At the airport after the General's plane landed, he walked down the set of stairs that opened as part of the door and looked around. It was morning now, but it was a cloudy and rainy day with dark clouds moving in from the west. It was just cold enough that when he exhaled the moisture in his breath was visible. An SUV and driver waited for him, and as he approached the driver opened the rear door for him. "It's supposed to snow today sir, the Major is already at the capital building and will meet you on our arrival.
"Very good." The general answered his driver as he climbed in for the silent drive to the capital. The driver from the airport to the capital compound took about an hour, during which time a light snow had begun. They passed through a checkpoint where even the General had to roll down his window and submit to a check of his papers and picture. Once they were checked they were waved through the checkpoint and his driver brought the vehicle to the front of the capital building.
Stepping out of the car after the driver opened the door he looked up the flight of marble steps that led up to the columned front entrance to the building. "Be back here in two hours. I will be going to the base after I'm done here."
"Yes sir." The driver saluted until the General stepped off towards the stairs, then he shut the door of the car and drove away.
The general made his way up the stairs, the snow collecting on his shoulders and top of his hat before he made it into the front door. Once he entered the major, a slim built fox was waiting for him. Walking up to the General with a black briefcase in his paw. "The representatives are already inside sir." Taking the generals coat and cap from him and at the same time passing him the briefcase. "All the notes you will need are in the briefcase as well as demonstration materials." The fox's expression was kept serious.
"Thank you major." He smirked as he took the case. "And what of my dinner arrangements?" He asked as he started to walk towards the west wing meeting room.
"Oh the invitations have been sent out sir, and I'm pleased to tell you they have all committed to coming." The fox took on a matched pace next to him.
"Very good, I'll need to take a shower before dinner and change out to a more appropriate uniform." The general tool a left turn down a hallway that led to the west meeting room.
"That is already taken care of sir, and will be ready in the suit for you." The major halted before they got to the door. "I will wait out here for when you are ready sir."
"Well done major," Knocking on the door the General didn't wait for a response before he entered. Hans, Anatoli, and Emma were already in the room talking quietly while sharing a drink. Gerhard walked to the end or head of the table and placed his briefcase down before sitting behind it. "Representatives."
Hans turned to the General, obvious anger in his expression. "General, you have made a right mess of things this time." Taking a seat near where he was, leaving three chairs between himself and General Gerhard. Emma took a seat across from Hans, and Anatoli remained standing at the other end of the table. All three wearing their official uniforms of brown for the two political representatives and red on Emma for the workers representative.
"Yes, as Hans as said, a large mess. You lost an agent, then another unit of agents trying to retrieve him. The Zootopia ambassador has been very clear that any further intrusion over their boarders will be considered an act of war."
"Emma, lets not over inflate the situation. We both know that this is simply political blustering and nothing will come of it. They will return our agents to us and we will handle it from there. I was hoping that we could quietly clean up Mr Forests blunder but it would appear that it has become more complicated."
"It is that complacency that has landed you in this position General." Hans took over the beratement. "You're done General, it would be best if you stepped down on your own. We will allow you to step down and save face, we will even provide a home in the western territories where you can live quietly. But let there be no doubt that you are done General. We know there is more to that facility then you involved us in, and we will find out what it was in time."
"Just like that then?" Sighing Gerhard leaned back in his chair as if thinking it over. "I presume you will demand my answer now then?"
"Yes, if you leave this room without agreeing you will be arrested, you will be tried, and you will be executed. I for one preferred that in the first place." Emma had her arms crossed in front of her. Though her expression was of anger, there was a hint of that smug smile that he hated so much.
Gerhard looked up at Anatoli, "And you as well?"
Anatoli, who had not sat down shrugged his shoulders. "General I must always side with what is best for the people."
"Very well then." Leaning forward he unlocked the briefcase and opened it with the top facing the representatives in front of him. He noted the tension that opening the case in such a way created in the mammals with him. They all knew he had earned his way to his rank, and probably thought he carried a firearm in the case, what he pulled out however was a round black device. "Calm down representatives. A recording device only, so you can state clearly what our arrangement will be." Smiling a disarming smile he pushed a button on the top and slid it down the table so that it rested between Emma and Hans. A small light in the center flashing green.
Emma eyes the skunk at the end of the table, but spoke in what was obviously already an agreed upon package. "You will step down from your position immediately. Say what you wish, an illness or that you feel you are no longer fit. We will discharge you and you will be provided for by the state, in the west."
Hans watched as Gerhard listed to what Emma had to say then he too started spoke. "You will not discuss any of our arrangement, and you will not attempt to re-involve yourself with any members of the military class. You will remain quiet, and you will be forgotten."
Anatoli had started to pace as the other two representatives chatted. The general listened calmly and didn't speak immediately, not until the green flashing light went to a solid yellow unnoticed by the other mammals in the room. "No, I don't think so representatives." Standing up as he spoke. "I think I'll stay."
"How dare you. This was your only …," Emma had started to speak as she watched the general pull a gas mask out from the case, then her attention was attracted back to the black recording device. A click announced that the device had opened, a center section of the device had popped up and then the sound of a hiss from the device where there were now exposed six little jets around the upper section.
After putting his gasmask on he pulled out a two small pouches, tossing one to Anatoli who had also donned a mask which was hidden behind the small corner table. When the general spoke his voice was muffled behind the black mask. "Representatives, your services will no longer be required by the people." Noting that Hans was blinking his eyes and starting to drool.
Emma stood quickly but fell back into her chair as she couldn't maintain coordination of her legs. "What?" Panic written on her face as she reached forward.
"OH, Vx gass." Smiling as he walked closer. Hans was coughing, drooling more, and breathing faster. "Awful stuff." The general pulled a small pen like device from the pouch he had kept. On the side of the pen was written atropine. He prepped the device and pushed it against his leg, watching as Anatoli did the same for himself. "It is, quite painful but quick." Smiling as he noticed the absolute fear in Emma's eyes as she vomited onto the floor. Hans was already unconscious as Gerhard approached Emma. Leaning over her in her chair he held her up. "You should have stayed my wife Emma, and been the good female you could have been. Perhaps it would not have come to this."
Emma reached up to the masked skunk weakly. Saliva flooding her muzzle and leaking from the sides of her muzzle as she tried to claw at the mask. Her paws too weak to even so much as pull at the mask, her paws sliding across the glass eye pieces before she collapsed forward, dead like her compatriot across from her.
The general let her collapse to the ground as he turned to Anatoli. "The vents please."
The Koala nodded and walked quickly over to a control panel in the corner and activated the chemical exposure system. The alarms having conveniently been deactivated as the fan system sucked large amounts of air out of the room and into a system that would handle the remaining gas. "Leave your clothes Anatoli, the Major should have the shower set up and clothes outside as well." Smiling as he stripped off his clothing and swung open the door with no shame. As he had expected a decontamination shower had been set up with two chemical suit dressed mammals waiting.
Gerhard went through the decontamination process, being scrubbed with brushes and rinsed with a soap solution before exiting on the other end and starting to get dressed. He knew Anatoli was right behind him. He turned around as he finished straitening his tie to see his friend placing a blue beret on his head, his freshly pressed blue uniform well fitted. Three stars on his lapels where Gerhard had four, "Ahh it is good to see you back in the uniform my friend."
"It's good to be back in uniform General." Anatoli chuckled as he pulled on the bottom hem of the jacket to pull it taught over his shoulders. When they both turned to walk down the hall, both sides of the hallway were lined with mammals in uniform, rifles shouldered and snapping into a salute to them both.
*oOo*
As six am rolled around Leon started to stir in bed, his eyes slowly opened, and he reached for the phone he had left on the night table. Noting the time, he plopped his head back onto the pillow. An hour before he could get breakfast. Staring at the ceiling above him he contemplated the prior day, all of it. From leaving the hospital, to the riot in the square. He smiled when he thought about the dinner, that was something he had enjoyed. The issue with his sister, that was going to be an ongoing thing. Drinks after was a new experience. He had never been in a place like that Tavern.
As he thought about the Tavern his memory of his interaction with the singer played back in his mind. The way Judy and Nick were together, and their friend the bartender. As he continued to think about the time at the tavern he started to wonder about the doe that had been singing, and then when she came over to him and then … "Oh I am such an idiot." Though as the memory played back to when Meredith had kissed his cheek he felt his own ears heat up with a blush.
Pulling back the covers he slipped himself out of the bed and walked over to where he had left his pill bottles. Taking his meds before getting dressed he was just putting his jacket off when he heard his phone beep. Walking over to it he couldn't help but smile when he picked up the phone and saw it was a message from Meredith. She wanted him to meet her in the lobby downstairs.
Slipping his wallet in his pocket and grabbing the cane where he had left it by the door he walked out and to the elevator. Taking the elevator down to the main floor he walked out to see Meredith waiting for him. His tail unconsciously twitching happily as he walked over to her.
Meredith watched as he came towards her. Purposely staying put as she watched how he rarely used the cane. "Feeling better then?" She smiled and wrapped him in a warm hug careful to avoid putting too much pressure on his back. "It looks like you won't be needing that much longer." Indicating the cane.
"Oh well, still a little stiff from time to time." He took a short step back. "But I had a good doctor." Smiles.
"Complements will get you far." Smirking and stepping up next to him, wrapping her arm in one of his. "Come on, coffee and perhaps a muffin?"
Smiling as he feels her arm loop through his, "Oh now that sounds great, the coffee in particular."
"Good, there's a nice little place right across the street." Leading him out of the door. Once outside the smell of coffee and fresh baked goods could be smelled coming from across the street. The sign read Betty's, in pastel pink and blue. Mammals coming and going from the little shop with cups and little white paper bags.
"Come along cripple." She chuckled as they crossed the street. "The coffeecake muffins are to die for but once they are sold out for the day, that's it." Meredith lead the way into the building through the front door. Once inside the smell of rich coffee mixed with the sweet smell of breakfast pastries and even the preparation of breads for lunches and dinners that would be sold to the mammals when they are returning home from work. "How do you like your coffee?"
"Oh you don't have …" The look he got from Meredith wordlessly told him to not argue, "black." Shaking his head.
"Good, now go get us a table." Pointing to the side where there was small glass topped tables with two chairs at each table. "I'll get our breakfast."
Leon nodded. "Ok." Walking over he found a table in the corner where he sat, facing the line of mammals waiting to order. He watched Meredith walk up to the counter and order, taking in her relaxed outfit of t-shirt and blue jeans, that hugged her just right to show off how beautiful she was. He actually didn't realize how intently he was staring until she came up to the table with two cups and a white paper bag. When he looked up there was an increased redness in her ears as she sat down. He glanced away. "Sorry … " His own ears heating as he felt his cheeks warm as well.
"Its ok Leon." Smiling as she slid a cup over to him and then opened the bag, placing a large muffin from the bag on a napkin and sliding that to him as well.
Picking up the cup he took a slow sip, tasting the hot rich coffee. His eyes closed as he breathed in making a low happy churring noise. When he opened his eyes he caught Meredith staring at him with wide eyes. "What?"
"That has got to be one of the most adorable things I've ever heard." Snickering
"Oh is it?" Chuckling as he felt her tail brush his leg. "Well the coffee is just that good" Smiling they shared a good laugh. "But if you keep hitting me with your tail I might have to capture it."
Grabbing her own tail and bringing it closer to herself with one paw as she sipped her coffee with the other. "You should know Fox's don't like their tails touched."
"Good thing you're only half fox then." Chuckling as he takes a small piece of the muffin in front of him and sticks it in his muzzle. "Ok, that is delicious." Looking down at the muffin, it was sweet and had cinnamon, and nuts even.
"I told you." Smirking she digs into her own breakfast. The pair enjoying each other's company silently as they ate. Both happy to just have the company of each other in that small corner of the coffee shop.