A/N
Hello everyone. This is proving to be quite popular, much to my pleasure as the author. I love hearing how much y'all enjoy this dalliance of my muse.
Of course, I do not own Zootopia, and can therefore make no claims to Zootopia or its characters. I only make claim to my own OC's included herein as needed. Though I think I could do more with it than Disney is at the moment. So many awesome ideas that they could use, and they're sitting on their asses.
Sorry about the late update, life, kid in school (what moron thought 7am was a good time to start school?), Day-job being completely psycho, etc… has seriously reduced my writing time. I am still working on this and my other story, A Friendly Hustle, but I am just not able to get things out as fast as I was before.
I blame Bear678 for this.
Anyway, on with the show.
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Wilde Cardz - Savage Territory - Chapter 10
Later that evening, Nick sat with Delgato and Mike on the top of the building they had raided and removed Herald and his mammals from. Looking out across the park and to the satellite precinct building on the far side, Nick scanned the area. "There sure are alot of savages in that park. It looks like the park has a small herd of savage prey, and one or two predators. There is even some young. Gods, I hope they were born savage."
Delgato nodded. "We've been observing them. As far as we can tell, they are. Maybe if you find information on the virus like you are hoping, you can make it so they aren't. That would surely help out a lot of species."
Nick nodded. "We have captured a few and the scientists we have are trying to see what they can figure out. See if maybe they could be used as genetic stock, but only if their offspring are not savage. More info on the virus will help them with that."
Mike nodded. "I agree with what you are seeing, Nick. As for the precinct, it looks intact. We should be able to just drive around the park and do our thing. As for the savages. The only worry I have is if they can be used as breeding stock, that a stigma not be attached to those born, either fathered by or birthed by a savage."
Delgato nodded. "I agree completely. This settlement has had enough issues with stigmas over things a mammal has no control over. Best we dodge that issue for now. Your settlement is far better placed to work through such things before it comes here."
Nick sighed. "Even we will have our issues, but you are right. Until we get more data on the virus that did all this, all of that is really speculation at best." Indicating the savages in the park. "As well as even testing it. Testing a savage female will be easy enough. Collect a sample and do artificial insemination. It will have to be a strong willed female to willingly carry the offspring of a savage with the risk that the result will be just another savage mammal that will probably be put down."
Delgato nodded. "Yeah, all of that. Okay, so what is the plan? You going to make the little outing tomorrow?"
Nick nodded. "Yes. We will do it in the morning, and should be back by late afternoon. You guys are providing a large trailer for us. We'll load up as much gear and anything else worthwhile that we can. Depending on what is left, we'll do a second run the following day. Once we've cleaned it out for you, we'll head out ourselves."
Delgato smiled. "Okay. That sounds good. You sure you don't want our people to come with?"
Nick shrugged. "That's on you. First, you know that I'm rather hard to hurt, as are Mike and Lizz. Anyone you send is at risk, and takes up space we could use for more stuff. Unless you have a working vehicle that can make the trip?"
With a smile, Delgato shrugged. "We do have one cruiser, and it has enough fuel to make it there and back. Heck, while there, we could probably fill up, along with yourselves."
Nick nodded. "Then I leave it to you if you want to send your crew as well. It will reduce the chance of needing a second trip, but they need to know that this is going to be risky, and I'm not a fan of lethals against savages, in the wild." Indicating the park again. "Unless it has to be done."
Delgato nodded with a sigh. "I get it Nick. I'll make sure it is clear, and there are probably a few of the empowered that we are now embracing who might seek to go and contribute that way."
"Sounds good. Let's go join the party."
The party in question was what the residents of the Otterdamn settlement called a celebration of survival. The purpose was to remind them that they were still alive, that there were still reasons to live, etc... Along with welcoming the empowered into their ranks. Most residents it seemed didn't really care, but were just going along with what the council had decreed. Once the law changed, nearly everyone happily welcomed the empowered properly into the settlement society.
There were still some clearly uncomfortable, but even they were willing to, for the most part, and without the influence of Herald; to give the empowered a chance to prove themselves. Nick left the others partying, Lizz and Mike catching up with their fellows, and retired. From the roof of the building, he sat his watch to see if he could again get a hint of Judy again.
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2 Years, 6 Months earlier
Nick keyed the radio. "Base, this is Z290, over?" The radio just replied with static. "Dispatch, do you read? Over? Benjamin?" More static.
Judy shook her head. "This is part of the problem, Nick. Those idiots took out a bunch of the repeaters. Our radios are good, but without those repeaters, we just can't get through in some places. Too many buildings, and other stuff in the way."
Nick grumbled and hung up the mic. "So where is this one?"
Judy pointed ahead of them where a cell tower stood smoking. "That was it. It was piggy-backing on that cell tower. That's why our cell reception is also gone here."
Nick felt a shiver up his spine and groaned, sliding down in his seat slightly. "So… We're expecting an ambush then."
Judy nodded. "Yeah, I feel it too. Mark this one as needed to be replaced, and flag the timestamp in the log so they can reference the cruiser's camera. As for an ambush, any second now."
Nick sighed. "Ready." He then unlocked the shotgun and opened the access to his spare lethal hidden in the door, Judy doing the same.
A few moments later they came to a stop just past an ally after turning past the burning cell tower. The road was suddenly blocked by four cars, two more pulling across the street from the ally, boxing them in. Both mammals in the cruiser growled in frustration.
Looking behind them, Judy shook her head. "They used large mammal vehicles. No way I can get up enough momentum to push past them in reverse."
Nick nodded. "And same with the way they have us boxed in with four medium mammal cars in front. So, I guess we wait. I'd launch the drone, but they'd just shoot it down. Call it, Carrots."
"We sit tight, let them expend some ammo, unless we see something dangerous. They'll either be hoping to smoke us out, or they'll…" She didn't bother to finish as the first rounds from several automatic weapons lit up the cruiser.
Seeing the armor glass spider webbing, they both knew it wouldn't last long against what was being fired at them. They both slipped under the front seats and through the trap door into the back seat, they collected additional weapons and armor from under the front seats. Nick chuckled as he helped Judy secure the straps of her body armor. "So, it's going to be like this. You ready to go BA on these idiots?"
Judy gave him a wicked grin. "Only if you are ready to go VV on them."
"I'm very ready." Reaching over to a hidden latch on his side as Judy did on her side. The latch gave an audible click and the back seat rose up creating a safe room of sorts for them inside the cruiser just as the glass finally gave way. "I'm also very glad we had the cruiser modified. Bogo's going to lose it when he realizes how much we have off-the-books modified it."
"Yeah, and then he'll demand the designs so it can be integrated into other cruisers. At least some of it."
Nodding, Nick entered his half of the twelve digit combo into the lock that was revealed in the rear wall. That lock, once disengaged, allowed a panel to open and them to access their SWAT and TUSK weapons and body armor that was stored in the trunk lock-box. The bottom of the lock-box also had a panel that when opened, allowed them to drop down to the ground underneath the cruiser, just over the rear axle. Plenty of room for the two smaller mammals to make their way to the ground.
The cruiser suddenly rocked as several explosions went off in the front seat, both of them shaking their heads, thankful they had already put in their earplugs.
J: Good gods. We really pissed them off. Grenades seem a bit excessive.
N: Well, we did kill Doug and Woolter, and now Dawn is cripled.
J: Not our fault. If they hadn't tried to break her out. If they hadn't been driving like complete lunatics, they wouldn't have gone off that bridge. We did try.
N: We did, but you really expect these nutters to understand or accept that? This is the very reason they went after the repeaters. We can't call for backup. Also... no one knew what the routes were going to be until this morning…
J: Yeah, I know. Figured that out quickly when Bogo started doing that. It means there are still some of these jerks in the ZPD and he's trying to figure out who they are.
N: Yep. Our backup isn't scheduled to come looking for us for at least thirty, so… You ready to do this?
J: I am. Lets kick some ass.
N: Absolutely, but one thing first.
Nick reached over and pulled Judy into a deep, passionate kiss.
N: I love you, Judy. No matter what happens, never forget that for a moment.
J: I love you too, Nick. Never forget that either. Now let's kick ass.
With that, the two small mammals dropped through the panel to the rear axle of their cruiser which had a flat rail mounted above it to give them a stable place to land. They stood there a moment, taking stock of the fact that there were at least a dozen mammals standing around the cruiser firing into the sides and through the windows.
N: WOW! Really with these guys?
J: I know, right. I say we tranq these guys and then make for the alley the large mammal cars came out of.
N: Sounds good. By the time these guys drop and figure out what is going on, and with the way they're chewing up the cruiser and tossing grenades like apples at a festival, their friends will probably RPG the cruiser, and we don't want to be around for that. Already tossing…
Another explosion rocked the cruiser and they could feel the heat of it though the hatch which Nick quickly closed.
N: Grenades… That was the sixth or seventh. Very glad we didn't try and wait them out in the safe-box.
J: No kidding. Okay, I'm ready.
N: Same.
Dropping to the street, they commenced firing into the mammals surrounding the cruiser, using up all of their tranq's. Several taking tranq's to the face as they crouched down when yet another grenade was tossed into the cruiser.
14 mammals later, six sheep, three goats, two horses, and three deer, Nick and Judy were running across the street to the alley. At the entrance to the alley they both peaked around the corner to see multiple mammals staging there, as well as behind the cars. A shout rang out from above them as they considered their next move, essentially making the decision for them.
"Something happened! Everyone around the car just dropped!"
A voice from around the corner. "Hit it with the RPG then. Before they can get out of the car."
Looking up, Nick saw the mammal, a pig, lean over with the RPG on his shoulder. As the mammal fired, Nick also fired upwards with his rifle, the mammal fell backwards onto the roof, a hole where the top of their skull was. With that, there were several shouts from above as other mammals stuck their heads over the side of the building, and met the same fate. While Nick focused on that, Judy leaned out and opened up full-auto into the crowd in the alley dropping multiple mammals, others diving for cover behind dumpsters and such.
J: We need better cover.
N: Don't I know it, but at this point we don't have much choice. What's the alley look like?
J: I dropped five, at least six more…
Judy popped around the corner and fired several bursts.
J: Make that four more. Also, they're moving into the large mammal vehicle closest from the other side.
N: Grenade?
J: Grenade…
Nick spun and put three rounds into the side and rear windows. Judy followed that up with one of her grenades claimed from the lock box before they left the cruiser. Several screams of panic graced the appearance of the grenade into the vehicle just prior to the explosion and fire as the vehicle started to burn.
N: Well, that should provide some better cover.
J: Agreed. There is a dumpster four feet into the alley on our side. You cover and I'll make for that. That way I can cover the other side of the cars if they try to get around the burning one.
N: Got it. … Wait…
Nick dropped his rifle, catching a grenade dropped from above and continuing the spin, flung it into the ally. A second later it exploded.
N: I hate to say it, but we may have to split up. They're all over the damn place.
J: I want to disagree with you, but I think you're right.
N: I'm the better climber, so I'll go for the roof. Cover me?
J: As best I can.
N: Love you. Let's do this.
Quickly checking the alley and confirming that there were no more mammals there that could pose a risk, they slipped around the corner Judy covering the opposite side of the now burning large mammal car, while Nick covered the roof lines and alley itself. Quickly shifting across the alley, Judy fired off several rounds past the burning car then moved to the mouth of the alley on that side peering out to see what there was to see.
J: Okay, we're clear on this side for now. Make your climb.
N: Moving on up!
J: Nerd!
N: Yeah, but I'm your nerd.
J: Shut up and climb. My nerd.
Nick was up the side of the building a few moments later, peaking over the side to see four more mammals, one of which saw him and raised their weapon. Nick however had his side-arm out and put a round through their left eye, then pulled himself over and behind an AC unit on the roof before the others could react.
Hearing the report from Judy's rifle down below, Nick groaned as rounds struck the wall behind and to either side of his cover.
N: Well, I've got a few friends up here. How are you doing?
J: Same. A few friends to play with down here.
Nick heard the other mammals on the roof moving around and decided to do his due diligence. No point in giving IA something to complain about. "This is the ZPD. Put down your weapons and surrender. I am out of tranq's and have only my lethal and will not hesitate to use it."
One of the mammals yells back at Nick. "Rut you Pelt! You and your rabbit are going down today. We will mount your pelts as a testament to our cause and its righteousness."
Nick shook his head. He'd done his required duty with the warning, not that the bullets hitting the wall didn't also give him his answer. Listening, he could hear one of them moving around towards him. Popping up he put two rounds into the bull elk's head, causing him to drop. One of the others screamer in rage and charged, lighting up the wall to Nick's left and the AC unit he was behind. The others yelling for the mammal, apparently named Janice, to stop.
Nick popped around the opposite side and dropped the other two mammals, then slid along that side to see an elk cow was the one charging. She didn't see him and continued to empty her weapon, reloading and firing, and just chewing up the wall and side of the AC unit on that side.
She popped around the back where he was a few moments prior, screaming in rage. "Die, rutting fox!" Spraying the area where he had been, she stopped firing to see his corpse. She spun around just in time to see Nick leap off the top of the AC unit and plant both feet into her jaw. She stumbled backwards, the back of her legs hitting the side of the building. She started to tip backwards over the side but tried to still train her weapon on him, firing as Nick rolled away. The recoil from her weapons pushing her the rest of the way over the side of the building.
N: Incoming… Elk.
J: What? … OH SHIT!
N: You clear? Did it to herself.
J: Yeah, I was clear, three other mammals… Not so much.
N: All I did was give her a push on the jaw, with both feet. Recoil is a real thing. Tried to shoot me and finished herself off. Though I guess she was beyond reason. Think I killed her mate.
J: Yeah, that'd set me off too. Though I would like to think I'd be a bit more dangerous.
N: No one more dangerous than you, Fluff. I'm going to check the perimeter of this building and see what I can see. Maybe pick off a few more.
J: Roger. I hear mammals inside the building from down here, so I am really hoping they're more of these assholes and not bystanders.
N: Shoot carefully.
J: You too.
Nick swept the roof, finding one of the mammals still alive, but barely. He collected their weapon which was of a size he could use, along with their ammo and an extra grenade. Then did as he told Judy, surveying the nearby buildings and streets he could see from the roof. From the roof he picked off the two mammals on the opposite roof.
N: Other roof's in the area are clear as far as I can tell. Was two of them on the roof across the street. Was, being the operative. There is a large group behind the four cars, and I just scored a special present for them from my friends up here.
J: Make sure you send it with love.
N: Always. Was just drawing a heart on it with a sharpie I found on one of the mammals up here.
J: Dork. As for inside the building. From what I can tell, they're all targets. Still gotta be careful in case they have hostages.
N: Roger. Sending our care package. … Oh, look. The RPG has an extra round. Let me load that up first.
J: Nice. Put a bow on it.
N: Will do.
After loading the RPG and propping it up next to himself, Nick pulls the pin on the grenade he found, and giving it a long overhead throw, dropped it right in the middle of the mammals congregated behind the four medium mammal cars. He then hefted the RPG and lined up a shot on the nearest of the cars, firing just as the grenade went off.
It took them a long few seconds to realize what just happened, mainly because Nick had hit a large ram on the head with the grenade. He turned on one of the other mammals and shoved them and a short lived scuffle started, ended suddenly by the grenade just as one of the others screamed. Nick couldn't see through the fire and smoke, but the likelihood of any survivors was low.
Making his way to the roof access door, Nick listened and didn't hear anyone on the other side. Opening the door, a roe deer thrust a pistol at Nick. Just barely blocking it as it went off, Nick found himself rocked back with searing pain on his face and right ear. He did however knock the gun free from the grip of the deer. Both mammals got over their shock, the deer throwing a punch as he pulled a knife.
Blocking the punch, Nick stepped into the attack, capturing the deer's knife wielding hoof, Nick then spun under, driving the knife still held by the deer into his own chest. The deer looked at Nick with surprise and hate in his eyes before falling.
Moving into the building, Nick kept his rifle up and ears perked, very thankful for the smart earplugs that he and Judy were both wearing. They were set up to actually enhance their normal hearing, while suppressing the extremely loud sounds of gun fire, grenades, and explosions in general. It was smart to still drop ones ears, or even cover them if you knew it was coming, but like with the gunshot that still burned his muzzle, it kept him from being deaf. He knew he had at least a hole in his ear. He could feel the burning, smell the blood, and feel the wetness.
Moving down the stairs he listened at the door before opening it and sweeping the hallway before moving onto the floor.
N: I'm on the top floor, how are you doing down there?
J: Pissed. I've breached but some goat tried to goar me with his horn and tore my uniform.
N: Got a hole in my right ear.
J: You okay? (The worry clear in her tone)
N: Yeah. It's already stopped bleeding, but I think I have a flash burn on my muzzle too.
J: Well, I hear that the girls like scars.
N: That's what they say. I'm just not sure if the girl I'm interested in likes them.
J: Just try not to get shot anymore.
N: Wasn't trying to. Just as I'm sure you were not looking to get almost gored by a goat.
J: Fair.
Clearing the rooms on that level, and finding no one, Nick made his way down to the next floor where he found and put down three rams. The fourth he shot in the leg and then trussed up with a grenade in his mouth.
Patting the ram on the side of his muzzle, Nick chuckled. "Don't go anywhere there Woolter. I was sure you died in that accident. We did find Doug's body, but never did find yours. Assumed you were dead. Kinda glad you ain't. Stay put will ya?" The look of terror and hate on the ram's face made Nick laugh. "Ah, don't be like that, buddy. You are back from the dead and get to actually serve your time." Nick left Woolter to fume and made his way towards the next floor.
N: Where you at, my lovely bunny?
J: Heading up to the second floor. That you coming down?"
N: Yep. Left an old friend tied up with a grenade in his mouth.
J: An old friend?
N: Yep. Seems that our buddy, Woolter, survived after all. He was not happy to see me. So rude.
J: I can't imagine why.
Meeting up outside the door, Nick pushed it open slowly, Judy covering the opening crack as he opened the door. Her rifle reported several times as the door swung open suddenly, pulled open from the other side. Nick felt the hit, but felt no pain as he lit up the large office space beyond the door, taking down several mammals as Judy's rifle continued to report by his side.
The large deer buck that had yanked the door open was the first to go as both Judy and Nick put several rounds into him, though not before he got off one shot. Moving through the room and clearing it. The entire floor an open office space. Once cleared, they turned their attention to each other.
Nick looked Judy over and almost tripped over himself as he rushed to her side. "Judy, your leg!"
Judy gave a pained chuckle. "Yeah, and your shoulder..."
Nick quickly pulled his first aid kit from his belt, ignoring the pain of his own shoulder. "Yeah, and you're more important." Quickly adding a pressure bandage to the bullet wound on her left leg. "You're not bleeding badly, and it seems to be through and through. Crazy how it went through our armor cloth uniforms like that."
Nodding, Judy was giving Nick's shoulder the same treatment. "Must be using armor piercing rounds. Only explanation on how they got through the glass of the cruiser so fast."
Nick winced as Judy applied a pressure bandage to his shoulder. "Yeah. That makes sense. We'll have to be extra careful."
"Agreed. Now we have this building clear. What next?"
"The building is clear from the nearby buildings. The alley is a dead end, but the dead end is just a retaining wall to create a facade on the facing street. Unless a mammal your size is going to tight-rope that wall, we're safe that way. The wall opposite the alley is another street and clearly where they hid the four cars before blocking us in. The real question is. Do we hunker down here, or go on the hunt?"
Judy grinned. "You already know my vote."
Shaking his head, Nick sighed. "Yeah. A hunting we shall go. Let's put those ears to work and see if we can figure out where the rest of these mammals are. I'm sure we have not gotten all of them."
"Agreed."
They quickly made their way down to the lobby of the building, finding seven mammals lighting up the stairwell as they opened the door. Nick rolled a second grenade he had freed from a mammal on the other floors out into the lobby. There was a screamed, panicked yell of "Grenade!" Though that yell only preceded the explosion by about a second. After it detonated, Nick and Judy charged in and finished off any survivors. Then needing to take cover as more mammals sought to breach the lobby.
J: Well, we found more of them.
N: Or they found us. Either way. We're in a bad spot.
J: Crap, one of them just pulled the pin on a grenade!
N: Direction?
Judy pointed as Nick unstrapped his rifle, grasping it by the barrel. Judy laid down some cover fire as Nick jumped up on the counter they were hiding behind. The grenade came sailing in, and with a home run swing, Nick knocked it back out the window, diving back behind the counter as it exploded and opened a very large whole in the wall. Debris spraying over their heads. The pair quickly pressed the moment and put themselves against the front wall, Nick picking a grenade off one of the bodies he had to jump over.
N: Gods. I get the impression they have someone in the military who sympathizes. The hardware they're using is almost all military grade.
J: I tend to agree. We've suspected it for a while now. Hopefully Woolter will be able to tell us something.
N: That is if we can get him to talk.
J: I will. Given what he has done, and adding this. I suspect they will overlook roughing him up a bit.
N: Well, if we finish these guys off fast enough. Then let's end this.
J: I wonder where the hell our backup is. We've been at this for forty minutes already. They should have been here ten minutes ago.
N: They were temporary transfers from Meadowlands. They are probably too busy getting coffee. (Shaking his head)
J: You're probably right. They'll show up after we're all done and claim they were stuck in traffic.
N: Yep. Lets finish this so we can try and get some information out of Woolter.
Nick and Judy then rose, weapons at the ready and firing into the large crowd of mammals outside the building. During this, Nick and Judy both knocked at least three grenades each either back outside or deep into the lobby where they were not injured by them, other than a few scrapes from debris.
Once the group outside scattered, retreating into the building across the street, Nick and Judy gave pursuit, Judy taking a round in her right shoulder. Nick almost collapsed as two rounds went through the wall and his right leg, another through his right arm.
Neither knew how long they fought, both abandoning their weapons and picking up weapons from the fallen mammals around them. In the end, they had twenty two mammals tied up on the curb, including Woolter, who still had the grenade in his mouth as he stared daggers at Nick and Judy.
Using several additional grenades allowed them to trap the tied up mammals while they cleared the rest of the buildings, without worrying too much about them. Not that they were likely going anywhere as most of them had a bullet wound or two of their own.
Finally satisfied that they were not just waiting on another ambush, Nick and Judy sat down amongst the trussed up mammals after disabling the grenades. Turning to Judy. "So, Judy. I think that lead you picked up about sympathizers in the military is spot on. Not that you can deny the weapons and such. I'm sure the serial numbers on these grenades will point at the very least to which division they came from." Tapping the grenade acting as a gag in Woolters mouth.
Judy nodded. "Yeah. They filed off the number on the outside, but I'm willing to bet they didn't remove the firing charge and scrape the number there."
Nodding sagely, Nick smiled as Judy picked up right where he hoped she would. "Yeah, but you need EOD training for that, right? It isn't as if you can't just unscrew the top off a grenade and scrape off those numbers inside."
"Well, that's kinda the point, right? It is so that, if they fall into the wrong hands, they can be traced."
"I heard that they had started adding a second ID tag to them. Something about a radioactive tag so even if detonated, they can be traced."
Judy grinned wickedly. "That's right. I heard about that from my brother in company THX-1138."
N: And you call me a nerd.
J: What? I like it!
N: You would.
J: Stuff it, fox. Besides, he clearly didn't react to that, so he doesn't know what the actual source is, which means he worked directly with someone.
N: Point. Your move.
Standing, Judy removed the grenade gag from Woolters mouth, moving it to his throat. "Yeah, it's a small thing at the core of the grenade. Gives off a very specific radioactive signal that lets them track it. Once they have that, they can trace it back to the exact case it came from."
Woolter stared at the two mammals in shock. "That cannot possibly be true."
Judy looked up at him in confusion. "Which part? The serial number etched on the inside of the grenade or the radioactive tag?"
His voice rising in panic as he saw no deception in the face of the rabbit and a knowing smirk that seemed to confirm what she was saying on the foxes muzzle. "Both! General Addison would have told us about that, or given us weapons that were untraceable!"
Nick laughed. "Hate to break it to you, buddy. But you see. Every weapon you have that you got from Addison or McClurry," Nick grinned wider as Woolter reacted to the name. "You owe me twenty Carrots, McClurry is in on it too."
Judy frowned. "Dammit!"
Nick continued, looking at Woolter. "Thanks for verifying that, by the way. You see, every weapon you were given has at least three ways to identify it. The serial number on the outside that you filed off isn't even one of them. The base of the barrel inside the stock has an ID tag, the stock itself has one molded inside it that would require you to break the stock open to get to, or via an X-ray of the stock, and several other methods as well."
Judy nodded. "Yep. The rifling is specific to each weapon, and that pattern is logged in a DOD database."
Woolter blanched. "Oh gods."
"Yep. Even if you had succeeded in taking us out. The forensic team would be able to trace all the weapons used, including the grenades, back to where they came from. Your pet generals and their lackeys will be joining you permanently in the palace with no sun."
Judy laughed. "Hell, after all this, the further damage you have done to the city. I wouldn't be surprised if they built a special prison just for you and your friends."
Crying could be heard from the group, Judy locating it to be a younger white tailed deer. "What are you crying about? What did you think was going to happen when you joined up with these mammals? What did you think was going to happen when you tried to kill us? Did you not expect us to fight back?"
Looking up at Judy with terror and hate in his eyes. "My parents brought me into this. You killed them both, rabbit. You killed them both."
Judy frowned. "Sorry, but what was I supposed to do exactly? It isn't as if tranq darts grow on trees. Besides, it wasn't as if you, or the rest of these mammals were participating in a friendly game of paintball. I've got two holes in me. Nick has at least five."
Nick pipped in. "Yep. Right arm. Right leg. Right ear. I'm all right over here." Chuckling at his own joke.
Judy groaned and rolled her eyes. "Listen. Given the chance, your parents, and all those around you right now would have happily murdered us. Hell, that was the whole point of this thing! Hell, you have two holes in you from where Nick shot you because you were shooting at us. How old are you anyway?"
Looking at the rabbit in shock. "I… I'm fifteen. Dad brought us into this group after he lost his job."
"And he blamed us for that?"
Shrugging, the young mammal sighed. "The company he worked for was one of the backers of the escape attempt. So the company got shut down. Dad wasn't part of that, but we lost our house because of it. These mammals took us in."
Sighing, Judy shook her head. "That wasn't our fault, surely you can see that? That was the fault of the hateful bigots like Woolter over there, and the company execs that decided to back their hate. Surely you see that?"
He nodded and looked away. "I never wanted any of this, now I'm going to spend the rest of my life in prison."
Judy's ears perked up hearing approaching sirens. "Nick, backup is finally approaching."
"I hear." Standing, Nick stepped over. "Look, kid. Your best bet, because of your age, is to lawyer up and then cut a deal to tell them everything you know. You're young enough that if you spill your guts, you may just get out of it with monitored probation after you turn eighteen. But again, that means telling the detectives everything once your lawyer cuts you the deal. But word to the wise, for you and everyone else here, make sure you have the deal first, and don't get greedy."
Judy nodded. "Smart advice, Kid."
Looking over Nick and Judy, the fawn shook his head. "Why would you give me, or any of us such advice?"
Nick shrugged. "Simple. You seem like a good kid dragged into a real dung heap of a situation by your parents. While I can blame you for shooting at me, I can't blame you for being in this situation given your age. So take the advice and maybe you can make something out of your life."
With that Nick and Judy hefted their confiscated weapons and casually pointed them towards the approaching sirens. The cruiser skidded to a halt just beyond the now burned out wreckage of the four cars, a boar and elk stepping out of the cruiser. Woolter stiffening, then yelling. "Herris, Boarson, help us out here!"
Both Nick and Judy's eyebrows rose quickly at that statement.
J: Well, that explains why they are late.
N: It does at that.
Leveling his weapon at the other officers, Nick spoke up. "Herris. Boarson. Do not reach for your weapons or I will fire."
A loud, booming, familiar voice came from around the building's blind spot, followed by the Cape Buffalo it belonged to. "I'd do as instructed, officers." Turning to look over the scene, taking in the bodies, burned out vehicles, chewed up building fronts, and the twenty mammals tied up. "By the gods, what the hell happened here?"
Nick stayed with the trussed up mammals as Judy took a few steps forward and saluted Bogo. "We were ambushed, sir. These mammals are all Bellwether sympathizers, and we have captured Woolter, who is not as dead as we hoped. It would appear they were supplied with military hardware by Generals Addison and McClurry, per Woolter's admission. Our body cam's were on the entire time and have as yet not been turned off."
Bogo nodded. "I expect nothing less from you two. What about Herris and Boarson?"
Nick spoke up. "Based on the call to them by Woolter to render assistance, I would say they were part of this. They showed up just as you did, sir. Judy, how long have we been here?"
Bogo growled. "I can answer that. Your last check in was over two hours ago. Your backup should have shown up an hour and a half ago." Turning to the two officers. "Is this true? You were part of this?"
Harris shrank and glanced towards Nick and Judy who still had their weapons trained on them. "We were paid by that sheep to wait at least an hour before coming to look for the rabbit and fox. We were supposed to find them dead and no one here."
Bogo roared and kicked their cruiser, crumpling in the side of it and causing it to slide several feet. "You were paid to sacrifice the lives of your fellow officers? You might as well have shot them yourselves!" Taking two very angry steps towards the officers, Bogo turned and kicked their cruiser above the rear wheel causing it to spin 90 degrees.
Boarson scoffed. "Fellow officers? That pelt and a cutesy rabbit? Seriously, Bogo? You can not be serious! I respected you, but I can't believe you put up with those two jokes. They're nothing but publicity stunts to make the city council feel better about themselves. We've all heard how they are given credit for the hard work of others."
Bog looked down at the boar with a deep growl. "That rabbit and that fox are individually and together the best officers the ZPD has ever on the other hand are relieved of duty, suspended, and under arrest. As for the rest of what you just said, your ignorance just cements my decision. Badge. Gun. Uniform shirt. You are under arrest."
As Bogo commenced to strip Herris and Boarson of their equipment and place them in cuffs, Nick and Judy both spun with weapons raised. A moment after several rounds hit the pavement in a pattern leading towards them and the trussed up mammals, both Nick and Judy opened fire, a drone falling from the sky a few moments later and crashing into the singed but otherwise untouched large mammal vehicle.
Judy turned to Bogo. "That was a military strike drone. It would seem the generals are still after us and not looking to entertain survivors."
Bogo pulled out a sat phone and dialed a number. "This is Bogo. Confirmation on Generals Addison and McClurry. They just had a drone try and take down my people, the surviving member of the group that attacked them, and me." Turning to Nick and Judy. "Anything else I should know about?"
Nick looked at Judy. "You hearing that?"
Judy nodded. "Yep. Long range." Pointing. "That way."
Nick nodded. "Got it. What's my wind?"
"Calm, to your back."
Flicking the switch on his confiscated weapon to a three round burst, Nick took aim. "Another drone. Incoming fast. Looks like this one has missiles. I'm taking the shot before it does."
WIth that Nick fired, re-aimed and fired again. An explosion in the air in the distance followed by the burning drone falling from the sky told the story as Bogo's phone rang.
"Yes… Well, what did you expect them to do? … You saw the condition of the area. … No, I don't know how they noticed it, but that isn't the point! … … Look, you have your own issues with those two and whoever is working with them. You need to clean house as much as I do. … Right. Now stop your whining and get on it so I can get on it here." With that Bogo hung up and turned to Nick and Judy, shaking his head. "Glad you two are still kicking." Looking to the trussed up mammals. "You do realize that if you had succeeded, you would have created the opposite uproad to what you wanted, right? The city would have rallied around pred/prey couples. It would have turned its back on ideologies like yours. Hell, this little stunt is exactly what the city needed to turn against your kind of hate."
A few minutes later a collection of military vehicles and ZPD cruisers arrived, along with several prisoner transfer vans, all manned by predators. Bogo shaking his head and glaring at Herris and Boarson. "Because of mammals like you two, even good prey officers are under suspicion, putting the bulk of the work on the predator officers, even in prey heavy communities, and those communities actually are embracing this. Why? Because even they cannot trust prey officers because of the likes of you. It's going to take years before prey officers will be trusted at all. Hell, even I'm being looked at for replacement by a predator, because even I am not beyond suspicion. Honestly, the only prey officer that isn't under suspicion is Hopps." Pointing at Judy as she talked with Fangmeyer and Wolford.
Turning, Judy shook her head. "Chief. There is a way to wash away that suspicion, but only if you are up to it."
Shaking his head, Bogo groaned. "I just knew you knew. But no… I will not. I'll retire first, then it won't hurt anyone else."
Nick and Judy nodded, sharing a look. "We get it, sir. Judy and I are here for you regardless."
Bogo nodded with a ghostly smile. "Means a lot." Straightening up and his scowl returning and barking orders. "Alright! Lets get these mammals out of here and back to the precinct so they can be medically evaluated and then in a cell. We can't prosecute them if they die. Also, someone get an ambulance here to take WildeHopps to the damn hospital already!" Grumbling. "Gods knows they'll be off the street for a few weeks now."
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Nick had never seen Bogo lose his cool like that. Destroying a cruiser with two solid kicks. Over the following week, more compromised officers were smoked out thanks to how Bogo had arranged for different lists to be posted in different precincts. The generals who supplied the weapons, arranged the drone strike, and were planning on a military march on the city once the conspirators led by Woolter and others properly destabilized the city. In the end, nearly a thousand mammals were arrested throughout the city, and another twelve hundred were arrested within the military.
The young dear also did as suggested and spilled his guts, leading detectives to hide-outs and stashes of weapons. Because of his age, they were using him as a go-fur, retrieving food, and doing things like taking inventory. So he knew where most of the stuff was.
Nick gave a giddy chuckle as the wind shifted to be coming directly from the Rainforest district again and Judy's scent again graced his nostrils. There was no doubt now. He had a direction, and he knew without a question that it was no more than three weeks old.
With a grin, Nick sighed. He knew she had been alive and well enough to mark something as a message to him within the past three weeks, since there had been no rain. She was still out there, and he knew it. He could feel it in that same part of his brain that they had used to communicate during that fight.
The memory answered something for him though. He'd been hoping to use the radios to communicate, but just like when those Bellwether terrorists had taken out the repeaters, they had the same problem now. Locally, the radios were great, but with everything that had happened, they were only useful locally without the repeaters. Even in his own settlement, they had grown enough that the radios were getting spotty on the fringes. Now he remembered the reason why, and the fix. Nodding as he decided to send a drone message out in the morning.
He now hoped that the local precinct they were going to raid in the morning had some repeater equipment. The ZPD had required the manufacturer of the repeaters to add solar backup batteries to the in-place units, and to develop a temporary unit that could be deployed by heavy drone or by paw, to the tops of buildings and fill in for the main units. Something they could use to fill in gaps when they happened due to maintenance, or deploy during long power outages, or terrorist attacks.
The new equipment was supposed to be in every precinct after those events. They were basically signal boosters that picked up the signal from the radios registered to it and then rebroadcast that signal. He didn't remember all the details, but each radio had some kind of fingerprint. If they could get a few setup between Otterdamn and his own settlement of Haymarket and Vole, they'd be able to communicate without issue. As well as fixing the issues his own settlement was having due to its growing size.
Nick smiled to himself now that he had confirmed the scent track of Judy and reconfirmed the direction. He had a plan, a direction, and most of all, real hope. With his heart full of hope, Nick retired for the night, his dreams full of grey fur and the scent of one very specific rabbit. Her melodic voice whispering to him in his dreams to keep looking, that she was waiting for him.
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