The general's flight was for the most part uneventful. His medium sized business class jet took a little over an hour to arrive at the nearest airport to the facility, time he took to rest. He had learned during his time in the ranks to rest when you could as you never knew when the next time might be. It was another two hours drive to the remote location the facility had been located at. A preliminary report had been left for him to review in the black SUV that he was provided for the trip. His driver thin but solid built skunk female in fatigues. She saluted him before climbing into the driver's seat without a word.

Halfway into the drive he looked up from the report to look into the front seat. "Have you been to the site yet?"

"No sir." Her quick and to the point response made him chuckle.

"Do you know anyone who worked there?" Leaning a little so that he could get a better view of her from the back seat.

"Yes sir, my brother sir." Her jaw clenched for a moment.

"His status?" His thumb resting on the preliminary numbers written on the page. One hundred and fifty alive, fifty injured some critically, and another fifty dead or missing.

"Missing in action sir." Her muzzle scrunching for a fraction of a moment before returning to her expressionless facade.

"I am sorry for your loss if it comes to that private." Looking down at the paperwork. "Perhaps there is hope yet."

"Perhaps sir, thank you sir." She continued to drive along the empty highway. The general looking out of the window for a time. It was a clear and cold night. The stars beautifully laid out in the ink black sky. No cities or towns for miles to destroy the scene with light. That is except for the just noticeable glow from the city to the south.

Zootopia, a place where anyone could be anything. This thought made the general roll his eyes. Disorder and chaos were more like it. Governments needed to lead with a strong paw, much like being a parent. Reward when warranted but punish swiftly when required. His attention was only taken out of his thoughts when lights became visible down the road.

The closer they got the more of what had happened and the work that was already being done came into view. Three flatbed trailers had been brought in with banks of diesel generators. These were now supplying power to powerful flood lights as crews worked within the rubble of the building. To one side were equally spaced black rectangular plastic bags. Two rows of ten and growing as two mammals in fatigues carried one towards the others.

The building was mostly destroyed. The eastern wall was still standing, closest to the river, but the floors within were mostly gone. Smoke from fires smoldering beneath the rubble still spiraled into the sky, the smell permeating the area with burning wood, construction material, and that tell tail sickening sweet smell he was all to familiar with from his times in battle. When the truck came to a halt he stepped out and surveyed the area.

A skunk wearing fatigues, followed by a shorter red furred weasel in a red suit started towards them. As they approached, he turned to the truck. "Private … "

"Private Forest sir." She said.

"Private Forest, you're with me." She nodded. He wasn't completely heartless. Her brother was here somewhere after all. They would find him eventually, and he needed an aid while he was here. Preferably one of his choosing and she would do just fine. "Come, lets find out what updates can be found." Stepping off towards the two whom were walking to them, trusting that the private would follow without question.

*oOo*

He had fallen asleep quickly after the doctor had left. He had woken up briefly to the feeling of the bed he was on being moved as they moved him out of the emergency room and into a more long term care room. Once in his new room, a single room he had noted, he quickly fell back to sleep. This wasn't a drug induced sleep, though the pain medication did help, it was a restful sleep.

When he woke up the sun outside his window had begun to set, and the gold color on the horizon was beginning to be accented with a deep red between the tall buildings in the center of the city. When he turned his head away from the window and towards the door, he noted the uniformed officer outside of his door. Once he located the controller for the bed to start to prop him the wolf's ears twitched, and he turned. "Ahh so he is awake at last." The officer took his phone out of his chest pocket and promptly shut the door.

Leon could see him talking for what was probably five minutes before putting the phone back in his pocket and taking his position by the door again, leaving it closed. He fell into his thoughts, a few memories starting to return to him. Memories of his childhood, his schooling, his selection into the military branch, assignment to a project. He couldn't remember what that project was but something about it bothered him. He was broken from his thoughts as the door to his room opened.

Judy walked into his room and pulled a chair over to the bed to sit on. "How are you feeling Mr. Forest?"

"Better than I was, thank you Officer Wilde." Managing a small smile.

"That's good to hear. Perhaps you have remembered something more? Where you might have been and perhaps how you were injured?"

Leon glanced up for a moment wondering where the other officer was, until he saw the orange fur of the fox outside obviously having a good and animated conversation with the wolf who was stationed at his door. His attention returned to the bunny, attractive for her age and really not showing in slowing for it too. "I'm not from here. I can say that much."

Judy chuckled. "Well your accent is a clear indicator of that. We suspect you're from Beyersdorf to the north of here. Though if that were true that is quite the trip down the river."

The name causing him to shake his head in agreement. "Yes that feels familiar. Either way I was working, I think it was a factory. There was … an accident."

Judy nodded reassuringly. "There was something that happened that night but your government doesn't say much to ours, and the news is rigid. People in the city here noticed a flash of light but that was it." Leaning back against the chair. "I should tell you that we will probably have to have an ambassador involved with talking to you. I'm at least for the most part satisfied that there was no foul play here or around the city." Standing up. "I am glad you are doing better Mr Forest."

Thinking for a moment as the bunny turned to leave. "Detective Wilde?"

She turned back around to face the skunk. "Yes?"

Something was nagging at him, and he really didn't think before he spoke. "If, I didn't want to be sent back?"

"Well there would be a lot more questions. Is there a reason you don't want to be sent back home?" She pointedly used home, she wanted to see how he would react to that.

Shaking his head. "I don't know. A feeling."

Nodding her head. "Then perhaps you should speak to a Zootopia ambassador first. Think about it first. I can wait until tomorrow to discuss what you remembered with my superiors. Not any longer than that though."

Leon nodded. "Thank you, detective." He perked up as he noticed another mammal had joined the group, currently she was hugging her father. The sight of her bringing a small smile to his muzzle.

Judy not missing a thing raised an eyebrow. "I see." Chuckling as she headed for the door before Leon could react to what she had said. Opening the door, "Meredith, seems you did a good job with your patient. Right as rain even with a hole in his head." When they hugged there was some exchange of words at one-point Meredith glanced up and looked right at him, causing him to quickly look out the window.

Meredith opened the door to the hospital room. "Love you too Dad." Chuckling and shaking her head at something that was said but Leon had not heard. "Now, how is my patient doing?" Walking to the foot of his bed and pulling the metal clipboard from the holder. Glancing over the chart. "You haven't eaten anything yet?"

"Well I did just wake up." His dark eyes following her as she sat in the chair her mother had left. "To the other question, I feel much better. At least my mind is clearer."

"And the pain?" Jotting a few noes in his chart as they talk.

"Tolerable. My back is the worst, and it itches a bit." He watches her scribble a few more notes in the chart.

"Yes well the itching is to be expected, we need to figure out if you can handle eating something though too." Picking up a tablet. "You're limited for now though; we don't want you choking after being tubed. So you can have jello, or jello." Chuckling as she tapped out an order before putting the tablet down. "In the future just use that if you need something." Sitting back. "So more importantly how are you."

Looking at her for a moment, almost getting lost in her emerald green eyes. "Well, I remember a bit more about what happened. I don't remember why I was there yet. I remember more of who I am too."

"That's good, so who is the Mystery skunk?"

"Well, I'm Leon Forester, I'm from Beyersdorf. I belong to the military branch, and I was a" he had to pause for a second, "First Lieutenant"

"Military hmm? That explains a few things." Sitting back and listening.

"Other then that, well I'm grateful to you Dr Wilde. You saved my life and I am grateful to you for that."

"Just doing my job. Call me Meredith please." Dipping her ears a bit to hide the light blush she was sure was heating up the inside of her ears.

"Ok, Meredith but only if you call me Leon." Smiles. "Do, you think I'll get my fur back?"

"Well, Leon, I think you'll get most of your fur back. You'll be able to see your stripes at least." Smiles. "But I would expect to have some thin spots, in particular where those burns were more severe. You'll definitely have some scaring."

"I guess that's to be expected." Looking down at his lap. "We have some particular expectations back home." Thinking back to how mating assignments at home were made, and he was almost of age.

"Hay, chin up Leon. You could have been and should have been in much worse condition." Reaching over and placing a paw on his. "You're still a handsome Skunk." Blushing more as she said it before thinking about what she was saying.

He chuckled. "See many skunks around here?"

"I … " Saved by the jello as a nurse came in. He was a large badger with a friendly expression. "Alright you, eat. I'll check on you later." Standing up as the nurse brought the tray to his bed table and swung it over in front of him. "Be nice to Robert here ok. I've got to get to work."

"Of course." Disappointed that she was leaving already. But his concentration was taken by the bowl of red jello. Before he dug in however, he looked up as she was leaving, marveling at the burnt orange and beautifully combed tail. "Thank you again Meredith." Then started eating as his eyes diligently tracked the nurse as he moved from checking his IV bags, and the pain medicine drip. Then started to check some of his bandages.

Meredith turned around once she reached the door, watching Leon eat jello like it was his first time ever having tasted the stuff. She found it cute how he seemed to smile on that fist sample. After sparing that a few moments she left the room, nodding at the Wolf still stationed at his door before continuing down to the ER to start her shift.