Half Past Midnight
Chapter 24: They Come at Night
Perhaps Judy should have questioned it. The acquaintance showing up at her door in the middle of the night. Didn't it ring any alarms in her mind? Well, maybe it did. But even so, there was a far louder problem screeching in her head. Nick was out there, somewhere, in the very paws of monsters who murdered without remorse. There was no uncertainty to her that this was the correct thing to do, she thought after climbing into Derick's rather nice silver car. The fabric of the chair was handsomely decorated with neat stripes while the vehicle itself almost had an ultra-modern feel to it. Did the Special Weapons and Tactics division really pay this well? She stopped inspecting the details of the car immediately after shutting the door behind her, getting right back to the task on her mind.
"Is he okay?" She questioned the wolf beside her, the very instant he had gotten into the car himself. Derick had refused to answer any questions so far, telling her it would be best not to talk openly until they reached his car. The very ride down the elevator took every ounce of patience she had learned in all the years on the force. And even then, it was a close battle. But now that she could start asking those questions doing far more than just gnawing at her, she found it hard to stop for a response. "What did they do to him? Is he alive? Did they hurt him?"
"I don't know" Derick quietly muttered before looking down at the steering wheel. She noticed something in his eyes at that moment. She couldn't decipher just what it was, but it worried her. It was almost as if it were regret, or a sadness at the very least. But that couldn't have been it, she thought. Perhaps he was just frightened for Nick? Yes, that must have been it. "All I know is where they're keeping him, but I can't call the Chief because of the lookouts spot a single police car…"
"oh" She said while beginning to understand what he was talking about. "Is that why you came directly to me?"
"…Yes" there it was again. That odd emotion in his eyes.
"How are going to save him?" She asked while Derick started the car and they began pulling into the street. "And where is he?"
"They're keeping him in an abandoned factory just a few miles into Tundra Town. Franko doesn't have many men there, so I think as long as we're quick and discreet we should be able to go in and carry him out without being seen"
"carry?" She repeated with a sense of urgency crawling it's way through her voice. Why would they have to carry him? Would it be that bad? Was he even alive? "Why-"
"I'm sorry, I was just assuming the worst case scenario. I'm sure he'll be alright, but if we do need to carry him, I'll be the one doing it. Do you have your service weapon?"
"of course!" She answered while withdrawing the firearm for him to see.
"leave it in the car"
His response was the exact opposite of why she had been expecting. Why on Earth would she ever leave the gun in the car as she attempted a break in on one of the world's largest drug king's facilities? "Why?"
"Because- let's say you're forced to use it to defend yourself. And suddenly, the gunshot is heard from every corner of the building. Then we'll have dozens of armed mercenaries storming right at us with who knows how many more on the way. It's best we eliminate that possibility. Besides, everyone knows the stories of Judith Hopps taking down full sized rhino's in the ring without breaking a sweat. I think you'll manage"
She couldn't quite say she agreed with his logic, but she had to have faith in Derick for now. He was the only one who could lead her to Nick. "How long until we get there?"
"It's best if you just try and relax right now. If you let your mind get to tangled up, you might start making some bad mistakes once we're inside"
"How could I possibly relax when my.." she almost said 'my fox' but caught herself, before considering to just say it anyways. It was the truth, after all. She loved him. And that love was in every part of her. She was about to continue when Derick cut her off.
"Hey, I know what it's like to worry for someone- but right now, the best thing you can do for your husband is remain calm"
Maybe he was right, she thought. But that didn't change the racing beat of her heart, nor the thick anxiety clamping down around her. She tried turning her head back to the front windshield, which gave way to the dark streets of Zootopia surrounding by them. At least the knowledge she was now taking action gave her a feeling that almost resembled comfort. Was it enough to offset the tension occupying every muscle of her body? Not remotely. But it did help.
She remained attentive throughout the entire car ride, making note of each passerby who glanced at them, or any car that remained behind them for longer than a couple of minutes. Ultimately however, Judy never found a certain threat during the trip. They were just into Tundra Town now, and Judy couldn't help but grow ever more impatient at the seemingly endless drive. "We have to be close, right?"
"Yeah... We're almost there" Derick had remained silent throughout most of the ride himself, probably trying to follow his own advice, she decided. Just then, a derelict building came just into view. Set apart from the white horizons all around them, it seemed as if the old factory was built in the middle of a frosted no-where. A perfect place for trying to hide something. Or someone.
They were almost at the building now, and Judy spotted just a couple of entirely black cars covered in the thick snow, remaining just near the entrance of a large door. Derick had made sure to turn the headlights off as they approached, doing everything in their power to remain undetected.
"How do you know they haven't seen us?"
"The building itself is... Just a front. The main operations take place underground. We should be able to slip in as just a single car without being noticed"
At this point, Judy was willing to believe that Derick had used a time machine to warp in between the fabric of reality if it meant she could get Nick back. That's why when the idea to ask him how he knew all of this arose, the shot it down the same moment. She knew it wouldn't matter. As long as this worked.
They pulled in alongside the two larger cars, and swiftly exited the vehicle, leaving her weapon. Derick lead her up a small flight of stairs, where a single metal door awaited. He opened the door and peeked his head in, before turning to her and giving the all clear. "Head in this way, Nick should be on this floor- I doubt any guards would be up here right now. I'll take the backdoor"
She opened her mouth to protest the idea of splitting up in such a dangerous scenario, but realized Derick likely had this far more thought-through than she did. Hesitantly, she stepped past him and into the factory. She stood there, just through the doorway for a a few seconds while she gazed over all of the old and abandoned equipment scattered around. It was dark, too. Extremely dark. She turned around to mention it to Derick when the metal door slammed shut in her face, followed by a faint click. Her ears folded behind her head as she jumped back in sudden surprise and confusion. She considered trying to force it back open before hearing the rustling coming from behind her. Spinning around, she was greeted with several blinding beams of light pointing directly at her.
"Grab her"
Half an Hour Later
Up until this point Nicholas had tried remaining quiet throughout the somewhat awkward car ride. That wasn't to say he didn't have any questions, in fact, the only thoughts coming through his head were all questions. But Nick knew he'd have to be careful with what he asked, if the wolves saw it as a form of interrogation they might just shoot him then and there. Deciding he preferred his body without the gunshot wounds, Nick tried to slide it by as a more casual approach to what he still saw as the mammals who abducted him.
"So, you work for Debauch right? why are you following Franklin's commands to help me then, anyway?" His question was directed at all the wolves in the vehicle, but he looked directly to the driver across from him as he spoke. The driver had neatly groomed fur that was only impeded on by the remarkable scar running down his face, beginning at the edge of his eye and leading down to his neck. The intimidation factor this presented was less than amicable, but Nick understood that giving him a direct gaze was the best shot he had at actually receiving an answer. And in fact, it worked.
"We don't really work for Franko, as much as we just take his paychecks. All of us are recruited, trained, and lead by Franklin and Franklin alone. Most of us haven't even seen Mr. Debauch before. Fewer still would be loyal to him. In case you haven't heard, most mammals who work with Franko and live to remember it, will not precisely recommend the experience," Wow, that was... A lot more than he thought he would be told. He tried to make a note to himself to not get cocky.
"Well there have got to be other lieutenants, are you loyal to them?"
"It's like I said, we've all been in this business working solely for Franklin, I don't even know the names of the other commanders. We follow the boss, and that's that. I'm sure if you asked the mammals in another one of Franko's crews they'd tell you the same thing" The wolf didn't seemed that concerned about all the information he was just handing over to Nick. Which made him question if the driver even thought Nick would survive whatever onslaught he was headed directly into.
"Where are we going? Franklin said I'd learn on the way there" He tried to play the question off as cool and relaxed, but it had his heart pounding inside his chest with the pain of pure uncertainty. This pain only multiplied for each second longer it took the driver to respond, which somehow seemed like a silent eternity, and gripped him firmer when the wolf sighed and reached for the radio.
After flipping it on, the sound of artificial speakers blaring generic pop-culture music erupted within the vehicle. At first Nick thought the driver had done this to simply show that he was no longer answering his questions, which almost had Nick reaching across the console between them to grab at the wolf's throat in a moment of fury. But immediately after turning on the horrendous sounding music, the driver took a look at his watch and then glanced back at the radio.
"Any moment now"
Unsure of how to react at the odd gesture, Nick sat back in his seat and pondered on what exactly he was about to walk into. It was only now, that he was actually considering the undoubtedly suicidal idea of taking on several armed and trained assailants, that Nick realized just how incredibly screwed he was. What would Judy say? What would his mother think? And if he failed to save Judy, who would? The pit growing in his stomach soon became an unbearable feeling of uneasiness and anxiety. He couldn't even find the strength to throw up as the reality of his situation came toppling over him. Looking down at the firearm provided to him by the his ever-so-kind abductors, Nick released a breathless sigh before letting his eyes close. For a moment, it was as if the world zoomed in on him. All he could hear was the steady beat of his heart, the soft hum of the car, and something else... A voice talking. It was feminine and young, and for a moment he thought back to the SWAT van, having Judy beside him.
"...because you would always come to rescue me"
Nick's eyes shot open as the words traced through his mind. The first thing he felt was the pit in his stomach being replaced with a crucial guilt that tore it's way through him. And as he brought himself back into the real world, he found the source of the female voice he had heard. The radio, no longer playing tasteless music, instead aired what sounded like a news report. Nick immediately found himself listening intensely at the mention of 'officers on scene'.
"...The situation is still unravelling as we get the first reports that at least one of the ZPD's own have been taken captive inside of the abandoned Retrosville Factory. Law enforcement officials are yet to provide comment on the name or possible names of the hostages"
In his chest, Nick could feel his heartbeat pounding with a fierce uncertainty. Knowing this could be exactly what Franklin had been referring to, Nick casted a questioning glance at the driver while leaning forward in his seat. He however got nothing when the driver merely shrugged in response, forcing Nick to return his attention to the ambiguous radio. It mentioned the police setting up a blockade around the factory, the mobilization of SWAT, and the introduction of a negotiator. All things one would expect, but then Nick caught something that made his fur stand on end as the words came over the static filled radio.
"We've just received report of several oil tankers being transported to this location over the last three weeks. Police are currently working with the transport company to try and learn what these tankers may have been used for, we'll continue to bring you live updates concerning the standoff between..."
"Give me your phone" The demand could have been seen as more of a hopeful request by anyone watching this from an outsider's perspective, but Nick was ready to start tearing limbs off if it wasn't met. Thankfully for everyone, one of the wolves sitting patiently in the backseat stretched out his paw holding an all black cellphone for him to take. Almost taking the wolf's paw with it, Nick desperately took the phone and first tried calling Judy directly. A hopeless measure, but he'd be damned if he didn't try.
2:00
Judy had fought her captors, and fought them well. But the odds were just too stacked against her in the pitch black factory, facing off against what seemed to be an incalculable amount assailants. She'd seen at least seven flashlights, but it felt as if she had been taking on an army before eventually being struck directly in the head with what felt like an entire streetlamp. She couldn't quite tell if she had lost consciousness or not at that point, but before she could even understand what was going on she found herself sitting on the cold cement floor of the factory, tied to what she assumed was a steel support beam. Not long after that, she heard the first sirens. It wasn't long before the pitch black factory was illuminated by the bright red and blue flashes intruding through the several large windows placed alongside the building. Just a few moments after that, she could hear the distinct sound of helicopter blades spinning outside, followed by a blinding spotlight shining through the windows. She couldn't actually see the spotlight herself, being positioned far from any window that she could be seen from, but it did help to illuminate her surroundings. It was certainly some type of old and broken down factory, with pieces of rusted mechanical equipment haphazardly scattered along the floor, desks, and metal drums in the large open room. There wasn't any signs of the mammals who had kidnapped her, however. Or so she thought. And with that uncertainty, having no idea what was even going on or what she should be trying to do, an old feeling began to tremble through her typically stone hard demeanor when faced with a threat in the line of her work.
"You know you love me"
"Do I? Yes, yes I do"
Her simple ringtone for whenever Nick called her had always been one of Judy's favorite treasures since the day it was recorded. The sound, coming from what she believed to be behind her, despite struggling to fully comprehend it due to the echoes produced by the largely empty and massive room, remained that beacon of light for her as Nick's voice soothed her mind. But more than that, it meant that he had his phone. Which meant he wasn't still captured. The other possibility, well, she refused to consider it. But Knowing Nick was free, she knew that meant one more thing.
He was coming for her.