Chapter Seven: Her Final Hour?
A/N: Now I wish I had made Bandit an otter, because "Limited-Time Otter" would have been a great pun.
Been playing through the Avengers game (which is why this chapter is late) and it's freaky how close the plot resembles what I've been writing. There's even a girl in a glass chamber who multiplies. The only difference is that the villains are absorbing the kids powers, not giving powers to them.
In the original draft of the last chapter, I was going to have Frost eat Fru-Fru, but I decided against it. One, it was a bit gruesome and frankly, I don't want to play fanservice to the vore crowd and two, I needed a nice display of Frost's ice powers.
3:45 pm Inside Mr. Big's mansion
Judy slowly and hazily started to wake. It was dark except for the glow of a fireplace and she could feel the press of lips against hers.
"Nick!"
She kept her eyes closed and pressed back. Pulling the back of her lover's head towards her into a deep kiss. Her tongue darting around his. Only, something was off. First off, he could feel her blowing into her mouth, his breath was terrible, and then she felt him pulling away. Resisting. Then she heard a voice.
"Hey! Knock 'dat off! What are ya? Crazy?!"
She looked up to see the ugly mug of Duke Weaselton staring down at her.
"AAAAHHHH!" She scrambled up to her feet only for her head to hit the ceiling. "OW!"
"Will you knock it off! We gotta be quiet!"
"I've got so many questions. Where are we? Why did you kiss me and why are we naked except for these cold, wet underwear?! Are you trying to have your way with me?!"
"Okay, first off. Keep your voice low. We're in Mr. Big's private study. It's shrew size so 'da polar bears can't get in here. Two, I wasn't kissin' ya, I was given' ya mouth 'ta mouth resetplaystation."
"Resuscitation."
"Whatevah."
"Why am I naked?!"
"Because I pulled ya out of 'da freezin' water and yer clothes were ice cold. I've been warmin' us by 'da fireplace. Id'a taken off our underpants too, but I want ya ta have a little discretion. Look, I ain't inta' bunnies, okay? I'm a weasel man through and through! Weasels, stoats, ferrets, and mongooses… Also rhinos. I dunno why. It's a fetish."
"Well I…"
"Chick or dude rhinos, I don't care. I just want at 'dat horn… Damn sexy horns."
"Are you done?!"
"Sorry."
"How are we alive?!"
"Heh! Kevin kept askin' why I looked so familiar."
"Well, yeah. I had Mr. Big threaten to ice you, remember?"
Duke shook his head 'no'. "I was iced. About two years ago. I was such a small blip on Mr. Big's radar back 'den that he plain forgot. I can't believe Kevin forgot!"
"Nobody survives being iced."
"And yet, here we are! They threw me in and 'da undercurrent started sweeping me away. 'Den, I saw it. A soft glow. I tried 'ta swim ovah to it, but the bitin' cold was slowin' my limbs and 'da current was pullin' me away. 'Dere was an old branch stickin' out. I grabbed and pulled onto 'dat and got away from 'da current and pulled myself toward 'da light. Turns out 'dere's a big, rotted hole on 'da other side of 'dis fireplace. I climbed in and got as close to 'da fire as I could 'ta warm up. Eventually, Mr. Big came back in so I had 'ta hide behind 'da wall again. It took two days fer me 'ta muster up 'da courage 'ta sneak out."
"Amazing!"
"What's amazing is Kevin not recognizin' me. I'm a member of 'da polar bear club."
"What?!"
"It's fer polar bears and mammals who want the thrill of swimmin' in ice-cold water. I joined shortly after bein' iced so I could survive it easier just in case it happened again."
"If there's a current, how did you catch up to me?"
"I bit Kevin's thumb. He let me go and I dove in as fast as I could 'ta catch up to you."
"The branch could have broken away. Duke, you took a big risk to save my life!... Thank you."
"Keep yer thanks, flatfoot. I saved you because yer 'da only one 'dat can save Smokey! Yer brave and strong! Me? I can't do any of 'dat. I'm just a no-good bum."
Judy got on her knees and put her paws on Duke's shoulders. "Gotta be careful. Low ceiling. Duke Weaselton, you are NOT a no-good bum! It was you who defeated Firefox by flooding your own home. It was you who lost his leg saving Bandit last year and it was you who risked his own life to save mine!"
"Heh! Technically 'dey was gonna ice me anyways. I just needed 'ta get in faster 'ta try and save you."
"Duke, you asked me earlier if I could be Bandit's parent. The answer is 'no'. She already has a wonderful dad that will risk life and limb for her."
Duke smiled and shed a tear. "Thanks, Cottontail. But where is my family gonna live?"
"Well… My dad has a big house in the countryside. The older family members have moved out. There's some space for you and the kids there. Also…"
"Also what?"
"This is going to sound crazy, but if I win the election for sheriff in Bunnyburrow well… I'm gonna need some new deputies."
Duke had to stifle his laugh. "'Dat's 'da nuttiest thing I evah hoid! Me, Deputy Duke! Do you know how long my rap sheet is?!"
"Yeah. Your criminal record would be a big problem."
"'Thanks fer 'da offer though. It means a lot 'ta me 'dat we're friends now."
"Your welcome."
The two hugged. As they did, Bandit came quickly crawling through the door and shut it quickly behind her. "I think I got rid of… woah!"
She saw Duke and Judy hugging. They were still in their wet underwear. She covered her eyes. "Oh my gosh!"
"It's not what you think!" Judy said."
"Are you gonna marry Duke and be my mom now?"
Before Judy could respond, they heard heavy footsteps coming their way. "I saw her come past this way! Check the study!"
Duke quickly grabbed the clothes from the fireplace and got as far from the door as possible. Lucky for them. The door was shrew-sized. The most the polar bear could get in was his snout. "I can smell the fireplace and… eww! I can't believe he kept that skunk-butt rug!"
"Put your arm in!" said one of the other thugs.
The polar bear put his entire arm in and thrashed it around. Everyone's back was against the wall His claws were less than an inch from Duke's face. "I just knocked over some tiny tables and chairs! I don't feel anything!"
"She's not here! Keep looking!"
The polar bear pulled his arm back and started to leave when another one stopped him. "Hey! Were you born in a barn?! Shut the door!"
"Oh! Sorry."
"We gotta keep the place lookin' classy. Y'know?"
He pinched the doorknob with his fingers and pulled the door shut.
The trio listened as the footsteps went away. They all breathed a sigh of relief.
"What are ya doin' here?!" Duke asked Bandit.
"I got really worried when my dupes suddenly disappeared. Turns out the more dupes there are, the less time they have."
"Yeah. We learned that 'da hard way when 'da briefcase suddenly emptied. You still shouldn't be takin' a risk like this!"
"I'm not! I'm a dupe! Sooo… Why were you two naked and making out?"
"We were not making out! It was just a hug! We both got iced and I managed 'ta save her life. 'Dere's no hanky-panky. 'Da clothes came off because 'dey were ice cold and wet and we'd get diphtheria 'er somethin'.."
"Well, they're damp but dry enough now," Judy replied. "We gotta get out of here." She started putting on her clothes as she tossed Duke his. "Here. By the way, it's not the skunk-butt rug. That smell is you."
"I know," Duke replied. "Consider my BO camouflage."
Judy checked her phone. "Please let the waterproofing hold!" It lit up. "Yes! Time to call Finnick."
"When we get ready to leave, follow my lead. I snuck outta 'dis place before. I'll just take the same route."
"Sounds like a plan."
Meanwhile…
Greg and Sugar were crying in the van as Finnick and the other Bandit were trying to both console them and keep an eye out for the others. "Mommy!" Greg cried. "I want my mommy baaack!"
"Mamamamaa!" Sugar cried. Although she might have been mocking Greg. No one was sure.
"Guys. Relax! It hasn't been a full hour yet!" Finnick said.
Bandit agreed. "That's right! And if something had happened to my dupe, I would have felt her die by now."
"Wait. You sent out a dupe?!"
"Right out from under your nose! I'm not sorry either."
Finnick just shrugged his shoulders. "In hindsight, maybe that wasn't such a bad idea." Just then his phone rang. "It's Judy! Where've you been?! The kids are worried sick!"
"No time to explain. We have to get out of here fast. Start the van and drive to… where Duke?... The side gate where the guest parking is. Duke says there's a small hole in the gate we can escape from."
"Alright. I'm heading there now, so get outta there!"
"Roger."
"They're alive!" Bandit and Greg shouted cheerfully.
"They won't be for long if we don't get over there!"
Finnick quickly turned on the engine and drove into the Big's guest parking. There was a fence between the side of the mansion. Bandit took a look outside. "I don't see a hole in the fencing! They must have fixed it!"
"Hold up." Finnick looked through his bag of tools in the back of his seat. He found some bolt cutters. "Here! Use these."
She started to cut away as Finnick looked at the mansion. He saw them running across the lawn and towards the lot. "Start the van! Start the van!" Judy shouted. In seconds, Finnick could see a large group of henchmen giving chase.
"Oh, crap! Hurry up!
"Almost got it!" Bandit shouted back. The final section was cut and she was able to pull out a large chunk of the gate. "There! C'mon! Let's go!"
It was then that bullets started blazing past. Everyone panicked. "HURRY!" screamed bandit.
Duke was the first one through. Followed by Bandit's dupe and then Judy.
"Everyone get down!" Finnick screamed as they piled into the van. Greg laid on the floor with his back turned to protect Sugar.
BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! Went the bullets blazing past the team. Finnick was furious. "HEY! You're putting holes in my masterpiece!"
As Judy grabbed Bandit to puller into the van, another shot rang out. Judy felt a slight tug as she pulled Bandit into the van. "Drive! Drive!"
Finnick skidded out of there as the bullets still flew by, but now, they were safe. Ay least, all but one.
"Bandit!" the dupe screamed. They looked over to see a bullet wound in Bandit's chest.
"Oh God!" Judy screamed. "Greg! Get Sugar!"
"Already on it!" Greg shouted. Pulling the joey from his pouch.
As Greg pulled out Sugar, Bandit spoke to Duke. "Daddy… Save Smokey. Save… Charlie."
"Hang in there!" Duke shouted. "I love you so much!"
"I love...you too." Bandit's eyes rolled in the back of her head.
"C'mon, you stupid Sugar Glider! Do your glitter thing!"
"Don't yell at her!" Judy shouted.
Sugar flew over Bandit. She dropped her golden pollen all over the possum. The wound closed. "It's working…. It's working!"
But sadly, Bandit was still and not breathing. There was no heartbeat.
Duke was in tears panicking. "No! Nononononoooo! Come on!"
The duplicate jumped over to her. "Absorb! Absorb!" But she couldn't.
"Her power's gone now," Greg said. "But you're still here."
A desperate Duke tried everything to resuscitate her. "Please don't die on me! Please!"
It was too late. Duke cried holding her in his arms. "NOOOO! My angel! My sweet, little angel!"
"A-Are you sure that wasn't the duplicate?" Finnick asked.
"No!" Said the duplicate. "I remember being chased by the guards and being with Duke and Judy! Oh God! I only have one hour to live and then, I'll dissolve!"
"Can you still duplicate?" Greg asked.
"What?! Why does that matter now?"
"Just show me!"
She snapped her fingers and another Bandit appeared. She quickly absorbed back. "Thanks a lot! Any duplicate may be time lost!"
"I'm sorry, it's just… I have a feeling you'll be okay."
"No, I won't! I'm gonna die in an hour!"
Greg sat back with confidence. "Nah."
"Why are you so sure?!"
"Sugar used her glitter on that Bandit which means you should not even exist right now. YOU can duplicate. Not that bandit and you can only duplicate once. Or so you thought."
"I know, I know. Each duplicate can duplicate."
"OR… Only the original can!"
"What?! No. I stay in the same spot while my duplicates take up the space in front of me!"
Judy caught on. "Wait! I get what he's saying! What if what you thought was the original you, was the duplicate all along?"
"What?!"
Greg continued. "Remember that you send out your dupe to go to the bathroom for you, you can scratch your dupe and you keep the scar, your dupe had an accident, and.."
"Please don't repeat that. It's gross."
"Anyway, my theory is that the Bandit occupying the new space is the original moved forward. It's the only way all of this makes sense."
"Are you sure?"
"We'll know in an hour."
"I hope so. You're very clever for a kindergartener."
"Thanks!"
".,.. If that Bandit is the duplicate, why didn't she dissolve?"
'Maybe because Sugar healed her wounds just as she died. Maybe it takes an hour regardless. Or… maybe you're the new Bandit prime. I dunno."
"Or… Or maybe I dissolve in an hour."
Duke came over and hugged Bandit #2. "We're gonna use 'dis hour wisely. Ya hear? We need 'ta infiltrate 'dat Chemiracles and get back Smokey no matter what!"
Judy disagreed. "This child's been through enough!"
Bandit argued back. "If this is my final hour. I have to make it worth it!"
"SIGH! I don't know what to do. But right now, we need to get this van off the street. It's too recognizable to the mafia."
Duke butted in. "I got a cousin nearby who'll get ya a quick paint job. Dirt cheap."
Finnick was furious. "No way! I painted the murals on both sides! It's my greatest work of art!"
Judy pinned her ears down and gave Finnick the sad, doe eye. "Poppa Finnick, PLEASE! It's the only way for us to be safe."
"RRRRRGH! Fine! But I want a cheap paint job where the paint peels off!"
Duke interrupted. "Oh, 'den you'll LOVE my cousin! He uses 'da cheapest stuff on 'da market!"
Meanwhile, at the ZPD interrogation room...
The interrogation room was pitch black with the exception of the light coming from Wolford's flashlight. Chief Bogo sat at the table with Wolford standing across from him. The buffalo could hardly believe what he was seeing. "He's… really in there?!"
"Yes, I'm in here!" Growler shouted. "Let me out already!"
Wolford got a smile on his face. "Check 'dis out Chief. It's like Goatbusters."
He turned off the flashlight and Growler came falling out onto the floor. "Hey! Watch it!" He went to charge at Wolford, but the wolf produced a device.
"Nah-Ah-Ah, pal! Sit down!"
"What is that?"
"A lighter." Wolford then flicked the top of it, causing sparks."
The lion was in great fear. "AAH! Don't do that!"
"Don't do what?! This?!" Wolford flicked it again.
"Don't turn on that flame! I'll burn! I can feel the sparks pulling me towards the light!"
"I can barely see a thing." Bogo noted. Luckily Wolford had natural night vision. The interrogation was no doubt, very unusual. He had just come from a very painful interrogation of Ms. Friedkin, which resulted in nothing but the polar bear mocking Bogo and bragging on how she used him. Fortunately, all was not lost as an 'anonymous' phone call from Sniffer provided a ton of information. From who's in charge, to how the superpowers work, the containment suits, and even how to cure them of their powers.
"You've got nothing, Bogo!" Growler snarled.
"Oh, on the contrary." The buffalo replied with a smile. He then pulled a 6-pack of 16-ounce sodas off the floor. "Would you like some diet Pupsi? I hear that your people found out by accident that this and only this particular brand of soft drink slowly cures you of your powers. Two of these bottles, and maybe you'll just be a night light. Two liters worth, and your power is gone."
"Who ratted us out?!"
"Apparently, a former colleague of yours who decided to redeem himself. He didn't give his name. We know everything. I got the lab working on a more effective formula using the diet Pupsi as we speak."
"Well, I'm not drinking that."
"Oh, no?! You're not only drinking that, you are going to confess everything you know or else it's the lighter! You have no control over your power now, but if you drink two bottles of this, maybe you'll just glow in the dark. Otherwise, even if I'm merciful, you'll spend your entire life in a flashlight or in a dark room like this. The choice is yours."
Growler had no choice. He went for the bottles, but Bogo pulled them back. "Not so fast! Tell me what you know."
"Why?! You already got the information."
"From a source over the phone that I can't identify."
Growler was not dumb. "You need a confession so you can bring proof to a judge for a warrant! That's why I'm here!"
Bogo growled.
"HA! Well, we're both in a jam, aren't we? I'll make you a deal. You ask a question, I'll answer for one bottle. One bottle. One question."
"... Wolford, flick the lighter."
Growler panicked. "Two questions a bottle!"
"Deal. These are 16-ounce bottles, so it's going to take you four bottles to fully rid yourself of your powers. That's eight questions." Bogo took one bottle out. "Now, who do you work for and how is it related to the Chemiracles lab?"
Meanwhile, Nick and Snarlov were watching the confession from the two-way mirror on the other side. Their natural night vision allowed them to see the whole thing. "Amazing," Nick mused. "Not only are their powers insane, they can be taken away just by a soft drink."
Snarlov was watching the proceedings intensely. "We need that confession. If Bogo gets a warrant, we're raiding the place tonight."
"Judy was working on a case about that place. I need to call her and give her a heads up. Excuse me."
Nick went to step out, but Snarlov stopped him. "Hey, Wilde?"
"Yeah?"
"... That was damn good work out there today. Between you and me, maybe you should go back to being a cop."
Nick wasn't sure how to reply to that. Part of him wanted to, mainly because he was finally getting the respect he wanted. But he was happy with owning and running the ice cream parlor too. All he could say was "Thanks." He stepped out of the room and sat down at a bench near the main hall where some visitors were going to and fro.
He took out his phone and texted her. "Is it safe to talk?" Thinking she might be currently on the case. She immediately called back.
"Nick! I've been trying to get a hold of you! So much has happened! I need to tell you everything!"
"Hold on! Calm down. Where are you now?"
"I'm with Finnick, Bandit, Greg, Sugar, and Duke Weaselton. You've met him before. He's that petty thief we've dealt with a few times. We're at a body shop where Finnick is getting his van painted over."
"Wait, WHAT?! He loves his mural. Why would he do that?!"
"Because the Frost mafia is after us!"
"Who's the Frost mafia?!"
"Will you just let me start at the beginning, please?! We have a LOT to cover."
"Okay. Start at the beginning."
"Well…. Did you know our house blew up?"
"WHAT?!"
While Nick was talking, a journalist was out in the main hall and he overheard a bit of Nick's conversation. He decided got get in closer for a possible story.
Nick could not believe what he was hearing. "Are the kids okay?!... Oh, thank God. They burned his face?! How badly?!... My poor son… What do you mean, 'he'll be okay'?! His face is scarred for life!... Sugar can what?!... I'm sorry hon-bun. I'm sorry. Keep going in order. I don't mean for you to jump ahead."
The old goat journalist went up to Nick. "Say! You're Nick Wilde, aren't you? Back on the force?"
"Temporarily. I-I'm sorry I'm talking to my wife."
"Oh! The famous Judy Hopps-Wilde! I hear that was your house that blew up. What an explosion!"
"Sir. I'm REALLY sorry! But this phone call is important. Sorry for the interruption Judy, you were saying?"
"Well, after Duke and I teamed up and took out Firefox, Sniffer was chasing Greg with Sugar in his pouch up the side of a building!"
"Since when does Greg have a pouch?"
"It's the sugar glider costume! He was hiding it from me."
"Heh. Sly bunny."
"Anyway, Greg had no choice but to jump off the top of the building with Sugar. The gliders in his costume worked, but that damn Sniffer threw some blades at him, tearing his gliders and stabbing his back!"
"Oh no! He's okay, right?!"
"That's the moment Sugar's butterfly wings came out and she grabbed him and set him down. Then, some golden pollen came out of her and it healed every one. She looked like a pixie. She even healed Sniffer after he fell from the building and got hit by Finnick's van."
"That's my pops."
"Sugar's healing also robs the villains of their powers."
"Hunh. We could use that."
"I don't want to put her in danger!"
"It's okay, Fluff we have our own super-power robbing formula. We think that same wolf who attacked you guys also left a phone call confessing everything."
"How'd he do that?! I had him cuffed!"
"He must have escaped. The ZPD got your call but only found the fox."
While Nick was chatting, the goat journalist was eavesdropping from around the corner. "Super-powered villains, eh?"
The conversation kept going. "You got iced?!... How'd you survive?!... What do you mean he gave you mouth to mouth?! I'm gonna kill that weasel!... Okay, okay. He did save your life. So what happened to Mr. Big?!... He's dead?! Fru-Fru too?! Sweet biscuits!"
The journalist gave himself away. "What a scoop! The famous Judy Hopps takes down the Big family in one swoop! I gotta tell my publicist!"
Nick chased after him but it was too late. "No! Wait! You don't have the whole story!" The goat got away from Nick and left. "Aw crud! Judy, I imagine it was the Frost guy who killed them….. Fru-Fru?! She killed her own father and husband, and Frost went nuts?!... He says he's…. Wait, is he calling himself 'Ice King?!' "
"Yes. How'd you know?!"
"Fangmeyer found out that Friedkin was sleeping with Bogo for information and she's calling herself 'Ice Queen' and that the 'Ice King' is her true lover. That's why Mr. Big was always one step ahead of us. Snarlov's partner, Growler is a super-powered traitor too. I figured that one on my own, so at least my case went well. Yours is becoming a mess."
"Well, I'm back on track. I just rescheduled my appointment as a reporter and Duke is coming with me as a cameraman. We'll infiltrate the place right through the front door."
"No need. Bogo's grilling Growler as we speak so he can get a warrant to raid the premises. Besides, it's a really bad idea. First, you're getting a bit too famous and might be recognized. Second, do you even have a TV camera?"
"Well…. Finnick's got an old VHS video recorder that looks like it could pass for a… "
"You're gonna get killed!"
"We can't wait! Bandit has only forty minutes left to live and she wants to rescue her brother so badly!"
"Wait, what?!"
"In our escape from the Big mansion, the original Bandit was shot dead by Frost's men. Only her duplicate is still alive and the poor thing is freaking out. The duplicates only last an hour and then they dissolve into nothing. Besides Nick, this guy is putting his plan into motion now! We need to get those kids out of there pronto! Getting a warrant could take hours!"
"The poor kid." Nick thought it over. "Dangit, Judy! You're right. We need to be there now, not hours from now. But your plan stinks! You'd almost be better off getting captured and sneaking out the-...saaay!"
"Say what?!"
"I managed to take off one of the containment suits from Growler so he can't control his powers. We also took one off of Firefox too and that guy looks similar enough to me that maybe…"
"Maybe you can pretend to be Firefox and make it look like you captured me!"
"Yeah! These suits are crazy! They actually shrink and fit the wearer's body shape. That Sniffer guy. What kind of wolf was he?"
"Grey."
"Perfect! I'll get Wolford with me! He'll have to disguise his accent though. How about it, Carrots? Nick and Judy, solving one more case in Zootopia!"
"I'd love to! Can you get down here fast?!"
"I gotta check with Wolford first. I'm gonna have to go around Bogo for this. I can't let him know what I'm up to."
"Oh, dear! You could lose your badge."
"Har-Har. I'll call back in a few minutes, Fluff."
"Okay, Slick."
"Be careful. Please!"
"I will."
Judy hung up the phone and went to talk to Finnick. "How are you holding up?"
Finnick was somber as he watched the body shop workers paint over his van. "SNIFF! My poor baby! Look at her! My lovely mural… gone!"
"Yeah… but they said the paint job's cheap enough that it should peel off later. Right?""
"I hope so."
It was then that the owner of the body shop walked up to Judy. "We're almost done here. Y'know, for an extra hundred bucks, we can dispose of the body you got in the van, there."
"What?! No! We're giving Bandit a proper burial "
"You sure? Cuz' I got a cousin who works at a funeral home. He can incinerate the body. No evidence. Know what I mean?!"
"What kind of body shop is this?!"
Duke spoke up. " 'Da kind I'd recommend."
"That explains a lot."
