Gwen cautiously walked back and forth in her living room. She wasn't as rich as her boss, but she made enough to make end's meet( if you get my idea). She sure had a lot on her mind.
"Who would want to take my boss?", she wondered, "Sure his competition in biz is tough, but nobody stoops this low. Do they?"
She paused to sit on her couch and brush her reddish brown hair with a hairbrush. She had a lot on her mind, but she was in the middle of a funk. With Stan gone, she had to manage the company in his stead making it look like Stan was just out of town on business. She got up and started to go to her dining room table when a knock came at her door.
"Who's knocking at this hour?", she wondered.
She went to answer it and Dudley and Jeremiah were on the front step.
"Gwen Herald?", Jeremiah asked, "We were wondering if we could talk."
Gwen looked nervous.
"About what?", she asked.
"Stan.", Dudley said trying to sound sincere, "Any idea on what might have gone on at the charity party?"
Gwen didn't look to happy, but she allowed the dogs to come in. As Jeremiah and Dudley sat on the couch, Gwen brought in coffee and her hands shook a little when she poured it, but didn't get any on the floor. She then sat in a chair opposite of her guests before conversation got underway.
"Ms. Herald, just out of curiosity, Stan Walker doesn't have any enemies, does he?", Jeremiah asked.
"His competition in business is tough, but our competitors wouldn't go so far as kidnapping as far as I know of.", Gwen informed, "After one of our designs for Guardian armor got stolen, we assumed it was industrial espionage, but then we found something."
Gwen got her laptop and set it on the coffee table so that both her guests( as well as herself) could see it. She pulled up a video surveillance video and pressed play. A black and white image appeared on the screen. It showed a vault door slowly opening and a zebra rushing in and stealing a bunch of papers before stuffing them in a briefcase and running off. Another shot appeared from a camera that looked like it was taken outside which showed the zebra's face for a second as it climbed over the gate and vanished into the shadows.
"When was this taken?", Dudley asked.
"Two weeks ago.", Gwen informed, "Now get this."
She rewound the tape to when the thief had it's face shown and paused it. She then zoomed in and both Dudley and Jeremiah raised an eyebrow.
"Stan stole from his own company?", Jeremiah asked.
"He didn't.", Gwen informed, "Stan was at a press conference that night. I escorted him there myself."
Iris and Kitty saw Dudley and Jeremiah come out of Gwen's house and clearly they looked bummed.
"Anything?", Kitty asked.
"Nothing we can use.", Jeremiah said, "Stan is the only one who knows how to get around his development areas without setting alarms off, but he was with Gwen two weeks back at the time another crime was committed at Stan's company."
"That's absurd.", Dudley said, "Nobody can be in two places at once."
Jeremiah's eyes brightened.
"That's just it."
"What's it?", Dudley asked.
"That nobody can be in two places at once?", Iris guessed.
"Exactly.", Jeremiah stated, "Gwen provided information that Stan was terrible at public speaking and the Stan she was with that night, and the one running in this election both spoke with determination and confidence. Two things Stan Walker doesn't normally have."
"So Stan Walker, isn't Stan Walker?", Kitty guessed.
"That appears to be the case.", Jeremiah stated.
"How does this relate to what happened at the charity ball?", Dudley asked.
"That the Stan Walker imposter tried making a quick getaway and frame Mayor Bear?", Kitty suggested.
Jeremiah and Iris both smiled which confirmed Kitty's suggestion was correct.
"Who do we know who can impersonate people?", Dudley asked, "So far we only have Chameleon and Francisco."
Chameleon was one of Petropolis' main criminals who could shape shift at will and Francisco was an alligator that worked at DOOM until Zero made it so he could shape shift too. Were they part of this elaborate scheme? The team was about to find out.
Chameleon and Francisco burst through the wall of a large store carrying a large crate of stuff.
"Got the goods?", Chameleon asked as they ran off down the street.
"Double checked.", Francisco informed, "This stuff better be worth it if we're going to make an impact around here."
Both criminals shifted into fast moving scooters and were zooming down with the goods. Just then, they heard a familiar sound of motorized vehicles.
"Now what?", Chameleon asked.
Both villains looked behind them.
"Oh great, we got company.", Francisco griped.
Both villains picked up speed, but their pursuers only got faster. Finally, as they got closer, Dudley and Jeremiah jumped as Kitty and Iris activated a missile which blew a couple fire hydrants which splashed Chameleon and Francisco causing them to shift back into their true selves and crash on the pavement with the crate flying, but landing safely nearby. Chameleon and Francisco got tackled and then pinned by Dudley and Jeremiah who held them down while Iris and Kitty pulled up beside them.
"We have a few questions we'd like to ask you gentlemen.", Jeremiah stated coldly, "If you're lying, I'll know."
He gripped Chameleon's shoulder tightly causing the reptile to flinch in pain.
"What do you want to know?", Chameleon asked.
"Who's behind all of this.", Jeremiah continued.
"And if we refuse?", Francisco asked.
Dudley didn't answer, but he did draw his blaster and pointed the barrel at Francisco's head. Jeremiah however did nothing.
"If you want information on Stan Walker, you're out of luck.", Chameleon stated, "We were just stealing some appliances for home decoration."
When Chameleon said this, Iris and Kitty went to the crate and opened it to check the contents. Sure enough, it was what Chameleon said it was. Jeremiah didn't let Chameleon up, but he wasn't buying this information.
"What do you have on this election?", he asked.
Chameleon started sweating and Jeremiah knew it was a sign of nervousness, but before he could do anything, Francisco broke down.
"Okay, okay.", he wailed, "I'll talk, I'll talk."
Dudley raised an eyebrow.
"We're listening."
Francisco took a breath before continuing.
"We were told to do this to buy time to make sure Stan got behind enemy lines."
Jeremiah's expression darkened.
"If you two are scapegoats, who calls the shots you take?"
"We don't know.", Chameleon stated( he cracked up by now), "But we do know that the election is just a step toward a larger take over."
Jeremiah's expression lightened, but he and Dudley smacked on a couple cufflinks before taking them back to the car.
After putting the two shifters behind bars, both teams stopped at a diner for some breakfast. Dudley was chomping on his plate of bacon, Kitty had fresh waffles, Iris was dining on on flapjacks, and Jeremiah had himself an omelet. Deep in thought, Dudley could tell Jeremiah wanted something to click, but so far they had nothing. The television on the wall was displaying the news which still was about the abducting of Stan Walker.
"You okay?", Dudley asked Jeremiah.
"I'm just annoyed.", Jeremiah informed, "It's like someone's trying to make it so we don't find them. Thought we had a lead, but we didn't."
Kitty got up.
"Sorry, got to use the restroom. Be right back."
Kitty went off and Iris went to pay the bill as Dudley and Jeremiah continued to think.
"So we have a Stan imposter, stolen blueprints, an election, and some blood samples Jack had.", Dudley said, "What does it all lead to?"
"Or to who?", Jeremiah added, "Zero clearly thought this through."
"Or someone very smart.", Dudley put in.
Not a bad idea to some, but before Jeremiah got any ideals, the sound of harsh fighting came from the back where the restrooms were. He and Dudley got to their feet and were heading over with Iris( who had finished paying the bill) at their heels. When they got to the doors, the ladies room door opened and out toppled the same armored panther from the other night with Kitty lumbering in afterward looking like she was certainly roughed up. The panther's helmet was dented and was sparking as if it was about to explode. Then it died out and the panther just lay there motionless.
"What happened?", Dudley asked.
"This sneak jumped me while I was powdering my nose.", Kitty said motioning toward the panther, "He put up quite a fight, but after I threw a wrench into his helmet, he faltered and fell over."
"Where did you get a wrench?", Jeremiah asked.
"I had one in my purse.", Kitty said, "Was planning on fixing my pipes when I got home."
Jeremiah removed the helmet from the panther's head to reveal it's wearer to be unconscious. Dudley looked with him at the strange framework and exposed circuits underneath the plating.
"Any idea what this is?", Dudley asked.
"I don't, but Doc might know.", Jeremiah stated.
As Iris and Kitty continued to watch the down panther, Jeremiah and Dudley set up a scanner and phoned Dorian.
"Doc, we got attacked by someone and we're sending a scan of it's helmet structure.", Jeremiah said as Dudley did just that.
Dorian looked over the scan.
"By the outline, I can make this out as a cerebral pacification system. It keeps the mind dormant, but the rest of the body becomes like a robot that obeys commands from an outside force.", Dorian informed, "An that's only the helmet."
"So the helmet is a mind control device?", Dudley guessed.
"That appears to be the case.", Dorian said, "I'll need a scan of the rest of the armor to get further detail."
Iris and Kitty got the panther into a chair and Dudley tied his hands and Jeremiah tied his legs. Just then, the panther stirred and slowly woke.
"Where..am..I?"
Jeremiah walked in front of him and looked into his emerald green eyes.
"I'll do the asking here. Now why did you jump Ms. Katswell here?"
He mentioned toward Kitty and the panther looked perplexed.
"I attacked you?", he asked, "I just signed up for a test pilot for demonstrating this armor by Stan Walker. I slip the visor on, then I just blacked out."
Jeremiah didn't take his eyes off the panther's. Being a former criminal, Jeremiah could tell when someone was lying, but Dudley was a different story.
"Stan, hired you?", Dudley asked.
The panther nodded.
"I was one of his volunteers for his projects."
Jeremiah's look didn't flinch.
"Do you have a name?"
"Adrian Manchus.", the panther stated plainly.
"Okay, Adrian.", Kitty said calmly, "We're going to remove your bindings and-"
"Kitty!", snapped Dudley , "What if he attacks again or tries to get away?"
"I don't think he will.", Jeremiah said calmly, "Will you Adrian?"
Adrian shook his head and although Dudley was hesitant, he knew he was outvoted. So as Kitty and Iris released the ropes binding his hands and feet, Adrian started talking.
"It was three weeks back.", he started, "I was on my way back from my morning workout at the Petropolis gym and I found a flier for volunteers at Walker Industries. Normally, I wouldn't go anywhere strange, but after I found out the payment they would give, I was in. I met Stan shortly after I arrived and at first I thought it was Giovanni and-"
"Giovanni?", Iris asked, "Who's that?"
"Stan's twin brother.", Adrian answered, "He disappeared a couple months back. Police say it was an accident. He came home one night and was blown apart in his own home. Giovanni and Stan were close as close can be. But then Giovanni got greedy and wanted the company for himself. Even tried to sabotage his brother's reputation. He's quite a criminal genius."
Jeremiah and Dudley both looked interested.
"Would he impersonate?", Jeremiah asked.
"Sure.", Adrian said, "He and Stan impersonated each other all the time back when they got along."
Jeremiah and Dudley slowly smiled. Now, they had information that could finally put all this drama to rest once and for all.
Dudley and Jeremiah walked up to City Hall with Adrian beside them and Iris and Kitty covering the rear.
"Are you sure you told us all you know?", Dudley asked.
Adrian nodded.
"Yeah."
Just as they approached the doors, they heard the sound of gunfire. Not waiting til it quieted, Dudley and Jeremiah bolted to the doors and when they opened them, what was on the other side was only described as pandemonium. Several official police officers were crouched behind barriers made of desks and firing at a squad of armored assailants in armor resembling knights. The group got behind a barrier as the enemy forces opened fire.
"What is going on?", Dudley asked.
"Looks like Giovanni found out we had dirt on him.", Jeremiah stated.
"Well, let's get in there and kick some metal.", Kitty stated.
No use arguing there. Dudley and Jeremiah jumped right into the fray with Kitty and Iris following. Adrian took advantage of the situation and phased into the ground. His helmet might have been removed, but he still could phase through surfaces like he did before. Dudley and Jeremiah made it to the enemy forces dodging several explosive bullets as well as laser beams. Once there, they made quick work of the rabble and continued on. In the main conference room, they noticed a chair at the far end with it's back turned to them.
"So, you made it here.", a voice said from behind the chair.
Dudley and Kitty held their blasters out, but didn't fire.
"Turn around slowly and hands in the air.", Kitty said firmly.
The chair did turn and sitting in it was another zebra. This one was dressed in a flowing dark coat with a white outline. He also wore leather gloves, brown hiking boots, dark pants, and a gray shirt. The zebra's dark eyes narrowed. He looked like Stan alright, but something was different about him.
"So you found out my scheme."
"Save your breath for the judge.", Dudley stated, "You have a lot of explaining to do Giovanni."
Giovanni smiled.
"Why do so?", he asked, "You think you figured out everything?"
Kitty and Dudley still kept their blasters up, but still didn't fire. Something didn't feel right and Jeremiah and Iris knew it also. Giovanni was right there in front of them, but something gave off a strange vibe of danger. At that moment, the table and other chairs slid into the floor as Giovanni rose from his which slid into the floor also.
"Well, I thought you TUFF agents were supposed to shoot first and question later, but it seems I was mistaken."
"I'll show you mistaken!", Dudley barked.
He just pulled the trigger when his blaster and Kitty's blaster both split in two as if they had been cut by invisible knives. An armored gazelle slid across the floor and stood in front of Giovanni. Then the floor opened up three more holes behind it.
"What now?", Dudley asked.
"I don't know, but it looks like we're gonna fight.", Kitty stated.
Jeremiah and Iris joined Dudley and Kitty as they got into fighting poses. Something was coming up from below, but what?
A/N: Adrian's name is based of Mr. Manchas from "Zootopia". I don't claim anything.