Two Hours Later

Kai was at the staircase with Sirius, waiting for Arcturus to finish washing up; they were idly conversing when he walked up. Immediately, Sirius began guffawing.
"What's so funny?" Arcturus questioned, narrowing his gaze.
"Did you blow-dry?" the wolf responded, wiping tears from his eyes.
"Look who's laughing," Kai intervened, grabbing at Sirius' fur. "Your coat's falling off in patches."
"Hey, my winter coat's coming in! I'm not going bald!"
"Someday, I'm going to tell your pups the story of the Blind Bald Wolf."
"Oh, tell me!" Arcturus mocked.
"A long time ago, when tigers used to smoke, there was a wolf. He was an interesting shade of brown, just like your father. He was very foolish, just like your father. He was also called Ian, just like your father."
"Hey!" Sirius interjected. "I'm not foolish!"
"Ian was an ordinary wolf in every way, save for the fact that he was very extraordinary. Two doctorates in law at twenty-eight, a senator within a year: luck was shining down at him."
"What happened next?" Arcturus spoke in childish falsetto.
"One day, a very bad rabbit decided he wanted to rule the world. He tried to have everyone in his way arrested; this included our beloved Ian. So, Ian wisely fled and hid. He found a gun with which to defend himself, but in his foolishness, he forgot adequate food and water."
Sirius began tapping his hindpaw on the floor impatiently.
"He called his friend, the mystical immortal god—"
"Alright, now you're just flattering yourself," Sirius interrupted.
"Fine. He called his friend, the mystical immortal human—"
"Not much better."
"He was then advised to stay hidden, and should he be found, he would under no circumstances resist arrest. Soon, the evil rabbit knocked on Ian's door. Ian answered the door: 'Who goes there?'. The rabbit asked for Ian, but the wolf was clever; he told the rabbit that he wasn't Ian, but was, instead…" Kai began waving his hand, as if prompting Sirius.
"Archibald Wulford—"
Kai and Arcturus burst out into hearty laughter.
"He wasn't Ian, but instead, Archibald." Another chuckle. "The rabbit insisted on a look around; he walked in, put everything under his gaze, and found none other than Ian's driver's license."
"It was your jerky that gave me away."
"His what?" Arcturus asked.
"Beef jerky. Cow, cut up finely and dried. Quite tasty, actually, but unfortunately, Jack could just sniff it out."
"So when he said cannibal…"
"Procyon assures me that cannibalism is eating one's own species."
"The rabbit ordered Ian's arrest," Kai continued, "Ian broke the most important commandment from the sublime deity—"
"Now you're just overdoing it," Arcturus admitted.
"Fine, fine. Ian didn't obey the advice of his friend, and shot at the rabbit and his agents. After a lengthy struggle, the rabbit took out his knife and stabbed him in the eye."
"That's blind, what about bald?" Arcturus inquired.
"I've secretly been putting hair thinner in his shampoo."
Sirius screeched and began pulling at his fur; Arcturus began laughing.
"You didn't!" Sirius shouted.
"You're right, just kidding."
Sirius punched him more than lightly on the shoulder.
"Although, I must admit, you look rather cute when you're that fluffy and in an eyepatch."
"I'd rather be able to see," Sirius grumbled.
"And whose fault is it that you can't?"
"…Mine."
"Exactly. Go comb it out. I'm not going anywhere with you looking like that."
"We've already kept the others waiting for two hours!"
"I'll wait as long as it takes."
Sirius reluctantly hung his head low and walked down the hall.
"Pick up the pace," Kai called.
They watched him disappear, before a figure came running down the hall; it was Lyra.
"Did you remember the…" she asked, trailing off. Kai nodded, patting a pocket.
"What?" Arcturus asked.
"Nothing of real importance," Kai explained.
"Suit yourself."
Lyra ran off to the infirmary without another word.
"Really, though, what was that?"
"A collaboration project, of the viral kind."
"Hopefully you won't Mapleton the city, right?"
"Non-contagious."
"How did you get anything done in two hours?"
"I had base samples from the archives; it takes less than half an hour to splice genes with the technology I have."
"Impressive."

Eventually, Sirius returned, much less patchy than before. Kai donned his snow leopard disguise, and they proceeded to the surface, shortly thereafter setting out for the Court lodge. They ran rather slowly so as not to ruin their clothes, and no one was willing to start up a conversation. Before long, they reached the base of the hill. From the bottom, they could already see the large crowd waiting at the top. The trio slowly approached the entrance.
"Took you long enough," someone complained. They ignored her, and continued through the door. There, the concierge was frantically leafing through books under his desk.
"I hope you don't mind," Sirius began. "Could they, perhaps, stay inside?"
"I… I don't see why not. It's cold outside."
"You heard him!" Sirius shouted, ushering them inside; there, they quickly spread across the room, occupying the furniture.
"Now, you are all to remain here until I come for you. Do I make myself clear?" Kai demanded.
They all nodded.
"Then I've wasted enough time. Meeting's at nine?" Kai inquired.
"Y-yes?" the concierge muttered.
"That's only a couple of hours. Come, we're waiting inside."
He led his two companions into the currently unoccupied chambers; Kai dragged a free chair over to the center, took a seat, and leaned very far back, making himself comfortable.
"Make yourselves comfortable, it's going to be a long wait," he advised. They found seats among the front row, and also got cozy.

Slowly, members began to pour in; incredulous looks were plastered on their faces as they spaced themselves out. They all looked expectantly at Kai for answers, but he didn't even spare them a glance. The clock struck nine, and there were several hundred mammals in the auditorium, but no one came forward to begin the meeting. Sirius decided to join his protege on the stage to help pass the time. It wasn't until just over fifteen minutes later that a doe hurriedly ran through the doors, mask not even fastened. When she saw who was standing before the statue of Atlas, she paused.
"I should have guessed you were up to this, Sirius," she spoke with incredible distaste.
"Don't let him take all the credit," Kai piped up, uncrossing his legs and standing.
"His protege, then."
"Come forward, Rigel."
She took several more steps until she was looking him in the eyes.
"You are either very brave or very stupid to be standing this close to me."
"I fear nothing."
"Tell me, how did you let these events come to pass? Did you not once question what Altair was doing?"
"He's doing the right thing," she responded, confidently.
"War is never the answer."
"It would never go that far."
"A fifteen kiloton atom bomb could level a city. If he dropped it, do you honestly think there would be no retaliation?"
"No mammal would question that kind of authority."
"When they realize you only have the one that you dropped, they would rally billions against you. You, in essence, would have declared total war."
"Other mammals are fools. The only ones with any vision are right here." She motioned around.
"One last thing: Jack's bomb, it was your brainchild, was it not?"
"So what if it was? It was necessary."
Kai flipped the switch on his belt, and his disguise melted away. As more and more of his true visage became apparent, her eyes went wider, and her lower lip began to quiver. He leaned in very close and wrapped one arm around her.
"People kill to keep nuclear secrets," he whispered into her ear.
"No…" she breathed, trying in vain to back away.
"I thought you feared nothing."
When he pulled a knife from his belt, she struggled to break free, but he held her fast. She stared at the knife as it approached her until she could no longer see it; he pressed it firmly against her neck.
"I don't know what's funnier," Kai continued. "That you try to justify making a bomb, or that you justify Jack's actions."
"Why haven't you killed me yet?"
"First, because I expect you to tell me where Jack is."
"I imagine at City Hall. Surely that's not the only reason?"
"No." He pulled the knife away and sheathed it, before releasing her.
"Why, then?"
"I try not to make a habit of killing expecting mothers."
She stared, bewildered.
"W—what? What are you talking about?"
"Give your husband my congratulations," Kai said plainly.
"Wait a minute! I'm not pregnant!"
"If you really want me to kill you, then I'll be happy to oblige."
"No, I'm glad and all, but I've had my tubes tied!"
Kai laughed.
"Your doctor didn't do a good job, then. The only reason you're alive is because you have a shoddy practitioner. Now, back to business: Jack is in city hall. Why?"
"He took over the mayoral position."
"Call him for me."
Rigel carefully removed her phone, and then slowly dialed a number.
"Jack, I'm terribly sorry to bother you at this hour."
"I presume this is Ena?" replied the voice. "You know how busy I am."
"You presume correctly, and again, I'm very sorry. Listen, we have a slight problem."
"That being?"
"Well… I should let him explain." She gave her phone to the human.
"Him?" the rabbit inquired.
"Hello, Jack," Kai spoke. He heard an audible sigh on the other end.
"I figured you would still be alive."
"It takes more than a cage to kill me."
"So you were the one ruining my day, huh?"
"Give it up, Jack. You have nothing left."
"Nothing?" The rabbit sounded intrigued.
"Your bomb is gone. The rest of the court is free. You are out of bargaining chips."
"My bomb is gone? Singular?"
"You can't trick me. You only had one."
Jack laughed.
"I only hid the shipping manifests for one base from the commander. I took a gamble, and it payed off; as soon as you saw one blocked off, you immediately jumped the gun. There were three more just like it. Speaking of the base commander, I'll have to make sure to have him killed."
"So you have three more bombs. I'll just make sure to destroy them as well, just tell me where you've kept them."
"You'll be hard-pressed. As we speak, they're already flying across the Atlantic."
"Turn those planes around. Now."
"What, did you just realize that there's nothing you can do? Do you finally know what helplessness feels like?"
"This isn't helplessness, Jack."
"Well, then we'll talk tomorrow, once I've annexed Corsica. Until then, don't bother me; I have a press conference." The rabbit hung up.
"That motherfucker," Kai muttered. "Three more bombs."
Rigel shook her head.
"You can't win," she muttered.
"You are alive because I deem it to be this way," he hissed, retrieving a small remote from inside his vest. "Pray I do not change my mind."
"What's that?" Sirius inquired.
"He wants a war, I'll give him one he has no chance in hell of winning."
"You don't really mean—"
"I'm knocking those planes out of the sky." Kai punched several commands into the tablet, before stowing it and walking for the exit. "I'm going to find him, and I'm going to kill him. By the time I get back, I expect everyone in the lobby to be pardoned. Absolved of everything Jack slandered them with. Then, we'll talk about my demands, and the future of this Court."
"What do you mean, 'future of this Court'?" Rigel questioned.
"Whether or not Court will have a future." He exited and slammed the doors shut.

On his way out, he briefly paused in the lobby.
"All of you are free to do anything you wish. Make yourselves at home; I've made sure there will be no problems."
"Where are you going?" the closest mammal asked.
"I have to see a rabbit about a bomb." As he walked through the doors, Leora followed him out.
"What's wrong?" she inquired.
"He had four."
"What?"
"He had four bombs. We only got one."
Her eyes went wide.
"Surely we can go get them now?!" she quickly asked in a worried tone.
"They're already flying over the Atlantic."
"No…"
"Don't worry," he replied, a satisfied smirk growing on his face. "They can't outrun an antiballistic missile."
"It has to be a really fast missile to hit a bomber going five-hundred and fifty knots before they reach the other side of the sea."
"Seventy-eight thousand knots." He turned to leave. "I really need to get going."
"I'm coming with you."
"Suit yourself. Try to stay out of harm, and try to keep up."
"What hurry are you in? If you took care of everything, why the rush?"
"If Jack leaves, we may never find him again. All I know is that he is most likely in City Hall at a press conference."
"Wait, why do you know that?"
"He let it slip."
She stopped in her tracks, and he turned to face her.
"He didn't let it slip, I think he's intentionally baiting you," she voiced.
"Why would you say that?" he responded, raising a brow.
"He's director of the ZSS, he pulled all of this off without a hitch; do you honestly think it was a mistake?"
"I do, but I suppose a little undue caution never hurt." He switched on his wolf's disguise and took off towards the city. He occasionally glanced behind him to ensure that Leora was still following; every time he glanced, she lagged farther behind.

Eventually, however, he reached the North end of the city; he waited for his companion to catch up before continuing. As they walked through the streets, she did her best to contain her panting, but garnered stares nonetheless.
"Are you alright?" Kai inquired.
"Yeah, I just hate being stared at."
"Are you sure they aren't staring at me?"
"I look like a horror movie victim and I'm out of breath. Who do you think they're looking at?"
"Why do you care what anyone else thinks? All that matters is what you think. In any case, don't let yourself get distracted."
They came upon a very large crowd teeming to the brim with news crews. As they attempted to wade through the crowd, they were stopped by the mammals therein.
"Wait your turn! We all wanna get in!" someone shouted.
"What's going on?" Kai asked.
"You haven't heard? They're hosting a formal ball at city hall, followed by press conference from Mayor Savage."
"I see." He grabbed Leora by the arm and led her away. "We have to find another way to get in."
"I've got this." She pulled her phone from her pocket, and dialed a number, before putting it on speaker for Kai to hear. "Chief Bogo?"
"Leora, it's been nearly three days! Where are you?!"
"Listen, Chief, we need help."
"What kind?"
"We have to get into city hall."
"Why?"
"I assure you," Kai interjected. "It's important."
"You… I should have guessed that she would be with you."
"Jack nearly bombed several billion mammals off of the face of the Earth. You're lucky that I'm around."
"What are you talking about?"
"Savage sent bombers over the Atlantic. I knocked them out of the sky."
"Why should I believe you?"
"He's telling the truth, Chief," Leora explained. "Please, this is really important."
"Fine. Where are you?"
"About three blocks South of the main entrance."
"Alright, walk to Precinct One. I'll escort you personally."
"We'll see you there." She hung up, setting off for the police station.
"You handled that rather expertly, if I do say," Kai complemented.
"I have my uses."
"I never doubted you for a second."

They navigated around the large crowd, quickly reaching the steps of the precinct; at the top of the steps, Bogo stood in his dress uniform, arms crossed.
"Leora, what happened to you?!"
"Not much, why?"
"I mean… it's just that…" He motioned to her face. "He didn't hurt you?"
"I've been like that, Chief. At least two months."
"My apologies. Perhaps I didn't notice earlier because I was too overjoyed to see you." He turned to Kai. "Now, you owe me an explanation."
"I have to get to Jack first," Kai spoke. "I promise I'll explain everything, but first, we have to get him out of power."
"Suppose I choose to believe your first statement about him trying to bomb other nations. If that's not what the citizens want, then why did they vote him in with overwhelming majority?"
"Perhaps you remember a long series of arrests, all seemingly for treason?"
"How do you know about that?"
"He was getting rid of his political opponents. None of those charges are accurate."
"I can't believe that without evidence."
"We could wait around until he actually does something that gives you evidence, by which time he will have killed everyone that opposed him and built another bomb, or you can trust us on this one, and we take him down tonight."
The cape buffalo turned to face Leora, with an expectant look on his face.
"Please, Chief," she pleaded. "Give us a chance."
Bogo sighed.
"Well, I gave a rabbit a chance once, and she took down a major conspiracy. I suppose I can extend the same to you." He brushed past them. "Let's go."

They followed him through the streets, past a police barricade, and along the red carpet lining the steps of city hall. As they walked towards the entrance, camera bulbs flashed, and reporters made their comments about who the chief of police himself would be escorting. They showed very mild concern about their military uniforms, but quickly changed subject. The trio entered the main hall to find that numerous guests were already partaking in the festivities, and that dozens of mammals acting as security were walking about and lining the walls; their black suits and earpieces were fairly disconcerting.
"Fancy party," Leora noted.
"We're not here to party and eat hors d'oeuvres," Kai noted.

As they went further through the vast lobby, they attracted numerous stares from well-dressed guests, as well as the attention of the security. When they reached the far staircase that led further up the building, the guards stopped them.
"No guests past this point."
"Police business," Bogo explained, showing his badge.
"I have direct orders from the ZSS and the mayor, no guests past this point," the agent replied, showing his badge. "If you tell me the nature of your business, I can have it taken care of for you."
"I have a warrant for his arrest from the ZBI," Kai explained, fishing out and waving random papers from his coat, in the hopes that the guard wouldn't notice that they were actually miscellany.
"What? On what charges, and the hell is the ZBI?"
"Bureau of Intelligence, we deal with internal affairs and counterespionage."
"How come I've never heard of it?"
"Because we normally operate under a veil of secrecy. It's not exactly good for counterespionage if everyone knows about it."
"I'm going to have to radio this in, hold on."
Before the guard could do anything, Kai knocked him unconscious and dragged him out of sight.
"What are you doing?!" Bogo berated.
"I don't have time for this. Come on."
Before they made it more than ten steps down the hall, four more agents intervened, weapons drawn.
"You're all under arrest," one of them spoke.
"You know, Bogo, this is going to be hard if I can't kill them."
"No killing," the Chief hissed.
Kai shrugged, before flipping two, throwing one into the ground, and striking the fourth firmly in the chest. As the fourth staggered, he hit a wall and slid down, breathing heavily.
"Shit," Kai spoke, massaging his wrist. "Chief, I trust you can fetch a medic."
"What did you do?!"
"Commotio cordis. His heart stopped."
"You fix it, right now!"
"I can't." He quickly absconded with the handcuffs on Bogo's belt, followed by Leora, leaving Bogo by himself to fetch medical attention.

"You did that on purpose to ditch the Chief, didn't you?" Leora inquired. "You wouldn't make a mistake like that."
"As usual, you see right through my plans. It's highly unlikely that he would die, but Bogo should hurry, just in case."
After going through several more agents, they reached the mayor's office. Kai opened the door.


A/N: Brief author's note here, the next chapter should be out very soon after this one comes up. I just need to do a final proofread, and it'll be ready. This is the penultimate chapter, but don't worry. I'll still keep writing one way or another, preferably this fic.