They raced to the ZPD to see a very dejected-looking Judy sitting on the curb. Juliet noticed immediately that her uniform breast was vacant. She kicked the stand on her bike and ran to give Judy a hug. Judy was shocked at first, but just hugged her back. Juliet didn't even care what happened, she knew how much it meant to the bunny to be an officer, and if her badge was missing, that meant she wasn't anymore.
The boys got out of the van to see the two exchanging embraces and kept distance. Judy wiped away a tear and stood up. Nick walked over and asked, "What happened, Carrots?"
She got an angry look and shouted, "They wanted me to put a collar on a bear that was way under-age, just because she got into a fight at school! She was being bullied! I gave them my badge and told them that I couldn't be an officer if that was what it meant. I became a cop to serve and protect. That means everyone, even predators." She looked up at Nick with misty eyes. Even though she was trying to be strong, everyone could tell it hurt her to do what she did.
Nick and Judy just looked at each other for a moment before Nick sharply inhaled and said, "Well, at least now you can be a part of Nick's army full-time". He smiled at her, she elbowed him in the ribs and climbed into the van. They decided to head back to Juliet and Leo's, for lack of anywhere else to go with enough space for them all.
The whole ride through Zootopia Juliet could think of nothing but the envelope that Koslov had given her. Maybe there was something in there they could use to bring down SafariCorp. If they could just create that momentary lapse, just a small amount of time. It was all they needed to make everyone see that predators were not the monsters that they were painted to be. They had the heart, they had the mammals. It was time.
As soon as she got in the door, she sat at the table and ripped open the envelope. Leo went about making Judy comfortable and making something to eat…which didn't turn out because he didn't have anything for an herbivore. Juliet scanned the first page of the envelope, it was Kansas birth certificate. Juliet laughed explosively, it sounded more like a croak.
Everyone looked at her, she held the envelope up and said, "Kansas birth name is Marston." It earned several minutes of shooting the breeze from the group as she explored more of the papers. He was not born in Zootopia, but moved there with his wife.
"The son of a stray is married." Juliet said. Judy steamed about it, going on and on about how it gave predators a bad name. Juliet enjoyed the open mocking of Kansas, until she found a hospital record.
It was for Kansas wife. Juliet said, "Hold on, guys. His wife's name is Vermillion. She is in a coma. She was hospitalized for collar malfunctions, and lost a pregnancy."
Everyone went dead silent. They bowed their heads, and a quiet understanding struck them all. He was as much a victim as the rest of them. Juliet continued, "She was moved from Zootopia general around the same time that I stole his bounty. I wonder if it has anything to do with him being around me."
Nick said, "Do you think that SafariCorp has something to do with him lurking round?"
She shook her head, "It makes sense. When he attacked me, he said I reminded him of her. I wonder if they have her or their treating her. They help pay for his club, it makes sense."
Leo asked, "But why would he be watching you. Nick had me keeping an eye on you because you were after him, if Kansas is working for SafariCorp…then who is in charge?"
No one spoke up. The envelope had given them more questions than answers. She sifted through the pages and found a sheet with signature. It was oddly familiar, it sparked a bad feeling in the pit of Juliet's stomach. Why was Kansas following her? The hostile had been ransacked, and the mammal that came through the skylight. Someone had been after her, specifically. Something was lingering in the shadows all the time. Why hadn't she seen it until now?
It didn't matter, she put it all in the envelope. They were going to stop it and whoever it was that was after her would stop. She was finding it harder to hate Kansas now. She tried to imaging losing kits, and then a wife. No wonder he was such a jerk. Probably the only way he wasn't crispy fried by his collar.
She looked at the raccoon and said, "At Koslov's, you were going to say something and you didn't, what was it?"
He said, "Oh, I had an idea for a distraction. I just wasn't sure it was enough to cover an explosion. I have been working it over in my head a bit now and I think it could work. I need to make a few calls. I was thinking, if we get enough mammals together, preds or prey, and have a massive flash mob party right in front of SafariCorp, that should distract them pretty good."
Nick got excited, "Oh, I like it. I know a guy with a party bus. He can roll it in. We just get the word out about a time and place and get the party going. We don't even have to be there. With that many mammals there, the ZPD will be so busy with crowd control that they won't be able to handle a break in and an explosion at the same time."
Finnick piped up, "Hey, by the time the bear has that thing wired up and lit, it will be all elbows and tail out of there. They will show up and see nothing."
Leo said, "So then there is getting into SafariCorp to shut it down."
Lazer swished his tail, "I don't think I can get into the system externally, but I have a great virus program you can take with you. If you can get it plugged into a server room, their computers will go down harder than Nick with a pickup line."
Finnick roared with laughter, Judy giggled and punched Nick on the arm.
Juliet said, "So all that is left is getting in, right?"
Nick replied, "Yeah. I think that Lazer and I will have to tag-team this one. We are blind in their though. Do you only have the one drive?"
Lazer smiled, "Oh, I can make copies, so divide and Conquer?"
Nick, "oh yeah. I think that You, me and Carrots, and Leo and Juliet. Between the two we can find a server room and get out. Maybe even make the party!"
Juliet stood up, "So we actually have a plan, finally."
Judy added, "What about after? I mean what do you tell everyone?"
Nick shrugged, "Play nice?"
Judy replied, "Har Har."
They all got on their respective phones and made calls. They planned everything for the next day, figuring a good night's sleep wasn't a bad idea. When the issue of sleep came up, Leo offered for everyone to just camp out there for the night.
Juliet and Judy called dibs on the bed. Nick and Lazer made several lewd jokes throughout the night. They finally got sick of it and waited until they weren't looking and dumped bowls of ice water on the raccoon and fox. Leo laughed so hard he fell over. Before they knew it, they had all settled into a spot and there was a discord of snores and body noises throughout the apartment.
Judy settled onto the bed and stared at the gently flapping canvas over the skylight. She had the same look that Leo would get when he wanted to have a serious conversation. Juliet finally asked, "So what is it?"
"How did you and Leo finally figure out that you liked each other?"
Juliet turned her head a little and thought about it, she finally answered, "I finally realized when he said certain things he was trying to tell me without actually saying it. He had been in love with me for a long time before I ever felt anything. Why?"
"Oh. No reason."
"Bullscat. You're thinking about somebody. I think I know who." She pushed the bunny playfully.
"Well, it's not what you call conventional in any way. My parents would probably faint, or disown me, or something."
"Right, cuz you color in the lines all the time"
"You know. You're right. I have never let someone tell me what I can or can't do. After all of this is over, I am going to say something."
Juliet rolled over and said, "Trust me, waiting is not worth it. It's amazing when you find love. It changes your whole world."
Judy rolled over as well, "Good night Juliet, and thank you for listening to me. I don't have many friends."
"Neither did I Judy, Neither did I."