Chapter 24: Investigation
The next day after patrol, we start our investigation, we start with the closest person named on the list. We get mom and dad's old cruiser, it's the only one made for our size. We go through all of them, only two of them were not home, we rule out the rest. We are approved for some over time to talk to the last two on the list. It's not a very good part of town, but it's not "happy town" either. The first person on the list is a bust, but the last person isn't.
"Good even ma'am, we're officers Wilde, can we ask you some questions"? She looks exactly like mom. "Sure officers, is it about the fight in the street last week"? "No ma'am, it's about this mammal". Susan shows her the photo. Her eyes get big, and she tries to slam the door in our faces. I had built a power block to stop the door from closing. Her eyes go to panic. "Ma'am, were not here to hurt you, we are just here for some answers". She deflates a bit, and opening the door, ushers us into the living room. "How did you find me, and how are you going to do this"? "Ma'am"? "You're here to kill me aren't you"? "No ma'am we are just cops, why would you think we are here to kill you"? "everyone else in my small family has been killed, including my mom, that's who you just showed me, I reported her missing, saying she was my sister".
"So, are you Gwen or Genie"? She gets another shocked look on her face. "Wow you know a lot for a couple of cops, I'm Genie". "Do you know what this is all about, and what your grand father was into"? "I take it back, you know nothing, get out". "Ma'am we know little at this point, other than your grandfather was some type of scientist, and it had something to do with an "Operation Renew". We have the files and it's only a mater of time, before we decode them". "Ok, if I give you the answers, will you leave me alone"?
"We could, but you still have some family out there, and I'm sure she would like to meet you". "Right, I don't believe you, this is just a ploy to gain my trust, I had a special connection with my sister, but that disappeared when I was nine". "Ma'am your twin sister is alive, you mother the night you were born passed your sister to another bunny in the waiting room, before she ran out the door with you". "Right, let's just say I believe you, why has she never looked for me"? "She never looked for you, because she didn't know you existed. We only stumbled onto the file a few days ago ourselves". "Ok, what do you want to know". "Can you start the night you were born? We would like to understand everything".
"Right, the night I was born, you know I'm not a real bunny, right? I'm a clone. I'm a clone of my mother, dad was a geneticist, they really didn't use that designate back then they just called him a biological scientist. He found this strange set of genes in my mother, about ten-percent of her DNA couldn't be classified, and he worked with that. He managed to get some viable embryos from my mother eggs and this gene. My mother was the mother of herself". She laughs for a bit. "Kind of ironic don't you think? Anyway, I remember all of it, we stayed for a few days so mom could tie up some lose ends, and bury my brother. the night we ran from the farm, we were shot at from the woods. Mom drove away, boy could she could drive, she eventually lost the tail. and we had been running ever since.
Mom hooked up with a few mammals over the years, but the scariest one was about fifteen-years ago Kevin Mason, he was nice to mom and me for a few months, and then he changed. He became very possessive of her, and made some sexual advances towards me, So, we ran again. First time we ran from some one specific. Every time they would find us; we would run again. Where mom got all the money we had, I'm not sure, but we had enough to survive. I have used that account, there is still a lot of money in there. And I learned everything, I was a fast learner I had my grade twelve by the age of six. Then came the night she disappeared, I reported it a day later, but I knew she was gone, I could feel it. I packed up and ran again. I have been safe for the last nine years, but now here you are, and I 'm going to have to disappear again".
"I don't think so ma'am, we can protect you". "How can you, you're just a regular cop". "Well Genie my partner and I are special, we can protect you. Just then Susan's ears swivel to the front door. She reaches for her gun at the same time the door is kicked it. I grab Genie and tackle her to the floor. Susan tranks the first person in the door. Gun fire the erupts from the door. Susan fires out the front door and manages to trank the second perp. We hear more pad falls and all three of us run out the back door. We are shot at as we exit.
Genie and I are hit, but the wounds are not serious, my right arm and Genie's left leg. I pick her up, and continue to run. Susan manages to trank the one in the bushes. We run down the back alley. Susan switches her gun from tranks to bullets. We hide behind a garbage can, as a car speeds by. Susan rips her sleeve off and ties it around Genie's leg. I just stop the flow of blood from my arm with power. We call our littermates and continue to hide behind the garbage can. Susan hears some one coming down the alley. We see a gun come slowly around the can. Susan jumps up, knocks the gun to the ground, and grabbing the perp, knocks him out and drags him behind the can with us. In the distance we can hear sirens. I turn my radio on and tell them where we are. Not a half minute later we have a cruiser at our location.
The perp is loaded in the cruiser, and the rest of us wait for the ambulance. It's then I noticed Susan had been hit as well, her left foot. We are all taken to the hospital. We have Genie protected in one of the examine rooms, she's not happy' but relaxes a bit. Susan and I are both treated, and we join Genie in her room. "Well you were right you could protect me, thank you".
Just then mom and dad rush into the exam room. They hug us both, and mom then notices Genie, her paws fly up to her muzzle, and her eyes get big as she goes into shock mode. Genie does the same thing; it was like seeing a mirror image. They just stare at each other. Mom was the one to come out of her shock first. "Hi I'm Judy Wilde, you are"? mom asks this with her paw extended. Genie takes her paw, and they both freeze. Susan and I can feel a bond snap into place, they both start to cry. "Well this is strange. Daniel what just happened"? Asks dad. "I'm not sure dad, this is all new to Susan and I as well". dad looks at us, "Did they just bond"? he asks. "They did dad, why"? "Because I can feel her as well". This was just so strange and new for us all, mom, dad and Genie now have a bond with Susan and I as well.
Mom then hugs Genie. They just hold each other, I can see some information transferring between the two of them, it goes so fast, I only get snippets of it. Eventually they break apart, "that was intense". They say in unison. They then break down laughing. "Well sis it's good to finally meet you". "Same with me as well, I'm no longer alone".
"Who's Gwen and who's Genie"? "I'm Genie, and your Judy, your birth name doesn't matter to me, oh god, I'm complete, I didn't know a part of me was missing tell now". "well I kind of feel the same way, I was so driven all my life to succeed, I didn't think about anything but my goal of being a cop". "Wait your Judy Hopps? The first bunny cop, is my sister"? "Yes, I am but it's Wilde now, perhaps I should introduce my husband and mate Nickolas Wilde, and my Son Daniel Wilde and my Daughter-in-law Susan Wilde". "Your all related"? "And cops too" says mom. "Wow did I just walk into a fairy tale? This is so unreal". Just then the doctor come in.
"Well I see all my patients are in one room, this makes it easier. Daniel light duty for a week keep that arm in the sling, come back and see me in a week. Susan, I would say stay off of your foot for a week, but seeing who your parents are, I know that's not happening, just use a cane for a week please? And see me in a week as well". she nods yes. "as for you, "he looks at the chart "Miss Genie Theisen, you are on crutches for the week as well, do you have a place to stay, or some one to stay with"? mom speaks up, "She does, she's coming home with us". "I can't impose on you like that". "Yes, you can, your place is all shot up, and is no longer safe. Our place is safe, so your coming home with us". Mom crosses her arms, and put her no nonsense look on her face. Genie laughs, "I know how stubborn I can be, and I'm sure you are just as stubborn as I am". "Damn right I am". They both burst out laughing. We all wait at the entrance of the hospital for the cab.
"Wow this quite the place" Genie says as she walks into the lobby. "Evening JR what's up"? "Not much Daniel, I see you got hurt". "Yes, Susan and I are, but we will be good to go in a week". JR shakes his head, and putting a smile on his face, "Like father like son". We all laugh as we head for the kiosk. "Evening Mavis we have a guest coming to say with us". "Guest step forward, put your paws on the scanner, state your full name, and look into the camera. Genie does as requested, "Judy is this some kind of joke? I don't appreciate it". "No Mavis, no joke this is Judy's twin sister. Can you find no differences"? asks dad. "Yes, there is a slight height difference, but that could be because of the crutches. The only other difference I can find is a scar on her left paw pad, and one iris is slightly different, if I didn't know better, I would say they are clones of each other". Genie cringes at that. "Right, is it enough for a different id"? "It is, you may all proceed".
Our daughter gloms onto Susan and I as we enter the house. She gives Genie a dirty look. Mom and dad take Genie to the kitchen for something to eat and to talk. Soon we all join them in the kitchen for some food. Grandma and Grandpa soon join us as well. Vivian looks from Genie to mom and back again. "Vivian I would like to introduce you to my twin sister Genie Theisen", says mom. "Well it's good to meet you my dear, I'm sure there is one heck of a story about this, and I'm willing to wait tell tomorrow for it". Peter is not so sure about that, but he knows he will find out eventually. The rest of Susan and I's littermates got the story from Susan and I. they are kind of floored at the new link with mom and dad as well. Scott is kind of curious as well, and in our minds asks us all kinds of questions, but focuses more on the shoot out, Susan and I just shake our heads. Elisabeth heals most of the wounds, but leaves the external signs alone.
Later that night, "Judy I'm jealous". "Why would you be Jealous, Nick"? "I'm jealous of your sister, she has a closer bond with you than I do". "Nick you know that all twins have a bond, ours just seems really close, but I'm not cutting you out of my life because of my sister, I want you in my life because I love you, you dumb fox". "I know that, you are the only one I want, but I wonder if your sister….". "Nickolas P Wilde, if you finish that statement, I will have my orange and cream-colored rug for the living room floor. I'm sure Cindy can get me off of the Zoocide charges as justifiable". "Relax fluff you are the only one I want". "Prove it mister". Nick puts his lips to hers, and putting thumb and forefinger claws on her ears, pulls them gently up her ear. Judy moans into the kiss.
We are cuddling together, when we feel mom and dad. They are right into it. We throw a shield up around them, so they're not broadcasting to everyone else. We get up to the same activity. The next morning before we all head down; we stop mom and dad for a talk.
"Morning mom and dad enjoy yourselves last night"? "What are you talking about Daniel"? asks mom. "Well, this is kind of embarrassing, but your bedroom activities, were being broadcasted". "OH, SWEET CHEESE AND CRACKERS". Dad laughs, "Even your cursing is cute". "It's ok mom, Susan and I shielded the two of you, to stop the broadcast. "I thought it felt a little different last night". "OH, SWEET CHEESE…NICK". "What? It's true". Mom face palms, "It's ok, Susan and I will teach you shielding, so you don't broadcast. But this does setup a feed back loop, it makes the experience, more intense". "Are we really having this talk? Just drop it".
"We can't, I'm sure you don't want to let Bonnie, Elisabeth, Scott, William, and Justin aware of this part of your relationship". Mom gets a full head blush, "All right what do we have to do? wait, you didn't say anything about the rest of the family". "Susan and I will teach you tonight, as for the rest of the family, our siblings already know about that part of a relationship, Susan and I have a really hard time blocking them out, it took us a bit to figure out how to, we don't have as close a bond with the rest, so it was easy to block them out. Grandma and grandpa already know how, and practice this on their own, the only difference is they don't broadcast". Mom mutters to herself, "this is one ability I wish I didn't have". Susan and I laugh at her, "Welcome to the empathic side of the family mom". Dad and mom chuckle as we head down.
Genie joins us in the Dojo, Vivian leads the class. Susan, Genie, and I just watch. We go to the kitchen as everyone else swims. when things are explained to Vivian, she puts her gun on in the house. She tells Genie she's her new body guard. Genie shrugs, but she is secretly pleased. Bonnie talks with Genie for a bit, and by the end of it, hugs her and goes to play with Justin and Elizabeth in the Livingroom. Scott sits and listens to Genie's story with Vivian, he tries to think of how he could help her. Those of us going to work have breakfast and head for work.
In the bullpen we are told to get our report done before ten and to see IA at one. We get the report done by ten-o'clock, and handing to the chief for review, go to our office and call Jack. "Jack here, how can I help you"? "Hey jack, it's Daniel, I think you might be able to help me". What do you need Daniel"? "Jack you need to look into a thirty-five-year-old file for me". "Sure, that's before my time, what's the file name"? "Operation Renew". Jack types away on his computer, when a red flashing screen comes up. "Oh scat" says Jack. "Daniel I will be over shortly, don't speak of this to anyone". "What's up Jack"? "Can't tell you over the phone I need to see you". "All right Jack, Susan and I are at the cold case division in precinct-one". but Susan and I have to talk to IA at one, it all has something to do with that file". "Right, I will see you shortly". With that jack hangs up on me.
Jack comes in thirty-minutes later, and stops to catch his breath. Wow this must be really important. "Help yourself to coffee Jack, this has waited for thirty-five years, it can wait for five minutes more". Jack looks at us grateful like, and proceeds to pour himself a coffee. He then closes and locks the door. "Daniel, is there counter measures in place"? For an answer I just point to the wall socket. "Wow that is different, is it a new design"? "Yup, it's Ricks latest design". "What does it do"? "Sorry Jack, that's not why you are here, shall we proceed". Jack pulls out a flash drive, "Are your computers secure"? "Jack, we have the most secure computers ever, and we are trying to get the ZPD to buy them. Again, they are Ricks design, Ava programed them". Jack goes to Susan's computer, and plugs the USB in. He pulls the file up and plugs a code into it. "You know this is all classified, right"? "Yes Jack".
Susan and I read the overview for the file, before the code comes up. "No one at the has ever been able to break the code, so we can't tell you what it says, but we assume that he was able to achieve the goals, but so far we have seen no proof". For an answer, on my computer, I pull up the files Mavis had decoded. Jack gets a shocked look on his face. "Daniel, where did you get that"? "Jack, we found this file in a hidden safe in the foundation of Herb Hopton's house. It was decoded by Mavis, she's a computer genius. She said it was written in one language, and then translated into another. It took her about twelve hours to decode it, Mavis are you there"? "Yes Daniel, I am". "Can you decode the files Jack has brought up on Susan's computer"? "I can, commencing now". Jack rushes towards the computer to pull the flash drive, Susan and I restrain him.
"guys how could you do that"? "Jack everything is still secure, you're just getting your file decoded". "Right, This Mavis knows". "Jack perhaps you should meet Mavis, Mavis say hi to Jack". "Hi jack, I'm Mavis I'm the Wilde's home AI, good to meet you". "What do you mean AI"? "Jack, Mavis is a true Artificial Intelligence, what she knows, and can do, we can only hope to achieve in our life times. And before you ask, she can not be hacked, no one else understands her language". Jack gets a look of incredulity on his face, "who built this AI"? "That would be Rick and Ava, the computer you confiscated from the compound, was their first attempt". "Wow, the tech boys still haven't figured that one out".
A beep comes from Susan's computer. "Your files have now been decoded, is there anything else I can help you with"? "Not at the moment, thanks Mavis". "Your welcome Daniel". "So, does she help you with your cases"? "No, she doesn't, Susan and I do that on our own. The files need I bit of intuition, and Mavis can't do that yet". "Jack why is the file flashing red"? "That mean's that there is a termination order with everything associated with that file". "Why is the ZCIA covering up this file"? "Not sure, but I will look into it". "Do it soon Jack, a person's life is at stake". "I said I would look into it; I didn't say I would get it lifted". Jack removes the flash drive and pockets it.
"We understand Jack, but we have a vested interest in this person, and if she was hurt, we would stop at nothing to bring this all to light. In fact, Jack, we have one of the agents who tried to attack this person last night. Susan and I saved her by both of us getting injured as well, so you see this is personal now". "Is this agent still in custody"? "As far as we know, yes". "Good let's go see him, maybe I can find out who his handler is". We check the time, it's only eleven-thirty, plenty of time to go talk to him. Susan calls down and has him moved to interrogation room four. We then all head down.
All three of us walk into the interrogation room. He's kind of shocked seeing Jack, Jack just smiles. "Well Normand, long time no see, how's the wife and kids, oh, right you never married, sorry about that". "Ah, Jack, he actually is married, and he has two kits, two boys". Susan says with a smile. Norm gets a shocked look on his face. "How did…". "Sorry Norm, but these two know things, they are the cold case detectives from the precinct, and your crew tried to kill them last night, and they are not happy". Susan and I both scowl at him. "It was nothing personal, we were just following orders".
With out changing our eyes we project savageness to him. We see Jack is startled, but he just smiles at Norm. "As you can feel they are really pissed, why don't you tell us who your handler is". "I can't Jack, you know that". Jack just smiles at him, "OH well, I guess I'll just leave the three of you alone for a bit". Jack gets up and moves towards the door. I continue projecting savageness to him, Susan switches to the death feeling. "Wait Jack, don't leave me alone with these two, I'll tell you, it was Anthony Antlers, he is my handler". "There see, you can be very cooperative". "So why were you trying to kill the target, and these nice officers"? He sighs, "We weren't trying to kill them, we were supposed to capture her, but when these officers showed up, Antlers though it was her contact, and decided to eliminate them all".
"Contact for who"? "Antlers said there was a rival organization after her, for what she knows, and we were suppose to stop them from getting any information". "Why do you think he left you here Norm? you think maybe he was hanging you out to dry"? "could be, I don't know anything of his motives". "Can you get him to come to the precinct"? "Well, I think he would already be here if he was coming". "Thanks Norm, have a nice staycation". We all walk out of interrogation, "You going to call him Jack"? "I would if I had his number". "Here you go Jack", I had him the number. "How did… never mind I don't want to know". Jack calls the number. "Anthony, good to hear from you… yeah, I did call, we need to talk... Yes, the sooner the better… how about three this afternoon, at precinct -one? Right see you then". Well that's settled, time to go see about that IA investigation". We all head up for the fourth floor.
We stopped by the office, and picking up some coffee, head upstairs. Jack walks in with us, we all sit down and sip from our coffees. The committee are a little shocked, but handle Jack being there. "Before you begin, the reason I'm here is that the was the aggressors last night, and I'm here to protect our interests". "All right, agent Savage, lets begin shall we"? And grill us they did, Jack said virtually nothing, the grilling of Susan and I was not as long as the first time I was in front of them. but again time line was paramount to them. the body cams were part of the time line investigation. After awhile they agreed we did everything by the book, and could find no fault with us. They then handed us our guns back. Jack got a call that this Anthony fella was here, Jack had him directed to interrogation room four, saying he would be down in a few minutes.
As we walk in, Susan lays a laptop down on the table. Jack just smiles as he hands Anthony his coffee we had brought from our office. "Two sugars, just the way you like it, Anthony". "I won't ask how you know that, thanks, but I don't think I could stomach the rot gut they call coffee around here". "It's not from around here, just try it, I'm sure you will be surprised". Anthony take a sip, then a bigger gulp. "Your right this is very good, so what do I owe the pleasure if this interrogation"? "Well Anthony, we want to know why you tried to kill these nice officers behind me". "We did? I know nothing about them". "Cut the crap Anthony, we know it has some thing to do with this file".
Susan turns the laptop around and shows him the file name. "Where did you get that"? "From the archive system, would you like to see the decoded file"? "How… these two can't see this file". "Anthony they were the ones to find the originally file and decode it. They have the same clearance as you and I. They have told me the original is in a safe location, just in case something was to happen to them, they have their own file copies. Now would you like to tell us why this secret cloning experiment is so important to you"? Anthony deflates a bit.
"I was the one thirty-five years ago, that was the handler of Herb Hopton. It was the first job I had with the ZCIA. We set him up in the location he requested in the sticks. Why he chose that location, I'm not sure. He had his lab in the basement of the house, and was experimenting on an orphan girl his wife and him adopted. As she grew, she was a prodigy. Anything he gave her to study, she mastered. She had her grade-twelve by the age of eight, and was studying procedures, she would make a great spy. She learned to drive, and drive fast by the age of twelve. She set the record on the course, no one has beaten that record.
Then she got pregnant, and everything changed, Herb stopped reporting in, and I was getting concerned. She gave birth a month later, still don't know who the father was. But we confronted herb as he was driving home. He got mad at us, and tried to drive away, he told me nothing. And I had no choice but to believe he had sold us out. He was tranked, and I staged the accident to get rid of him. By the time we got to the hospital, the daughter was gone with her kits. We managed to track her down a few days later, but she drove away, we have been chasing her ever since. We caught up to her about nine-years ago, but we found her dead, and her left paw had been cut off. This kept me believing there was a rival out there somewhere. We found her daughter about a week ago, and were just going to take her in for questioning, but these two showed up and I thought they were there for the info, so I decided to use lethal force".
"You know Anthony, this file is out dated, why did you not drop it"? "It's the first thing I ever did for the office, I couldn't drop it". Right, your going to drop it now, you have the file, decoded no less, and the person you are chasing deserves to live her life with out fear and having to look over her shoulder". "Your right, but I need to know if he was successful". I speak up, "He was successful, but part of the procedure we can't give you, all the information in the file is useless without the final part, and I won't tell you what that is".
"But how…". "Let's just say I understand his research, and with out this final part it won't work, no mater how hard you try, but by all means get your tech boys to try, they will give up in short order". "What are you"? "Let's just say I'm smarter than I look, also just to throw a curve at you, Susan and I are only nine-years old". Jack just smiles at Anthony's look of utter shock. "Anthony do you remember the rescue mission that I did just outside Bunny Burrow six-years ago"? "Yes, I remember, that was your mission". Right, these two were some of the kits we rescued. Also, you remember that strange craft that was at the training grounds about six-months ago"? "Yes, I do, and when it took off…Wow, did it come from outer space"? Susan and I just laugh, "No it didn't, my brother built it, we are all really smart my whole family".
"Now about this termination order, are you going to drop it"? "Yes Jack, if what you all tell me is true, there is no need to hound her anymore". Good I'm sure she will be glad to hear it, her and her sister". "Sister"? "Yes Anthony, these two found that Thelma Hopton had twin girls, not the boy and girl the county records show. Also, the girls are back together, and they deserve to live in peace". "Yes, I can see that, I will leave them alone, they have nothing to fear from me. Can I ask where the sisters are"? "They're safe Anthony, that's all you need to know". "Right, and thanks for helping me", he turns to Susan and I, "I'm sorry you were hurt, I do apologize for that". We could see he meant it, "It's ok sir, we forgive you". We didn't tell him everything was recorded. Jack took the recording with him, Anthony had over stepped his bounds, not sure what Jack was going to do with the information, but we could see he was sad for Anthony. We went up stairs, and closed the case file.
When we got home mom and her sister were in a very animated conversation, we broke in. "Mom, Genie we have straightened everything out with the ZCIA, they are done with you Genie, you can stop looking over your shoulder". She jumps up crying and hugs Susan and then I. She thanks us profusely. "What will you do with your life now"? I ask. "Well… someone has convinced me, that to serve and protect was a very noble thing to do, and if she could do it, then so could I". "What? Are we a family of blue bloods"? "Could be Daniel", replies dad. We just all laugh as we sit down for supper.
Later we teach mom and dad the shielding technique. They are very appreciative of the shield. Later dad and I leave the girls alone, as I could feel mom wanting to ask questions of Susan. "Susan can I…". "It's ok mom, you don't have to vocalize the question, but the answer is yes. I love everything about Daniel, the claws, the teeth, the growls, and especially that talented tongue". Mom gets a full head blush, "mom what happens between you and dad is yours alone. Do I love playing prey to Daniel's predator? Yes, yes, I do. It's not wrong mom, and you aren't weird for enjoying it. And mandatory "cuddle time", I love that too, sometimes he can set me off again just by flexing. But have you tried this"? Susan gives her a mental image, "SUSAN" screams mom. Susan just laughs, as dad and I come back into the room. Mom has a thought full look on her face as we enter, she looks at dad with an impish grim, and taking his paw, leads him to their bedroom.