Judy Hopps sighed and dismissed the alarm blaring beside her. Sleep had eluded her save for a miserable hour and a half of restless dozing. Thoroughly not in the mood, she took her time getting dressed.
She'd just finished donning her soft-vest and accompanying Watterson Engineering and Development Mobile Computer Unit MCU-100 over her Watterson Textiles L Class Patrol Dress Uniform Mk. II when her cellphone declared a new message.
Judy unlocked her device with a thumb press and the message came in full view, a good morning text from Nick that read "About to leave the apartment. Hope you slept OK. See you at HQ," with a sunglasses emoji tacked on the end. With a new spring in her step, Judy quickly gathered the rest of her essential items and zipped out the front door.
Judy's brisk jog came to an abrupt halt a mere two blocks from ZPD HQ. Semi after semi rolled across, right in front of her, whilst uniformed mammals kept the traffic at bay. Every trailer carried an identical white freight container, likely just unloaded from the rail yards. The flank of each one bore the letters "W.E.D." in bold, cursive type.
Judy grimaced as the last semi to roll through gave out a deep hoot with its oversized horn. With that, the white-clad traffic blockers waved cars back into their normal lanes and the one opposite Judy, a young mare, directed her to cross with gesture and a nod.
"Good morning, Ma'am," said the mare.
"You've got a permit for blocking this thoroughfare, right?" asked Judy as she passed.
The mare nodded, "Acting Commissioner Cussler issued the order. Sorry about that."
Sorry about what?
Judy nodded and cleared the final two blocks, all the while, a single question lingered on. Who the Hell is 'acting commissioner' Cussler?
Nick awaited Judy's arrival at the foot of the wide steps that led to the front entrance of ZPD HQ. The rabbit seemed to be late. Before Nick could worry, there she was, just across the way.
The smile that formed on seeing Judy quickly faltered. She appeared to be quite troubled, glancing back repeatedly before finally reaching the steps.
"You doing alright there, Carrots?" asked Nick.
"That depends," started Judy, "you know anyone named Cussler?"
Nick shook his head, "Nope."
"Hmph. No time to investigate either."
Despite there quite obviously being more to this story, Nick elected not to press the issue. All in good time, he thought, hopefully. Maybe if not for a gross lack of sleep he might have asked.
Nick took the first step toward the door and Judy followed. The two ascended the steps in quiet unison until Nick trod on a loose stone and tripped, cursing as his knee impacted the pavement. Judy turned and offered to help him up.
"I'm fine," grumbled Nick, stubbornly standing himself up.
"Yikes. Someone's a bit moody today," remarked Judy.
Nick snapped "I'm not moody!"
Judy frowned disapprovingly. Nick pouted.
The fox sighed and shook his head, he admitted "Okay. I'm not at my happiest… I just feel those three weeks weren't enough to recoup after November's shenanigans."
"Sounds like you just need to blow off some steam. Ever work out?"
Nick's face contorted as he pretended to think. During academy training he'd beaten himself into prime shape. His more recent fitness endeavors left something to be desired.
Judy didn't wait for his response or lack thereof, "I hit the gym after every shift," said Judy, just before her eyes sparked and she declared "you should definitely come with! Call me Judy Hopps, bunny cop turned personal trainer!"
Nick seemed to think about it.
"Come on! Just for you, I won't even charge!"
Nick chuckled evasively saying, "I-I think I might enjoy that a little too much."
Judy's brow furrowed and she said "What, you find exercising too addictive?"
Nick awkwardly rubbed his neck as he felt heat spread through his cheeks, "No, it's not like that…"
Judy cocked her little head to one side to inspect Nick's expression. Before any keen deductions could be made, two loud dings rang out from her watch.
"The briefing! We need to be there yesterday!," cried Judy.
Nick and Judy wasted no time getting in the front door – all for an unfamiliar figure to bar their progress.
"Hold up," he said. Let me see some ID, eh?"
"Of for God's sake," muttered Nick as he shook his head and glanced over to Judy, who merely shrugged in response.
A reindeer that stood five feet and five inches tall stood right in the way, arms outstretched and dressed in a white uniform with a distinct embroidered patch on his shoulder pads. Like the impromptu traffic police Judy had seen before, this stag belonged to "Watterson Security," a corporate security firm and a subsidiary of the more and more ubiquitous Watterson Engineering and Development.
Nick gave the guard a level stare over his silver aviators, whilst giving his badge an exaggerated tap; he said "We're ZPD, alright? Now, we have somewhere to be!"
The Stag hesitated. He looked about to speak when a chirp sounded from the radio strapped to his shoulder. He looked off into space, listening to someone, somewhere.
"Okie dokie," he said at last, with a sharp and cheerful nod. He stepped back from Nick and Judy and gestured, saying "you can go right ahead there, fellas. Sorry about that."
Nick huffed and stalked past the guard, Judy followed a pace or two behind, glancing back occasionally. The two walked right up to the familiar face at the front desk.
An unusually subdued Benjamin Clawhauser, the ZPD's famously obese cheetah receptionist directed Nick and Judy to the rear motor pool. He did so with the fewest words he'd ever spoken in a single sentence.
"Taking a while to get back into the swing of things, eh Clawhauser?" asked Judy, genuinely.
The cheetah looked up from his broad desk, then promptly down at Judy. He had cold, empty eyes, with a matching blank and unenthused expression.
"Uh… Yeah."
Clawhauser looked away. Nick tapped Judy lightly on one shoulder and indicated the exit door leading to the building's rear. She nodded and they moved on.
Scores of police officers stood in groups arranged by precinct, waiting in silence for a discourse to begin. Judy and Nick hastened to an empty spot somewhere in the middle, where the rest of precinct one stood firm.
Two demeanors stuck out in the assembly of officers. Those who had returned today (Nick and Judy included), stood tall and looked fresh as freeze-dried raspberries. The rest looked as though attending a funeral.
At last Chief Bogo walked into view. With uncharacteristic trepidation, he ascended the stage that had been set up in the motor pool. After pocketing a small piece of paper, he took to the podium to address his fellow officers.
"There have been many rumors surrounding the future of the ZPD's leadership. There have been a few new faces about, giving our administration team a good tune-up," stated Bogo with deliberation, 'when I step back, I see a sharp and simple new direction with a force behind it that is adjusting well to the change."
Nick lent over and rhetorically whispered "Where is he going with this?"
Judy gave him a glance but stayed silent, by now she had figured it all out and by the look of it, he had too.
"To quell any remaining doubts, I have an announcement: I am officially stepping down as chief of police."
There it is. One of those unmistakable moments when one hated to be right. The fresh officers now held blank looks that blended with the others.
Murmuring, whispers, discontent.
"Without further delay, I will introduce our new face of authority: Mr Alastair Cussler."
The rushed, rehearsed discourse just added insult to injury as a thin, wiry, stick-bug looking fallow deer ascended the stage. The gaunt creature replaced ex-Chief Bogo in a move as symbolic as it was literal. With an evasive glance toward Nick and Judy, Bogo took his place among precinct one.
"As stated, I am Colonel Alastair Cussler of the Anglic Infantry Brigade, second battallion (retired)," explained the deer, closing his narrow, bony digits around the podium.
"This guy must be a hoot at parties," whispered Nick, inciting a sharp elbowing from Judy.
Cussler then explained "In line with the continued partnership between Watterson Security and the ZPD, I have been assigned command and control for the time being."
"To aid my efforts and carry out the field responsibilities of a Police Chief, CDF Major Liam Pearce is on standing deployment."
On cue, a timberwolf in full urban BDU stood with disciplined posture, holding his paws behind his back, right beside Cussler. His ears flicked as he drew his eyes over the officers before him.
With an approving nod toward Pearce, Mr Cussler continued "You're to immediately return to your areas of jurisdiction and report to your precinct captain for instructions."
Cussler took one last long look at all in attendance, his face stiffened as he declared, "Dismissed!"
The officers almost scurried out of Cussler's sight, hoping to find even a shred of normalcy from whence they came.
All of precinct one gathered in the bullpen in complete silence, it had never been so quiet. Officer Bogo entered and took to the stand.
"Alright. I'm sure all of you are as unhappy about this as I am. Nevertheless, I ask that you try your damn best to keep the peace," said Bogo, recovering some of his gruff temperament. "Now, onto assignments-"
A rhino by the name of McHorn interrupted, "Hey Chief! What is with that bean-pole?"
Bogo sighed and held his forehead, "If you are referring to Mr Cussler, it is not up for discussion. Are we clear? Not one damn word."
The buffalo took out his glasses with an irritated flick, just about smashing them onto his own nose.
"As I was saying: top priority as of now is assigning patrol routes to local WattSec teams. This includes finding vantage points to watch for suspicious activity. We're aiming for a soft lockdown."
Bogo proceeded to dish out assignments to his team leaders, each one filing out of the bullpen as they took their respective to-do lists. One-by-one, every mammal left the room until only Nick and Judy were left with ex-Chief Bogo.
"That's that," muttered Bogo, starting for the door.
Judy quickly dismounted her chair and jogged over, Nick close behind.
"Chief, wait. You missed us. What's our assignment?" asked Judy.
Bogo stopped. Without looking he said "Mr Cussler requested I keep your schedules clear for the next seventy-two hours. Apparently you're needed elsewhere."
After an awkward stilt, Bogo gave them a nod and left. Nick took a step toward him, Judy put a firm paw on his shoulder before he could take another.
"I think we should go see Cussler," said Judy quietly.
"To Hell with that," spat Nick, brushing off the paw, adding "I want to know why the Chief's been docked!"
"Nick, don't keep being like this. This is not a time to be a hot-head."
Nick gave a sharp nod and put on something of a game face, saying "As usual Carrots, you're damn right. Let's pay a visit to Taxidermy Face and see what's up."
End Notes
Over a month late. Woo.
Next chapter won't be far off. The discussion with 'Taxidermy Face' was originally to be part of this chapter but I need to keep things snappy. I always find the first act to be slow and tedious to write until I get to what I call the 'opening gambit': a short arc to kick off the main novel.
As always, all critique is encouraged! I want keep the standards up!