Had a terrible case of writer's block on this one - ending up cutting off the whole last third. No one's missing out on anything as it was just set up for more guff.
Futuristic flying machines soared at blazing speed, bearing down on a location North of Zootopia city.
Major Liam Pearce could hardly hear himself think over the beating of the ornithopters' hefty composite wings, a deafening sound even with military grade earmuffs.
Many thought that Pearce's deadpan or grouchy response to things came from life experience, as though he'd 'been there, done that'. In reality, he just didn't care as long as you put a gun in his paws and tell him what to shoot.
"Decreasing altitude, reaching destination T minus five minutes or less," said the pilot.
Pearce grimaced, sitting still and doing nothing made him uncomfortable. He could defend a position tirelessly but sitting down for a coffee break is enough to make him go postal.
A female elk by the name of Elksa called out to him over the radio, "Major, I'm security chief Schmidt. The boss told me to tell you that security groups one through five are under your temporary command."
"I should hope so," said Pearce.
"Yes, yes. With that in mind, I was hoping you could give us a little direction, preferably before we land in a potentially hazardous area."
"Guess I missed that part when we had to rush into your fancy dune-copters…"
"Yeah, well this wasn't in our itineraries either."
"Right," started the Major, "Team Bravo, go around to the rear and take WattSec group one into the facility, take point. I'll take Alpha and group two in the front door. WattSec groups three through five, set up a perimeter! Any questions?"
Silence.
"Woah, that came up quick," started the pilot, "heads up folks, we're coming up on the location, hang tight. Swooping in five."
The entire wing of aircraft all slowed sharply and tilted downwards, their flapping wings stopping and folding flat against their respective fuselages. Pearce watched out the windows as the ornithopters broke through the thin cloud cover - zooming toward the Meadows West hydro-plant.
"Okay boys," said the pilot to his wingmammals, "just like we practiced, wings to maximum drag configuration and angle for a smooth drop."
Acknowledgments crackled over the radio.
"Major, I hope your guys are ready. One hundred meters, eighty, sixty… twenty. Here goes nothing."
Hydraulic stepper motors whined as the ornithopters' wings repositioned themselves again, this time extending out, wide and flat. The aircraft each pulled up sharply as they neared the ground, landing struts popping out like an eagle's talons reaching for a perch.
All this elaborate manoeuvring made for the softest landing Pearce had ever experienced.
Side doors popped and slid open with a sharp hiss and occupants of the whole flight piled out in seconds.
Pearce watched as the WattSec guys formed up beside his teams, group by group. Each one wore a bleach-white uniform made out of something resembling neoprene, decorated with navy blue plating on their chest, shoulders, knees and elbows. A matching helmet with a polarized visor topped off the whole ensemble.
Pearce and all those he had in tow positioned themselves around the front entrance to the plant.
"Hold," said the Major.
"Wha- what on Earth for?" demanded Chief Schmidt.
"Something isn't quite right. It's too damn quiet here," started Pearce, "especially since our arrival was not exactly low-profile."
"You think the kid gave us a fake address?"
"Worse."
Schmidt's expression demanded an explanation.
"Did you watch world news back in 2016?" asked Pearce with a flat tone.
The elk frowned for a moment before she looked Pearce straight in the eye, quietly uttering, "Oh sweet Lord."
The Major hurriedly grabbed his radio: "Travis! What's your situation?"
The response came immediately: "Green, sir. Just kicked in the door. Minimal resistance."
"Stay sharp! Watch your corners and take it slow. Possible november hotel-"
The Major got cut-off by static and other noise, then the sound of Captain Travis yelling out wildly, "Contacts! Lots of contacts! Major they're savage! Confirmed november hotel sierra, november hotel sierra!"
Pearce clicked off and gave Chief Schimdt a level stare. Schmidt gave a curt nod. With a brief wave of his paw, the whole group breached the door and pushed into the hydro-plant.
Nick Wilde raised his head. The overhead fire sprinklers spitting water from above, drenching everything. With a brief look from side to side, he stood and gently raised Isaac and Judy alongside him.
"Niko!" Isaac cried.
Nick strained to hold on to Isaac as the cat tried to rush over to his downed sibling.
"Hold it! Easy," said Nick with a firm paw on Isaac's shoulder.
Nick took hold of a tranquilizer rifle from a rack on the wall and edged toward the still creature that lay a few feet from him.
Now standing over Nikolai, Nick tentatively rolled him onto his back with the barrel of his gun. Judy and Issac approached together with tension - their shoulders easing off when they saw Nikolai's chest rising and falling in a slow rhythm.
"He's okay," said Nick, "out cold, but fine."
Isaac kneeled to get a closer look, "So he's not…?"
"Nope, and here's why," said Judy, retrieving an empty syringe from Nikolai's limp paw and pointing to a matching tear in the cat's shirt.
Regarding the syringe, Isaac muttered, "Clever bastard."
Mr Big spoke from Judy's shoulder: "We really ought to be leaving."
Glancing his way, Nick said, "You don't say."
The fox looked at the weapon in his paws, then at Judy and Isaac, standing either side of Nikolai, asking "Shoulder to shoulder, do you think you can carry him out of here?"
Judy and Isaac exchanged a glance then shuffled about to raise the unconscious Doctor to his feet. Aside from their height difference, the two maintained their balance.
"Now what?" Judy asked.
"Stay behind me," said Nick with great determination, stepping forward with his tranquilizer pointed down range.
Nick met virtually no resistance as he led Judy and Isaac. The only obstacles per se were unconscious, injured or even dead mammals strewn through the complex, all victims of the Night Howler fueled stampede that left only destruction in its wake.
"Nick, just between you and me, what's your aim like?" asked Isaac.
Judy grimaced and Mr Big produced an audible groan of disappointment.
"Oh come on, I'm a fairly decent shot," Nick grumbled.
"Abysmal. On a good day," stated Judy.
"So why is it exactly that we're letting him take point?"
"Shush!" spat Nick, "Someone's coming."
Armored mammals came around a corner with weapons aimed. The point mammal faced Nick and the others directly.
"Weapons down! On your knees, now!" commanded the elk, female but no less intimidating.
A familiar timberwolf pushed through the armed group, "Chief Schmidt, stand down!"
"Pearce!" cried Nick, "Geez, I could almost hug you."
"Don't," remarked Major Liam Pearce grimacing with disgust, before turning back to Chief Schmidt: "Keep pushing forward and RV with the others, I'll escort this lot."
With a sharp nod, the elk set a brisk pace and led the others with a wave. With a flick of his pointed ears, Pearce led Nick and his heavily laden followers toward the exit.
"Okay, Mr Fox: I'm taking point, you watch our six!" commanded Pearce.
"Uh, six, that's behind, right? Aye sir!" replied Nick with a scout salute.
Mr Big whispered into Judy's ear, "Can we trust this canine?"
"With our lives, sir," she said.
"Good enough for me."
Pearce hailed over the radio: "Pearce to Police actual, I'm escorting the VIPs now. Yes, they're all accounted for. We're coming in hot, over and out."
Under Pearce's watchful protection along with Nick watching the rear, Judy, Isaac and Mr Big met with quite the filmic scene as they emerged from within the aging hydro-plant.
Peculiar aircraft sat on the sidelines like an audience, watching emergency services crews receive wounded and shaken mammals, uniformed security personnel restraining rowdy savages.
Chief Bogo waited with his own stern version of eagerness, wearing a protective vest and standing behind a wall of ZPD SWAT.
As they got close, the SWAT team parted through the middle for a handover. Koslov appeared from the sideline and, with a brief bow toward Judy and Nick, gently lifted Mr Big from Judy's shoulder and walked away.
"Good to have both of you back," said Bogo.
"Good to be back," started Nick.
"Both of us," finished Judy.
Almost sounding personally concerned, Bogo said, "Dr Carrson is waiting, go get yourselves checked out."
"Aye aye," said Nick before leading the others over to the EMTs.
With a furtive glance across the clearing, Major Pearce marched away, holding his weapon in alert carry position.
Chief Bogo followed, "Wait up, Pearce."
The Major stopped and frowned at Bogo, "Yes?"
Chief Bogo drew a breath, "Thank you, Liam."
"Your welcome. Despite the fact I was just following orders," stated Pearce.
Chief Bogo sighed, "There's no shame in accepting gratitude from a friend, Liam. It's not always about orders."
"Perhaps, being a cop, you don't quite get it. When you're a soldier, following orders is your purpose," explained Pearce, deadpan, before starting to march again.
Bogo stepped forward and put a comforting hoof on the Major's shoulder, "You don't have to be a soldier all the time."
"It's all I have left, you know that," said Pearce with just a sliver of emotion.
Chief Bogo let the old wolf walk away.
On-site medical personnel quickly ascertained that, next to a score of wounded and/or savage mammals, Nick, Judy, and Isaac did not need much in the way of immediate medical attention.
Isaac stood apart from the fox and rabbit, watching his brother being tended to. Nick looked to Judy, who nodded reassuringly.
Stepping closer to the young tom, Nick put a paw on his shoulder, commenting, "And that was all she wrote."
"Hm? Oh. Nice literary reference," remarked Isaac, flatly.
"Literary? As in, from a book? I did not know until now," mused Nick, adding, "anyways, I mean it's finished - for now at least."
"You're not mad?" asked Isaac abruptly.
"Well, you did shoot me. But because you came back, freed us, and called in backup, et cetera, no. Not exactly."
Isaac sighed.
"Regardless, I did make you a promise last night. And it's one I'd like to keep," explained Nick.
Isaac looked up at him and frowned that same little quizzical frown that Nick felt he could see a million times and still find amusing - followed by a look of childlike satisfaction as the ducks finally got in their row.
Anxiety paralyzed Nick as Isaac gave him the biggest bro-hug imaginable.
"Another rule," wheezed Nick, "no hugging. Absolutely none!"
Isaac withdrew sheepishly, "Sorry. A little weird since you're a guy, I'm a guy, yada-yada. Knee-jerk response sometimes."
Nick put on a wry smile and rolled his eyes.
Isaac stepped away slowly, "I should probably go see Niko, he'll probably want to see a friendly-ish face when he comes to…"
"Just go already!" snapped Nick playfully, to which Isaac spun around and trotted away.
Judy watched with a funny gleam as Nick returned to her side.
"Don't say a word," he remarked, dryly.
"Wasn't going to."
"Don't even think about it."
She thought about it anyway: "So when are you telling your Mom she's a grandparent?" Judy teased.
"As if! Besides, if I'm Papa, then who's Mama?" questioned Nick, one eyebrow raised.
With a coy look, Judy said, "Careful, dumb fox. You don't want to bite off more than you can chew."
"Where's the fun in that?" asked Nick, leaning back to watch the setting sun, "Hey, you cold?"
"No... Not really," said Judy, unconvincingly.
Nick stood and, rolling his eyes, took off his coat and draped around Judy's narrow shoulders.
Settling back down he said: "You bunnies, always making things harder for yourselves - though maybe it's just you."
"Thanks."
"You're welcome."
End Notes
One chapter left folks. That's it, then Deliverer One Lost is over, it's finished. Just some loose ends to tie up and some little arc payoffs and our little journey here is done. An epilogue of sorts. Until next time...
Chapter name is a reference to a comment made by clone troopers in Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds.
24/08/20 - Added missing line