The Nick of Time
Officer Scruggs, of Zootopia's small Bomb Squad, had just finished listening to the excited report of the two only rabbit and fox officers on the department. He was, perhaps, a bit more likely to take them seriously than most, as there were relatively few ocelots like him on the department either. His small size made him a natural for the Bomb Squad. "That's pretty tenuous," he commented.
"Does it hurt anything to check?" countered Hopps.
He sighed. "No, it never hurts to be careful. So you think we're looking for a truck?"
Wilde held out a print-out that he recognized as a vehicle registration slip. "Yeah, stolen several weeks ago."
The ocelot officer took it and glanced over it. "Okay. Well, look, keep in mind that if- if there is a bomb, it will probably be rigged to be set off by a signal, like from a cell phone. Timers with glowing red numbers are just a movie thing."
The two newer officers looked at one another. "How do you stop that?" asked Wilde.
"Best way is, if possible, to rig up a Furaday cage-" at the blank looks on their faces he sighed. "Surround it with metal. Stops wireless communication from getting through."
"Around a whole truck?"
"Ah, that's where the second best solution comes in," said the ocelot, raising a finger.
"Which is?" asked Hopps.
"Be somewhere far away when the signal comes through."
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Hunter paced the top of the building, marked with a huge 'H' symbol.
He had received that email from the embassy. So it wasn't just any human who was helping with this plot.
It was someone high up enough to interfere with embassy communications.
Sometimes, hopefully not often, you get a sort of weird feeling when you keep following an investigation. A sort of sense that you're out of your depth, that maybe pushing things won't end up well for you.
That maybe, this was something over your pay grade.
Hunter had never been ambitious. He wanted to do his time, as comfortably as possible, then retire with a pension and sip margaritas on some beach far, far away from everyone else. To make sure of that goal, he had always avoided the pitfalls that he had seen catch other cops far too many times. The sort that saw them drummed out of the department.
He had a feeling this was the sort of thing where getting fired was the best possible outcome.
So why was he having such a hard time letting this go?
His phone buzzed. He glanced at it, saw that Hopps had texted him. Without checking the message, he put his phone back in the pocket.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Nick saw Judy, her head on a swivel, approaching. He held up a paw in greeting. "See anything?"
"No, and we must have walked all the way around the whole area," she said. "Maybe we did jump the gun a bit?"
The fox let out a breath. "Let's hope so. I'm still not sure what we're going to do with the bomb if we find it." He looked around. "Evacuation would be nearly impossible with this many mammals around."
The ceremony was being held in one of the largest plazas in the city, Tails Square. Not only was it large, but it was directly adjacent to the train station- Nick could see the sleek shape of yet another train pulling up even as he looked toward the tracks. Around him, mammals chattered and gawked, many talking on cell phones. The fox twitched every time a phone rang. He was starting to realize why members of the Bomb Squad were so nervous all the time.
Hopps shook her head. "There's no way they could get a truck in here. The only ones even sort of close are the media, and the Bomb Squad has checked them thoroughly." She pointed towards a cluster of news vans, where several wolves were- literally- sniffing around.
The two cops thought about it as they looked around. Suddenly, Judy frowned. "Since when do cargo trains come through Tails Square?"
Nick turned to look back at the train. Sure enough, instead of the sleek, aerodynamic shape of a passenger car, several of the cars had the boxy look of cargo containers. "Maybe they're just passing through?" he said uncertainly, and then realized the rabbit was already rushing off.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Judy dashed to the train, slowing as she approached the cargo section. Three cargo containers, all in the middle of the train. She remembered from farming at Bunnyburrow how, even on the rare occasions a passenger train carried cargo, it was generally either all at the front or the back of the train, never just stuck in the middle. It was the sort of thing you learn when you ship out carloads of carrots.
With a hop, she was able to grab the handle of the nearest cargo car's doors. Behind her, she could hear Nick panting as he caught up. She looked down at him. "Help me open this thing."
He looked at the heavy metal door. "I doubt I can. Aren't those things automatic?"
As if responding to his words, the door suddenly shuddered and started to open.
Judy let go of the door as it slid open, but immediately hopped up again and pulled herself up to look inside. Beside her, Nick was doing the same thing.
Both cops gaped as they saw the neatly stacked barrels and sacks. Wiring ran through the whole thing.
"Well," said Nick, gulping. "Looks like we found our bomb."
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Hunter sighed as, finally, the military skimmer settled for a landing. He jumped on board. "Took you long enough."
The marine flying it looked at him, expressionless behind his masked helmet. "Officer Hunter."
"Should I ask permission to come aboard?" Hunter paused, glancing at the marine's sidearm holstered at his side. "Should you be carrying that? I mean, we're not at the embassy."
"I have orders," said the marine.
Hunter sighed. "Yeah, so do I." He settled into the rear seat. "Let's go."
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"Okay, don't panic, we got this," muttered Judy nervously.
"Do we, really?" responded the fox. "Because if you have a plan this would be a good time to tell me."
"Look, what did Scruggs say?"
"Be far away from the bomb, I remember that part. I'm remembering that part really well right now."
"No, I mean about- the Furaday cage. We just need to put some sort of metal box around it, so they can't set it off!"
"Hey, Carrots, it's already in a metal box, that's probably why they...opened...the...doors." Nick stopped.
"I was wondering how long it was going to take you two to figure that out," said a deep voice behind them. "Turn around- very slowly, if you don't mind."
They turned. "Father Richard," said Nick. "I see you have a gun."
The lion from the Church of the Fellowship of Terra nodded and held up another device in his paw. "And a detonator. And while I would prefer to be well out of the blast radius before I set this thing off and start the new era of life with our true masters, my faith is strong enough that I am willing to accept death to carry out my mission. So please, step off the train."
Judy looked at the lion, her expression hard. "So you killed Susslun."
"A pity, no doubt, but necessary. You see, Brother Susslun was very useful, but not the strongest in the faith. He helped us get the ingredients for this device, the plans provided by our lords above-" his face took on a reverent aspect "- and stole a truck to transport it. But his usefulness had come to an end, and he knew far too much to be allowed his weak resolve to be tested. One of my- more predatory- congregants did the actual job, of course. Very quick, very aggressive, cheetahs." He gestured with the gun again, his face becoming harder. "Step out of the train. I'm not going to tell you again."
Nick hesitated, remembering something he had been told some time ago.
A real bad guy doesn't tell you his master plan before he kills you. He just kills you.
Why had the lion not just shot them and been done with it?
Because they were standing in front of a bomb. For all the resolve and dedication the lion had claimed, he wasn't as ready to risk martyrdom as he said. Maybe it was just a bit of hesitation, but it was there.
Nick took a step towards the door- towards the lion. "Well, you're right. You got us. Think you can give us enough time to get away at least?"
Judy shot him a look. "Nick?"
Father Richard relaxed, very slightly. "Why, of course, officer. The least I can-"
Nick moved.
With a lunge he plowed into the larger mammal, shoving him towards the open door. Both the detonator and gun flew from the lion's paws as he hit the ground and rolled. Nick barely caught himself on the door. He whipped around to face Judy. "Find the door controls! Shut the door!"
The rabbit didn't hesitate. She spotted the automatic door controls and, using her full weight, yanked down the lever.
Richard had recovered, slightly as both cops leapt from the closing doors. He scrambled for the detonator.
Judy leaped, slamming her hind-paws into his mouth and sending the lion tumbling.
He rolled, and came up with something in his paw.
The detonator.
With a triumphant look, he squeezed the trigger.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
After a moment, it became clear nothing was going to happen. All three mammals looked at the cargo train.
The closed doors of the cargo train. Encased in a metal box.
The lion snarled and took a step forward-
"Don't move, fleabag."
Nick stepped forward, holding the gun he had recovered on the lion, who froze and then, slowly, raised his paws.
"On the ground. Cuff him, Carrots."
The lion snarled as he felt the handcuffs secured around his wrists. "This isn't over, you foolish apostates! Did you think the detonator was the only way to set off the bomb?"
Nick and Judy paused, looked at each other. The lion laughed. "You'll never evacuate in time, and the Human Ambassador will soon arrive. He'll die, and the righteous fire of our true lords will sweep this sinful planet! Don't you understand? There's a timer on the bomb! The vengeance of the humans will be-erk!"
Nick had brought down the gun on the lion's head, who collapsed. "Okay, now what?"
Judy was already in motion. "If we can't get the mammals away from the bomb, then we take the bomb away from the mammals," she shouted over her shoulder.
He shook his head as he hurried to catch up. "What is it about you and trains, Carrots?" he said under his breath.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Hunter's phone buzzed again. He sighed, decided he could at least check the message.
There were several messages from Hopps. "Going to look for bomb at Ambassador's Welcoming Ceremony," he read, his eyebrows raising. He read further. "Found bomb, need help? The hell?"
He froze at the last message. "Bomb on train. Taking train away from city. How disarm bomb?"
"What."
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"Are you really texting? I mean, seriously?"
Nick watched the track ahead anxiously, remembering the last time they had been on a fast-moving train. Fortunately, there didn't seem to be anything on the track ahead.
So all he had to worry about was the gigantic bomb on the train with them. Simple.
"Maybe Hunter can think of something," she said. "Bomb squad is still waiting to get back to me. At least they cleared the tracks ahead."
Nick let out a breath as the train cleared the last major suburb. At least now the bomb wouldn't kill too many. When it went off. You know, just the two idiot mammals driving the train. "How long do we have?"
She shrugged. "Who knows?"
Her phone rang.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Hunter unbuckled his seat belt and walked, hunched slightly in the tight confines of the skimmer, towards the pilot seat. "Change of plans," he said. "We need to intercept that train." He held up his cell phone, which was showing live coverage of the train with Wilde and Hopps on it.
The pilot looked at him, and even with the full helmet Hunter could feel his disbelief. "My orders are to fly you to the embassy, not to go trying to catch a runaway train."
"Look, my partners are on that train-"
"I don't care!"
Hunter glared at the pilot. "Look me in the eyes, hotshot. If you don't turn this skimmer around and fly to the damn train, I'll-"
The pilot's face was right up against his. "You'll what, cop? In case you didn't notice, I've got the gun, so-" there was a pause.
Both of the men looked down.
The pilot stared at his empty holster, then at the gun Hunter had taken from him and was now holding to his stomach. Hunter grinned, slightly. "Rookie mistake.
"Rule Six. Watch the hands. Hands are what hold weapons. Hands are what can kill you."
He gestured with the gun. "Let's go."
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Judy got off the phone, her ears down. "They found some texts on Richard's phone when they picked him up. The bomb is set to go off in less than three minutes."
Nick goggled. "We need to get off this train."
"No kidding. Okay, we'll slow it down enough that we can jump off-"
"And then the bomb goes off and kills us." Nick shook his head. "No." He took a deep breath. "I'll stay on the train, slow it down so you can jump off, then speed it up again. Hopefully that will give put enough distance between us to-"
"What?" Judy stared at her friend. "No!"
"We don't have time to-"
She took a step forward, paws on her hips. "Listen to me, fox. I. Am. Not. Losing. You. Again." She squeezed her eyes shut.
"Judy-"
"If we have to die, we die together. Always together, you got that, you dumb fox?"
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"Come on, come on, get closer!" shouted Hunter, leaning out of the skimmer side door.
"You realize that thing has a bomb on it?" shouted the marine.
"Yeah, who would have known joining the star marines would have put you in danger, huh? Get this thing on top of that train or you'll wish you were just dealing with a bomb!"
Muttering, the pilot swung the skimmer closer. There was a thump and Hunter's stomach did some very unpleasant things as he suddenly found the driver's compartment of the train below him. He checked to ensure the strap holding him to the skimmer was still attached, and hopped down to the train.
Okay, now what?
There, a hatch. He leaned over, willing his hands not to shake as he pulled the handle. With a powerful heave, he yanked the hatch open and stuck his head through.
To see a fox and a rabbit in a tight embrace. He shook his head. "Hey!"
Their eyes turned to him in shock.
"Don't just stand there mooning at each other, come on!"
Nick didn't hesitate, grabbing the rabbit- who squeaked in protest- and handing her to Hunter, who hauled her up and tossed her into the skimmer. He reached back down and repeated the process with Nick.
Jumping back into the skimmer, he slammed his hand on the back of the pilot's seat. "Go, go, go!"
The pilot was clearly not keen to hang around. With a lurch, the skimmer shot forward and up. The pilot put the flyer into a hard bank.
Judy and Nick stared at their friend. "How-?" began the fox.
"Did you ever wonder if I was really that good? Now you know." He looked back at the train, still shooting onward over open plains. "Any idea how lon-"
The train suddenly disappeared in a cloud of smoke. "Oh, shit! Hang on!"
The skimmer shook violently as the shockwave hit. Hunter felt himself thrown forward, and barely had time to see the hard metal side of the aircraft coming towards him before-
Black.