Zootopia - In the Days That Followed

by ayziks

Zootopia implied that Nick and Judy's friendship was more than being 'buddies'. This anthology of stories explores the growth of that relationship amidst societal prejudice against mixed species relationships. Pt. 1 is complete, and "The Waters of Atlantea" is the sequel. T rated (intimacy/violence). All characters property of Disney. Story image courtesy 'vivial' of Dev i ant Art.

25. Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Authors notes: Nothing else matters right now. All I can say about this chapter is: come in, sit down, strap in, and hang on. T for intimacy, innuendo, mild swearing, violence and threatened violence.

…

It was the morning of the banquet, and Nick and Judy awoke, greeted one another, and kissed good morning. Judy was very happy she had made the choice to always sleep in the nude with him. The natural freedom of waking up to rough red fur pressed against soft gray fur was always exhilarating.

"This is it. This is the big day," Judy observed, making curls with her husband's chest fur, tugging just enough to annoy him.

"Yep. It's a good day and bad day," agreed Nick ran his paws through her fur also, but instead of curling her fur, his paws lingered at a couple of places her fur covered.

She turned into Nick's gentle caress to maximize her husband's enjoyment and he winked at her special smile meant only for him during their most intimate moments.

"I know. It's nice to be recognized, but there's too much public focus on us," reflected Judy while all their caresses continued.

"Do you think life will be normal after this, Carrots?" Nick asked.

She answered, a bit melancholy, "Life will never be normal for us again. It really hasn't been from the start. In a whole bunch of ways life will be even crazier. Especially after tonight and that documentary. We'll always be too visible."

"Guess you're right about that. And even more so when we have our kits," Nick added.

She snuggled even closer to him with that admission. She was so pleased that beneath his often detached, carefree manner this fox really wanted to have babies with her. The feeling was mutual.

"I love it when you say that, Nickie, but immediately after tonight we still have crimes to be solved," Judy said to bring them back to reality.

"And a honeymoon to go on," Nick grinned.

"Yeah!" she exclaimed, and gave him a quick kiss, "I don't think the Chief will ever have us work under cover."

Seizing the loaded comment, Nick quipped, "Carrots, the only undercover work I want to do right now is to work on you under these covers."

Judy laughed out loud and just shook her head. She totally set herself up.

Nick was right. It was their time. They agreed over the past couple of days to put their search for clues on hold for this very special weekend. There had been no other new clues about the arson and murders in nearly a week, despite the ever-vigilant daily watch by ZPD of media sources, known criminal website behaviors, and tips by informants. There seemed to not be any reason for ZPD to be concerned to have a heightened state of alert for trouble. It looked like the city was going to pause for celebration as it always did annually to celebrate the achievements of its brightest and most talented mammals. Even most of the other metropolitan centers of the world covered the occasion in one way or another. Only a few had similar events. Honoring the extraordinary achievement of its citizens was in the DNA of Zootopia, yet another aspect of this very special metropolis.

Nick and Judy wanted the celebration to start and end privately.

"Come up here where I can see you better," Nick invited. He patted his chest and then gestured to her to come closer, while he gave her a faraway look down the entire length of his snout like she was five miles away.

"Sure!" Judy smiled. She loved it when he asked.

Rising and falling on top of Nick's chest was the best kind of body massage for Judy while listening to him breathe, and she loved hearing his heartbeat race. Especially when she knew that it was her that made it race.

She moved from his side to spread herself across the top of his body just like he asked. She propped her cheeks in both palms while both elbows were firmly planted on his chest. With a very sly grin she proudly showed off her bosom, and let her beautiful strong legs dangle across either side of the outside of his hips.

"Hi there you sexy fox. I'm here. I'm ready. The real question is are you ready for me?"

"I can see that," he smirked, "and I am always ready for you, Carrots."

"Hmm," she pondered, feeling just how true that was, "So you are."

She readjusted so her exquisite features were more visible and let her ears droop on his chest, and really teased him by drawing circles in his chest fur nonchalantly with one finger, "So… handsome… Is there anything particular in mind you want to do right now?"

He could see her tail go vertical over the top of her back like a flag and dragged out what he knew was on her mind, "I think I'm just going to enjoy the view for a minute."

Judy pecked his snout with hers, and invited insistently, "You're cute, but you need to enjoy the view closer."

She craved that feeling of oneness that came with all their unions. For further emphasis, her hind paws tickled the outside of each of his calves, just to entice him further. The wordless answer from Nick came quickly, and with that familiar sensation firmly established between them, they smiled, very pleased at the increasing ease with which each new coupling was achieved. They just lay there together with their eyes closed soothing each other.

"Nothing's better than you and me like this," he murmured, and ran his paw tenderly from her ears down her back fur to her tail.

"Mmm hmmm," she sighed, nodding her head gently against his furry chest in blissful agreement, savoring the thrill of his soft paw motion along her spine.

But then, she sat up atop him, perked up, grasping his paws in hers, playing with him, and was ready for some more active fun, "See? That's much better, fox."

He crossed his hands behind his head, and absorbed the amazing view of his bride straddled atop him with a very self serving grin. She was incredibly beautiful in all her natural state revealed before him in their union.

With her hands now free, she interfered with his smug satisfaction in admiring her by vigorously ruffling his chest and abdominal fur. She leaned back a little, and crossed her arms to admire her handiwork. Nick's chest now looked like he'd combed it with a blender and she giggled at her accomplishment.

He looked up at her from his back with an eyebrow askance, and noted her efforts, "Proud of yourself, Carrots?"

"Never more so," she smirked, puckered her lips at him, and blew him a kiss.

Mildly annoyed, Nick complained, "I'll be getting the snarls out of me for a week."

"Maybe they'll work themselves out with what we do next," she offered enticingly.

"It's worth a try," he agreed, "Let's try something new since this is going to be a special day."

"Sure!" she encouraged him. They still had a long list of fun things to try together.

Nick sat up too, but that surprised her, made her yelp, and she nearly fell off his lap backward, He caught her back and instinctively she clutched him around the shoulders. To hang on better with her upper body pressed up against his chest, she locked her ankles behind his back. A joint wave of ecstasy racked both of them simultaneously.

They were face to face and a long deep kiss ensued. The intensity of it made Judy's head spin, as usual. When she finally came up for air, she fanned herself a moment and exclaimed, "Oh my goodness! That was nice."

"That's for sure, Carrots. Comfy?" Nick asked, as short of breath as his bride, stroking her drooping ears.

"Yep. I think I'm very cozy now, "she answered, settling a little more to heighten his pleasure. And hers.

This wasn't their first time to be intimate in this manner but the sensations of everything they were doing seemed extra special this morning.

She tightened her clutch around his shoulders while he smirked at her and gave her those half-lidded dreamy - but scheming - eyes.

She snickered, "What are you planning now, you crazy fox? I know you are up to no good."

Nick's intimate 'no good' ideas usually meant brand new levels of emotional excitement for them.

"Me? Never. Why don't we go for a walk?" he suggested.

"Like this?" she said in true surprise.

"Sure. Why not?"

Judy was skeptical but eager at the same time. This was really going to be fun, "Well… I guess so, but you'd better not be going outside, or I'm getting off this train right now."

"Nothing of the sort," he grinned mischievously. She could see the wheels turning in that clever brain.

"OK, but where are we going?" she said a little doubtfully, as she hung on tighter to him, so she wouldn't fall off his lap backwards on to the floor, but she knew her link with him was so secure, she was pretty sure she wasn't going anywhere. The virility of this fox of hers was truly amazing. If they couldn't make kits together, nature just didn't want it to be.

"It's a surprise," Nick teased, and turned put his hind paws on the floor carefully, making sure they moved as one. She gripped him even more firmly.

He stood up and started walking with her. She squealed in delight, because standing brought a whole new set of feelings to them both. Nick shivered so hard carrying her that he almost toppled over.

"Easy there, stud," she cautioned, and calmed him by caressing one of his ears while he steadied himself with her. She was equally overcome with sensations.

Recovering from the sudden joint rush, Nick assured her, "I'm OK now. This takes a little getting used to. Are you?"

"Oh yes, this is very exciting," she said sincerely.

He stood at the doorway to their bedroom and kidded, "Well Carrots we have choices to make here."

"And those are?" she played along happily with this new intimate game, as ecstatic as she could possibly become to be suspended in mid-air joined to her husband. There was as much trust as there was physicality involved. And the pair had plenty of both for each other.

He inquired simply, "Kitchen or shower?"

Judy really didn't know what to chose, but teased him, "Dear me. Such choices. Hard choices. Very hard choices."

They both laughed.

"Choose, rabbit!" Nick demanded with some physical emphasis.

"Ohh!" she exclaimed and her nose and ears flushed nicely, while she praised him, "That was wonderful, Nickie."

He'd hit a new, especially sensitive spot. She asked if he would do that again, and he obliged her, with the same joyful response in his mate.

Running her finger along his snout and tweaking his big black wet nose, she teased, "Sweetheart, what if I want you to just finish things where we stand?"

Nick reflected, "We kind of already did that. But I'm not picky. As long as you're comfortable and feel good."

"I feel wonderful thanks to you, stud. Last time we weren't face to face, dear. As I recall, you and I were 'flying united' that time."

For emphasis, she tickled his tail with her locked paws behind and they chuckled.

Nick faked a scolding, "Don't make me drop you. It's a long way to that hard floor."

"OK. I'll be good."

They exchanged tender looks, quite happy with the situation but knew the clock was running out on their personal time, and as fun as their love play was together, they wanted the ultimate feeling together, so Nick asked, "Sooner or later you do have to choose, Carrots. Believe it or not I really can't hold you like this all day."

She kidded him and dragged her decision out to annoy him, "I'm so disappointed to hear that, fox, but since you insist… hmmm… I don't know. How about: the kitchen? Afterwards we can fix a simple breakfast before we go."

Making breakfast – and cooking in general - was already becoming one of the couple's favorite hobbies to do together.

Nick agreed, "Sounds great, Carrots. One trip to the kitchen coming right up. Since you mentioned being like a train here: 'Your ticket, ma'am?'"

"You sorta of punched my ticket already, Mr. Conductor," Judy laughed, glancing down at their current situation and smirked.

"So I did!" he replied, and they couldn't stop laughing about Judy's clever joke.

Walking together like this as just as sensual as 'page 75' but this way they got to hug and kiss as they went, and it intensified their emotions. It wouldn't be long now, as their playfulness turned to deep desire.

Nick plopped her hindquarters right on the kitchen counter. It was the perfect height for this kind of activity and they knew it. They were not going to waste any more time.

But despite her fur, the counter top was like a block of ice. She shrieked, "Cold! Cold! Quick, Nickie, pull me up! Augghhh it's cold!"

He raised her back into the air and she calmed down. He rubbed his warm paw along her hindquarters grazing her tail, adding to her delight.

She was amused, saw the smirk, so she scolded him, "I appreciate your attention to warming me up, Nicholas P. Wilde, but you aren't doing anything to warm up the counter, dear."

He gave her a really goofy grin, and admitted, "Oops. My bad…"

Then they laughed, so she replied, "Let me down just a little slower, and let me warm it up a little at a time."

He teased her, "Your bunny butt is plenty big enough to warm up the whole counter all at once."

She gave him a perturbed look, "I can still say 'no' to this, despite the fact we're already together."

He scoffed, "I know you want this. That's just an idle threat."

She admitted softly, "True, husband. Proceed."

Gingerly they settled her down on the counter this time. Nick helped by placing his paws on the counter top to warm it before her hindquarters touched.

With the sound of total devotion to Nick, she stated,"You clever fox! Here's your reward."

That triggered what they really were leading to for some time. Judy showered him in kisses and leaned into him pressing against him as close as she could in time with their movements. They enjoyed each other with the sounds of their shared love – though muted enough to not draw the ire of their neighbors again - for an extended period, until both responded in delightful soaring joy at the very moment of their completion.

After a very long and pleasant lingering time together, Judy looked down at the counter and joked, "Uh oh, clean up on Aisle #3!"

He nearly dropped her into the sink from the laughter that ensued between them, ending with a very satisfied kiss.

He caressed her forehead and the length of her ears then down her back to her still highly sensitive tail, with a happy smile, "You are just simply amazing, Carrots."

She responded just as lovingly, "So are you, husband. Loving you is so much fun in so many ways. Are you hungry?" she inquired.

"Well I was but now I'm really satisfied."

"Oh, you crazy fox. Not that kind of hungry. But I feel the same. I bet that you're really famished for real food, aren't you?"

"I thought you'd never ask."

It was time to separate anyway, so they cleaned each other and the counter and started to fix breakfast for two. It was amusing to see two naked mammals making breakfast together but it was fun for them. They enjoyed their hot cereal, cinnamon, raisins, juice, coffee, and some fresh fruit to accompany admiring each other.

They made eyes for each other and snickered, until Nick invited, "Come here. You're too far away, rabbit."

"Didn't we start the day with that request, Nick? Isn't it too soon to try again?"

Nick answered, "Yes, but we can still be close."

Judy realized, "Oh? You mean we should share breakfast 'all cozy like'?"

"Uh huh," he affirmed.

She sat on his lap using him like a soft furry chair, settling in his lap comfortably, and they both ate.

"Like that?" she inquired.

"Very much! I'm wondering if I can ever go back to the normal way of eating," he mused.

"Crazy fox!"

He put his furry free arm completely around her waist. The secure feeling felt wonderful to her.

She admitted, "Uh… Nickie. I want to keep doing this too."

He quipped, "Well this is fine for now, but it might not work out so well if your mother came to visit us."

"You big dumb fox, I wouldn't be caught dead being naked with you in front of her!" she exclaimed, and blushed with the thought in spite herself.

They played a little game of stealing bites from each other's side by side bowls.

"This is real living, Carrots."

"I agree."

While seated together, Nick soothed her paw, kissed and caressed the back of Judy's neck and ears, giving her a happy shiver, which made her scrunch her shoulders in cute way. She closed her eyes and chirruped for him in total happiness.

Had they not just enjoyed each other, and had nothing else to do today, they probably would have made love again right in their seat at the kitchen table, but made a future mental note of doing so.

Soon they were done eating, and rinsed and placed all the dishes in the sink. They'd wash them in the morning.

"How about a shower?" Judy urged.

Nick concurred, "Yes. We need to look our best for the day. It's already 9 AM."

"Yeah. We're still a bit of a mess."

"We can take care of that easily," he grinned.

Nick scooped Judy up in his forepaws, and with her arms around his neck as he cradled her, Judy said with amusement, "Gosh. Talk about special service twice in one day!"

This way of carrying Judy to the bathroom was a little more conventional, even if it wasn't nearly as exciting.

"Hang on Carrots."

"I will, I will!" she assured him.

They showered together, but because they had such a wonderful time together during their extensive intimacy, they just scrubbed and shampooed each other to prepare for the coming banquet evening, ending with a quick soggy hug before toweling off. But they were still damp, so left some time to air dry their fur before dressing, which they found enjoyable many times over the past few weeks of marriage.

Something about the day heightened Nick and Judy's desire to be continually close to each other, more so than usual. Judy sat in Nick's lap again, this time at their computer desk, while letting their fur dry naturally. Both enjoyed their post-intimacy, after-shower time immensely. Judy worked their fan site on the desktop and Nick was on his phone to spend some time on social media. Both were busy thanking and answering so many well wishes from fans about their awards tonight. They double checked to make sure their web cam was off and covered.

They kept watch on their time, and each other, knowing the awardees and sponsors luncheon was noon at the luxury hotel across the street from Assembly Hall, followed by the program rehearsal walk-through on stage. There was very little free time after that, and the VIP reception started at 5 PM. The grand entrance into the banquet room would happen at 6. It was going to be a busy and exciting day, and they promised to end it the way they started it with a personal celebration. Nick was up for another candlelit, intimate bath together and Judy was very eager to do so too. It would be a perfect ending to a perfect day.

At 10 AM a preset alarm went off and Nick sighed and advised, "Time, my beautiful rabbit wife, to get even more beautiful."

The thought of her in the slinky blue dress excited him, as if he didn't need enough reason to be excited about her.

She reluctantly got up from Nick's lap, dug around in her dresser drawer, and stood tantalizingly naked, smirking with a new piece of underwear he had never seen before, "Help me with my thong, dear."

It was the only thing smooth and seamless enough to cover her without a fabric or fur bump underneath her very form fitting dress. Nick noted there was even less fabric to it than her bikini bottom.

He asked with a sly grin, "Help you with putting it on or taking it off?"

She cast a disdainful look at him, "Each in their due time, you horny fox. I know what you want tonight to celebrate our award."

"The same thing you want, dear."

"I always like it when we agree on so many things, husband," she snickered and pecked his snout. A little electric zing flashed through both.

He helped her with the tight fit of the blue thong that matched her formal gown, letting his paws drift to a few places before fully covering her, making her giggle, but she let him, only lightly swatting his wandering paws. She loved the way he made her feel so often with only the lightest touch, knowing every inch of her body.

"You're not any help," she complained in jest, and fought a desire to tackle him into their bed again. They still weren't sure what was driving their unusually high sexual attraction and playfulness for one another today, but their banter and antics were very entertaining.

Feeling the same way, he retorted, "I was hoping to convince you to not wear anything underneath and only we would know."

As she pulled up her long gown that didn't need a bra, she scolded, "Do you want me to flash the entire city? My modeling session after shopping was only for you."

"Darn…" he smirked in fake disappointment as he snapped his fingers.

Judy gave him a dim view, "You know that we don't have any more time for that sort of thing until we get home. Wasn't our encounter on the counter enough, dear?"

They laughed with her clever word play, but Nick complained playfully, "No. Once is never enough with you, Carrots. Especially when you look like that."

Even with just the dress and no other accessories she looked absolutely dazzling.

"You're sweet, but settle down now fox," Judy admonished Nick but promised, "There will be plenty of time when we get home. We can sleep in late Sunday morning. Or if you want, never get out of bed the whole day."

That last point really got his attention, "I like that plan, Carrots."

Nick let Judy help him dress, and Nick helped her with her jewelry. She knew he liked helping her put on the tail choker piece especially, though he paid more attention to her tail than the jewelry, and he made her yelp in delight with one touch.

Fanning herself, she gave him a nasty look and scolded, "Stop that Nick! I told you not 'til tonight."

The fox shrugged not very innocently, but with a good look at his fully dressed and adorned wife, his jaw dropped. Judy was a total vision with her blue dress, anklets, bracelet, necklace, and cottontail choker jewelry. She showed off her wedding band and engagement ring set that perfectly matched the other jewelry.

He held her by both shoulders and gazed into her lavender eyes as she looked up at his admiring green eyes lovingly with her paws on his shoulders too, "And you my dear Mrs. Wilde, are the most beautiful mammal in all of Zootopia."

"To your eyes, silly fox. I sure have you fooled. Besides, you have to say that to me. I'm your wife."

"True, but I'm still right about you," he attempted to offset her typical humbleness. It made her blush.

"And look at you too, Detective Wilde. You're like a charming old mammal kingdom's prince," she grinned and nearly swooned at his handsomeness.

His formal police tuxedo was very masculine, and his left chest had a number of medals across it, the same awards she had earned, but couldn't wear tonight on her gown. The cut of the all-white tux jacket against his blue pants with the military style red stripe down the sides to the cuff just above the ankles was very sharp looking and coordinated well with her gown. This was the first time Judy had ever seen Nick in a tuxedo with its accenting blue bow tie. She utterly loved the look.

He answered her, "A prince who only has eyes for you."

"Don't I know that. I feel them on me all the time," she teased while she got on tip toes and kissed his snout.

"Well, Carrots, you need to give them right back to me now. Those are my eyes!"

She giggled.

They knew that had never looked better and took a few selfies with her real digital pocket camera to keep for their personal album and send to her parents. They were under orders from Lourdes and Adeline to not reveal their banquet fashion photos on Snoutbook until the official reception press photographs were released.

They locked the apartment door, descended the stairs, and stood on their stoop. Passersby smiled or waved at the young couple, or offered congratulations. They discouraged pictures and everyone was polite and obliged.

Right on time Ed and Cynthia picked them up in front of their apartment in Ed's taxi.

"Our chariot awaits!" Nick kidded Ed as he pulled up, got out and opened the door for them.

"As long as you don't mind four wheeled chariots driven by echidnas that charge fares," Ed quipped.

The mental picture of that was most amusing, recalling the more exciting, more traditional chariot race scene in the movie "Ben Fur".

"Aren't you the handsome couple? Going somewhere important?" Cynthia teased, leaning out the front passenger window. She insisted that Ed take her to see them off in person to the banquet. Her tank top and short shorts were cute on her and her long tail tickled Ed under his chin. It was a warm day, and she had every intention of making it a hot night for her husband when his shift was over.

Judy jested with her friend, "Oh. I dunno, Cyn. We heard there was some kind of free food at the Assembly Hall and thought we'd go mooch some."

That made them all laugh. Already traffic was heavy for a Saturday, and Ed had to do a lot of sudden maneuvering and taking alleys and side streets.

They got to the JW Mammaliott Signature Hotel right on time for the luncheon, and practice for the event. At the drop off point for passengers, a long red carpet was rolled out all the way to the hotel main entrance for the VIPs and honorees to walk in front of the event supporters. Already there was a huge crowd to greet all the awardees.

Nick and Judy cold see the streetside reporter from CBS in her formal wear, camera, and microphone, peering toward the cab. She was there to get comments from all the VIP guests and honorees as they went in for the luncheon. Of all the slimy reporters Joe Camel had on his staff, Brandy, an alpaca, was the least slimy. There was a rumor that she was Joe's cousin and so there were rumors of her being hired via nepotism instead of her talent.

Almost everyone else arrived in their own fancy limo, but the well-worn old taxi confused Brandy.

She said to the audience, "Let's see who this is."

The reporter worried that this was a mistake - a tourist or businessman in the wrong place at the wrong time. Her vanity overcame her. She didn't want to look bad on camera with some nobodies to interfere with the glamour event of the year.

A doorman opened Ed's cab door dutifully as if it were the most expensive limousine in town.

A bejeweled ankle attached to a shapely gray paw stepped gracefully on to the red carpet, and a shiny blue dress gradually appeared from the cab. The gown shimmered brightly in the late morning sunshine as the mammal emerged from the cab. Judy let her ears perk up so she appeared a little taller next to Nick in his full formal police uniform. She smiled turned to the cameras to show off her jeweled tail and the deep cut in the back of the dress. Even Brandy was impressed with how Judy carried herself for the cameras. Adeline was watching on the monitor from in the hotel, and was very proud at her coaching of Judy and Nick's 'big walk'.

The crowd took a collective gasp at the beauty of the lagomorph female. Her companion Nick emerged in his full ZPD 'dress formal'. Most mammals had never seen a ZPD tuxedo uniform and were instantly impressed. The fans broke into a huge cheer and applause, and cameras flashed. Nick and Judy fans knew who it was, but had never seen them so formally dressed. They looked as glamorous as movie stars, and carried themselves with great poise.

…

In Bunny Burrow, Sandra and Bonnie watched almost in shock, and Bonnie gasped, "That gorgeous rabbit… is my daughter?"

"There's only one Judith Wilde I know that's a bunny, Bonnie," Sandra kidded.

"I guess my little girl is all grown up in the big city, now," Stu said proudly, though he was a little upset she was showing so much fur to the cameras. He was still getting used to his daughter being naked around Nick, and being intimate.

Sandra added, "And Nick… he's so handsome."

Melvin snorted, so Sandra added, "Well not as handsome as you were at his age!"

The elderly fox and rabbits had a good chuckle, and enjoyed the coverage.

…

Brandy's concern changed to a wide smile, as she narrated for the TV, "Oh look! It's everyone's favorite fox and rabbit couple – our top awardees. They look absolutely marvelous together, don't you think? Here they come! Let's let them enjoy their walk and catch them on their way in."

The couple stopped along the VIP walk to shake hands and sign autographs, but rather than be mobbed, they kept moving along the long red carpet hand in hand, edged with crowd control stanchions, until they got to the social reporter.

Brandy greeted the pair enthusiastically, "Good morning, Nick and Judy. My, Nick, aren't you dashing. Judy, what an incredible dress and accessories. Your tail bracelet is quite exquisite."

To Nick, it was quite sexual, and Brandy wished that she had one. And a fox like Nick.

"Thank you," they both said, and blushed. There was an added cheer from the crowd.

"I don't know about me, but Nick sure cleans up well," Judy beamed with pride at her husband.

Nick shrugged indifferently, "Eh, I just put on what Judy tells me, Brandy."

The alpaca reporter asked, "How to you feel arriving for the big celebration?"

Judy grabbed Nick's paw, beginning to get caught up in the excitement and enthusiasm of the supportive crowd, "We feel wonderful and can't wait for the evening."

"To be over," they both thought, could see each other think it, and stifled their laughter.

"Typical humble Nick and Judy. We know you have to go; may we have a word with you after the festivities?" Brandy asked.

Nick replied, "Sure. We'll be at the press corps area for sure. See you there, Brandy."

They knew that there was no official press and media for the luncheon and rehearsal. Everything was all meetings and practices and receptions until the end of the event

After-ceremony interviews were mandatory. The pair was not really looking forward to that part to be beset by a lot of inane obvious questions.

Brandy's attention was taken by another arriving limo, and turned away from the fox and rabbit as she narrated, "Here comes more awardees. Let's see who's next!"

After passing by the hundreds of public admirers lining the red carpet area, Nick and Judy entered the Mammaliott Hotel. Inside, although it was much more controlled and formal, it was still crowded with Institute officials, network workers, hotel and Assembly Hall employees, VIPs, and sponsors. Nick and Judy were greeted by many members of the Leadership Institute as they entered the reception and luncheon room. They were given a program that showed where and when to be - the afternoon stage walkthrough, dry run of the awards, and last minute instructions to the honorees and head table guests and VIPs. Everything from here on out was completely scripted. Judy knew that would chafe Nick and she wasn't all that thrilled either, but they promised each other they could deal with it, keeping each other's sanity by making snide private side comments along the way.

Before they went into the private party, they, like everyone else, had to go through an obligatory security check. Bogo himself was supervising, but had the detail lead most of the actions. The security detail, including Bogo, wore their formal tuxedos too, but did carry personal taser weapons. They were not expecting any trouble - or at least Bogo wanted to give the impression that there wasn't any expected - to keep the crowds calm. The hotel was inside the security perimeter, and once inside, no one involved in the evening's affairs could leave. They would use the glass skyway to walk from the hotel to the Assembly Hall reception lobby when it was time.

Bogo gave Nick and Judy a smart salute, which they returned, and shook their hands, "Congrats Officers. Enjoy the evening. We promise to make it incident free."

Judy puzzled, "You're not going to the banquet, Chief?"

He shrugged, "I've been to enough of these 'rubber tofu' events to last a lifetime."

Usually banquet food was awful and tough, hence the uncomplimentary term.

Both remembered the Chief been an honoree years ago when he was their age, a thought that made them proud of their own moment.

"Besides, someone in the city government has to be working today. Security is my thing. Not drinking, eating, and schmoozing. Mayor Lionheart asked me personally to run security, since the entire city's leadership is here."

Nick said in jest, "Well, Chief, can I drink your share of the cocktails, sir?"

Judy ribbed her husband but they all laughed, and Nick and Judy felt like nothing bad could happen if their boss was in charge.

They noticed that their conversation was holding up the line, causing some consternation by the rich, privileged donors behind them for the delay, so they said goodbye to Bogo and moved along.

When they got to the glass enclosed, outside facing elevator, they were met and escorted to the VIP luncheon by two perky, smiling young Institute youth leader interns who rode with them the entire 40 stories to the rooftop restaurant that was reserved only for the VIPs, Institute sponsors, and awardees. The intent of the intern program was for the young mammals to get exposure in high Zootopian society. They could possibly receive scholarships or a job by this experience.

The female beaver and male wallaby said, "We really admire you, Officers Wilde."

"Nick and Judy please," Judy corrected their formality.

"Do you want to be in law enforcement?" Nick asked.

The male answered, "Yes very much so. We like helping mammals and prevent crime."

"You know we have a junior officer program for high schoolers," Judy offered.

They blushed and admitted, "We're actually in the Community College."

Nick wand Judy suddenly felt old, or maybe the mammals looked young for their age.

Judy apologized, "Oh. Sorry about that. Send us an email and we'll get you in touch with the officer in charge of the program."

"That would be wonderful!" the wallaby exclaimed.

The elevators only had a few more floors to go.

The beaver admitted, "And… umm. We want to be just like you after we get our law enforcement degrees."

The young mammals held paws for a moment and released them, worried someone might see and scold them.

"Oh! That's so sweet," Judy smiled.

"Don't let anyone stop you," Nick challenged them.

The wallaby stated confidently, "Our parents approve. As long as we have jobs before we get married."

"That's all you need then," Nick assured them.

The doors to the elevator opened and they were nearly overwhelmed by the noise of the conversations in the restaurant.

The two smiled at Nick and Judy, "We have to go back down to the lobby. There are more honorees to escort."

Judy offered, "Best of luck to you both. If you want to talk later, we can."

"Thank you," they said and grasped paws for the trip down alone. The beaver was thinking about getting brave enough to sneak a kiss from his fiancé high above the city, and she wanted that.

The elevator doors closed, Nick and Judy turned, smiled with their pleasant encounter with the young mammal couple. Ready to join the big crowd, Judy formally placed her forepaw into the crook of Nick's elbow and he formally escorted his wife into the luncheon reception.

They barely recognized any of the mammals in the greeting line ahead of them, except for the top dignitaries.

Judy clutched his arm nervously, and was a little intimidated, "Oh Nick, dear me. We don't belong with all these mammals. These mammals are so important. We're just cops."

Nick asserted "For today and tonight, we are important too."

Judy was relieved, "This is why I need you. You're strong when I'm not."

Nick grinned at his bride, "You're plenty strong, Carrots. Or it might be my laissez faire laziness that I don't care about what all these VIPs think of us."

She poked him, but he was right.

The first person who officially greeted them from among the VIPs was Adeline, and she immediately set them at ease, "Goodness, you two, don't you look absolutely amazing together! That gown looks even better than when you tried it on, Judy, and Nick, what a dashing tux that is. So many medals!"

"Thank you Adeline for letting me buy this gown," Judy smiled gratefully.

"We tried to put her medals on it but she couldn't stand up," Nick praised his wife.

Adeline loved this cute couple, and retorted, "Nick, I don't know any husband who's prouder of his wife than you are. And you know it's my pleasure Judy. It is a small price to pay to help honor what you both have done for the safety of Zootopia."

The females hugged and smiled.

Nick enjoyed their female bonding but asked in a friendly manner, "So where's His Honor the Mayor? There can't possibly be something more important today then to not be here with you."

"You're kind Nick, but he is busy doing 'Mayor stuff' until the reception and banquet. Such is life in the big city. The Institute is my thing and he lets me do it."

They laughed, but knew with the ring of the elevator she'd soon have more guests to greet.

"Can't wait for our dinner together, guys," Adeline added.

"If I can only keep my lunch down," she reminded herself.

Nick and Judy engaged in a lot of idle chatting with the others. They did fine despite having the earlier anxiety. They were a little fatigued already but knew this mingling and socializing would continue through lunch, all afternoon, and well into the night. The names of mammals they were introduced to and meeting with were already a swirl. Fortunately everyone had name tags with their access credentials.

Nick and Judy took one wrong turn, finding themselves face to face with Joe Camel. He was very tall. It was very awkward, and all they could say was, "Uhh… Hello, Mr. Camel. Congratulations on your award."

He could barely get the words out, "You too, Officers."

They all quickly turned away from each other to talk to other mammals.

The luncheon was otherwise very fun and special. Most of these rich mammals were actually nice and no one brought up any ugly politics with Nick and Judy. Everyone seemed genuinely happy for the fox and rabbit regarding their relationship as well as their award.

It was easy to talk with everyone, since most of the socialites engaged them about the fun interview on TV. It was a perfect conversation starter because of all the things they liked doing. No one brought up the sensitive subject of having kits. Besides, that question had been pretty convincingly answered for all of Zootopia.

Lourdes stood at the head table, and clinked her water glass with her hoof to get everyone's attention.

"Let all the festivities begin, my dear fellow mammals," she announced enthusiastically, "We'll tell you more about what happens this afternoon and this evening although it was all printed in the handouts, invitations, and awards packets you received in the mail. For now, enjoy your food. We have ZTV anchorman Peter Moosebridge for our luncheon speaker, so you're in for a treat."

Everyone loved Peter and it was a well known fact he was a very entertaining speaker when he was unconstrained by the nightly news format.

The luncheon was sponsored by Adeline's network. She was trying to not let her broadcast company ZTV be completely overshadowed by Joe's CBS network.

"While we have lunch, we'll run five minute versions of all the TV documentaries on each of you so you'll get to know your fellow honorees a little better before tonight. To start, we're going to play a little game together. We'd like you all to introduce yourself, and tell us one little known fact about you for the others to guess. When we're all done eating, you'll go over to the stage and practice your 'grand entrance' for tonight with Morley. You'll only have a little free time after that before show time. You're all ours today," Lourdes joked.

Nick leaned over and asked, "Should I tell them about 'page 75'?"

Judy looked aghast and ribbed him, "You do and you're getting that award without me, potentially-ex-husband."

They stifled outright guffaws.

It was a very fun game, and they agreed to use the fact that they loved outdoor sports and they described their first canoe trip that end up capsizing, but without the details of her pilfered bikini top.

…

Ida was dressed in her standard server's uniform and stood at the staff entrance to Assembly Hall's kitchen as the evening server crew started to assemble in the mid afternoon. The hiring managers from the other day, the kudu and kangaroo, checked everyone. Dozens of servers from the evening walked by Ida, flashing their official special event serving staff credentials they'd been issued, but still had to do a security check. As Duke passed through security, he prided himself that the weapons for the massacre were common kitchen utensils and were inside already.

Some of the food server mammals stared and wondered what was going on with Ida just standing there. Many were friends with her or at least acquaintances. Once he was checked through, Duke was busy checking his 25 server/assassins off his list. The other food worker union shop stewards did the same with their mammal staffs. Duke frowned. Not everyone was there and it was getting late. It was the Amur Tigers that he needed for the front table to take down of the Mayor and his wife and Lourdes so he could concentrate on the fox and rabbit. He looked at his watch. It was nearly 3:30 PM. The clock moved very fast, and still the Amur Tigers had not arrived. He made several phone calls, anxiously trying to track them down.

At 3:55, the zebra show organizer came to the back door and checked with the kangaroo and kudu catering chiefs gathered the food worker stewards together. Each of the stewards reported 100% attendance by their teams. Duke hesitated.

The zebra asked impatiently, "Duke? What's the status of your mammals?"

Duke couldn't hide the truth, "Uhhh. I'm missing two, sir."

The zebra was instantly not pleased, "Where are they?"

Duke gave the wrong answer, "I don't know yet. They won't answer their phones or texts."

The zebra had resisted Duke's bribes to get his staff assigned to all the prime server duties, but accepted it anyway, because his donkey colleague talked him into accepting the illegal pay off. Interestingly, the donkey was nowhere to be seen so far today. The zebra looked for a chance to reprimand Duke's team if they got out of line.

He had the chance now, and said in checked anger, "That's unacceptable, Duke. You need to manage your mammal team. Everyone knew the rules when they signed on. There are no exceptions."

The zebra glanced at Ida just outside the employee entrance, wringing her paws fretfully and pacing. She wouldn't make eye contact with him. She didn't want to have the zebra say 'no' to her again.

"I know sir. I'm sorry," Duke answered.

The zebra was not convinced of his sincerity, "What roles do your tardy servers play?"

Duke sighed, "Serving the head table. The Mayor, the Institute Director, and the police couple honorees."

The zebra became incensed. Zebras often had short tempers, and this lapse really lit him off, "Great… just freaking great, Duke. The most important servers in the whole banquet are your no shows? You have two minutes to get them here, or I'm making the decision to replace them. I'm going to remember this about you and your servers, Duke, at the next banquet."

The kudu and Kangaroo hiring managers stood within earshot and were embarrassed, and quietly exited to get the serving teams started in the kitchen and banquet hall. When their zebra boss got on a tirade, no one on the staff was safe from his wrath.

"I'll call again," Duke answered in true frustration and anger directed at the tigers.

…One hour earlier…

The two Amur Tiger Gang server/assassins missed the first two urgent calls from Duke to them because their cell phone batteries were dead. They had overslept the first two missed calls, and now were fighting over who to blame. They'd gotten into a drunken gang party last night to celebrate the end of the fox and rabbit, and were so plastered they slept all day, well past the time needed to get up and get ready. They were dressed in their servers' uniforms and ready to go finally, but quarreled as they rushed to a street corner to catch a cab to the Assembly Hall.

"You SOB, you told me you set an alarm."

"An alarm on a dead phone doesn't do us any good. You were supposed to have Kathy wake us up as a back up."

"Idiot. She was as drunk as we were. Especially after you had your way with her right in front of everyone."

He said with true pride at his conquest and remembered everyone cheering them on as their passion soared, "That was an amazing experience. Don't you wish she was yours?"

He had the scratches from Kathy's claws to prove it, but that was the way both liked it with each other.

The other tiger tried to unsee the disgusting carnal scene of his colleague and his girl going at it from last night by demanding, "Take that taxi. It's available."

He turned up his nose in disgust not wanting a ride from the small mammal, "No. No way. An echidna's driving. We don't need rodents taking us to the Hall. He'll kill us in an accident."

His colleague ordered, "I don't care if it's a narwhal driving. Take it anyway. We've been standing here for twenty minutes. All the other taxis have been full. Or ignored us."

The Amur Tiger Gang lived in a crime-ridden part of town, and the tiger thugs were well known to cause a lot of that crime. Taxis often avoided picking up the tigers because there were a lot of taxi muggings, some of them perpetrated by the Amur Gang.

But they were desperate to get to the Assembly Hall so they flagged the taxi down, and jumped in the passenger compartment in a hurry.

"Good evening, gentlemen. Where are you going?" Ed asked in a friendly tone, despite his concerns about them.

One of the tigers said tersely, "Assembly hall. We're in a huge hurry. We're working there tonight."

Ed noticed the white food server's outfits.

The echidna cautioned, "I was just there dropping someone else off. I'll warn you: traffic is getting bad, but you just hired the best cab in the city to get you there on time."

"We'll pay you double to get us there in twenty minutes," one of the tigers promised, planning to use the money he'd stolen from someone else last night.

Ed knew that was highly unlikely unless the cab sprouted wings and flew there, but he said, "I'll do my best. On our way."

The riders were mostly silent during the journey, but looked very anxious.

Ed was on his own for the rest of his shift. He dropped Cynthia at home after delivering Nick and Judy at the Assembly Hall. The couple knew he had to take advantage of the peak fare earning time with the banquet and a ball game the same night, plus the normal Saturday night restaurant and night club traffic.

Cynthia tantalized her husband as they parted, by telling him she had some special entertainment of her own for both of them later after he got home. That could only be one thing. He needed the fares but didn't want to do anything but be with Cynthia, knowing what she would be planning. He doggedly continued though, because fares before and after each big activity would make the couple a tidy profit for the month. He told himself it was only five more hours and he'd be home and in bed with his wife. The thought of making love to his beautiful Cynthia spurred him on.

"My wife," he thought happily, deeply grateful to his good friends Nick and Judy that - only a few weeks ago - they encouraged and stood with them for going through with their impromptu marriage, despite the tragedy at Lookout Point Lodge. Life had only gotten better since for the echidna and kangaroo rat.

Progress in the crowded streets of Zootopia was slow, although Ed was doing better than private drivers, but he had to cut off a number of fellow cab driver and private citizens.

One of the tigers broke the silence, "Cabbie, can we use your car recharger? Our phones are dead. We have to check in with our boss."

Ed offered, "Sure. It's free. That's what it's there for."

At that moment the taxi came to a sudden dead stop, so suddenly that the tigers' heads jerked.

"Sorry," Ed apologized.

A rabbit tourist family in a minivan had collided with a city maintenance vehicle, and all the lanes were blocked. Traffic quickly filled in from behind him, so he was blocked from behind, He almost got rear ended by someone texting and driving. The cops had just gotten there to assess the accident, make sure no one was hurt, and then try get traffic going again.

Ed was exasperated "Ugh. I'll work this out."

"Can't you go anywhere else?" the second tiger complained.

"Not yet. I'm stuck," Ed explained.

One of the tigers was exasperated and urged his friend, "We should get out and walk."

"It's still too far."

Their phones rang now that their cells had a little charge, and buzzed alarmingly with the sounds of multiple missed calls and texts.

One picked up the incoming call with trepidation. It was Duke's angry voice, "Where the hell are you? In two minutes you get replaced!"

One tiger explained, "The Science Museum, but we're stopped dead in traffic. Some idiot family from Bunny Burrow crashed into a truck."

The trip from the Science Museum to Assembly Hall was ten minutes drive even on a good day.

"Ugh. I'll try to hold things off. What the hell happened?"

The tiger sheepishly confessed, "We were celebrating taking care of the fox and rabbit today with the gang last night and we uh… overslept."

Duke wanted to come right through the phone to strangle both of them, "Shut up, fool! The cabbie will hear you. Overslept? You incompetent idiots. If you get fired by the show organizers, I have to rewire the whole plan."

"Sorry boss."

Duke ranted so loudly he had to hold the phone away from his ear, "You cannot imagine how sorry you'll be if you miss this and mess up everything. Get here now!"

Even Amur Tigers disappeared mysteriously.

One of the tigers whispered to the other, "The cabbie's security glass shield is closed. He didn't hear that."

But Ed did hear them, and he tried to not flinch hearing the comment, but his skipped a beat, and he wondered what to do next.

He thought, "Was that a threat to Nick and Judy or just about being servers for them?"

With Amur tigers involved it seemed like a threat. Ed's own cell barely had any charge left in it and the tigers were using the charger, and he had no bars on his signal strength. It would be too obvious to the tigers to sneak in a text to Nick and Judy to warn them. The urban canyons caused by the tall skyscrapers were poorly served by the cell service in this older part of town. He needed to switch phone companies.

The tigers hung up and shouted to Ed, "You have to get us there, cabbie."

He pulled out into the ongoing traffic lane and started to zoom around the wreck.

A grizzly bear police mammal stood with his hands in the air right in his way and forced Ed back in the backed up traffic line.

"Cool it cabbie," the grizzly growled, "You're not going anywhere, hot shot. Unless you want to go to jail tonight. No one is in that big a hurry."

"But my passengers are. They're servers at Assembly Hall tonight."

The bear was unimpressed, "Not my problem, cabbie, they should have planned ahead."

Ed sat and fumed, helpless behind the wheel. Not only was he not going to get the bonus tip, he wouldn't make the fare either, and this long delay was going to prevent getting other fares. But it did look like they were going to let traffic go again soon.

…

At the staff entrance to Assembly Hall, the zebra lost his patience with the rhino, "I'll ask you again, Duke. It's been two minutes; where are your servers?"

The show organizer was just looking for an excuse to replace the tigers.

Duke begged, "They're in a cab still stuck in traffic. Please give me a little more time."

The zebra chastised him, "No. Promptness is a requirement in getting here as much as the cues to serve the food on time."

Dejectedly Duke answered, "Yes sir."

The zebra motioned to the kangaroo, "Ida? Come here."

"Hi Bruce," she said tentatively, not meeting his eyes, and wringing her paws.

Bruce was more open, "Hello Ida. Let's get right to business here. You've served head tables more than any other server in the history of Assembly Hall. Mammals ask for you."

Ida and Bruce had been business associates a very long time and she was mildly embarrassed, "Yes sir, you know that personally because you've watched me serve most of those head tables."

He smiled and gave his offer, "Which is why I am asking you again. We've had two unexpected no shows that were supposed to serve the head table. Do you want the job to replace them?"

Ida smiled happily, "Yes! Oh yes, Bruce, more than any job I've ever had. I really admire that fox and rabbit."

Duke's stomach churned in anger and disgust, and thought, "Another sympathizer."

Bruce was pleased, "You're hired. In fact, you are serving not only the Wilde's but the Mayor and his wife too. So make us proud again, Ida."

He turned to his kangaroo hiring manager and ordered, "The tigers are fired. Pull their credentials."

Duke gulped.

He continued, well aware that Duke heard every word, "Ida's the best server in town. Give her the cues and get her in the practice now.

"Of course sir, she is the best. I'll get her set up right away on the serving cues. They are just getting started."

Ida jumped for joy, which, because she was a kangaroo, was pretty impressive, and hugged the zebra, "Oh, Bruce, dear, you'll never regret this."

"For you Ida, there's a $200 bonus if the Mayor or the Wilde's or Lourdes give me compliments about you."

"Consider your money gone, Bruce!" she teased.

She kissed his cheek. Bruce blushed.

The kangaroo hiring manager got Ida, a fellow kangaroo, through the security check, had her sign a server's contract, and they moved out to the floor immediately, giving her instructions with every step. Ida nodded, memorizing every motion and course.

His kudu colleague was already on the banquet floor shouting orders to all the servers. Despite all the practice sessions, the servers – especially Duke's team - were all nervous and were making mistakes in the dress rehearsal before the actual event. Both were grateful to get Ida, a true professional, on the floor.

Duke was on a slow boil, but was helpless. Bruce turned to Duke and chastised him, "When you become a reliable steward, then you get preferential treatment with your servers. Understood? Be glad you still get to serve in your position. It's too late to replace all of your team and we've practiced too long. I'm pulling those two's credentials now that we have a replacement. Now get in there and start coaching your team and serving correctly or I'll fire you too."

"Yes sir," Duke answered, but thought, "Holy shit."

The other shop stewards fumed a bit too, having heard and understood most of what happened. They didn't like Duke and his heavy pawed tactics that got his team in so many key server positions, and they wanted their mammals to get to wait the head table after Duke's servers didn't show up. But they respected show organizer Bruce, and everyone knew Ida, an independent food worker, and they all knew she was the best server in the city. The other stewards were pleased that Bruce put these upstarts in their places, which must have some kind of 'pull' with the Institute to get the choice assignments.

More than anyone else, Duke was furious now that he was down two powerful assassins and had to replan at the last minute. But he had a good idea of what to do. When the moment of the attack came, he would have to split the grizzly bear and Kodiak bear team that was serving Mr. Big's table. The Kodiak, a seasoned killer, would now have to have to surprise both polar bear body guards and leave the duties of smashing the nasty little arctic vole to the massive African elephant and his long sharp tusks that was serving another table. The grizzly and the new Bengal tiger assigned to break Joe Camel's leg would now have to attack the front table - taking out the Mayor and his wife and Lourdes. The young Bengal could still break the camel's leg for the ruse after their other enemies were dead. He'd have to tell everyone the change, especially the young Bengal tiger, eager for blood, to also kill this new sympathizer kangaroo, especially if she got in the way. The plan would definitely work, and that still left him free to take out the hated fox and rabbit himself.

He wondered if he could somehow get the Amur Tigers into the hall if they ever showed up, but dismissed the thought. He would have to just make do. He began to regret ever making a deal with the Amurs even if they often did his nastiest dirty work, including disposing of Simon. They were very effective but far too wild and untamed to be trusted for a real caper. This wasn't the first time had been disappointed in their performance in anything but brute violence.

He cursed that he was down two important assassin positions – and he was already short the much larger amount.

One of his support staff came to him, a coyote, assigned to flag carrier duties and taking out cameramen, and to generally interfere with any defense.

"Mr. Duke sir?" the coyote asked. He looked at the ground.

"Spit it out Alfred."

The coyote stammered, "I…. Uh. I've been thinking."

The rhino chastised him, "I'm not paying you to think, I do the thinking on this job."

The coyote cowered but kept talking, "That's just it sir. I can't stop thinking. I can't sleep. I can't eat over this. I've been rethinking this entire thing about hating cross species and all that, and I don't think I can do this. I can't… well you know sir… 'off' somebody just for what they believe."

Someone getting 'cold paws' as the last thing he needed after the fiasco with the Amur tigers, and he complained, "What the hell, Alfred? Who's been filling your head with this bullshit logic?"

The coyote stood his ground in front of the intimidating rhino and he asserted, "Me, sir. I decided that I can't go through with this. Not after seeing Nick and Judy last night on TV. They're nice mammals, Duke. They just want to be policemammals and have a family. Why can't we just let them live? They aren't bothering anyone by being married. I don't see nuthin' wrong with a fox and a rabbit having kits if they want. Or can. A rabbit-fox hybrid won't hurt me any. It might be kind of interesting, maybe even cute."

The hybrid kit thought turned Duke's stomach, "This is going to happen, Alfred, with or without your help."

Alfred was emphatic, and cross his arms and paws, "Then it's going to have to happen without me. I don't want any part of this. Not anymore. I quit."

Duke grabbed him by the collar, and seethed with his ears pinned behind him and his beady eyes narrowed, "You've bought in to all their bullshit and forgotten everything you believe. Alfred, I promise that it will hurt you. Listen up fast, coyote. If you want to quit, then quit. Any word of this to anyone and you will disappear as fast as the cross species lovers will. If you quit, then leave and don't ever come back, or someone will find you in a sewer tonight. Understood?"

"Yes… Yes sir. But I'm sorry, I do quit sir. I won't say anything. I know what you can do," the coyote promised, handed him his waiter's overcoat and left as fast as possible with the look of total fear frozen on his muzzle and in his eyes.

Duke watched the cowardly coyote flee up the back alley into the depths of the city, afraid of being followed and killed for changing his mind. Duke grinned with an idea for the Amur Tiger Gang to redeem themselves another day. Coyote meat had to be just as tasty as wolf meat.

He wished he could have crushed the coyote's throat where he stood. Duke smacked his huge hoof against his thick armored forehead, and snorted. He couldn't afford to have any more of this unravel, but knew the moose could easily take the assignment to kill two cameramen and would enjoy carrying two flags, probably one set in each of his massive antlers.

…

At the top of the luxury hotel, the special pre-event luncheon had been a lot of fun for Nick and Judy, but it was over, and they and all the honorees and the big donors to the Institute, took the elevators down to the hotel mezzanine, and strolled across the skyway and into the banquet room on the fifth floor of Assembly Hall. It was a wonderful view from the huge windows.

They all filed in and went back stage to begin their processional practice. It went pretty smoothly, and Bruce was pleased.

Afterwards Nick and Judy had some time to kill, so they checked their phone messages. It was all quiet, so they turned them off and turned them in at the security check point lock boxes for safe keeping. She'd talk to her parents tomorrow. They didn't need any interruptions during the program, and official photographers would be taking all the shots they'd need in a special album to be made for each honoree. Judy did keep her pocket camera for some candid, personal shots. Anyone who needed them would just have to wait. All their focus would be on enjoying the event for the rest of the night. The last thing either Nick or Judy needed was their phone 'blowing up' in the middle of the award ceremony. That would be the height of embarrassment.

…

Ed finally got to Assembly Hall and dropped off the waiters, now over 45 minutes late. They were so angry he was afraid they would hurt him, so he gave them the fare for free. There was no way he could restrain them from not going in, despite his worries about their intentions.

The echidna was nearly paralyzed with worry. He sensed great danger for his friends from these two, and maybe they were a part of a huge conspiracy going on right here. He was totally stymied at warning the police earlier because the Amurs were in the taxi with him. Worse - what if he was wrong? He didn't want to embarrass his friends. On the other hand, he didn't want his friends to die like their cousins if this was another one of those cross species hater things.

He urgently plugged his dead phone in, tried to call Nick, and failing that, he called Judy. Both phones went to voicemail immediately, so he knew they were off. He sent an email. He knew police had tablets. Their inboxes were full from so many congratulatory messages not answered, so he got mail failures. Nick and Judy were completely off the air, which he figured would happen, but had to try just in case, but it made Ed Ever more frustrated.

He thought of the exact words the Amur tiger used: 'taking care of the fox and rabbit'. It sounded innocent enough but said by unsavory. If he called 911 and made a false claim, he'd be in big trouble. He couldn't afford a fine, a legal bill, or even time in jail. And the Amur tigers could file an expensive defamation suit against him for a wrongful accusation.

But Ed needed to protect his friends, so he would do the right thing, and call attention to something suspicious. There was a ZPD Precinct just ahead, so he pulled over, and put on his emergency flashers. One of the meter maids was out front, and she gave him a dim view, "In 5 minutes we tow that bucket of junk, Ed. You know the rules."

"It's important, Daphne. Gimme a break."

Daphne had ticketed Ed before.

Daphne just rolled her eyes, as every cabbie she knew had the same excuse, "Everything's important with everyone to justify breaking the rules for their convenience. What do you think this is, Ed, your own personal Executive Parking Spot?"

"No time to argue, Daphne, this is urgent. I gotta go see your boss."

He hopped out of his taxi and scurrieed quickly toward the Precinct main door, dodging much larger mammals. He had to at least to inform this ZPD Precinct on a cautionary note.

"Five minutes echidna, no more!" she shouted and he ignored her as he entered the Precinct headquarters.

Some grizzled old police Sergeant leaned over the big, tall wooden desk and gave him a doubtful look.

Ed confidently looked the long way up the desk and said, "Hello, Sergeant. I'd like to report a possible crime in progress."

The reindeer, a policemammal with a huge rack of antlers, sighed, and inquired with annoyance, "What do you want, rodent? Aren't you a little out of your neighborhood?"

The species slur and negative connotation of his pronunciation of rodent was intentional.

"Like I said officer, I want to report a possible crime in progress."

The reindeer gave him a tired look, "With everyone doing crimes on a crazy Saturday, you're reporting a possible crime?"

Ed answered, "Yeah. Two Amur tigers. You know that their gang does. In my taxi said they were taking care of the fox and rabbit tonight at the Awards banquet at the Assembly Hall."

The policemammal rolled his eyes, "Not every Amur tiger is a gang member. That could easily be pretty serious or pretty innocuous. Was there anything conspicuous about them? Did you see any weapons?"

Ed had to admit, "They were wearing food servers' uniforms."

The echidna knew how stupid that sounded to raise an alarm.

The Sergeant shook his head with the echidna's ridiculous accusation, but was trying to be kind, "I've never seen a food server who was a killer, though I got heartburn from the food one brought me before, but that wasn't her fault. I'm sorry, sir, but that just means they're going to serve the fox and rabbit and all the other award winners. They were staff and were late. You're overthinking this, rodent, now go about your business."

Ed sighed in frustration, "Monotreme, actually. But Officer, they looked so… unsavory."

The Sergeant was annoyed that this conversation was continuing when he had more important things to do, "Some mammals think echidnas are unsavory."

Ed said, "Officer, I think this is serious. It's not as simple as it seems. Will you at least let the security detail at the Assembly Hall know to look for any suspicious activity? I should have told them while I was there, and should have gone back, but it's just too congested."

The reindeer emphasized, "Yes, you should have if you thought it was that serious. You should have reported it then. I can't promise anything, mammal. It's getting busy around here with real crime now. We have bigger priorities than imaginary crimes in your head."

It was clear he was going to get absolutely nowhere with this reindeer, distinctive because he had a slightly red nose. No one wanted Saturday evening shift in the middle of the city on Saturday night. It was only hours before all the drunks, prostitutes and johns, and a million other crimes of passion would start. It was a hot night. That would make it worse.

Because of the reluctance of the Sergeant to report the Amur tigers, Ed decided to fight his way back through traffic and somehow get word to Nick and Judy directly. Or at least to the security detail. He discovered that the meter maid officer Daphne put a warning on his taxi, but didn't ticket him.

Ed was relieved, "Thanks Daphne. I owe you one."

She harrumphed a reply and went about her business, but she said low key, "Next time I can't promise anything, Ed. No special favors."

He got turned around and headed back to the Assembly Hall. A mile down the road his taxi decided to sputter and die.

"Shit!" Ed cursed. And he never cursed, "What else could go wrong?"

The dial was on empty. He never ran out of gas. All that time idling in the accident and all the time fretting distracted him, and burned all his gas off.

He was a mile or two from the Assembly Hall.

He decided to abandon his taxi at the curb in a 2 hour parking spot, and prayed the parking zone wouldn't expire, put a white distress flag on the window, but was prepared accept the inevitable tow and ticket and get to them. Or an encounter with ZPD.

For the echidna the walk two miles across the big city on a busy Saturday night might as well have been a trip to the moon for him in effective distance.

But try he must. He couldn't tell Cynthia. She would freak out with worry with him on the sidewalks with big mammals.

…

Out of breath and sweating profusely through their paw pads after running from the taxi, the Amur tigers arrived at security, who thought they were done for the night letting people in. It was very late.

One tiger demanded, "We're staff. Let us in."

The officers their noted warily, "You're very late. What kind of staff?"

"Banquet staff. Food servers. Ain't it obvious?" the other said, pointing at their waiters' jackets.

The police ZPD Corporal stated, "All the food services staff have been here for hours."

The tigers gave the Corporal their fake names and identification that Duke had made for everyone.

The Corporal, a female mongoose, instructed them, "Your credentials have been pulled. You've obviously been replaced. Go home. You aren't needed here tonight."

Bogo was talking to the building security manager, but the commotion with the tigers at the security point got his attention.

He came up to his mongoose security detail leader, "Is there a problem here, Elisabeth?"

He looked scornfully at the Amur tigers crossing his arms angrily at the situation, and his officers, especially Elisabeth, looked flustered.

"Sir, it seems the two missing waiters are finally here," she explained and showed the list to her boss.

He shook his head and emphasized, "Too late guys. Like my Officer said, 'you've been replaced'. Now move along please. Or I will personally consider you a security risk."

He knew what kind of tigers these were. They were at least a head taller than Adeline and the Bengal tiger food server already inside.

They looked at each other helplessly remembering Duke said not to cause an incident and departed.

Down the street, they dialed Duke, "We're here, boss, but were forced to leave. What can we do? We can crash the front gate."

"Like I said, you got replaced. You're 45 minutes late. I told you. And you'll do nothing of the sort. This operation depends on stealth. You're done."

"Replaced by what?" one of the tigers asked curiously.

"An old female kangaroo," Duke sullenly answered, "A sympathizer."

The other tiger scoffed, "Kangaroos never killed anyone. Especially old female ones."

Duke explained, "She's not one of ours. She was a veteran at the top of the 'will call list'."

"But how are you gonna do the plan without us, Duke?"

Duke raised his voice at them, "I've got it covered, no thanks to you, and shut up about that stuff."

He was angry the tigers kept divulging stuff that could be evidence later, if anyone got search warrants on their phone records.

OK, boss, we're sorry," but all they heard was an exaggerated click of the phone.

They looked at each other in disgust, wadded up their servers' jackets and threw them in the trash.

One tiger said to the other, "This stinks, mammal. I wanted to crush their bones and eat them."

The other gave a more positive thought, "Maybe someone will get lost in our neighborhood and you can do that anyway."

Then other chuckled, "Nahh. They might have some kind of disease. I plan to be with Kathy tonight. I'd rather have a taste of her again instead. Making love is a lot more fun than killing anyway."

"Says who? Especially if you get to eat the kill," his colleague chuckled.

…

The two interns had returned and escorted the honorees backstage, and they waited in the wings for further instructions. They just smiled at Nick and Judy, but now wasn't the time for talking. This was all business.

Backstage they all gathered together although Nick and Judy kept a wide distance from Joe Camel, and were greeted warmly by Morley, who looked dashing in his tux.

Morley, the Master of Ceremonies for the entire banquet, had established good relationships with every award winner because of their interview TV shows with him. In addition, over many years, he'd interviewed every VIP involved in the ceremony. He was also the one emcee that was very recognizable and respected by the television audience, affable even when being critical, and everyone agreed that he would make the evening entertaining yet dignified for everyone.

Morely asked enthusiastically, "Is everyone ready to practice filing in and practice the awards presentations?"

There was a very enthusiastic 'yes!' from all.

Morley liked their collective response, "Oh yeah. I like that. You guys are ready. So, let's get started. We want showtime to be perfect."

…

Practice with the awardees had gone flawlessly, even if the food server practice had not, and all the trepidation was gone thanks to Morley's demeanor, replaced by excitement and anticipation. Morley put the mammals at ease from the first moment.

From the podium, Morley had a few closing thoughts with the mammal honorees, VIPs, and their escorts or spouses seated at the head table and in the front row tables as they would be at the start of the banquet, "So that's it, folks. That was a very good practice. File in just like that for real and you'll be just fine. He looked at his watch. You have about an hour before the main reception starts, so you're free until then. Just don't leave the security zone or you'll have to check in again and might be late."

The mammals got up and started to mill about, chatting about the excitement ahead. The mammals of science were as giddy has grade schoolers.

Judy had second thoughts about checking their phones, "Nick. Should we go get our phones and check our messages?"

Nick dismissed the thought, "Nahh. Too hard to check them in and out of security. No one needs us. Bogo knows right where we are. If there was trouble, he'd just come get us. Let's just take a walk. This is a pretty historic place. We've never just enjoyed being here."

Nick reached out his paw and Judy found his offer irresistible.

"You are the most romantic fox I have ever known," Judy cooed.

"You've only known one other fox and he's a baker and he was a bully," Nick teased.

Judy would let go of her compliment, "Well…if I had known a whole herd of foxes, you'd still be the most romantic.

"'Herd' of foxes?" Nick grinned and they both chuckled.

Judy retorted, "Of course I've heard of foxes. I married one."

Both groaned at the horrible pun, they snickered, and they began to explore the historic building.

…

At the local ZPD Precinct, the reindeer Sergeant mulled what he should do with the information that the paranoid echidna brought to him. The cabbie seemed concerned, but rodents were always over reacting and fretful about big mammals, especially predators.

The phone rang and he forgot about warning the Assembly Hall security detail. There was a major gang mugging and assault he had to respond too. He strapped on his taser and billy club and took off. The night couldn't end too quickly for him, and he completely forgot about the echidna's wild claim.

…

Ed rushed on through the busy, crowded sidewalks on an early Saturday evening. He dodged and weaved and had to say 'sorry' or 'excuse me' dozens of times from unobservant large mammals. He tried to keep to the edges of the sidewalks next to the buildings, but there was a lot of trash and disgusting stuff swept from the sidewalks up to the edges and corners of the building exteriors. He passed by mice and other rodents that lived in the squalor or were homeless and couldn't make their away to Rodentia where it would be safer, but he had to ignore them.

Ed had to get the message to security or directly to Nick and Judy to potentially save their lives. The more and more he thought about it, he knew it was a matter of life or death. He couldn't trust that stupid reindeer to call the security detail at the Hall. As big as most mammals were, their brain power sure didn't often scale up with size.

…

The handsome young fox and rabbit couple walked leisurely around admiring the statuary paw in paw, admired the paintings, the architecture, and each other. With her point and shoot camera that fit in her sequined clutch purse, she took several shots of them in this setting. They walked up the huge spiral staircase. Assembly Hall was one of the first buildings to go up when Zootopia started and it was designed to be impressive and inspirational. It was designed to be a common place for all species of mammal cultural arts to come together and would encourage prey and predator interactions and mingling. That had been a good assumption. Tonight's celebration and awards banquet was no exception.

After climbing the impressive staircase, getting some glamorous photos of Judy along the spiral, the couple stood on the high roof observation area. The vista of the city was breathtaking. A couple of other mammal couples had the same idea, including Dr. Rocky and his wife. Nick and Judy took several pictures including a selfie or two. Long ago, this was the tallest building in the city intentionally - to inspire big ideas, with the sprawling beautiful view that was only of the mountains and beyond in those early days of Zootopia.

They gazed across the vast skyline and then turned to one another, holding paws, Judy observed, "This is an amazing experience so far Nickie. Whoever thought that 'little old us' would ever be in this kind of situation."

Nick replied, "Sometimes it's better to be lucky than smart, Carrots."

Judy disagreed, "In my experience, crazy fox, you make your own luck by being smart."

They turned and kissed tenderly, and Nick responded, "Then I must be the smartest fox on the planet to be lucky enough to have found you."

Ordinarily, both would have made fun of Nick's clever but sappy line, Judy knew from his loving look that he was dead serious. She blushed with his praise.

"I love you Nicholas P. Wilde."

"I love you too, Judith Hopps Wilde."

They embraced in a longer kiss, ignoring the snickers and amusement of several other couples near them on the observation area. Their kiss actually inspired Dr. Rocky to kiss his bride.

Judy quipped, "I must be in trouble now. My mom only calls me 'Judith' when she's angry."

Nick smirked, "Me angry? Nahh. The only trouble you got yourself into was getting mixed up with me and saying 'yes' to getting married."

She beeped his nose and chuckled, "Well someone has to be a martyr for female mammaldom and be stuck with you. It might as well be me. Besides, your benefits are so awesome, stud. So let's get going, husband. I think I do need an adult beverage at the reception to calm my nerves before we start."

"Me too. But only one."

They made their way down to the banquet room lobby at the beginning of the reception with the other honorees, VIPs, and other banquet attendees that were now gathering. The luncheon had been very exclusive, but there were many more at the reception. Nick and Judy were getting into the flow of the event, and were able to engage with all levels of Zootopian high society readily. It was kind of fun.

Between conversations, in a corner of the lobby, Nick took Judy aside to refresh her wine glass one more time, although they were being very careful in their consumption. But they were loosened up a little.

Sipping on their second – and last – glass of wine, Nick kidded, "You know Carrots, only a few years ago I would have loved to work this crowd."

Judy missed his humor, and asked, "And why? You were a scoundrel just a few years ago. You'd never mingle with high society then."

He grinned, "After an hour or so with this crowd, I would have gone home with my pockets full of gold and diamonds and watches and no one would have ever known the difference."

Realizing his joke, Judy snickered, "Oh? Is that a confession, Nicholas P Wilde?"

Nick was a little surprised at her response, "Nothing of the sort. I was just…"

Judy interrupted him like an interrogation, "Should I check your pockets now for stolen loot, fox? I'm an Officer of the law, you know."

"Uh well…" he stammered still caught a little off guard.

She instantly shoved her paw down one front pocket, tweaked something deeper in his pants, making him nearly yip out loud, and pulled back like nothing had happened. She teased, "Nope… nothing there."

He gave her a shocked look at her bold intimate 'sneak attack', "Carrots!"

Nick, with a highly raised eyebrow and fighting back a blush asserted drolly, "Later, my dear wife, you'll feel firsthand how much 'nothing' there really is in there."

They snickered, clinked glasses with her, and she responded instantly, "I already know that. Can't wait, Nickie."

The elegant-looking rabbit winked, her eyes twinkled, and she gave her husband a slightly suggestive pose as a preview of what was to come when they got home. Nick offered her his arm and she took it, moving back into the crowd. They could hear the sound of the waiters ringing hand-held chimes that indicated that it was time for entry into the banquet hall.

"Our big night begins!" Judy smiled at her husband, squeezing him.

"Finally!" Nick agreed.

…

Ida gasped in a back-kitchen food storage closet with a rhino snout and horn right in her face. She felt threatened, pressed against the boxes. Duke had corned her when he lied about talking with her about how to serve the head table. Being late to the game and innocent of the conspiracy, she had trustingly gone with him.

Duke snapped, "I'm not happy that my mammals were replaced and you are the one replacing them. You better be as good at serving as everyone says you are. And keep quiet with the guests. Don't talk to the VIPs. They don't want to talk to nobodies like us interrupting their important conversations. Got it?"

This rhino was just another thuggish food service steward who clearly intimidated his mammals to get them to work and obey, and she answered his threats, "Sure. I know your kind. I worked for somebody nasty like you years ago. That's why I work alone now. And I know what I'm doing. That's why Bruce put me in at the last moment with the most important VIPs. I've served hundreds of dignitaries in Assembly Hall. I've never dropped a soup or salad on anyone. Have you, Mr. Duke?"

Of course there was no truthful answer to that, so he just changed the subject, "Just do your job and nothing more, 'roo."

The species epithet was entirely unnecessary.

She was instantly very wary of this steward. He seemed very ruthless, even for a rhino. She was friends with other rhinos in the food business, but this one lived the stereotype of an angry, short-tempered beast. Something was still up, but she couldn't figure it out.

…

Bruce, Morley, Adeline, Lourdes, and other Institute leaders and show organizers were confident that everyone and everything was finally in place and all the guests and honorees were properly positioned for their big walk onstage. The TV producer off camera communicated to Morley's earpiece, "On air in 10 seconds."

The applause sign was raised by a stage hand, the audience responded, and the live show band started to play the classic theme music for the banquet, which incidentally had been written by one of the winners years ago for their music talent. The caracal who wrote the original piece was dressed in a long beautiful black gown that accented her black wispy ear tufts and peekaboo stubby tail, and was standing already at the microphone. She sung her heart out. She had written the song after her award as the Leadership Institute's 'entertainer of the year' as a gift to the Institute and was a veteran soprano of many Zootopia 'entertainment district' musicals and operettas. It had been two decades that the timeless signature anthem and she had opened the banquet proceeding. She was getting pretty old, and had retired from the stage, but still had a beautiful singing voice. This was her one gig she still did in public, and nailed every note as if she was still in her 20s.

The music finished with enthusiastic applause for her, she exited the stage blowing kisses, and Morley took his cue and made his way to the podium. The hot light of the spot came on his face full force, and he started reading the teleprompter, "Live from historic Zootopia Assembly Hall, it's the annual Leadership Institute Award banquet! We're glad you could join us for the evening, and we hope everyone here and everyone at home will enjoy a truly great evening of entertainment and recognition of the best mammals among our society to inspire young and old. Hold on to your seats! After a word from our sponsors, you're in for a real treat this evening."

Morley 'stuck' the opening, and the producer praised him in his earpiece.

After several obligatory commercials, the show cut back to live action. Cue cards by the stage hand to the audience told them what was happening and to remain quiet until prompted to do otherwise.

The red recording light blinked on again, and Morley stated, "Welcome back to our TV audience! We'd now like to direct your attention to the head table. We're graced not only by all our award winners tonight, but the leaders of Zootopia, who will join us in honoring the awardees tonight. Let's begin with our city leadership."

He introduced the City Council Chair and her spouse, and a couple of Council members who attended, one of whom was the subcommittee chair for civic activities like this one. They made their way to their seats on the far side of the podium with perfunctory applause. Morley then introduced the Mayor and Adeline, who waved happily to an enthusiastic response from the audience, which really pleased both of them. In the wings of the stage, Joe Camel frowned at that. Everyone also cheered for Lourdes and her husband - who was the lead cellist in the Zootopia Symphony Orchestra. She was probably the most beloved of all the non-profit civic group leaders because the Institute helped a lot of needy mammals, and were involved in sponsoring many worthy causes. Her father had been of the leading Zootopia industrialists and a major contributor to the Institute in its infancy. When he passed, Lourdes inherited the family fortune, and she sustained her father's part time support of the worthy cause by becoming the full time Institute leader.

Morley introduced the honorees, whether they were at the head table or in the first row of banquet tables one by one. Each made their way to their assigned spot just like their rehearsal. Of all the less famous honorees, Dr. Rocky got the most recognition and response. Mr. Big hardly got any response at all, and Joe not much more than him, which upset the camel. Nick and Judy and Leodore thought they heard some muted boos directed at Joe.

Morley continued the introductions, "And now, dear mammals, we want to reintroduce our top awardees. The winners of the Civic Service award and this year's unanimous top winners, Zootopia Police Department Officers – Detectives Nick and Judy Wilde."

There was an insanely loud and enthusiastic round of applause cheering, roaring, hooting, and barking from all the species. The spotlight followed their triumphant entry. The light was really bright and blinding to them. They blushed with the praise and recognition, but humbly enjoyed it.

Nick gallantly remembered to seat his bride first, then sit down himself. A few 'aww's' accompanied his gesture, which no other male had done.

Leodore grinned, and remarked as Nick sat, "You're making all the rest of us males look bad, Nick."

Judy defended her husband's actions, "It's hard to maneuver in this dress, Mayor, so I asked him, or he wouldn't have."

Both couples had a good chuckle. Nick just shrugged playing along, quipping, "Guilty" but knew better.

But both fox and rabbit knew it had been totally spontaneous on his part, and Judy adored that.

Morley summarized the completion of the grand entrance by stating, "And there you have it everyone: your honorees and VIPs of the head table."

They all waved in unison to one last round of joint applause. A blessing was said for the food, and a toast was offered for the honorees by the Mayor.

Leodore stood confidently as ever at the podium, "If you'll standing and raise your glasses with me, I'd like to offer a toast for this evening's festivities."

He paused. The squeak of chair and shuffling of 1000 mammals was heard for a moment.

This kind of thing was when Leodore was at his very best as a career politician and he pontificated, "A toast to Lourdes and the Zootopia Leadership Institute for sponsoring these annual awards to honor our very best. And further, a toast to each and every one of the honorees for being everything you can be in every profession represented here tonight. You are all living the Zootopia dream. May it be that everyone - no matter what kind of mammal they are - feel and do the same for this great city."

"Here! Here!" came the collective crowd response, and a thousand glasses were clinked together, with the requisite sips in honor of the toast. Some couples got 'cute' and linked arms before sipping, but Nick and Judy just did it straightforwardly, and they added their own personal toast.

"To us dear husband!" offered Judy.

"To us indeed, sweetheart," Nick responded, and both took a second sip.

Everyone sat down for the net part of the agenda, and Leodore returned to his seat.

Adeline was quite impressed, and gushed at her lion, "Very well done, dear husband."

"I have a good writer," he joked.

She knew it was all from the heart. There were no words on the teleprompter the entire time.

"You can't fool me Mayor. You are the consummate politician, even though there aren't any kits to kiss here tonight."

He kidded, "Yeah but there are lots of potential donors here looking for a candidate to add to fundraisers this fall. I bet they didn't spend all their free cash on this event."

Adeline raised her glass to her husband, "My Leodore: ever the consummate campaigner."

"With the richest mammal in the city just about to campaign against me, I have to."

She sipped her slightly less bubbly and more golden drink again.

The Mayor puzzled at his bride, "You're having sparkling cider? You're a champagne kind of girl."

She only admitted, "My stomach still isn't quite right."

Leodore chided his bride, "You need to go to the doctor Monday. You haven't been well for a week."

"I plan to," she smiled, "Thanks for your concern Leodore. But I will be fine tonight."

Judy overheard and was concerned too, "I know Dr. Rocky, he's mostly a pediatrician, but he takes adults too."

Adeline appreciated the thought, but rationalized quietly so no one else could hear, "Judy, dear, I have my own doctor, but thank you. Besides, there's something else."

"Oh? What?" Judy asked with extreme curiosity.

"I'll tell you, but you can't say. It's a miracle, but it happened."

Adeline leaned in closely and Judy cocked one ear partly up, and Adeline explained, Judy's lavender eyes got big and wide, her mouth opened, and she smirked and clinked glasses with the Mayor's wife.

Judy whispered, "Does Leodore… ?"

Adeline immediately replied, "No. I'll tell him later tonight."

Judy was ecstatic, "Blessings on both of you."

Adeline just blushed demurely, "You know what this means for you and Nick."

"We know, Adeline. And we want this to happen, too."

Adeline had watched the TV special on Nick and Judy especially about having kits.

Nick started to say something to Judy, but she barely heard the words. Judy mulled the impossibility of what she just heard in her head, was happy for them, and was even happier for her and her Nick.

She suddenly realized that Nick was waving his paw in front of her eyes.

"Carrots? Are you in there somewhere?" Nick asked.

Judy came back to reality, "Oh. I'm sorry. I just zoned out."

"Is everything OK?" Nick fretted.

"Oh yes. Everything is more than OK."

"What?" he inquired, totally clueless of the female-to-female chat.

"Later," she stated. He knew that whatever it was, that would be the end of it for now.

Judy's still-racing thoughts were interrupted by a pleasant looking, elderly, kind kangaroo server, and a big burly rhino who cleared their toast glasses.

Morley kept the program moving along by stating, "And now my fellow mammals, something new and special for our opening before we continue our meal, from our own Leadership Institute Director Lourdes Llamavitch."

"Let the special tribute begin!" Lourdes stated simply into her portable microphone.

The band played a tune that sounded something like a march. The banquet room doors opened from the back doors, and a procession of servers came forward, each with a special flag and banner affixed to a metal pole each server carried. Every banner had the Leadership Institute logo, but each flag was unique, with the honoree's name embroidered underneath. It was very impressive. It had never been done before, and was made possible by an anonymous donor.

Joe Camel knew exactly who that anonymous donor was, and he covered his snout to mask the smile he couldn't conceal.

It was time for Lourdes to come to the podium to extend the official welcome from the Institute, and she responded to the nice applause, "Thank you. Thank you. I'd like to add my greetings for the awards ceremonies tonight. As you can see before you, we have an incredible array of talent and experience to be recognized here before you tonight. I'd like to take a short time to explain to you and those of you at home what the Zootopia Leadership Institute is all about."

They dimmed the lights, and ran a mercifully short video summary of the Institute and all its programs – feeding the poor, sheltering the homeless, giving scholarships to needy mammal students, the intern program. Most of the funding for the leadership awards came from corporate donations and the tables at the banquet. They ran a video with the comprehensive list of corporate sponsors. This was the obligatory commercial for raising more money and eveyrone knew it was coming. But no one minded. The Institute was a legitimate cause and all the well-to-do mammals were eager to donate. A '1-888- DONATE$' number scrawled across the TV screen.

Lourdes ended her major speech for the banquet by saying, "And now, we'll let you complete the main course before we begin our honors and awards."

The servers marched off and placed the flag banners in flag holders around the back of the banquet hall. The flag poles were unusually sturdy, and made of metal, not wood poles. The moose flag carrier had a bit of trouble with his two flags, but managed, using his antlers deftly as another hoof, to carry two flags.

Leodore, for a moment, thought the sturdy metal poles seemed excessively massive for the light banners, but he was soon drawn into conversation with his wife, Nick, Judy and other table mates.

Ida and Duke served the salads to the head table silently. She felt the icy cold stare of Duke, watching her every move as they served the head table. The two servers were just about ready to depart, but Judy gently touched Ida on the forepaw.

"Thank you," Judy said to Ida and to Duke, "This salad looks really yummy."

While Ida fretted what Duke would say and do to her, she responded to Judy like she always would anyone who asked, "You're welcome. I thought it was. We get to sample the dishes we serve. It's my pleasure to serve you tonight."

Ida replied and Judy and the kangaroo exchanged smiles. Duke just grunted and he glared at Ida.

The fox and rabbit looked out at the thousand mammal crowd dressed in their finest, and at the banquet hall decorated in the fanciest décor they had ever seen. It was noisy and electric with anticipation for this - the greatest of all social events among the elite of Zootopia.

Nick turned to Judy, and took her paw underneath the table, hidden by the bunting across the front of the head tables, "Wow, Carrots. This is… um…"

"Overwhelming?" she suggested with a nervous smile.

"I would have said 'impressive'. But overwhelming works too."

She replied, "That it is, dear. Both."

The two of them just watched the proceedings for a moment longer.

"Nick?"

"Yeah, Judy."

"Do the servers seem… umm… big to you?"

"I don't make a habit of watching servers at banquets, Carrots."

"Yeah. But, Nick, dear, we've served on plenty of security check points before at these kinds of events. The servers are kind of huge for serving food and a lot of them are predators. Predators don't serve prey very often."

It was traditionally the other way around, the result of a subliminal habit that prey were at one time food for predators, so food servers in restaurants of all kinds, including banquets, were mostly prey serving both pray and predators.

Nick rationalized that the servers were large mammals, "Those big banquet serving trays are pretty heavy. Big mammals could handle a table tray better."

"I guess you're right. But I'm concerned."

Nick scolded her, "I think you're crazy, Judy. Eat. Drink. Enjoy. Make love."

"Nick!"

The fox grinned, "Just making sure you were listening to me."

The odd feeling wouldn't leave Judy, and she felt like she was being watched.

The rabbit dug into her delicious salad. She knew the joke about salads being known as 'rabbit food'. But it didn't stop her from chasing a garbanzo bean with her name on it around her salad bowl and finally just stabbed it and ate it before it fell into her lap and left a stain.

Back in the kitchen, Duke got in Ida's face again and stabbed his front hoof at her chest, "You talked to them. I told you not to. Your job is to just serve, and mine is just to clean up."

Ida defied him, "If the VIPs say something to you, you have to respond, especially if they are kind like Officer Wilde was. We aren't robot food delivery machines. They might leave a tip. The nice ones do."

Ida's emphasis to the rhino that he was not nice, but she realized that he was too dense to 'get it'.

Ida knew she had to tell someone something. This was not right. The rhino was too harsh. Too overbearing. Too controlling. She wanted to complain about unfair labor practices, but her zebra friend Bruce wasn't any where to be seen, and she knew the lazy donkey wasn't even there. There was no way to get outside the room to talk to the cops at the security check point in the lobby without the rhino being very suspicious.

But then it dawned on Ida. Nick and Judy were cops. Somehow they could get their fellow cops alerted. She wondered how to get word to them without saying a word to them. Or be seen passing any messages to the fox and rabbit. Even though rhinos had poor eyesight, he was close enough he could see her pass a note written on a napkin. And he probably had that laser eye surgery. She couldn't risk it.

…

Ida was thinking constantly of how to get a warning to Nick and Judy. Main course was a giant Portobello mushroom covered in sherry/burgundy/balsamic vinaigrette sauce with wild rice pilaf and mixed vegetables. That kind of mushroom was as wide as a pancake.

"Or a piece of paper," Ida thought, "But what to write with?"

She looked unobtrusively in several of the huge kitchen institutional refrigerators. There was a bottle of squirt ketchup. It would contrast against the sherry sauce but only enough to be seen by the person it was placed in front of.

"Perfect," she thought.

She opened the metal plate cover lid to one of the dishes and used a grease pen to re-label it for 'lagomorph special diet', wrote the ketchup message quickly like decorating a birthday cake, and replaced the lid. There was only one rabbit on stage. This would get delivered to Judy whether Ida put it there or not. She feared for her life near the rhino, but there were plenty of other 'special diet' marked dishes so Duke would not be the wiser.

No one had seen Ida's activity in the corner of the kitchen. The chefs and sous chefs and kitchen help were all at work furiously to prepare 1000 meals. Duke was occupied with his other servers. The cue came. The plates were placed on the trays by the kitchen help, and it was time to serve. Duke lifted the heavy tray with the specially marked meal for Judy, and Ida followed close behind to serve while he held the huge tray. All the serving staff went out together and put all the covered main courses in front of every guest at exactly the same time. They stood by all the guests.

Morley smiled widely, "And now my dear fellow mammals, the main course. I know you will like this."

All the servers were positioned to deliver the special treat.

Morley was very much enjoying this, and asked, "Ready, servers?"

All the servers gripped the plate cover handles, and prepared to dramatically present a thousand meals all at once.

They muttered a weak reply. They weren't used to being involved in the show. They were supposed to work in the background.

Morley asked them much more emphatically, "Aw c'mon, servers, I can't hear you."

"We're ready!" a hundred or more servers shouted in reply. Morley was a great motivator and everyone got involved when he ran a banquet.

"That's much better. Now: remove the covers!"

On cue, in the time-honored tradition of the main course 'reveal' that was typical of the five star restaurants in town, 1000 plate lids came off the meals at the same time, and steam boiled up from every delectable plate.

Everyone cheered and applauded at the wonderful gourmet serving touch.

A thousand palates watered seeing and smelling the delectable Portobello mushroom with sherry sauce and rice meals with mixed vegetable sides - whether they were prey or predator.

Judy's mouth dropped she read the message printed in ketchup:

"You are ALL in danger. Fake Waiters. Warn police."

The rabbit's paw pads got instantly sweaty, and she tapped Nick on the shoulder.

He read it. He looked at her with alarm. Judy noticed the rhino being too curious, and so she took her fork and swirled the message into her sherry sauce.

Judy waited to respond to Nick until the kangaroo, who wouldn't make eye contact with her, and the rhino exited the stage, "Nick. What do we do?"

"I don't know. We're stuck here. Our phones are in lockers."

"Should I fake going to the bathroom and have Bogo stop the entire proceedings?"

"We can't move now. The awards are starting."

"What if I faint?" Judy suggested, becoming more worried by the second.

"No please no. How about I throw up?"

"No you big goofball. Not on our big night."

Nick warned her, "But we don't want to be killed on our big night either. We have to stop this before they hurt someone. I have to tell the Mayor."

Judy lamented, "No. If he panics, the whole place will. I wish we had our phones now."

But they were very worried now what kind of night it would be. There was something wrong with that rhino though. He seemed overly curious. The meal was delicious, but now they couldn't enjoy it because of the warning of a real threat by one brave waitress. Any plans they had to cause an alert were cut short by the relentless pace of the program.

Morley stood and returned to the microphone, "Wasn't that a wonderful main course? I love mushrooms. Wait until you get your dessert. But now it's time to celebrate!"

Duke snickered as he and Ida stood near the tables for the cue to clear dishes with all the others, as he thought, "Yes, you are all getting your just desserts."

Morley invited, "Open your program and let's begin with the science and medical awards."

Each honoree came one by one to the podium to receive their award from Lourdes. Before they came up, a short one minute video vignette was played with pictures and a narration of some of their achievements. It was a very impressive way to honor each award winner.

As the winners came forward to get their crystal awards, a gold medal medallion with a ribbon of Zootopia colors was placed ceremoniously around their necks.

If they wanted to, the awardees could make statement. The science geeks were all short and to the point, and one had stage fright and said nothing.

The top student award winner was very gracious and inspiring with her eloquence to the all the adults. Dr. Rocky's presentation had been fun and very entertaining, as the good doctor and Morley had some good hearted banter and played off each other wonderfully without a script. What Dr. Rocky didn't realize was that his email inbox and phone would soon be full of dozens of requests by parents for him to be their kit's pediatrician.

Mr. Big's presentation for CEO of the year was boring and hard to understand with his gravely accented voice, even if it did cast him in a good light. Joe Camel's narcissistic ego and pretentiousness got in the way of a good award presentation. His thank you speech was entirely self serving and Morley and Lourdes had to not so politely cut him off to a grateful audience, who had enough of the self-centered camel.

The educator of the year was a sweet little retired armadillo.

"Remember her?" Adeline kidded from her seat.

Leodore rolled his eyes, "Do I ever sweetheart. Toughest teacher I ever had. She darn near flunked me in 8th grade social studies."

Adeline reminded him, "Yeah but you caught the political bug ever since because of her."

He applauded extra hard for his old teacher and actually roared approval. She noticed.

After those awards, there was another commercial break. That was the cue for servers to clear the main course dishes. They were near the end of the awards.

Judy motioned for Ida, but Duke started up instead, but Judy waved him off and pointed directly at Ida, to Duke's chagrin, who had to remain standing down at the bottom of the head table. When the old kangaroo came up to Judy, the rabbit asked, "Ida, I'd like some more iced tea please."

Judy knew it would be some time before dessert would be served with all the other award winners. She had to move now before it was too late.

"Yes ma'am, I would be glad to," Ida replied and wondered if the fox and the rabbit saw the warning and actually believed it.

"Another thing, Ida, I saw your note about getting our autographs. Please take this for your little niece."

Ida hesitated, because her niece was 32, but the insistent tone of the rabbit made Ida accept what she was offering, and realized what she meant about the 'note'. She said immediately, "Yes of course. Thank you. She'll love it."

She read the autograph, but turned over the program. It was a detailed note to chief Bogo of the situation. She gulped. The two females' eyes met. There was no question Nick and Judy understood the gravity of the situation.

Judy further instructed Ida, in case prying eyes and ears were listening, "You can give this autograph to security for safe keeping until after the show, then come see us after the ceremony, and I will give it back to you for her. Have them put the autograph in Lock Box 14."

She said that in case the rhino was listening or reading lips.

Duke couldn't follow or interfere or eavesdrop. He was busy clearing dishes for dessert. He muttered as Ida passed, "There better not be any funny stuff going on here."

Ida acted indignant and showed him Judy's thoughtful message with her signature, "It's just an autograph for my niece. You can't deny me that. We have plenty of time before dessert to put it with my things."

Duke had not seen what Judy wrote on the back, because his hooves were full of the tray with the heavy main course dishes, and couldn't take the document from her to look at it more closely. It did just seem like an autograph.

Something was not right between these two females, and he didn't like it, but right now Duke couldn't do anything about it.

…

The security detail Officers were now officially bored. The entrance and lobby areas were deserted except for a few mammals rushing to the restrooms that had to pee before the big awards. They could see the network feed on a small monitor overhead and near their security station.

A voice with no body said, startling them, "Officers, I'm sorry to both you, but I need to tell you something important."

She scanned ahead, worried they hadn't seen anyone approach, "What? Who?"

"Down here," came the voice with much annoyance.

She bent down and saw an exhausted echidna, "Yes, sir, how may I help you?"

"I'd like to report a problem," Ed stated calmly.

"What kind of problem?"

"An attack on the honorees."

That shook up the officers, and they became very alert, "What do you know about that, echnidna?

"I'm a cab driver. I transported some of the mammals here and overheard their conversation they were threatening something."

"What kind of mammals?" one cop asked.

"Amur Tigers."

Corporal Elisabeth, the head of the security detail heart skipped a beat, and she called on her radio, "Chief, come here now."

"What's going on here, Elisabeth?" interrupted Bogo, "Wait. Aren't you Nick Wilde's cabbie friend?"

"Yes sir I'm Ed, sir, and I wish to report something suspicious."

He was familiar with Ed as an unofficial informant to Nick and Judy with uncanny accuracy.

"Tell me more, Ed."

"About three hours ago I tried to bring two Amur Tigers here. In the car they talked to someone here, they were plotting something, specifically against the fox and rabbit."

That immediately got his attention, Elisabeth remembered, "Wait, we pulled those credentials. Those were the tigers that got here late."

Ed continued talking, "I also reported this to Precinct 6 about two hours ago and told them to tell you. My phone died. And I was stuck with the tigers in an accident and I ran out of gas coming back to warn you. I hoped you'd already know."

Bogo called the Precinct chief about to blow his top.

The Sergeant, noticing that it was Bogo, gulped.

Bogo cut right to the chase, "Was a crime reported to you by an echidna, Isaac?"

The reindeer started to sweat, panting, "Yes, but he was being paranoid. I didn't think it was important. It wasn't a crime in progress."

Bogo was incensed and insistent without raising his voice or alarm, "It wasn't then but it will be soon, Isaac. We could have had over a two hour warning on this. You will report to me Monday. If we're still alive. We trust every citizen to report as honestly as possible. You may have put everyone in this room in peril here Isaac."

"Yes sir. I'm sorry sir."

He worried about keeping his rank or even his badge.

While Ed was engaged with the police, Ida approached the security checkpoint with extreme urgency. Bogo worried this was the beginning of the attack. She was wearing a waitress' outfit as the Amur Tigers did.

He pulled his taser pistol and gave her a 'slow down gesture, "I'm going to have to ask you to walk slowly and explain yourself, ma'am."

She called out, realizing she might appear threatening by running toward police, and held her hands up with the autographed program in her paw, "Sir, my name is Ida, and this is from Judy and Nick Wilde. We think there is something bad about to happen in there."

Bogo instructed, "Show me the note. Carefully."

He read the note. It was definitely Judy's handwriting. He looked at Ida, his security chief, and Ed, and his heart raced.

"Something is going on bad in there."

Bogo was in a very untenable situation. He was outnumbered as many as 100 to 4 if every waiter inside was a criminal, but he didn't know that. He needed to even up the odds. Shutting things down was not the answer, as that could most likely trigger a preemptive attack against their targets, and he was ill-prepared to do anything to protect the honorees, the Mayor, and his Officers.

…

With all the other awards presentations finished, Lourdes leaned over to Morley, and noted, "It's time my friend."

"Of course."

It was back to having some more fun, and then everyone's favorite fox and rabbit would get their award. The anticipation was building for them.

Morley played with the audience, "OK everyone, listen up. You were expecting a simple dessert, right?"

"Right!" the crowd resounded without prompting. They were getting used to Morley's audience interaction playfulness.

"Well, tonight we have the best kept secret in Zootopia for you."

The crowd murmured and Duke's hear skipped a beat. He had the best kept secret Zootppia.

Morley smiled, "We have a very special surprise to honor our awardees . Gazelle is here with her dance troupe."

A dozen shrieks and general applause ensued.

"Without further ado, here she is!" Morley started to applaud motioned off camera, and backed off the stage.

The rock beat was instantly recognizable from her band and her opening singing note cut through the air. Mammals screamed and swooned with delight. Cell phones and lighters were held up in total approval with this amazing surprise.

Gazelle ran out behind the podium in her characteristic skimpy sequined two piece outfit and yelled, "Let the show begin! Good evening Zootopia, It's so good to be back."

She loved seeing the shocked happy looks on all the mammals' faces. Zootopia had the best crowds.

A dozen stage hands rushed out, removed the podium and rolled out a special tiered stage that made its way up to the head table with stairs. She was literally was going to perform with the head table on either side.

Judy and Nick and all the other head table members stood and cheered.

Judy beamed at her husband and exclaimed, "Goodness me, Nick; she's my favorite!"

"I know dear. Maybe you can dance with her.

"You'd let me?"

Nick teased, "Of course. Besides you almost did all those many months ago with all those drinks in you."

"You!" she remembered that first night together. It was the beginning of all of this since.

Judy kissed Nick. On camera.

As if on cue, while she sang, Gazelle ran over to Judy and grabbed her and they danced together surrounded by the four tiger dancers center stage. Judy knew all their moves. The crowd went absolutely wild over Judy joining them. Nick had a great view of Judy's legs that tantalizingly appeared as she danced. He clapped and howled with the rest of the crowd. It was like Gazelle and Judy had practice the routine for hours.

Duke chafed. This was yet another change, but a good one. The stairs would let him charge unobstructed up to the fox and rabbit from the floor to the stage. He could still crush them with his own hooves and horn rather than push the podium over on top of them. This might be a better method of attack. He glanced over to the other front table assailants. They understood and would adjust. He glanced at Joe. He immediately understood as well and nodded approval.

Bogo peeked into the hall at the first notes of Gazelle's music. He'd known about this special act featuring Gazelle and her four tiger entourage. The security detail had to arrange a clandestine entry from a locked basement staircase. It gave Bogo some precious extra time to try to protect Nick and Judy and the others.

Now he prayed Gazelle's tigers were good bodyguards as well as dancers.

He needed back up desperately. He'd dismissed all but four of the original dozen mammal security team now that everyone was screened and the streets were clear and empty. It seemed quiet outside, but Judy's message said the enemy was inside posing as waiters. The four remaining police could not take on an attack by as many as 100 very large mammals - many of which were deadly predators.

As Bogo made plans, he blamed himself for this, "An inside job? How did I miss this?"

It was chilling to remember Sandra's words: "With 'them' everywhere, don't even know who your enemies are."

He let the door close quietly while the rock music continued. He was hoping for an encore requested to buy more time.

Bogo uttered into his radio mouthpiece in secure mode, "ZPD One to Force. Code Red alert. Repeat, Code Red alert. Downtown. Assembly Hall. Full SWAT teams. All units: silent approach. Airborne One team. STAT. Engagement on my order only. We will not provoke any incident."

One by one the Precincts responded calmly but firmly.

"Precinct One. Seven units. Deploying. 18 minutes ETA."

"Precinct Two. Four units plus Heavy SWAT. Assembling. 23 minutes ETA."

"Precinct Six. Fully engaged in local incidents and a gang war. No one available."

That Precinct leader Bogo was already mad at, and he was going to get the reindeer reprimanded and demoted. He was the closest – only ten minutes away. Bogo almost countermanded but held back. Other citizens needed that Precinct's help.

"Precinct 7, twelve units deploying. 19 minutes, eight on foot - 27 minutes. One Heavy SWAT deploying. 21 minutes."

Bogo knew they would all be dead less than 20 minutes. ZPD was caught cold on this one.

The Chief heard one more response. The one he needed most, "Airborne One to ZPD One. Alert called. 3 minutes to launch. 7 minutes ETA."

He considered that even 10 minutes could still be an eternity, but it was better than nothing.

The Chief acknowledged and ordered, "All ground units. Hold on my order on arrival. Attack only if crime in progress. Airborne One: proceed. Attack at will all uniformed servers, especially if armed."

"Roger ZPD One," came the replies of all Precinct leaders and Airborne One.

…

On the roof of ZPD Headquarters, Major McDonnell pulled on his helmet and goggles. Two dozen of his colleagues met him at the empty helipad similarly adorned at a full run from the Squadron Ready Room one floor below.

"Are we ready, Sarge?"

"We're seven short, Major, by my headcount," the squadron's second in command Sergeant reported.

"The rest will have to come from home," the Major noted.

The Sarge replied, "I already made the order, sir. Three are on vacation. Four more is all we have."

The Squadron Leader acknowledged and ordered, "We'll go with what we have. It could be 30 against as many as 100 perps. Don attack gear."

The mammals pulled out their fang cases, and dipped them first in the sticky red food coloring laced with fast acting sedatives. Thus equipped, these mammals were living paralysis darts. Next, they attached their miniature tasers around their waists. Those were last resort weapons, and mostly for personal defense. Against really big mammals, these little tasers would only feel like sticking your paw in a light socket. Unfortunately the taser shocks would be annoying but not debilitating.

One of the Officers complained, "Gosh I hate it when we do this sir. It's so stereotyped."

Major McDonnell put in his false fangs and stretched his mouth round the fangs a bit. He displayed the simulated blood covered fangs to his colleagues who did the same. He and the others looked positively fearsome, even as small as they were. The sedatives were powerful when injected into mammal neck arteries and would fell even a rhino or elephant in short order. By an odd twist of biology, these mammals were immune to this kind of sedative if swallowed.

He and his colleagues stretched their stretched dark skin wings and gave them a tentative flap to avoid cramping in the humid, hot air.

Waiting for a couple more Officers to suit up who just arrived, "Need I remind you, Officer Vlad, it's etched in every mammal in the planet that all of us vampire bats are diseased, rabid mammals and everyone fears us. Our job is to do a disruptive attack before the bad guys can do something to our fellow officers and the civilians, and take down their leaders. The Mayor is in there too. We have to play on that fear every mammal has even with a determined enemy that they will protect themselves against us first rather than attack innocents. You know the discipline."

Officer Vlad remarked, "Even if it scares the living shit out the innocents too."

"Roger that Officer - Semper Vampire sir," remarked Sergeant Igor. Everyone shouted their motto together.

Major McDonnell was very pleased how fired up all his fellow vampire bats were. Fighting terror with terror. That was their secret motto. It always worked.

Sergeant Igor said impatiently, "Major. We're all here who's going to be here and we're wasting time talking boss. Let's go!"

Their leader answered, "You're right, Sarge. Go for any mammal with a server's coat that looks aggressive or armed. You know what to do. Buzz them. Get in their fur. They hate that. Bite them. It might be our only chance to save Officers Nick and Judy, even though they are aware of the attack to then. Give them and the others a chance to escape. Go for every food worker. We don't know who's bad and who isn't. They'll all wake up later and then we can sort it all out."

"Yes sir. Of course sir," came the choral response.

"Now move out."

The colony of over two dozen vampire bats took off from the otherwise silent, empty heliport and disappeared into the night on a direct line to the Assembly Hall and were joined by the other four in mid flight. The Major squeaked his sonar ahead into the inky blackness, looking out for telephone and power lines that might knock them out, or even any other bats out for a leisurely or romantic nighttime flight over the city out. All of them flew on his wing, trusting the boss' single sonar to not confuse anything else.

Using his voice activated radio, Major McDonnell informed Bogo, "Airborne One launched, ZPD One. Coming in hot, sir."

It was a code word for the squadron being armed and airborne with fully operational sedative fangs and personal defensive tasers.

He further reported, "Seven minutes to target."

Bogo directed them, "Enter the main ventilation shaft. The fans will be off. Go for the armed waiters nearest the head tables first. You'll be two dozen against a 100."

"Roger that sir. Six minutes out."

Bogo hoped that would be enough time to save Nick and Judy and their friends with a nightmare disruption of vampire bats until the big policemammals could engage and arrest the criminal waiters. He further prayed that Morley and Lourdes would stretch the awards ceremony diatribe out as long as possible. He guessed the attack would come at the end of the presentation to Nick and Judy. They would be alone and on stage – tempting targets. He hoped his top Officers guessed that too and had their own diversion.

Bogo looked at the TV monitors, looking for audience shots. The TV was unfortunately focused on the awards ceremonies.

He rushed over to the broadcast booth command post to try to get situational awareness on the audience shots and the whereabouts of the catering staff. On the way down the hall, he pulled the breakers to the ventilation fans. It would be stifling in Assembly Hall in minutes.

He stuck his head and to the shocked producer, he ordered, "No matter what happens in the next few minutes, keep the cameras going. Even if you have to evacuate your cameramen."

"Is there a problem sir?" the instantly worried producer asked.

"Not yet. I'm trying to prevent one."

"Why keep the cameras going, Chief?"

Bogo told him sadly, "Evidence, Bob. Evidence."

Suddenly, Bob, a bison, wished he had worn an adult diaper today.

…

Major McDonnell made his next report, as requested, "Airborne One. Five minutes out ZPD One."

"ZPD One. Acknowledged."

…

Morley praised Gazelle at the end of her song, "Wasn't that a beautiful song? Thank you for your great, unifying message in that song. We hope it becomes a smash hit, Gazelle."

It was a brand new song that she wrote for the banquet that specifically addressed cross species relationships and friendships, something quite obvious about her point of view with her all-tiger entourage.

"You're welcome," she said graciously and had a seat with her tiger quartet. Her older version of Institute medal around her neck medal glinted. She was another Institute award winner from several years ago for Entertainer of the Year. This year's winner gushed with pride as Gazelle sat beside him.

Lourdes spoke with tremendous pride, "Now for the big award. These mammals need no real introduction, as they have been among us for over a year, and made an impact like few others. They epitomize unity and relationships among all mammals of all species. They represent unselfish, self sacrificing services for all mammals. Officers Nicholas P. Wilde and Judith Hopps Wilde."

Morley added to his part of the ceremony, "Let's learn a little more about them!"

Some of the subject matter in the shorter video and photo slides was repeated from their documentary. Some of it was new, including Judy as a little female rabbit dressed like a cop.

Judy's mouth dropped with that, and she thought, "Motheerrrrr."

There were lots of 'ooh's' and 'aah's' and 'how cute's' from the audience.

It was a full two minute tribute to them. While it ran and everyone's attention was on the video and not on them, Judy asked, "What are we going to do, Nick? We don't know when they will attack us."

Nick advised, "Keep watching and be ready to defend ourselves. That's all we can do now. It's probably soon. Why didn't Bogo stop this already?"

Judy explained, "Because if it is hoax, it is the ultimate embarrassment for him and the Mayor."

Nick noted, "I sure hope we're prepared if he isn't."

"I'm sure he's preparing."

"I have to say something."

Judy leaned in to the Mayor, and warned, "Sir, be prepared to exit in a hurry with your wife. There's trouble."

He nodded to Judy that he heard, but remained absolutely emotionless and turned to Adeline.

"Do you have your things?"

"Why dear?"

"Judy said we might have to leave. Suddenly."

"Oh no."

…

Bonnie Hopps, watching the show at home with the other adults and family, had supplied Lourdes Judy's childhood photos, and wiped her tears of joy seeing this. It was supposed to be a surprise. The closeup on her daughter's face and the blush said it all.

"She was even cute then," added Sandra.

…

While the other servers picked up their loaded trays full of desserts and completely focused on that, Duke smashed Ida against a refrigerator door, her head reeled and she began to black out. He growled, "My mammals are taking care of dessert, 'roo. You are no longer needed to serve the head table. I want that big tip. Here's another tip: don't mess with the Duke."

Helpless, Ida blacked out. Duke picked up his dessert trays and started out interspersed with the other normal servers to be prepositioned at the tables with this special dessert, but 23 of the trays were hidden knives and cleavers.

Duke was excited. They were actually going to pull this mass execution off.

Joe camel held his breath and watched the developments from his seat. He wondered what a broken leg actually felt like and cringed. They were actually going to pull the massacre off.

…

"ZPD One, Airborne One four minutes to target."

"Roger that, Airborne."

McDonnell was still fifteen minutes ahead of any of the officers arriving on the ground.

Bogo was now confident they could pull the preventative, disruptive intervention off, at least take down the leaders, and minimize loss of life to the victims.

He hated that he was thinking in terms of 'minimizing loss of life'. He hoped it wasn't the Mayor and Adeline.

…

Lourdes asked, "Nick and Judy, please come forward."

The entire audience immediately stood on their hind paws and applauded as the fox and rabbit approached in the spotlight. Once at the microphone placed at the top of Gazelle's gaudy staircase with Lourdes and Morley, the applause got more intense and the audience wouldn't let them speak.

Duke and his people fretted with the continued delay, looking at him for guidance but they continued to hold the dessert trays ready to serve whenever the cue was given. But death would be served instead of cheese cake and fruit.

…

"Airborne One to ZPD One. Three minutes to target."

"Roger Airborne One. Copy."

…

While the young couple stood awkward waiting for the cheering and applause to subside, the stage light on them was blinding as they stood with Lourdes. But because Judy was much shorter than anyone else on stage, the focus was on Lourdes, Morley, and Nick. Judy was on the edge of the spot, and could see better. And what she saw she didn't like. Some of the servers in the back were taking the flags out of their stands. Three of those flags were slid silently into the doors, jamming them closed. Her heart fluttered, realizing they were locking the doors from the inside. The flag ceremony was a cover for part of the attack. A big moose fumbled with two flags, and couldn't move them or place them. She saw a number of servers turn their attention toward the head and front tables. She saw the flashes of metal knives being drawn from underneath dollies on the serving trays, and their coordinated approach that would begin in moments. Several servers looked at the rhino who seemed to be their leader.

Completely unaware, Lourdes continued, "Nick and Judy. On behalf of the Zootopia Leadership Institute and all of the citizens of Zootopia, for your constant protection of us from every danger, hidden or open, we want to present you the Institute's highest honor for this year – the Distinguished Public Service Award!"

Lourdes and Morley handed the crystalline award to both and they held it high over their heads in triumph.

Morley announced, "Mammals of Zootopia: your top winners Nick and Judy Wilde!"

There was another standing ovation and wild cheering that simply wouldn't stop. But that was a problem. Easily moving among the tables was now going to be hard for Duke and his killers. There were a lot of large mammals between him and Nick and Judy and the same for the others planning to attack the head table. The mammals should have been seated for the kills.

…

"Airborne One to ZPD One. 60 seconds out. Target acquired."

Bogo paced just outside the banquet hall nervously, and answered, "Shaft is clear. Enter at will."

"Roger ZPD One. Thanks. We don't want to be bat chunks tonight."

Bogo saw the first three squad cars pull up and the six burly, heavily armed officers poured out of the cars and were racing the steps to the fifth floor lobby. They were early.

"Thank goodness," he muttered.

With the four security officers, Bogo and the six rushed to the main banquet hall doors.

McDonnell yelled to his fellow bats in mid air in a special sonar-based language that only they could hear: "Trail formation. Now!"

They went from their broad formation to a single line effortlessly one right behind the other, using personal sonar to keep safe distance while in single file.

"Full dive!" the Major ordered.

McDonnell spread his wings as full span as he could, wheeled over in a tight bank, actually pulling a vapor trail in the humid night air, and dove for the large ventilation shaft on top of the Assembly Halle. His sonar was fully squeaking. Once each vampire bat entered, they would all squeak as each had a tight path to fly at very high speed. They practiced in-building flight dozens of times for situations just like this for hostage rescue and this had to work tonight. Two officers' lives, the Mayor and his wife, and many civilians depended on this tactic until the heavy units could get there and take on whoever it was that was attacking the honorees and civilians. It was such a shame that criminals would try to turn the happiest event in Zootopia into a tragedy, McDonnell thought for a moment.

…

Judy knew what was happening and only she knew it. Nick was shielding his eyes strained to look out to the audience next to Lourdes. Acknowledging the wild applause and cheers as they stood proudly, but Judy warned him, squeezing his hand in the pulses of Moose Code that they'd practiced if they ever were taken hostage and could not speak:

"Be ready. Two dozen knives approaching."

Nick squeezed back an acknowledgement. They weren't sure how to be ready other than to run for the fire escape.

Finally the adulation ended.

Holding the heavy crystal between them, Morley invited them to come to the microphone, "So Nick and Judy what do you have to say to us?"

All the server attackers were ready to dump their dessert trays on the audience, and fight their way through the still-standing crowd, and strike their targets. Duke raised his weapon and started to inhale to shout the signal.

…

"Airborne One to ZPD One. Building perimeter penetrated. See you on the other side."

In the pitch black of the narrow ventilation ducting, with only their sonar to guide them, each bat made his or her way at break neck speed without an Officer grazing a wing on the maze of metallic ducts, one after the other, capitalizing on each others' sonar radar echoes. It was like there was a blazing light in the duct it was so visible to their sonar senses.

Bogo acknowledged, "Roger that. Six officers plus security going in on your action."

Bogo and his three officers drew their taser pistols, ready to open the door a crack to watch for the colony of bats to enter the room. Bogo grabbed one of the big banquet entry doors.

It wouldn't budge.

They heard scraping sounds as something metallic was locking the doors. From the inside.

Bogo was horrified, "What the…?"

At the opening of the ventilation duct, the vampire bat squadron beat their wings backwards to break their flight and collected on the rusty old grate that their sonar had warned them about. They had a perfect view of the banquet room from the ceiling, offset over Nick and Judy and the emcees and other VIPS. Nothing had happened yet, but they saw a number of servers moving through the crowd with something that glinted in their paws.

Major McDonnell squeaked in their sonar based language to his squadron: "On my mark, flap and push. Toward the floor in front of the stage. Take out the lead attackers."

"Roger, boss."

"Mark!"

They pushed hard to no avail, and Sergeant Igor said in alarm in sonar speech, "Boss, it won't budge!"

…

Judy knew that what they had to say was the trigger to the action, seeing the rhino with a raised arm and something in it in the dark.

She did the only thing that she could do.

To Nick's surprise she grabbed the microphone from him, and screamed into the public address system,

"Fire! Fire! Run for your lives!"