Disclaimer: I do not own Zootopia or any related characters, that would be Disney. Rated M for violence, language, drug references and sex
The Unfluffables
Chapter Three: Gang War
ZPD Precinct One
"I've heard your escaped convict just took out Mr. Big," said Clawhouser as Nick and Judy made it back into the precinct. "What," said Judy, "did you just say that…" "That's what I thought Salazar busted him out for," said Nick, "the only reason he'd break out a killer as skilled as Krueger was if he wanted someone really dead." "But," said Judy, trying to process what was going on, "I'm still godmother to his granddaughter." "That's the least of our worries," said Nick, "Salazar is planning to use this opportunity to expand, and you do not want the Immortals in our neighborhood." "Okay," said Clawhouser, "so you know more than I do about what's going on, but what do you plan to do about it?" "I happen to know Big's right hand mammal from my days as a criminal," said Nick, "if that helps."
Tundra Town
It was a solemn afternoon in Mr. Big's mansion. Everyone was dressed in black and many tears were shed by everyone, mice, polar bears and wolves. Judy, wearing her police uniform, managed to find her old friend, Fru Fru. "They killed daddy," cried Fru Fru, "the cougar killed daddy." "I'm sorry Fru Fru," said Judy as she tried to comfort her, "I really am. He shouldn't have gone out, not like that. But your dad ended up like this because of the life he chose." "Doesn't help me," said Fru Fru. "I know," said Judy, "but the best you can do is not go down that same path." "Didn't you already put away the guy who did this," asked Fru Fru. "Me and Nick both," answered Judy, "but some other gangster, this Raul Salazar guy, broke him out to do this." "Salazar," asked Fru Fru, "I haven't seen that jaguar in forever." "Nick told me the same thing."
"Listen, Dimitri," said Nick to the dark suited polar bear, "I know you were Mr. Big's favorite, but please don't go after Salazar. That's my job!" "And a damn good job of keeping that killer behind bars," said Dimitri Bearkarov, Mr. Big's chief lieutenant and eventual successor, "you and I both know the law can't touch that piece of shit." "Carrots and I have solved the most impossible cases before," said Nick, "come on, the night howlers were just the beginning. The 66th Task Force? Hans Fluffer? Ring any bells?" "Just step aside," said Dimitri, "you don't want your soon to be wife getting hurt. I will nail Krueger and I will nail Salazar myself."
Nick sighed as he left the office room of the mansion. Then he grabbed Judy and escorted her back to the squad car. "What's the word from your guy," asked Judy with deep interest. "Dimitri wants blood," said Nick, "can't say I blame him, but we can't let this escalate." "How bad can it possibly get," asked Judy. "Picture Saihog," said Nick, "and you live there. These guys pack some serious heat," he paused, "just waiting for the right time to use it." Then they heard the radio coming on, along with the faint sounds of gunshots ringing out. "We have a gang shooting on 32nd," said Danny McBoot over the radio, "some polar bears against cats! We need backup now!" "Danny," said Judy, "sit tight, we're coming! Slick," she directed her attention to Nick, "lights and sirens on now!"
Savannah Central
Nick and Judy got to the scene of the shooting as fast as they could, only to see several dead mammals, Mr. Big's (rather, Dimitri Bearkarov's at this point) on one side, and a panther, cheetah and tiger, all heavily tattooed on the other. "So glad you two could make it," said Danny, wearing his SWAT uniform as well as his father's bush hat, "It seems these thugs decided to do a high noon shooting here. I recognize those guys to the left, rolling with the Tundra Town mob," he paused and pointed to the three dead on the other side, "who are those guys?" "Remember when we went to Happytown," said Nick, "those guys run the place. They're Immortals." "They don't seem so immortal to me," said Danny. Nick eyed the forensics team confiscating the fallen weapons, AK-47s, Uzis, MP5s and plenty of other serious hardware. "Alright carrots," he said to Judy, "this is what I meant by packing heat."
Thakathakathakathakathakathakathak!
A machine gun wielding lion in a sleeveless t-shirt, covered in tattoos, decided to take a shot at the dynamic duo. As Nick and Danny dove for cover, Judy ran after the lion into an alley with her pistol. The lion glanced behind himself and saw only a rabbit chasing him, and chuckled. "Don't you dare take a shot at us, though guy," she shouted as she ran after him. She then eyed a fire escape just ahead of the lion and got an idea. The quick thinking rabbit jumped onto the steel balcony, going right over the lion's head, and let down the ladder.
Smack!
"Aaaahhh, you little bitch," screamed the lion as he lay down on the pavement, muzzle covered in blood. Judy got on top of the lion and looked him in the eye, "You were stupid enough to shoot at cops, and you shot at the wrong ones today." "you bunnies," said the lion, still bloodied and groaning in pain, "you're all just too damn cute to threaten me." Judy shoved her pistol into the lion's broken nose and said, threateningly, "I don't know where you get this attitude, but you've pissed off the wrong mammal. You're doing time for this and I will make sure you stay there!"
"Carrots," shouted Nick from behind, "don't do anything stupid. I'm fine honey!" "So all that shit in the papers is true," said the lion, looking at Nick, "a naive bunny from the country meets the coward who didn't have what it takes to run with us, then joins the popo and falls in love. This is just the most spectacular bullshit I've ever seen!" "Shut it, Franky," said Nick to the lion, "I never wanted to be a killer like you. I'm living a better life than I ever thought imaginable, and there's nothing cowardly about it." "What about Colonel Spotzen," said Franky, "you blew his brains out before you could even think about it. And you," he directed his attention to Judy, "you cutesy little dumb bunny. You threw one of your own kind out of a goddamn window. You're both killers." "What's going on," asked Danny as he and two SWAT cops, a rhino and a grizzly bear, approached them. "Get this piece of shit out of my sight," ordered Nick.
Nick and Judy's Apartment
"Alright Nick," said Judy as she anxiously paced the floor, "I get the 'I know everybody' schtick, but what the hell was that?" "I don't like to talk about those days," said Nick as he lied down on the couch, "I'm not that mammal, never really was, thankfully." "We are about to be married," said Judy, "you've learned my dirtiest little secrets, but now I need to know about these guys before it gets us killed." "The lion's name is Franky Leonard," said Nick, "we went to school together." "Okay," said Judy, "that's a start. But what about you almost joining the Immortals, whoever they are."
"I was actually into a lot worse stuff than selling pawpsicles without paying taxes as a teenager," said Nick, "my criminal career began with the usual shoplifting, skipping school and sneaking into certain kinds of movies. But my first brush with Immortals," he paused, "I was either thirteen or fourteen. Salazar was just a lowly meth dealer at the time and I ran errands for him." "Errands," asked Judy. "I got the stuff to make his shit. So if memorizing the recipe for crystal meth is a dirty little secret, then so be it," said Nick defensively. "What about joining them," asked Judy. "My third and final stay in juvy," said Nick, "you're gonna love this one, was for grand theft auto." "You committed a felony," asked Judy, slightly angry. "I was a dumb kid and since I was underaged, it's not on my record."
He took a big breath of air, "Anyhow, that was the worst crime I ever committed. Salazar saw potential in me, wanted me as one of his go to guys." "Why did you turn him down," asked Judy, curiously. "His idea of initiation was to give me a gun," said Nick, who was now starting to feel very emotional, "and go pop some shop owner who wouldn't pay him protection. That was the day after mom kicked me out and I couldn't do it. So he beat the living shit out of me and that's the last time I ever saw him." "Nick, I'm," Judy attempted to apologize, but was cut off. "Don't be," said Nick, "I never even gave you a hint of who I was back then. I'll never go back. Me as a filthy conmammal," he paused as he looked into her eyes, "that was after I told off Salazar, and it was an improvement. Meeting you was the best thing to ever happen to me. Don't ever forget it." "Even after my brother stabbed you," asked Judy playfully. "Even then," said Nick.
Author's Note: So the story is going to pick up around here, now that you all know who the major players are and what Nick's connection is to Salazar and the Immortals. Last time was Judy's turn for a dark backstory, this time, Nick's was a little easier to imagine.