Disclaimer: I do not own Zootopia or any of its characters, they all belong to Disney. I do not own Halo or any of it characters, that are all belong to 343 Industries. Rated M for sexual themes.

Just One Small Spark

Chapter 3

The Dark Star was larger than Zootopia. Joan flew the Pelican around the starship to show the Zootopians the damage and sheer size of the size of the ship. Joan stopped the Pelican before the great starship.

"That is the primary weapon. A Magnetic Accelerator Cannon fires 600-ton slug of either ferric tungsten or depleted uranium at around 18.9 miles per second."

"That could render our world inhabitable," Maria said, running the calculations her head.

"How could humans build something like this?" Judy asked.

"When aliens threaten to exterminate your entire race it tends to focus one's mind on survival."

"But this," Judy said and waved an arm.

"The two humans aboard could now be the very last of their race."

Judy gave her Fox's hand a squeeze and he smiled at her.

"Let's go aboard," Joan said and flew the Pelican into one of the many landing bays. "Get all you things. Our first stop is the sickbay."

"Why?" Judy asked.

"Well if you get sick or injured it'll be easier to treat you. This examination will set a baseline. Also, I have anatomical baselines for the equivalent Earth animals and I'd like to do comparisons. I expect your brains to be quite different since you're obviously sapient and sentient. I will also take blood and tissue samples."

"You want us to pee in a cup too?"

"Yes, now that you mentioned it." Judy punched Nick in the ribs. "Also, a sperm sample from you Nick would be helpful too."

That was the first time Judy had seen Nick speechless and embarrassed.

"But," he sputtered.

"And Nick I was being serious. I really do want a sample from you."

"Nick, don't worry," Judy said and smiled. "I'll can give you a hand if you like."

Nick blushed and the three females finally burst out laughing.

"Come on its not far."

They arrived after only a five minute walk.

"Who's first?" Joan asked and Judy raised her hand. "The rest of you have a seat and Judy please follow me."

Judy looked around the examination room and started to disrobe.

"You didn't have to do that, but getting pictures of you bodies is a good idea."

"What do want to do me to do?"

"Just stand still for a minute and hold still. OK. Perfect. Hey Judy, watch this." Joan became a bunny. "Want do you think? Maybe I will just stay like this."

"You cute, but put on some clothes!"

"You think I could fool Nick?"

Judy giggled.

"OK. Now hop up on the table." Judy did literally. "Very funny! Just how long have you been around Nick?"

"Three years," she said without thinking and smacked herself on the forehead.

"Got you. OK. Lay down on the table arms to you sides and legs together. Perfect. Now hold still and don't close your eyes. This will be a very detailed scan so it will take about 5 minutes. Just breathe normally."

Judy let her mind wonder. She was in starship being examined by alien machine directed by sentient computer program. It sounded like the plot for a bad science fiction movie. She remembered some of those movies and they always did surgery on the poor helpless bunnies. Why did have to think about that just now? She shivered.

"OK. That's done. Please flip over onto your stomach."

"Joan, this is all you're going to do, right? Nothing other than what we talked about. I mean…"

"Surgery! Judy to do that I'd had to have a supply of your blood. That table could perform surgery on a human, but on an unknown alien species. No, you'd die. Now the Covenant has been known to dissect humans." Joan wasn't going to tell her had done it while the said humans were still conscious and that some Covenant species had even eaten humans. "Maybe it would be a good idea stock some blood for all of you. Judy, I'd like to take blood from you four each month. Now, rollover over onto your stomach. OK. Good."

Again Judy let her mind wonder. These five minutes was taking forever. She closed her eyes and fell asleep.

Joan appeared back in the lobby. "I need your help." She looked to Leah and Maria.

"Is something wrong with Judy?" Nick started to the door only to be blocked by Leah.

"Nothing is wrong with her Nick. She just fell asleep on the scanner and its 5 feet high. I don't want to startle her awake and have her fall on the floor. OK? Just sit and be calm."

"I am!" he almost shouted and fell back into the chair. "I'm not. I just …"

"feel like you have to protect her all the time."

"Yes."

"Nick," Maria said sat next to him. She started to rub his neck like she'd seen Judy do. "She's OK. She'll be out here with you in a few minutes. OK?"

"OK."

Leah entered the examination room and went to Judy who was snoring away. She rubbed Judy's back and she jumped. If Leah hadn't held her she actually would've fallen on the floor.

"Nick!"

"No, it's me."

"We still need to take a half a pint of blood."

"I can do that since I'm a trained medic."

"Good. That'll help. The needles and blood bags are over there in this cabinet."

Joan went to it and put a hand on the cabinet. Twenty minutes later Judy came climbed into Nick's lap.

"Nick, she gave blood and needs to eat. In fact, you all need to eat. There are food packets in that store room."

"But…"

"I'll stay with Judy and I'll call if we need you. OK?"

Maria went into the examination room and Nick went to the storage room. When Nick opened the door Joan appeared.

"I thought you were with Judy," he said and started to turn.

"I am. Unlike you I can be in three places at once. Everything's OK. Now get that one." She touched the box. "and this one and that one."

Nick returned with the boxes and put them on the floor.

"Open the middle one."

These packages were larger than the others he'd eaten from. It was like two packages attached.

"Joan, what does this one say?"

She bent down as if she needed to take a better look. She pointed to the left half of the package. "Sweet cheese …" and then to the other. "and crackers." Then she disappeared.


Leah and Maria heard laughter from the waiting room.

"What's wrong with them?" Maria asked.

"Let me show you," Joan said and large monitor on the wall brightened and the video played.

"Oh, please don't play it again," Maria said as tears ran down her cheeks. "Oh, please save that and back it up in as many places as you can. That can't be lost. Did you see their faces? Oh my God! I don't know whether I'll able look at them again without laughing."

"Anyway Leah you're done on the scanner," Joan announced. "Now we'll get a pint of your blood. Maria your turn."

She took off the knee boots and noticed Leah watching her intently. She drew the blades and twirled them. Then she went into several fighting stances and showed Leah what she could do.

"Very good," Leah said. "I assume that this ship has a gym."

"Several."

"Bladed weapons?"

"Yes."

She looked at Maria. "Have you used those?"

"Several times before I became singer."

"Have you killed?"

"Once." Leah raised an eyebrow.

"You do have some potential," Leah said.

Little does she know, Maria thought and smiled.

"Tomorrow I will begin to show you some new styles," Leah said. "When the humans are with us we'll teach each other. When can Maria start the repairs?"

"Anytime, but you must learn to speak some 'English'."

"English," Maria said. "I learned Zootopian in two weeks and was fluent in two months."

"I know four languages from our world and one of them is yours," Leah said.

Maria smiled again.


Maria woke with a small furry bunny sleeping on her chest. She stretched being careful not to wake him. It had been almost impossible to get him to stay still on the scanner. Maria had finally had him pretend to play dead. She put him on the warm spot that she'd just vacated and covered him. The hot water felt wonderful on her body as she soaped up. Then she heard a scratching at the door and hung her head. She'd awakened the beast.

She opened the door a crack and in hopped Michael. He stood on his hind legs on looked up.

"Maria, you're sure tall."

"Cause I'm a gazelle and you're a bunny." She reached down and put him in the crook of her arm. "You want me to wash you?" She reached for soap and felt a mouth on her nipple.

"No milk. Neither you or Judy had any milk. Mama always had some."

"Cause neither of us has had a child."

"Will Nick and Judy have a child when they get married?"

"Maybe. We'll just have to wait and see. Let's get you washed."

Once he was rinsed she turned off the shower and stepped out.

"Now let's get you dry." She dried him and rapped him up in a big towel. "Now me." She grabbed another towel and quickly dried herself before could he escape. "Let me get dressed and we'll go eat breakfast, OK?"

"OK."

She dressed quickly watching out not to step on him.

"Let's go."

"Morning everyone," said and placed Michael on the table. "See what you can find. What are you eating Judy?"

"It's called an omelet. Whipped chicken eggs with milk, different vegetables, and cheese."

"Sweet cheese?" Maria asked sweetly.

"I'm going to get Joan for that," she said and stared at Maria. "How did you know?"

Maria took out her phone. "Watch."

"I'm going find the computer that she's on and turn it off."

"Where's Nick?"

"Off eating meat somewhere."

"Can I try some of your omelet?"

Judy pushed her plate across the table and Maria took a spoon full and popped it into her mouth. It had an interesting texture and she like how the different flavors blended together. She'd have to get Judy to show her how to make one.

"Good?"

"Yes."

"You can have some more of mine."

"It's fine. Just show me later how to make one," she said and saw Nick. He looked different somehow. "Hi Nick." He waved, sat next Judy, and slid an arm around her. "Nick, what have you done to your fur?"

He looked at himself and did a double take.

"It looks longer," Maria said. "And maybe bit more red and shiny."

"Have you done anything Nick?" Judy asked.

"No."

"Yes you have Nick," came Joan's voice just before she appeared. "Your diet has changed."

"The meat," Judy said looking a bit concerned.

"Anyway, I've reviewed to results from the scans, your blood, and tissue samples. You are all in very good health and physically fit. You all could use a few more vitamins, but there are supplements you take. Next the most interesting thing I found is you all have some human DNA. I think this was the work of the Forerunners and it's the probably the reason that you're intelligent. About the changes to Nick's body."

"Is the meat OK for him?"

"Yes, of course, he's a fox. His body needs meat especially red meat. The oils in the meat transfer to his skin and then to his fur. It stimulates its growth and oils make the fur shiny. Nick probably grow more muscular and might even get a bit taller. We'll have to wait and see."

"Do you crave meat now?"

"Yes, more than I did before."

"How do you feel?"

"Actually I do feel better and have more energy."

"We keep an eye on things see how it goes. Judy since you are the person closest to him I would see if you note any changes."

"Like what?

"Like the physical changes that I mentioned or personality changes."

"I am sitting right here."

"Sorry Nick."

"I feel like a lab experiment, but in a good way."

"Apparently there are no personality changes yet. He's still a smartass. Well, today kids its going be your first day of school."


Judy thought Joan was kidding until she was literally sitting in a classroom with only Nick. The others were in another classroom for the 'advanced' students.

"I'm use to being in the class for 'ordinary' students," Nick stated.

"Nick, you did pretty well at police academy," Judy said. "Don't sell yourself short you're a smart guy."

"You only say that because you love me," he said and ducked as Judy tried to swat him. "Nick!"

"Do I have to separate you two?" Joan asked. "OK. Now let's get started. Within a week I want you to have simple conversations in English. By the end of next week we will speak only in English. The pad computers you have contain a complete Zootopian/English Dictionary. Type in the word using Zootopian script, tap the translate button, and the computer say the word in English. It also shows word in the English script too. You can also type in a sentence and it will say it in English."

"Will we learn the English script too?" Judy asked.

"In the future you will, but for now I want you just to be able to speak the language. I want you to be able to have basic conversations with the humans. I've explained about war with the Covenant. They fought those aliens for decades so they may be a bit awkward around you at first, but I want you to be able to show them that you are helping them."


After the first week as Joan predicted Leah and Maria with Michael not far behind were able to have short conversions in the human language. Judy did surprisingly well, but Nick lagged behind. When he became frustrated Judy would jump right in to help him. On the last day of that first week Judy and her Fox were doing their homework. Nick was sitting on their bed working with his computer. She smiled at the growls and curses coming from him. She heard the pad thrown into the bed and a fist hitting the wall.

"Damn it! I just too stupid do this!"

She'd heard this just one too many times this week. This time she felt something snap inside and rose from her chair.

"Nick!" she yelled and back handed him across the muzzle. It wasn't as hard as it could have been, but it did get his attention. "You will never say that again! Damn it! You are a smart person. Ask me if you have a problem and I'll help you!"

Nick was so shocked that he actually backed away from her. He'd never seen her like this. Yes, she'd hit him playfully and it had hurt a few times, but she'd never hit him in anger. Although several times he'd been surprised that she hadn't. She looked so fierce. Her fur stood on end, her eyes blazed purple fire, and she was ready to pounce. In that moment in his eyes she was beautiful. A grin spread across his face which made her even angrier and lunged at him. He caught her and hugged her to himself, but it was like holding a tornado. She kicked and punched him until they rolled off the bed with her ending up on top. Nick did the only thing he could. He pulled her face to his and kissed her. Gradually her struggles lessened and she returned the kiss.

Maria heard Judy yell Nick's name and then she heard the sounds of a struggle. Had Judy finally let Nick go too far in their predator/prey games? Or her mind flashed back to the alley ten years before. She grabbed her blades and rushed from her room.

They broke the kiss and Judy stared down it her beautiful Fox. His panted and tongue hung out the side of his mouth. His head lay back with throat exposed. She felt his claws on her back smoothing her fur. Then he found her tail and squeezed it. Her back arched and she felt her mouth go to his throat. A moment later Nick's back arched too and he squeezed her tail hard. Judy came as did Nick a moment later. Then Maria burst through the door and smelled sex and blood. She looked down and part of her mind noted that they were still clothed. Judy mouth was on his throat and his hand was gripping her tail. Then she saw a small trickle of blood running down Nick's throat.

"Nick, you're bleeding."

For a moment they didn't move. Then Judy released him and sat up. She licked her lip and tasted blood. She knew instantly that it wasn't hers. She looked down at her fox noting the blood and he grinned at her.

"blah, blood … blood … blood … and death," said Nick pantomiming Judy's death scene at the museum perfectly.

"Alright you know you're milking it," Judy said and giggled.

"Ya know," Maria began and shook her head, "you two are just insane. And I thought he was… and you're just…"

She shook her head and left the room. Only afterward did they remember that she was holding her blades. They stared at each other for a moment and for once they were both embarrassed.


"Good morning," Judy said getting the eye from Maria. "Are you two OK? You got the bleeding stopped."

"Bleeding?" Leah asked. "Something happened?"

"It was just a scratch."

"Well Nick and Judy got into a fight."

"It wasn't really a fight."

"Did you hit him?"

"I just back handed him across the muzzle."

"And then?"

"Let's just talk about something else," Judy said and her ears turning red.

"OK then, I guess today we have to start speaking in English all the time," Maria said in English.

"Oh, you're really gotten good at it," Judy said.

"In English," Leah said. "Just think about what you are going to say, translate, and then say it. OK?"

"Yes," Judy began. "Maria, you speaked English well."

"You make one mistake," Maria said. "No, that was not correct. You MADE one mistake."

Judy tapped on her pad for a few seconds.

"Oh, I see. Maria you spoke English well. Or would the word 'good' be correct too."

"Actually, the word 'well' is the better choice," Joan said.

"Thanks you," Judy said and tapped he pad again. "Thank you for helping me."

"Where is Nick?" Maria asked.

"Probably staking a piece of bacon," Judy said and tapped at her pad. "He is a predator and eats … no … craves meat." Maria and Joan laughed and Leah smiled. "My first joke in English."

"Good Judy," Leah said. "Joan, what are we doing today?"

"You and Maria are going to fix the machines which hold the humans frozen. Nick and Judy are going to continue to learn English. And Nick stop hiding and come here. Once the machine is fixed and I test it then you and Maria will continue to study. If at the end of this week all of you can speak at least and understand simple sentences I will thaw the humans. Understand Maria you will take care of Kurt and Leah you will take care of Mark."

Nick returned and joined the others.

"Will they be very sick?" Leah asked.

"They have been frozen for over two years and I have no information on how it will affect them."

"Will they die?" Leah asked.

"No, but they will probably be sick for about a week. At first it will be probably be like taking care of a new born child. You will be moving to larger rooms. Some things which will make it easier to take care of take of them will be moved into those rooms. Does everyone understand?"

"What about me?" Michael asked.

"You will continue to study English."

"With Judy and Nick?"

"Just until Maria and Leah are finished."

Maria found the correct parts and installed them with Leah's help. Joan tested the fixes and how had full control of the cyro chambers. Over the next week the four Zootopians continued learning English and both rooms were readied. At the end of the week Joan told everyone that in twelve hours the thawing process would be complete.