Chapter 28:
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Driving across the bridge and into Sahara square, Judy's cosy little car weaved easily in and out of the traffic, making light work of the journey towards the ever approaching Palm Hotel. While it could be seen from almost all parts of the city, the massive structure was now looming right over them, to the point where you could make out the individual rooms and balconies that made up its 'bark', as well as the revolving restaurant high above. Quickly turning into a grimly shaded side street, Judy slowed the vehicle down a steady stop, before yanking back the handbrake as she parked. Stepping out, she slowly wandered around to the back doors, unlocking them before looking in and frowning. After a couple of strained grunts and an odd rocking motion that swayed the car side to side, a sigh of defeat rang out and a maroon paw weakly extended, silently asking for some help. Grabbing tightly hold of it, Judy planted her feet on the car floor and pulled with all her might, while the occupant strained and grunted even more. Finally, after a few awkward seconds, Nick burst out of the car like a monster from a sci-fi horror flick, crashing into Judy and sending them both rolling on the dusty floor before they slammed into a nearby buildings wall. Coughing from the kicked up sand and dust as he slowly stood up, Nick began vigorously stretching, the various bones of his aching back returning to their original position in a series of sickening cracks, before he turned and glared bitterly at Judy.
"Let's take my car, rather than pop around to take yours you said… You'll fit in fine you said… Your back aching from the trip here isn't that bad you said… Just because we need Clawhauser and Honey to push you doesn't mean there's a problem you said…"
Judy just grunted and began walking on, shoving Nick out of her way as he went. His sour mood slowly receding as he realised he wouldn't need a chiropractor in the next twelve seconds, Nick stretched up once more, cathartically straining his muscles, before relaxing and fishing through his pockets with his paw, looking for his dark aviator spec's. They'd had some time at Honey's to reorganise and plan their next move, with Nick taking the time to change into a new pair of tan slacks, a green Hawaiian shirt and a spare tie. Knowing they'd be going to Sahara square, he'd also packed the glasses knowing that without them he'd be spending half the day trying to use his hands to shade his eyes from the bright light. As expected, the sun was out in full that day, its merciless glare beating down and keeping the surrounding streets painfully hot. Hopping over a zebra crossing, making sure his sensitive paw pads didn't touch the burning black tarmac, Judy led him into a set of inconspicuous bushes nearby where they both vanished as they crawled into the undergrowth. Navigating through them on all fours, careful to avoid the low branches, Judy whipped out a set of wire cutters and approached a chain link fence in front of her. Snapping through the metal links one by one, she quickly made a suitable entry hole before skulking through and into the Palm Hotels oasis garden, with Nick following not far behind. Still in the bordering bushes of the site, the two mammals carefully peaked their heads out of the leaves and branches, taking in the sight before them. Neither of them had ever stayed at such a fancy place, in fact it was completely unaffordable on their usual budgets (except for Nick's last few months, when he was taking in vast funds from Wild Times), so the verdant beauty of the lovingly manicured garden in front of them was a sight to behold.
The grass across all the lawns was lush and green, well-trimmed and without a weed or brown spot in sight. Hundreds of trees, their various fruits all ripening and creating a rainbow of colour, filled the air. Crystal clear lakes and streams filled the place, cooling the air slightly while playing host to hundreds of different wild flowers and plants that had taken root in the mud, all swaying gently in the breeze. Flowerbeds adorned the gardens as well and were all laid out perfectly as if half the Grandma's in the city were employed to keep them in check. The palm hotel too, looming proudly above them all, added to the scene with the ever finer detail of its architecture on view for all to see, the intricate metalwork around each balcony gleaming sharply while reflecting the blue cloudless sky, along with the shape of the sky tram making its way slowly up to the restaurant level. The presence of Zootopia's most beloved celebrity, idly drinking fruit tea while she strolled around and discussed lyrics with one of her backup dancers, was something quite noteworthy as well.
"I am telling you Aleksis, if we're intent on introducing a new twist, then the song will simply work better with three Ooo's" Gazelle calmly explained, the statement slipping off her tongue in her strange, half western half latin accent, before she leant on the side of a lawn chair and took a long, deep drink of her tea.
"But five allows you to better emphasis the backing tune," replied the large backup dancer to her side in a deep and powerful Russian accent. The well-built Siberian Tiger, decked out in some shorts and a polo shirt and wearing a collar painted in orange, white and black stripes in order to camouflage it, was one of the quartet who famously danced behind the singer in her music videos and live performances.
"But three is short and snappy," the singer quipped back. "Oooh, Oooh, Oooooooh, Try everything!"
"But five," her companion replied as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath in, all while waving his finger to a silent beat before he began to sing. "Ooooh, Ooooh, Ooooooh, Oooh, Ooooooh!"
"Try everything!" Gazelle sung back, sending both her and her companion into a little giggle. Far behind her, in the bushes, Nick tapped Judy on the shoulder before grabbing her new phone and opening up muzzle time with Clawhauser. Picking up, the fat Cheetah appeared on the screen and spoke out, only for the muted phone to stay silent. Giving a quick wink at his confused friend, Nick turned the phone around so that the camera was facing the two celebs, with Clawhauser's eyes widening with awe. His mouth gaped open as he saw his idol, before he shook his head, likely making sure he wasn't dreaming, and then letting his face tucker up with glee while his hands burrowing up into his chin, the sides of his mouth opening to let out an excited squeal.
"Did you hear something?" Gazelle suddenly asked, standing upright in her chair and letting her ears scan around for something.
"It was nothing," Aleksis said calmly, reassuring her.
"No… it definitely sounded like some kind of excited squeal."
"It's the stress, you're working too hard on this new version of Try everything. Take a break."
Gazelle sighed slightly, before settling back down. "I know, but it's a week till Animalia, and I need this new hit version of my song. I'm just struggling to find some inspiration."
"Don't worry, Try Everything 2.0 will be glorious…" he said, before sighing slightly. "If Wild times were still open, I'd likely invite you. Stress relief and inspiration…"
Nick's eyes widened slightly as a wide smile grew on Gazelle's face, before she turned to face him. "I knew you'd been there!" she teased, garnering a smile from her companion as she playfully prodded him in the chest with a hoof.
"What can I say?" he shrugged, "I went several times, it was awesome! Although… when you factor out the fact that it's the only place and time I can do that kind of stuff, I suppose it was a bit tacky and cheesy."
"Who cares?" Gazelle loudly announced, standing up and walking around, her right arm gesturing around in the air as she talked. "I write a song called Try everything, and this crazy fun place where Preds can enjoy themselves without collars like nature intended exists! It sounded like a right laugh, I'd have loved to have visited it."
"Yeh, it was," Aleksis sadly agreed, standing up to hug Gazelle around the shoulder while his gaze glumly dropped to the ground. Sighing, he closed his eyes and gave a quick smile as he reminisced about the place. "The staff were really fun too… One of them, this fat Cheetah, was a big fan of yours, so me and the boys slipped a signed photo into a side pocket of his briefcase, I wonder if he found it…" The Tiger paused suddenly, standing upright and alert, his ears flicking around and his collar beeping up to orange. Gazelle, who had stepped back confused when he did so, now stepped forwards and planted a hoof on his shoulder.
"Are you OK?"
"… I swear I heard someone say… 'Oh Em Goodness…?'" he said, before shaking his head and turning away, "probably my imagination."
"Probably," Gazelle shrugged, before speaking out again, "any idea what happened to those guys?"
"Nope, three vanished and the leader escaped jail and then vanished… I hope he's OK."
"Yeh, hopefully they're a long way away from this mean city, poor souls…"
The two settled into a short silence, which was quickly interrupted by an angry growl from a Rhino guard who had marched obnoxiously over, his bitter stare now focussing primarily on the tiger. "Don't feel sorry for those crooks. Bunch of lying, cheating Chompers, that Fox being the worst of the bunch! Besides, without the collars to keep them in check, the second they all saw a Prey mammal they'd tear him or her to shreds!"
The two mammals in attendance both reacted, the Tiger looking away angrily as his collar went up to orange while Gazelle marched right up into the guard's face, leaning forward and pushing him back as she scolded him. "Excuse me Senor!" she angrily barked, "but how dare you insult my friend's entire zoological order! Or those brave mammals who tried to give their fellow Preds a chance to enjoy life for a change!"
"I'm just stating the facts," the Rhino nonchalantly replied, giving an apathetic shrug before leaning forwards and forcing Gazelle back, a warm smile growing across his face as he smugly spoke out. "That bear did go savage after all!"
"And how about this fact," Gazelle deviously replied, stepping backwards and standing tall and proud. "I'm a guest here, and I'm going to talk to your manager! Come on Aleksis, leave this bigot alone." Turning her head prudishly, Gazelle trotted off, the Rhino snorting out of exasperation while the Tiger passed him by.
"Just to let you know," he said, turning to face the Rhino as he passed, "Any mammal wanting to hurt my dear Gazelle, wouldn't get close!" And with that he extended his razor sharp claws, showing them off to the guard, before he left too. Shaking his head, the Rhino stomped off in a different direction, while Nick and Judy scurried silently past.
.
"OK, here's the vent," Judy whispered, as the two made it to the bottom wall of the Palm hotel. Beside them was a small ventilation grill, still large enough to accommodate them both, which Nick began to unscrew with a screwdriver. "We get in," she continued, "and climb the lift shafts service ladder to the mayors penthouse suite. We scan around for any evidence, and then get out."
"Won't it take an age to climb all the way up there?" Nick asked as he took the grill off, gesturing upwards as he did so.
"Nah, it's nothing," Judy dismissed as she climbed in, "half an hour tops."
.
.
Near the top of the tower, above the revolving restaurant, the top penthouses of the Palm hotel redefined the word luxury. The entire floor, rather than being carpeted, was covered in a thin layer of soft moss that massaged and moisturised worn paws and hooves after a long days walk. A massive four poster bed, complete with a billowing canopy and complementary salt lick, stood in one corner while a set of different sized bath's, steaming water flowing from one to another, stood opposite it looking like they had been lifted from a luxury spa. A huge fur dryer, designed to whip away any trapped moisture in seconds, stood nearby as did an antique piano, a collection of music books resting on top ready for anyone who might wish to have a go. There was finely crafted furniture spread about here and there, all polished wood, metal and marble that gleamed, or crystal glass that could hardly be seen. A large sofa set into an alcove in the floor was next to a coffee table with a large lamp looking over in order to help guests with even the worst sight read one of the many, many books present in the complementary collection. Not content with the already brimming fruit basket available, a large number of bountiful fruit trees, along with many other types of plants, filled up the gardens that surrounded the room. The air itself, already clear of the dust and grime of the city and desert down below, was faintly laced with the sweet scents of various perfumes which soothed the noses of all those who entered.
There was a soft ping as a ventilation grate was lifted up, a purple nose slowly peeking out and cautiously sniffing around. The nose was then followed by a Fox's head, which looked from left to right, scanning around for any signs of trouble. "Is it clear?" asked a quiet voice from behind, at which point the Fox turned around and nodded. Smiling, as he raised his index finger condescendingly in front of him, he took a deep breath in, his mouth opening wide as he did so, before he furiously shouted out.
"SIX HOURS!"
"It was an honest mistake…" Judy said dismissively, slipping past Nick and stepping out of the grate and into the open air, landing silently on the soft floor.
"Six hours!" Nick repeated again, landing besides Judy and glancing to his right, his gaze fixing on the view through the wide open door to balcony as his eyes widened with shock, "It's night!"
"Well, it did take us six hours to climb," Judy calmly replied, shrugging as she did so, "and I thought your kind liked low light levels? What's there to complain about?"
Nick opened his mouth to speak again, but paused before he got any words out. Closing his trap, not bothering to argue any more due to the sheer futility of the action, he looked and sniffed around, pausing as his eyes set themselves on a small desk. Sniffing intently, he walked over and grabbed a smallish briefcase, before running his nose along its top.
"This thing reeks of our Wolf," Nick said, "if only we could take a smellograph…"
His musings were suddenly cut off as a loud ping called out, with both Nick and Judy looking on in horror as the door to the private elevator began opening. Grabbing the case and darting under the bed with seconds to spare, they listened on as three sets of hooves trotted out.
"Oh Mr Wurst, tonight could only be improved by a very private mud bath…" the mayor warmly cooed, "just the two of us, wallowing together…"
"You seem much more relaxed, Ma'am," replied a cocky voice, before the soft sound of a kiss, followed by a feminine giggle rang out.
"I know," Swinton swooned, "Three hours ago I was still so stressed out about this horrendous chomper on the loose, I'd have beaten myself silly over even considering something so undignified…"
"I understand how you feel about these things," Brad Wurst said reassuringly, as he leant over and planted one of his hairy arms around Swinton. "How you'd have a heart attack if the press ever saw you as anything but the very model of a modern metro mayor… but sometimes, just sometimes… we have to accept…"
"Shhh…" the Mayor interrupted, cutting Wurst off with a trotter raised against his mouth before he could continue. "Let's carry on this stupid discussion tomorrow," she calmly said, before her voice became warm and seductive. "Right now, I'm already so hot… I'm practically smoking my bacon…"
Both Nick and Judy closed their eyes and stuck their tongues out in disgust as a mixture of passionate smooches and loud oinks rang out. Both their noses were twitching too, Judy's out of the sheer amount of cheesiness and lewdness she was having to brace through, while Nicks was from something else. Something much, much worse. Looking up, Judy noticed Nick's wide, fearful eyes as well as his intent stiffing and nudged him, shrugging as she silently asked him what was up. Nick merely closed his eyes and strained his head up, the end of his mouth open in a silent howl. Judy's eyes opened up in worry too, as the smooching outside stopped, and was replaced by an intent sniffing.
"What is it Sausages?" Swinton asked, her voice suddenly tinged with concern.
"He's here!"
"Who?"
"The Con-Fox! I smell him!"
Beneath the bed, Judy began retreating in a panic, only for Nick to thrust the case into her hand and put her phone on top. Whispering something quietly into her ears, he got up his feet and backed out of the bed, before rising up to face the three mammals in front of him.
.
"What are you doing here? Chomper!" Wurst furiously screamed, pushing Swinton and Woolly back as he stepped protectively in front of them. Gone was his combat gear and bandana of throwing knives, instead replaced by a smart dinner jacket and a tie, which was promptly torn off his collar and tied around his head as a bandanna.
"My name is not Chomper," Nick angrily replied back, his face scowling as he climbed up onto the soft mattress of the bed, towering over the others. His muzzle pulled back, almost ready to growl, he looked over at Swinton with disgust before addressing all three mammals at once. "It is not Fox. It is not Savage. It is not 'him' or 'that'… It is Nick Wilde. And you better learn it fast, as after what you did to me and with what you plan to do! I'm here to show the world just how evil you are!"
"Really?" Wurst sarcastically replied, his voice almost sounding genuinely surprised although it was betrayed by the happy smile that grew across his face. "And what can one Fox do against a highly trained officer of the law, and two…" he paused as he glanced behind him and spotted Woolly racing away, rapidly enter the elevator and frantically pressing a button multiple times, before turning back and waving meekly as the door closed. Turning back to face Nick, the lone Razorback continued his speech as if nothing had happened, "one civilian who is far stronger than him!"
"What good has always done to evil," Nick confidently replied, "defeat it."
"Oh look at you, Mr Freedom Fighter," Swinton suddenly cut in, angrily marching in front of Wurst, her hands planted firmly on her hips. "But to everyone else, you're a terrorist. You almost killed tens, if not hundreds. You terrified the residents of little Rodentia, who've only now begun to forget what you did due to the errant Frisbee incident of 12:30 this afternoon, before causing hysteria up in the cloud forest district. And here you are, saying that you'll kill or overthrow an elected official. Your lot makes me sick!"
"Says the Mayor who sends out an agent to turn Preds Savage to boost her ratings! Says the mayor who's destroying Pred lives and putting Prey at risk by turning us into monsters! But when you sent your Wolf friend down to my theme park, you were messing with the wrong Fox. Where is he? I can smell him, he's in here hiding somewhere! Come out you coward!"
Swinton and Wurst were taken aback by the outburst, with the latter twirling his finger over his head as he turned to face the mayor, showing just what he was gauging from Nick's speech. Taking charge again, Swinton spoke up. "You're mad," she angrily shouted, "stark raving mad. I suppose you must have been to even consider your enterprise when we all knew the risks. But then again, there are always some who wish to tear down the safety and order generations worked tirelessly to create. You, Mr Wilde, are the most deluded, uncivilised member of the least respectable and most uncivilised species, of the most uncivilised order of mammals in this city! I can't imagine the horror of what will happen if you get your way, though I fear it'll be similar to what you did to that poor innocent Bunny!"
"Made her a better mammal?" Judy shouted, getting up behind Nick and holding him tight. "Making her kinder? Making her realise that what we do to the Preds in this city is wrong? Nick here is the nicest, kindest mammal I know, and soon the collars will be off and you'll be in jail, a footnote in history!"
Swinton stepped back in shock, her head rapidly scanning from Nick to Judy and from Judy to Nick. Then she breathed in and sighed, her eyes rolling before she spoke. "Kindness doesn't keep people safe," she wearily said, "deluded optimism doesn't put food on the table. Nothing can be done without sacrifice, that's as equal a truth as 1 plus 1 equalling two or my tail being curly. Judy… let me just say that, despite still being impressed at what you've achieved… I'm disappointed…"
And then there was a ping, the elevator at the back opening to reveal Woolly and the two other Razorbacks, armed to the teeth. Nick and Judy looked at each other immediately as they backed off, before shouting "RUN!" in unison, and legging it.
