"Ha! Pay up!" Nick crowed. The crowd erupted into raucous cheering and applause. Several mammals broke from the small horde and hurried past Judy. She watched her fox's cocky grin get even bigger as the excited soldiers surrounded him to offer congratulations and jostle him with a few well-meant shoves.
A leopard in all black stepped past Judy, followed by a jaguar and cheetah in identical attire. The way the other soldiers went quiet and still at their approach filled Judy with a sense of dread. Their presence seemed to suck the joy right out of every mammal present. Every mammal except Nick, of course.
Cocky smile still firmly in place, the tod stepped from the circle of admirers. With a flourish and a bow, Nick held out the bullet he picked from his teeth so the three cats could see.
"Captain Panjah, my esteemed colleague, I do believe this is yours," simpered the fox. The leopard's whiskers twitched in annoyance at the antics, but he reached out anyway. Nick closed his paw just before the big cat could grab the bullet. Straightening from his bow, he favored the scowling feline with his most genial smile. "And you may have it, of course. Once you provide your forfeit." The fox tilted his head and cocked a brow, finger and thumb rubbing together in the universal sign for 'cash'.
The leopard snorted, tail lashing.
"I will not pay, cheat." The leopard had an accent Judy had never heard before. It put a lot of emphasis on the 't's. Nick, the business savvy fox that he was, didn't bother with getting upset or annoyed.
"Now, how can you say that? Did you not witness the event with your own eyes? Remember, I used your pistol and your ammunition to perform my little feat. How could I cheat?" The vulpine's voice was smooth and relaxed, the epitome of reasonable. Judy admired how easy, how natural the fox made it look. She knew she wouldn't be that carefree if a hundred fifty pound cat was glaring down at her.
"You were facing away. You put the bullet in your mouth with your other paw." There was that accent again. It made the cat's voice sound heavy and flat. Nick smiled disarmingly, spreading his paws out a little to show he had nothing to hide.
"With all of these soldiers watching? Surely one of them would have spotted me if I had. Look, I know it might seem like a lot, but you did agree to pay. You're not going to make liars out of the Long Range Division, are you?" The mention of his unit only seemed to rile the leopard up. Baring his teeth, Panjah jabbed a digit towards Nick's face.
"LoRDs are not liars! You are a cheat, fox!" The soldiers around them began to shift and mutter amongst themselves. The leopard's silent companions looked around coolly, taking in the crowd's reaction. Judy tensed, feeling the tension beginning to rise. Nick tried to diffuse the situation.
"Now, let's be reasonable. Whatever happened to 'honor amongst predators?'" Judy had only an instant to wonder if that was a real thing before the irate cat retorted.
"You are not a predator! I'm a predator. You are just a filthy pelt!" he spat. Judy felt her hackles rise at the insult. Calling another mammal a 'pelt' meant that their only value was in their fur. In other words: they were worthless.
"Hey!" The rabbit made herself known, stepping from the edge of the crowd. She walked to a surprised Nick's side before she spun to face the condescending leopard. The rabbit tore her ear protection off and glared at the big cat. Many eyebrows were raised at the sight of the little bunny standing up to the comparatively huge Captain Panjah. "How dare you call Nick a 'pelt!?' You might just be a predator, but he's more than that! He's a genuine hero. You, on the other paw, are just a blowhard that welches on his bets!" Some of soldiers watching the spectacle 'ooh'ed.' Panjah leaned back, looking like he stepped in something foul. He turned his attention back to Nick.
"You let a little female fight for you? Where's your pride?" Nick, who had been staring at Judy like she was something he'd never seen before, glanced up at the leopard. The fox wiped the gobsmacked look from his face, and put on his most cocky smile.
"I'll have you know that this little female happens to have a certificate in badassery. She's put mammals a lot bigger than you right on their tails. So watch what you start or she might just finish it." Hearing Nick's absolute confidence in her made Judy feel about three feet taller, and it showed. Her chest puffed out and a defiant smirk spread across her face. She glared at Panjah, eyes full of challenge.
The big cat spotted the bunny's look and glared back. Dark thoughts raged behind his eyes: Does this rodent think she can fight me? I am the predator elite! Time to show these vermin their place.
Quicker than most would believe possible the leopard darted forward, teeth coming together with a snap, right in front of Judy's nose.
Now, the reaction Captain Panjah expected to see was different from the one he actually got. He expected the little doe to flinch back, eyes filled with fear. What he got was a kick to his chin powerful enough to snap his head back. Stumbling back a step, he was caught by his companions before he could fall.
The crowd erupted again. Some were cheering, but most heckled the leopard.
"Ooh! How'd that taste, Poonjab!?"
"Got your bell rung by a bunny!"
"So much for the big, bad predator!"
All these, and other, less polite taunts and jabs were hurled at Panjah by the soldiers around them. Shaking his head, the leopard tore himself from the two other cats' grip. He snarled at the bunny that had humiliated him. Claws unsheathed and he held his paw out, ready to attack.
Judy tensed, still in the low combat stance she had taken when the cat snapped at her. The bunny prepared herself for what promised to be a very difficult fight.
"What the hell is going on here?" A voice that was more commanding than loud quieted the rowdy soldiers. The two combatants broke their locked gazes to stare at a gray fox as he walked from the crowd. Hannibal stopped just between them, face twisted in annoyance as he took in the two.
The colonel stared Panjah down first. The leopard scowled while he retracted his claws, dropping his paws to his sides. Then the powerful glare fell on Judy. She popped into a fully erect posture, arms straight down, back stiff and ears cocked.
"Hopps, why didn't you retrieve Wilde as ordered?" His stern taskmaster's voice would have made her drill instructor from the academy blush with envy. It certainly made Judy feel like a fresh recruit.
"H-Hannibal-" The gray fox's brows drew just a little closer together, but that was all she needed to know that now was not the time for being familiar. "E-Er, Colonel Smith, sir, I was distracted!" The mention of a colonel in their midst sent most of the watching soldiers scurrying off as quickly and as quietly as they could, desperate to not get caught in any potential fallout.
Hannibal leaned back, his glare smoothing over into an icy stare. Somehow, that was worse.
"You were distracted." It wasn't a question. Judy nodded, a touch frantic.
"Yes, sir!" she squeaked. Just a little. The veteran raised a brow, then glanced over at Panjah. The leopard's face was smoothed into a blank mask, eyes forward. Hannibal regarded him coolly for a moment before he turned back to the nervous rabbit.
"I see." Judy felt like she was going to pull something with how tense she was under the colonel's steady gaze. Eventually his ash colored eyes flicked to something behind her. "What's wrong with Wilde?"
"Sir? I don't..." Turning to follow his gaze, Judy was shocked into silence by what she saw. Nick was clutching his head with both paws, shoulders hunched. Lips were pulled back in a grimace, revealing tightly clenched teeth. The fox's eyes were screwed shut and it looked like he was in a lot of pain.
Instantly forgetting everything else, Judy stepped up to Nick. She placed a paw on his elbow, gently trying to get his attention.
"Nick? What's wrong?"
The fox flinched at her touch. He turned his head towards the sound of her voice, but his eyes stayed closed.
"Eyes hurt. Everything's too bright. Need my shades." Nick ground out between clenched teeth. Judy nodded. She thought she understood what was happening. Her enhanced hearing had been debilitatingly painful at first. Though something confused the rabbit. Nick's eyes had been changed for four days already. What had caused the pain to flare up now?
Just then Judy caught movement out of the corner of her eye. Panjah was walking around the duo, making sure to keep a respectful distance. He stopped before the table where Nick had performed his stunt. Reaching out a paw, he retrieved his pistol. After a quick, but thorough inspection, he holstered the weapon on his hip.
When the black clad Captain turned, he found Judy still watching him. A look of disgust passed over his face. The bunny shot him a glare that let him know that she felt the same. She turned her attention back to Nick, and did her best to ignore Panjah as he left with his companions. Now it was just Judy and the two foxes.
Hannibal moved to join them, studying Nick intently. It sure didn't look like he was faking injury, though none was evident.
"You fit for action, soldier?" This was important. They only had a day to prepare their demonstration for General Wolfdun. If their star attraction was out of commision their plan to get Judy and Nick out of Biao's clutches would be sunk.
Nick straightened a little at the sound of the colonel's voice.
"Yeah. I'm fine. Just- I need my shades." The red fox forced himself to relax. He straightened his back and lowered his arms. He took the opportunity to place a paw around Judy's shoulders.
Hannibal sighed, exasperated. He reached into the breast pocket of his white jacket and pulled out a set of sunglasses. Holding them out for Judy to take, he addressed the younger tod.
"Wilde, I'm lending you my specs. These things have survived with me through a war. You treat them with respect. They end up like my BDUs and Biao will be the least of your problems. Understood?" While the veteran explained, Judy had directed Nick to bend down so she could balance the sunglasses on his snout. Straightening, the tod cracked his eyes open. Wincing a little, he found the late morning light just on the bearable side. He straightened the shades with a paw as he finally zeroed in on Hannibal.
"Don't worry, boss. I'll treat them with the reverence that any object associated with you so clearly deserves." Nick managed to sound a little more like his usual sarcastic self, though his voice was still strained.
Hannibal rolled his eyes at the less-than-respectful reply. Then he glared lightly at the other fox.
"You'd better, smartass. Now, if you're done being useless, we need to get back to work. You are done being useless, aren't you?" The veteran's sarcastic tone was apt to match or beat Nick's own.
The red fox's lips quirked into the start of a sly smile.
"All done being useless, boss. Scouts' Honor." Nick raised the paw that wasn't around Judy, pinky and thumb touching in the iconic salute.
Hannibal eyed the younger tod, eyebrow raised. After a moment, he turned and walked away. The duo followed, Nick's paw on Judy's shoulder the only thing that kept him going in a straight line.
It was just before ten when they returned to camp. After Hannibal's gear was stowed away, the trio headed for Baracus' tent. It was the largest of the four tents by far, having three different sections. A small (for a bison) sleeping/changing area, a work space, and a place to park his van out of the weather.
The soldier himself was in the work space. It was set up like a small shop, though it was really just two folding tables laden with a wide variety of tools. The brown furred soldier was bent over one of the tables, working on something. The table tops were too high off the ground for any of the three to see what it was he was doing.
"B. A.! Where's the rest of the team?" The bison didn't look up from his work.
"They off hustling for parts. It ain't easy building 'surprises' like this from scratch, boss!" Baracus' surly voice convinced Judy and Nick to stop at the edge of the tent. Hannibal continued without concern, coming to a stop right next to the work table.
"Status report." The colonel's voice was flat, but still carried an edge that demanded compliance. The bison grunted mildly, then placed the soldering iron he had been using on its stand. He turned and gave his CO his full attention.
"Sir, I'd say we got about half of what we need. The hardware shouldn't be a problem, but setting up a control board for this junks gonna be a real bastard. That's even if I can find one big enough to run a whole damn course!" Baracus brought his hoof down on the table with a bang, rattling the dozens of tools littered over its surface. Judy and Nick both flinched at the noise. Hannibal didn't even twitch. He regarded his subordinate with the same cool calm he always had.
"You've done harder things than this with less resources before. You're not even under fire. You're the best damn mechanic around. Now act like it. Get it done." The two glared at eachother for a second. Baracus backed down first. Someone else called out just the sergeant returned to his work.
"Hey! I know a guy." A fully recovered Nick spoke up from his place by Judy at the edge of the tent. Hannibal and the bull both turned to face him. The colonel lifted a dark gray eye-brow.
"You know a guy?" he prompted. Nick smirked in response, adjusting his borrowed shades in a conceited manner.
"I know a guy. Deals in all kinds of electronics and gizmos. Dirt cheap. Vacuum cleaners to motherboards, chances are he's got what we need. Unless you're looking for real high-end stuff. Then I know another guy, but it will not be cheap," he explained.
"Can you get the goods in the next two hours?" Hannibal asked. Nick shrugged lightly.
"Give me a cell and I can have him on the line in twenty seconds." Nick looked up at Baracus. "Hey, big guy. If you talk to him, think you can explain exactly what you need?"
"Hell yeah. This is basic stuff," the bull answered without hesitation. Hannibal dug a flip phone out of his jacket and tossed it at Nick. The younger tod snatched the device out of the air, then instantly flipped it open and began to type in a number.
Baracus, Hannibal and the all but forgotten Judy watched as Nick raised the phone to his ear. After a few seconds waiting under their attentive eyes, the tod began speaking.
"Hey, Spazz! It's Nick Wilde." A beat as Nick listened to the response.
"It has been awhile. How's Delilah?" Another pause.
"That's too bad. She was a looker. Listen, remember that time I didn't come over there and bust your ass down to the station?" The smile that spread across the fox's muzzle could best be described as impish.
"Well, I could keep not doing that. That is, if you did me one small favor…"
After three hours and a few stops in town, the six mammals (Alpha Team plus Nick and Judy) were hard at work building their surprise for General Wolfdun. They had gotten permission to set up in an empty field near the Track. Several piles of cheap lumber lay spread out across their little construction site. Another pile of salvaged electric motors, scrap metal and rubber pulleys lay next to Baracus' van.
As the sun began to wane, the 'surprise' began to take shape.
A straight path about a hundred feet long and four feet wide was marked with a few simple stakes. At the start of the line an eight foot high wall stood along the right side, made of four sections. Every eight foot wide section had a three foot wide gap between them.
Where the wall came to an end a hut was built over the path, twelve feet high and wide. Every crack in the walls and ceiling was sealed with duct tape. When the two simple doors were closed, it was pitch black on the inside.
On the other side of the hut, on the right side of the path, was a three sided stall, six feet wide, four feet deep and eight feet tall.
Beyond the stall was another wall, though this one was built perpendicular to the track. It was split in two, with the eight foot square sections on either side of the path.
The entire setup was made from plywood screwed to two-by-four frames. Even as simple as the construction was, it still took them until nightfall to complete. They didn't have time to wait around for daybreak, so they broke out some flashlights, Baracus turned on his van's headlights, and they kept working.
The next phase was to build various accoutrements for the course. While Murdoc's technical ability was impressive, it was Baracus' skill that really shown. He used disparate parts like salvaged electric motors, pulleys, and rubber belts to build fully functional moving targets, powered doors and pitching machines.
While the work was moving faster than either Judy or Nick could believe, they still weren't quite halfway done when Hannibal took them aside at 3 A.M. Now they stood in the shadow of Baracus' van, the dark a stark contrast to the brightness of the headlights.
"Hey, you guys have been a lot of help, but I need you to do something else for me," Hannibal started as he eyed the two mammals before him. The usually tireless Judy was beginning to wilt. Nick just looked exhausted. The two had been playing go-fors for Baracus and the rest of the team for over twelve hours now, and it showed. The colonel was glad to say they had done the tasks assigned to them diligently and without complaint (if you didn't count Nick's frequent snarks).
Seeing the two perk up and really pay attention made Hannibal smile.
"I need you two to get some sleep." Seeing the two wilt in confusion made him smile a little bit more.
"But-But, Hannibal, there's still so much to do-," the veteran held up a paw, cutting Judy's objection off. His smile disappeared and he favored her with a look that made it clear he wasn't going to be questioned.
"Yeah, there's a lot to do, but why are we doing all this? So that you two can impress the General tomorrow. How are you supposed to do that if you're dead on your feet, Hopps?" He looked at her coolly, his raised brow daring her to respond. The bunny looked away, shifting from foot to foot ashamedly. It didn't feel right to rest while other mammals toiled on her behalf. Nick put a paw on her back, rubbing it briefly to soothe her. He smiled down at her when she looked up at him.
"C'mon, Carrots. You know he's right," he said. Judy looked away. Nick watched as the rabbit chewed her lip briefly, then nodded. Seeing her agree, he turned back to the colonel.
"Alright, Hannibal, thanks. Do you think Baracus would mind if we conked out in the van?" Nick did not want to walk back to camp right now. He was relieved when the grey fox shook his head.
"Go for it. Just stay out of the driver's seat. B. A. will take it personally if he finds you in it." Hannibal waved at them from over his shoulder as he turned to go back to work. Judy waved until he disappeared around the corner of the van, then looked up at Nick. The fox looked back down at her. They spent a moment just looking at each other, the need for sleep evident on each other's faces. Finally, Nick jerked his head towards the van.
"You heard the Colonel. Time for some shut eye." The tod turned towards the van and Judy followed. Stopping only long enough to take off their boots, they climbed into the van. After a moment they were in the passenger seat. Meant for large mammals like Baracus, the seat was easily big enough to fit the fox and rabbit three times over.
Nick sank to the cushion with a grateful sigh. He curled up on his side, already half way asleep when he noticed Judy had not joined him. Cracking an eye open, he spotted the bunny standing on the edge of the seat. She was pressed up on her toes, neck straining to look over the dashboard. Green eyes rolled tiredly in their sockets before a dark furred paw reached up and grabbed the back of her shirt.
Judy let out a squeak as she was pulled off her feet. She suddenly found herself wrapped up in red fur and green fatigues; Nick's body curled around her in a warm, protective embrace. She huffed, annoyed with the fox for pulling such an undignified sound out of her. Still, she was tired, and he was comfortable. She shifted her body a little, settled herself in.
"Judy?" Nick spoke up just as she closed her eyes. His voice was unusually quiet, even taking into account how tired they both were. The sound of her name made the bunny's eyes open. She raised her head just a little, watching him as best she could in the dark.
"Nick? What is it?" She asked softly. The tod didn't move or even open his eyes. For a moment she suspected he had fallen asleep, until he opened his mouth again.
"What you said earlier… To that Panjah guy…" He shifted then, one green eye slid open to watch her. "Do you really think I'm a hero?" Being vulnerable was something that Nick always fought against, but there was no denying the tremor in his voice.
Judy stared at him in shock while her eyebrows shot up, almost to her ears. After a second, her face relaxed. She smiled and shook her head, exasperated. Finally, she pushed herself up and leaned over so she could wrap her arms around his neck.
"I don't think you're a hero, I know you are. Dumb fox, why would you ask something so stupid?" Okay, so maybe she could have said that different, but she really was tired. Speaking of…
Nick smiled as Judy snuggled into him, burying her face in the fur on his neck. He wrapped his arms around her again. One paw slid around her slim shoulders as the other gently cupped the back of her head. He took a deep breath and treasured how her scent invaded his senses.
"I love you…" Nick's quiet declaration came out as a sigh, too quiet for most mammals to hear. Judy wasn't most mammals. She smiled as she drifted off to sleep, feeling warm and secure in her fox's embrace.