. The tentacles of energy didn't stop growing as all of the energy still going to the sign to illuminate it was being drawn into them as they migrated towards the Nexus.

They reached their target and were fused into the solid material of the watch. Jack saw it expand. It went down his forearm to his elbow. It then covered the back of his hand and continued to cover the rest of his paw. Seeing it fit, Jack removed his hand from the pole, cutting off the energy transfer. The tendrils were cut short and the sign began to light up again. The blue tatters of energy leftover still merged with the Nexus as it formed and elbow guard. It finally halted in its growth halfway to Jack's shoulder. Once the process was done Jack asked, "Is that enough for you?"

"Plenty." Ness answered as the waves of energy returned. Jack saw it fit to reach his arm up and point right at the sky. He could feel the energy being drained as Ness worked. Ness spoke aloud as he processed the request, "Twenty-Six satellites were in range of the area during the course of the event. A dozen of them have camera based software. Seven were pointed at the planet."

"Anything useful?" Jack asked.

"I believe so, how 'bout a jump to the scene."

"I'm ready if you are."

Ness followed the request and teleported Jack yet again. Jack's vision was filled with a familiar sight. He was back in the clearing where the burned down structure was. This time the area was devoid of visitors. No more fire fighters, police, or HICU agents. The embers were long since dead. Jack approached the foundation as he called the Nexus to create a projection. This one covered the entire area. He watched as the wireframe was replaced with images Ness was pulling directly from the satellites. He watched the building slowly rebuild itself. Once done Ness spoke, "I was able to reconstruct the scene as best as possible. This is just after the chase started."

"Play at a half a second per second." Jack ordered as he walked to the front of the building.

"Yes Jack," Ness confirmed and the projection came to life.

The several hundred pictures that created the hologram flashed to static every once in awhile as the Nexus was stretched to its computing power. Jack stood at the front door as he saw four figures emerge from the passage carved from the road. Ness cleaned them up to show four wolves. They walked passed Jack and into the building, phasing through the door rather than it animated. After a minute or so passed in the replay Jack was bathed in white light. He turned around to see a car with its headlights on make its way into the clearing. A solitary motorcycle also joined it. The car stopped not that far from the front of the building. A wolf got off the cycle and rushed into the house. The driver of the car, the only occupant, waited outside.

Another few minutes passed before the wolves emerged from the shack. The Nexus was able to show that they were holding boxes, large and small. They carried them to the single car and began to pack the things into the trunk and into the back seats. As they were going through the process a second car entered the area. Once the first car was filled up a wolf took the passenger seat and departed with the driver. The cycle owning wolf took his vehicle and left. The three remaining wolves entered the second car with the lone driver and left the clearing. Jack asked, "Can you track them?"

"All three?"

"The first car." Jack ordered.

"Will work on it."

After Ness spoke the hologram began to deteriorate. The pictures fizzled out of existence and the wireframe collapsed to nothingness. The clearing was returned to its natural empty, burnt state. Jack looked to the foundation. Ness spoke up, "I'll have to grab the data from other satellites to effectively track it. I'll tell you when I get a destination for it."

"Thank you Ness."

"So are you back on the case?"

"I don't give a damn what that HICU says. This is Nick and Judy's case. I am their consultant and I will help them solve it."

Jack walked towards the exit. As he did Ness asked, "Do you think it would be best to return to Officer Wilde at this moment?"

"I really should," Jack said half defeated. He reached the empty road. He could see police tape still blocked off the street. No doubt for when the HICU would return come daylight. Jack saw no police presence, "Can we do it without the teleporting. I've had enough of that for lifetime in one day I think."

"Too disorienting?"

"I think I'd like to be the one in charge of it next time. I couldn't prepare my body for it."

"Very well Jack, but it is a considerable walk back to Nick's apartment building."

Jack smiled as he thought of a plan. He brought the Nexus up and pointed at the road. He concentrated and whipping blades of crystal shot forth from the gauntlet into the street. They all were about two feet long. They moved around each other in the air, and then two of them bent and slammed into each other. Metal chimed in the air as another set followed the action. They lowered to the road as the rest of the blades broke into smaller pieces. They began to fill in the area around the two bent blades. They filled the space between the two. Snapping metal and crystals could all be heard in the area as Jack constructed what he desired.

The noises came to a stop as the structure was deposited in the street. It shined blue in the dying night light. Jack had just constructed a motorcycle. One fit for his size. The wheel cages had a snowflake pattern on them from the bent crystals. The wheels were a soulless black. The body was a dark hued blue, a few shades above navy. Ness spoke, "Masterful craftsmanship sir."

"Just as I pictured," Jack added as he approached and straddled the motorcycle.

It roared to life at his touch. Jack grabbed the handlebars and revved the engine. It gave a lion like growl. Jack smiled, disengaged the brake and pushed down on the gas. The cycle blasted forward, the engine roaring as he made his way off Arum drive. Jack projected a helmet on his head. The visor lit up with a heads up display. He saw his speed in the corner, nearly fifty. He made his way off Arum and onto the main streets, these too devoid of other drivers. He pushed the engine harder as he followed the directions on the visor back to Nick's.

…

The cycle whined to a stop as Jack approached the apartment he stormed out of less than an hour ago. The drive was not long, even without the speeds Jack was topping. He was on the empty highway where he broke a speed ticket warranting ninety. He could have sworn he got to a hundred at one point. Jack jumped off the cycle, his helmet retracting and disappearing. The wheels instantly broke apart into the blades that had formed it. The body followed as the entire thing folded in on itself. It formed a single sheet of blue tinted glass and then expanded out dissipating as energy. Jack looked to the building, it was exactly as he left it.

Jack hopped to the front door and looked at the intercom system. He thought about paging Nick to let him in, but then he remembered the Nexus. He looked to the lock and projected a tendril of energy at it. The lock was undone faster than he did in the other world. Jack pushed the door open and stepped into the lobby. The office was still closed off. Jack rushed to the stairs and to the second floor. He now stood outside of Nick's room. He had not yet knocked. He wasn't sure if he should. Ness sensed this and spoke up, "Just knock Jack."

Jack didn't answer right away. He still looked at the old wooden door, "Will he even listen to me?"

"I think he will be glad you didn't just up and runaway."

"How can you be sure?" Jack looked to the Nexus.

"I can't."

"Thanks Ness." Jack turned back to the door. His nerves not settled. He let out a sigh, "Now or never."

He raised his paw and rasped three times on the door. He lowered his hand as he watched the monolith of wood. He perked up one of his ears as he tried to listen to anything on the other side of the door. He could hear the TV was on, at a low volume. He couldn't really make out what was on. Over the sound of the TV he could hear footsteps. He listened as they got faintly louder. He lowered his ear as he saw the door knob begin to turn. As the door was opened the voice from beyond spoke, "Who is it."

Jack didn't answer as Nick pulled the door fully open. Nick had taken off his uniform and was now dressed in a plain white wife beater. He also had gray shorts on. Nick looked at the rabbit outside his door. His face held no expression as he looked the rabbit over. Nick asked, "So you found a way to get back did you?"

Jack didn't respond at first. He saw the fur of the fox was slightly disheveled. He could see the bulge on his side from the bandages around the bullet wound. He even had smaller ones on both of his arms from more cuts. He looked back to Nick's eyes. He shook his head no, "No Nick. I never left."

"That was my second guess, damn." Nick turned away from the rabbit and stepped into his room. Jack remained on the threshold as he asked, "You aren't angry at me?"

"Sure, when you first left," Nick answered depositing himself on the couch, "But the fact you never left means that you aren't going any time soon."

"I'm not going to give up on you."

"That's good to hear," Nick patted the area next to him on the couch. Seeing the offer Jack stepped into the room. He closed the door behind him and walked to the couch and hopped up onto it. Nick asked, "So what finally knocked some sense into you dumb bunny?"

"Ness did." Jack answered. He faced away from Nick.

"That computer of yours must be a good negotiator."

"He just gave me a chance to rethink things. Get my head in the clouds, and see things from a different perspective."

"Good," Nick simply stated, "So are you going to stick around till you can get back home."

"No," Jack answered turning to Nick. The red fox wore a face of confusion, "I'm only going to stay here till we solve the case."

"We are off the case Stripes, don't you listen with your big ears."

Nick emphasized the point by lifting one of Jack's ears with a single digit. Jack swatted the fox's hand away. He grabbed his ears and folded them behind his head, "I know Officers Wilde and Hopps and their consultant Jack were taken off the case."

Jack paused. Nick didn't answer waiting for him to obviously continue, "But how about Con-artist Nicholas Wilde and Hitmammal Jack Savage take on the case."

"Sly bunny." Nick added with a smile. Jack returned it.

Nick quickly spoke up, "You sleep on the couch ok," Nick slid from the furniture and walked towards the door opposite the kitchenette. Jack gave no objections as Nick continued, "We will go see Officer Fluff tomorrow morning. After that we'll follow your lead Stripes."

Nick opened the door to his bedroom. He stood in the frame as he looked back to Jack. Jack looked at the vulpine. Nick spoke, "Glad you stuck around Savage."

"Glad I did, goodnight Nick"

"Nighty Night."

Nick closed the door leaving Jack alone. He waved his hand and the TV shut off. He snapped his fingers and the lights followed the action of the TV. Jack laid down on the slightly comfortable couch. He remained in his clothes as he realized just how tired he was. Ness spoke up ending his chances of that, "Are you really going to leave after all of this."

"If we can close the case, then I have no reason to stay here. Once it is over I'm going, and I expect you to not stop me that time."

"I won't Jack. You have my word."

"Good. " Sleep embraced him very easily soon after.