Here is the 59th installment. Hope you enjoy.

Notes now live at the end of the chapter, so here is the obligatory, on with the show.

Sadly, I do not own and thus can claim no rights to Zootopia or its characters. They belong to Disney.

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Darr followed Judy across the courtyard to another door and observed as she gave it a sharp knock. A few moments later the door opened to reveal a young lamb who smiled at Judy. "Hello ma'am. How can I help you?"

Judy replied in kind. "Hello there. Is Sasha home?"

Turning, the lamb yelled back into the apartment. "Mom! Someone at the door for you."

Sasha's voice came from the kitchen. "Who it is, dear? And no need to yell." Walking around the corder. "Oh! Judy. Good morning, what can I do for you?"

Judy smiled brighter. "Sasha, actually I'm not here for me, but for Darr here. He's gotten himself and his mate into a bit of a tough spot and they need some after school kit care."

Sasha looked up at Darr. "Hello, Darr. How old are your pups?"

Darr bowed deeply. "They are ten and eleven, and are friends of several pups and kits that live here. I have disgraced myself, but the Firsts and Designate have given me a chance to redeem myself. That however requires that my mate and I work a new job that will be much longer hours than we were working before, and means we will no longer be able to pick them up from school. Neither of us have family in Zootopia, and due to this change, and my disgrace, our current pup care options have dropped us. If you, or whomever sees after pups of this age, could see your way to help, my mate and I would be eternally grateful and in your debt."

Sasha smiled at Judy. "So this is the wolf who was fool enough to challenge without knowing what he was getting himself into." Giving Darr and very disapproving glare. "You are right, you did a great disservice to your mate, your pups, and yourself. I do so hope you do not squander the opportunity you have been granted. Let me get my notebook and I'll take down your information, and the info on your pups. You will need to let the school know that a list of mammals already known to the school may be picking up your pups so that there is no issue. You can do that when you drop them off Monday morning."

Darr stayed bowed, though he couldn't stop his tail. "Thank you. What will we owe you and will that be monthly, weekly?"

Sasha flipped open her notebook. "For now, nothing. Your pups do not deserve punishment as they are innocent. We don't take payment, but we, as a group, as there are several parents that help keep track of the various pups and kits, accept donations. Anonymously. So if you feel the need, you can drop it in the labeled mail slot near the front with the appropriate label for your pups age range."

"Thank you."

After exchanging the needed information, Darr and Judy said goodby and headed back towards the apartment where they met Nick and Mike just stepping out. Judy grinning up at her mate. "Sasha has accepted to add Darr's pups to the ones they watch, so he just needs to stop by the office and speak to Jacob."

Nick grinned and leaned down to give Judy a kiss. "Perfect. Darr, do you need anything in your pack before we go?"

Darr shook his head. "No. I only brought it to bring the documents to you."

Nick grinned. "Great, lets see Jacob and then be on our way." Kissing Judy again. "Call me if anything comes up, or happens."

Giving Nick a swat on the ass and gentle yank of his tail, which earned Judy a playful glare. "Don't worry, Nick. I have the Nightwolves here. I am about as safe as I could be." Entering the apartment to her mates glare.

"Insufferable rabbit!" Nick turned to Darr and Mike, smiling as Garret and Gloria seemed to appear out of thin air. "You guys are good. Gloria, I'm guessing you and Levi and swapping for the moment so he can work with Nine?"

Gloria nodded. "Correct. We have our assignments, but nothing says we cannot switch when needed. So where to?"

Mike chuckled. "To the office, and then…" Looking to Nick, who was no longer there. "Nick?"

Laughing, Nick spoke from behind Garret and Gloria. "You are all good, I'm still better. Come on." Turning and walking towards the office as the others quickly moved to follow. Garret and Gloria exchanging a look. "Darr, have you turned in your access badge yet?"

"I have not. Didn't have it with me."

"Do you have it with you now?"

"I do. I was going to drop it off after you released me. They're working late tonight for a Disaster Recovery exercise. I was supposed to be leading it, but… I quit, so."

Nick grinned. "Perfect. That'll be our first stop. Test how well you think on your feet."

Darr shook his head. "Usually pretty well, but only when my head is clear. And it has not been all that clear of late."

Mike nodded, patting Darr on the shoulder. "Happens to the best of us. The key is that you picked up the opportunity laid in front of you. So what's the plan, Nick?"

Nick shrugged. "Still working on it, but I have the beginnings of a plan." Knocking on Jacob's office door before opening it. "Hey, Jacob. Got another possible tenant for you. Darr, this is Jacob, he owns and manages the building."

Darr stepped into the office, the door closing behind him as Nick turned to Mike. "So, going to have Darr introduce us to the wolves that talked him into challenging you. We're going to put them down, hard. Unworthy of our time, that sort of thing, and how Darr was basically a gift, given his skills."

Mike grinned wickedly. "Oh, I like it. They'll either let something slip, or at the very least, we will be able to track them to bigger fish."

Wiggling his eyebrows with a grin. "You got it. There is very little down side for us. Worst case, they really are little fish and we get nothing, but if any of them are bigger fish, we may just score some very useful intel."

Darr exited the office at that point. "He's doing a background check. It's a small, three bedroom, but it is actually a little less than we currently pay. It is going to be a pain to move, again, but it'll be worth it. This is a very nice place, very secure. Terry wasn't happy, but once she sees the place, I think that will change."

Mike smiled. "Well, then let's get going so we can cut you loose so you can start packing."

Nick turned towards the stairs to the garage. "Darr, do you drive?"

"I'm sorry, I do not have a car."

Nick shook his head. "Pay more attention Darr, this is part of the issue that got you here. Replay the question I asked."

Darr was quiet for a moment. "Apologies. I do have a license, but do not have a car."

"Are you a good driver?"

"I passed, and I have never gotten a ticket or had an accident, but the last car we had was a beater and it died about six months ago. Because rent has been so high, we haven't been able to afford a new one."

"I see. Mike, would we be able to check out a car from the estate?"

Mick nodded. "We sure can. And Darr would be able to use it, as long as he was always available to use it when we needed him."Mike took his phone out and placed a call as they all turned around and headed out the front entrance.

Nick's grin grew devious. "Looks like you just got yourself promoted to limo driver, Darr."

Shaking his head, Darr laughed. "When I tell my grandpups this story, they are not going to believe a word of it."

Nick laughed in reply. "Sure they will. You do have Muzzlebook and such, right?"

Darr nodded with a smile. "I do, not that I do much with it. I know not to get my news from there, at least not from other mammals posts. Not that it did me any good. I do have those others, quite a few actually as friends still. I haven't cleaned it out yet."

Nick grinned. "Excellent. Don't. First thing you should do is post about what happened and the opportunity you have been given. Then how you were treated this morning. After that, maybe mention that you now have a job as driver for Mike and I, as well as Judy and Lizz, when you are not at your new job. Although, any post you make about us, you do need to run by either myself or Judy first."

Darr nodded, pulling out his phone. "I will do that. If I may, perhaps I can do a wrap up."

Nick nodded with a wave of his paw. "Go for it. Just let me see it before you post it."

Reaching the sidewalk, Mike hung up. "Car will be here in five."

A few minutes later as Darr handed his phone to Nick, two cars pulled up and Mike's brother, Larry, got out of one of them, tossing Mike the keys. "You sure about this, bro?"

Mike nodded towards Nick. "I'm following the lead of my First."

Larry nodded. "I see. Okay. He seems to be on it so far."

Nick waved an ear at Larry in greeting as he read Darr's post. "Hey, Larry. How you doing."

"I'm good. What you up to?"

Nick nodded and handed the phone back to Darr. "Post away. Remind me to have you add Judy, Lizz, Mike, and I as friends later today. Lets let that post fester for a bit."

Darr tapped his phone a few times, then put it in his pocket. "I'll be driving and such, so no way I can follow up any time soon."

Nick grinned. "Exactly. That was well written, by the way. Exactly what we needed. Keep that up and you will be on a fast track to recovering your honor."

Darr smiled with a wag of his tail. "Thank you, First. I'm sure I will make some mistakes. I just hope they do not set me back too badly."

Nick grinned evilly. "Oh, don't you worry. I'm sure we can engineer some, quote-unquote, mistakes for you. Even work with some to our benefit. That said, don't go out of your way to get complacent. I am just saying that it would need to be something on par with what got you here that would really hurt you or put you at risk."

Darr nodded as he took the keys from Mike, Larry and the other car leaving. "Understood. So, to my former job?" Opening the back door for Nick and Mike.

Mike smiled and slipped across to the other side so Nick could get in. "Excellent. Let's get this show on the road." Turning to Nick and the door closed and Darr slipped into the drivers seat. "I wonder though, Nick. When are you going to back off on the whole, First, thing?"

Nick chuckled. "We're in the first few days of things, really. We need to get our pieces into place, like Darr. Remember. 3D chess, only we're playing on a board with an unknown number of opponents, and we ourselves are pieces on the board. There are initial moves that we need to make, and there are no turns. We are at war, Mike. We are starting at a disadvantage, and if we are to succeed, we need to make some bold moves and build up our forces. We need to build up our fortifications and armor, sharpen our blades and load our guns. There is a lot of work to be done, but we have some strong allies. We just have to use them wisely."

Mike nodded. "Okay. It just seems like you have put so much focus on this, and haven't had any time for you."

Nick smiled. "That's because that is all we have done, when we are together. I assure you, I have done other things. Oh, speaking of which. Darr, you wouldn't happen to be a gamer, would you?"

Darr laughed as he drove. "Oh, I wish. That requires money I do not have. My pups always come first, then my mate. So a Pawstation or the like, sadly no."

Nick nodded. "Fair enough. We'll have to find a version of you that is single to play that angle."

Mike looked to Nick. "What do you mean?"

Darr chuckled. "I suspect he is seeking to tap into a younger group of mammals, younger wolves who are not yet mated with pups like me. Mammals that can be turned into an army online via games such as A Call to Duty. I may not play, but I know about the games. I may actually know a few mammals that I went to school with."

Nick's tail thumped against the seat as he grinned. "Excellent! Let's give things a few days, but I will definitely want to meet with those mammals. How much farther, Darr?"

"A few minutes. Having a car takes so much time off the trip. Will have even more effect if I don't have to use the subway to get to the new job. That assumes of course that you are going to let me use the car outside when you need it."

Mike smiled and nodded. "Well, here is the thing. If we don't let you use it, then when we need you, you'd have to go all the way home, get the car, then come for us. That just would not do at all."

Darr nodded a smile on his muzzle and tail thumping audibly against the seat. "Thank you. I understand."

"We'll be getting you another phone as well. But that will be a few days from now. Something that isn't connected to you. Basically a burner."

"That makes sense. The longer I am around all of you, the more I realize how wrong I had gotten."

Mike smiled and shifted to enjoy the rest of the ride. "It happens, and at least you are not as bad a driver as this fool. I swear, he has been taking notes from the rabbit."

Nick laughed and shook his head. "Don't you start. It was not me that had a minor fender bender, with another cruiser, during a high-speed chase. Higgins still hasn't forgiven you."

With a huff, Mike looked out the window. "I still don't believe that was my fault. Higgins was out of position and I was going for a pit."

A few minutes of gentle ribbing later, they pulled into a parking lot. Darr glancing back as he put the car in park. "We're here. I figured we'd use the Pack reserved spot right up front. Make a real statement."

Nick laughed. "You have a good head there Darr, when you are thinking clearly. Let's go have some fun."

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Getting out of the car, the Nightwolves exiting their own car they had followed in, Nick and Mike followed Darr into the building. Walking up to security, Darr addressed the guard. "Hey, Felix. The boss in yet today?"

Felix looked up with a smile. "Hey, Darr. Good to see you. Yeah, they have been here for a few hours trying to get ready. From what I have overheard on my rounds, they are going to be so happy to see you."

Darr laughed. "They may be, but it won't last. Need visitor badges for Designate Mike Wolford, his First, Nick Wilde, and their Nightwolf guards."

Felix stood up and looked past Darr and gasped. After taking a moment to recover, the civet cat nodded. "Of course. One moment. I will just need ID's to put on file matched to the badge numbers. I assume you will be escorting them, Darr?"

Darr nodded. "I will be. Though I think you might need to come too, just for security appearances, of course."

Felix nodded. "Yeah. You're right."

A few minutes later, they all had visitor badges and Felix was escorting them to the elevators. Nick smiling at the cat. "So… Felix. You professional security, or just a job to get you through?"

Chuckling as he hit the button for the IT floor. "A bit from A, a bit from B. I'm going to school for business and security, physical with an IT side, since IT is where the DVR's, Cameras, etc… all come in. You need to understand that side of things at least a little bit. I'm wanting to start my own security firm some day."

Nick nodded. "I see. So working here is just a get you there and pad your resume sort of thing?"

"Pretty much. Though I would kill to get a position with Steegal Security. They're one of the best in the business, and actually employ a lot of smaller mammals."

"Have you ever actually applied?"

Felix shook his head. "Oh, no. I don't have my degrees yet, and only a few of the certifications I would need."

Nick nodded. "I see. You know that they have a work training program."

Felix nodded. "I know. I did apply for that but it was already full."

The elevator doors opened, ending the conversation as they stepped out onto the IT floor. Passing the security desk, that was unmammaled since it was not a weekday and only security, and the IT team was there for the DR exercise. Darr's existing badge opened the door and they were greeted by yelling.

"What the hell is wrong with you mammals? This is a simple switch over, how can you screw it up this badly? If Darr were here he would have it fixed inside a few moments."

Someone unseen replied. "I don't know. Why isn't he here, anyway?"

A different, female voice. "Probably got tired of listening to these morons not work and just complain about the Designate and his Tiger mate. Who cares who he took as mate, if they love each other. Besides, did you see the photos of the wedding? She's pregnant with his pups. Isn't that one of you idiots complaints? I have been telling you, these idiots don't actually know anything."

The second voice replying. "They're worse than that. They know just enough to pass a basic screening, but so could my ten year old, and I don't see you hiring them."

The original voice. "It isn't as if I was given the choice! They were hired and just showed up. MR did it. Didn't even ask for more mammals. You two and Darr were all we needed."

A new voice. "Hey! Don't talk like we are not here."

Darr stepped around a corner into view of the open room where the mammals in question were. The room was more of an alcove to the banks and banks of server racks, cables, and equipment that made up the rest of the room. The alcove room had three walls covered in large screen TV's displaying all manner of things that Darr clearly understood and the rest couldn't make heads or tails of.

Stepping forwards into the Alcove, Darr looked over one of the screens with a big cryptic error message being displayed. Looking to one of the mammals in the room, none of which had noticed him yet. "Jane, switch the display to the secondary source. That's why you are not getting data. You may have succeeded in the fail over, but you are still trying to pull data and monitoring against the main site, which is down for the purpose of the evolution."

Everyone turned to look at Darr, the first voice, attached to a maned wolf shouted happily. "Darr! Oh thank the gods. I don't care what I have to do, we need you back. Jane, do as he said."

The female civet cat was already at work. "On it already." The error on the screen clearing as the all watched. "Well, he's right and wrong. We switched over, but still have issues, but now I can work on them."

The second voice turned out to be attached to another wolf. "Darr, buddy. Thank gods you…" He froze up on seeing Mike, Nick, and the Nightwolves. "Oh shit." Standing from his chair into a bow. "Designate. First."

Darr pointed to the other three wolves in the room who sat on the opposite wall and while they had seen Mike, had not stood or said anything. "Those are three of the four. Where is Heth?"

The maned wolf spoke. "Didn't show, just as you didn't. What is going on, Darr?"

Taking his badge off, Darr offered it to the maned wolf. "Just came in to turn in my badge and point out the wolves that turned me into a very blunt, and very ineffective weapon against the Designate and his mate. I wasn't kidding when I said I have a new job that I could not refuse. That was true on many levels. I'm sorry I cannot stay, but you might want to get rid of those three and their ring leader. Their entire purpose was to turn me, and sadly, with all the extra work we have had over the past few months, all the extra hours, they succeeded."

Darr turned to the three wolves. "It nearly cost me everything. It did cost me pain, the anger of my mate, and the honor of my pups. You abused the situation. You abused the fact that you were here when you didn't need to be, that you were not up to the task of your supposed job, though you were to your real job. I consider myself lucky that the Designate and First saw my potential and gave me a chance. Bill, I am taking that chance. That means I do not work here anymore and cannot help you with this. If you want my final suggestions. Kick those three out, and lock all four of them out of the system. Give Jane, Dave, and Del a raise, make Jane the lead, and put Dave in charge of the network." Indicating the wolf that was sitting next to Jane and who had bowed to Mike. "Then hire two more techs so you have coverage.

Apply that on-call suggestion I proposed to you months ago, and you will be in a good spot." Offering his paw. "It was good working with you, Bill. Maybe we can get a drink some time." Turning to Jane and the other wolf. "Jane. Dave. You know your stuff. Don't let Bill bully you into things you know are wrong. He's a good manager, but his IT chops are a bit out of date. Dave, make sure you lock me out of the system once you roll back."

Darr then turned to face Nick and Mike. "First. Designate. These are my former co-workers. Jane Ghelt, Dave 'Nets' Nettleswitch, and my former boss, Bill Belliur." Turning around again. "Jane, Dave, Bill. This is the Wolford pack Designate, his First, and their guard. Who I now work for and…" Looking at the other three wolves who looked back with derision and defiance. "...who I support as Designate and eventual Alpha without reservation, now that I have had a chance to clear my head of the constant badgering from you three and Heth."

One of them stood. "Ha! Knew you were useless. Couldn't even take down the Designate in public. It would have been better if they had ejected you from the pack. It would have shown that they at least understood your lack of value to the pack."

Nick looked up from his phone. "Yeah. Valueless. An experienced, well educated IT professional with several very difficult to obtain certifications. A mammal who was being severely underpaid for the job he was doing, and job skills he brought to the table. A mammal you took advantage of, and may have drugged as well." Showing Mike something on his phone.

Mike blinked at the phone and then growled. "Not even going to ask when you had time to get such a sample taken or tested. Darr, do you take any sort of medication?"

Turning to Mike, Darr looked confused and concerned. "What? No. Why?"

"Because you have several drugs in your system that make you susceptible to suggestion. The amounts are lower now, but were pretty high when you confronted us." Mike turned to the Nightwolves. Gloria, rather glad you are with us. I assume you have your kit?" Seeing the nod. "Great, hit the break room and test the coffee, Darr's cup specifically. Darr, go with her and confirm the things you would normally interact with or drink."

Darr growled. "It'll be the tea, not the coffee." Walking over to what was his station, Darr put a combo into the locked drawer and opened it, handing a box of tea to Gloria. "I am a tea drinker. It isn't that I don't like coffee, just prefer tea, and this was given to me about a month ago by Heth, just as I started to actually buy into the crap they were spewing."

Nick nodded as Gloria took one of the tea bags out and put it into a unit she removed from her bag. "That would make sense, and answer a whole lot of questions, since you didn't seem the type to get pulled in like that."

Mike's frown grew deeper as he watched Gloria work. Turning, he pinned the three wolves with a death glare. "You realize what is going to happen if that test confirms the presence of drugs other than caffeine in his tea, right?"

They looked at each other, nodding. The one that had spoken before whimpering before he spoke. "We didn't know! Heth just brought us in to be sounding boards. I don't even care if you are with a tiger or not, as long as you have an heir."

Nick stepped in front of Mike, putting a paw on his chest. "Would it matter if that heir was half tiger?"

With a shake of his head, the wolf gave Nick a look of complete confusion. "That isn't possible."

With a knowing grin, Nick chuckled. "Oh, it is not just possible, but Lizz is in fact pregnant and should be giving birth soon, to Mike's pup's. Half tiger, half wolf, and completely healthy according to the doctor. That certainly qualifies as an heir, doesn't it?"

The wolf nodded vigorously. "It does, to me. Nowhere does it say that the heir has to be a full blooded wolf, just the pup of the Alpha at the time. Just like it doesn't have to be the first born, it just usually is."

Nodding, Nick smirked. "What about you two?"

Looking at each other and nodding, the one to Nick's left spoke. "Neither of us care, and feel the same as Kevin. We were being paid by Heth to be here and act the part." Turning to the other wolf. "Time to earn our paychecks here, Sam."

The other wolf, Sam, nodded. "Sounds good Jeg." With that, they both got to work and started spouting off technical stuff that Jane and Dave were quick to respond to and in a few moments, everything was working.

Jeg turned back to Mike and Nick. "Part of our job from Heth was to put stress on Darr by carefully making his job harder, but not obviously so. It is what we were paid to do. With Heth not here, and you telling us that he drugged Darr… Yeah, we did not sign up for that."

Nick smiled. "You willing to testify to that?"

Jeg, Sam, and Kevin nodded, Kevin replying. "I am, and I'm sure Jeg and Sam are as well. The drugging is way beyond the pale and not something I can accept." Noticing the badge that had appeared on Nick's belt, the ears of all three wolves folded flat to their heads and Kevin gave a slight whine. "Testify… One hundred percent. I can try and call Heth, see if I can get him to show up."

Nick nodded. "Do it." Turning to Bill. "Sorry to turn this into a police action, but I'm walking a fine line here between two duties."

Bill nodded. "I get it. This is very distressing."

Gloria spoke up. "Confirmed. There are several items in this tea that have high concentrations of the drugs in question. They would infuse any drink made with these tea bags."

Nick handed Mike an evidence bag. "Mike."

"On it." Mike quickly bagged up the tea and report from Gloria's test kit.

Kevin, on the phone. "Heth! Where the hell are you, wolf? … Darr is here and helping un-break the DR event. We need you here like yesterday. … Dude, I don't know what game you are playing, but he is here, so you need to be here if you want this whole, turning him against the Designate, thing to work. … Yeah, I heard he challenged. … … Yeah, he drank several cups so far. … Great, see you in ten, then." Kevin looked up at Nick. "You catch that?"

Nick nodded and pulled his phone out. "Dispatch, this is Sergeant Wilde. … Yes, I'm at Relktic Consulting, 18001 Omni Parkway, South Savannah. I need a cruiser for pickup of four wolves in about twenty, as I do not have a way to transport them myself. … Great, thanks Glenn." Looking to the three wolves who looked terrified. "Look, you were participants, willing and knowing or not. However, this is your opportunity to make way for yourselves. Keep playing the part until you get a room with the detective."

Mike nodded. "Ply for a deal and you will all probably get probation since you were not aware of the drugging part of things. You may even survive not being ejected from the pack. I doubt Heth is going to be so lucky."

Heth walked around a corner, gun in hand. "Oh, really? There will be no witnesses for that. Tragic fire, and all that. Too bad, so sad. The Designate was lost in the flames. His abomination progeny will be tossed to the street along with the Alphas who have allowed and accepted this farce."

Nick chuckled. "Oh, you just had to dig the hole deeper. You are a true believer. All the better, Heth Geldwolf. Drop the weapons and put your paws on your head. Co-operate, and I will only arrest you for the drugging and we will leave this little gun incident to the side."

"You won't be doing any such thing, pelt. You're going to die along with the rest, and I'm not worried about your Nightwolf, because she is on the far side of you and cannot get to me."

"Well, first, she is one of two Nightwolves we have with us, but I don't even need Garret to interfere, and really can't let him since this is a police matter."

Laughing, Heth shook his head lightly. "You really think I'd believe that?"

Garret speaking from behind Heth. "You really should believe him."

Heth growled. "So what. You still can't get to me before I put a round through the Designates heart."

Garret grinned behind Heth. "Well, again it is a police matter and I won't interfere. Besides, I know things about that fox you don't."

Heth glanced behind him and Nick moved. With a spinning kick and a crunch of bone the gun in Heth's paw fell to the ground as he clutched his now smashed paw with a howl of pain. Nick moved in, driving an elbow into his solar plexus and driving the air from his lungs, causing Heth to drop to his knees, eye to eye with Nick. "Should have done as we told you, Heth."

A puff was heard and Heth looked down to see a tranq dart sticking out of his chest. "How?" He gasped out before falling forward, unconscious.

Garret looked down at the now unconscious wolf and chuckled. "Well, that was something. Now what?"

Mike smiled and cuffed Heth. "Now, you will give a statement to the officers when the on duty officers show up, as will I. Nick just added to his own paperwork load, since he discharged his weapon." Looking up to Bill. "Please tell me you have cameras in here?"

Bill nodded. "We do." Sitting down he pulled up the camera system and loaded a copy onto a flash drive, which then got dropped into another evidence bag. "This was crazy. Darr, you sure I can't convince you to stay?"

Shaking his head, Darr smiled. "Sorry Bill, but no. I have to take this new job. It's part of my punishment for what I did, not that I consider it all that much of a punishment and more of an opportunity to make right what I did wrong."

Bill frowned sadly. "Okay. Well, I guess we will have to have Felix escort you out once this is all closed up."

Darr shrugged. "Yeah, that's why I asked him to come with us."

Felix grumbled. "Good grief. I know why the cops got weapons in, but how did he do it?"

Darr smiled at Felix. "I'm sure he had support from elsewhere in the company. That's the only way he could get hired to begin with his lack of skills. Kevin, Jeg, and Sam had skills, because I verified their certifications, which also drove me nuts because their work did not match their skills. However, Heth's certifications were fakes, good fakes, but fakes. Didn't do me any good since I was apparently being drugged."

Felix frowned. "That sucks."

Darr nodded. "It does, and yet…" Glancing at Nick and Mike who were speaking with the officers that had just shown up, escorted up by one of the other security officers. "It has given me an opportunity I would not have otherwise had. They have given me a chance, and I'm going to take it for everything I can."

Jeg, Sam, and Kevin went quietly, ears folded back against their heads and tails tucked between their legs. Once the would be criminals were out of the building, Darr said his final goodbye's and they left.

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A/N

Remember to share the love. Review and Fav. It is the life blood of every writer to know you are enjoying their work. I also want to thank everyone who has Fav'd, followed, and reviewed this little project. I know that isn't much, but to me, it's huge. Even as a writer of original fiction, that you enjoy this means a lot to me as an author. You can check out my original work and link to my Blog, Scribblings, where a lot of it lives by hopping over to dcballard . com ( Direct: ascensionnovel . / scribblings (remove the spaces) because the forwarding is misbehaving.)

If you enjoy this, and you are not also reading my original Log Entries series over on my Blog. Why aren't you? (takes a Nick-esk pose of hurt) Also. I am now posting them on AO3, so you have even less excuse. It's free, ORIGINAL fiction. "An original story told through the log entries of the pilot and captain of an experimental star ship."

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