Its been a while, for those in need of a refresher please go to chapter 7. Delta and Em can help fill in some gaps.

-The same, only not-

While many movies would have most mammals in Zootopia believe that working for the ZBI was a non-stop action-packed thrill ride, it couldn't be farther from the truth.

There were occasions agents from the Zootopia Bureau of Investigation assisted in field operations for the most part though they spent their time investigating or researching events that had occurred or could occur without some kind of law enforcement intervention.

This meant a lot of time in an office, staring at reports, and trying to connect the dots in hopes of finding a pattern.

When one did find a pattern it normally meant an operation would be organized and led by more senior agents.

While not exactly fair most younger agents didn't mind if it meant they would be brought in to assist. The opportunity to prove themselves and maybe get onto other teams was the best chance they had of getting out of the office setting.

This was exactly the reason why Jack had trouble getting his leg under control at the daily ops briefing.

The jackrabbit tried his best but it was taking all his concentration to sit quietly at the side of the briefing room as their agent in command went through the daily reports and briefings.

"At this point, you're going to crack a hole in the floor," a smug whisper floated into Jack's ear.

Agent Savage didn't dare turn and look at his fellow agent, knowing full well a certain raccoon was waiting with a knowing look.

"Alright so unless anyone else has-" the bear sitting at the head of the table said calmly before being interrupted by a certain jackrabbit who nearly leaped out of his seat.

"Sir, about the Rainforest and Tundra town incidents!"

The sound of shifting chairs filled the conference room as all eyes went to Jack.

While this may have intimidated some the rabbit in the black suit stood his ground. He took a moment to straighten the crimson tie around his neck before continuing.

"Which incidents are those exactly?"

"The bombs found at both sites sir," Jack continued.

"Technically un-exploded ordinance," another agent added from across the room.

Several eyes went over to a Thomson gazelle who flipped open a folder sitting on her lap.

"The Tundra Town device was similar in design to those used by clearing crews in the district."

"How similar?" Jack asked, already knowing the answer.

"Similar enough," The gazelle said with a grin. "We already spoke with the Tundra Town ops director. He believes it was left by a careless contract group."

"Is that the final analysis?" The bear at the front of the room asked.

The gazelle let out a sigh and rolled her eyes, plucking the glasses from her nose and looking over at Jack.

"There are theories but we have no other evidence at this time linking the Tundra and Rainforest incidents. We could be looking at a coincidence."

"But there is still a chance," Jack said with a snap of his fingers.

"Agreed, let's not overlook anything," the bear said gruffly. "The last thing I want is another screw up like the Missing Mammals case. The commissioner is still lording over my head how one of his beat cops solved what we couldn't."

"Sir if what is being implied is true then I will need additional assets. My team is already stretched thin on the Rainforest op."

Everyone in the room shifted and looked over at Jack who had a smug smile.

"Savage and Veil," the bear said as he stood up from his seat.

Jack tried his best to not to let his foot thump. Meanwhile, an annoyed groan came from the raccoon behind him.

"Join Agent Mei's team," the large bear agent said as he gathered his folders.

Several other mammals began to stand up from the long oak desk, a few giving Jack knowing but still encouraging looks.

"Finally off desk duty," Jack said excitedly.

"I like desk duty…" Veil grumbled as she stood up and brushed her pant legs.

Jack watched as the room began to empty, he then proceeded to stroll over to his new lead agent, a broad smile on his lips.

"Could have sworn you and I intended to talk about this more later in the week," Agent Mei said as she put her glasses back in front of her eyes and stood up. She studied the rabbit in front of her before letting out a sigh.

"Well didn't want you forgetting," Jack said casually. "So how should we approach-"

"We?" Mei asked with a snort as she turned to leave the room.

Jack looked flabbergasted as he hurried after the gazelle, a grumbling raccoon following closely behind.

"Director Grylls just said-" Jack began but was cut off by Mei who continued down the hallway towards a series of offices.

"As I said, Savage, my team is currently busy gathering what we can from the Rainforest district," Mei said firmly before stopping and looking down at the rabbit. "You however are free to pursue your theory."

Jack was a little taken aback, he had thought that by being assigned to the team he would be working with others on his idea.

Mei let out a sigh before her expression softened, "Listen, Jack, I am not saying you are wrong but what I am saying is I need to focus my resources accordingly. This isn't some scavenger hunt where I just send agents all over the city. We are stretched thin and I need what little assets I have to focus on what facts we know."

Jack began to nod in agreement before speaking, "I might have overstepped…"

"Well you do have obnoxiously big feet," Came a smug remark from Agent Veil who had finally caught up.

Agent Mei grinned at the raccoon before continuing.

"Sarah gather what you need from your desk and report to my team's operating area. I'm sure we can make room for you," The gazelle said calmly which was met by two confused looks.

"Wait...she isn't coming with me?"

"As I said Jack, we are already stretched thin, need who I can get to help sort through the evidence. You on the other paw are free to head to Tundra Town and figure out how to convince me these things are linked."

Agent Veil began to snort with laughter as she strolled by a stunned looking Jack, giving him a pat on the shoulder.

"Wear something warm," Veil said as she strolled away.

"I uh...I mean…" Jack mumbled as he looked at the ceiling and then back at Agent Mei.

"Before you head out though, maybe talk to one of our bomb techs unless you want to just go frolicking in the snow," Mei said sweetly.

Jack watched as his new boss sauntered away.

"Which tech?" Jack asked, his ears going up.

"The one you have already been talking to behind my back," Mei said playfully, smiling to herself as she turned the corner.

Jack winced at the accusation. Mei did have a point, Jack had already been following up on this idea for the past few days. Even though he had not been assigned to the team yet.

With a confident stride in his step, Jack made his way towards a bank of elevators at the end of the hall.

He reached out to press the down button but froze as his ears suddenly went up.

The rabbit looked as if he had suddenly remembered something before darting away from the elevator and into a nearby break room.

Seconds later the rabbit reappeared holding a brightly colored bag of chips.

He proceeded to press the button, summoning one of the elevators before stepping inside.

Several floors later the doors slid open and Jack strolled out of the elevator and through some brightly lit hallways.

Color-coded signs were posted on the walls, directing mammals where to go if they were looking for certain departments.

There were several evidence departments. Some focusing on cybercrime, others mammal trafficking, and even a large drug trafficking department that took up most of the floor.

One of the signs though always seemed to stick out to Jack.

It was a simple sign like all the others.

Explosive ordinance and disposal.

The name isn't what stuck out though. It was the sticky note attached to the sign.

Bring snacks!

Jack proceeded down the hallway, following the signs which occasionally had a sticky note attached to them.

He passed several large windows that peaked into different department and evidence areas.

Mammals of various species busied themselves with looking over evidence, sorting through files, or keeping their muzzles glued to computer screens as they typed out reports.

Jack stopped at one of the large windows and smirked at a sticky note stuck to the center of the glass.

Do not knock! Unless you brought snacks.

Jack raised a fist and firmly tapped on the glass.

The mammal on the other side of the window nearly jumped out of her seat before grabbing her chest.

An artic vixen in green BDU pants and a black jacket glared over at Jack with a pair of brilliantly blue eyes.

She looked as if she was about to berate the smug-looking rabbit before he raised his other paw which held the bag of chips.

The vixens expression immediately softened and she even stuck out her tongue slightly as her tail swished from side to side.

She nodded to a large steel door which Jack strolled over to.

There was a loud buzzing and the door popped open.

Jack squeezed through the door and grinned at the artic vixen who already had her paws up.

He tossed the bag of chips over and watched in amusement as they were immediately opened and munched on by the lovely vixen.

"So now that you have received payment," Jack said as he put his paws on a large metal desk with various tools spread about it. "What have you got for me? Please tell me it's the same material."

The vixen held the bag over to Jack as she munched on a chip currently in her mouth.

Jack shook his head and waited patiently.

The fox swallowed what was in her mouth before leaning back in her chair, her smile was hard for Jack to read but he could tell he may not like what he was about to hear.

"So it's a different ordinance," the vixen began.

Jack cursed as he slammed his paw on the table before standing up straighter.

He had been so confident that the incidents were linked and just like that he had been proven wrong.

"Different designs too, the one from Tundra was old school...well kinda. It is based on a design they used to use to clear some of the ski slopes before the big winter games."

Jack put a paw to his temple and rubbed his forehead, letting out a groan.

"But they were totally made by the same mammal."

Jack froze and his eyes opened before he looked down at the vixen leaning back in her chair.

"Skye don't mess with me please."

"You brought me snacks Jack, I would never mess with you," The vixen said casually as she popped another chip into her mouth.

"You just said they were different designs and different material though."

"Yeah, so?" Skye said as she peeked inside the bag and plucked an extra-large chip from inside. She studied it for a moment before biting down on it with a satisfying crunch.

"Care to elaborate?"

"When are you taking me out for a full meal?" Skye asked playfully, giving Jack a sultry look.

Jack chuckled and put his paws on the desk as he leaned down, giving Skye a smirk.

"I do know a nice place right by my apartment."

"Oh I'm not looking for a date," Skye said as she crumbled up the now empty chip bag. "I'm just looking for a free dinner."

Jack hung his head, his ears falling down before he looked up at Skye who had a playful smile on her muzzle, she licked her lips of chip crumbs before tapping her paw on the desk.

The rabbit followed the vixen's paw and noticed she was now pointing at two wires.

He studied them for a moment before looking at the vixen who simply nodded.

"Already checked for prints and the likes, got nothing," Skye explained. "They didn't want us finding any."

"Well I guess it couldn't hurt just in case they didn't blow," Jack said absentmindedly as he reached down and picked up the wires, squinting as he studied them.

"They were never meant to blow up," Skye said smugly.

Jack raised a brow as he glanced at Skye who continued with her explanation.

"Each of those was pulled from a different bomb. They are cut from the same spoil and everything."

"So we can connect them with this?" Jack asked excitedly but his ears fell when he saw how Skye shook her head.

"Too many uses. Hell if you raided IT they probably have some of that stuff. It's very basic. Most hardware stores carry it."

"So how are these important?"

"Like I said both bombs were designed to not explode. Mainly thanks to those wires. Notice anything?"

Jack studied the wires for a moment before shaking his head.

"So sad…" Skye said, sticking out her tongue. She then reached up and took one of Jack's paws and turned it so the wire was facing him.

Jack blinked a few times before staring at the wire before his eyes widened.

"They are hollow…"

Skye beamed and nodded happily.

"So how do we know this just wasn't a mistake? I mean it sure does help us know that they are using a bad spool."

"They pulled the metals out themselves."

The agent rolled his eyes and smiled down at Skye.

"I have a feeling all this is obvious to you but care to-"

Skye was already holding up a vanilla folder, several papers sticking out.

Jack let out a pleased sigh, "Thanks Skye, guess I owe you dinner."

"Oh that's not why you owe me dinner," Skye said smugly. She then reached up and pointed at the tips of each wire. "That right there is why you owe me dinner."

Jack squinted at the tips of the wires once more before he noticed what Skye was getting at.

Two musical notes had been printed on the end of the empty wires.

"What in the world?"

"It's a C and G," Skye said with a sad sigh.

"Maybe initials?

"Or maybe just the start of a song…"

"Which means," Jack said, a look of realization coming over him.

"We have a whole song worth of bombs to get through…"

Hey all!

So we are back to this fun story.

Sorry for the extremely long hiatus on my end when it came to this story. I decided to focus my efforts on Zootopia: Firefalls and then the pandemic hit so things got a little crazy.

I am happy to say though we are back. While I am still wrapping up my other story The 10-7 I hope to write tons more chapters for this story very soon.

Thank you all again for your amazing patience and support!

-Blue