Chapter 1: The Thief and The assassin
The night sky was lit by a bright and brilliant full moon. While the sky seemed to glow as a million lights and lasers from clubs, apartments and offices radiated from the city. A city that never really slept. Where millions of mammals large and small all made their own stories every hour of every day.
Zootopia, the jewel of Califurnia.
Zootopia. Where anyone can be anything….
Unless your a predator.
A dark shadow darted across the roof tops of the nocturnal city. Below dozens of mammals where enjoying their evening in the countless bars and clubs that lit up the night sky in a kaleidoscope of colour. Had they looked up all they might have seen was a brick red tail, with a white tip and a jet black spine.
It was a cloudless night with a full moon allowing the phantom shape to easily traverse the roofs and canopies of savannah central. Effortlessly chaining flips, bounds and swings together the shape covered the distance to its destination. Its breath heavy but foot falls silent. Dressed in a black hoodie with the hood pulled up and matching leggings, the phantom leapt from one roof using its forward momentum and exceptional legs to propel itself of the top of a water tower and across a 15ft chasm. Dropping and rolling on landing the figure didn't pause on its journey.
Until passing a weather worn poster slowly losing its battle with the elements. The shape slowed then stopped returning to look at the poster, tearing it from the wall. A furious snarl appeared on the ghosts face though hidden by a black snood, upon viewing the poster. 'Dawn Bellwether for mayor. Security for you and your family.' it read in gaudy gold letters. "Bitch" the figure spat before ripping the poster to pieces, throwing them into a nearby puddle. Once again vaulting from building to building the shape only had a little further to go before reaching where it needed to be.
Diving off one last build, it landing with well practised grace in one of the many indescript alleys that criss crossed the metropolis. A police cruiser slowly drove past, the officers inside peering into the abyss, but seeing nothing. Satisfied the alley was empty it moved off again. The black figure re-emerged from the shadows chuckling to itself at how easy it was to avoid the police. Slipping through a hidden door way and into a safe house closing the steel door behind it.
The masked figure could finally relax at least some what. Being the most wanted mammal in the city meant you always had to be on your toes. A small flight of steps led down to a small cellar long since forgotten and abandoned by everyone else. Flipping the switch the single strip light hung from the ceiling sparked to life bathing the little cave in artificial light. A mattress was located against one wall with an assortment of blankets and pillows thrown over it. An old single mammal table was opposite with miss matched legs and having not been varnished in years. It was 50/50 whether you'd get splinters from it just by touching it and the chair that sat next to it wasn't much better. A laptop, the only new item in this hidden space, and camping stove sat atop it with an assortment of tinned food next to them. The only other item of interest was the porcelain sink fixed to the far wall having been placed there when the basement was built.
Small perhaps, but it was dry and warm which was all she really needed. The figure pulled down her hood revealing a jet black mane springing up between the phantoms ears. Sliding the hoodie of her shoulders the phantom revealed a finally carved athletic figure under a white tank top. When the mask was pulled down a brick red face was revealed twinned with an off white muzzle in a pleasing feminine form. Tired icy grey eyes regarded the room as she gracelessly dropped down into the chair and placed her worn feet atop the table. Exhausted from a particularly difficult job the maned wolf didn't bother removing her batons and hidden trank pistol from her belt. Instead she removed the goal of that night from her pocket.
An orange carrot pen/recorder. It was a gaudy looking thing and had definitely seen better days. It looked to have been chewed by someone as the plastic casing was cracked and had several deep grooves carved into it. Why Bellwether would have such a random item was beyond her. But her informant was adamant this thing was the key she'd been looking for. With bated breath she pressed play…
Only to be rewarded with a garbled mess.
"Of course" letting out a half hearted chuckle. It had been like this for months. Taking gradually bigger and bigger risks on the grounds that it would finally reveal what that god damn ewe was hiding. And she was hiding something, the maned wolf knew it. Proving it was more difficult. "I'm going to have to take this to get cleaned" she groaned before tossing the offending item on the table. It would have to wait until tomorrow night however as she rolled off the chair and landed face down on the mattress without grace and quickly slipping into the land of dreams.
Meanwhile:
A predator in the town hall was a rare sight these days. Its why he was the centre of attention as he marched through the clean marble and steel chambers of power. The dire wolf wore over his well developed torso an olive green t-shirt under a brown fake leather jacket while his legs were covered by a pair of camouflaged trousers. His paws were protected by a pair of reg fingerless gloves. His prosthetic leg made a distinctive sound as it struck the polished floor and his face appeared devoid of emotion except for mild irritation. Rusty brown fur ran down his back and over the top of his head, while his muzzle, paws and left foot were snow white.
The collar around his muscular neck wasn't his idea but was required for any predator to enter the city. He'd only worn it for a few hours but already despised it as it chaffed away and added an unusual weight to his neck. Prey of all sizes shied away from him or found other places to be. It was understandable. The male just seemed to exude an air of authority and killer instinct which is just how he liked to greet all of his clients.
City hall was starting to wake up as mammals arrived to begin their shift.
Approaching the reception desk just outside the mayor office he stopped while the secretary, a small white tailed deer, seemed to shrink into her chair. "Mr Smith is here to see you mayor" she spoke into her ear piece. "She'll see you now" The wolf just nodded before entering the spacious office that was clearly made for mammals many times bigger than its current occupants. The focal point of the office was the large solidly built desk varnished in a cool muddy brown while the state and city flags stood guard on either side. The back wall meanwhile consisted entirely of one large panoramic window displaying a breathtaking view of the centre of Zootopia and its world famous bay.
Behind the large oak desk sat the mayor of Zootopia. Dawn Bellwether. Now seeking her third re-election the ewe had come to power promising Zootopia's citizens safety from savage predators. There were several cases a year were predators went savage and attacked anything nearby. Though the wolf did find it odd how the problem only seemed to happen in this city, but that wasn't his problem. Behind the mayor stood Chief Alan Razorback, a warthog who had replaced former Chief Bogo following 'professional differences' between him and Bellwether.
Plastering on a fake smile and sweetness Mayor Bellwether greeted the wolf. "Mr Smith, I hope you had a pleasant journey"
But he had no time for niceties "Where's the dossier?" His voice was gravelly and lacking any pleasantness.
"Straight to business then, I like that" Retrieving a USB drive from one of the many draws of her desk the mayor slid the stick over to the wolf. "That is all of our information on the phantom not as much as I would like..." She glanced at chief Razorback who looked rather nervous "but your skills are highly recommended so it shouldn't be a problem."
Pocketing the drive the wolf addressed the ewe "And my payment?"
"The first half has been sent to your account and the second half will be sent when the phantom is detained. As we agreed." The plastic grin never left her face as she leaned back in her large fake leather chair.
"Anything else?"
"There's one other thing. Earlier tonight someone broke into my home and stole something very important to me" Handing over a picture of some sort of gaudy orange pen in the shape of a carrot. "I am certain that the phantom is to blame. Could you retrieve it for me" the sweet tone she used made the wolf want to vomit and why the hell this thing was so important mystified him.
But that wasn't his concern. "Just as long as I get paid"
"Of course of course, will this cost extra?" Genuine concern seemed to cross her features at the idea.
"We will discuss that when the job is done." Truth be told it would depend on how easy it was for him to recover the item. If it were simply a case of searching the phantoms pockets he'd do it for free. If he had to crack open one of their safe houses your damn right he'd charge more.
The Ewe seemed somewhat surprised but none the less stood and held out a hoof to the larger predator. "Well welcome to Zootopia Mr Smith and happy hunting" But the wolf just turned and left without another word pocketing the photo.
The faux smile disappeared form Bellwethers face and her hoof began to slowly lower until the door slammed shut. As mayor Bellwether slowly sat back down chief Razorback spat "Fucking pelt". She was rather shocked truth be told. It had been a long time since she had been disrespected so brazenly but a sinister smile slid across her face as she lent back in her chair. A fucking pelt he may be but he would do as he was told and if he didn't.
That collar would deal with him.