"If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the results of a hundred battles." - Sun Tzu
7:30 A.M ; Zootopia County Prison...
Nick and Judy had both been in some pretty odd situations, yet few seemed to stand out as much as their current one.
Here they were, walled in at Zootopia County Prison interviewing one of the city's most notorious criminal masterminds - One that they themselves had been responsible for locking up in this very cell-block - The marsupial treasure hunter Iluka Rombahe. It would have been awkward were it not for said criminal's persistent veil of charisma, alongside Nick and Judy's own desire to learn what they could before leaving as quickly as possible. This determination helped the rabbit officer especially clear her head, and remind herself that she was the one in control here, rather than the ex-crime-lord before her.
Judy cleared her throat. "Well, I was hoping you could start with your connections to Al Catpone - Whatever relationship you two may have had, in the past."
The tasmanian-devil stroked at his chin thoughtfully.
"Relationship, aye? Hmm... Well, my work on Outback-Island was always kind of, eh, independent compared to the other crime-lords, so I was never the most tied-in to the happenings on the mainland. I made my profits as a criminal mastermind by exploiting the archaeological market on the island - Plenty of knick-knacks to cash in on. Havin' a secluded market certainly helped. Plenty of museums and dig-sites with goods to profit from. I mean, crikey, do you even know how much some of those things could sell for? Anyways, although I focused mostly on artifacts and such, there was one market where I overlapped, and sometimes even competed with Al Catpone: Drugs!"
Nick pursed his lips. Iluka seemed to be having way too much fun with this particular topic.
"Drugs, right." Judy repeated quickly, scribbling down a few choice pieces of info onto her yellow notepad. "And how did this overlapping market effect you and Al?"
"The Outback's got some special plants that grow only there, so a' course I took advantage of 'em. Grew 'em, sold 'em - The whole nine-yards! Like I mentioned, the island's got a secluded market, so it made things easier to control in the locale, but once I started smugglin' the stuff out to the mainland, that's when I had to deal with Al. He's super territorial about his precious drug market. All the plants in the Rainforest-District make it the perfect place to grow and harvest certain drugs, and Al's spent years building up an empire there - Over half of Zootopia's drugs come in and out of that jungle! My market barely held a candle to his, an' yet that jaguar still did all he could to shut me out."
The rabbit nodded, sensing some animosity in Iluka's tone. It was clear that he wasn't exactly a fan of Al Catpone's possessive criminal business practices.
She decided to further inquire him over that topic. "So, Al didn't want to work with you? He pushed you away because he saw your influence as a threat to his?"
"Somethin' like that, yeah." Iluka grumbled, wiping at his nose. "Very territorial."
Judy wrote down another few sentences, making sure to take note of the apparent tension between the two crime-lords, as it could prove a useful point of information to take advantage of in the future, if the ZPD ever got around to tracking down Al Catpone. Something told her that if she ever met Catpone, that Iluka's information, as simple as it sounded, could be used to her advantage. Meanwhile, Nick cleared his throat as he leaned forward and threw in his own comment.
"Alright, so business is business, then, huh? Makes sense that you crime-lords would chart out your own territory and markets like that. Back when I was a con-artist, I always had to keep an eye out for other hustlers, too - Wouldn't want to share the same zone of operation as them. I guess the same principle applies to organized crime."
"Of course it does." Butch growled, stepping forward and gripping the bars of his cell. "You think your lil' street-side parlor tricks were all that and a bag a' chips?"
"I dunno, not gonna lie, but some of them were pretty creative, like that one with the giant popsicle and the-"
"You ain't seen nothin', Wilde!" The kangaroo spat, jabbing a finger at the fox. "The cheap rubbish you pulled back in the day wouldn't even-"
"Okay, enough of that!" Judy firmly interjected, pointing her carrot pen at Butch. "No more arguing."
Snarling beneath his breath, Butch stepped back and into the shadows once more, though still kept his muscular body turned towards the officers, as though he were expecting more conversation. Sighing, Judy lightly elbowed Nick in the sternum as a reminder not to press these criminal's buttons before turning her attention back towards Iluka.
"I think we've covered that topic enough. Your gang had ties to the Rainforest-Outfit, but otherwise maintained your own course. Sound about right?" She asked.
The tasmanian-devil nodded. "Aye." He said simply.
"That brings me to my next question, then," Judy began, flipping to another page in her notepad. "How long have you known, and how long have you done business with Al?"
Iluka scoffed. "I've been doin' business with 'em for as long as I've known 'em: 'Bout twelve years. Met him at this one big meeting, and things kicked off from there."
"And in any of those twelve years of partnership, was there anything Al spoke about very passionately to you? Something he might be willing to attack the ZPD over?"
At that notion, the former crime-lord glanced to the side and thoughtfully stroked at his chin, doing his best to reminisce an appropriate answer from his memories.
"Well... Al always did seem to have a bone to pick for all them drongos at City-Hall."
Judy's ears perked up with interest - Now they were getting somewhere. "Can you elaborate on that, please?" She requested, tightening her grip on her carrot-pen.
"Hrm. From what I knew about him, Catpone didn't have that great of an upbringing. Somethin' about poverty in the Rainforest-District... Or something." Iluka trailed off.
The bunny nodded reassuringly, hoping to coax him into continuing. He just sighed in exasperation.
"He grew up blamin' the system for his cruddy childhood - Pointin' fingers at City-Hall for underfunding certain parts of the city like Happy-Town, the Nocturnal-District, the Docks, and the neighborhood where Al grew up in the jungle. And being that many of those places are predominantly inhabited by minority species - Predators, marine-mammals, and the like - It gave Al a good reason to believe that the city government didn't have his race's best interests in mind. I mean, the bloke would never shut about it!"
Unimpressed, Judy's eyelids sank as she watched the former crime-lord put on a fake grin and wave his paws around like he was trying to fly, prancing on his toes.
"Predators this, and predators that!" Iluka mimicked in a high-pitched voice before growling and returning to his normal tone. "It just drove me crazy!" He stomped his foot.
Nick stepped forward, sensing trouble. "Okay, calm down, buddy." He chuckled nervously, spreading his paws. "Let's not do anything rash, like fly into another fit of rage."
Surprisingly, Iluka took the fox's words to heart, and let out a sigh of relief as his anger left him, and his shoulders sagged once more.
"Yes, you're right. Sorry." He cleared his throat. "I 'spose I can't blame 'em, though. My marsupial kin back on Outback-Island hold similar thoughts..." He swallowed.
"That you don't have proper representation in the city government." Judy translated. "That you're neglected." To this, Iluka nodded, and sighed bitterly.
"It's a big reason why organized crime is popular with minority species - Gives 'em an excuse to fight back against the establishment. My old posse was full of mammals with chips on their shoulders. Vladzotz and his mob down in the Nocturnal-District hate just about everyone on the surface, and as for Al, well... I guess he just learned to direct his own anger toward City-Hall. He always used to talk about, uh, teaching them a lesson, I believe he called it. He absolutely hates the government's poor track record in regards to his kind. That jaguar's had a soft spot for other predators as long as I can remember. He's even opened up a number of soup kitchens in Happy-Town for 'em."
Nick pursed his lips. "I can understand the sentiment, but that doesn't establish a motive for us. We don't know if the attack at the academy was motivated by any of that."
Iluka raised his head and suddenly lunged out, grabbing the bars of his cell. "Wait, what?!" He shouted. "That's what you think Al might've done?!"
The tasmanian-devil choked back his surprise, and then pulled himself away from the bars before beginning to pace around the length of his cell, stroking his chin.
"That's got to be one of the most reckless things I've ever heard... But it makes sense. You louts at the ZPD have been gaining ground on the operations of all the crime-lords for some time, now. Even took down me and Shahaz the Stinger. Of course the others would want to retaliate, but... Why there? There must be some sort of reason."
"We think it might have been to send some sort of message." Judy claimed. "And also, perhaps to serve as some sort of test, too."
"Test? Test for what?" Iluka questioned.
"For Night-Howlers." Nick explained. "Whoever planned the attack had the resources to reproduce Night-Howlers for the first time in nearly half a decade."
Iluka shrugged. "That does sound like Al... But I'm not so sure about the whole academy thing - So brash! Al's one of the most calculating mammals I've met. It's not like him."
"Then maybe it's just part of a bigger plan." Judy stated, straightening out her backbone with realization. "The first step toward something even bolder."
"The question is, then; just what is Al planning?" Nick finalized.
The weight of that question hung in the air for a few silent seconds. Whatever it was, Nick and Judy had a feeling they'd be finding out soon enough.
From the shadows of the cell beside Iluka's, Butch let out a dry scoff, breaking the silence. "Jumped-up drongos." He muttered with distaste.
"I have the right to be intrigued!" The tasmanian-devil claimed defensively. "It's not my fault that the only entertainment around here is face-to-wall conversation!"
"Okay, okay, that'll do it for that question." Judy said quickly, hoping to prevent another argument from breaking out. "Iluka, can you tell us anything else about Al?"
"Like perhaps where he and his gang hide out, for example? Any bells a-ringing?" Nick added.
Iluka sneered. "Bullocks. You'd need to burn down the whole jungle just to smoke 'em out."
"So is that a yes?"
"No!" The former crime-lord spat. "I haven't even been to the Rainforest-District since college... The humidity makes my fur poof out."
Nick rolled his eyes. "Then do you know anything about where they might operate?"
"Also no. Al never told me, and the few times the two of us met face-to-face, it never happened on his turf. I may have mentioned that he was overprotective."
Butch snorted. "Maybe you should stick around for lunchtime, and ask around the cafeteria. I'm sure there are plenty of incarcerated mobsters that might be able to help."
"Yeah. This place has the whole potpourri of pathetic." Nick grumbled, sparing a momentary glance back down the length of the hallway.
Judy shook her head, ignoring Butch's sarcasm. "We're just here for Iluka's information. He's the mammal with the closest association to Catpone in this entire prison."
"And I'd rather not find myself on the wrong end of a prison shiv, anyways." The fox interjected. "Better the bars between us than around us."
While her partner spoke, Judy's pen scribbled furiously atop her notepad, jotting down choice bits of information gathered from the last few minutes - That Al Catpone was likely planning something big, that he sought to send a message through the attack at the academy, and that Iluka didn't know where Al and his gang were doing their dirty work.
Vague info, but better than nothing. Leads didn't always come out of nowhere, after all. For now, the best that her and Nick could do was to learn as much as possible.
That fact led her to ask her next question. "Did you have any communication with Al while you were in the Deciduous-District? Anything suspicious he might have recently said?"
Iluka's eyes spaced out. "Ah yes, I remember our adventure to the Woodlands... Such lovely ruins. I'd love to do some more tomb-raiding, there!" He fawned.
Judy sighed. She in particular recalled all-too well just how much trouble that this tasmanian-devil had forced her and Nick through during their brief time in the Woodlands; trying to catch Iluka as he tootled around the Deciduous-District robbing museums and blowing up national parks. She had found it especially insensitive, if not unapologetically ironic, that this crime-lord wasn't shy from destroying ancient history to further his own selfish goals, even despite him claiming to be an archaeologist and a lover of culture.
A no-good, crooked treasure-hunter seemed more fitting of a title, in Judy's view.
"Sorry, gettin' off topic." The devil admitted, though he didn't look very sorry. "I just love singing my greatest hits. To answer your question, no; we didn't talk."
"Yeah," Butch's voice rang out from his cell. "You were too busy chasing fairytales."
"It wasn't a fairytale!" Iluka roared, pointing toward the framed photograph on his desk of the artifact he had been chasing. "You saw me hold it, for crying out loud!"
"Okay, enough!" Judy chided, resisting the urge to squeeze her pen like a stress grip. "To clarify, you haven't had any contact with Catpone within the last few months?"
"Nope. Well, there was that big meeting in Sahara-Square, but Al never mentioned anything about anything to me while we were there!"
Judy wrote down his response before moving on to her next question. "If you were Al, and you had just pulled off a big victory like this, what would you do next?"
"Take the gang out for some barbie!" The tasmanian-devil replied without hesitation.
"Let me rephrase that question," Judy cleared her throat. "You were a crime-lord, Iluka. Think like Al. If you were him, and responsible, what would be your next move?"
Iluka chewed on his cheek, giving the question some actual thought, this time.
"I... I suppose I'd scope out the situation. Watch what the ZPD was doing, and then act in response from there."
Something about that phrase struck a chord with Judy, though she couldn't place a finger on exactly why, yet. It just sounded... Right. She copied his reply in her notes.
"One last question." She assured. "The soup kitchens you mentioned, the ones that Al established in Happy-Town - Can you give me their locations?"
"Huh? Why? They're predator-based soup kitchens - Most of 'em only serve fish and bug stew. You probably wouldn't like the menu."
"Not to dine at, to stake-out!" Judy exclaimed. "Those soup kitchens, generous as they may be, sound like they could also be fronts for criminal activity."
"Ah, now that's clever." Nick added with a half-lidded grin.
Judy smiled, not entirely sure if he was complimenting her powers of deduction, Al's criminal business savviness, or both. She decided to go with the former.
"I was thinking that these soup kitchens would be good places to store resources and supplies outside the Rainforest-District - Stuff Al would need to pull off something big like the Night-Howler attack at the academy. Once we stop by Precinct Four, we could request some officers to keep an eye on those locations, watching for illicit activity."
"That's a good idea." The fox said before taking out his mobile device and turning towards Iluka. "So, where are they?"
Iluka tapped his chin. "Well, there's one on Pack Street, one on Prairie Avenue, another on Sousten Street, aaaand one off of Dry River Road, in Sahara-Square."
"Snitch." Butch spat.
"It's an honest question!"
"And surprisingly, an honest answer." Nick stated, holding up his phone for Judy to see. "I just looked up the locations of all four. They check out."
"Great! Thanks, Nick." The rabbit said quickly, scribbling down a few more bits of info on her notepad before slipping it back into her utility belt. "I think we're done here."
"Oh, so that's it?" Iluka grumbled as he planted his paws on his hips. "Off to go save the city after a ten minute interrogation?"
"I think we have all the info we need from you, for now." Judy said. "Thank you for your time, Mr. Rombahe. Your cooperation won't go without reward."
Just as she started to walk off, Iluka called out something that made her stop in her tracks, even though it was in a joking manner.
"Gone already, then? How terse! Well at least try not to destroy anything on this investigation!"
The bunny turned around and faced down the former crime-lord of Outback-Island. "Excuse me?"
"Coming from the guy who nearly caved in the entire Deciduous-District." Nick muttered, causing Iluka to bark a laugh.
"That was just business! No need to dwell on it. I'm talking about you two, and your, eh, track record."
"Don't forget that taking you down is a part of our track record." The fox retorted.
"Of course! But I'm referring to your habit of making messes wherever you go, in spite of your victories. It's funny, really - You cause chaos while trying to promote order."
"What do you mean?" Judy asked, her voice taking on a defensive tone. Iluka's grin grew, as though he were happy to have an excuse to elaborate.
"Look back at the fallout of all your greatest achievements: The protests that followed the Night-Howler case, the riots in the Nocturnal-District after the fall of Castle Fangpyre, the power-struggle you created in the Downtown's financial district once Jack Savage was arrested, and of course, the political upheaval surroundin' Ratsputin's death that got you sent to the Deciduous-District where we first met. And somethin' tells me that my defeat didn't come without its own set of drawbacks for you either, did it?"
Judy lowered her head. Iluka was right: Defeating him was ultimately what had earned the attention of the city-council, and led to her and Nick's assignment of training the next generation of ZPD recruits at the academy. Every action had consequence - For every victory that they gained, there was some form of proceeding backlash, however small or large, however direct or indirect. Indeed, it even seemed that the recent attack at the academy itself had been enacted in direct response to Nick and Judy's disruptions of the criminal underworld. Al Catpone, or whoever was behind the scheme, had meant for it to serve as a warning: A retaliation against the ZPD for interfering in business.
"So the question is, officers," Iluka resumed ominously. "Are you prepared for whatever consequences might follow if you bring down Al Catpone?"
The weight of that question settled over the cell-block like a thick blanket of smog, heavy and suffocating. When neither Nick nor Judy replied, Iluka went on.
"And Catpone isn't even the only crime-lord still out there! Mr. Big and Vladzotz - along with that bloody girlfriend of his - still reign supreme over the criminal underworlds of Tundra-Town and the Nocturnal-District. Did you ever even consider what might happen if Catpone is taken out of the equation? Those three are all vying for whatever power they can get their paws on, and if you suddenly bring down Al, or any one of them, for that matter, then you'll create an even bigger power-vacuum! Just like when you beat me and Shahaz the Stinger! Every time, you dipsticks at the ZPD just throw a wrench into the machine and walk away, thinkin' you've won, but each time you take out a crime-lord, you leave behind an entire criminal-empire's worth of mammals and resources just ripe for the taking. That's the kind of money and influence that mammals would kill for. Even now, over on the Outback, I'm sure there are mammals squabbling over the leftovers of my criminal empire - Riff-raff trying to take dominion over what I once controlled. But my work was small compared to the inner-district crime-lords... The Big Four, as I like to call them: Mr. Big, Shahaz the Stinger, Al Catpone, and Vladzotz Fangpyre. You've already taken down Shahaz, but can you imagine what might happen if you take down another?"
He let that question linger in the air. Iluka had brought up a lot of points, many worth considering. But Judy had her answer in no time.
"If we find out Al Catpone is responsible for what happened at the academy, we will bring him down, and make sure justice is delivered." She claimed confidently.
Despite the rabbit's self-assuredness, she couldn't help but feel a glint of apprehension when she took note of Iluka's reaction. Surprisingly, he seemed to take offense to what she had said. His orange eyes hardened like amber, his muzzle split with clenched teeth and the skin on his lips and ears flushed red as his anger took hold of him once more.
"You blue-heelers think that you're the only ones keeping order in this city, but organized crime is the glue of the criminal underworld! Without it, you get chaos, and opportunistic scavengers milking that chaos; like that blasted bat I hired in the Woodlands! Don't you see? If you take down Al, then Vladzotz or Mr. Big will try to supersede what's left of the Rainforest-Outfit, as they did with Shahaz's syndicate, and then everything gets barmy! There's a reason why we crime-lords each operate from a different city district - Why we trade and communicate, but never interfere with eachother's business! Because we, unlike you, know that organized crime is better than disorganized crime!"
As those final words left Iluka's mouth, the devil was left panting heavily, his lips and ear-tips still tinged with scarlet. He then gathered his bearings, breathing in deep with slow and steady inhales, allowing his bare skin to revert back to its normal color. After recomposing himself, he gripped the iron bars of his cell before finalizing his tirade.
"If by some miracle you manage to arrest Catpone, or even simply pursue him, then you could draw the ire of the others! There's no telling what could happen!"
Iluka's final proclamation bared weight within its words. But the rabbit officer hardened her resolve, intent on retorting the former crime-lord's claims.
"I think you're overestimating things, Iluka." Judy stated. "You may know how the criminal underworld works, but the ZPD has the means to keep things under control."
Nick then stepped forward and added his own two-cents.
"Yeah. And we're only going after Catpone because he's the primary suspect in our investigation. If Mr. Big or Flappy-Bat take offense to it, then that's their problem. You were pretty quick to assume that they'll retaliate against us, but from what we've noticed, those two seem to be the most low-profile of the bunch, especially Flappy-Bat - We haven't had any big leads on either of them in a long time. You are right about one thing, though: There's no telling what they'll do if we manage to bag Catpone. Maybe they'll sit back and play it safe, or maybe they'll try to pull a fast-one on us, like what you did at the evidence archive. Whatever the case, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
Nick spoke the truth. He didn't know what the aftereffects of their new investigation would be, if any, but he figured that it wouldn't do them any good to worry about it now. Now, the main goal was tracking down Al Catpone, and trying to connect him and his mob to the attack at the academy. Because of that, Nick wasn't fazed by Iluka's warning. Though he didn't mention it aloud, the fox already knew that the relationship between the crime-lords was even rockier than what met the eye - He knew firsthand, after all. Back when he had been a member of Mr. Big's syndicate, he recalled bearing witness to the arctic-shrew's frequent rants about his business dealings with the other crime-lords, and how they occasionally backfired. Mr. Big had even grown so wrathful as to try and have Vladzotz's home burned to the ground. Nick recalled that scandal above all others.
But the silver-lining behind it all was the fact that the crime-lords, despite having large amounts of money and power, and having dominion over different parts of the city's criminal underworld, were not infallible: They made mistakes, stabbed their allies in the back, and could become petty, just like any other mammal. They had weaknesses that could be exploited. Nick had seen all of these traits personified by the various crime-lords that he had met, including the tasmanian-devil that currently stood before him.
Iluka himself, however, simply stared at the fox officer with a sense of awe captured upon his expression. He allowed a slight smile to play at the edge of his mouth.
"You're wiser than you look, Wilde." The tasmanian-devil mused. "It does you well."
The fox just shrugged, choosing not to retort, before stepping back and leaving the floor to Judy. Iluka turned his head toward her with interest.
"My warning still stands, though." He apprised. "If you stick your noses too much where you're not supposed to, it may not just be Catpone that you have to worry about."
"We'll keep that in mind." Nick promised. "Thanks for the advice... If that's what you want to call it."
Iluka simply grinned. "Aye. I'm sure you'll be needing it."
There was a brief moment of silence as the fox stared down the former crime-lord, that was, before Judy finally broke the tension by clearing her throat.
"I think we've heard enough, for now." She claimed, stepping between the two. "Your intel has already given us more info than we could've hoped. Thank you."
The tasmanian-devil nodded. "It's been my pleasure. Just don't forget to let the warden know how helpful I was!"
"We'll be sure to." Judy promised.
"Good that." Iluka muttered before sighing with relief and then tenderly rubbing at the back of his neck. "Whelp, I'm gonna take try to slip a nap, now. Ever since I took that nasty fall back in the Deciduous-District, I've been left with a few aches and pains. Gotta sleep 'em off. If you catch Al, tell him I send my regards!"
Nick and Judy watched as Iluka slinked off into his cell before plopping down on a rickety metal bed. That seemed to be the end of it. They took one last look around before beginning to vacate the premises. As Judy paced off, Nick took a moment to approach Butch's cell. Wringing his paws together nervously, he stared over his old associate.
"Hey..." He started cautiously. "I'm sorry about what happened. I never wanted you to be in prison. If you'd ever like me to visit, bring you a fruit-basket, or something-"
"No." The kangaroo growled, avoiding Nick's gaze. "Just go."
Nick's ears sank. He didn't bother trying to argue. Instead, he simply let out a defeated sigh before turning tail and following Judy out of the cell-block. When he spared a single glance back over his shoulder, he noticed that Butch was still staring dejectedly at the floor of his cell. The fox made himself a promise to send him something, eventually. He figured it was the least he could do. It wasn't like Nick and Butch had ever been close, but the fox still felt guilty about getting this kangaroo locked up in prison, especially after how he had saved their lives. On their way out of the cell-block, Nick and Judy passed by all the cells of the old enemies that they had encountered earlier, though paid attention to none of them as they left the building, not even the raccoon Sprock, who immediately started ranting again as soon as he caught sight of Nick passing by.
"This ain't ova', you hear me?!" He roared, rattling the bars between his grip as the two officers strolled by without a second glance. "I'll get my revenge, you'll see!"
The two officers returned their key-cards to the warden, and made sure to make mention of Iluka's cooperation to him, as well, though it was unlikely to amount to much reward for him. When they at last set foot outside the prison, where the morning sunlight streamed warmly through the clouds above, Nick sighed with relief. He was grateful that in a life of regret, he was able to walk free and enjoy the warmth of the daytime. He pitied most of those locked in prison, for they were unable to enjoy such trivial pleasantries.
"Well, that was interesting." He sighed before turning on the humor. "At least we didn't get caught up in a prison riot while we were there, huh?"
Judy smirked. "Don't get too comfortable yet, Slick. Our work isn't done."
The fox nodded, flipping on his favorite pair of shades as he hopped up into their cruiser. "Of course it isn't. Where to next, then?"
"Where Chief Bogo wants us to meet up with his colleague, Chief Myreme." She claimed, starting up the engine. "Precinct Four, in the Rainforest-District."
A slight chuckle escaped from between Nick's teeth. "Insects and humidity, here we come."
8:35 A.M ; The Rainforest-District...
Despite his cynical denunciation of the Rainforest-District's lesser qualities, Nick had always considered the place to be among his favorite locations in the city.
It was, of course, a lush and beautiful area, with countless sights to see and things to do. However, for criminal entrepreneurs large and small alike, the jungle district also had a lot to offer - Dense foliage perfect for hiding mammals and objects, hundreds of thin roads that branched through the treetops like capillaries, giving plenty of options for vehicular escapes, and lots of shade to slink about in, even during the day. Nick knew these things well, for during his time as a con-artist, the Rainforest-District had served as one of his favorite sources of supply for his scams. He had often collected runoff water from the treetops, funneling it into scavenged container jugs before bringing them to Sahara-Square to be sold to thirsty passerby, and he would also frequently scrounge up dropped fruit for whenever he wanted a quick and easy (not to mention free) meal.
Such characteristics, even past the shiny skyscrapers and tourist destinations, made the Rainforest-District a haven for less-than-legal activity ranging from smuggling to the cultivation of illegal substances. It was no wonder Al Catpone had managed to build an empire here. These thoughts and more all swirled through the fox's head as Judy drove the two of them to Precinct Four, in the heart of the jungle. It had taken over an hour to drive all the way from Zootopia Country prison, on the very outskirts of the city, up to the Rainforest-District. Their cruiser sped down uneven roads that meandered through massive roots, and around trees, both natural and artificial, that seemed as tall as skyscrapers.
Wood and metal overhangs could be seen clinging to the jungle's understory, entire homes and businesses built into the branches of the forest. Apartments nestled in the treetop crowns, and even higher above, suspension bridges criss-crossed amidst the sun-soaked canopy layer, shimmering in the warm beams while everything below draped in shadow. Rotating sprinklers strategically positioned along the lengths of the trees spewed water down to the forest floor, where pedestrians walked along wooden boardwalks lined with rows of colorful umbrellas. Large pipes built into the trees belched out clouds of hot steam as they sucked up water from the pools spread throughout the forest floor to be taken up to the higher levels above, where they were released as more rain and mist in a never-ending mammal-made water cycle.
While Nick stared out the window, admiring the beauty of the district, Judy was busy driving their cruiser through crowds of diversely sized cars. The traffic had built up along their journey to Precinct Four, and up above, the bunny officer could see why: Constructions crews were hard at work clearing massive fallen branches and other debris from the roads, and had to direct commuters down alternative pathways. One of Judy's feet thumped impatiently to the side of the brake, agitated by the bumper-to bumper congestion.
"This traffic is horrible." The bunny complained. "Oh, I hope we aren't too late!"
When the words reached Nick's ears, he let out a dry chuckle.
"Well, you know what they say: The only thing in the Rainforest-District thicker than the humidity is the plants, and the only thing thicker than the plants is the traffic."
His joke seemed to somewhat dampen Judy's worries, as he noticed a grin starting to grow at the corner of her mouth. It was good enough for him.
Eventually, the stoppage was cleared, and the roads were free for them to traverse once again. Their journey took them over rivers and bridges, deep into the heart of the jungle district, before they at last reached Precinct Four. It was a blocky, almost bee-hive shaped structure built into the crux of several large tree-like skyscrapers. Windows lined with vines encircled the terraced floors of the building, and the parking lot was filled to the brim with cruisers identical to Nick and Judy's, ranging in size and shape as diverse as the jungle itself. They found a suitable parking spot before stepping out of their vehicle and making their way for the precinct.
While they walked, a crackling static sound emanated from Judy's waist. It morphed into the tone of a deep, stoic voice. "Officer Hopps, report." Chief Bogo ordered.
Judy picked up her radio and held down one of its buttons. "We're here, Chief. Over." Before her thumb released the button, Nick decided to add in his own comment.
"Checking in on us, Chief?" He teased. "How sweet of you."
A disgruntled snort echoed from the other side of the line. "Don't flatter yourself, Wilde. I'm only verifying your status to make sure you didn't get lost in the jungle."
"So you do care!" Nick retorted before Judy pulled the radio away from him, huddling it in her arms.
"Nick and I learned all we could from Iluka. We just reached Precinct Four." She said.
"Good." Bogo grunted. "Chief Myreme will be waiting for you inside. Work with him to establish leads on the suspect. If you find anything, report back to me. Out."
The radio shut off with a static buzz, and Judy refastened it to her utility belt.
"Well, it's nice to know that at least someone's looking out for us." Nick muttered as he pulled open the door to the building and allowed Judy to step inside.
Together, the two officers entered the lobby of Precinct Four in search of Roberto. Like Precinct One, the entrance hall was large and spacious, and brimming with activity. Officers of all shapes and sizes ambled throughout the room, some with detainees cuffed against them, others lugging around crates of captured contraband and other assets seized from suspects. The carpet was an earthy pattern of brown and dark green, with patches of fruiting jungle trees sprouting up from sections of dirt flanking the walls. Vines hung down from the ceiling like lures, and were coated so thick around the windows in the roof that only a small portion of sunlight managed to make it into the building. The windows in the side of the building were a different story, however, with each one giving a great view of the Rainforest-District's all-encompassing tree-line.
Past the leaf-shaped receptionist's desk, Judy spotted Chief Myreme standing calmly on the far side of the lobby, his piercing green eyes trained on her and Nick for every step of the way. The giant anteater held his posture high, and with confidence. His blue uniform was secured with a tight black belt wrapping around his waist and chest like a sash, and his shaggy brown fur seemed to be the only part of him that didn't look impeccably well prepared. As Nick and Judy approached him, a thin smile grew upon his muzzle.
"Welcome to Precinct Four, officers." He greeted, tipping his red beret cap with a polite nod. "I trust that your interview with Iluka went well."
Judy stopped beside the chief, holding up her yellow notepad for him to see. "It did. We got a lot of useful information from him."
"Not to mention some annoying offhand remarks." Nick grumbled beneath his breath. If Chief Myreme heard him, he didn't acknowledge it.
"Excelente." The anteater decreed in that smooth, exotic accent of his. "Come. Walk with me, and tell me everything." He beckoned with his curled black claws.
Nick and Judy followed their superior farther into lobby of Precinct Four, all the while explaining what they had learned from Iluka in regards to Al Catpone's criminal empire, personality, motivations, and more. Chief Myreme kept his gaze trained ahead the entire time, and his arms folded meticulously behind his back, but nodded his head in polite acknowledgement every once and a while, signaling his interest in the conversation. He otherwise maintained a constant silence as they explained what had happened. The trio of mammals continued deeper into the building, meandering down winding hallways coated with racks of moist vines and rows of beautiful potted jungle flowers. Judy had to resist the temptation of plucking one as she passed by. Eventually, they reached a dark hallway positioned in the heart of the precinct, where ocelot guards stood watching rows of metal-plated doors - The interrogation sector, where criminals and suspects were taken for questioning. Walking down the length of the hall, Nick and Judy could see into the interrogation rooms past thick panes of glassy windows. Inside, officers with pens and clipboards sat silently with detained mammals, noting down their words and actions.
Chief Myreme halted in front of one of the farthest holding rooms down the hall. Through the window, Nick and Judy spotted their old buddy Eugene alone in the room, sitting glumly in an equally desolate-looking metal chair. He sat staring blankly at the wall, and hadn't noticed the arrival of the three officers, probably because the single window was a one-way view. Judy furrowed her brow in distaste. After all of the chaos that this mole had elicited at the academy, she had little sympathy for his current situation. He had, after all, been spying on the happenings at the academy for his employer, and was responsible for a lot of damage and destruction. Nick just snorted flatly through his nostrils.
"I was wondering what happened to this slimeball." He muttered.
The anteater chief of police pursed his lips with thought. "Your claims about Al Catpone match what we have learned from him."
"Is that why you brought us here?" Judy inquired, to which her superior nodded in confirmation.
"Sí. With all that has been learned, I suspect that my crime-lord rival may be behind the accident at the academy, after all."
"Great, so when do we get to go after him?" Nick asked.
"Soon." Roberto promised. "But there is still more to learn."
Nick tilted his head curiously. "Like what? It seems to me that you guys found a pretty good lead to start things off."
As soon as the words left the fox's mouth, the anteater officer sighed. He went on without breaking his gaze from his reflection in the one-way window.
"And that we did, indeed. However, Chief Bogo has recently notified me of a new discovery at the academy - Something that we only just encountered, and now need to question your spy over. You see, the first-responders came across a recruit, a young wolverine hiding in a bathroom, that displayed some... Unusual behavior. They were overcome with all of the definitive traits of savagery - Dilated eyes, increased salivary production, quadrupedal locomotion, and overt aggressiveness - Yet were able to clearly and completely communicate with the first-responders that found them. They were savage, yet... Not savage. The recruit was taken outside for medical attention, and after about an hour's time, were walking upright as if nothing had happened at all. They claimed that they had inhaled a dark purple gas; different from the dark blue colored gas that was described by other recruits, and that they had undergone a painful transformation, yet managed to maintain their sentience, and will. We aren't sure what it was, though it may be another drug. This new information has proved startling, and I have concluded that we must question Eugene about it. He may know something we do not."
It was all almost too much for the bunny and fox to take in. From the sound of it, whoever had masterminded the attack at the academy was even more powerful and resourceful than first thought, if they were able to not only recreate Night-Howlers in a gaseous form, but also develop some other, brand new drug with similar effects.
The rabbit swallowed, and stepped closer to Chief Myreme, paws clutched together nervously. "What does all this mean?"
Roberto removed his gaze from the window before locking eyes with Judy. "It means that our spy has a lot of explaining to do." He stated.
"That's putting it lightly." Nick added. "Another drug? And one based off of Night-Howlers? How..." He trailed off, narrowing his eyes. "Unoriginal."
Chief Myreme shrugged. "It is not the drug or its design that concerns me, but its purpose. I wonder what its maker was trying to prove by using it, and why."
Sending a message... Nick thought to himself as he reminisced over what the mole had told him and Judy during their scuffle back at the academy earlier that morning.
"We'll just have to find that out from Eugene." Judy claimed with renewed determination as she approached the door. "I take it you want us to question him?"
"It would be most appreciated." The anteater confirmed.
"Then it's settled." She said before turning to her partner. "C'mon, Nick. We have a spy to interrogate."
Meanwhile, somewhere in the Rainforest-District...
"C'mon, c'mon where is it?" Al muttered, flicking through several different TV channels with his remote. "It's gotta be 'round here somewhere."
With each click of the button, the television screen buzzed to life with a new program. For half a second, there was an exercise broadcast promoting the annual Sahara-Square Marathon, which showcased a bunch of camels and other desert-dwelling mammals running paths around sand dunes and through sun-soaked crevices. Al Catpone snarled beneath his breath before changing the channel. The next one displayed a news report from ZNN, with one of the head anchors - a charming male snow fox in a sky blue suit - giving details on the latest information relating to the disappearance of an investigative reporter researching corruption down in the Nocturnal-District.
Doug heard Catpone scoff beneath his breath. "Batty Vladzotz and his batty girlfriend... Pullin' reckless stunts like that."
Like you're one to talk, The ram thought to himself, though otherwise remained silent as his captor continued to click through the channels.
It had been several hours since the first step in Al Catpone's plan had come to fruition. Doug had spent the past few days working on the new formula with little time for sleep. Al hadn't even told Doug the full extent of his plan yet, or even what he had done with the drugs that he had worked so hard to make. Now, the two of them were sitting quietly in one of the bland concrete rooms of Al's underground compound, of which Doug also had little knowledge over. The large couch that they sat upon, and the television in front of them were the only items of value in the room, with everything else being nothing more than scrap pieces of technology piled atop the metal shelves lining the walls. In the background, Al's cronies could be seen milling around, playing cards, moving crates of contraband, filling out papers, and going about other usual mobster business.
Meanwhile, Al continued to cycle through program after program without words before unintentionally stopping on a televised anti-smoking ad. The jaguar hissed aloud before quickly changing the channel, and taking in a deep breath from his cigar, as though he were making sure it was still there. With his temper subsided, Al chewed on his stick of tobacco, growling beneath his breath as he strained his eyes on the screen, scanning closely. Doug still wasn't sure what he was searching for, and was just about to ask, when Catpone all of a sudden shot from the couch, standing to his feet and pointing to the television with glee.
"There!" He exclaimed, a villainous grin beginning to part his lips. "Watch."
Doug leaned forward, focusing in on what looked like a news report. An aerial view from a helicopter showed a large complex of buildings with columns of black smoke rising from the rooftops. Firefighters were dousing the flames while paramedics darted back and forth through the surrounding parking lot, tending to dozens of mammals on stretchers. The news heading at the bottom of the screen read, 'ACADEMY ATTACK: ZOOTOPIA POLICE RECRUITS TURNED SAVAGE'. The sheep barely believed his eyes.
"Eh?" Catpone looked to Doug with a proud, sinister smile. "Whaddya think?"
"I think... This whole operation is going to crash and burn."
The jaguar scoffed. "Nah, don't you worry. Everything is going according to plan." He claimed before inhaling deep from his cigar.
"And does your plan involve getting half the ZPD on your back?" Doug nearly shouted. Al simply shook his head, as if he were disappointed in him for not understanding.
"The coppers may think they know what they're doing, but trust me, with the public against them, they'll be the ones lookin' over their shoulders. It's risky, but worth it."
"I'm still not following you." The sheep claimed, to which Catpone growled in irritation, causing tendrils of smoke to stream out from between his fangs.
"You're a smart mammal, Doug - Use your head. Back when you worked for Bellwether, you took advantage of the public's fear to create a chaotic environment. You lept from that chaos and gave prey citizens a reason to hate predators, so that your boss' political agenda could come to pass. Then you planned on using Ratsputin's shock-collar invention, right? He told me about that before he, ya know, died. If there's one thing I've learned from Ratsputin, and crime in general, it's that chaos can be a ladder."
Doug nodded his head, finally begging to grasp the big idea. "You're doing what we did... Turning the public against your own enemies at the ZPD."
Al smiled. "Now you're gettin' it. Not the full picture, but yeah. I also wanted to test out our new formula, but there's more to it than just that."
"Like what?" The sheep asked, shifting his weight atop the couch.
"Hmm." Catpone scratched at his chin for a moment. "Imagine it like this: You're a miserable predator living in Happy-Town, and you see somethin' like this,"
He paused, pointing to the TV screen, gesturing to the rising smoke and all the wounded post-savage mammals on stretchers.
"Somethin' that shows how incompetent the ZPD is, allowing one of their own recruits to jeopardize the academy. Somethin' that makes you think that if chaos could strike there, then it could strike anywhere. I targeted the academy because I wanted to send a message: A message to the ZPD, reminding them of the consequences of interfering in business, and a message to the public, showing them that no one is safe, and that their own boys in blue are corrupt, and cannot protect them."
The ram's eyes widened with intrigue. "So that you can stir up distrust between the public and the city-government, and-"
"Have them demand change, even if it comes through radical ways." Catpone concluded.
"Thus making it easier for you to push your scheme. That's a crazy, convoluted plan." Doug muttered, to which his captor simply shrugged.
"It worked with the original Night-Howlers, didn't it? And now, it'll work again with my - Our - Apex-Affluent. Once we start distributing the stuff into places like Happy-Town, the Docks, and the Nocturnal-District, predators will finally have the power to fight back, and make change for themselves. With luck, they'll manage to finally throw those morons in City-Hall out of office, and create a better government. Maybe the kind where mammals like me are viewed less like crime-lords, and more like, eh, business entrepreneurs."
As the jaguar chuckled beneath his breath, Doug crossed his arms and scoffed.
"Well, that at least explains your plan, and how you stay in power while causing all this chaos, and profiting from it. I admit, it's not bad, though I'm still worried about the ZPD."
"Don't you worry about them - I've taken some precautions." Al said, not bothering to elaborate.
"Whatever you say. At least you seem to know what you're doing."
Catpone allowed himself a proud smirk. "I'm glad you understand. That dame I hired to bring us our ingredients - The vampire bat - She understands plenty about this kinda stuff. Vladzotz and Mr. Big do too. Any criminal worth their salts knows that opportunity can be seized from chaos. It's a simple fact of nature. You'll witness it soon."
The jaguar trailed off, staring back at the television. Doug stroked his chin, which had finally begun to grow back the wool that Al's crazy tayra minion had shaved off.
"So, why are you doing this, anyways?" He asked. "I mean, where did all of this predator martyr crap come from? I always thought you just dealt with street drugs."
"Drugs have always been my specialty, 'specially plant-based ones, but I figured I could put my trade to better use. I hated watching the city government conspire against its own citizens - The Blood-Crisis from the Nocturnal-District, Bellwether's Night-Howler epidemic, Mayor Lionheart trying to brush it under the rug, the shock-collar conspiracy that the ZPD tried to wipe away like a ketchup stain..." He momentarily trailed off before resuming. "And that's not even countin' all the things City-Hall has led slide on predators, and the prioritization policy that the city uses as an excuse to keep all the primary districts spick and span while lettin' places like Happy-Town and the Docks rot."
Al pointed one of his claws at Doug. "I told you before that every problem Zootopia has ever had has started with City-Hall. Don't you agree?"
"I wouldn't call it inaccurate." The ram muttered flatly.
"See? Then we're in agreement." Catpone said, slapping the back of his wrist into an open palm. "All I want to do is see this city become a better place."
Past his words, Doug could tell that Al wasn't telling him the full truth - There was more to his plan and the reasoning behind it than what he said.
Still, he kept his thoughts to himself. "And what, do they all share the same belief?" Doug grumbled, gesturing to the other mobsters as they milled around the vicinity.
Catpone shrugged. "Some of my boys are in on it more for the money or the merit, but we all stand to benefit from this."
"You really think so, don't you?"
"I do." The jaguar stated firmly before rising to his feet. "I mean, look around! We've been makin' progress! Thanks to you, my men have started producin' even more Apex-Affluent for us to use. Soon, we'll be able to make the stuff all on our own, and once we start sellin' it, the profits will come rollin' in. Your skills have proven valuable to us."
Doug nodded, grateful for the appreciation. Bellwether had never thanked her for his help in her political plot, not even after she had became mayor of Zootopia. It was a nice change, even if said change came at the cost of his precious wool. And Al did have a point - He had noticed some of the other mobsters learning how to make the drug, too.
"I suppose I have been pretty helpful." The ram gloated.
"I think special skills are the best thing a made-mammal can have." Catpone said before jutting his jaw in the direction of a portly tapir hovering over a stack of papers.
"See that miserable whelp ova' there? That's Donnie. He's probably got more pounds on the scale than cells in his brain, yet he's the best number-cruncher I've got. He's saved our tails from the tax collectors more times than I can remember. And of course, you've already met Pazzo, our head, uh, persuader, so to say. Then there's Doctor Schwarz, the panther you met back at the lab. He's been a real help with synthesizing our formula. That bat I hired is a good sleuth, and you're our resident chemical expert."
"Yeah, yeah, I get it." Doug interrupted, growing tired of the speech. "Everyone has their talents."
"True, but that's not the point I'm tryin' to make here." Catpone claimed. "I'm sayin' that you may have a special place in the Rainforest-Outfit, Doug."
"You want me to join you guys?"
"Yeah, I do. I think you'd make a good asset." Al said as he drove his burnt-out cigar into an ashtray perched atop the television monitor.
Doug let out a dry laugh. "Thanks, but no thanks. I think I'll stick to our original plan of you paying and releasing me once we're through."
"Are you sure? This isn't an offer I give out to just anyone, ya know."
"Oh, I'm sure." The sheep claimed, narrowing his eyes. "I've been sure ever since your lackey buzzed me clean."
Catpone sighed in frustration. "You were being difficult. We had to make you talk. It'll grow back."
He briefly removed his vine-wrapped fedora, wiping at his scalp with a handkerchief before placing his hat back on his head.
"But think about my offer, will you? The Rainforest-Outfit could really use a mammal with your skill-set in a more permanent position." He said.
"Fine, I'll consider it." Doug assured, if only to get Catpone to stop pressing him.
"Good." Al exhaled through his nostrils before picking up the remote and turning off the television. "We should get to work now. It's time for the next step in the plan."
"Which would be...?" The sheep started, trailing off with curiosity.
A smirk formed across Catpone's countenance as he pulled out a phone from one of the pockets on his overcoat. "Bringing in some help." He claimed ominously.
The jaguar pressed a few buttons on the device before bringing it up to his ear, and clearing his throat. It rung a few times before the other line picked up.
"You have reached the office of Tundra-Town Limo Service." A thick, tired accent that could only belong to a polar-bear greeted. "It's the ride you can't refuse."
"Skip the slogan peddlin', Kozlov." Al Catpone scoffed. "It's Al. Tell Big B I'd like to schedule anotha' meeting. Vladzotz is comin' too. We have business to discuss."
Hey everyone!
Hope you all enjoyed this latest chapter of ours. It took a bit to write up, but I'm glad it's here and done, now. It had a lot to tell, but I can promise you the next few chapters will have even more to show!
In the next chapter, you'll witness Nick and Judy's second questioning of the day with the spy, where they'll continue the research part of their investigation before jumping into the fray! You'll also be seeing how Mr. Big and Vladzotz, along with Lucy, will be partaking in the remainder of this final story arc. There will be some big revelations, more character development, insight into motivations, stuff to move the plot forward even more, and a few other spoiler-y things that I should probably leave for you to find out yourself, so do please stay tuned for chapter 109, coming your way soon! You won't want to miss it.
That being said, there are a number of other neat stories from other author's you can check out while you wait, if you're interested. A few that I've enjoyed have been 'Born to be Wilde', 'Level 9', and 'Fluffy and Scruffy', each one being fun and well-written in their own way. Feel free to to look them up! Also, there's some cool new fan-art on display on my tumblr and DeviantArt accounts, including this one awesome setting art of Beaverdam, over in the Deciduous-District! So if you like awesome art by equally awesome artists, you're welcome to check those out, as well.
That's all I've got to say, for now. Thanks a lot for reading, and do please stay tuned for what's to come! You can expect it sooner than usual. :)
'Till next time...
Peace!