"There is no success without hardship." - Sophocles
10:00 A.M ; The next day, somewhere in City-Hall...
Of all the buildings in Zootopia, none had primer real estate than City-Hall.
Smack in the middle of Savanna-Central, bordering the watering hole where the first tribes of predator and prey had put aside their differences to form a better society thousands of years ago, City-Hall was equal parts beautiful as it was intimidating - a sleek white building with slanted sides and terraced gardens of trees lining its base, yet filled with more history and power than any other building in the city. Through it, the laws that governed Zootopia were formed, and passed onto the masses.
Yet for all its marvels, it was the one place Virginia hated most. She hated the slow, superficial duals of image, the false promises and equally lackluster hopes that this building represented to the common mammal. Too many scandals had tarnished its esteem, from Lionheart's coverups and Bellwether's chauvinism, to the current, soon-to-be-replaced Mayor Lyncoln's submission to extortion, as of the previous year. City-Hall and its politics was a twisted form of acting - shaking with one paw, and holding a rock with the other. Virginia knew this better than most, having witnessed so much of the government's corruption firsthand. It certainly helped that she had had a part in instigating much of it.
But it didn't matter how much she hated the work she did, deep down. In her eyes, all that mattered was the end goal, as with anything. The boss' plan had been leading to days like these for years - days of opportunity. The right opportunity. And soon, when it was fulfilled, Virginia would have everything she ever wanted. But to achieve their ambitions, the present required her focus. Pacing silently through the sleek, spacious halls of the building's interior, she was met with no resistance. The majority of the building was open to the public, and filled with gawking tourists admiring the decor. Their ignorance over what truly happened here never failed to disgust the rabbit to no end.
She pulled the collar of her oversized white blazer around her neck as she approached the receptions desk. Sighing, she forced the dazzling smile that had served as her mask for years.
"Hi, I'm here for an appointment with the assistant-mayor," the black bunny claimed in a vivacious tone. "I booked for ten this morning."
The antelope receptionist typed a few strokes into her keyboard. "Okay, you're all ready to go! The office is to your right, five hallways down from the left wing of the building."
"Thank you so much!" Virginia quickly said before turning around and allowing her expression to instantly evaporate, returning her countenance to its usual apathetic fixture.
She was several doors away from her destination when her phone rang. Pulling it out promptly, she glanced down at the screen. Unknown caller. Anyone else would have ignored the call, but she knew exactly who was behind it. He never called with anything but anonymous numbers. Virginia brought the device to her shredded left ear.
"What do you want now?" She grumbled.
"Find the nearest television," A warped voice demanded, sounding as though it had been put through multiple layers of distortion. "And pull up a news channel. Any station."
Virginia sighed with exasperation. "Look, boss, I'm gonna be late for my meeting with the assistant-mayor - the one you assigned me to-"
"Do it." The voice ordered.
Rolling her hazel eyes, Virginia stepped into one of the nearby branching hallways, and quickly found a public television mounted to the wall. She flicked through channel after channel using the buttons on the side until settling on a report from ZNN. It must have been what the boss had wanted her to see. The bold white headline read, 'ZOOTOPIA'S FIRST FOX COP ANNOUNCES CAMPAIGN FOR CITY MAYOR.' Camera footage of the one and only Nick Wilde standing atop a stage in a beige suit displayed across the screen. The fox held a microphone in one paw, and was smiling and gesturing at a crowd of well-dressed onlookers with vigor.
"Predator rights!" TV Nick announced. "A total reformation of the Prioritization Policy! Total and complete transparency of government! I promise you, when I'm mayor, the government of Zootopia will serve all citizens, and work tirelessly to keep you, our heroes, safe! Support me, and the ZPD will have not just a friend, but a partner, in City-Hall!"
"Who… is that?" The boss' voice earned Virginia's attention once more.
"You know perfectly well who that is." She rebuked. For as much as she believed in the boss and his plan, he wasn't always an employer she had patience for.
"Yes, but," the boss laughed dryly. "Who is he? What compels him to do this? Why does he seek to become mayor?"
"Beats me. I guess because he wants to beat jerks like you to the office, judging by his speech."
The boss laughed again, this one more genuine. "Your deadpan commentary is amusing, as always, but not what I contacted you for today."
"Oh? And lemme guess," Virginia glanced to the grinning visage of Nick Wilde. "You want me to gather intel on this guy?"
"Excellent deduction, Miss Capriola." The boss mockingly confirmed. His use of her last name caused the rabbit's breath to strain with anger. "You're my fixer. Work your magic."
"I told you not to call me that," Virginia inhaled deep to forcibly calm herself. "But fine. I'll get to it as soon as I'm done with the assistant-mayor."
"Thank you. Enjoy City-Hall." The boss simply said before hanging up.
The bunny scoffed, shoving her phone into her pocket as she stepped back into the main hall. "As if."
11:00 A.M ; Samantha's office, Savanna-Central...
Ever since his injury had turned his life upside down (for what felt like the fourth time, no less), Nick had grown to cherish the little victories.
After all, when losing control over the one thing that all mammals took advantage of more than anything - the simple act of walking unabated - there was little else he could do. Finding gratitude in the smallest of things practically helped keep him sane throughout the healing process. The breaking of his cast, his first steps without a cane, and the gradual lessening of his pain over time were all little victories that Nick took great solace in. They were signs of progress, however small, and although there was much more that he could ask for, the fox couldn't deny that he was content with the results so far.
But after last night, Nick was reminded of what it felt like to have a big victory.
The police ball had gone splendidly. As promised, he and his campaign schmoozed with any and everyone willing to shake their paws, providing valuable networking opportunities. At the end of the night, a quite pleased Samantha had instructed the whole team to convene at her office the following day to discuss the next steps in their plan, save Judy, who was busy with work at Precinct One.
The bunny dropped her husband off at the building's curb, bidding him goodbye with a cheerful wave before driving off. Nick promptly entered Samantha's office, only to drop his jaw at the massive stack of papers atop the meerkat's desk. She frantically ran around checking documents, all while balancing a phone on her shoulder. This time, Samantha's outfit was a dark green color, though as always sported the same brand of skirt and blazer. Olivia stood close by with a clipboard in paw, trying to help her sort through the mess. Her dress was prude and professional, looking as though she were ready to be a true member of a political campaign. Meanwhile, Niel O'Leary sat in a chair in the corner of the room, typing quietly into his laptop. He slouched so deeply that his neck had disappeared into his black bomber jacket.
"Mr. Bullsworth! So now you wanna return my calls!" Samantha was quick to catch sight of Nick. "Oh! I have guests! I guess I'll have to call you back," she taunted as she hung up the phone before beaming to the fox before her. "Oh, that felt good! Don't mind him: rival consultant trying to pick my brain for scraps." Her demeanor then burst with joy. "I'm getting calls from all over the city! That speech you made yesterday really made an impression, Nick! Media awareness has skyrocketed! Take a look!"
The meerkat turned on a nearby television mounted to her office's wall, displaying a news feature on ZNN. Nick's smiling visage filled the screen as his speech was dissected by reporters in an opinion piece. One of them - an arctic fox in a sky blue suit - smiled at the camera as he thumped one of his fingers atop a desk as though emphasizing a point.
"I'm telling you, this guy has potential!" The fox claimed. "He made history as Zootopia's first fox cop, and he's had a hand in bringing three of the city's five crime-lords to justice over the past two years alone! Just imagine what he could do as mayor! And if you ask me, it's about time Zootopia had its first fox in the office!"
"Let's not get too ahead of ourselves, Mr. Lagopus," Peter Moosebridge said with a chuckle before turning to face the camera. "With elections just under three months away, the office of the mayor is still anyone's game. Join us at noon as we discuss the responses to this breaking story from rival candidates on the campaign trail."
"No need to hear that," Samantha flicked off the TV before beaming to her guests. "Heehee! We're here to focus on the positives, right? We've gone from underdog nobodies to headline news overnight! I've gotten calls for three new endorsements, complete with donations! Donations, Nick! As in actual money! This is amazing!"
"I'm so proud of you, sweetie!" Olivia added, clasping her paws together giddily. "You're going to do such big things!"
The opossum in the corner rolled his eyes. "Well I'm just happy you didn't screw up the speech, considering that you ignored those note cards I made for you."
Nick chuckled, rubbing at the back of his neck. "Sorry about that, Niel. I just got the ball rolling myself, y'know? I'll try to be better on collaborating with you going forward." He then turned to Samantha. "I guess we'd better get to work on setting up that account we talked about, if we're gonna be needing someplace to store those donations."
"Yep! Campaigns aren't cheap, especially successful campaigns! So we'll need a good bearing on our finances to ensure that we fall into that second category. But that's one of many things on the agenda!" Samantha claimed, showing no sign that this bothered her. "We may be in a better position to turn this campaign into a successful one, but we've still got a heckuva lotta hurdles to jump! First among them is charting our path going forward. The next few weeks are gonna be hectic, so we'll need a good plan to guide us!"
"Great. So what comes next?"
Samantha pointed to her calendar with the same commanding assurance that an old pioneer would point out a newly discovered mountain with. "You all heard the moose - the election is just under three months away! Between now and then, we have the debating period, which starts in two weeks. And between now and then, we need to start marketing! The more mammals that know who we are, the more votes we'll get. Your speech at the ball gave us a huge starting advantage, and we've made amazing headway in a very short time, but we'll need to keep at it if we wanna maintain our momentum."
Niel scoffed beneath his breath as he typed at his computer. "The majority of elections are won by the better funded candidate. What if some rich jerkwad just outspends us to the finish line?"
"Excellent question! We have enough donations to cover commercials, radio broadcasts, and cold calls for the next two months," Samantha explained. "Thankfully, the money will keep rolling in so long as we keep advertising ourselves. If last night proved anything, Nick's not a candidate to sneeze at! Mammals love him!"
The fox himself positioned his arms into a time-out gesture. "Whoa, let's slow down here. How about we save the standard campaign stuff for later? What if we start out by advertising ourselves a bit more… personally? Yeah, personally!"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I'm glad you asked, Sammy," Nick said with a confident smile. "I don't know about you three, but every time I see a political commercial, I go out of my way to ignore it. Just like any other kind of commercial! Now I'm not saying we shouldn't use them, but what if - and hear me out - we kickstart this campaign with something a bit lower speed? Something more personal, to really show that I meant what I said at the police ball. And of course, something with reporters close by to witness it."
"You could spend a few hours handing out hot meals in my soup kitchen," Olivia offered. "Invite some reporters for questions, maybe."
Nick snapped a finger toward his mother. "Exactly! What better way to show that I'm on the side of predators than that?"
Samantha nodded with interest. "That would help us save money!"
"And it would help your image." Niel added.
"Your image?" Olivia asked with concern.
Nick chuckled nervously, resisting the urge to shoot the opossum a glare. "Just how the public views me," he elaborated, rolling with Niel's comment. "Hate to say it, but foxes aren't exactly viewed as trustworthy. I need to prove to the public that I was telling the truth when I said I wanted to help predators. I can't just wait until I'm in office to start putting action behind words; I need to have some experience under my belt right here and now."
In his seat, Niel appeared to nod with approval ever so slightly before returning his gaze to his laptop. The fox felt an iota of relief at the opossum's favor. Something told Nick that that guy would be a difficult mammal to work with. Then again, he had warned Nick the day they met that he would be critical of the campaign, and Nick by extension.
"I like the sound of that!" Samantha's vivacious voice earned everyone's attention. "And with the reporters there, the news can get a nice long look at you proving the stereotype wrong! Just make sure you don't get cold feet when answering their questions! Heehee! But as soon as we're done, we need to focus on the classics: commercials, radio, and calls. They're the go-to method for political marketing, and we'll definitely be needing them if we're going to be advertising the campaign to a wider range of mammals than just Happytown residents." She then turned to Niel. "Speaking of, do you think you can organize some commercial slots for us, Mr. Communication's Director?"
"Done." Niel stated flatly without even looking up from his screen.
Samantha blinked. "Wait, you mean-"
"I arranged a filming last night while you guys were at the ball. It's scheduled in two days. I also placed an order for some radio airtime. Oh, and I made us a website."
Niel flipped his laptop for everyone else to see. Sure enough, an entire page displayed clean tabs offering information about the Police Union endorsement, Nick's campaign aspirations, his history as a cop, and even links to donate. A professional-looking image of Nick mid-speech at the ball was perfectly edited to show the world who he was.
"Wow," Nick remarked. "You've been busy."
"What do you think I've been typing this whole time?" The opossum grumbled.
Samantha squealed with joy, leaping up and down in one spot. "This is fantastic, Niel! We're even further ahead of schedule than I thought! Great, great great work!"
For the first time since he'd arrived, Niel allowed himself a minuscule smile. As it turned out, even someone as bitter as him could be infected by Sammy's enthusiasm. "Thanks. I put a lot of effort into it. Someone has to make sure we stay relevant in the digital age. I'll be putting the final touches on it while you guys handle the soup kitchen thing."
It was a bit difficult to tell past his jet-black fur, but Nick could definitely see the bags under the opossum's eyes. Perhaps he'd been giving him too little credit, even in spite of his normally surly attitude. "Thanks, Niel. You're a lifesaver." The fox said.
"What a team!" Samantha lauded with glee. "We'll be winning this thing in no time! Oh, I can't wait! This is going to be so much fun! I'll make calls inviting reporters from every major media outlet in the city!" She then jabbed a finger at Nick. "You! Make sure you've got your suit cleaned by five this evening! Be ready to dish out some food for thought!"
12:00 P.M ; Precinct One, Savanna-Central...
The last thing Officer Harlan O'Conall wanted was to cry wolf.
Just a few days after his promotion from rookie-status, Harlan sought to be on his best behavior. Autonomous, independent, and effective. He walked the halls of Precinct One with his head held high, dress blues cleaned and ironed. If there was one thing in his life he could take pride in, it was this job - his first chance at a real career, rather than another year spent cleaning pots and pans at the local soup kitchen. Beneath his arm he cradled a manilla file, intent on delivering it to his superior.
After some searching, he eventually found Judy scribbling away at her desk in the cubicle farm. The rabbit smiled and hummed a jaunty tune as she worked. Harlan's sensitive nose twitched as it picked up on her scent. Underneath the musk mask she was wearing, he could detect a hint of wine and fox. If the wolf's nose was right, and it usually was, he could guess why his superior was so pleased.
"Good morning, Sergeant Hopps," Harlan greeted professionally. "Have a nice night?"
"Mmm-hmm!" Judy hummed an affirmative, raised her head and winked at him, still grinning. "And I told you to call me Judy. We're friends, aren't we?"
Harlan shifted slightly, looking a little uncomfortable. "Yeah, we are, it's just… I wanna be respectful on duty. Ya know… make a good impression around here." He left out the part about going savage last year being among his top reasons why.
Judy's smile only brightened. "Well, alright. I can appreciate being respectful, Officer O'Conall. But, if you want to address me appropriately, it's Lieutenant Hopps, now."
Harlan blinked in surprise, then offered a friendly smile. "Congratulations, Lieutenant."
"Thank you," Judy replied sincerely, then blinked as her eyes lowered to the folder in his paw. "Is that for me?"
"What? Oh, yes! These are the documents you asked me to get you two days ago. Everything from the property owners involved in that shot-up office building." Harlan explained as he handed the file over.
"Thank you! Finally!" Judy joyfully exclaimed as she slapped the folder on her desk and opened it. As she flipped through it, she was disturbed to find only a few pages. "Shouldn't there be more?"
Harlan shrugged. "That's everything they gave us."
"That's weird, usually anything to do with property has a bunch of paperwork…" Judy muttered thoughtfully as she more carefully read what little there was. She waved Harlan over, pointing out the entry for the name of the company that had rented the office in question. "Neminem Inc. Ever heard of them?"
Harlan shook his head, then paused as a strange look came over his features. "Tempus neminem manet." He muttered.
Judy's ears pricked. "What's that mean?"
"Uh, it's Latin. Time waits for no-one, I think."
Judy thought back to the basic Latin courses she'd taken at the academy both during her own run through, and brief time teaching Harlan's class (there were lots of Latin phrases in law, after all) and chewed through what she knew. "The neminem part of the phrase refers to no-one, so our mystery corporation is literally No-one Incorporated." She dropped her head with a sigh. "That's a fake name if I've ever heard one. Probably a shell-corporation, just to hide identity."
Harlan nodded along. "Definitely. At least they've got a sense of humor about it."
"Well, it's a start, at least." Judy said as she wrote the name on a convenient notepad.
"Hang on, look at this," Harlan said, tapping a figure with one claw. "Paid in cash." He quoted. "For renting an office in the middle of Zootopia? Is that even legal?"
Judy squinted as she considered. "Maybe? My property law is a little fuzzy. Another thing to research." She made a second note on her pad.
Harlan's claw slid down the page, and he continued to read, "Insurance: waived. Security deposit: waived. No wonder there's barely any paperwork. This building is a blank slate. It's like the property managers took a wad of cash and looked the other way."
"There has to be laws against that!" Judy protested, furiously writing down more notes. "It fits the description of a shell-corporation. There's definitely something weird going on…"
Harlan flipped the page he was reading, then jerked back in surprise before immediately showing Judy. At the bottom of the page, red ink stamped out in bold letters: EXECUTIVE AUTHORIZATION. Below that, in flowing script, was signed a single name: Rupert B. Clovestone.
Judy looked at the signature for only a second before turning to her computer. Bringing up her ZPD search engine, she typed in the name and hit enter.
Harlan leaned down to read from the citizen profile over her shoulder. "Rupert Bartholomew Clovestone. Founder and CEO of Clovestone Industries, the largest and most prestigious architectural design firm in Zootopia, responsible for many of the most iconic skyscrapers in the world-famous Zootopian skyline…" Harlan trailed off with a grimace. "Rich. Famous. Influential. Explains why Public Records took so long to get us these papers. This is going to suck, isn't it?"
Judy nodded, expression determined. "Oh, yeah. One hundred percent. But we're not giving up just yet, even against the face of corporate Zootopia. No one is above the law, and I'm not stopping until I find out just how much this guy knows."
12:30 P.M ; Somewhere in the Nocturnal-District...
Attics had always occupied a special place in Lucy's heart.
During her childhood, she would spend hours hiding in the attic of her family's estate in the Meadowlands, listening to all the sounds she could hear resonating throughout the house. In her adolescence, entire days passed as she relaxed among the insulation and cobwebs, too engrossed in her painting to leave for anything more than refreshments. And when she had first been building her relationship with Vladzotz, years later, Lucy would often sneak into the attic of Castle Fangpyre after their frequent dates and business discussions, if only to listen to him play his pipe organ from a distance. She'd even fallen asleep up there on more than one occasion, lulled to rest by the soothing melody.
The attic in the safehouse was no different - large, dusty, and the perfect hideaway for whenever Lucy wanted to be alone with her thoughts. She hung from one of the horizontal support beams, staring out through a translucent stained-glass window. She wasn't sure why they were so popular in the Nocturnal-District, given how hard they were to see through (chalking it up to vampire bat culture was a safe assumption), but they were inarguably beautiful. The one she stared through was a beautiful mix of red and yellow, hinted with the slight blue glow of the district's glowworms beaming from the cavern roof, high above. Primary colors. Her artist's eye was hard to turn off sometimes. In the middle of the window was a perfectly cut bat shape - dark as night, drawing attention away from the colors like a black hole. The Fangpyre Family coat of arms.
A rustling from behind snapped the attention of her ears. Lucy swiveled the ankle she used to cling to the beam, rotating her body and staring back into the shadows. The inverted form of Vladzotz calmly stepped out from the dark, wings wrapped around his body like a leathery cloak.
"I thought I might find you here," he remarked, velvety voice filling the silence of the attic. "Enjoying the view?"
Lucy sighed with relief. "You can be a real sneak sometimes, you know that? I didn't even hear you until you were right on top of me."
Vladzotz shrugged, though not without a smile pulling at his lips. "Perhaps I've picked up a thing or two from you. You make an excellent mentor."
The female bat bashfully averted her gaze. "Yeah… mentor…"
Vladzotz noted the way her wings squeezed a bit tighter around her body, as though in a subconscious effort to reassure herself. "Is everything alright, my dear?" He asked, approaching her perch until he stood directly beside her upturned head. "You've been awfully quiet these past few days, ever since you got that hole in your wing stitched up. Not at all like yourself."
Lucy snuggled a bit more into her wings, trying to ignore the new texture of the scar left behind from the stitches. "I'm okay. I've just… got a lot on my mind: Mr. Big, you, our family… and this mammal I ran into when I was tracking down that boar."
As she spoke, Vladzotz flapped up and gripped the beam with his own talons, hanging directly beside her. "I see. These are uncertain times. It's only natural to seek inner consolation. I hope that when Mr. Big replies to my letter, all will be amended. But until then, you should know you're always welcome to share your thoughts with me, Lucy."
"You know I would," Lucy promised. "I've never exactly been a shut-in kind of mammal. I'm sorry I didn't tell you about this right away, but… I guess I just needed time to process things. That, and the thoughts kind of…" she briefly trailed off before sighing. "Honestly, they kind of scared me. It's… not a feeling I'm used to."
The crime-lord shuffled closer to her. He had rarely known his wife to be so despondent. "What about them scares you?" He asked softly.
"I think… because it feels like my past is catching up to me. And not in a good way."
"Your past?" Vladzotz clicked curiously, unintentionally echolocating into the room. "How so?"
Another sigh broke through Lucy's maw, this one born of sorrow. "Well, I've told you a lot, but… not everything. Some memories are just… too painful," she visibly shrunk as her wings tightened across her torso. "Being a freelance thief isn't easy. It's a dangerous job. You know that I was sent to prison after I was framed for my brother's murder, and how I had to learn to steal and fight just to survive in there. I've told you how I got swept up in a breakout, and then started my life of crime when I was free."
"Yes. I remember it all," Vladzotz confirmed, nodding toward the stained-glass window. "Quiet nights like these where the two of us could talk in peace."
Lucy allowed herself a reminiscent smile. "Yeah. You've always been a great listener. Great talker, too." Her smile gradually faded. "But that was only part of the story."
Vladzotz looked to her with interest, allowing her to continue her explanation. Lucy swallowed, steeling herself for her coming words.
"What I didn't tell you, was that I wasn't alone when I busted out. I didn't teach myself how to fight, or steal, or any of that. I was a nineteen year old kid. I could barely lift anything heavier than a paintbrush before I went in. Truth is, I had mentors: mammals locked up along with me that taught me everything I needed to know to survive. They were a group of thieves that called themselves the Felidae Infernum. Despite everything, they gave me hope in that hopeless place." Lucy gazed deep into the colored glass of the window, lost in her own memories. "Prison was a nightmare come to life. I cried myself to sleep for weeks. I got beaten up by bigger mammals. Everyone thought I had killed my own brother… even my dad." Lucy swallowed hard, pulling herself a little closer into her wings. "I had no one. But then the Infernum took me under their wing. Protected me. Treated me like family… at least at first. I officially joined them the day we escaped, and they gave me a second chance - a chance to finally live for myself."
"I never imagined you were part of a criminal organization before mine," Vladzotz muttered. "This Felidae Infernum… they escape my recognition."
"That was the idea. We weren't a mob. We were a band of thieves. Secrecy was everything. I'm not surprised that you've never heard of us, even with your position as a crime-lord." Lucy winced. "I also may have been responsible for their obscurity, considering the fact that I destroyed them from the inside out."
"You destroyed the mammals that brought you so much hope?"
"No, but, well… yes," the thief admitted. "It's not so simple. Everything was great, at first. We got away with some amazing scores. I made friends I thought I'd have for life. But I was such a fool," she cursed herself, batting at her forehead with a clenched fist. "Our whole operation was as thin and fragile as glass. We didn't have the kind of power that crime-lords like you can rely on. One mess-up, and the whole group would be compromised. And we were. Tensions rose. Infighting, too. I realized that these mammals I had thought were my friends were… just manipulating me. They used me to help start the prison break. Buttered me up to feel like one of them. And I thought I was… I really did." Lucy sniffed. "I thought they would be the family I had lost. But they abandoned and betrayed me, just like my real family."
"I'm so sorry," Vladzotz said softly, placing a supportive wingpaw on her shoulder. "You've lived a terribly hard life."
Lucy nodded, and then glanced to her husband with a weak smile. "Life's been good since I met you, though. But… back when I was with the Infernum," she glanced away. "I could only trust a few mammals. One of them was a friend I'd made in prison, and the other was my mentor: Peter Ishini." Lucy grimaced, remembering his ghostly white fur and the ease with which he had pulled the trigger of that sniper he'd trained on her. "He's a flying squirrel. Not often I got the chance to meet another flying mammal. We had similar interests, and personalities. I admit, he rubbed off on me a lot. He was… like the father I never had."
"And this was the mammal you met on your hunt for the boar?" Vladzotz guessed.
"Yeah. He taught me how to be a thief. Everything I know, really. He was good." Another look of pain crossed the bat's face. "I thought if anyone would support me, it was him. And he did, for a while. But one day…" A deep breath siphoned through her nostrils. "I found out the Infernum had orchestrated my brother's murder, just to get to me. Just to turn me into their puppet. And I decided then and there that I would never let myself be anyone's slave again. I fought back. Released as much information about the Infernum as I could to the ZPD. Anyone who didn't die was locked up again. I brought down the whole organization by myself. I only wish it had made me feel better. After that, I was a lone merc for a few years, before I met you."
"And as for your mentor?" Vladzotz inquired.
"I thought he was dead for the longest time. He tried to kill me when I saw him, so he clearly hasn't forgiven me for destroying the Infernum. At least I think that's why he's after me. He always was hard to read. But he loved the Infernum like family. It's safe to assume he wants revenge."
The male bat hummed thoughtfully beneath his breath. "You know this mammal more than I. What do you suggest we do? You're my second, and I value your insight."
Lucy took a moment to respond to that as she pondered her options. "Well, next chance I get, I'm gonna do some digging - see if I can find where Peter has been all this time, and if there's anything I can use to get the upper hand. The more I know, the better chance of overcoming him. I doubt he's in his prime anymore, but it's safe to rank his skill in combat close to mine. Can't just wait until he tries killing me again. He might succeed if we give him more chances. But he's not the only mammal we'll have to worry about."
"What do you mean?"
"Peter was working with a few others," Lucy explained. "The boar that started this whole mess, and a rabbit, and… their boss - the client that hired me. He said their goal wasn't to start the war. That it was just a means to an end, whatever that could be. I don't know what they're after, but it's clear we're in the crossfire."
"I see," Vladzotz mused, stroking at his chin with one clawtip. "It sounds as though your old mentor is the only threat we need concern ourselves over, for now. If you could find proof that he and his allies are behind the recording that has incited this conflict, it could buy us an advantage over the Tundratown Mafia. Be careful as you investigate them."
"I will. Promise," Lucy assured, playfully butting her head into Vladzotz's chest. "Thanks for lending an ear, Vladdy. I had no idea how much I needed it." Hard to believe there was a time when we were trying to kill each other, she internally mused.
"Of course, my dear. We must support each other in these uncertain times. I know this threat of war is worrisome, but I vow I will do everything within my power to protect our family. Protect you. Even if it means taking a stake to the chest, I will ensure our survival, and we will come out stronger when this is all over."
"You'd better. Die on me, and I'll kill you." Lucy teased, earning a chuckle from the crime-lord.
Despite her own apprehensions on the matter, Lucy couldn't deny that Vlad's assurances made her feel better. It wasn't long before the thoughts left entirely, supplanted by the tranquility of the atmosphere. There in that attic, cuddled up to her husband and gazing through the stained-glass window. As Lucy admired the colors, she realized for the first time that there was a crack in the window - a small etch along the wing of the bat shape. It reminded her a little too much of the sniper bullet that had torn through her own wing. But as soon as that memory returned, Lucy buried it along with her face into Vlad's sternum. Such thoughts could be saved for later. This was all she needed now.
1:00 P.M ; Downtown Zootopia...
The sheer size of Zootopia sometimes made getting from one place to another quite the hassle.
Even as a cop with the best GPS that money could buy, the intricate network of roads and sub-districts was practically labyrinthine. Not this time, however. Judy's destination could more or less be seen from every corner of town: Capricorn Tower, headquarters of Clovestone Industries and one of the largest skyscrapers in the city, located smack in the middle of Downtown Zootopia. Its curved, corkscrew-like design gave the appearance of a horn, and only helped distinguish it for the bunny's journey. She didn't even need to put any coordinates into her computer - she simply followed the roads with the glittering blue skyscraper in sight until she was at its door.
Entering the building, Judy stared in wonder around the lobby, jaw nearly dropped with awe. The interior, massive as it was, somehow looked even more impressive than the exterior, with sunlight streaming through floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating glossy white tiles across the floor. Small trees and shrubs immaculately trimmed into spirals flanked the walls of the lobby, with goat security guards visibly resisting the urge to nibble from them. Thin waterfalls streamed through holes in the walls, collecting in shimmering pools filled with koi. There wasn't a speck of dust to be seen.
"Welcome to Capricorn Tower," a soothing pre-recorded voice played over the loudspeakers in the ceiling. "The headquarters of Clovestone Industries, Zootopia's renowned 'Fountain of Invention.' Creator of the skyscrapers that reach for the limitless, and the Climate Wall technology that governs our district's ecosystems, Clovestone Industries dreams of a world united through technology and progress, where all mammalkind shares in the reward."
Judy set off towards the shiny silver elevators on the far side of the lobby, all the while admiring its polished minimalist design. She couldn't deny that the place was stunning, at first glance. However, with a bit of attention to detail, something about the atmosphere seemed… off. The bunny stared around at the faces of the various employees, some adorning crisp suits while others sported construction vests and hardhats, but all wore the same blank, depressed expression, as though dreading their very presence in the building. Banners draped from the ceiling depicting the outline of a goat's head were everywhere. A family coat of arms, perhaps, but it reminded Judy a little too much of the war flags from ancient prey tribes that she'd seen in history books, as though the banners were marking territory, or signaling a warning.
A giant silver statue was erected right in the middle of the lobby, reaching to the layered balconies of the stories above. Judy recognized it to be a markhor - a rare type of mountain goat - judging by the massive beard and spiraled horns, which looked big enough to impale an elephant. The statue stood in a fancy suit, elegantly raising one arm to the ceiling. In the palm of its outstretched hoof, a gold sphere glimmered in the ample sunlight. Judy figured it must have been a depiction of Rupert Clovestone himself.
"We are limited only by what we cannot imagine," the recording spoke once more, sounding almost as if it were coming from the statue. "Everything else is possible."
Judy thought the quote to be a good one, but many of the mammals in the lobby tiredly ignored the recording, as though it were something they had heard a million times before. And Judy suspected they had. A bit creeped out, she shook her head and continued to the elevators. With the banners, and the statue, and the quotes that may or may not have been actually made by him, it wasn't a stretch to assume that Rupert had an ego. Judy made a mental note to see if it was something she could use to her advantage when questioning him. Upon entering the glitzy elevator, she pressed the button that brought her all the way to the top floor of the building. Despite the elevator's speed, it was still a lengthy ride, given the sheer size of the skyscraper. It sped smoothly and uneventfully, that was before the loudspeaker in the elevator crackled to life.
"At Clovestone Industries, we are all united for the literal cause of building Zootopia's future." The voice declared in that same soothing tone.
"Even here…?" Judy muttered beneath her breath with disbelief. She was starting to view the periodic announcements less like motivational quotes, and more like propaganda.
Her eyes couldn't help but spare a cautious peek at the tiny camera in the corner of the compartment's ceiling. Something told her that she was being watched. She felt less welcome in this building by the minute. Eventually, the elevator glided to a halt at the top floor. Judy abandoned it as quickly as the doors could open. Coming to face with a marble hallway filled by a security checkpoint, Judy was left with no choice but to walk through a metal detector, disarm herself of her tranquilizer, and suffer through a patdown from a sheep guard that looked about as happy to be there as she did.
"Remember, an orderly office is a happy office," the loudspeakers droned all the while. "An orderly employee is a happy employee."
When that was over and her items had been retrieved, Judy paced down the hall until she arrived at a large, translucent glass door flanked by a few empty marble benches. The place looked more like a museum than a waiting lounge. A desk in front of the doors housed a young female llama in a business skirt and button-up. The llama gave a wide smile to Judy, though she could tell that it was forced by the way it failed to reach her eyes.
"You must be Officer Hopps," she greeted in a professionally calm voice. "Welcome to Clovestone Industries."
"Thank you. I'm here to see Mr. Clovestone. I have some questions I'd like to ask him." Judy said.
"Of course," the llama replied as she flipped through some papers on her clipboard. "We have you down for the-"
"MISS HOOVER!" A male voice roared from an intercom somewhere on the llama's desk. "Would you PLEASE send in the next guest already?"
The llama winced with fear before pressing a button on the device. "R-Right away, Mr. Clovestone!" She sighed, eyes full of weariness, that was before remembering she had a guest. Forcing a smile, she rose from her chair. "Mr. Clovestone will see you now. Please follow me."
Judy grimaced, liking this place less and less. She doubted her feelings about the mammal behind it all would be any better. Following Miss Hoover through the glass doors, the bunny had to resist the urge to gasp at the sight of the office. It was a polished semi-circle three times the size of her and Nick's apartment, built from completely white tile. Marble columns lined the walls, where more thin waterfalls spilled into special pools with only the faintest of trickling. Violin music emanated from a speaker somewhere. Most impressive of all, however, were the floor-to-ceiling windows that gave a stunning view from Downtown, all the way past Savanna-Central to the waters of the Zootopia Sound. Sahara-Square could be seen as well, with the Climate Wall of Tundratown bordering it in the distance. The only furniture in the room was a giant flat desk made of glass, and the two sharp black office chairs on either side of it. Behind the desk sat the mammal Judy had come all this way to see.
Unlike the youthful statue in the lobby, the real Rupert Clovestone looked anything but elegant. For one thing, he was at least in his eighties, with streaks of gray marking his stringy brown fur. The markhor's beard was easily as long as Judy was tall, draping down the brown vest and slacks that obscured his thin body. He wore a white lab coat even over those, as though he had just returned from a laboratory somewhere. His horns were massive even by markhor standards - spiraling up from his skull like giant bony corkscrews. Seeing such horns in person gave Judy the impression that the whole building had been designed to look like them, minus the slight fraying of the real ones, likely from age.
Rupert sat slouching in his chair, one elbow propped atop his desk and supporting his cheek. Caramel colored irises constricted a pair of rectangular black pupils like amber hardened around an insect, and looked just as cold and restrictive. His eyes were dulled with boredom as he listened to another llama secretary read from a clipboard.
"-and staff complaints have risen twenty-six point three percent since we phased out casual Fridays."
"I'll give those slouchers something to complain about," Rupert muttered beneath his breath, voice light and snide despite his age. "Oh, very well. If bread and circuses are what they want, I'll throw them some crust. Go ahead and scramble some new quotes for the public announcements. Something about professionalism, and uniformity. Spice it up."
"Very good, sir. Next on the docket, Research and Development wishes to demonstrate their prototype for Project Everest to you by-"
Rupert's eyes drifted to Judy as she arrived, and suddenly brightened with interest. "Oh, well would you look at that, a new guest!" His hooves pushed him to his feet. "I guess we'll have to cancel the briefing, not that I don't enjoy our time together," he chuckled, gesturing for the secretary to leave. "There's the door. See you at seven."
The llama nodded before trotting off. Miss Hoover then brought Judy to the front of the desk. "Officer Hopps is here to see you, Mr. Clove-"
"Yes, yes, I know," Rupert grumbled, cutting her off with a wave of his hoof. "Go make yourself useful and get us some tea. Extra salt. You know how I like it."
Miss Hoover nodded wordlessly before leaving Judy alone with her boss. The bunny faced him as he seated himself in his chair with a sigh.
Of all the words she wanted to say, the first that left her mouth were, "You should be nicer to your employees."
Rupert looked at her, dumbfounded, before a hearty laugh burst through his teeth, edged with the slightest hint of a goat-like bleat. "You didn't come all this way just to tell me how I should run my business, did you? If so, then you've wasted your time."
"No," Judy assured. "Just calling it like I see it."
The markhor smirked, though Judy could tell he was hiding his anger by the way his brow twitched. "You've got spunk, I'll give you that," he said before nodding at his desk, causing his massive horns to swish through the air above him. "Why don't you sit down and tell me what you actually came here to say."
"Sure thing," Judy flatly replied, holding up the financial records she'd brought with her and opting not to seat herself. "I came to talk to you about these."
Rupert lazily extended one arm. Judy approached the desk and handed the papers to him before stepping back and watching as he donned a pair of reading glasses. The markhor quietly skimmed over the papers before eyeing his guest disappointedly. "And?"
"These are financial records for a building that your company owns," Judy elaborated. "And three days ago, there was a shooting within the building's premises that earned ZPD attention. You aren't being charged, but I came here to question you over the circumstances. There's a lot that doesn't add up, and I thought you could enlighten me."
"Officer Hopps," Rupert began with an exasperated, yet somehow still condescending grin as he placed the papers atop his desk. "With all due respect, does the ZPD not have better things to do? Criminals to chase?"
"See, that's the thing; the ZPD has ruled out accident, and concluded that criminal intent was present at the crime scene based on the evidence discovered. When we looked a little deeper, we discovered that the entire floor where the crime occurred had been emptied the day of, and that the cameras in the building were blanked out during this time, too. It all seems to suggest that someone with a stake over the property knew that the crime would occur. Does that not sound a bit suspicious to you?"
The markhor chuckled, adjusting his spectacles. "I think you may be aiming higher than necessary. Why go through so much effort to ask me of this? There's a reason I delegate oversight of my other properties to external management. They should be able to provide answers to these ridiculous questions of yours. My time is worth more than this."
"That's not all," Judy retorted before gesturing to the papers atop Rupert's desk. "It took a while, but when I received those documents, some new information was added to the picture. As it turns out, that entire office floor was rented with nothing but cash. When I looked into who paid for it, I found a giant trail of shell-corporations that led me right to your company: Clovestone Industries. Not only that, but I found out that your company owns the entire building. Why would you rent out an office to yourself? That got me thinking, so I investigated, and found records showing that it was done under orders from a one Rupert Clovestone. That's why I've gone through so much effort to reach you."
In all her years of delivering verbal beatdowns to suspects - from her initial recruitment of Nick for the Nighthowler case, years ago, to foiling Bellwether's plot in the Natural History Museum - Judy had never seen a mammal handle having their dirty laundry aired in front of them better than Rupert. The markhor just raised his eyebrows pointedly.
"You believe I rented an office in my own property to cover up criminal activity?" He asked calmly, leaning back in his chair.
"Not saying you're guilty," Judy reminded him. By this point, her initial plan to stroke his ego was out the window. She only wished that Nick were here to help egg the guy into saying something a bit more useful. For all her strength in law enforcement, a silver-tongue was one thing she lacked. "Just here to get answers."
"Is it not my understanding that shell-corporations are perfectly legal in Zootopia?" Rupert asked with an innocent shrug. "Just because a company exists as nothing more than a name on paper doesn't automatically mean that it was created for anything less than professional business." His expression hardened, looking more defensive. "So what if Clovestone Industries uses such accounts? Their only purpose is to transfer assets. This trail you mentioned? It's a funnel, that allows my company to function efficiently. Do you have the faintest idea just how many assets are under my responsibility?"
Rupert rose to his feet, stepping back and sweeping one arm toward the massive window, where the vast cityscape of Zootopia glimmered in the sunlight with vivid colors. "Do you see this city? I built this city. Clovestone Industries has financed and overseen the construction of seventy-one percent of the skyscrapers in Downtown Zootopia for the past sixty years, all under my stewardship. I, myself, designed this very building! The number of carrots your bloodline has picked throughout its entire history number fewer than the assets my company manages in a single day - construction equipment, building materials, tools of trade, everything to create the society we live in today. My work is what keeps Tundratown habitable for arctic species. I flip a switch and reverse the temperature output of the Climate Wall, millions would drown in a sea of melted snow." The markhor firmly planted his fist into the glass at that last word, creating a reverberating thump. He glared sternly down at Judy. "You underestimate just how reliant Zootopia is to me. So if I deign to make a few shell-corporations to streamline the process, I see it as perfectly within my rights."
Despite the admittedly fair points behind his long-winded explanation, Judy had a sinking suspicion that Rupert was also trying to distract her from the original topic by making a point. For as cold as Rupert was, Zootopia and its society owed a lot to him, that much was clear. But Judy wasn't about to let this old goat redirect the conversation.
"You're right," she relented. "I haven't brushed up on my corporate law in a while, but there's no reason to say that your shell-companies are responsible for any illicit activity. However, the situation is far from spotless. The cameras, the witness removal - someone tried to commit murder in that building, and I'm going to find out who, and why."
Rupert scoffed. "That evidence sounds circumstantial to me, at best. You wasted your time bringing this to my feet." He turned to gaze out the window, admiring the landscape of Savanna-Central with a calculating curiosity. "Besides, the shooting was more than likely just some petty spat between equally petty criminals. As I recall, the building was constructed close to Happytown. It wouldn't surprise me if some of those hapless mongrels found their way into the greater district."
Judy shook her head with disbelief. "You don't know anything about Happytown, or its residents."
"Don't I?" Rupert challenged, glaring one intense amber eye over his shoulder. "Clovestone Industries laid the very foundation of these districts in their modern states, Savanna-Central included. Every city needs its grease trap - a place for the hopeless to gather, where they won't interfere with the peace of the majority. Happytown just happened to be that place. I only wish I didn't have to look at it. It taints my view of the skyline like a bug splat on a window. Had I the means, I'd wipe that stain off the map of my city."
Having heard enough, Judy retrieved the papers from Rupert's desk and glared him down with disapproval. "You should watch what you say around a police officer. Might accidentally mention something incriminating."
"Is that a threat? Who in the hell do you think you are?" Rupert swiftly hissed. "All I did was express my opinions in response to your foolish accusations. You should be thanking me, even, for that hypothesis I offered about petty breaking-and-entering being the source of this wayward hunt of yours. I suggest you use it. Now get out of my office."
Judy furrowed her brow. It was clear to her that Rupert wouldn't be giving her any useful information. Such was the hardship of being a cop sometimes. "Thank you for your time and input, Mr. Clovestone. Don't worry: if I find any evidence of criminal activity on your property, you'll be the first to know."
The markhor sneered, sensing the warning in her words, but otherwise didn't comment; instead turning his head away and gazing back out the window. Meanwhile, Judy turned tail and set out toward the exit, passing Miss Hoover as she returned with two cups of steaming tea, looking confused at her guest's sudden departure. Judy left the office with a sour taste in her mouth and a frustration that she couldn't quite explain, now truly understanding why everyone else in the building had looked and acted the way they had. She'd gone up against ruthless crime-lords and battled sadistic mercenaries, yet Rupert Clovestone was easily one of the most deplorable mammals she'd ever had the displeasure of meeting. It went to show that not all 'good guys' were necessarily good mammals, no matter how much they had contributed to society.
But Judy wasn't about to let a few minutes with that old goat ruin her mood for the rest of her day. As she stood alone in the elevator, wishing Nick was there with her to cheer her up, she thought back to one of his oldest and truest words of wisdom: never let them see that they get to you. The day that Nick had told her as much on that gondola ride in the Rainforest-District, years ago, was still fresh in her mind. She chuckled to herself, realizing that she had, in fact, let Rupert get to her. Normally, Nick would have been there to help tame her impulses, and keep the situation cool. But Nick wasn't there, and Judy had allowed herself to give Rupert the upper hand. Judy concluded that if she was going to be continuing her police work without Nick, then she'd need to once again learn how to operate without him. She'd simply gotten so used to his presence as a partner.
Past it all, Judy knew that she would find the strength needed to press on. After all, she didn't know when to quit. And that thought was all she needed to reassure herself. Her interview with Rupert may have led to a dead-end, but Judy was certain that her efforts and those of the ZPD would lead to something tangible soon enough. By the time the elevator doors opened on the bottom floor, her confident smile had returned - beaming through the sullen, abused atmosphere of the lobby like a spotlight through fog.
The mysteries grow! But not to worry, answers will be coming soon! In fact, things really start to pick up in the next chapter, "Drums of War", as pieces of the puzzle start to connect, and blood begins to spill. I should note that as the story progresses, you'll be seeing more of the scenes Lucy mentioned in her explanation about her past. I want to show rather than tell, after all. Besides, there is a whole backstory in the form of Bloodlines, so I figured a bit of telling wouldn't hurt there. Rest assured, you'll see how I show those scenes very soon.
I should also note that Mr. Lagopus belongs to Andy Lagopus, another friend of mine and the former head of ZNN. He interviewed me on my work last year, and I figured I could fit his character in for a quick cameo in that news scene. As for Rupert Clovestone, he's a new character that you can expect to see more of down the line. I look forward to revealing how he fits in with the plot! What do you think of him so far, in particular?
I think you'll be pleasantly surprised for the future! But until then, this is all I've got for now. Thanks for reading, and I hope you stay tuned! :)