Several days latter, Ahsoka Tano stood before the Jedi Council onboard the Triumphant Phoenix. "So Judy has more than proven herself as a Jedi Knight." Plo Koon said.
"Yes... yes she did find the missing Mammals," Ahsoka said glumly.
"Something's troubling you Snips... mind telling us?" Anikan asked in concern.
"Well... it makes more sense if I just show you," Ahsoka said, she then started a holographic projection of the press conference held after the case was solved. Specifically of Judy, where she speculated on why the kidnapped Mammals went 'Savage' as they termed there condition. Judy basically explained that it was the Predators reverting to there primal instincts. Then it showed Nick chewing out Judy. "And... well Judy's been beside herself since then. She hasn't left Mammalia since then."
The clone master raised a hand. "Grand Master X2 here, how did you get that footage?"
"I had a stealth droid record her after that scare with the Rainforest District," Ahsoka said. "My point being, I'm certain that Judy is blaming herself for the turmoil that's brewing across her homeworld."
Plo Koon groaned. "And this is why we separated children-"
"Plo!" Anakin said harshly. "Look, the point is, the situation on Mammalia is deteriorating. Predators are inexplicably turning feral, Prey are being terrified by this, and one of our own apparently doesn't want to leave." He extrapolated. "So I propose that we take the Triumphant Phoenix to Mammalia. We need as many boots on the ground to help handle this crisis. If not to solve what's going on, then at least protect them."
"That puts us at great risk." Obi-Wan pointed out.
"We're always at risk... with Windu's defectors, Maul's cultists, the Hutts and other civilizations that are openly hostile to us. It's inherently foolish to assume that we're ever safe. Even back at the Temple, we weren't safe." Anakin said. "I for one say that we NEED to show them that there's nothing to fear from there own kind! Ahsoka, Obi-Wan, we're going to Zootopia."
XXXX
In the streets of Zootopia, Nick was back to selling paw-sicles with Finnick. Business was good, despite the mistrust that was spreading of Predators. Of course, it helped that they were still selling by the Lemming Brothers Bank. "Good haul..." Nick said with a glum tone when he and Finnick had finished selling their goods.
"What? No smart-aleck remarks?" Finnick said with genuine concern for his partner.
"I'll see you tomorrow," Nick said as he walked off. Eventually, he realized he was being watched. "Okay... what do you want with-" He then saw the tall robed figure that was following him. "Not more Jedi! Also, those robes make you far more conspicuous than you probably think it does!"
"Relax kid," Anakin said as he pulled down his hood. "I'm not here to mug you."
"Listen, buddy, I don't want anything to do with any Jedi," Nick said in irritation.
"Sorry to hear that. But see... I really am just here to talk." Anakin said sincerely. "Besides... anyone who helps a fellow Jedi is worth my time."
"Buddy... that bunny stabbed me in the back." He snarled as he poured himself a glass of water. "I poured my heart out to her. About why I was who I was.. and the next day, she basically said that Predators were savages!"
"That's not the worst thing a Jedi has ever done," Anakin said frankly.
"Name one," Nick said as he drank the water.
"I killed an entire tribe of Tuskan Raiders in a blind rage... after my mother died in my arms," Anakin said, Nick then did a spit take in surprise.
"WHAT?!" Nick said in surprise.
"Yeah, not just the men... but the women, and the children," Anakin said regretfully. "Nobody but me, Padme, the Chancellor, and my droid friends knew about that for two years. After that harrowing mission to the Mortis Monolith, I spilled out my numerous sins to Obi-Wan and Ahsoka. Point is Nickolas Piberius Wilde... we all make mistakes, even Jedi. Of course what Judy did, obviously wasn't as bad as murdering an entire tribe of primitives. But believe me when I say she's as broken as you are about this whole affair."
Nick was flabbergasted. "Okay... suppose I even know what a 'Tuskan Raider' is... I'm guessing NOT ivory poachers. But why should I believe you about fluff-bun?"
Anakin snickered at the nickname. "Because she hasn't left the planet at all since this... crisis started. And she's refused orders from the Council. I'm pretty sure she's gone into self-imposed exile."
"And what makes you think that, Master... Sandy?" Nick said in disbelief.
"First, do not bring up sand in my presence, second I'm Grand Master Anakin Skywalker, and third," Anakin said as he produced a sheet of paper. "She apparently kept this."
Nick took the paper. "This... this is that application form she gave me. It was for some sort of Jedi partnership program."
"Yes, the JPP. That was my idea actually, my point is that she made a mistake, and at some point, you need to forgive her." Anakin said, there was then a knock at the door.
"I KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE WILDE! WHERE'S THE RENT!" A voice shouted.
"Oh good my landlord," Nick said in annoyance.
"Give me a minute with him," Anakin said as he opened the door to a very angry tapir. "Nick has already paid his rent," Anakin said, waving his hand in front of the tapir's face.
"Nick has already paid his rent." The tapir repeated with a glazed look on his face.
"And his rent is one dollar a month," Anakin said.
"And his rent is one dollar a month." The tapir repeated. Then he left.
"Jedi Mind Trick, really handy for getting the weak-minded off your back," Anakin said.
XXXX
Three months later, Nick was lounging in a chair beneath a bridge. "Nick! Nick!" Judy said as she jumped down from the bridge. "I figured it out! Night Howlers weren't wolves like we thought!"
"That so?" Nick said.
"Yeah, it's actually a kind of toxic flower! One that can make Predators and Prey to go savage! This confirms that someone is targeting Predators on purpose!" She said.
"Well if that don't beat all," Nick said as he stood up and went under the bridge.
"Nick! I'm sorry for what I said at the press conference! I'm sorry that it caused so many Predators to suffer because of my shortsightedness! And I'm sorry I pinned you to a wall just to get back twenty dollars!" Judy said desperately. "I just... I've stood on the sidelines through this whole crisis because I didn't know how to help without making the situation worse! And Nick... you're the only person on the entire planet who can help me make this right." Judy pleaded. "Then... then after that, we can part ways, and never see each other again. A-And you can keep hating me i-if that's what you really want!" She said as she began crying. "Because I was a horrible friend to you, and I've been an even worse Jedi! I hurt you without thinking! And... you were right. I really am just a dumb bunny."
Then Nick took out the novelty carrot recorder/pen and played back what Judy just said. "Don't worry, I delete this recording... in about forty-eight hours." Over the rest of the day, the two of them interrogated Duke Weaselton and got a lead on the people responsible for the Predators going savage. Leading them both to an abandoned train car. "So this is where that Doug guy is doing his business?" He noted as they went in, and saw Night Howlers being grown under blacklights. Then Doug Ramses, the ram that Duke had directed them towards entered.
"Under the table, now!" Judy said, and the two Mammals did so.
Doug then went to create a sort of pellet from the extract of the Night Howlers, then he received a phone call. "Nother target?" He asked. "Yeah, I can nail a cheetah... yes I know they're fast. Need I remind you that I shot that otter through a crack in a window in a moving limo. Not mention the panther I bagged." He bragged. "Yes, I know I'm not the only one you've got. But frankly, I'm the best... that and I can't be everywhere at once... and why shouldn't I discuss this out loud? This is a secure connection, and the guys are out getting my coffee." There was then a knock at the door. "I'm going to call you back after the jobs done, Woolter and Jesse are back with my coffee." He then hung up the phone, and when he went to open the door, Judy Force pushed him out of the train car.
Then she went up to the controls. "Uh, Carrots... I think the case with the gun and ammo is all the evidence we really need."
"Oh come on, how could this go wrong?" Judy said.
"I have a really bad feeling about this," Nick said as Judy started up the train.
XXXX
Nick and Judy narrowly survived the train exploding. "Well... it's a pity you didn't think to grab the gun case." Nick said as he nonchalantly revealed that he indeed grabbed the case with the Night Howler Pellet Gun. "Oh wait."
"That's good thinking Nick!" Judy then punched Nick in the shoulder excitedly. He winced in pain. "Now, let's cut through the Zootopia Natural History Museum." She said, and they went up... and found Dawn Bellwether waiting for them. With several sheep in police uniforms, and alien mercenaries. "Dawn?! What are you doing here?" Judy said in surprise. "And... and under such heavy guard? Nevermind that, we found evidence that someone is darting Predators making them go savage."
"Well, then give me the case, and I can pass it along to Bogo." Dawn offered.
Judy was about to give her the case... then she received a Force vision. "You... this is all your doing," Judy said as she shoved the case into Nick's hands. "Nick, run." She said igniting her blades.
"Yeah, that's kind of a red flag!" Nick agreed as he started running for the door. Dawn ignited her yellow double-bladed lightsaber.
"Worry about the fox, the bunny is mine!" Dawn said to her underlings.
Judy and Dawn locked lightsabers. "Why?!" Judy roared in disgust. "How?!"
"So you don't remember that first night at the Academy when we swapped stories about times Predators treated us like bantha poodoo? How Gideon Grey spat on the idea of you becoming a cop, and the numerous bullies I had? Not to mention having to put up with Lionfarts blatant disrespect for me! As for how... well let's just say the President should have kept a better handle on the money he was allocating me. But more to the point." Dawn said angrily. "We're Prey! We outnumber these loud and obnoxious brutes ten to one! And you and I, we're practically sisters Judy!"
Judy then Force pushed Dawn. "We WERE sisters... right up until a minute ago." She said bitterly.
Meanwhile, Nick had to contend with outrunning Dawn's goons. "JUDY! A LITTLE HELP!" He shouted as he was cornered by a Trandoshan. Judy wasted no time in leaping to Nick's defense, quickly dispatching the alien lizard.
"Do you have any idea what these mercenaries cost?" Dawn said incredulously. "I apparently have to pay double if they die on the job!"
"You okay Nick?" Judy said.
"Yeah... yeah can we get out now?" Nick said.
"We'll do what we can, for now, let's-" When Judy turned around, Dawn slashed Judy across her left eye. She screamed in pain.
"So... how about I cut a deal with you fox," Dawn said, threateningly pointing on edge of her blade at Nick's throat. "You give me the box. And I'll let you live. Sound good?"
Nick wordlessly gave her the box with the pellet gun. "I hope you choke on it lamb chop." He said bitterly.
Dawn wordlessly Force pushed Nick and Judy into a pit. "I'm sorry this didn't work out Judy... I did want you by my side. Like old times."
"You... you wanted me as a symbol of Predator oppression!" Judy said, still in pain from her scarred eye.
"Perhaps... but now you'll be a symbol of how savage these meat-eaters can be," Dawn said, dispassionately firing the pellet gun at Nick. She then made a call on her phone. "ZPD?! I'm at the Zootopia Natural History Museum! Jedi Knight Judy Hopps has been overpowered by a savage fox!" She said acting terrified. "Well... this is a bit of a pickle your in Jude. Savage fox wants to kill you, he's your friend for reasons that are even more alien to me than the actual aliens. And you probably don't want to kill him."
"Your no better then Sideous! Ruling through fear!" Judy said in disgust.
"Yes well... I'm content with one planet, thank you very much. And I'll dart every Pred born to this rock to ensure, that when I can openly get into power, I can keep that power." Dawn said blithely. "Don't be so scared... you might become one with the Force."
Then Nick, savagely snarling at Judy. Lunged at her, biting into her neck and Judy screamed. "YOUR TEETH ARE SHARP!"
"Oh sorry, Carrots! I got carried away!" Nick apologized.
"And people said I was an overactor... I never bit anyone like that at least." Judy said, rubbing the teeth marks on her neck. "I thought it was bad enough with Gideon in third grade."
"What just happened?" Dawn asked in confusion.
"Yeah, funny thing Yakety-yak. Judy was nice enough to bring some blueberries from her parent's farm. Which are the absolute BEST, by the way, it's ruined me for blueberries from anywhere else. And I switched the Night Howler pellets for those while I was keeping a step ahead of your goons." Dawn then checked the gun, and indeed it was loaded with blueberries. "So yeah... you got dupped by a dumb fox," Nick said smugly.
"Well..." Dawn said as she leaped into the pit with her lightsaber drawn. "It'd be your word against mine."
"Actually..." Judy said as she played the recording where Dawn revealed her true plans. "It's your word... against you. It's called a hustle sweetheart. Boom." She gloated.
Then a thud came from behind Dawn. "Wait... whose behind me?" Dawn asked, too bewildered to sense who exactly was behind her.
"I'm disappointed in you Dawn," Ahsoka said, causing Dawn to look up in bewilderment at her former master.
"M-Master Tano!... I know how this looks-"
"And now your thinking about lying to my face!" Ahsoka said irately as she Force lifted Dawn to her eye level. "Let me make something abundantly clear... this is antithetical to the Jedi way. You've abused your powers in the Force to acquire political power and authority. Now that isn't really worth condemnation in itself... it's the fact you've done all this. To put Mammalian Predators underfoot... because a handful of children were mean to you when you were a child." Ahsoka summarized. "You know... I did my best, to help you cope with your anger and resentment. And after your nervous breakdown, I had hoped for you would try to move on with your life... this is worse then I could have ever imagined for you... and a bit of trivia." She said, pulling her lip to further display her sharp incisors. "I'm technically a predator myself."
The mercenaries and corrupt cops were quickly taken into the custody of the ZPD.
XXXX
Several weeks later, Nick and Judy were onboard the Triumphant Phoenix. The Temple-Ship of the reformed Jedi Order. "Wow... I mean WOW!"
"First time in space slick?" Judy said as Nick looked out of a window into the void of space.
"Yeah! No duh!" Nick said with childlike glee. "I mean... I've seen the moon landing pictures! But this view blows them out of the water Carrots!"
"That was basically how I was the first time I went into space... it took Master Tano an hour just to get me to calm down." Judy mused. "Now come, the Council is waiting for us." She said as the two mammals left the hanger. In the halls were Jedi and crew going about there business. As well as old Separatist battle droids patrolling the halls.
"You ever fought those?" Nick asked.
"Only in training simulations. And a word of caution... Ultra Battle Droids aren't to be trifled with. They may look like giant Super Battle Droids, but they bite like a nexu." Judy said.
"Yeah... I have no reference for that. Going to have to look all that up... among other things." Nick said. Eventually, they arrived at the Council Chambers.
"Grand Masters... I have come and brought Nick Wilde," Judy said, kneeling to the Council.
"Yes... we have approved of your request to partner with Judy," Anakin said. "Congrat's you nutty kids."
"Well... that's easy." Nick said.
"I am honored by your trust. We shall take our leave. May the Force be with you." Judy said.
"And also with you." The Council collectively said as Judy left with Nick.
Judy and Nick then squealed with joy and hugged each other. "I finally get a cool job that I don't have to lie to my parents about!" Nick said proudly.
"And I don't need Master Ahsoka holding my paw on missions!" Judy said happily.
XXXX
Meanwhile, on the broken planet of Lola Sayu. Dawn Bellwether was alone in a cell of the Citadel, a prison designed with the specific intention of keeping Jedi imprisoned. An alarm went off, followed by explosions and blaster fire. Then a figure with a lightsaber approached Dawns cell, it looked to be a Zabrack male with black and red skin that resembled tattoos. "Rise and shine little one." The being said with a deep gravely voice. "This is a jailbreak." Dawn looked apprehensive. "Do not fear... I am not your enemy. I have come to rescue you." He said, holding out a free hand to Dawn.
"Why should I trust you?" Dawn said bitterly. "My best friend stabbed me in the back and got me in this cell in the first place. You may look older than your holo's. But I know who you are... Darth Maul."
"Then my reputation procedes me. But we must be swift, we have only enough forces to raid this place. Not make a concentrated siege or take it for that matter. Or do you want to spend the rest of your days in this cell? Because you will have no chance of leaving here 'fairly' by Republic law... also, I prefer to go by Maul." He said.
Reluctantly, Dawn followed the Zabrack, as this repeated in roughly two dozen cells. Some took the Zabrack's offer, others refused, and others he killed for attempting to attack him. Eventually the entire party, including Mandalorians with spikes on there helmets and armor colored like the Zabrack, assassin droids, and other criminals board shuttles. Only three of them managed to escape the AA guns and the blockade into hyperspace.
"Brothers... sisters," Maul said to the freed prisoners. "I welcome you to the Shadow Collective."
