"I guess Nate did put a little fox in you after all 'livi!"

"Shut the fuck up Holly!" I looked at the doctor who had given me the news, I was feeling very confounded over the whole situation, "what the hell do you mean I am 'part fox'?"

"Well, it's rather complicated you see."

"Humor me doc."

"Well, some pre-war medical records were found that showed how many geneticists, scientists who work at understanding and manipulating the mammal genome, had begun to wonder if it was possible for two completely different species to create a viable offspring. During those events in mammal history, the feelings toward interspecies relationships were very shaky at best. Research went into modifying mammalian DNA to allow two incompatible species to procreate without any genetic defects. After the war broke out most of those documents were lost or destroyed, we didn't even know if there was success in the field."

"Well obviously it worked."

"So wait… just to make sure I'm understanding this correctly, are you saying that somewhere down the line… a fox, and a rabbit, had children? Your joking, aren't you?" Mark didn't sound very sure of his own words.

"Essentially, that would be correct. If the files weren't lost we would've been able to pinpoint your ancestry, but unfortunately…"

"I couldn't care less about my fucking ancestors. What I do want to know is if this will have any negative impact on me. Am I one day going to wake up and find out that I'm no longer a bunny, or even a fox, but some mutated freak?"

"No, nothing like that. At least I don't think so…"

"You don't think so!?" I shouldn't have been feeling this way, but this entire situation was very… overwhelming to me.

"No, but there may be other side effects to this, such as traits that might normally be found in foxes, low-light vision, increased tactile and sinus senses. Though at the same time it is possible, but highly unlikely, that you'll lose certain traits, such as your naturally improved hearing."

I felt my ears with my paws, making sure they were sill long. I looked over my body the best I could. Fur was still auburn and white, my paws all looked normal. I felt fine. I felt like me, but I also felt… different. I had no idea if it was due to the changes happening to me, or simply because I knew about the changes. Either way, I didn't feel like myself right now.

I looked at my friends who were still in the room, but they weren't as close as before. My outburst at the doctor must have scared them. Fuck. I tried to get up but the medical equipment was not making it easy.

"Get this stuff out of me."

"But you really should…"

"Now."

He started to pull out the tubes from my body, and I felt a sharp pain as each one made a rather unsettling popping noise. My entire body felt stiff, but I was glad to be alive. As the doctor was patching me up I turned to the trio. Holly and Mark seemed worried, but it was Nate I was concerned about, and just as I thought, he didn't just look worried, he looked… scared.

"I'm… sorry."

"For what 'livi?"

"For snapping like that, for making you worry, for always trying to do things alone. I've come to learn how bad foxes seem to get it out here, and while I still can't comprehend the idiosyncrasies around the hatred towards a single species. I know it was stupid of me to react so negatively about this. It has nothing to do with it being fox DNA, rather it's simply having something… foreign in me that is making me feel, well, not like myself."

It was Holly who moved towards me first. "Don't beat yourself up over it 'livi. I'll admit we were all caught a little… off guard by your sudden reaction, but we know you, and know that you're better than that. And no matter what happens, we'll always be here for you. You just need to stop thinking about how to protect others, and start thinking about how others can help protect you." She came closer and whispered very quietly, "Although, it's Nate I'm worrying about right now. He… well, the stigma on foxes hits him the hardest, and while I don't think it changes how he feels about you, your outburst has left him feeling… well, I'm sure you can tell."

I was still looking at Nate, although I wasn't sure how long I had been doing it. He still had that look to him that just made me want to hold and comfort him. Was his past so bad that even an outburst like mine affected him so horribly? Mark was next to him, probably trying to help him through whatever he was feeling. Each time Nate glanced over at me I tried to smile, but I didn't know if it worked.

"Hey doc, how much longer do I need you to keep checking up on me?"

"Well, the radiation purge has been finished, and while there still might be trace amounts left, it's nothing critical. Your leg still needs time to heal though. I'd advise on resting before you do anything to undo all my work."

"Trust me, I don't plan on going anywhere, at least not until morning. Could you give me some privacy please?"

"Yes, of course. If you need anything, push that button over there and one of us will come."

"Thank you doctor."

"Well, looks like 'livi needs some rest. Let's leave her alone boys and make sure everyone else is doing good."

"Nate, could you… stay?"

"Um… I…"

"We'll be fine bro. You better go to her, you know how it is when I don't listen to Holly."

"Take that back brushbutt!"

Holly and Mark left calling each other 'names' that I was sure was just some affectionate banter between them. Nate was still standing nervously near the door. I felt, responsible for putting him into this situation. I let my emotions get the better of me without even thinking of anyone else.

"Nate? Could you come here?"

"I…"

He just stood there, nervously fidgeting with his paws. Was he afraid that I would do, or say something bad? Did he think I was disgusted to have fox DNA inside me? I got up, and while my muscles were still very sore and barely responsive, I still forced myself to walk, or rather hobble, over to Nate. I had to keep most of my weight on my left leg, since the wound in the right was still not healed fully.

I finally approached him but he seemed to back up a step as I got closer. The door was closed behind him, so there was no place he could go. I didn't want him to leave anyways, we had… a lot to talk about, but I wouldn't force it. I couldn't. He had to be willing to tell me, to tell me how his life in the Burrow left such a horrible impression on him. To tell me how even now, he still shows fear from someone close to him, despite all we've been through. To tell me how he really feels…

"Nate…"

I leaned in and kissed him. He was apprehensive at first, but I felt that start to melt away as I held him there. His body stopped trembling, and I felt his paws, and his tail, slowly wrap around me. We just stayed there, wrapped in each other's arms, for what felt like forever. I only pulled back when I felt the need to breathe.

"Olivia…"

"Shh. Come here."

I lead him over to one of the larger medical beds. They were not the most comfortable things in here, but I didn't want this moment to fade trying to find something better. I hopped up onto it and held my paw in a sign that I wanted him to join me. I still didn't know if this was the right time, or even the right place, but I knew that I needed it, and most importantly, I think he did too.

"Nate, we've only known each other for a short while, but it feels like we've known each other for a long time. I… I never really had friends before, yet alone feelings like… whatever these are, but In that short time I've come to consider Mark, Holly, and… you, my closest friends out here."

"What… what about… Onion?"

"He'll always be my first friend, but he's a robot, he's programmed to care about me. You… you three aren't like that. I've been dragging you on one suicide mission after another, and I have a feeling we've only seen the tip of the iceberg so to speak. I want to know that despite everything, that you, you personally, still want to be by my side for whatever the wasteland will throw at us, even after everything I've done or… said that might have made you think otherwise."

"I… do. I… care for you… but…"

"But what?"

"But… w-what if this… was my fault?"

"How could any of this be your fault?"

"B-back in… I was blamed for… e-everything, just because I was…"

"A fox? Like I told you before, I could care less what species you are. It's not the fox that I like, it's you, and you alone." I gave him a much gentler, shorter kiss to show him I was telling the truth.

"I can tell, both from your reactions and Holly's and Mark's that something bad happened in your Burrow," he seemed to tense up at the name, but I put my paw on his arm to try to comfort him, "and I want to know what. I'm not demanding you to tell me, I'm not even asking you to tell me now, I just… one of these days, when you're ready, I'll be here to listen."

"I…"

I was slightly surprised that it was Nate who initiated the kiss this time. I felt my cheek getting wet, but while I wanted to, I wasn't the one crying. I gently moved his face away from mine and wiped away his tears. I gave him a light kiss before jumping off of the bed we were sitting on.

"Where… where are you…"

I pulled back the curtain that divided the beds from the rest of the room and jumped back onto, what was for now, my bed. "The doctor said I needed some rest, so it's time for some rest."

Nate looked as if he wanted to leave, but I grabbed him by his shirt and pulled him on top of me. I forgot how heavy he was. We were in such a position that our eyes connected to each other's. I wasn't sure who was trying to initiate it this time, but I put my paw between our lips.

"No funny business mister. I may have some fox DNA in me, but that's the only fox I want in me." I smiled at him as I removed my paw from his muzzle, "at least for now."

Neither of us said anything as we kissed and cuddled in the bed. I was still sore, but I felt happy. Happy to be alive, happy to have friends, and mostly importantly, happy to know that there are others out there who truly cared about me. As I started to fall asleep, I didn't want this feeling to ever end.

I don't know how long I was awake, and part of me expected to be alone in the bed, but when I woke up to the feeling of warmth around me, I was glad that he didn't leave. He was still fast asleep and after all we've been through, I didn't want to disturb him by getting up, so I just stayed close and held him.

"We need to get Defender Skipps and Defender Clawzowitz out of their armor ASAP!"

What's going on? It was quiet and all of a sudden there was a loud commotion in the room. I tried to wake up Nate, but he was fast asleep. I slowly moved his arm and tail off of me and jumped down to open the curtain enough to see what the commotion was. There were two large Guardians in full armor being transferred onto a large machine. There were mammals dressed in full body gowns as they used the machine to pry the armored suits off of the mammals.

"What's going on? What happened to them?"

"You're still in here? A patrol just got attacked shortly after leaving the base." The doctor turned back to the others. "Hurry up! If we can't cauterize the wounds properly they'll be dead within the hour!"

Who was stupid enough to attack… oh fuck. I started shaking Nate, trying to wake him.

"Wh… what…"

"Wake up Nate!"

"What time is it?"

"That doesn't matter, we need to find the others, now!"

Between him being half asleep and the rude awakening I had just given him, he seemed very out of it. I grabbed him by the paw and pulled him off the bed. He fell but managed to right himself enough to follow me as we went to go find the others. He was still half asleep as we ran down the corridors trying to find out where the others were.

The entire place was on high alert. Guardians of all shapes and sizes were rushing all over as yellow lights flashed along the walls. I happened to spot Stalker Logan down the hall as he was giving orders to a small squad.

"Logan! What the hell is going on?"

"Our outer perimeter was ambushed and they're picking us off one by one!"

"Who?!"

"The Legionaries."

Why did I have to be right? As soon as I heard the commotion I knew, I just knew it was them. They must have tracked me back here. I thought that out of everyplace, that the Guardian headquarters would have been safe. Who the fuck wanted me this bad? The only one remotely close that I can think of would be that fucking boar. Besides the fact that I don't even know if he's alive and from what Mayor Swift said, they arrived at Hope long before we made it to Baird's place. So I highly doubted it was him. The only other possibilities were one of the numerous raider gangs that I pissed off, but why hire these guys when they can simply send their own?

"Logan, where are my friends?"

"Holly and Mark went to look for you two, I'm not sure about the others. Chief Lazlo is in the command room, I would get with him."

"Thanks, good luck."

"We don't need luck." He turned towards the other Guardians. "Who are we?!"

They all answered in one voice, "Lazlo's Guardians!"

I've been to the command center once before, but this place was so big that it was hard to find anything. He said that Mark and Holly went looking for us, but I don't remember seeing them. Nate was the only one with a Pip-Boar, so we couldn't call them. Let's just hope Onion is with them.

"Onion, come in!"

"Miss! We went to the medical facility but neither you or Mister Valiant were there!"

"We left as soon as we heard the commotion to find you guys. Are any of the others with you?"

"Yes Miss. The other Mister Valiant and Miss Kerrigan are with me. Miss Swift and Miss Tailoway are with the Chief and Mister Drake is, well I don't know where he is."

"Tell them to meet us at the command center, we're heading there now."

"Will do Miss."

Most of this place is underground so save for some kind of nuclear attack, we should be safe in here, but if these Legionaries are this desperate to get a hold of me, I doubt any of us will be safe for much longer. We still haven't found a way to make a Corpse Engine yet, so our current plan is at a standstill, even if we do have potential 'subject' for it. The thought of the plan makes me shiver. I still wasn't entirely sure this was a good plan, but it was the only one.

"Nate, you know where the command center is?"

"Yeah it's…" he looked down the different corridors we had stopped at before pointing down one. "Down there, I think."

"Good enough for me. Let's go."

"Olivia, about… earlier?"

"Now's not the time to discuss it," I turned and smiled at him, "but I liked it. Now get going!"

I saw a small smile form on his face as we bolted down towards the command center. Nate took the lead since he seemed to know where we were going. This place was definitely a lot larger than I realized. We had to have taken a dozen different corridors before finally arriving outside a set of doors marked: Command Center. Upon entering I saw that everyone, except Drake, was present.

"Okay, what the fuck is going on, and where's Drake?"

"Drake's still in the hangar. The others were, well too nervous of him to let him simply wander the place. As for the situation? Legionaries are hitting our smaller outposts and targeting our outer defenses. We've never had them attack us before, at least not this directly. It started about forty minutes ago."

Chief Lazlo was behind a large screen that was showcasing footage from the exterior. He spoke so calmly as if this was merely routine, but his words made it show that this was far from routine. I moved over to see the monitors and saw Guardian forces engaging similarly armed forces wearing black and gold uniforms. They may not have those massive armored suits, but they were still holding their ground against the Guardians.

"They're after me, no doubt."

"And they won't get you. The command center is at the deepest part of the base, it would take a series of tactical nukes to blow us open, but I don't even think that firepower exists outside of the cache deep within Guardian Outpost Alpha-One. It would be safer if you, all of you, stayed here while we take care of things surface-side, although, Miss Springs, we do have a dress code around here."

I was about to ask him what he meant when I suddenly realized I was still in my medical gown. I was in such a hurry that I didn't even think about changing. Thankfully Holly seemed to have been prepared. She came over and tossed me my bag, along with my clothes and coat, which looked like they had been cleaned. I moved over to a corner where I could get properly dressed. My Pip-Boar and gear had also made it into my bag, so I was all set to go.

"Chief Lazlo, I can't just sit here while your Guardians are getting killed because of me."

"'Livi, we all know you mean well, but those Legionaries, they mean business. If none of Lazlo's Guardians can take them, then what hope do we have?"

"The one thing I have learned during my time in the wasteland is that the moment you lose all hope, is the moment you've truly lost. If we have even the smallest sliver of hope to cling onto, we need to take that chance. If we don't, then we're no better than those fuckers out there."

"What'd you have in mind?"

"You're right Holly, a head on attack won't be good, all we need to do is draw them away in order for Lazlo to build their defenses back up, and I have an idea."

"This isn't one of your insane ideas, is it? Tell me it's not. It is, isn't it?"

"All my ideas are insane, what'd you expect? Now, here's what we need to do."

They didn't seem to like my plan, but no one ever did. Thankfully they didn't try to talk me out of it, probably because any of the other 'plans' involved us facing the Legionaries head-on. They already knew me well enough to know that I wouldn't take no for an answer, especially when other's lives are on the line because of me.

Once everyone had their part of the plan, I set out to find Drake. He was the essential part of it. Out of all of them, Nate was the one who didn't want me to go. I wanted to tell him that we would always be side by side, but I knew that would never be the case, but I did promise him that I was going to be fine, and for once, I believed it myself.

Just like Chief Lazlo said, Drake was in the hanger, but he wasn't hanging, rather he was pacing. The second he saw me he flew over and landed right in front of me.

"Drake. Sorry. Want. Help. No. Let."

"It's okay Drake. The others, well, I think the rest of the world won't be so easily accepting of you as we are. Now, you ready to fly?"

"Drake. Help. Drake. Fly."

"Good. Now in a few moments, they will open the hanger and we need to fly out as fast as possible. They won't leave it open more than a few seconds, you good?"

He didn't speak, rather spread his wings and let out some kind of noise that almost sounded like a cross between laughter and screaming. All I knew was that the sound hurt my ears and I really hope he never did that again. I heard the noise of a loud motor kicking in as the roof started to open. I then realized that I was asleep much longer than I intended. When we arrived here it was sometime in the afternoon, now it was night. This is going to make my plan a lot harder. Thankfully deathwings hunted at night.

"Ok Drake, fly!"

He grabbed me by the shoulders and lifted me up into the air. Before we had even cleared the hangar, the ceiling started to close again. I saw that it had been disguised under a large paved area. No wonder why I didn't see it before. Flashes of light caught my attention as I could make out the opposing forces in the distance. I realized that it must not have been as late at night as I thought. I could see rather clearly, but the moon was…

I remembered the doctor mentioning something about my newly 'awoken' genomes may give me new fox-like traits. Did that mean… I took a look away from where the flashing lights were, back towards the base. I could make out the details of the gas station, the road, abandoned cars and trucks. The moon was nearly above us but I was seeing like it was dawn, I had built in night vision!

"Drake, bring us as close to the fight as you can without landing. The second they make us their target, fly as high and fast as you can in that direction, got it?"

"Drake. Follow."

Now for phase one of my hastily put together plan. Let's just hope that the others are able to make it in time. Due to the cover of night, and Drake's rather silent flying, we made it to where the nearest combatants were as I felt us start to decline in elevation. As we got closer, I also hoped that Lazlo got his orders out to them. The last thing I needed was both of the groups attacking me.

When we got close enough, I turned my Pip-Boar's light on maximum and shone it right at the Legionaries. Lazlo's orders must have made it because the second the light turned on, all the Guardians ceased their fire and took cover. I pulled out my gun and sent a few warning shots at them, and by warning I mean I put a bullet into one of them. That got their attention fast as they all turned their guns on us.

"It's the rabbit! Don't shoot, we need her alive!"

They needed me… alive? No wonder they never tried to attack Hope while I was there. Who the fuck was so desperate that they wanted me alive! I knew nothing about mercenary work, but I'm sure it is easier to kill someone than take them hostage. This made me want to get to the bottom of this even more, but I had pressing matters.

I had thought that one of them fired a missile at me, but I knew it wasn't the case when the entire night sky lit up like someone just turned on the sun. I must have been visible for miles up here. I looked back and saw that not only the group I just passed had started to follow, but two more groups had joined them. Little did they know they were falling into my trap.

"Drake, faster!"

I felt him pick up speed as we moved far away from the base. More of the sky was illuminated from whatever they were firing, creating a visual path for them to follow me. We had flown far enough away that I could no longer see our origin, and that meant it was time for phase two.

"Drake! Stop and turn around, keep this height and make a few passed over them!"

"Rabbit. Crazy."

"You should have learned that by now! Trust me!"

He must have had faith in me because he stopped abruptly and turned towards the pursuers. A couple of them fired as we flew overhead but Drake was too fast for them. Either that or they were afraid of accidentally hitting me. I still had no idea why they wanted me alive, but it was working in our favor. They should be here any…

The familiar sound of a grenade launcher tore through the air. Seconds later, the crowd of now at least a dozen Legionaries were scattered by a well placed grenade. One of the Guardian's Tac-Lifter's appeared over the horizon and darted towards us. Between my newly acquired night vision, and the remnants of the illuminated sky, I saw Mayor Swift leaning out of the aircraft, a grenade launcher in paw. That was twice the mayor saved my ass.

Phase three relied on Stalker Logan and his squad, and he was right on time. The Legionary forces below were scattered, but they were not down yet. They opened fire upon the Tac-Lifter that contained Mayor Swift, but before they could bring out the big guns, they were met by Logan's team who rushed and engaged the rear of the Legionary group. Chaos broke out as they were torn between the aircraft, the engaging forces, and trying to take down Drake who was busy dodging their volleys.

"Drake, fly me behind the Guardians and drop me off."

He lifted further into the air, trying to avoid incoming fire and carried me behind Logan's force. Just as Drake and I landed, I saw two more Tac-Lifters enter the fray, along with at least a dozen Exo-Armor wearing Guardians, lead by Chief Lazlo. Lazlo stopped by me as the rest of his forces engaged the enemy.

"Glad to see you're okay Olivia! We can take it from here. Your insane stunt worked out better than any of us thought."

"Between you and me Chief? It worked out better than I thought too. It turns out fate worked in my favor too. I overheard one of them say they wanted me, alive."

"Alive? That makes things much, much worse I am afraid. The Legionaries will do anything for caps, but that doesn't always come cheap. Taking a target alive, getting them to attack a major Guardian outpost? Whoever hired them must have more caps than anyone in the wasteland, and if they're willing to throw away that much just to get one rabbit, then that person is also the most dangerous mammal in the wasteland. What did you do to piss them off?"

"I don't know! I can't imagine anyone who would go through those lengths just to capture me."

A Tac-Lifter landed and the rest of my friends came to join my side. Nate was the first one to reach me as I instinctively grabbed and kissed him.

"Did you get it?"

"I… yes, but…"

"But? But what?"

"Well… I was able to intercept the… signal, but while trying to triangulate the signal's origin, another one popped up. I wasn't able to get them both before they vanished." I went to say something, but his ears perked and a smile formed on his face. "However… both signals were in the same direction, so I was able to get a proximity location. It's still about a mile in diameter, but if I can intercept another one, I can further triangulate it."

"It's a start." I noticed that Blanche had propped herself among Onion's antenna array. "If things go according to plan, we may not need your Corpse Engine after all Blanche. But if things go south, at least we have a backup plan."

"No fur off my back. Not like you had anyone to operate it."

"I figured since you brought it up, that you would be the operator."

"No fucking way ass-twat! I ain't getting in one of those things, even if you gave me a million caps!"

"That… would have been nice to know earlier."

"Well you never asked."

All I could do was sigh. I really knew how to pick them, didn't I? Maybe I'll end up befriending a Legionary who will just tell us everything we need to know, avoiding the whole need to seek out the answers by force. The way things have been going, I don't think it would surprise me one bit.

We said goodbye to Chief Lazlo and thanked him for all his help. I wanted to say goodbye to Mayor Swift, but he told me that they were taking her back to Hope right after this. Her citizens were probably worried sick over her safety. She spent long enough away from them. I overheard Lazlo tell Nate that that thing he wanted will be delivered to their bunker in a few days.

"What was that about?"

"Oh, the Wizkit has been looking for some stuff for a special 'project' of his, and the Chief happened to have something. Guess he felt indebted to us for rescuing the mayor and his troops from Darkwater, and now saving their hides from those Legionaries as well. The Chief may be a tottering old coot, but he's one of the kindest souls we met out here, next to you that is."

"They're few and far between, aren't they Holly?"

"This world has the tendency to take the most kind hearted of mammal and turn them inside out, corrupting every last being of their soul until there's nothing but a husk left. The Chief, Mayor Swift, you. You all find your own ways to hang onto the smallest piece of good in you, and that's what makes you better than anyone else out here. That's what makes you stand out like a beacon in the night. You might be the most insane mammal I've ever known Olivia Springs, but deep inside, you are also the kindest. I think Nate knows that too."

I looked at Nate. He was happy, happier than I think I had ever seen him. Even when he didn't want me to go as a distraction, I could tell that despite his concern for my safety, that he had changed. He looked, sounded, felt happier, even after everything we've been through, after everything I've said, or done.

"So… I heard that you and Nate…"

"Way to ruin the moment Holly!"

I knew she was just teasing me, that was, in her own way, how she showed she cared. They all cared. I'm glad I left Burrow Seventy-Six. In there, I don't think I would've ever had a life this good. In there, I don't think I would've ever been this happy.

I've changed too, and if I can change, if Nate can change. This world can change, and I want to be there helping it in whatever way I can.

The smallest sliver of hope. That's all I needed.

—

Fallout: Zootopia After Show

Featuring:

'Stripes in the Morning'

[Stripes]

"Good morning Zootopian Wasteland! This is your host with the most, the veritable visionary of verbal communication, everyone's favorite zebra, C. Stripes with Stripes in the Morning! Good news folks, today will be an educational show!"

[Max]

"Um, how is that good news? No one's tuning in for a lecture."

[Stripes]

"Now, now Max, I have good reasoning behind today's show, but first, let me ask you a rather personal question."

[Max]

"And if I refuse?"

[Stripes]

"Let's just say I finally learned where you store your good coffee."

[Max]

"How did you… never mind, fine. Ask away."

[Stripes]

"I had a feeling that would work. Now, if you could have any girl, or (coughing) guy, I won't judge, what species would it be?"

[Max]

"Really? Well she would happen to be an Amazonian River Otter thank you very much."

[Stripes]

"Well, color me surprised. With all this fox/rabbit loving going on, I figured it'd be some kind a bunny. So, Amazonian, huh? You like the big, strong type don't ya?"

[Max]

"Yeah, I answered your question, and that's all your getting out of me and I swear if you even think of bringing this up again...Let's just say I know where you're keeping that Bunnyburrow Cider. So Stripes, since it seems you can't help but to butt in on another mammal's preferences, what would your dream mammal be?"

[Stripes]

"That's an easy one. A giraffe. There's something about those long legs, that long neck, and that tongue, oh, what a lovely tongue they have."

[Max]

"I'm gonna cut you off right there. This may be a mature rated story, but I don't think anyone wants to picture where you're going with that."

[Stripes]

"Spoil sport. Anyways, the reason I was asking this is as everyone just found out, Olivia Springs has some foxy DNA in her system. Well, that's is where our history lesson begins! We shall go back in time to before the war, where I'll be like Mr. Peabody with my faithful assistant Sherman!"

[Max]

"Um, if anyone is going to be Mr. Peabody, it's me. I may be your assistant, but I've saved your striped ass more times than I can count on all four paws."

[Stripes]

"Well this is my show, so I can be anyone I wanna be, and I choose Mr. Peabody, now where are my glasses, I need to set the mood…"

[Max]

"You don't even wear glasses!"

[Stripes]

"It's called a prop… hey give that back! Oh, be careful with that or else you'll… whelp, that's coming out of your pay."

[Max]

"But you don't even pay me! Gah! Just cut it out with this copyrighted bullshit before you get us slapped with a cease and desist and get on with the damn show!"

[Stripes]

"Fine, fine, doubt anyone who cares enough to do that is tuning in… oh yeah, forgot we actually have people who are tuning in, so without further ado, let the show begin! So, as I said, we'll be doing a little tour of history. About, oh I'd say ten or so years before the war broke out, the singer Gazelle was helping to fund a small scientific project. You see, there were two major events that caused rifts between mammals. Firstly, and the more showcased one were the rifts between predators and prey species. This was a strong enough motivator for Gazelle to establish rallies, fundraisers, and charities, many of them funded from her own pockets. She may have been a multi-billion dollar international sensation, but while other celebrities were buying their third mansion and tenth car, she was using all that money to actually help make a difference.

"Now, that out of the way, there was another issue, one that the media didn't cover nearly as much, but was a concern to both predator AND prey. This was interspecies relationships. Sure, in the wasteland you see interspecies and same sex couplings everywhere, but in the wasteland, there are no rules, and if someone judges you? Well, there's no one to stop you from putting a bullet between their eyes. I've seen mammals get killed for less. Back then? Oh, those were two hot buttons that most mammals were either too afraid, or too put off to talk about. That's where Gazelle stepped in. No one knows if she had any interspecies affairs, but her decedent lives on today, so there's that. Now, back to this little project she was helping to fund.

"You can legalize interspecies marriages all you want, you can even change everyone's opinions about it if you have the time and patience, but there's one thing you can't change. Biology. Or so we thought. In a natural state, two distinctly different species can't bare young. Sure some, like a zebra and a horse, could potentially do that, but they're still within the same equine species, but two completely different species? A fox and an otter? A zebra and a giraffe? A… fox and a rabbit? Not possible, not by a genetic standpoint at least. That's what Gazelle had hoped to change. She didn't want to simply allow any couples to have children regardless of species, she wanted them to have children, who in turn could have children of their own, to create an entire lineage of interspecies families.

"Now, from what little information we have of this, with most of it lost during the war I'm afraid, it took a few years to figure it out, and a few more to actually get it to work. Early tests created mutated hybrids that were not able to live more than a few days. Now, before anyone starts to get outraged at these tests, I assure you that these were done with willing participants, or at least that's what these Burrow-Tech documents tell me…"

[Max]

"Yeah, I don't believe that for a second, especially considering their detestable track record and what's been discovered over the past few decades."

[Stripes]

"Either way, they eventually figured out that a hybrid of DNA was too unstable and unpredictable to go with, so they simplified the process by allowing the dominant of the two genes to create a singular species. If, let's just pick two random species that have no significance what so ever to the story, like a fox and a rabbit. If said fox and said rabbit were to have a child, it would either be a fox, or a rabbit, not a hybrid of both. Sure, the offspring would be have dormant DNA belonging to the other species nestled within their own, but unless some freak accident, like being bathed in massive amounts of radiation, occurred, they would remain dormant. Now, that doesn't mean a couple could only ever have one species, twins of different species can be possible, but unfortunately only six known candidates were able to volunteer before the war broke out and once that happened, it was deemed by the military to be a waste of resources that could be better used protecting the Zootopian citizens. When Burrow-Tech was founded, they absorbed all the research and any information regarding the Inter-species Procreation Experiment was lost."

[Max]

"So, there could potentially be other mammals with hybrid DNA out here?"

[Stripes]

"From what I've read, yes. It's possible, but unless we test every single citizen, we'll never know for sure. Well, that's all we have today folks! I hope today's history lesson was both informative and enjoyable! Tune in next time for our special guest… hmm, I seemed to have misplaced my paperwork, hey Max, who do we have on the docket for Sunday?"

[Max]

"Really… ? AGAIN?! Do I have to staple those things to your tail or forehead for you to remember where they are at this point? Cause lemme tell ya, I got quite a few requests to play that recording of me kicking your tail out to the Eastern Barrens and back while you were in that self induced coma last week. And if you absolutely MUST know, I set you up with a little surprise… Had to trade a fair few caps from your savings but I think it'll be worth it in the end. Even went ahead and scheduled it so you don't somehow just pop in and freak the poor Ghoul out. Have fun with North West Buddy."

[Stripes]

"Ah, yes, that sounds about right. So tune in next time folks and remember, I will be working to find all the juicy little tidbits so you don't have to! Good night everybody! Wait… What do you mean out of my savings? Max… ?"

[Max]

"Oh don't worry so much, it was only like… twenty five hundred caps or so. NO biggie for such a rich mammal as yourself. Oh and… I made a new friend, really helpful little fella, though I think you've already met him… Say hi buddy!"

[Gary 23]

"Gaaaary… "