Jack stayed behind to orchestrate the cleanup on the highway. The van needed to be removed, the blood cleaned up, and a few other loose ends. They would be done before done and almost nobody would be the wiser.

While Jack stayed behind Nick and Judy drove Leon back into the city. Judy of course was driving and Nick was sitting in the front seat of the unmarked car. Leon had settled into the back seat, silently looking out the window. He watched as the transition from the edge of the country transitioned through homes packed in tightly to the tall buildings of the densely populated city skyrises.

Nick looked in the rearview mirror to get a glimpse at the skunk that sat behind them. "How you doing back there sport?"

Looking at the Tod in the same mirror. "As good as can be."

"She'll let us know when there is news Leon," Nick said. All that Leon could see of him was his eyes in the mirror but they were sincere.

"Plus, our daughter doesn't know how to give up." Judy piped in as she took a turn down an alleyway leading to a small parking lot in the shadow of four buildings on each corner of the log. She put the car in park and shut it off before opening the door. "Come on you two."

Climbing out of the car he stood and looked around before spotting Judy he walked towards her as Nick came up behind him. "Don't forget this." Handing Leon the cane he had left in the car.

"Thanks." Taking the cane in his right paw. Right now the pain of not knowing was overriding any physical pain. Nick caught up with Judy and talked to her quietly as they lead the way back down the alley and around the corner. As he rounded the corner, he watched the pair walk into a doorway in the building they had just walked along. Above the door was a dark stained wooden sign with the image of a harp and the word 'Tavern' carved into it and then inlaid in gold paint. The sign was aged and weathered much like the building itself. The wood trim around windows and door was painted a fire engine red in contrast to the deep burgundy to brown of the brickwork. When the Wilde's opened the door and entered the sound of an accordion as well as a tin flute came out into the night, joined with the light sound of patrons talking. Walking closer a large bay window looking into the tavern showed a warm but dimly lit bar area with a few mammals sitting at it.

Leon walked up to the door and opened it walking slowly into the tavern. As he saw through the window to his left was the long hard wood bar with an Irish setter with lightly greying fur behind the bar, wearing a white apron. The bartender was leaning against the bar and talking to Nick in a friendly way, making it obvious that they knew each other fairly. Judy sat on the stool next to Nick with a patient look on her muzzle as the two males talked. To the right were a number of seats and tables, about a quarter of them had mammals of all sorts sitting at them, pint glasses in front of all of them, and a few with a shot glass as well.

It was the far corner that caught his fascination as that was where the gentle but animated music was coming from. A female hare was playing a violin and accompanied by a male badger playing an accordion and a mottle furred mare playing a tin flute. The trio were all dressed in black pants and black button-down shirts. Over the black shirts were dark green vests trimmed with silver stitching. It struck Leon as an group but with out a doubt they were enjoying themselves as they swayed slightly to their own music. Half empty glasses of dark beer in front of them. The hare was the first of the three to notice the entrance of the skunk and gave him a nod and a smile.

He couldn't help but nod back and give her a smirk before walking over to where Nick and Judy were.

The barman stood up from how he had been leaning. "So this must be the Skunk hmm?" A deep baritone voice from the male. "Right, its obvious Nicky, boy needs something." He immediately turned to the bar and grabbed a bottle from the rack and poured out a golden liquid into four small glasses. The mutt then distributed one to Nick, one to Judy who gave it a side look, one to Leon and he kept one for himself. Hoisting the cup in the air a bit. "Always remember to forget the troubles that passed away. But never forget to remember the blessins that come each day." The bartender watched as the Skunk lifted his offered glass and poured the shot down his throat, as he did the dog joined in as well as did Nick and Judy.

The bartender laughed a deep laugh as Judy coughed and sputtered at the sharp burn from the whisky. "Aye lass, that will put fur on your back wont it."

Nick chuckled. "Mike, I didn't know you were a poet, that was quite the toast."

The bartender laughed again as he took the glasses in one paw. "Ahh, I read it somewhere." Giving them a wink. "I'll have a few beers up for you in a moment. Need to go see about a wee leak." Mike left by way of a door in the back of the bar.

Leon looked at Nick for a moment. "Nicky?"

Judy chuckled. "See I said the same thing the first time Mike called him that."

"I've forgotten when he started saying it. Sounds good with the accent. Plus, you never insult the mammal that pours the drinks." Chuckling as the Male came back, drying his paws on a towel after obviously washing them. Without asking he poured three glasses of the same dark beer as many around the tavern had. Putting one behind the bar for himself he placed one for Nick and one for Leon. Then he went to work making a concoction that turned out to be orange in color.

When he placed it in front of Judy he gave the doe a bow. "I think I finally got it right for you Judith."

Judy smiled at the bartender and took a sip with a sigh. "It is perfect as always Michael"

"Hay, paws off my lady barkeep." Nick quipped, but chuckled as Mike lifted his paws in the air.

"I mean no offense Nicky." He shared a laugh before moving down the bar to serve the remainder of his patrons. Leon was about to ask Nick more about how he knew the bartender. That was until the sound of the music changed to something a little softer. He had picked up his beer and took a sip of the dark liquid as he turned to lean his back gently against the bar.

The hare had put down her violin and now held a guitar, leading off the song as she started to walk around the Tavern, heading for the bar. As she closed in she closed in on the bar the other two instrumentalists joined into the melody of song and she began to sing in a beautiful melodic voice.

"Near Banbridge town, in the Country Down

One morning last July

Down a boithrin green came a sweet cailin

And she smiled as she passed me by."

At this point she had made her way by the far end of the bar making her way towards the opposite end. The patrons at that end of the bar were watching her intently. Not only because she was talented in singing but because she was also a beautiful mammal, ice blue eyes with well cared for grey and brown fur if a little course, it still had the sheen of youth.

"She looked so neat in her two bare feet

To the sheen of her nut-brown hair

Such a coaxing elf, I'd to shake myself

To make sure I was standing there."

She continued her way until in front of Leon with a smile on her muzzle as she sang on.

"From Bantry Bay down to Derry Quay

From Galway to Dublin town

No maid I've seen like the fair cailin

That I met in the Country Down."

Leon took another sip from his drink as he listened to her sing. He'd never heard music of its kind nor in a setting like this as well. Combined with the whisky from before and probably a little help from the pain killer he had taken not to long ago, he felt almost euphoric as the doe continued her song. A smirk grew on the rabbits muzzle as she turned, her tail giving a little flick of the tuft of fur, just enough to attract attention. That attention earning both Nick and Leon a punch from Judy.

"As she onward sped I shook my head

And I gazed with a feeling queer

And I said, says I, to a passerby

"Who's your one with the nut-brown hair?"

He smiled at me, and with pride says he,

"Shes the gem of old Ireland's crown.

Young Rosie McCann form the banks of the Bann

And the star of the County Down"

Mike for his part leaning against his bar again chuckled at the show. As she walked away, he couldn't help but stir that pot a bit haven seen the punch. "Careful lad, seems Colleen got an eye for you."

The doe walked back to her fellows and continued the song from her corner, flashing Leon a wink before concentrating on what she was doing again. Leon was only distracted away from the continuing song when Nick tapped his arm and passed him his phone. The first thing Leon noticed was that it had been a little over an hour since they had entered the bar, which also explained why his beer was empty. The second thing he noticed was the message on the screen.

"Out of surgery, Leon's sister is resting, and she should make full recovery"

*oOo*

"What do you mean they were intercepted? Their last report was that they had him and were on route out." Gerhard snarled at the mouse that was reporting the current intel. "No matter, we can deal with them later. What is the status of the train?"

"Sir, the train arrived at site two an hour ago and unloading has commenced. They said they should be operating withing the next four hours." The mouse spoke calmly as a paw tapped the side of a headset that rested against her ears, and spoke into the mic that was on a boom coming from the band that secured it to her head. "Go ahead." She listened before her lips pursed and taped the button again. "Sir, representative Anatoli has been informed that both of the Forests have turned up in Zootopia as well as a couple of other operatives. He and representative Hans have recalled you to the capital sir. They wish to understand what is occurring. Sir."

He was happy to hear that the shipment had made it to the second site. It would take longer to start producing the material he wanted but he was patient and was willing to play the long game if that was what was needed. He was however brought into a sour mood when he was informed that he was being recalled. "Inform them that I will be heading back immediately then." As he stood up to leave the trailer where he had spent the better part of his waking ours for the past few days he paused. "Oh, Lilly." Turning to the mouse. "Please send a message to major Wolfgard that we will be moving up the timetable. Tell him, make it forty-eight hours and I will see him soon."

The mouse saluted. "Yes sir." Never questioning a superior officer even when she was starting to get a bad feeling as to what was brewing. She had watched, listened, and distributed his orders. Orders to site two to begin their work as soon as the train arrived, the launch of three falcon four missiles on their own people. The general had said it was necessary to contain the contamination. He had been moving troops around, brining partial units closer to the capital and other places such as ports. Selfishly she was glad that she had been position here. She was out of the way of all the key places he had seemed to take interest in over the past few days. Deciding it best to not thinking on it any longer she went back to her work. Barking out at her own orders to the various operations personnel around her. Not one of them questioning her despite her smaller size.

The general made his way quickly up the road in the SUV he had arrived in. This time however he was alone. No driver, no other passengers, just him and his thoughts. It was late afternoon as his vehicle left the scene of the destroyed enrichment facility and he was now headed back to the airport. Things had been moving faster than he had thought they would. I had hoped he had a year, maybe two but now he would have to start without the weapon he was going to lean on. His thoughts began to drift as he drove along the empty but perfect road. He chuckled as he thought about how long it had been since he had driven himself anywhere.

When he arrived at the airport without incident he was happy to note that his jet had already been fueled and was ready to depart once he was aboard. Climbing up the steps of the jet the captain stood at the entry way and saluted him, to which he returned the salute. "Are we ready to leave Captain."

"Yes sir, we have clearance to leave as soon as you are ready sir."

"Good, then lets get to it. Minister Anatoli and I have much to talk about," the general responded with a smirk.

The captain nodded in understanding and went back to join his copilot after sealing the main door. As the general got comfortable in his chair he heard the engines start to spin up to speed. As he sat and watched out the window, the plane started to taxi towards the runway and a thought struck him. He reached for a satellite phone built into the jet and dialed out to Representative Emma's office. When her secretary picked up he answered polity. "Oh hello my dear, this is General Gerhard for the representative … Yes I'll hold."

He was left on hold for he was sure was a time determined by Emma herself to try and get under his fur. When the Workers representative finally did pick up the phone he was polite as ever. "Representative. I thought it prudent to let you know that I am flying back to the capital as we speak."

From the other end of the phone Emma's smug voice responded. "Yes I am aware, I am also aware that Representative Anatoli has recalled you and that is why you are coming back. We will meet you in the west chamber, and we will discuss what you have been up to General."

"Of course, representative. You know I have only our country in mind with what I do." His voice sugary sweet in his response.

"Of course, you do General. But we must always check General. Trust but Verify." He could almost hear her smiling through the phone, and he could imagine that smug smile as she thought she could finally depose him.

"Well, I am glad that you are already aware, and that this was but a formality. I look forward to seeing you representative," keeping his voice as charming as ever.

"Until then General." She practically spat out his title before she hung up.

The General relaxed back in his seat as the plane took off. A growing smile on his muzzle as they did. To him, this was going smoothly, if ahead of schedule. Once hes handled this meeting with the representatives he was going to have to find a way to take care of the Forests.

He was sure that Elizabeth had just gotten cocky and caught. After what they had discussed she hated her brother. Her brother had betrayed him, and there for their country. Out of everything that happened this had actually angered him the most. Leon Forest was one of if not the best operative he had. The skunk had cleaned up quite a few messes for him over the years. As for the sister, well she as rather nice to look at and he had hoped she would at least return, it had been a long time after all since his own wife's passing.

"A damn waste." He said to himself as he watched clouds fall behind them as they turned on course. There was no saving either of them now. It would be far easier to remove them from the equation, and since he was going to the capital anyways, he knew exactly who to have do it too. This trip was going to be very productive after all.