When they reached the asylum, Nick thought at first that they had reached another dead end. There were no playing card-themed terrorists patrolling the area. No signs of life other than lights in the windows of the far-away building. Cold and wet from wading through foliage dripping with rainwater, Nick stared at the blockade before them. "Carrots?'
Judy's ear twitched, but she didn't take her eyes off the pile blocking the bridge. "Yes?"

Nick crossed his arms. "You're not seriously thinking of trying to climb over that pile of rusty old cars, are you?"

Judy cracked her fingers. "Yes."

Nick drummed his fingers on his forearm. "Let me ask you one more question. When was your last tetanus shot?"
Judy stiffened and lowered her paws. "You got a better idea, fox? Because this has got nothing on a frigid ice wall."

Nick wandered to the rail separating them from the cliff edge. It was a long way down, and the distance from here to the asylum was almost as long. "Is that a generator on the other side?"

Judy joined his side and looked. "Huh. It is. So?"

"So… could you pass me a quarter please?" Judy raised an eyebrow at the odd request, but did as Nick asked. Nick flicked the coin at the pile. Even though he had expected it, he still jumped back in fright when sparks exploded from the coin the instant it touched the blockade.

Nick stroked his chin. "Ingenious. Insidious, but ingenious."

Judy's ears were flat as she tried her radio again. "Nothing but static. Now what do we do?"

Nick waved his finger at the bridge. "You could try using the rifle to destroy the generator, but the rail's in the way and it would make too much noise any-" Beep!

Nick grabbed his wrist and slapped it to his chest. "No! Nononononono, don't you dare!"

Judy stared at his chest. "Please do not tell me you are still wearing that child hazard."

Nick yanked down his sleeve to expose the Mag-Ryder. "Hey, I'll be happy to take it off just as soon as I figure out how!"

"You didn't think to ask Honey?" The second after she said it, her ears flattened and she shrank in on herself. "I'm sorry, I didn't think..."

"No, you're not wrong." Nick said as casually as he could, even as the memory of the blood exploding from Honey's spine gave him the urge to smash something. When the moment passed, he felt surprise at Judy's contrition. Doing her duty and saving his butt was one thing, but showing sincere concern for his feelings was something else. It felt good. "I had plenty of chances to ask her. And it's my own damn fault for putting it on in the first place." He gave a shrug, wiped his eyes- beep!– and quickly hugged his arm back to his chest. "Don't even think about it!"

Judy groaned. "Did you at least figure out how it works?"

"Sort of. Honey built some kind of super-high-tech targeting system into the Mag-Ryder. If I point at anything magnetic, the Mag-Ryder will beep-" Beep!Nick quickly lowered his paw. "Like that!"

Judy stepped closer to the rail, scrutinizing the building on the other side of the chasm. "How do you make it fire?"

"Honey said you shoot your arm out like you're shooting web." Nick raised his arm to demonstrate but slapped it down in the nick of time. Chuckling sheepishly, he added. "Nothing can resist my animal magnetism."

Judy palmed her face even as she giggled. "Anything else, Inspector Gadget?"

"Sure. Turns out there's a little dial on the side that lets me adjust how fast it goes. I've put it down to slow."

"So if you try it out on that sign over there," Judy pointed at the rusted metal signpost the guardhouse. "It wouldn't slingshot across the dirt."

"In theory, no."

Judy stepped back and gestured to the signpost. "Go on, then."

Nick was just a little unsettled. "Aren't you going to tell me not to do something so stupid?"
"Nope."

"Really?"

"Yep."

"I suppose going deep into hostile territory has already put us way beyond stupid." Nick aimed first, waiting for the beep before performing the necessary sharp thrust.

Just like in Tundratown, the super magnet shot out, striking the distant signpost with pin-point accuracy.

Nick and Judy stared at the signpost, and the taught black cable between them, like they had just snagged the strangest fish in existence.

Judy flicked the cable, with quivered with a quiet twang. "Isn't it supposed to… you know… pull?"

"I guess I dialed the speed a bit too low. Hang on." Nick adjusted the dial by a fraction, at which point he felt the strong tug of the grapple. It reeled slowly enough that he could walk casually without fear of losing his balance. When he reached the signpost the magnet detached and reunited itself with the gauntlet.

"How do you make it detach?" Judy asked.

"A button on the palm bit. You press and hold for three seconds." Nick answered, by now worrying where the reckless rabbit was going with this.

"Nick, did Honey ever tell you if the grapple was insulated or not?"

"Matter of fact she did-" Nick groaned. "No, no, no, whatever you're thinking, stop thinking it!"

Judy crossed her arms and widened her grin. "I think this just might work."

"Can you not hear me?"

"Judging from the distance it flew last time, it should be long enough to get us all the way across the ravine."

"What part of 'don't even think about it' do you not understand, rabbit?!"

A white paw shot out and grabbed the tie. Nick felt his brain hit the top of his skull as he was yanked down to Judy's level. Her glare looked so much more intimating up close. "I understand that we're working against the clock. In less than twenty-four hours Radames will unleash chaos on the entire city!"

"Yeah, you know how improbable that is, right? There's so much water the serum will just be diluted to nothing before it reaches the citizens."

Judy hesitated, her hard glare wavering.

"But then again, her triggering every collar on the hostages is totally doable." Nick added. "I still think this is a bad idea."

"If it wasn't too big, I'd use the Mag-Rider myself. You always said you wanted to make it up to Ben for exploiting him. Well, now's your chance."

Aaaaaaaaaand she's got me. "So, where do you suggest I shoot?"

Judy smiled, released his tie and pointed. "At that lamppost halfway along. We could swing right over the barricade. Will the Mag-Rider take it?"

Nick returned to the edge of the ravine and aimed at the distant lamppost. Don't look down, do not look down… It took half a minute of minute adjustments before he heard the beep. "Yeah. The thing should be targeted now." He held out a paw to Judy. "Hang on tight. There's no turning back once I shoot."

Judy wrapped her slender arms around Nick's waist. Nick's face turned hot at the sudden embrace. "Then we won't look back." She said, not flinching when Nick wrapped his arm around her back and shoulders. "Don't forget to crank up the dial. I don't want to smash into the electrified barricade."

"Yeah, wouldn't want that. Very funny." Nick laughed nervously and rolled the dial. "You sure you can't just shoot the generator?"

"I can't get a clear shot. I'm pretty sure."

"You sure you're not just in it for the thrills?"

"JUST SHOOT!"

Nick took the shot before his mind could catch up. The magnet flew clear and true. In the three seconds before it hit its mark, Nick had just enough time to hear Judy say, "You know, maybe I could try the ri-"

The line went taught, and everything after that became a literal blur of darkness, cold air roaring past his ears, and the whir of the Mag-Rider. Judy's grip tightened almost to anaconda-like proportions. Nick scrunched his eyes shut and hugged her back, his other arm on the verge of popping out of his socket. Or maybe that was some leftover cabin fever-induced paranoia tricking his nervous system?

The next thing Nick knew, they were dangling from the top of the lamppost, almost two storeys off the ground. Heart pumping with blood and adrenaline, Nick looked down first at the road below, and then the bunny latched onto him like a bolas. When she looked up at him with those big, dilated eyes, he couldn't believe that she was grinning.

"Woah, mama! I have got to get me one of those!"

Nick stared at her. "You've got issues, Carrots."

Judy looked down and saw how high they were. "Any way to make that thing lower us down safely?"

"I don't think so. It's a prototype, or so Honey said." Nick said.

"Help me reach the post." Nick held Judy's paw as she pushed out with her legs and reached for the post, grabbing it easily. She pulled Nick along so he could grab the post himself; when he was sure he had a good hold, he squeezed the button until the magnet deactivated. Once they were both safely on solid ground, Judy rushed over to the generator and switched it off, disconnecting the cable as well just to be sure.

"Seriously, though!" Judy said while trotting back to Nick. "Your friend's a genius! No prey mammal I know has ever brought the Howlywood grappling gun so close to reality!"

"She'd appreciate you singing her praises like that." Nick said. "But now that we're deep in enemy territory, how about we keep our voices down from now on?"

"You're right, you're right." Judy panted. "Sorry, it's the adrenaline."

They were small enough to slip through the bars of the main gate, but the entrance was locked. They circled round the side of the building, finding a car built for megafauna. A window was smashed, and the remains of it were lying on the gravel among splatters of old blood. Nick's nose twitched, catching a familiar scent, so faint he couldn't identify what it was. He crept up to the car's door, reached for the bloodstained handle-

"On second thought, you take point." He stepped behind Judy and pushed her forward. Judy rolled her eyes, but vigilantly pulled out her weapon before opening the door. She shone her phone's flashlight inside, examining the interior.

She must have been feeling a little too cautious because she was taking a while. Nick parted her ears and poked her head between them, checking the interior himself.

"Empty." He muttered.

Judy sighed and batted his muzzle off her scalp. "So's the front." She climbed inside. She paused, seeing something, and picked it up with a pair of tweezers. "Cheetah fur."

Nick had already identified the scent. "Benji! He was here! What is he is here?!"

"Easy, Nick. We'll find out after we find a way in." After some more searching they found a way in through a broken window, one of several, and smelled- Christ, the smell!

"Oh gosh." Judy whispered and pulled out her gun. They'd entered the cafeteria, and there was old food and dried blood everywhere. "Who are these mammals?"

"Let's just find the secret agents and get out of here." Nick stepped behind her, grabbed her shoulders and gently ushered her onward.

"You're right, you're right." The gun trembled in Judy's paws.

"First gruesome homicide scene?" Nick asked.

"Not really. I was the first officer on the scene when Dr. Lemming was-"

"Officer Hopps, I am going to kill you!"

Nick yanked Judy's aim upward when she spun round, just in case she accidentally pulled the trigger. In the left-hand doorway stood Agent Jack Savage, Agent Skyefall at his side. They looked the worse for wear but not seriously hurt. Both agents didn't seem surprised at their presence, but Savage looked almost, well, savage.

"Of all the thoughtless, reckless, idiotic rabbits to become the ZPD's first rabbit officer, it had to be you!" Jack pointed a pure white finger at them. "First the mountain, now this! What were you thinking, coming here?"

Nick stepped forward, frowning. Spies were supposedly known for their superior attitude, but this… "What were you thinking, going radio-silent for two days? You could have been dead for all we knew!"

"The doctor's well hidden, and something is jamming communication signals in the area." Jack said. "We've had it under control."

Skyefall nodded. Something in that nod made Nick smell bullshit, but he didn't push the matter further. "If you were concerned, why didn't you tip off the ZBI?"

"Swinton is influencing their investigation somehow. Keeping them from making much progress." Judy said. "She could have moles among them."

"That's specist, Carrots."

"Not now, Nick!" Judy still had her gun out as she eyed Jack. "The point is, we don't know if there's anyone in the ZBI we can trust. You maybe, but the agents back in the city…"

Alyssa turned to Jack. "What about your contact in City Hall?"

"Skyefall!" Jack snarled at her and smacked his forehead.

Judy's ears pricked. "Contact? Who's the contact?"

"Classified!" Jack snapped at her. "It's bad enough that you know so much about the mission already! Go home, Hopps, before you get yourself and that fox killed!"

Judy growled and started to advance, "Look, you stripy, self-righteous-" But Nick stopped her with an arm.

"I apologize if our presence has severely complicated matters, but surely you can understand why we need to resolve this situation quickly? We have eighteen hours left before the Red Queen's deadline and you still haven't found the doc. Have you?"

Jack set his jaw. "We know where he is. Getting inside is another matter that doesn't concern you."

"No, it's not. But Benji being here is. I'm not leaving until I find him." Nick said. "Besides, our main reason for coming here is to give you this." With that, he pulled out the disk.

Jack's jaw dropped. "Why you-"

"Hey, it's your fault for taking so long!" Judy snapped. "Take the disk and shut up!"

"Woah, woah, woah!" Alyssa moved between them, paws out. "Let's just take it easy. Nick, thank you for your concern and for bringing the disk to us, now hand it over."

Nick handed it over. "Here. And tell Mr. Savage you're welcome."

Alyssa said, "You two need to leave, now. Most of the hostiles are AWOL right now, but that could change any minute."

That explains the lack of a welcoming party. Nick smiled slyly. "If they're not here, then they're probably in the forest outside. So unless you want us to walk back out into the lion's den…"

The look on Jack's face could theoretically melt steel. "See, this is why I work alone. So I can't get distracted by people ticking me off."

Nick's smile widened. "So you're no longer against us staying?"

"I'm not against locking you in a padded cell." Nick lost his smile, and Jack smirked.

"Hey, have either of you seen Captain Bogo or my other teammates?" Judy asked. "I came up here to meet with them, but they're missing."

Fortunately for the already strained relations between the four, Jack and Alyssa were more open with that information. Judy was visibly relieved to hear that McHorn and Higgins were alive and currently assisting Gabriel Mossberg in capturing Sedor. She wasn't so relieved that Bogo and Benjamin were the massive bear's prisoners, and neither was Nick.

"I have to go assist them." Judy breathed. "Which way to the lower floor?"

"There's an elevator that way." Jack pointed behind him. "We'll come assist as soon as we take out the jammer. You sure you can handle it?" Judy nodded. Jack was about to say more when he froze, his ears becoming erect. "Hear that?"

"What?" Nick asked.

"Wait, I hear it too." Judy said. "Gunfire. Downstairs."

"They must have reached the partitions." Jack said. "I'll go with Skyefall and deal with the jammer. Wilde, you're no fighter so you should come with us."

"That walking Bearmageddon's got Ben. I'm going with Carrots."

Nick and Judy took off before the matter could be argued further. Alyssa shouted after them but didn't pursue, and neither did Jack. It appeared they trusted the officer and fugitive more than they let on.

Judy reached the elevator first and hopped up to punch the button. Nick followed her inside, pulling off the rifle bag just in case the rabbit needed it.

As the elevator began to descend, Nick said, "Don't take it personally, Carrots."

"Huh?"

"Don't take what Stripes said personally. I have a feeling he doesn't like it when innocent mammals get dragged into his missions. He probably feels it'd be on him if something happened to you."

"I know the feeling." Judy looked up meaningfully at Nick, and again he felt that warm feeling from having someone show sincere concern for his wellbeing. "Besides, I'm responsible for my own actions."

Nick heard the gunfire before the elevator doors opened, and when they did, the sound amplified enough to make him cringe. The firefight was close by, close enough that he was worried they'd get hit as soon as they stepped into the clean white hallway.

Judy motioned for Nick to stay down as she crept to the doorway and very carefully peeked around.

"It's around the corner." She said. Nick followed her into the hallway. At the aforementioned corner was a wall riffled with bulletholes. Four more exploded into dust as Nick watched. Pressed against a wall, hiding from the hail of bullets, were Gabe, McHorn and Higgins. Nick swallowed at the sight of the latter two mammals.

"Carrots, I don't think those two will be happy to see me."

"Stay here." Judy accepted the rifle from him and approached the three mammals. Nick ducked back into the elevator, holding them open as he watched McHorn and Higgins react with shock at her arrival. He heard little of what was said over the gunfire. Something about two wolves with machine guns guarding the door leading to the area where the sloth was hiding. McHorn was holding a shotgun, which he shot around the corner during a brief pause in the machine gun fire. Higgins looked bad enough, but someone had really messed the rhino up. "We hit one, but it didn't stop him! No idea how much ammo they got!" Higgins said.

"Have you tried negotiations?" Judy asked.

"We're not in the mood for chatting with these assholes!" McHorn growled.

"Fine." Judy said, then shouted above the gunfire. "ZPD! LOWER YOUR WEAPONS IMMEDIATELY!"

"What the hell are you doing, Carrots? There's no reasoning with these guys?" Nick hissed even as the gunfire stopped.

"Who the fuck are you?" One of the wolves yelled harshly.

"Officer Hopps, ZPD! Lower your weapons and put your paws on your head!"

"Hopps? We've been having fun with your cocksucker friends! Wanna come play with us, too?" They laughed unpleasantly.

"This is your last warning. Throw your weapons over here!" Judy pressed again, ignoring the incredulous looks the other mammals were giving her.

"Or what? You'll fertilize us with your carrot cooter?"

Nick bit his lip with hot anger. Bastards.

Judy went quiet for a moment. When she spoke again, she was eerily calm. "Do you have any idea who you're dealing with?"

"The White Queen Bitch who's supposedly smart enough to stop us?"

"Then you really don't know." Judy said. "I am a valedictorian of Precinct One."

With that she hefted her rifle, took a deep breath…

"Knock 'em dead, Carrots." Nick whispered.

… and then she howled.