Chapter 17: Escape From The Asylum/A Brief Moment of Respite


Alex stood up and exited the containment cell. Kimba immediately recognized him. "Alex!? What are you doing here!?" The white lion quietly gasped. "Investigating your father, just like you asked me to." Alex answered. Kimba inhaled, a surprised look on his face. "That… that was two days ago! How did you find this out so fast!? Father only brought me in on this today!" Kimba sputtered.

"Well, I had some help." Alex chuckled, glancing back towards the containment cell where Judy and Nick were pressed to the ground. Kimba arched an eyebrow before realization shone in his eyes. "You didn't come alone, did you?" Kimba asked. Alex shook his head no in response. "I'll unlock the room for you, but you and your companions need to get out of here quickly." Kimba told the white wolf.

Alex nodded at the white lion. "Judy, Nick, come out." Alex reassuringly said. The bunny and fox hesitated before emerging from the darkness of the containment cell. "The first rabbit on the ZPD… fitting that she would help you discover this." Kimba mused to himself before punching in a key code for the sealed doors and making them open. "I'm not doing this for free, though. In return, I ask that you keep me out of your reports. I was never involved in this, I only became aware of the deplorable activities my father was conducting here today. I'd rather not be brought down any further than I already will be when this whole thing comes to the attention of the ZPD." Kimba continued.

"You're my friend, Kimba. Of course I'll leave you out of the report. And Officer Hopps will be happy to." Alex replied. Judy looked like she was about to protest. "You'd do the same if it were one of your brothers or sisters. You already know I'm adopted, Judy. Kimba is my family too. He helped me when I was on the streets, let me live in his mansion as a maid." Alex spoke.

Nick couldn't help but snicker at the idea of Alex in a maid outfit. Kimba coughed. "Now is not the time for dwelling on past memories. You three need to get out of here before security comes and gets you." Kimba reminded them.

Alex nodded in agreement before the three of them made a break for it. Sprinting down the hallways, Alex was surprised that both Nick and Judy were able to keep up with him… though it wasn't without noticeable effort from Nick. "Huff… haven't had to run this fast for a while!" Nick panted as they burst through the entrance to the asylum and ran out into the cool air of the night.

They weren't home free yet, they still had to get past the guards. Thankfully, Alex was able to see that the two wolves who had been at the entrance earlier, Larry and Gary, were in a passionate kiss, meaning that it was easy for the trio to get past them undetected. It made Alex feel a little envious that Larry had someone who loved him in every way.

Only a few more minutes of running, and then they got to the police cruiser. Judy gave a call to Clawhauser, who was ecstatic at the news of Judy successfully solving the case, and promised he would tell Chief Bogo right away. "So, now that we solved the case of the missing mammals… what's next?" Judy thought out loud.

At the realization that this crazy forty eight hour ride was over, a wave of exhaustion hit Alex like a truck. He couldn't help but let out a yawn. "Now? Now, anything is possible for you Judy. You'll be the big shot who reunited fourteen poor souls with their families. And with the full force of the city's scientific and medical division working on the afflicted, they'll find a cure soon. The people of the city will worship you as a hero. The little bunny that could. A shining example of what a Beastar could do." Alex sighed happily, his eyelids drooping.

The wolf's fatigue was a bit contagious, as Nick soon let out a long yawn and curled up in the back seats of the cruiser, his eyes shut and the soft sound of sleep coming from his snout. "I think I'm gonna sleep. You should too. This may be the only break we get for a while. After this, there'll be interviews, talk shows, podcasts, all sorts of stuff. Very little rest and privacy. Your schedule is about to get a lot busier." Alex murmured before his eyes closed and his head dropped, his body sliding until it rested on Judy's shoulder.

The gray rabbit smiled softly as she let Alex's head use her shoulder as a bit of a pillow. She wouldn't be able to get a wink of sleep. Too much adrenaline was pumping through her system, and she wanted to be there for the raid and any potential arrests. Turning her head to look at the sleeping wolf's face, she was surprised at how adorable he was.

A new feeling was developing inside of her, something that drew her to Alex. Against her better judgment, the bunny leaned in and gave her wolf a quick peck on the cheek, the kind that she would give her brothers or sisters. The slumbering canine developed a smile on his face and his tail started to unconsciously wag. In her heart, Judy knew that with Alex by her side, she could do anything.