The new tales from Zootopia

by Vindictive456

This story is a well thought out work of fan-fiction that will cover in moderate pace how Judy came back to the force and convinced Nick to be her partner, Nick's training to become an officer and his days at the academy, a weird new case involving corrupt mammals and a new dangerous drug, all of that sprinkled with the growing love between Zootopia's favorite pair of officers.

22. Episode 22: Scout it out

Author's note: Salutations dear readers. I'm finally back with another chapter of my Zootopia fan-fiction. I'm Valiant and i cannot wait to share another spetacular piece of my story with you. Did you miss me? I sure missed you. Ever since we last spoke i planned something special for my inevitable comeback, I wanted to give you a massive post to show you how I appreciated all of the support, so, I present to you a double chapter stravaganzza. My days have been filled with plenty of chores that have kept me away from the keyboard so I'm very tired, I'm going to take a break from this story and focus on other things like my Spyro fan-fiction that has been resting up for quite some time. I need to get back to a few other projects but until we meet again and I do hope you enjoy this special double feature of mine. (It was supposed to be a triple feature but I'm impatient) Looking forward to your opinions for these next chapters.

Episode 22: Scout it out.

Dr. Pura did not waste any time with her work arrangements, she entered her lab and locked the door as she changed clothes right there, ditching her impromptu vacation attire and putting on her woolen shirt as well as her her signature lab coat, she opened her luggage once more right after changing to retrieve a small patch of notes that she had brought with her, she proceeded to flip through the pages as to separate them in rows over her work desk and make sure that everything was still well organized so it could be filed later.

As Dr. Pura organized her work place and made sure that it was all as she had left it, Nick and Judy passed by their cubicle and retrieved the report of their ongoing investigation, Nick also had to petition the retrieval of the box of evidence that was archived downstairs containing the specs of broken glass that Nick had collected from both scenes. Judy walked ahead with the report file being firmly held by both her paws and Nick accompanied her with the box being held right in front of him, it wasn't too heavy and it wasn't too much of a walk to the lab. After the two officers arrived at the front door of the lab, Judy extended her right paw and gave two knocks, they waited a few seconds until they heard feminine a voice giving them permission to enter:

- Come on in.

Judy hopped up and reached for the doorknob with her left paw and the door swung open without any issue. Nick and Judy entered the inner confines of the laboratory and they found that Dr. Pura was already prepping her beakers, burners and dishes for a full analysis of the evidence, she left her preparations aside for a short time and advanced towards the two mammals that just entered her work space to collect the samples that they had brought her. Nick found it weird but exciting when the doctor rushed towards them to grab both the box and the file, the panther hoisted the two objects in the air and placed them over her desk, opening them with great excitement like a kid opening a gift that was eagerly anticipated for a birthday. After checking the contents of the box, the doctor grabbed the plastic bag that contained the specs of broken glass and retrieved only a big enough sample that would be ripe for study, she was more than ready to get some work done.

As Dr. Pura moved around her lab to maintain, Nick and Judy waited patiently next to a corner and observed her, just in case there was something that she needed to be handled or asked of them. Pura grabbed another sample of the glass and placed it inside the spectral analyzer at the very back of the room, she turned the machine on after certifying that the test results would be shown at her computer screen, after the imaging of the glass being analyzed through a thick lens appeared in her computer she only had one word to speak up:

- Astonishing!

Nick's ears darted up and he walked to the center of the lab, next to the test table so that he could ask of the doctor:

- Did you find something, doc?

Pura raised her head so that she could look straight at the fox and answer to his question in great detail:

- You could say that. I can already tell by this preliminary reading that the glass has maintained its original molecular structure but it has suffered a major form alteration in what could have been a matter of seconds. The glass entered in contact with an unknown compound that constricted its molecules due to extreme cold.

Nick clutched his right paw into a fist and clashed it against the palm of his left paw as he admitted triumphantly:

- I so called it.

Judy approached the pair as she felt like she needed to ask out of concern if there was anything that could be done to identify the substance:

- Pura, is there any way we can know what this substance is or where it came from?

Doctor Pura showed the pointing finger of her right paw as she signaled for Judy to wait just a moment as she went to check out the next results of her analysis, the panther moved to the computer screen and pressed a few buttons as to adjust the resolution of the image that appeared on the screen, she scrolled around the page as she searched for another angle that could reveal any more answers. Suddenly, it struck her, a small chemical strand or at least the piece of one was shown on the very edge of the page and Pura had a good idea what she was dealing with. The doctor placed the pals of both her paws over the desk frame ad raised her body upwards as she looked towards Nick and Judy before speaking up:

- Glacius-Fulguriasly

Judy and Nick exchanged a look but it was evident that neither of them had a shadow of a idea about what the doctor was talking about. Nick made a simple gesture with his right paw as it made a slow rotating motion in the air and spoke up:

- Could you… run that by us one more time, doc?

Pura called to their attention again with a gesture from both of her paws as she walked to a white board nearby, she grabbed a black marker that was placed on a narrow support shelf under the white space and began a detailed explanation while she drew a schematic on the board:

- As you may know, matter of all kinds is in a constant state of motion, from the ground we walk to the air we breathe, it's all vibrating and transmitting some manner of energy. The same could be said about the reaction that occurs between two different chemicals.

Pura began to draw on the board what started out as a simple straight line with a triangular arrow placed at its end but she also made a case to draw a singular triangle over the line along with the representation of a molecule of water and a molecule of carbon dioxide. After she was done with her drawing, she placed a plastic cap on the marker and stepped away from the board so that she could show it in clear view of the officers:

- One of the most common forms of reactions that produce heat and energy is also one of the most common examples of an exothermic reaction, combustion. The introduction of heat into an object with organic build in nature resulting in the liberation of heat and light along with carbon dioxide and water. The same reaction we can observe for burning fuel in an engine.

Judy placed her right paw underneath her chin to show that as she paid attention at the explanation she was also contemplating the lesson and making mental notes to look at the bigger picture that was undoubtedly being built in front of her. Nick crossed his arms as he also paid attention to the lesson but he was far more interested in the end goal of the lesson since he already knew all of that preliminary stuff, he was also hoping that there was something in his already existing knowledge of the subject that could draw a much easier to understand comparative line by the end. Doctor Pura once again removed the plastic cap from the marker to draw in a new variable into the line as she drew a symbol that resemble a small drop of water, she also grabbed an eraser and removed most of the diagram including the very center of the reaction line symbolizing that the existing reaction was stopped midway giving place to a brand new possibility. Pura stepped back and continued to explain:

- This sort of thing can also be shown in the neutralizing of acids or in the halting of bad chemicals. However, during some reactions, due to the introduction of a freezing agent, the entire process can be slowed down and even stopped completely thanks to the removal of heat and energy, I believe the substance that broke the glass operates in the same manner. Once heat is introduced again, the reaction or motion of molecules continues where it left off before being halted, sometimes to violent results.

Judy gave a single step forward as she spoke up:

- Nick had a hunch about that too. Is that really possible? For a substance to be so cold it can shatter glass on contact?

Pura was quick to turn herself around and speak in response to those questions:

- It is entirely possible. Every possible state of matter can be altered if the temperature is high or low enough. Different substances can be used to steal heat from a determined source but they need to be stored away inside a pressurized container for later use so that they don't lose their initial properties. By my guess, this is how the burglars are using this particular substance and lobbing it around town, they have a specialized container that has been modified to spread the substance on to the glass.

Nick called attention to himself and to his own line of thought as he snapped his fingers and said:

- Just like canisters of liquid nitrogen in airports or liquid oxygen at a hospital.

Pura pointed a claw of her left paw at Nick and said in agreement:

- Precisely, only this particular compound seems to be much stronger in concentration and since it possibly vaporizes and dissipates into the atmosphere after use it is difficult to determine its precise composition. Still, to be able to transport such material without as much as a detrimental effect or the use of specialized equipment… It's nearly unthinkable. Unfortunately, unless we gather more data on this, tracking these burglars is next to impossible.

Nick lowered his head as a realization hit him in faced with the doctor's words:

- Which means that unless the thieves strike again with the same M.O. there is no way we can catch them.

Pura lowered her head as she signaled with that simple gesture that Nicks words were in fact what she meant previously, she was disappointed with herself with the fact that there was not much else she could do to help. Pura raised her right paw and adjusted the left lapel of her lab coat before speaking to the tow officers:

- I'm really sorry I can't be of much help.

Judy gave a few more steps in the direction of her feline comrade and said:

- You don't have to be sorry, these types of things take time. I'm sure we will find a way to catch the thieves soon. However, we also need to find a way to apprehend them while also confiscating the substance in their possession.

Nick gave a step ahead and called attention to himself as he said:

- Having a plan to neutralize the substance wouldn't be a bad idea either.

Nick pointed a claw at Pura and asked of her even if he already had a really good impression of what her answer might be:

- I don't suppose you have something in your bag of tricks to put a vat of freeze goo out of business?

Pura leaned herself against her work desk and answered with a low volume to her voice but making sure that she could still be heard:

- I don't have a 'bag of tricks'. Even if I did, I don't think I could pull anything out of it that could stop this. No substance can interact or react to another at such low temperatures.

Nick retreated but he did not unmake his optimist face as he answered to that:

- I had the feeling it was going to be something like that. Guess we'll just have secure the substance and the thieves the old fashioned way.

Nick made a gesture with both of his paws as he cracked the knuckles of his right paw with the fingers of his left paw in an effort to appear tough, Judy knew that it was just for show and maybe some residual rush from his fight just the other day. Nick unmade his rough posture and pointed a finger at the door as he said:

- I'm gonna tell the news to the chief, see if he can offer some insight. Keep your monitors humming, doc.

Pura smiled and nodded affirmatively as her sight returned to the screens and to any other new piece of information they might contain, Nick opened the lab door and moved to the hallway in order to look for chief Bogo and tell him what was just discovered, even if there was not much to tell. As Nick let go of the door knob and left the door itself to slowly close behind him, Judy remained in the lab and watched as Doctor Pura kept her eyes and paws busy with every facet of her work. Pura typed a few words in the keyboard of her computer and let the search engine connected to the ZPD mainframe do its job as she looked for any reference to the traces found of the substance mentioned by her, it was going to take some time until the search was completed. Pura turned her eyes towards Judy and found the bunny sitting on a tall stool and just waiting for something else to happen, staring into the void and holding a blank expression on her face.

Pura wanted to talk to Judy and make sure that she was doing okay but the panther was not sure how to do it, her social skills revolved around tests and theories that were reviewed and shared by other members of the scientific community, she was not very good with occasional social cues. Even so, Pura made an effort to speak and take a genuine interest on what Judy was thinking as she leaned closer and asked:

- Is there something bothering you?

Judy's mind was not really in the moment, the sound of Pura's voice made her jump a little from her seat as her back straightened up and her ears darted up as soon as she heard that question. Judy turned her head to the right to face her friend and answer her question as she took in some air and said:

- Nothing is bothering me, doctor. I'm just a little shaken about what happened yesterday.

- You mean the arresting of those two purse snatchers?

Judy had her eyes opened wide as she was definitely not prepared to hear that from Pura. The doctor was quick to explain how she came upon that piece of information as she grabbed her cellphone and opened the last listed application so that she could show the article that had appeared on the screen. Judy got off from the stool she was seating on with a little hop that got her feet back on the ground, she walked towards Doctor Pura and, to her surprise, she saw the same article she found online that morning reporting the exploits of her and Nick at the rainforest just the day before. Judy held on to the cellphone with both of her paws since the device was clearly made for a mammal much bigger than her to handle more easily, she passed her eyes quickly over the screen and soon turned them back at Pura as the panther shrugged that look off with a slow raising gesture of her right shoulder and said:

- News got around the precinct pretty fast. I also got a news notification and I was actually very surprised to know that I had missed so much while I was out of town. I wish I was here so that I could congratulate you.

Judy showed a smile and gave the device back to Pura who placed the phone right back in her coat pocket. Judy looked over to her friend and spoke up:

- If anyone deserves praise, it's Nick. He ran to my rescue and brawled the thug in charge to a halt. He was even able to deal with all of my nonsense after that whole deal was over.

Pura adjusted her lab coat before leaning a little closer and asking:

- 'Nonsense'? Was there any nonsense involved?

Judy placed her paws together and clarified that by saying:

- It's nothing. I was just acting a bit hardheaded after we brought the two suspects into custody. Nick and I had a bit of a fight between us but it's alright now.

With a much more apparent tone of concern in her voice, Pura returned to ask:

- You two had a fight? I never imagined something like that would happen, you and Nick seemed to be such close friends from the last time I checked.

Judy gestured by showing the palms of her paws and shaking them rapidly from side to side as she went on to explain:

- No, Nick and I are still good friends and I think he is an amazing partner, he just reprimanded me yesterday out of concern for my well-being and I was the one mostly in the wrong, telling him repeatedly that his concern was not necessary.

Pura tapped her fingers over the desk frame as she tried putting the whole described scenario together in her head and she felt like there was the need to ask a little more about the nature of the discussion. Every detail, every piece of data gave more and more information about the friendship that was shared between Nick and Judy and, as it was customary for Pura for everyday circumstances, she saw that interesting new development as a new variable to an equation that begged to be solved.

Judy was feeling much better that morning, she had talked about what had happened between her and Nick so many times that it really didn't seem like a big deal anymore but there was still a lingering feeling on the back of her neck. Judy turned her head and looked away from Doctor Pura as her eyes scanned the shelves and all of their contents, she turned her head slowly to the right to look at her friend once more and speak up:

- Yesterday, when Nick began fighting that thug on the alley, I was so worried that he was going to get hurt, so scared that he might end up harmed because of my rashness, but he took charge and he was victorious. It was all so amazing and scary at the same time.

Judy took in some air through her mouth before she continued to speak and air the main reason of her worries:

- I know that I'm the officer with more experience but, when I look at Nick, when I see everything that he can do and all the neat things that he knows, how he handles different situations and all of the knowledge that he already brought to the investigation, it suddenly feels like I'm lagging behind.

Pura was very surprised to hear such a thing from Judy, she would never had expected such a thing from the bunny officer who was always so determined during conversations and throughout her work hours. Judy leaned her head to the left and her ears flopped to the side as they followed her motion, the bunny shrugged her previous comment off as she looked at the front door and said:

- Then again, Nick and I work so well as a team that it's hard to imagine us heading anywhere if not together. Me the officer who takes no nonsense and he the rookie who can brighten any room with his words and wits. Even so, just because we are good friends and co-workers that doesn't mean we are going to be equally outstanding officers at everything at the same time and we are not going to look eye to eye on every affair and that is okay.

Judy pointed to Pura with a renewed smile on her face but the panther was a little lost after that last bit of information during the talk. The panther raised her shoulders and admitted to not knowing much about the pointed subject:

- I… really wish I could understand social dynamics a little better. Your relationship with Nick sounds so complicated but you two are making it all work seamlessly.

Jud smiled and walked to the stool she was seated before, she climbed on to the seat and placed herself at ease as she finished her thought for that conversation:

- My dynamic with Nick is not the high point of the matter. What matters is that we are hot on the trail of another group of thieves and we are going to put them behind bars for sure. With your help of course.

Pura smiled and turned her attention back to the screens and tubes of her work place, Judy reached for her cellphone so that she would pass some time until the new analysis was complete but she had little time to rest her mind as it were. Nick had returned from his incursion out through the hallways of the ZPD with an urgent message for Judy, he walked to her and she didn't raise her body from the stool as Nick spoke. She was, however, staying on full attention as Nick communicated that the chief was requesting both their presences in the interrogation room so that they could talk with Jaime, the armadillo that was arrested alongside Daniel and was being held there until his parents could arrive.

Judy stored her cellphone away in her back pocket, got down from her seat and began walking towards the front door of the lab with Nick right alongside her. Judy gave Doctor Pura a wave of goodbye and the panther answered with a wave of her own assuring the officers on their way out that she would get in contact if anything else came up. Nick and Judy moved past the front lobby and passed through several doors on their way until they entered a narrow corridor and found themselves only one door away from entering the interrogation room where they were told to go and inside that very room there was the young armadillo they had arrested the day before, seated next to a metal table which was bolted to the floor and having his left arm cuffed to an iron rail. He was there just waiting and he had been there for almost a full hour.

The interrogation room was much like the typical scenario from television and movies, there was a single door that lead into the room which was equipped with three seats, one metal table and a secure set of speakers bolted to the upper right corner of the wall. The room had a huge window that was framing a standard one-way glass, from one side it appeared to be a mirror but there was a room on the other side where other officers could witness and record any interrogation that took place inside the main room. Nick and Judy grabbed a seat for themselves, each one of the officers pulled up a chair to sit on, Nick sat down first and crossed his arms as soon as he was more comfortable over the hard frame of the chair while Judy took her time as she reached for a box that contained a small stack of papers before placing her posterior over the seat.

Nick kept his eyes over the young armadillo, giving a heavy and authoritarian vibe that was mostly set to keep the incarcerated mammal under control in case there was some shred of aggression or resentment left in him, even if it was highly unlikely. Judy focused on the small bit of information that was on the paper in her paws and her eyes moved over the words printed on the page as she spoke up to the mammal seated and detained right across from her:

- Well… I don't have to tell you why you're here, so I guess it would be better to just jump right to what is about to happen.

Judy's tone was made to sound like she was acting tough but she was just working on an approaching stance so that she could be completely honest with Jaime while also taking control of the moment. Nick did not unmake his sitting stance but he shot a side glance at Judy as his ears caught wind of her voice and right before she put the paper down on the metal frame of the table in front of her. Jaime set his eyes down, intimidated by the two officers that had brought him in just a day before, his left arm slid over the table and the chains of the cuffs made a low sound as they passed over the table. Judy leaned forward over the table and called to Jaime's attention once more as she said:

- I'm sorry if it took too long to bring you in here for this, we were taking part on a side investigation and these sorts of things take a lot of our time.

Jaime looked at her and his mind quickly registered what she said, he answered with a positive nod of his head and Judy continued shortly after:

- Your legal guardians have been contacted and are set to arrive shortly, they will be around when you are sent to court.

Jaime had his ears perked up and his back pushed him away from his chair repost as he leaned forward and asked:

- "Court"? I'm going to court?!

Judy made a simple gesture with her right paw as she asked Jaime to calm down. Judy placed her paws over the table but without the intention of making an impact, she merely continued to speak after taking some air:

- It is merely a formality at this point, the decisions and actions of today may help you on your case but I believe that the outcome is inevitable.

Jaime was more than a little worried at that point as he stretched his left arm to reach for his fore head and only then remembered that he was still cuffed, he looked at the two officers and asked:

- Are you saying that I'm going to jail?!

Nick unmade his stance as he uncrossed his arms and said:

- Relax, kid. Jail is for well versed criminals. You're landing on juvie. Either case, you're the state's problem now.

Judy moved her right foot swiftly as she kicked Nick in an effort to make him hold his jokes off at that moment, the fox nearly yelped after feeling the sudden pressure on the side of his left leg. Nick pressed his teeth inside his mouth, his tail jolted up and his paws opened as he felt a quick sign of pain and got the clear message to think twice before opening his mouth to speak again. Jaime lowered his head as the news of what was going to happen hit him, even if he apologized and was very cooperative with the other officers there would be no escaping the harsh sentencing of a Zootopia judge. He wasn't going to jail but he had the feeling that the scolding from his parents was going to hit just as hard for the rest of his life. The armadillo took in some air and raised his right paw up to the top of his head as he said:

- My dad is going to have a fit. I really didn't figure this out all the way.

Judy was already planning on a talk that would ease up Jaime's nerves but Nick jumped in as he spoke up what the young mammal needed to hear:

- There are plenty of ways this could've played out, but this is not just a mistake that could've been brushed under the rug. This was serious.

Judy didn't detect any shred of a jest in Nick's voice, he was being serious as he tried to establish a connection to the young mammal in his own way and she did not wish to stop that conversation short. Nick wanted the young mammal to reflect long and hard about what was happening and he continued to speak through that mentality as he said:

- What you did and who you chose to lead you up until that point, it wasn't a joke or a quick fling for fun, that was a choice, and the choice you made, that is not something you can just walk out with a few words and a slap on the wrist. Consequences are bound to be had.

Jaime began to feel his chest tightening and making him short on air, Judy felt like she should stop Nick but there was something else to his words and she wanted to know what was going to happen as Nick began to give more emphasis to his speech and to the impact that he was creating with every word. The fox took a second to relax as he pointed a finger at the armadillo and said:

- Look, I made plenty of bad decisions in my life and even barreled through my fair share of consequences, that does not mean I am totally worst for where. What you're going to go through is going to suck, there is no way around it, but you still have the chance to go on with your life. I'm not going to spill out some bull about how every winding road is an opportunity to grow, I'm just saying that you are more than free to learn and keep being who you are.

Jaime decided to speak up and take a stance in that conversation as he asked:

- And who is that?

Nick shrugged that question off as he said:

- That is up to you to figure out. I'm just a guy that admitted to himself and others countless times about being wrong. For some reason, that makes me proud. Then again, that's just me.

Jaime took a few seconds as he ruminated on Nick's words, the fox returned to his previous stance as he crossed his arms and Jaime placed his back on the chair repost as he said out loud:

- God. I'm such an idiot.

Nick raised his left paw and added to that by saying:

- I admitted to that one plenty of times myself.

Judy reached for Nick and her right paw touched his left arm, almost reaching for his shoulder. She communicated with a look that she would handle the rest of the talk, the fox understood that and placed himself in silence for the time. Judy placed both of her paws over the table and weaved her fingers together before saying:

- Someone might ask that you step into the role of witness and speak against Daniel in court. If the moment arrives you will have to speak the truth and not leave anything out of it, that will help you a lot and you must absolutely not be sacred to speak your mind.

Jaime nodded and answered:

- I understand.

Judy was satisfied with the honesty and the compliance showed by the young mammal, she raised from her chair and Nick followed her soon enough. As Judy was leaving through the same door she and Nick had entered, she heard Jaime calling to her attention and saying:

- Thanks.

Judy smiled and Nick merely showed Jaime a thumbs up before they left the room and closed the door behind them.

Nick and Judy made their way through the hallways of the ZPD and as they kept walking, Judy called to Nick's attention as she leaned her upper body and adjusted the speed of her walk before speaking to him:

- What you said back there helped a lot. Thanks for stepping in when you did.

Nick kept looking ahead as he continued to walk but he answered to Judy's words as he said with the same volume she used to speak to him:

- It was what he needed to hear. Plus, I was paraphrasing most of it from what an old teacher said to me.

Judy turned her head to look right at Nick's face´, the fox kept on the move as he reminisced about his old mentor, he shook his head slowly and admitted:

- Damn. I hated his guts, but he was a great math teacher.

Nick slowed his walk and noticed that Judy was looking straight at him and waiting for more information about that, Nick turned his head to look at her and showed his right paw as he said:

- I was never too good at math.

Judy leaned her head to the side and admitted:

- I always liked math. And history.

Nick smiled and added to that by saying:

- I was always more of a physics guy myself.

Judy pointed out towards the corridor that lead to their cubicle and signaled that they still had a busy day of work ahead of them. The rest of the day went slow at the ZPD but there were still surprises ahead during the investigation, Nick and Judy would have to steel their resolve for the task ahead.

---

Come the next day the report came in of a robbery at Tundra Town, a fancy bakery with a large display window that had been shattered into specs of glass exactly like the ones in the Savannah and in the Sahara districts. There was a bit of a delay during some of the evidence collection as it was rather difficult to distinguish the pieces of glass from the ice and snow that usually scattered over the sidewalk. Judy and Nick were called to the scene to do much like what they did on the previous ones as they collected evidence and questioned the owner of the place, the bakery was huge and there were a lot of workers to be interviewed, however, this location had a crucial detail that distinguished it from the other eateries: There was no internal safe anywhere to be found. The manager kept most of his earnings safe in a local bank account so the sneaky robbers only made out with what was left in the cash register. The one thing that the polar proprietary was disheartened about was the destruction of a vintage chandelier that decorated the bakery, one of the thieves threw a chair at it and that had most of the officers, including Nick and Judy, perplexed.

Nick and Judy spent almost a whole hour in the scene and Judy was very happy to return to the inside of the cruiser and turn the heater all the way up, she was not accustomed and definitely not dressed for cold weather. She placed the box of evidence that was collected and organized safely on the back seat of the cruiser, entered the vehicle through the driver's side and rushed her arms over to the dashboard to turn on the heating. Judy remained relaxed over her seat as she breathed a little easier in the warm air, Nick entered the cruiser just a little after her as he slowly opened the door and took his place at the passenger seat and released a satisfied sigh as his back touched the repost right behind him.

Judy's right ear twitched as she heard Nick coming in and seating down and she also noticed how the fox's face became a sour frown as soon as he got comfy over his seat, she leaned her upper body forward to get a better look at him but she didn't have any time to get a read on his expression and deduce why he was like that. Nick turned his head to the left to shoot a look at Judy and tell her:

- I think you can turn the heater down a peg, carrots. We're going to both be cooked as soon as we leave the tundra behind.

Judy reached for the dashboard once more as she pressed a little button to turn the heater off and admit out loud as soon as the air could better circulate inside the cruiser's cabin:

- I'm really not used to the Tundra Town climate. I think I need to start bringing different additions to my uniform to better face each climate.

There was a small puff of warm mist leaving Judy's mouth as she spoke. Nick showed her a little smile and spoke up to that:

- No way. All you need to do is get used to it. I have been coming to the tundra for as long as I can recall, now the brisk wind doesn't even bother me that much.

Judy crossed her arms and passed the palms of her paws over her biceps as she did her best to keep up as warm as she could be, her face showed a frown as she answered to Nick's words:

- That's easy for you to say, slick. You got a natural warm coat of fur all over you. My fur is too thin and short to do the job.

Nick showed the palm of his left paw and said with a dismissive gesture that was slow but hard to pick on:

- This has nothing to do with long or short fur. This has to do with enduring the cold in your own way, keeping the heat inside of you with different methods.

Judy didn't change her look as she asked:

- Like what?

Nick searched in his mind for a satisfying answer but the truth is he didn't really have one. The fox just had been going back and forth through the tundra and the savanna that the difference in temperature simply didn't his system the same way it did with Judy. He leaned his head closer to the window and came up with an answer that sounded much more like a question:

- Hot chocolate?

Judy was not expecting to hear that but she smiled as she quickly picked up on the hint and figured that having something warm to drink would be nice at that moment. Judy turned on the cruiser's engine and the two officers headed off to the outskirts of the tundra, away from the strong gelid winds from the wall and near the commercial district.

Most of the mammals who lived in the tundra were well accustomed with the cold, most of them had long coats of white fur and plenty of them had to adapt to the snowy weather in their own ways. Many of the business locales from the Tundra Town commercial district mimicked the nature of the tundra itself, some of them would go as far as to actually have snow indoors as to show that mammals that were already used to living in the cold didn't have to worry with temperature differentiation. Nick had pointed to a small café where they could get the drinks and meals just the way they wanted, it wasn't time for their lunch break just yet but Judy thought it would be alright to make a quick stop before they headed back to their regular investigation schedule.

Judy grabbed her cup of hot chocolate and returned to the cruiser after placing the money to pay for the drink over the counter, the slim wolf on the other side of the counter thanked her for the patronage and turned over to Nick to take his order. Judy returned to the cruiser and sat herself down to enjoy the drink, the sweet and warm feeling of the chocolate passing through her gullet was very welcome, warming her body to the very core, she closed her eyes, showed a dreamy smile and released a little hum as her paws clasped the thick plastic frame of the cup and her head leaned back to reveal how relaxed and satisfied she truly was.

Judy waited for almost a full minute until she heard Nick approaching, the wind was picking up outside but she could still hear the fox's steps over the snow as he exited the café and opened the passenger door to take his seat. Judy looked at him and spoke to him right after he sat down:

- You sure took your sweet time in there.

Nick showed the inside of his cup with a thin mist of warmth radiating from it and answered:

- I wanted extra marshmallows on mine.

Nick and Judy continued to enjoy their drinks at their own pace but Nick finished his much sooner, he crushed the empty plastic cup in his paw and tossed it inside a waste disposal bin that was just outside. Nick returned to his frowning and contemplating expression as soon as the warm feeling of the beverage subsided, he placed his left paw over the lower part of his chest and that is when he decided to speak his mind:

- We can't keep going like this.

Judy was in the middle of the remaining swigs of her drink when she heard Nick's voice, her ears turned in his direction and her head tried to follow on the same motion but she almost spilled the hot drink on the process and opted for slowing down and actually finish taking the swig she had already slurped for herself before asking:

- What do you mean?

Nick pointed out the window on his side and answered:

- We need to catch these robbers, carrots. There has got to be a way we can put a stop to them. If we figure it out we can catch them in the act and make sure a lot of business owners can sleep better tonight.

Judy knew that Nick was right but jumping into a pursuit would not help anyone in that case, it suddenly felt like their roles had been reversed and Nick was the one searching for action while Judy was cautiously hanging back in the conversation. Judy opened her mouth to speak but a sudden alarm came out of nowhere and caused her to become quiet, the alarm wasn't loud or obnoxious, it was a melodious ring like the one from a cellphone except this one was coming from the car itself. Judy had her ears searching around until her eyes landed on an unfamiliar signal of alert that was being shown from the panel at the dashboard of the cruiser.

Nick was the first between the two to not show any worry or confusion about the sound, he extended his right arm forward and pressed a little icon that was displayed on the screen, in an instant the image of Doctor Pura appeared on the screen and her voice followed soon as she greeted the two officers:

- Hello? Judy? Nick? Are you two hearing me?

Judy remained stunned with that, she had no idea that the cruiser could receive calls. Nick was the one to remain calm and answer:

- We hear you, doc. What's up?

Judy pointed a finger to the screen and asked without letting the astonished expression fall off her face:

- Nick? How? I didn't even know that our cruiser could do this.

Nick grabbed his phone from his pocket and showed a toothy grin as he explained:

- Doctor Pura pointed out that there is this great software that we can download in our phones that connects them with the car systems, we can get updates on other cruisers and even have messages or calls routed right to the screen. It's pretty sweet.

Pura remained silent as she hear the conversation between the two officers and the presentation of credit for her during that explanation. Judy, understandably interested in that new feature, leaned closer to the screen and saw a small icon on the far corner that confirmed the established wireless connection with Nick's phone, she looked back at Nick and asked:

- That is amazing! How did it even occur to you to try this?

Nick pumped his chest up and answered:

- Well… I'm a clever fox, fluff. It pays for me to research new ways to make our work easier, after careful trials and a well-managed amount of time, I was able to provide flawless communication between us and the doc without a problem.

Judy looked over to Nick with a look of suspicion in her eyes, her ears were lowered and her mouth was locked as a small sulk as she waited to make sure that there was nothing more to Nick's description. Doctor Pura was also silent on the other side of the call line and the silence inside the cruiser only gave Nick the incentive to come out and speak up to the main point that lead to his electronic tinkering:

- And I also fished out the chapter on how to do that from the user's manual. There is also a lot of keen stuff this cruiser can do.

Judy lowered her head and smiled after hearing that last bit of information provided by Nick, she shook her head from side to side as she tried to hold back the laugh that was pushing its way out of her lips. Judy turned back to face Nick and joked around by saying:

- Not too bad for a fox who doesn't get along well with technology.

Nick showed a frown and pointed a finger to the air in front of him as he answered to that comment:

- I get along with technology just fine. I only have a problem with robots!

Doctor Pura was waiting and still listening to the talk as she waited for the sound of Judy's laughter to disappear entirely, which did not take very long, and check in to see if the officers were still interested on the piece of data she had discovered. Doctor Pura spoke up with a shy tone to her voice, not wanting to intrude if there was to be more conversation between Nick and Judy, she took in some air leaned closer to the phone as it showed that the call was still going and spoke up:

- Ahm… Judy? Are you…?

Judy shook her head in order to turn her mind back to the call and said:

- Yes, Doctor, we're still here. Proceed.

Pura left her phone over the desk and turned over to her computer screen as she continued to talk and checking the information that was left on the screen:

- I just called to check with you two about the latest target of the robbers. I crossed some references on the net to figure what the eateries that were targeted had in common. The results came back and this last one fits in perfectly with the others.

Nick gestured to the dashboard with his left paw, even if Pura was not there in person to witness the gesture, he slightly raised the volume of his voice and asked:

- Don't keep us in suspense, doc. What did you find?

Pura took in some air before speaking up without taking her eyes away from the screen:

- It turns out all three eateries were featured in a magazine article that was printed five years ago that depicted and reviewed some of the best spots in Zootopia to enjoy artisanal food. The bakery at Sahara Square, the restaurant at the South Savanna and the big joint at the Tundra east; all received a full five stars rating according to the article and registries show that all the places featured in the article became incredibly successful thanks in great part to the reviews.

Judy and Nick exchanged a look as the thought crossed both of their minds. Was it really possible that the thieves were utilizing a simple magazine article from half a decade ago to guide them in their stealing spree across the city?

Nick thought how such an itinerary would have been simple to follow if the thieves already had their targets set and lined up, but then he also thought how sloppy and uninspired those thieves would have to be to follow such a line of thought. Judy thought much of the same, she believed to be a crazy method to use such a powerful set of tools to get inside a location and only make it out of it with the stored away money while also leaving such a chaotic trail behind. Modes and forms were apparent but the reason and motives just didn't fit in that portrayal, there were still lingering questions. Judy turned on the cruiser engine and directed it on to the icy streets of the tundra, making a way back towards the savanna but Doctor Pura was not done with her report as she continued her explanation while the bunny continued to drive:

- I thought it was a little absurd how the eateries were hit and the only link between them was their appearance in the article, then again, I do not believe in coincidences. I notified chief Bogo about this and he recommended that the other two likely targets featured in the magazine be scouted out as to identify the one the thieves might hit next.

Nick leaned closer to the screen and asked for specifics as he spoke up:

- Give us the locations, doc. We'll get right on it.

There was a short pause as Pura looked to the computer screen and read the names and the addresses in front of her eyes out loud:

- The first one is located at the rainforest, Margrano Lane, a lovely café known as 'Tree Bop Hop', it has two big display windows by the front and a large outdoors area where mammals gather, there is also not a lot of parking space. The second one is named 'Proclaim's', Baobab Street in Savanna Central, there are quite a few lines in here about its choice in décor.

Nick took mental note of the two locations as he already knew exactly how to get there, he finished drawing the map in his head and sounded off an answer to Doctor Pura in confirmation that the information had come through:

- Copy that, doc. Hopps and I are going to check out the two places and we will be back with what we found on them both. Give us a holler if you find anything else out.

Pura enjoyed having that conversation and ended the call with a farewell that reverberated on her mind at the time:

- Roger that. Over and out.

Judy smiled at Pura's attempt to sound as a fully-fledged police officer talking on the radio with other officers, she turned her attention forward as she saw the turn exit that was going to lead them back to the wall and to the divide with the savanna. Nick leaned his body next to the window on his side of the cruiser, he was just about to ask Judy about their next course of action but she beat him to the punch as she released a sigh and said:

- It's a long drive to the rainforest. Are you up for it?

Nick turned his head to the left and met with Judy's face, still staring at the road ahead and having a confident smile on her lips. Nick shared of that smile as he said while pointing his left claw ahead:

- You know the way. Take us there, carrots.

It took them right past the time of their lunch break, but Nick and Judy reached the rainforest and made a sure line towards their destination, a big café down by the commercial area having the name Tree Bop Hop stamped in big cursive letters over the front door. Judy saw the eatery right outside her window and was surprise to get a look of the place, it was huge, just like Pura had described it before, it had a big outdoors area and two display windows that showed the massive interior which was already buzzing with activity at that hour, there was even music playing inside. Judy drove slowly past the front area but that quick look did not tell them everything that they needed to know about the possible target, they would have to get up close to study it better and that would pose a few risks of its own.

Judy racked her mind for a few minutes as she tried to think of a way to scout the café out without calling to much attention to her or Nick, some time had passed but she was still one of the most recognizable officers in Zootopia, she would have to think of a way to not stand out. Luckily for her, Nick already had a scheme going for that and it was a rather simple one to be executed right on the spot. Nick pointed a claw to a nearby alley where Judy could safely park the cruiser, the commercial area of the rainforest ground level had plenty of alleys that interconnected but that one was a dead end, Judy put the cruiser in reverse and parked it right in the alley in a way that would facilitate their exit later. As soon as the cruiser was parked, Nick opened the door on his side to exit and Judy followed his lead as she also opened her door and hopped to the ground to get close to Nick and discuss what they should do.

Nick walked away from the cruiser and through the alley, there was a faint smell of wet dirt in the air, he looked to the ground and took care to not put his feet on any puddles that were left on the ground, that was a big hamper when tracking through the rainforest and its lower levels, there was always water that accumulated after the regular morning sprinkling. Nick stood at the very entrance of the alleyway and leaned his body in order to catch a view of the café that they just passed by, the movement remained unchanged inside the establishment and there were fewer vehicles passing by the street, it looked like the perfect chance for Nick to get his plan in order. Judy walked next to Nick as he was checking the street out for movement and surveying the café from a distance, she was just about to ask him what did he think they should do but the fox turned around in the other direction and walked back towards the cruiser, Judy made a sudden change in direction as she followed Nick until they were both to the cruiser and she asked of him:

- I'm assuming you already have a plan.

Nick turned his head to look at Judy and shoot a little smile in her direction, the fox took a bit of air and sounded off his answer:

- That's correct, fluff. I can already tell we are going to need to tackle this problem from up close but we are going to need to do this without calling any major attention to us. There is the chance one of our supposed thieves can be in there right now scoping the place out.

Judy smiled and was amazed with the fact that Nick was in the same thought frequency that she was, she placed her paws together and leaned her upper body slightly forward as she said:

- You hit the nail on the head, slick. What's the plan?

Nick did not turn himself around to answer that right away, he was facing the cruiser as he opened the door and reached inside to look for something. Nick reached for the compartment right beneath his seat and opened the metal latch to reveal the contents he had been keeping hidden until that moment. Judy put herself at the tips of her feet as she tried to sneak a peek at what Nick was looking for, the fox turned around to show her what he was retrieving, he had a bundle of clothes in his paws all of them nicely folded into a shape that fit inside the compartment without an issue, there was a dark blue pair of shorts, a bright green shirt with a textile pattern different from the one Nick usually wore and a black tie with thin white diagonal stripes adorning its length. Judy was curious about the origin of the clothes and what Nick actually had in mind, she pointed to the bundle of wears in his paws and asked:

- What are those for?

Nick pointed to the cruiser with his right thumb over his shoulder and answered promptly:

- You said it so yourself when you showed me this thing that we could put in supplies for a variety of situations. I took the chance a few days ago and put in a new set of clothes along with a map of the city and a new pair of shades for myself.

Nick walked two steps ahead and continued looking at Judy as he kept explaining:

- Since I can't step inside looking like a cop without arousing suspicions, I'm going to change real quick and enter the café as a regular costumer. I'll take the chance to scope things out, maybe get a snack while I'm at it, and get back to report it to you

Judy evaluated the plan as Nick went through that simplified description, as she thought about it, Nick walked a couple more steps and left his folded up clothes on the hood of the cruiser just in time to hear Judy's opinion on it:

- It is a sound plan. I'm just a little worried I don't have a change of clothes of my own, I wish I could step in there with you.

Nick turned around and reached for the tie around his neck with both paws as he said:

- That's why you got to plan ahead, carrots, but we may call to a lot of eyes if we both step in and leave together. Also, there is no need to worry: I get in, I step out and we bolt with all the information we can gather. It'll be quick.

Judy considered Nick's words and figured that it would be alright, the fox was already taking off his tie completely as Judy turned her eyes back at him and spoke up while giving him a single positive nod with her head:

- Very well. In and out. We get the information and we move on.

Nick answered to her with a positive nod of his own but what came next really surprised Judy. Nick's paws were moving down on the shirt of his uniform, slowly unbuttoning the middle section and revealing his chest, Judy had her eyes open wide as Nick undid the last button and opened his shirt before folding it once and placing it over the hood of the cruiser separately from the other clothes. Judy spoke out as she called his name:

- NICK! What… ?!

Judy placed both her paws in front of her mouth after realizing how loud her voice was, she looked around to certify that she did not call any attention to them. Nick turned to face Judy and check on what was the problem, he was now completely shirtless in the middle of the alleyway and reaching for the new set of clothes as Judy leaned in closer and asked with a flustered whisper:

- What on goodness name are you doing?!

Nick pointed to himself and answered with a calm tone of voice:

- I'm changing clothes, fluff.

Judy gestured with both of her paws to the alley around them and asked with the same tone and volume as before:

- Right here?!

Nick smiled and moved his eyes around as he asked her with a bit of laughter on the back of his throat:

- Where else, fluff? Do you see a 'changing booth' anywhere around here that I can use?

Judy clasped her paws and stomped her right foot against the ground, her ears darted up as she admitted out loud with a bit more volume to her voice than before:

- You are such a clown.

Nick passed his left paw over his chest to adjust his fur and it traveled all the way to the side of his neck as he said playfully:

- A tiny bit of laughter can go a long way with me.

Judy crossed her arms and turned her head to the left as she did her absolute best to not look at Nick, the fox leaned a little closer and gestured to the street outside the alley and to himself as he explained:

- Look, this is no big deal. It's not the first time I've done it.

Judy turned her eyes in the direction of Nick's voice but her head remained turned away in the other direction. Nick shot a quick look to the back of the alley which ended on a massive brick wall, he gesture in the direction of the wall and spoke up even if Judy wasn't really paying attention at his motions:

- Just stay here and keep an eye out as I change.

Nick grabbed his clothes and began to move away from Judy so that he could change his wardrobe, Judy turned her body completely away from Nick and turned her attention at her newly determined task, watching the streets for any sign of movement or any other set of curious eyes that might come around. Nick was just about to reach a nice open spot where he could finish taking his uniform off but he decided to get one last bit of teasing out of the way as he stopped his walk, turned his body to the left, pointed a claw at Judy and said:

- Oh… and no peeking.

Judy's right ear turned to the side as she heard Nick's voice and he managed to infuriate her even further with those words. Judy raised her voice as she clamped her foot on to the ground once more which really didn't cause that much of an impact and spoke up:

- Just hurry it up already!

Nick let a little laugh escape his lips and he returned to his previous task. Judy did not know why Nick insisted on making her feel like that in those sort of situations, her partner was usually so well behaved but there were some occasions when the fox kept teasing her and she did not have a comeback ready for him. Judy crossed her arms and remained on guard at the entrance of the alley, she did not want to hear anything else coming from Nick but her acute hearing mixed with the acoustics of the alley allowed her to hear everything that Nick was doing as he changed clothes. Judy could hear his breath, a zipper opening, a belt buckle being undone and it all sounded as clear as if Nick was right next to her, she kept shaking away the idea or any related images that appeared suddenly in her mind and waited patiently until Nick gave her any sign that he was ready to go.

After a short delay, Judy could hear Nick's steps coming closer to her, the confirmation that he was prepared for the job came as his voice called out to her:

- Hey, Judy.

She turned around and found the image of the fox right next to her, he was passing the palms of his paws over his figure to sort out any wrinkles that might be visible on his outfit as he stopped walking once he was close enough to be seen by Judy, out of the damp darkness of the alley and into the light of the street. Nick opened his arms while his elbows remained close to his torso as he showed the entirety of his figure and asked bluntly:

- Be honest with me. How do I look?

Judy took silence for a short time, she moved her eyes over Nick as she scanned him and his clothes for any noticeable stains or any other detail that might compromise his identity. Judy moved her body until she was facing Nick completely, she swallowed some air and decided to simply say:

- You look nice. That tie really suits you.

Nick let loose a little laugh after hearing Judy being so earnest with her answer, he placed his left paw over his forehead as he reiterated his previous question:

- I thank you for the compliment, fluff, but that's not really what I was asking you. I meant to ask if I look like a cop to you.

Judy was a tad embarrassed after hearing that but she did not let it show, she really meant what she said before. Judy simply adjusted her stance by moving her feet to the left at a short angle away from Nick and gave him another answer that was very much in line with her own line of thought while comparing it to Nick's:

- Nick, I already know that you are a police officer and how you act during work hours. No matter what you are wearing at any time, you are always going to look like a ZPD officer to me. Maybe… you are asking that question to the wrong mammal.

Nick opened his mouth to release an answer but none came out, Judy had made a good point as she maintained her straight posture and made a simple gesture with her right paw in his direction. Nick placed his left paw under his jaw as if to look like he was deep in though but he aired his opinion after a couple of seconds of silence by looking right at Judy and saying:

- Good point.

Nick walked out of the alleyway and in the direction of the café, he passed through a small crowd of mammals and entered by the front door, Judy stayed in the alley and watched from a far as her partner began his simple but crucial scouting assignment. Judy walked back to the cruiser as she waited for Nick to return with any relevant information or, at the very least, taking time to send her a message via cellphone, she tapped over the wheel as the waiting was starting to get to her but she did not have to wait too long at all for Nick to return. After fifteen minutes or so, the fox walked back into the alley while carrying a few goods that he bought in the café as he posed as a modest costumer.

Nick stood outside the cruiser for a couple of seconds until Judy pressed a little button at the front panel to unlock the doors, Nick opened the door on his side of the cruiser and stepped inside, being very careful to not drop anything as he climbed aboard. After getting cozy on his seat, Nick checked over his cargo, grabbing cups and the contents of a small plastic bag to distribute their weight better over himself, Judy watched him as he got better organized over his seat and asked of him:

- So, what did you see?

Nick kept his eyes over the things he brought over as he asked:

- Not a bad place at all. The service was really efficient. I brought you some cookies.

Nick said so as he retrieved a medium sized plastic box and showed it to Judy, he opened the lid to show its contents, more than a dozen crunchy sugary treats that smelled delicious. Judy already knew that Nick understood the urgent meaning of her previous question but she decide to indulge herself and grab a few cookies for herself. Judy reached inside the box with her right paw and grabbed a single cookie, she proceeded to take it to her mouth and take a single bite out of it, the crunchy snack cracked between her teeth and Judy thought it was delightful and continued to eat bite after bite of the cookie until there was not even a crumb left in her paw. Nick closed the box and placed alongside him so that they could continue to it together at a later time. After putting the bo away, Nick took a breath and let out in response what he had discovered through the short time he was in the store:

- I was attended really fast so I had a short time to case the place. Here is what I found out…

Nick grabbed a cup that had a cold beverage inside, he wasn't in the mood for coffee so he just ordered some juice for himself, he stuck a straw at the top of the cup and listed his findings:

- There are at least three security cameras near the front counter, they are the modern kind of cameras that record movement from every angle and connect to a local server, they don't need a constant wireless connection to work through the day. In case of a black out or tempering with the wiring, the cameras have a battery life of their own so they continue to work.

Judy nodded and showed that she was following Nick's words to the letter, he continued to speak right after taking a single refreshing gulp from the juice in his paw:

- I also had to look really hard to identify the alarm that was placed by the windows. Both glasses are equipped with a L.T. Nasar lock. This type of alarm is connected to different kinds of circuitry separate from the actual main junction and it doesn't detect impact, instead it monitors in case anything passes through the window frame. If anyone uses the display window as an entry point the alarm goes off right away.

Judy only needed a few seconds to process all of that as she reached a conclusion:

- So, what you're saying is, if our thieves decide to hit this place…

Nick completed that thought with words of his own as he gestured with his right paw pointing all of his claws towards the café:

- They would call the attention of the local precinct and get arrested on the spot. This place is too risky of a target.

Judy placed her right paw over her mouth and tapped her fingers slightly over her upper lip, if the thieves were to succeed in their endeavors to rob the famous locales mentioned by Pura and still remain hidden from the eyes of the law, the rainforest was not a good target. Judy and Nick remained inside the cabin of the parked cruiser as they took a quick break to finish with the cookies and drinks that Nick had purchased for them, Judy turned the engine on and drove the cruiser back to the borders of the savanna as soon as they were finished and satisfied.

On their way to the savanna, Nick took the time to adjust his tie around his Neck and think about the way he should act once they arrived on their next scouting space, he felt kind of energized after taking notes on every security measure inside the café at the rainforest, he knew that it was all rather simple and it was just part of his job in a way but he felt really proud of himself. Nick could ever had imagined that he would be in charge of important tasks or that he would be involved in real time fights against bad elements, being an officer was a route that took him and his mind into very unexpected places, he tried to get a hold of that feeling even if he didn't quite understand what it was. Nick adjusted his shoulders and let it show a little smile as the warm air of the savanna entered the cruiser cabin, a thought popped into his head all of a sudden as he took a look at himself in the rear view mirror, his posture as he was sitting down as his style of dressing, it almost felt like he was hustling again.

Judy kept focused on driving forward, she took a sharp turn to the left as she recalled a better path that would take them faster to the northern savanna, her mind was very focused on the path that they had to take to their next destination but some of her thinking was turned to a little doubt that she had and forgot to ask about. Judy changed the gears so that they could cruise a little slower through the savanna, Nick could feel the change in velocity and turned his head to the left to look at Judy, he saw the bunny shooting a quick side glance at him and taking some air to call out his name:

- Nick.

The fox nudged his head in her direction and inquired:

- What's up, fluff?

Judy moved her paws over the steering wheel as there was another turn coming up just ahead, she took another bit of air through her nose and asked what she has been meaning to know:

- How did you identify the security measures of the café so fast? You were barely gone ten minutes and you came back to the cruiser with such a comprehensive and detailed report of all the things you found.

Nick pointed a claw from his left paw in Judy's direction as he slouched over his seat and said:

- And cookies. I also brought cookies.

Judy did not show a laugh to that but she did find it mildly humorous as demonstrated by her slick smile, Nick retracted his finger and took the time to answer Judy's question:

- I recalled some of the models for security systems shown back at the academy. Alfred was always researching things like that and he enjoyed showing it to us. He always thought that it would pay in spades to have the knowledge to identify and repair different security apparatus. Honestly, I think he just loved finding new ways to prove that he was the smartest mammal in the room.

Judy turned her head to the right so that she could face Nick, he was still in his relaxed position over the seat and she asked of him with a sweet tone of voice that was meant to communicate that she caught up on some of his feelings:

- You really miss your friends from the academy, don't you?

Nick leaned his head to the left as he initially shrugged off her question and answered soon after:

- Of course I do. We were an epic team. I do hope I get to see them again soon. Maybe hang out, talk about what we have been up to. You can join in if you want.

Judy turned her head quickly to Nick after hearing that, she was a little surprised but she turned to face the road once more and spoke up after driving forward until they arrived at the next traffic light:

- I don't know if it would be alright for me to join in with your friends. You have shared so many nice moments and I barely know them at all.

Nick made a dismissive gesture with his right paw that looked rather aggressive as he did it so fast it drew a fair bit of wind in Judy's direction and she could feel it brushing against some of her fur. Nick took in some air and said:

- That's silly. They would love to have you around to talk and hang out. After you came by to visit and we finished with the crucible it was hard to get a moment when they didn't ask about you. You're fundamentally a celebrity to them.

Judy raised her shoulders while her paws tightened their grip over the frame of the wheel, she wasn't mad, she was just a little out of sorts with being called a celebrity. Judy knew all too well that the things that she had done with Nick alongside her had been great and brushing those compliments away was her own way of staying humble and not letting such words getting to her head and making her unfocused on what really mattered. They continued on their path as the cruiser slowed down a bit more, they were getting closer to the next address, Nick pointed his right claw to the spot outside the window on his side and said:

- Park it right over here.

Judy looked his way and was already turning the wheel to park the cruiser, but she made sure to understand Nick' preferences as she asked:

- Why is that?

- I know this street, there is no alley anywhere near this place. You're gonna have to park it over here and wait for me.

Judy understood what that means and she would not be able to stay at a position that would allow her to keep an eye out for Nick like before but that would be no problem if Nick was just going to be in and out like before. Nick exited the cruiser and turned the corner to the right as he entered the street that housed the last eatery that he was sent to scout for the day, there weren't as many costumers as the one by the rainforest so it was nice and calm as he opened the door, walked in the direction of a free table, pulled a chair and sat himself down. Nick grabbed a menu with the dishes and drinks that were available for choosing, the fox had a relaxed posture as he sat on the chair and got used to the small height difference between him and the table but he was actually doing his best to keep a low profile and check the restaurant out while appearing as a mere costumer.

On the outside, Judy got tired of seating and waiting and decided to take step out of the cruiser and stretch her legs, she did not go far at all as she only wished to move around a little and ease up the felling of tedium that took hold of her. Judy walked a few steps along the sidewalk and took a mental note of all the buildings placed around her, it was always gratifying for her to see the structures and colors that spread throughout Zootopia, it was like Nick had said before about how some places on Zootopia, even the simplest ones, invite the wondering view of others. Judy smiled and felt compelled to take a quick picture as the shadows of other buildings by that street demonstrated a beautiful pattern that played with the brightest and darkest colors that were either hidden or on clear view of the sunlight, she looked at that image for quite a while and nearly left her unsure of the time that had passed. Judy returned to the cruiser just in time to see as Nick was turning the corner and coming back, he was carrying with him a small paper bag that fit in his left paw, he opened the door of the cruiser and hopped aboard, Judy did not even wait until he was comfortable over his seat before asking of him:

- So, what did you see?

Nick did not answer to her immediately, instead, he began by unpacking a nice looking sandwich from the paper bag that he brought along with him, it was plain for Judy to see that the meal was made with a vegetarian build in mind since there was no sight or smell of any kind of meat, it was very appealing to her. Nick extended his paw as he gave Judy the sandwich, the bunny took a quick whiff and later a big bite out of it, the meal was much more substantial than the cookies they had eaten before as she could not resist letting out a hum that showed how grateful she was for that, Nick went on to list what he had found out and, just as before, he started with a joke that made it sound like he was more focused in evaluating the restaurant itself and not the security measures. The fox took some air through his nose and spoke up:

- The service was slower over here, there weren't even that many costumers inside. This time I only asked for a little sandwich and a glass of water, also, I'm pretty sure the waitress was flirting with me.

Judy swallowed the bite she just had of the sandwich and asked with sardonic incredulity:

- Really, Nick?

The fox pretended like it was no big deal as he released his retort:

- I know. Curse these chiseled features of mine.

Judy lowered her ears and grunted in frustration, not even a delicious meal could help her swallow the fox's humor at that moment. Nick smiled after seeing her reaction but he turned to a more serious tone as he listed the main point of what he had seen:

- Serious now, I saw that the display window by the front uses a very similar model like the ones from the other stores, the only thing it detects is impact and the security camera is from a very old model.

Judy turned to Nick and dropped a line that let it sound like she was all in with apprehending the robbers, she took some quick air and let out in an impactful tone of voice:

- We have the target. We have to let the chief know.

Nick nodded his head and reached for his aviator glasses before letting himself relax over the seat and letting Judy finish her sandwich, once she was finished, she turned the engine on and directed the cruiser back towards the precinct one building. The drive back to the ZPD was mostly silence between Nick and Judy, as soon as they arrived, the bunny ran straight to chief Bogo's office to inform them of the two possible targets along with the most likely one to be hit next, while the fox took the time after their arrival to clean out all of the wrappings and plastic containers that were left inside the cruiser. Nick had great appreciation for the vehicle and made his mission to keep the main cabin free of any garbage or food scrapes that may have been left lying around.

Nick and Judy met a little later as she dashed right next to him to tell in a huff that they were assigned to stake out the restaurant by the savanna and make sure to catch the thieves in the act, the bunny dashed away to get every bit of equipment that they would need for their first stake out together as she was clearly excited for it. Nick showed a little excitement as well but Judy passed by in such a hurry after telling him about what chief Bogo said that he did not even have the time to tell her anything. Nick had to wait almost to the very end of the work shift to see Judy again as they were preparing to leave. Nick was already out of his cover-up clothes and back to his regular uniform and he saw Judy walking in his direction, calling out to him so that he would wait for a bit and they could leave the precinct together.

Nick was a little shocked to see Judy like she was, he could smell a little sweat coming from her which was, at least to him, unusual, the fur on her head was sticking out with irregular angles and her uniform was filled with wrinkles, clearly Judy had run around through the rest of the day and did not stop to rest after they came back, she slowed down once the work day was over and she walked back home to take a shower and sit down on her couch as her mind flooded with ideas about the stakeout and what could be a full on confrontation. Nick returned to his apartment and took a quick shower as well, he tried calling Finnick to tell him about what had happened that day but he did not answer his phone, the little fox was clearly busy with something else.

It was a satisfying day for the two officers, Judy could hardly wait for the determined day of the assignment but Nick was hesitating for a bit, he could hardly imagine that he would be taking on such a task so early in his police carrier, he decided to call his mother and tell her the news but, during the conversation, he downgraded the potential risks during the assignment to not make her worry too much about him, it was a nice gesture but Maria already knew that her son was capable and could take care of himself, not to mention he would be accompanied and assisted by Judy at all times.

Zootopia became calmer as the night drew near, the moon was shining and a few mammals took that time to admire the beautiful night, unfortunately, there were four mammals who wished nothing more than to cause mayhem. Inside a dirty basement, somewhere in Sahara Square there was a crew preparing ideas for the planned hit on their next target, they stood around a rectangular table that was almost entirely covered with notes, blueprints and various tools while also being illuminated by a single hanging lamp fixture. The four mammals appeared as four figures in the dark, four silhouettes with different sizes and features and each of them stepped forward to speak their minds.

The first to do so was a scrawny stag with tall antlers over his head that curved around until reaching pointy tips that stood perfectly symmetrical over his head, both pointed up, he had short brown fur and a long dark mane over his head, he was dressed in a flannel vest as outerwear with a white T-shirt and he had a serious look on his face as he placed both of his paws on the table, leaned his upper body forward and spoke up:

- The last hit was an utter disaster! How can we expect to get rich easy if there are nothing but dimes and pennies to steal?

Another figure revealed itself at the opposite end of the table, a tall opossum with an earring at his right ear and chewing on a toothpick, he had mostly gray fur covering his body except for a few dark patches over his backside that were mostly unseen thanks to his shirt covering most of it, he was dressed with a pair of short pants and a long sleeved black shirt, he was pointing at one of the papers over the table as he said:

- I kept telling you guys that this target was a sure fire bust, none of you listened to me. I kept telling that there was something fishy when there was no sign of a vault anywhere in the plans.

A new figure shown himself from the right side of the table a brown furred bull that had short horns over his head and was dressed with a striped shirt and wearing a silver chain around his thick neck, he gestured towards the opossum with his left paw and made a dismissive gesture as he said:

- You're our driver, nothing more. We are the one who worked overtime bypassing the locks and the security system. If you asked me: We should've grabbed a cleaner cut for ourselves a long time ago.

Finally, the last presence made himself heard as he stepped forward and bashed the table with both of his paws clenched as fists, he almost raised the opposite edge of the table and scattered all the papers but he made his opinion heard by everyone. He was a puma, a large feline with anger in his eyes, dark fur and his left ear was nearly gone as evident by a big bite mark, he was dressed in a black shirt that blended nearly perfectly with his fur and he also had a cheap wrist watch tied around his left wrist. The feline growled and spoke up:

- Forget about the money! We have ourselves a miracle solution that can turn glass into sand, rock into ice, mammals into statues. We should be using this stuff to break the shackles of society around all of Zootopia, not satisfying our cravings for petty crimes and cheap thrills.

The stag turned to the left to face the puma and he pointed at the feline's face, demanding that he would silence himself and think before speaking:

- Be quiet, Sal! We already had this discussion! If we want to do as we want we need the cash. We hit the places that we agreed on our itinerary and we bounce off leaving nothing behind that can connect these hits to us or our gracious employer. We have a finite batch of the freezing spray and we can't just waste it with your foolish dreams.

The puma showed his claws as they clenched over the table frame, he asked with incredulity for his comrade's words with a growl on the back of his throat:

- Foolish?!

He gestured to a little window at the far corner of the room that was left close and showed a few lights and shadows that passed from the cold street outside, the feline made his point heard once more as he said:

- Not too long ago, the mammals of Zootopia woke up to their true lives, fear, survival, boundless conquest over their limitations. They were presented with the chance to face off against terror itself and shed their inhibitions that kept them imprisoned to a life of leisure. They hid away and turned it down like cowardly buffoons.

The puma turned around and continued to speak with lots of emotion in his voice but all of the other mammals in the room were barely listening to him as they rolled their eyes and focused on anything else since they had heard that same speech out of him many times before:

- When the Night-howler serum was introduced, I had hoped to be picked to become unbound, free, instead they arrested the ones that made such a discovery possible and the media had the audacity to call the whole deal an 'outbreak'. Like it was some kind of disease!

The stag called order to that meeting once more, it was clear that he was the one with sense and the eyes on the bigger picture. He gestured with both of his arms as he made a big horizontal arch in the air almost like he was opening way through that discussion and spoke up:

- That's enough! Your little existential outrage has already cost us time and resources. We already allowed you to cut yourself loose and trash each one of the targets to increase the level of chaos and notoriety, but you cannot forget our true goal: We are trying to get rich and focus the attention of the ZPD on us and nothing else. We're just the distraction and if we play our cards right we will all be rewarded. Yourself included, Sal.

The Puma turned around with a calmer demeanor to his breath and posture, he approached the table and breathed deep as he turned to silence and allowed the meeting to continue. The bull raised his left paw and asked:

- So, what will be our next target then? I do hope is something big this time. Not like some of our no good try-outs.

The stag grabbed a new parchment that was to be paced on the table and answered with malevolent confidence:

- Trust me, it will be.

He placed the big paper over the table and unfurled it to reveal a blueprint that covered the ground floor of a commercial establishment, the stag already marked the main points that deserved their attention over the paper along with circuit placements along the walls and areas of risk dotted on the sides of the plan, there were arrows and circles marked around on the paths they were going to take and a small star stamped over the main focus of their caper. After making sure that the paper was well placed over the table and that every mammal next to him could see it, the stag took some air in his lungs and spoke up:

- We got the hot tip saying that the café by the rainforest got itself some upgrades in security since the last time it was inspected. It would appear like the owners got a little wiser for the possibility of a heist or a hold-up. If we go for it like we planned before the ZPD is going to be all over us and there would be no safe escape routes for us.

The puma called attention to himself once more as he said:

- Let them come to try and take us down. It would just help me get my words across even more easily. I might as well take a few of those insufferable sentinels down with me.

Those chosen words filled the opossum with concern, he pointed to a random direction with his left paw and said:

- Sal, we are not out on this to pick a fight with the ZPD. With all of the support they have been getting from the new mayor they could take us down without breaking a sweat.

- Enough!

The stag called the others to order once more, he placed his right hoof over his head and revealed an expression that made it appear as if the roundabout discussion with his colleagues was giving him an increasingly painful headache. The stag turned back to the papers and explained:

- As we discussed, we are going to take this place down by the day after tomorrow, it was confirmed that the employees keep the cash down there before transferring it all so that we won't blunder around searching for a safe that isn't there like last time. We play our cards right and there won't be any alarm or officer of the law to bring us down.

The stag placed his right hoof over the table and marked the area that would be their main target with a big red X using a red pen held by his right hoof. He looked over his accomplices and finished that meeting by saying:

- Get a good dose of sleep, fellas. Tomorrow we hit our last small time gig before hitting the big time.