Author's note: Salutations dear readers. My name is Valiant and i am right back with a new chapter of Zootopia and with the desire to wish you all a Happy Hallowen. Before unveiling this next chapter i would like to say a few bit of news: It is unlikely that i will be back next month with the next chapter for this story, you will all have to wait a little bit more for that and even though i hate to keep you all in suspense, i hope you will stick around to see when i will make my triumphant return. Even if this chapter doesn't have any SPOOKY vibes it is still a monumental piece of the story that will have plenty of interactions between the charachters, sorry if it feels like it is a bit of a rushed job i wanted to publish it while it's still halloween where i am. If you want to keep reading during my absence, have no fear, i will soon be posting a brand new chapter of my other story with Spyro the dragon and i do hope you all enjoy it.
With all of that out of the way, i wish you all sweet treats, amazing tricks and a fantastic reading.
ONWARD!
Episode 13: Assignments
A few hours went by and Judy was well and ready to introduce herself to the other cadets at the academy, she had a nice meal by the faculty lounge and got herself another refreshing drink of water before looking out the window and seeing the multitude of different mammals gathering by the training field, all of them scattering aimlessly to converse with one another and try to figure out what was going to be their training for that day. She exited the lounge and waited nearby for the right time to appear and surprise the cadets with her presence, just like it was scripted for her to do in accordance with the major.
Judy leaned against a pilar just outside the field and by the administrative building until the major of the training regimen showed himself to get everyone in order for the afternoon. Judy saw as major Grover appeared and shouted so that everyone would stand at attention in a single horizontal line and focus on what he had to say, Judy prepared for her cue to walk in and looked around with her eyes stopping by the direction of the only fox positioned in a very determined stance among the other cadets in the field, her ears twitched in response to the sound of the authoritarian voice of the major as the dog spoke out for everyone to hear:
- Cadets! I hope you are all felling ready for anything today because we have quite the announcement for all of you as well as a special guest straight from precinct one gracing us with her presence. She was sent here to present you with an exclusive exam that will test your capabilities to the maximum degree and I expect all of you to set a good example while she is here.
Nick had the distinct impression that the major was referring to him specifically as he delivered that last bit of information to everyone. The dog continued without delays as he gestured to the side to introduce Judy, in turn, giving her the chance to come closer and show herself. Judy performed a little shaking gestured to loosen up before stepping away from the column and revealing herself to the others:
- So give a warm welcome to officer Judy Hopps from precinct one.
Judy walked over the grass with a determined set of hops as to quickly reach her predetermined spot in front of the cadets and, as soon as she was standing close enough to them, she adjusted her steps until she got into clear view of the group. Every mammal in the line-up watched stupefied as the bunny that became famous in that academy and over at the big city of Zootopia appeared right in front of them all. Nick merely received her with a little smile as she came closer and got into a stance that showed off her professionalism, it was easy for him to notice how she was still a little tense at the time and that she was doing her absolute best to look the part of a seasoned ZPD officer, unflinching and serious, but that just made his smile grow a little wider as he saw her like that. He did his best to not let her see it.
For every cadet or other present at the gathering, it was hard to see the mammal pacing right in front of them as anything less than intimidating, even with her size, Judy exuded confidence. That was definitely the air she was trying to give out at first. Her serious expression and the strength she was utilizing with each step she took definitely made her look very imposing despite her stature. Every mammal gathered there already knew very well who she was and what she was capable of, how smart and capable she showed herself to be, everyone already knew how she had a reputation for shattering expectations with efficiency and professionalism. At any case, the intimidating image Judy was trying to establish for herself didn't last too long as she raised her paw and showed a little waving salute before greeting her audience:
- Good afternoon everyone. It is really wonderful to meet every single one of you.
Judy's polite air quickly eased the nerves of her audience, after hearing her gentle tone of voice the cadets let out a silent dash of air they were holding in their chests. The bunny began to calmly pace and follow the line-up after making sure that all eyes and ears were set on her. After settling down the small tingle of anxiety inside of her, she talked with a clear and audible volume:
- It feels great to return to the grounds of the ZPD academy and to know that this place is still shaping up mammals into indominable models of law and order. I was called to the academy with the leading bit of information that this year's class of cadets has the potential to be one of the best classes in quite a long time. I took the time before arriving here to review the dossiers on the overall progress of each individual taking the course. Needless to say that I am quite impressed and so are the mammals in charge of Zootopia's city hall.
The entire sum of the cadets quietly exchanged looks after hearing that, it was easy to sense they were all screaming internally with excitement and silently fist pumping in the air, Nick was quite satisfied with his standing and so were his friends placed right next to him, Alfred even made a subtle gesture of victory as he nodded his head and smiled inconspicuously. Judy continued her pacing and began to list the best traits that each of the mammals had shown for themselves:
- From equipment maintenance to analytic and studies in the forensics department, from combat training to the improvements in the course, this year has the potential to be the best of the best as graduates. Everyone in this class showed what being an officer in training is all about and that is something you can all be proud of.
The cadets were more excited than ever before, however, they were not expecting what came next as Judy awaited for everyone to calm down a bit before completing her idea:
- Unfortunately, that still will not be enough.
The silence that took hold of the atmosphere by the training field was deafening. All the cadets looked at the bunny as she gestured with both of her paws and turned her body around to continue with her pacing and her explanation:
- It is great to see how each and every cadet in here found a comfortable rhythm when it comes to progressing steadily, but grades and charts can't be a trusting way of measuring proficiency when it comes down to actual scenarios of crime, combat, investigation and detainment. Inside the academy class you can always try again and make up for a silly mistake; that's not the case out there.
Judy halted her pacing, turning her entire body to face the cadets, she placed her paws together and took one long breath of air before pointing a finger in a general direction that reached beyond the academy and continuing:
- Out there, outside the safety of these walls and the classrooms, in the streets, it only takes a simple slip-up, a single moment's hesitation, for everything to come crashing down. If you don't make the split second decision that you need to make, if you forget to take into consideration every wrong turn that you can take along the way, it can put your life, the life of a friend, the life of an innocent citizen, in danger. If you can't put all of what you've learned together in a fraction of a second, that one moment can lead to the worst possible scenario. That is a hard lesson that I had to learn on my own and that you are all going to have to pick up soon enough.
The cadets looked at each other with a certain degree of dread in their eyes, even Nick felt his smile gradually degrading into a worried frown after catching a wind of the bunny's words. She wasn't wrong, the level of unpredictability that might be found in the streets of Zootopia was staggering and there was no way that they could get ready for what they might encounter with just lessons and theories from books. Once they graduated they would have to go prepared or not at all. Judy closed her eyes for a moment and continued to speak:
- You need to understand how every moment as an officer on duty matters in the grand scheme of things. At the ZPD the smallest detail of a stake out, a security detail even the reevaluation of an investigation can make a huge difference and that goes double for the most crucial of assignments: A possible combat scenario.
Judy took another dash of air before delivering the most important point of her presentation:
- With that in mind, I was ultimately sent here to announce that I, along with a few other moderators from the faculty staff, will be responsible for the official administration of a test that will require quick thinking and adaptability, alongside team work, the success of this particular evaluation depends on your capabilities and your absolute trust in one another. I stand before you to announce the beginning of… The crucible.
Every one of the cadets gasped in terror after hearing that name, it appears as if everyone present had heard horrific things about that particular evaluation, all of the cadets began to stealthily exchange opinions amongst themselves, Judy understood that and gave some time so that the voices would die down before she continued:
- The crucible?! That's a thing?!
- Oh, my God! Did she say "Crucible"?!
- Holy shit! The crucible is real!
- I thought it was only a rumor! I don't believe it!
Judy felt a little weight being added to the one she was already carrying over her shoulders, all of the mammals looked mildly terrified after hearing the name of the evaluation and it apparently was quite famous. Judy made a diminishing sign with both of her paws asking the cadets to calm down, everyone seemed to already know they were going to be thrown into the grinder except for one mammal in the audience that raised his arm to call the attention of the bunny and wait for her to direct her eyes solely at him. It was Nick, the fox had a question and he needed to hear the answer straight from the bunny herself. After seeing him, raising his paw a s much as he could into the air, Judy spoke:
- Yes?
After seeing the bunny pointing a finger at him with the interest of hearing his words, Nick asked:
- I'm sorry, but I am drawing a total blank over here. What exactly is this… "Crucible"?
Everyone looked at Nick not sure if he was kidding or not, Judy showed off a little smile, relieved that the fox actually posted a relevant question and not a silly joke that would break her flow of concentration during the moment. The bunny's ears placed parallel to one another and she concealed her little smile away from the crowd as she pointed one finger towards Nick and said:
- That is an excellent question, cadet. If you all would follow me I will explain the general rules of this examination and what will be its impact for the training you will be undertaking from here on out.
Judy began to walk to the left of the group, at that moment, Major Grover gave a signal with his paw that let Stevens know to bring out the equipment and visual aid that would serve to explain the general nature of the Crucible as a whole. There was a big white board with a mess of geometrical forms scribbled at the center of it, it was meant to be a map depicting an undisclosed location that was huge in scale and appearance judging solely by the drawing. A few meters in front of the board there was also a wooden table with a few items placed over it, black vests, protective goggles, radios, pouches and a single prototype of a tranquilizer gun. Judy extended her paw over the table to show and explain:
- Seventy kilometers or so northwest of the academy, there is a big training facility that was built so that mammals with approved military training can experience the reaches of their full combat and tactical capabilities. This facility was funded and constructed a long time ago by the government and it was generously donated to the academy once its use was approved by Zootopia city hall.
Judy pointed at the map drawn on the white board and continued speaking:
- You will all be separated into eight groups of three mammals each, essentially forming eight separate squads, and placed inside the facility. While inside, your squads will be in charge of defending their designated zones while simultaneously attacking the zones that belong to the other cadets. Each team will constitute of a communications expert, an enforcer and a leader, which squad mate will be in charge of each role is up to the team itself.
The cadets took mental notes of the information that was being explained to each of them. Nick placed a claw under his chin to give it a little scratch as he hung on every word spoken by the bunny, Samuel was very excited with the prospect of testing his skills against others and Alfred was very much feeling the pressure of such an elaborate training plan. Judy asked the aardvark close by for assistance in demonstrating the equipment that was going to be used, Stevens walked closer to her and handed each item as their definition and use was explained:
- These pouches will be used by the enforcers of the teams, they will be used to carry extra provisions for the duration of the exam; These radios, GPS, motion sensors and electronic equipment will be used by the communications expert to monitor movement and keep the entire team up to date in case they become separated; The team leader will be responsible for the other's roles and full on coordination during the exam, any sign of discord or any disregard for the leader's orders will be noted into the final results of the test. The key for this will be coordination and cooperation.
Judy asked Stevens to give her the next item in the line-up, she held the projectile launcher firmly in her right paw and continued:
- Finally, the members of every team will receive a pistol much like this one, it is modeled after the standard issue side arm of the force with ergonomic paw handle and safety features, except this one shoots out small paint loaded spheres, five of them on each cartridge.
Judy said as such while she took the time to show the model weapon and slide out its cartridge so that the entire class could get a good look on how it worked, she slid the cartridge back in the gun and finished her explanation with the most crucial rule of the exam:
- The mammals on each team must work together to tag the mammals of the other team, whoever gets tagged will be eliminated from the exam, same goes for the team that runs out of ammo. Are there any questions?
Nick raised his paw again as he displayed a clearly unimpressed face and asked:
- So… paintball? We are all just going to play paintball?
On that moment, Judy launched a cold stare right at Nick, a stare that just told him without a shadow of a doubt that he was dead wrong with his assumption. The fox took his paw down as soon as he noticed the bunny making a clear, slow line, walking away from the table and right up to him so that his inquiry could be thoroughly answered:
- No, cadet Wilde. You will definitely not just going to play paintball.
That manner of addressing him, that tone of voice, sent quite the shiver down Nick's spine, his tail fluffed up with worry for what might happen, luckily no one saw it. Judy positioned herself right in front of Nick and placed her body in an intimidating stance with her ears making her seem a tad taller than she actually was and her paws calmly placed behind her, she looked right at the fox with eyes that could shoot daggers at him and spoke up:
- This exam will be much more than a fun competition. It will test the physical and mental fortitude of every single recruit which will include your aptitude to follow commands, formulate plans and react to the unexpected. All of you will be monitored and graded based on how you perform. With that in mind you would be wise to remember that any funny business will be recorded and reflected on your final grading. Am I clear, cadet?
That was absolutely terrifying. Nick knew that Judy was only speaking like that in order to assert herself in front of the others but that still felt like quite the hostile approach to him. Making sure that they were on the same page, Nick looked at her without unmaking his stance and answered:
- C-crystal clear.
- Good.
Judy walked back to her original position close to the table and proceeded with the explanation:
- As such I would like to take this moment to go over the last few rules that will be implemented during this year's Crucible.
Judy turned around to face the board once more and that left Nick with enough time to release a bit of air he had trapped inside of his chest as he was under the pressure of the bunny's eyes during that tense moment, he never believed that it could be possible for Judy to make him feel that way, maybe it was because in that instance, she was not acting like a cool friend, she was purely in the guise of a strict instructor. After situating herself in front of the board once more, Judy turned to the cadets and spoke up:
- After the exam is initiated, interference from your teachers will not be allowed, the same goes for any item or device that would be consider as outside interference like tablets and cellphones, you will only take the equipment that is specifically designed for this exam; There will be no cohesion between cadets from different teams, eight teams will enter and only one will leave. These rules are followed by the standard regulations for elimination: If during any moment you are tagged by a paint capsule, on any part of your body, you will be eliminated, forced to exit the training course and forced to expect the results to your evaluation at a much later date; Friendly fire will be a decisive factor for the evaluation, if you get tagged by a member of your own team that will also get you eliminated. On that note it is also fair to warn you that any mammal that gets tagged and continues his or her presence in the training course will cause their team to be disqualified and eliminated without exceptions.
Judy took a short breath and looked around to make absolutely sure that all eyes and ears were still centered on her, she placed her paws together before delivering the final and most important rule of them all:
- One last thing: This time around, the Crucible will feature a new rule that will play a huge part on how the teams are organized. If the leader of a squad gets eliminated the entire squad under his or hers leadership will be eliminated as well.
The entire group of cadets gasped with shock after hearing that, it would appear that there was a lot riding on the line for those that would be chosen as leaders of their respective squads. With her presentation concluded, Judy handed out the diagrams that depicted the exact topographical view of the training facility and gave every single cadet the time they would need to determine how each of their squads was to be organized. Every cadet broke into groups they could be most familiarized with and retreated to remote parts of the campus where they could strategize without the meddling of other cadets.
Nick, Samuel and Alfred were seating on a bench by the cafeteria as they laid out the diagram at the table and began to talk with the hopes of coming up with a flawless strategy for themselves:
- So…
Samuel spoke first:
- Any ideas?
No one really answered to his question, there was still a lot of figuring out to be done. Alfred took the initiative as he placed his paw over the map in front of him and carefully analyzed the reaches of the training facility, the entire method used to divide the quadrants, the tall structures, even the geometry used to separate the different sectors of the map were random and fairly uneven, but could still be studied and memorized. Samuel watched as the wolf sitting right across from him racked his brain to get a good head-start on the competition and decided to do some studying of his own by seeing how the equipment would be distributed amongst team members. Nick was the only mammal in the trio that was not particularly interested in reading any of the material given to them.
The fox was burying himself deep in thinking as he tried to put his sharp mind into playing and replaying different possibilities that would occur during the crucible. He trusted that his friends would be a terrific lock as team mates, he understood their strengths and limitation very well, but he was still not sure how their squad should be organized or even if they would be able to get their skills to be used in coordination during the Crucible. Wanting to get every detail well in order ahead of time, Nick placed his paws on the table and asked so that his two friends would give their honest opinions on the matter:
- Who is going to be the leader among us?
The three mammals looked at one another without much certitude about that themselves, Samuel was the first to point out a finger towards Alfred as he asked:
- How about you Wolf boy? It's no secret you're the smartest of us all.
- What?! Me?! There's no way I can be a leader! I crack too easy under pressure. Why don't you do it?
- Me?! Dude, I can't even be left alone to take care of myself too well, what makes you think I would be qualified to take care of others?
The two mammals were a little insecure by that and both of their eyes turned to Nick as he listened to their rants, he looked to both sides and to the two mammals and figured that he was going to be appointed as the next logical decision. Not giving a lot of thought about his sudden placing in the leadership department, the fox turned over to look at the material on the table and said with a well humored tone to his voice:
- Well… if I am the leader at the very least I will be the hardest target to hit.
Nick sounded okay with assuming the position of leader, but, to make sure that they were all on the same page about that, Samuel poked him before asking:
- Are you sure about that?
- Yes. We have taken the time to train and study together, we already know how each of us think and move. If we take the time to make a plan, nothing will slow us down.
- I'm glad you feel so confident.
Another voice appeared out of nowhere to contribute to their conversation, the trio turned their heads collectively to face the owner of the voice and they saw Judy, standing just a few steps away from their table and looking up to each of them. The bunny was standing in a pose that looked much more relaxed than the one she was using during her presentation only a few minutes before with her head raised her ears placed a little more far apart and her paws placed by her sides. She walked near the group to ask out of curiosity but still making it sound like she was just being a professionally positioned instructor seeking only the well-being of the cadets present:
- Have you all agreed on your roles for the Crucible already?
The fox turned to the side to hear the bunny out but he soon turned to his other friends after hearing that question. He pointed to each of them as he placed in his mind to answer with an assertive air to his voice:
- We figured that I would be the leader, Alfred would be the specialist and Samuel will be our enforcer.
Judy's ears twitched, along with her nose, for half a second after hearing that from the fox. Nick seemed very certain about the roles he and his friends were going to play during the exam, he quickly turned away from Judy after delivering his answer to focus on the material in front of him, Judy didn't know how to feel about that. It was nice to see Nick so focused but she wasn't sure if he truly understood what was being asked of him, leadership was not the easiest of tasks, but she was also moderately confident that he would do just fine. She gestured with her paw towards him and said:
- Well… I will be heading out soon to program the last few details on the exam. I trust you all will be doing a fair bit of preparation of your own.
Nick left the material he was taking a look over the table so he could turn back towards the bunny and ask of her:
- Is this how you're going to wish me good luck carrots?
Judy gave a single step forward to better approach the fox and speak with him:
- I would wish you luck, but you would need far more than just that to make an impression during the crucible. I suggest you three take your time reviewing all of the scenarios that might play out tomorrow and then get a good night sleep.
Judy turned around and began to walk away, however, she was halted just a few steps from the exit of the mess hall as she heard a voice calling out to her:
- Officer Hopps! Hang on a second:
Judy turned around and saw the wolf of the mammal trio rise out of his seat from the table and approach her before asking:
- This crucible will place us against members of our class, against our friends. You said there would be no coalition between members of different teams. Is there really no way around that?
That was a very valid question. The bunny turned her body entirely in the large canine's direction to face him and speak with him:
- I'm sorry, that rule, just like all the others, is definitive. There can be no direct partnership or open communication among cadets from differing squads. I know, it's sort of a stupid rule, but it is the way it is meant to be to make it fair for everyone.
Alfred released a little disappointed huff out of his mouth as he got the confirmation that he wouldn't be able to converse with Helen after the exam started. As soon as the Crucible was initiated they would step into the training grounds as adversaries and the tiger would have a clear advantage over them since she also knew the way they operated as a group, after all, she trained and studied alongside them for almost their entire time at the academy. Not the most optimal of situations.
Judy gave the trio a final wave of goodbye before making her way to the academy main building and to the exit gate, Samantha was waiting to drive them to a motel nearby where Judy had planned for them to sleep during their stay at Gloversvile. After the bunny was gone, Nick and his friend made their way across the academy grounds to return to their room and make some final reviews for the crucible, on their way to the dormitory it was easy to notice how every other cadet was eyeballing one another. Despite the next day examination being meant to promote team work and trust, every mammal was sticking close to their already stablished team mates, looking at the cadets from opposite teams like they were already adversaries. There was a tension in the air that was even leaving Nick a little nervous.
Just a few steps before getting into the room, Alfred gave a hesitant step behind his friends and began to stay behind. As Nick reached for the knob to open the door and hold it open, he saw the wolf standing outside like a statue. Worried about him, the fox gestured with his paw and asked:
- Aren't you coming inside?
Alfred pointed a finger over his shoulder, said that he would rather walk around for a little bit, get some water and clear his head before heading inside for good. Nick gave him a thumbs up and closed the door, heading inside with Samuel and leaving Alfred outside to deal with whatever was bothering him on his own. The wolf walked aimlessly for a little while until he felt like he needed to stop by the water cooler to get himself a nice refreshing swig, he disposed of the plastic cup he had just used and walked some more around the campus as he plotted a few viable strategies that would be beneficial with the loadout of his team. The sun was almost setting, the air was clear and everyone was retreating indoors as a final dash of preparations took place, prime time for the wolf to indulge in some quiet pondering.
Alfred was moving with heavy steps, pacing over the grass of the training field, not even caring where his feet were taking him, seeing the obstacles nearby and recalling all of the struggles he and the others went through to pass over each one and thinking how minor those would look compared to the crucible and to the real task of being a police officer. He recalled the tone Judy used as she laid out her presentation during the afternoon and that just amplified his already high level of tension. Elapsed a few minutes, he walked with a lighter set of steps near the back of the main building as he imagined himself and the others taken somewhere that appeared in his mind as he believed the training facility would look like, striding and dodging around with great astuteness and daring. He also realized how silly he would look in that situation and released a little laugh directed at himself.
Alfred was pacing by with his eyes directed down and his fluffy ears hanging back over his head, he took in a deep breath and began saying to himself with a low volume mumble:
- The worst part of it all is that I'm absolutely gonna have to give it my all against…
In that exact second, just as Alfred was walking past a corner, a heavy paw was placed over his shoulder and pulled him into the corner. He felt as his back was abruptly placed against the wall and huffed with surprise almost releasing a full blown shout, assuming, with his already topped stress levels, that he was being ambushed by another cadet trying to get a leg up on the competition. The surprise came only a second later as he saw the glistening blue eyes of the feline he already knew bearing down on him, her face lined with what looked an awful lot like insecurity and her paws were both placed over his chest, pinning him against the wall and only adding more confusion to the moment.
Alfred's eyes shot open, he opened his mouth, not sure about what to say and his paws raised slightly as his arms remained close to his body as he was also not really sure how to act. Finally one word crawled out of his mouth as he asked with incredulity:
- HELEN?!
The tigress was a bit shocked with the volume that was used by him when her name was spoken, she placed herself almost on the tip of her toes as she pressed the palm of her paw over Alfred's mouth and positioned her face uncomfortably close to his. Projecting her voice via a nervous whisper through her teeth, Helen spoke up so that he would calm down and simply listen to her:
- Shush! I'm not supposed to be here! My friends think I'm out getting some refreshments!
Helen was almost pressing her entire body against Alfred who still had his back against the wall and his mind in utter disarray as he did his best to remain as calm and collected as possible and understand what she was doing. Placed so close to one another it was easier to see the difference in size between the two of them, tigers like Helen are well known for their well-developed muscle mass but she was quite smaller than Alfred seeing as she had to reach out and stretch her body a little to silence him. Helen slowly took her paw away from his mouth and walked a single step backwards to give him some room, Alfred calmed down as it was intended and asked of her with a more controlled volume to his voice:
- Why… did you pulled me like that?
Helen placed both of her paws over her head and passed them over her ears, they flopped forward with that motion and she got around to answer his question after taking a little bit of air:
- I got out of the room to vent to myself for a bit, I found you wandering around on your own and figured it would be nice to talk to someone about… this whole crazy deal. I also thought it wouldn't be okay if someone saw us talking out in the open so I pulled you to this corner. Mammals rarely come by here and there are no security cameras around.
Alfred and Helen shared a look that said it all about how each of them were feeling about the crucible, she looked away for a second and he decided to give a contribution to that subject by airing his grievances:
- It's hard to believe that we'll have to compete against one another tomorrow. This exam sounds totally insane. The last thing I want to do is combat you, even if it is all a sort of controlled experiment deal.
Helen raised her right paw and placed it over her left arm, she was getting the wolf's point of view and she was also not too keen on the whole idea of the Crucible, but it was still something everyone had to go through in order to truly make an impression on the road to becoming officers of the ZPD. The tigress looked at him and asked with a calm tone in her voice, not wanting to get any specific information out of him:
- So… I take it you and the others are already on top of it all.
Alfred wanted to tell her everything but he held his tongue back, he was certain anything that revealed his team position would be detrimental to them as a whole. He just nodded and answered with a simple:
- Yes.
Helen took that brief answer with a small shudder that climbed her spine starting at the tip of her tail and ending at her shoulders. Alfred's voice was a little somber but so decisive, that conversation was already so unexpected and it was still deviating in a way neither of them could predict. She decided to press him further and ask of him:
- Do you think we're prepared for tomorrow?
That was when the wolf showed his level of doubt out in the open. He gritted his teeth in silence and looked to the ground, not even able to disclose much more than he needed to, even still, he decided to speak honestly:
- I thought we could take it all that came our way as a team but I think even Nick is getting shaken by all of this. We both know how hard headed he is and he is not showing a lot of it, but I just know he is nervous about the crucible. We got a solid strategy and we keep thinking new ways but it still doesn't feel like it would be enough.
Helen pressed her eyes shut for a second and turned her sight back to Alfred right after, she spoke up:
- After I learned how the crucible would be performed I thought it would be a simple competition, but after officer Hopp's words I can see how much is on the line. When you're a part of something you are more than a cog in a machine.
- Everyone relies on you, even if you mess up. That is kind of a scary thought, isn't it?
- Doesn't make it any less real. Being at the ZPD is being part of something bigger. It's more than adventure and protocol. We already knew about it but it took a while to sink in.
Alfred released a single huffing laugh from his mouth before agreeing with Helen:
- You can say that again.
The two mammals were conversing like that for a significant amount of time, getting those feelings out in the open felt quite nice for the both of them. Alfred looked slightly to the side and noticed how the sun was nearly completely gone, it was high time to return indoors for the day, he quit leaning against the wall and spoke with Helen one last time for the day:
- I got to get going, the guys will probably need me to get the last pieces in place before tomorrow.
Helen looked around and notice how it was becoming darker outside, she turned back to Alfred and said:
- I best be going to, I still have to get refreshments for my squad.
Alfred placed his paws in his pockets and started making his way out of the corner and back to his room, before he was completely gone however, he turned around to face Helen and call her attention to thank her for the talk:
- Hey, thanks for talking this out with me, it helped a lot.
Helen walked a little closer to Alfred with her tail swaying from side to side right behind her and returned his thanks:
- It was nothing major. Thanks for hearing me out while I rambled on. And… sorry about pulling you into the corner like that, there was probably a less forceful way to call to your attention.
Alfred and Helen shared an awkward laugh after that. The wolf extended his paw, hoping to get a friendly shake from her but there was a large surprise when Helen just tossed herself on his chest to snag a nice hug. She wrapped her arms around his torso and placed the side of her head near his right shoulder, it felt cozy and soft for Helen as she released a little hum for having him around. After releasing Alfred from that embrace, Helen made her way to the dormitory, rushing away and showing off a small wave of goodbye as she said:
- Good luck for you tomorrow.
Alfred felt a little dazed but, as soon as he got his wits back, he answered:
- Y… you too. Bye.
The wolf made his way back to his room to meet with the others, there was still a lot hanging in the air but he was more relaxed knowing that he and Helen were in good terms despise the whole Crucible ordeal. The wolf, the fox and the deer went to sleep in piece that night as each of them placed their rereviewed material over the work desk and retreated to their beds for the night.
Meanwhile, in an inn quite far off from the academy grounds, Judy and Samantha were making their own preparations before bed. Right over at room 02 of the Sleepy Pines road inn, the two bunnies were sharing one huge bed for the night, Judy complained that the room Sam had picked for them was clearly not built with small mammals in mind but Samantha kept pushing on that it was a great deal for them, it was comfortable and very much accessible for the short time that they planned on staying. The two bunnies agreed on splitting the room in the end since the reservation was already submitted and, overall, it wasn't that bad of a place to stay.
In Spite of an atrocious wall paper pattern the room was quite nice. The bed covers were washed and well maintained same as the fluffy carpet in the center of the room, the bathroom was spacious and the room service was on point, bringing the two sisters a meal that they gladly shared and enjoyed before taking their respective showers and changing into night clothes before hopping on the bed for the night. Sam was just goofing off during most of the time they spent inside until the hour to sleep came around, Judy was still getting ready for the Crucible, thoroughly reading on the charts and papers she had with her and scattering them over the bed, good thing the re was plenty of room over the mattress.
Time passed by in a flash as the sun set over the horizon and the time to turn the lights off was fast approaching, Samantha decided to pull some conversation out of Judy before going to sleep, she turned the screen of her cellphone off and scooched over the bed covers to get closer to Judy. The youngest bunny of the pair was thoroughly engaged with her task but her ear still twitched to the side as she caught the sound of Samantha approaching her from behind, getting a few papers out of the way while being mindful to keep them pilled up and organized. After getting just close enough to Judy, Samantha poked her left shoulder before asking:
- So… how's everything looking on your end?
Judy gave a little smile before saying with a satisfied tone of voice:
- I'm just about done over here. I'll swing by the academy tomorrow after lunch and the cadets will be transported to the facility within acceptable time constraints.
Samantha laid over the mattress with her belly facing down and her arms crossed in front of her to provide a nice rest for her head, she looked over to Judy, putting all of the papers away, and decided to ask:
- How do you think he is going to do tomorrow?
Judy's ears flopped around for a short second, she directed her eyes over to Sam before releasing a small sigh and gathering all of the documents she had already gone over and organizing them for storage, she raised from the bed and walked across the room so that she could place the papers she had on her paws inside her bag located on a stand close by, she turned back to Sam and answered with confidence:
- I know Nick and his friends will do great tomorrow. According to the reports I've been reading, Nick has a well stablished streak when it comes to his scores, along with a well stablished streak of pranks. More to it, I also know he can get a lot of thigs done when he puts his mind into it.
Judy returned to the bed, she set aside the pillows and the half of the sheet that she was going to use to sleep on her pre-stablished side of the bed. Samantha placed herself closely and watched her sister perform a few rituals before going to sleep, however, the oldest bunny of the pair could not contain herself and decided to press Judy for a few more questions about the fox she met previously that day. She started subtlety:
- You really have a lot of respect for him, don't you?
Judy was fluffing her pillow as she heard Samantha asking that, the younger bunny released a single humorous puff from her nostrils as she thought how the word "respect" didn't defy what she actually thought about Nick. Judy remained adjusting her spot on the bed while she explained:
- I think the world about Nick. He is a really amazing mammal, even if we don't see eye to eye when it comes to a few things in life. He is the one that made me sure about what I wanted to do with my life, the one that taught me that it takes more than assertion and optimism to get where I want to go.
Judy finished adjusting the pillow and the sheets and got right into a position that would help her sleep more quickly, she was gonna have to wake up early on the day that was to come but her comments on Nick just kept increasing Sam's interest and the oldest sister just had to know more. Samantha placed her back against the wall by the head of the bed and tucked her legs in before calling out to Judy's attention once more to ask:
- How did you meet him anyway?
Judy was just about ready to shut off for the day but she also knew that Sam was going to keep up with that until all of her nagging questions were answered. There was only one thing to do but Judy didn't really mind it that much, she decided to tell the tale of how she met Nick in the first place. Judy opted for making herself more comfortably positioned in a way to tell a story properly, she pushed the covers away from her and sat over the big pillow she was set to put her head over, she fondled with her paws for a bit and answered:
- Well… I guess the best place to start is at the beginning.
She took a long breath and Samantha took the chance to position herself in a way that she was totally facing her sister. Judy waited for Sam to stop moving and continued:
- When I came to Zootopia I started to get situated fairly well, chief Bogo put me on the easiest task at the force, as a meter maid, that did not felt great, still, I was determined to show that I could handle it better than anyone. It did not go as well as I thought it would.
- How so?
Judy didn't bother that she was interrupted by that question, she continued her explanation with a little smile:
- One afternoon I was driving by the streets when I saw a suspicious looking fox walking inside an ice-cream parlor, he had a smaller fox near him and the only thing they wanted was a big ice pop, I helped them get it but it all turned all to be a quick cash scheme. I fell for it.
Samantha squirmed over the mattress as the story was getting better and better. Judy kept going:
- I followed the two of them around and stumbled upon this huge racket they had going on to make a lot of money out of a single unsuspecting source. Nick and his… accomplice, melted the big ice pop and made a bunch of smaller ones to sell out on the street, then, as to add insult to injury, he even sold the used wooden sticks as construction wood for a group of rodents. That was very unsettling for me.
Samantha's eyes were open wide as she noticed how Judy's expression changed, while reminiscing about Nick. The younger bunny crossed her arms and showed a very displeased scowl as she remembered about her first interaction with Nick, Sam thought that was a tad humorous, but Judy's expression gradually changed after recalling a few of the moments that came after that:
- Come the next day, I thought I would have a legitimate shot to prove myself to Bogo as a competent beat cop, unfortunately he only saw that as a chance to scold me for my rash behavior. I bit off more than I could chew that day when I put my own carrier on the line in order to pursue a lead in the case of the missing mammals, a lead that I didn't even have. That is when I went after Nick, he knew the city and all of its inner workings, I convinced him to help me search for a solid lead and… that is when we got to spent a whole lot of time together and understand more of one another.
Sam bounced up and down over the mattress and Judy laughed a bit to that as she continued to tell about the tie she had with Nick during their memorable adventure:
- Nick and I moved all over Zootopia in search of any clues that would take the investigation closer to a viable conclusion, while we were at the rain-forest district we almost got taken out by a panther turned savage and, when we tried to show it to chief Bogo, the trail had run cold and I was essentially finished as an officer. That was when Nick stood up for me. We made our way back to the savanna and that is when Nick told me more about himself and why he chose to be the way he is. In a sense… Nick and I are… very similar.
There was a brief pause in Judy's speech before she continued with her explanation:
- Nick was pushed around and set aside by others when he was a kid because he is a fox, thought to be nothing more than shifty and untrust worthy, he was hit in every direction by the limited mentality of others and he decided to play the part. In a sense… I might have ended thinking just like him if it wasn't for my unbound desire to prove others wrong.
Samantha smiled as she witnessed Judy's face lighting up with those words. Clearly there was a little more to that story so Sam decided to remain silent and continue listening:
- After I returned to Zootopia and found Nick once again, he helped me, in spite of the mess I created he helped me, every day. He made me less nervous, he convinced me to find a better place to live, he made any task more funny by just being there, Nick is just the best.
Sam placed her paws over her cheeks as she found the expressions Judy made as she listed Nick's qualities just precious. She pressed onwards as she asked:
- So… was it your idea to enroll him at the police academy?
- It was mostly my idea. Before leaving the city I asked Nick if he would consider being my partner and, after all the craziness died down, he agreed to it on his own. We started training and he was very good at crossing the city and its various obstacles, I chart that up to the fact that he has been living in Zootopia for far longer than I have.
Samantha pulled the sheets she was going to use for sleep and positioned herself over the bed in a more comfortable position, her look became far more inquisitive as she asked:
- Have you two been hanging out for such a long time?
Judy shook her head a slowly from side to side before answering to that:
- Sort of. Nick has been at the academy for almost a full five months' time. We have only been contacting each other via text message, today was the one day I got to see him and all of the results his continuous training has brought.
That was the opening Sam was looking for to further annoy her sister. She raised a brow and directed a look at Judy as she said:
- Hmmmm… I would say the results are more than satisfactory, wouldn't you?
- I… what?
Judy's ears shot up and her face blushed a bit, she should've known that Sam would say something like that. Samantha continued to pester her by saying:
- Not gonna lie, when you and your sexy friend locked up in that hug back there, I was a little bit jealous.
- Can you please stop talking like that? Nick and I are just friends. There is no romantic involvement among us.
Judy turned her body away from Sam over the mattress with the intention of putting a final saying on that conversation but the older bunny was not going to be sated with that. Samantha poked Judy's shoulder to try and call to her attention again, the tone she used to speak right after was not of mockery or insinuation as she calmly spoke out:
- Judy, do you know how many guys I have dated in my life? A lot. A big lot.
Judy didn't move from her position facing away from Sam but she was still listening to her:
- After you started pursuing your dreams as a police officer I decided to try it for myself and study to become a nurse. After I moved away from Bunnyburrow my life became more like an adventure, I met a lot of bucks and they were fun to date and make out with, but I never quite felt like I found the one guy that would be perfect for me. You know how I was with guys even before moving out, I was always looking for that next thrill when it came to my so called "love life".
Judy finally turned around over the bed to face Samantha and ask her with a very annoyed look in her eyes:
- Sam, does this talk have a point or can I just go to sleep?
Samantha smiled and leaned closer so that she could complete her own idea:
- My point dear sister is that while I have been roaming about in search of a guy that would be just right and fun enough for me I often critiqued you for sticking to your own routine and not even giving the effort to look for one of your own. I know how much you don't like for me, mom and our sisters to keep pushing you to date but I hope you know that we only do that with the best of intentions. We all want to see you happy more than anything and I can proudly say that you look very happy with how your life has been going and that fox has a lot to do with it. The thing is, even if you say that you and Nick don't have any major romantic dealings going on, I am still glad that you got to find such an amazing friend.
The frown on Judy's face became unmade as Samantha continued to talk:
- I'm serious Judy. I am very happy for you. You helped so many mammals with your way to think and act, you are pursuing the life you always spired to live and I am also satisfied to hear that you have been making more friends along the way. With all that you told me I am more than certain Nick will blow expectations tomorrow.
Judy smiled sweetly after hearing that. Her eyes moved around as the thought in her mind became calm and Samantha, still positioned close by, released a little laugh after seeing that Judy had her mood improved for the time. As the two bunnies got cozier over the bed, Judy decided to get a few more words out before ending the day:
- Thanks Sam. I know Nick will do great as well. He is smart, he is strong and he is ready.
Not wanting to end the talk with just that, Sam returned to speak in her suggestive tone:
- Yeah and if he gets into any trouble at all he only needs to rip he shirt off. Do you think there is any chance you can get him to do that? Because if he does it I demand you take some pictures.
Judy reached for the light switch of the room near her bed and put a stop to the talk by flicking the lights off and saying with a definitive shout in her voice:
- Good night Sam!
The oldest bunny released a very audible laugh after the lights turned off and placed her head over the pillow near her to go to sleep and leave Judy alone for the night. Judy didn't have any problems letting herself go to sleep that night, she sounded a little peeved but she placed her head over her pillow with a little smile on her face after the light teasing coming from Samantha. Judy was calm and she knew there was nothing more to be concerned about until the time of the exam, confident that it would all play according to plan on the following day.
There was so much to look forward to, how the Crucible was going to play out was anyone's guess, how the cadets were going to perform and who would emerge victorious was left in suspense, one thing was for sure however, it was going to be a thrilling competition for everyone involved.
See you all next time. Keep being awesome and stay safe.