I wish I could have had this up sooner, however the world's been a little crazy, that and I grew dissatisfied with how I originally wanted this chapter to finish up so I needed to re-plan.

"Look, I get you're not a very conversational guy - I'm not either - but you could at least try," lamented a middle-aged arctic fox with a hoarse voice.

A timberwolf in full BDU eyed him a while before replying; "In two weeks, you have yet to speak of anything that interests me one iota."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry that the dramatic increase of arms contracts over the past five fiscal years just 'isn't relevant'. Geez Louise."

Before their already stunted conversation could regress any further, a junior officer of the Continental Defense Force burst in, panting heavily.

After recovering his breath, he declared: "Major Pearce? Sir. Colonel Broadhoof needs to see you immediately. Mr Watterson? The Colonel has requested your presence also.

The Major stood quickly and marched away. Watterson took his time, at least until a sharp look from the Major spurred him on.

A uniformed Colt watched Pearce and Watterson enter with anticipation.

"You summoned us, sir?" said Pearce.

"Indeed. We received a call from a 'Chief Bogo' requesting immediate deployment to the city of Zootopia."

"Is that all…?" questioned Pearce.

"No. As you know I've been pushing for that very action however I'm always told 'we don't have enough intel, et cetera," explained the Colonel.

Watterson stepped forward, "Well, I presume you didn't call us in just to tell us the status quo - what's actually happening? More importantly, what does it have to do with me?"

"Bogo received a tip-off right before he called-"

"Let me guess, anonymous?" asked Watterson.

"Quite the contrary," the Colonel began, "The tip-off began with a full name, location and a myriad of other details. Very specific details. Obsessive details."

"The fuck does that mean?" blurted Pearce, frustrated with the needless formalities of discussion.

"It means the general has approved a surgical strike, and Major, I want you at the head. Get your teams geared up, then gather at the helipads for immediate deployment. Tranquilizers, lethal sidearm only if you feel it's absolutely necessary."

Pearce threw up a salute and nodded curtly, "Right away sir."

The timberwolf deftly pivoted and stormed in the direction of the barracks. Watterson turned back toward the Colonel with an expectant look.

"Walk with me, Watterson," said Colonel Broadhoof, leading the way out of his office.

"Mr Watterson, it is my understanding that you have a considerable number from your company's corporate security division staying on base, is that correct?" enquired the officer.

"Yes. Training exercises for deploying with and/or from the new XD-18 Ornithopters," explained the businessfox, jogging to keep up with the uniformed horse.

"Look, you're a civilian so technically I can't order you to do anything. Nevertheless I must ask for your support. Your security teams come highly recommended by companies in North and South Continentia, Polarus, the PRA, Prussania, and even the Outback territories down toward the Purrcific..."

Watterson briefly sighed before saying, "I know what you're about to ask, I think. And were it so easy, of course! But there'd be a veritable mountain of paperwork and, superficial as it sounds, WattSec isn't a charity. Hazard pay is kind of a thing-"

"Yes, yes, I understand. Leave that to the government. After all, it's all the General's idea. Another thing, Those Orni-whats-its-"

"Orni-thopters?"

"Y-yes. Those. Are they fast?"

"Well we haven't exactly run an airspeed test but once the onboard jets are in cruise configuration it's rated to be up there with any other jet-propelled aircraft…"

"Excellent. I need all of them ready for liftoff in five minutes."

The CEO stood, flabbergasted, "B-but Colonel, they're prototypes, un-weaponized, held together with bird-shit welds-"

Broadhoof cut him off again: "You've been the CEO of your father's company for what, twenty years? This is a lucrative opportunity. If those fliers can do this, I almost guarantee the CDF will snap em' up quick as you can build' em'!"

Profit didn't concern Walden Watterson, safety did. Even so, he simply could not resist the opportunity to show off the true capabilities of the Watterson Advanced Mechatronics Ornithopter XD-18.

"I'll notify the pilots. Oh, and my security teams."

Broadhoof nodded with approval, only just hiding the dread of future paperwork filing that would inevitably bite him on the ass.

Judy Hopps grunted as one of Ezra Bisonhower's thugs shoved her into a primitive holding cell. Catching her breath, the rabbit picked herself up off the cold floor.

A Mediterranean voice emerged from the shadows; "Judy, is that you my dear?"

"M-Mr Big?" asked Judy, warily.

"Yes my dear," said the voice, drawing Judy's eye to a tiny cage next to the door.

Judy crept toward him and knelt on one knee, "Oh God, how long have they kept you like this?"

The shrew shook his head, "About as long as you've been here. And, speaking of, you look unwell…"

"I… I'm fine."

A nearby scuffle drew their attention. A cheetah and goat approached the cell dragging a very unhappy fox.

"You bastards! Let me go!" he cried.

The two thugs said nothing as they rolled the vulpine into the cell with little remorse.

Nick Wilde leapt to his feet and lashed out at the cell door, yelling out insults of all kinds before turning over and slumping against the door.

"I'm sorry, Carrots. I tried but… I wasn't good enough," said Nick forlornly.

Judy had to ask: "Not good enough for what?"

"To save you. Bring you home. Wait… Judy?"

"Yes Nick, it's me," she said.

"Judy!" cried Nick as he caught sight of her beside him.

The fox stood and looked her over, "is it really you?"

He knelt and held her cheek in one paw and smiled.

"It is you," he said, wrapping his arms around her and holding her tight.

"It is me."

"A sweet reunion. If only it were under better circumstances," said Mr Big.

"Mr Big is here too? Since when?" asked Nick.

"When your Chief Bogo was taking back your headquarters, I was forced to call off my bears to save my Fru Fru."

"That explains a lot," said Nick, casually.

"They held her to ransom. They imprisoned me here for… Insurance," explained the shrew.

Nick sat down and lent on a wall. Not long after, Judy sat beside him.

"I don't suppose you have an escape plan?" asked Judy.

"Well… I did. But that was before a degenerate led me into a trap," explained the fox.

"What do you mean degenerate?" asked Judy before adding, "what on Earth has gone on the past few days?"

Nick sighed, "Remember that feline we 'met' at the bar in Savanna Central?"

"Vaguely…"

"Yeah well, I did a Judy Hopps and 'influenced' him into helping me out. Things seemed to be going pretty well, I actually thought the kid and I would get along."

"But now you're here," commented Judy.

"Yes, and it's all because… Because of him," said Nick, with a distinct note of anger.

Nick stood and paced with frustration, grumbling under his breath.

Nick ranted; "Every damn time. I can't even count on my paws anymore, the times I've started to genuinely care for someone's well being just to get hurt!"

Judy stood up and held Nick's arm, saying, "Hey, it's okay."

Nick gently shook her off, "No, it's not. Trust gets built but as soon as I turn around, there's a knife in my back. You know what? If we get out of this, if that punk shows his face to me… I… I'm gonna kill him."

Judy grabbed hold of him more firmly this time; "Nick, please! Don't say things like that. That's not you."

Nick let his shoulders drop and felt his eyes well up a little, "Your right, Carrots. I just…"

Mr Big interjected, "This is most certainly a predicament and we all rightly feel the pressure."

The three sat in silence once more.

"Well, I have one last idea. We do the movie thing and swarm the guards when they come in," explained Nick.

Silence from both Judy and Mr Big.

"I-I know it's not much but," Nick said, pausing when he noticed he'd lost all attention, "erh, guys? What are you looking at?"

The fox stood beside Judy and peered through the bars; Isaac Katzendale could be seen interacting with the sheep guard posted by the entrance to the room. The cat held a clenched fist behind his back.

"Look kid, you're what, 2 feet tall? And you expect me to believe Ezra himself sent you to take over guarding his most prized hostages? Get bent." Growled the ram.

"For starters, I'm 3'1". And secondly," Isaac paused and his face turned to one of absolute horror as he cried out: "Oh my God, what the hell is that!"

The sheep whipped around, raising his weapon, in the same moment, Isaac leapt up and clung onto the creature's neck wool. He brought his other paw up and held a rag over the ram's face. With a few seconds of bewildered struggling, the sheep crumpled over, Isaac lightly dismounting at the last moment.

"Oh shit," muttered Isaac, backing away and taking in what he'd just done.

He stepped forward and took the ram's keys before panting over to the holding cell. Reaching it, he stopped to catch his breath.

"Yikes! Yikes, yikes forever."

The cat drew a sharp breath and freed Ezra's captives, none of which took their eyes off him for a single heartbeat.

"Come on, all of you, follow me. We have to get the-"

Isaac only got part-way through his sentence before Nick, calling on his police academy training and years on the street, spear-tackled Isaac to the ground, pinning him by his shoulders and throwing a left hook into the cat's cheek.

Judy cried, "Nick, stop! He just set us free!"

The rage drained from Nick and his teeth hid behind his lips. The fox stood dejectedly and stepped back from Isaac, who picked himself up, holding his jaw sorely.

Isaac said to Judy, "N-no, it's alright. I deserved that. It's a guy thing, you wouldn't get it."

"Believe me, I get it all too well. Your name is Kenny, right?"

"It's Isaac actually."

"At this point, I don't care if your name's Hitler. Do you know the way out of here?" asked Judy.

Isaac simply nodded as he wiped a drop of blood from his lip.

Judy knelt and freed Mr Big, placing him on her shoulder, to which he said, "Thank you my dear."

Nick still stood a distance away from the others, particularly Isaac. Mr Big lightly tugged at Judy's fur and indicated to move closer to Nick.

Judy appealed to the fox first, "We don't have a lot of options right now."

When Nick didn't react, Mr Big gave it a try: "Nicky, we stand here, already in the clutches of our enemy. I ask you, what could the boy possibly gain from betraying you a second time?"

Nick Wilde huffed and sauntered over to Isaac, a stern expression fixed on his face. The young cat dared not look away, despite the tears forming in his eyes.

"I'm not asking for forgiveness," said Isaac.

"Just as well," started Nick, "Alright. I'm going to give you one more single chance. But there is one very important condition."

"Anything! Just name it, Nick. I swear I'll do it," declared Isaac desperately.

"You must allow me the exclusive right, if and whensoever I please, to refer to you by the moniker 'Izzy', now and to forever. Additionally, you must respond promptly." explained Nick, keeping his brow sternly furrowed and his voice firm.

Isaac frowned in confusion. The young cat understood the situation once he saw Judy's face turn from expectancy to bemused anticipation.

"Deal! At any rate I'll take anything over Iggles," said Isaac, with a slight, nervous smile.

"Hold on there, puddy tat, I never said 'Iggles' was excluded."

The cat prepared to argue but thought better of it. He took off down a hallway and called out, "This way!"

Mr Big clung onto Judy's collar as she and Nick raced after Isaac. As they approached the far end, Isaac turned and pointed down an adjacent corridor with a faded exit sign hanging from it's entrance.

"Down here. Like, forty paces and we're home free," explained Isaac.

Recalling the sheep from earlier, Nick had to ask: "Hey, uh, what was on that rag?"

"A funky little mixture I know. It's pretty much chloroform," Isaac explained between huffs and puffs.

"Well okay then. Where did you pick that up?"

"When you're kid brother to one of the most brilliant medical researchers alive, you pick up a thing or two."

Judy stopped jogging, "Hold it. Are you talking about Dr Nikolai Katzendale?"

Isaac stopped and turned to the rabbit, "Yes… Why?"

"He's here. He always has been! We can't leave without him," explained Judy.

Isaac hesitated.

"If I could interject here," started Nick with veiled nervousness, "perhaps we should take a step back and remember where we are."

Mr Big added; "Indeed. We can return for the cat's brother when we have numbers on our side."

Isaac took on a look of determination as he said, "It'll be too late then. Rabbit, do you know exactly where he might be?"

The rabbit said nothing as she looked this way and that, her ears shooting up straight when she spotted the corridor she'd been dragged through earlier. Needing no further encouragement, Isaac dashed down the hall and pushed through the metal door, followed by Judy. Nick cursed and said "Oh what the Hell," before making his way after them.

Abandoning all sense of stealth, Isaac called out, "Niko! Are you here?"

Judy spotted a figure slumped against the far wall, "Isaac, I-I think he's over there!"

Isaac hurried over and knelt beside his older brother. He felt for a pulse and listened for breathing just the way he'd been taught. Watching from a short distance, Nick could see the resemblance. Despite having very different pelts and builds, the two brothers had the same face.

Nikolai frowned and his paw came up to swat at the limb pressing on his throat, "What in the blazes... Get off!

"You with us, Niko?" asked Isaac.

"Yes! for God's sake… Wait, Isaac? Judith?"

"Yes, we're here!" cried Judy.

Nikolai mumbled with agitation, "No. No, no. You have to go. All of you…"

"I'm not leaving without my brother!" said Isaac as he started maneuvering to lift Nikolai.

The Doctor pushed him away, "No, I said go! As soon as Ezra finds out Judith is missing, this is the first place he'll look!"

"He's right, you know," came a voice from the entrance to the room.

Ezra Bisonhower stood, in his usual white suit and his face adorned with the slight, smug smile of a Bond villain all set to monologue.

The cat, fox, rabbit and shrew all cursed in unison as they turned about.

Ezra chuckled, somehow managing to simultaneously sound disappointed, "Oh so predictable. I knew neither Hopps' dear little compassionate heart nor young Isaac could bear to leave Dr Kitty behind."

"We're not afraid of you, Bisonhower!" Declared Isaac, shakily.

"Oh, ho ho. Speak for yourself, my boy. Do you think it's a mere coincidence that Ivan let you go? For what it's worth, the hapless fool did fall for your bluff."

"For you see, Ivan is just chafing at the bit for your debt to be paid - I told him he'll just have to wait. And he will wait until he dies."

"Let me guess, by your paw?" quizzed Nick.

"Indeed… Unless they change, he and his clan of vagabonds, being incompatible with my vision, must be done away with as soon as their usefulness runs dry - a time that is fast approaching. But in the interim I must be clear: Your execution is nothing personal, merely a cleverly demonstrative way of taking out two most troublesome birds with a flurry of lead stones. Why? Because then, (ideally) all the other little birds will stop tweeting so we may live in peace."

"I don't want to hear any more. Come on, we can take him!" declared Isaac triumphantly.

"Not so fast, my boy," said Ezra as he drew an odd looking weapon from behind his back.

Everyone but Isaac instantly recognized the strange firearm and tried to step back only to find themselves stuck against the wall.

Isaac turned back in bewilderment, "It's only a tranquilizer," he said.

Another chuckle from Bisonhower, "Ms Hopps, if you please, edify young Isaac."

"Th-that's the gun that was used to dart predators with psychotropic toxins two years ago," explained Judy in a low, solemn voice.

"I did always want to see it. Careful what you wish for I guess," Isaac commented.

"Getting it out of the evidence lockup was beyond easy. As for ammunition, you can thank your brother for producing many 'samples' after perfecting Doug's distillation method."

"It-it's not what it seems to be," murmured Nikolai in defensively.

"It isn't? Well what about your 'research'? For reference, I'm talking about all your unethical little experiments," sneered Ezra, "unless you can tell me why no respectable mammal of science would fund you."

"It's because-" started Nikolai.

Ezra bellowed, "It's because you're a sleazy hack!"

Judy took a bold step forward and said, "That's enough!"

From his low angle view, Nikolai saw Ezra shudder and take a few small steps backward upon being challenged by the rabbit. For him, time slowed to a crawl and a single clear thought took his whole mind: "Yes... Of course. That's why he came for her."

The bison held his weapon level with Judy's head and said, "You stay back now, remember which of us is armed!"

Judy stepped forward, saying, "Or what? You're going to make me savage?"

"No. You're right. That wouldn't do. Come now Ezra, don't be afraid! She's just a rabbit," mumbled the once intimidating bison.

Nikolai pulled himself to his paws and stood. He exchanged glances with Isaac and Nick before once again fixing his eyes on Ezra Bisonhower.

Ezra wrangled his tie aggressively and bellowed: "I heard the reports! I read the papers! I know what went down in the museum that day! Dawn fucked up. But I won't. I'll do what she could not!"

Judy challenged him again, "Do what?!"

"Oh ho, wait and see! There's no bandana this time, no produce. No bait-and-switch. The fox gets it!" roared Ezra as he switched his aim to Nick Wilde.

Nikolai gasped. Now or never, this is the moment, his chance to fix it all even if it meant his life, "It's not him you should be aiming for!" he cried making a break for a panel a few feet from where he stood.

"Why, you insufferable twat," grumbled Ezra as he switched targets yet again to fire off rounds at Nikolai.

Only one of the three pellets hit it's mark on the cat's cheek, knocking his glasses from his face and sending the already unsteady mammal stumbling over. Now a foot from the wall panel, Niko reached out and pulled down on the manual release valve for the ceiling sprinklers as he collapsed on the floor.

Judy and Isaac cried out in unison and with a paw on each of their shoulders, Nick held them back as the fire sprinklers cracked open, dousing the room's inhabitants.

"All that fuss and yet the only thing you've managed to ruin is my favorite suit," complained Ezra, unaware of the heavy roller door creaking open beside him.

The door to the lab's holding cells stopped rolling with a heavy thud and the sound of cages unlocking drew Ezra's attention to the dark maw to his left.

The dart gun dropped from his cloven hoof. As a cacophony of crazed mammals thundered toward him, he muttered under his breath: "You clever bastard."

Herding prey ran into him, toppling his bulky frame. Predators came next, lashing at his flesh as they stumbled over him to seek escape from their confinement.

Nick Wilde turned Judy and Isaac away from Ezra's mutilation, holding them both close. As if there called for one last punishment, Bisonhower's screams of agony turned to a quiet gurgle as a lone rhino crashed out of the corridor and trampled him.

End Notes

What takes place here was originally crammed into one chapter. As I got into it, I realized it was too much and had to split it just like Unfurseen Consequences which also used to be a single chapter. That and in my original planning, there was a lot of underutilized stuff and plot points that go back years.

All in all, it's finally done.