Nick paced back and forth, arms behind his back, waiting anxiously as the tech specialist did her job. McCabe was leaned up against a counter looking slightly worried about his partner. The look the fox had on his face scared the wolf for reasons he couldn't explain. Fear, anger, angst, sorrow; a mixture of all those things would describe what McCabe saw observing Nick. He wanted to say something to maybe comfort him, but what could he say? He hardly knows the fox, and has no idea what he is going through. All he could do was watch as the vulpine tore himself apart from the inside.

Nick, uncharacteristically, was being very impatient. He has already asked the techy three times if she had anything, all the answers being no. She was starting to become annoyed by the fox officer. If he would just let her do her work, it would go by faster. But she kept her cool, being patient and kind with Nick. She knows that he's going through hard times and the last thing she wanted to do was upset him more.

After the phone call, Nick wasted no time in getting back to the precinct and immediately bringing his phone down to the tech lab to have his recorded call be studied to see if they could get anything on her location. Now they were looking into the number to see if they could find out if anyone was registered to it. The animal doing that is a female impala named Tyra Billings Unfortunately, Nick knew there wasn't going to be anyway to track the call; there was no doubt that they had destroyed the phone by now. But anything and everything helps in these investigations.

"I got some bad news for you, Wilde," Tyra sighed as she turned from her screen to face the two canines. Nick's face sunk hearing those words, fearing the words that were about to come from her mouth.

"The phone registered to the number belongs to a disposable phone which makes it nearly impossible to track. Also, I knew it would be a long shot, I ran a GPS search on the phone but nothing turned up," She was disappointed that she couldn't be more help.

Nick closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Even with their best lead it still gives them nothing to go off of and it was frustrating the vulpine. He really hoped to get somewhere with this, wished that somehow it would just give them the location of Judy. He cursed himself for being so stupid; nothing is ever that easy. It was going to take more, its just that more usually comes with complications.

"I'm sorry, Nick," The impala gave her condolences, looking sadly the emotional fox.

"It's fine, you did what you could," Nick averted his eyes from everyone else's gaze as he snatched up his phone and headed back up towards ground level. He needed to think, and he has the perfect place he likes to go. He walked out of the room and up the stairs, leaving his partner behind.

McCabe looked at Tyra who looked at Nick with sympathy. "It's one of the saddest things I've seen," she sighed, turning back to the screen to work on other things.

"How close were they, actually?" The wolf questioned still staring at the door Nick exited.

"Inseparable," the impala said, "You'd think that they were a couple, but they'd never admit it. I've seen partners come and go, but none were as close as the fox and bunny." She stopped talking trying to stifle a laugh. "There's actually a bet going around the precinct about if they'll ever get together romantically. But now she's gone, and the fox I knew that was so full of life is gone."

McCabe suddenly felt really bad for Nick, almost as if he was sharing his sorrow. He knows it must hurt to lose someone, but knowing how close the two were made it all that worse. He felt like he needs to talk with him, to try and make him feel better somehow. He felt like the best thing the fox needs is a friend to talk to.

Nick always likes coming up to the roof of the precinct; it brings him a feeling of peace. The only times he usually comes up here is after a case has gone really bad, ending in a worst case scenario. The first time was one of the worst.

He and Judy were downstairs looking into a case that had been active for a week. A crazy father wolf who was legally separated from his kids after a divorce, had kidnapped the two cubs and vanished. Judy and Nick were put on the case and they eventually were able to catch him. They put him in interrogation and hammered at him for a good hour until he finally broke, but the words he said would haunt the fox, "I knew I wouldn't be able to have them, so I decided nobody could," the wolf had said through tear soaked bloodshot eyes.

A squad that was on standby was sent to the location given and told to proceed with extreme caution. Only it wouldn't matter. When they got there all they found were two pups both with a single gunshot wound at the base of their skull.

Nick couldn't handle it. The thought of those children lying dead, lifeless, on the ground was a cursed image that flickered in his head. He wanted to vomit, he wanted justice. He wanted to storm into that interrogation room and shoot the sick son of a bitch where he sat. He would have done it without a single regret. Instead, he just ran up to the roof.

After that, when the job felt like it was weighing him down and becoming too much, he came up here as a reminder to why he does it. You can see most of the city from atop this building, and it was such a magnificent sight. Millions of animals living together in a single city, most of them innocent of doing anything. It is those select few who aren't innocent that drives him. To protect the innocent, to "make the world a better place", as his bunny counterpart would always say.

Nick sat on a lonely box on the middle of the roof looking out across the city. It's the middle of the day, the sun beating down on him from the center of the sky. Most animals are at work going through their daily routine, most of them going on with their day as if everything was normal, and here Nick sat on top a roof as an emotional disaster devastated his mind. He just wants her back, so very much. He wants the pain to go away. He wants everything to go back to normal.

The foxes ears perked up at the sound of the door behind him opening. He slightly turned his head to get a glance at who was up here with him, though he was pretty sure he already knows who it is. As he suspected, it was the rookie slowly making his way towards him. Nick couldn't help but smile at the wolf; loyalty is definitely a trait he has.

"I bet this wasn't what you were expecting me to be like," Nick chuckled. Everyone always assumes that Nick is some sort of superhero, or a sarcastic fox with an iron shell, but that's just not reality. He's any ordinary animal; it may be harder to get under his skin, but he does have a breaking point.

"Not quite," McCabe admitted, standing next to Nick. "I expected you and Officer Hopps to be some sort of unstoppable force that no one could escape. I expected everything to be a lot more 'lively' is the best way I can explain it."

"Sorry to disappoint you," Nick looked down to the ground, a gloomy feeling settling over him.

"You've done quite the opposite actually." Nicks ears perked up and he looked up to meet the eyes of his young partner who just slightly grinned at him.

"You've done so many things in your short time here, you and Officer Hopps. You two are the talk of the whole academy. We all strive to be like you, but it seemed impossible. How could an ordinary wolf like myself compare myself to someone like you. But in these past few days you've shown that you are just like everyone else. You're a mammal who has feelings just like everyone else. Your just like everyone else, just like me. And that makes your accomplishments that much more impressive."

Nick looked at the ground thoughtfully for a moment. He was really starting to like this wolf, that's for sure. His gaze moved up and his eyes met with McCabe. "I still haven't told you why I joined, have I?" Nick asked. McCabe shook his head. He s been anticipating the backstory from his hero, but has been continually interrupted; he figured it would be worth it though.

"I never planned on joining, I was happy where I was in my life," Nick began, knowing he was about to blow this wolf's mind. "I was a criminal, to be blunt about it. More specifically, I was a con-artist. Scammed hundreds of animals out of their cash and I made a lot of money doing it. I also did a few other things, but I'm not really aloud to speak about it," Nick shrugged, thinking back to the agreement he made with the mayor and the Chief. At this point, he had McCabe hooked; the wolf look baffled, not believing that such a good animal used to live a life of crime.

"So what happened, what changed?" McCabe beckoned for the story to continue.

Nick couldn't help but smile as he thought back to meeting that determined little bunny. It was slightly cute how hard she tried (She would hit him if she knew he thought like that). The memories were bitter sweet as the thought of never sharing a happy moment again haunted him.

"It was Judy that changed everything. At first she had unknowingly helped me with a scam I had planned out involving a very large popsicle. To make a long story short she caught me and tried to arrest me. Let's just say it didn't work." Nick went on to explain about everything that happened after that. The Nighthowlers, how she blackmailed him, solving the case, and then her asking if he wanted to join the force.

"I guess you can say I joined because it felt good being a good guy for once and actually making a difference in the world. But in all honesty if it wasn't for Judy I would never have joined. You can thank her for me being so awesome," the fox boasted playfully, getting McCabe to chuckle. "That is if we ever get to see her again," she let out a depressed sigh.

McCabe looked at Nick with a frown, "You must really love her, don't you?"

Nicks head shot up with wide eyes and he was ready to defend against that statement, but the words never came from his mouth. His face softened and he faced back towards the city. He and Judy fought against others accusing them of being a couple, of being in love; they would always deny it. It is true that they are nothing but friends, but he wishes they could be more. "I really do," he sighed, "I pray that I will be able to tell her myself one day, that I love her and wish for nothing more than to spend the rest of eternity with her. If only I had the courage before all this happened." Nick had a look of longing on his face; he had imagined over and over again in his head what he'd do if he ever sees Judy again.

"I bet you'll save her, your one of the best in the city. If you can't do it nobody can, but I have faith that you'll be able to find your real partner and you won't have to take care of me anymore," McCabe smiled. Nick laughed as he wiped away a tear from his eye, this wolf is really something.

"Thanks McCabe, I needed that." The two sat in silence for a while, watching the city move in a constant hustle. It wasn't until Nick got a buzz on his phone that he broke his gaze. He took his phone and saw a text from Ben. It was telling him to come downstairs and that it was urgent. Immediately his mind went to Judy. Nick stood up and quickly made his way downstairs towards the front desk. McCabe sighed, 'always running off,' he thought before walking after him.

Nick got to Ben who had a look of horror plastered on his face as he stared Deeply at a screen in front of him. "Ben, what is it what's wro…" he didn't finish. He stopped midsentence which left his mouth hanging wide open as he looked at what was on the TV. A masked animal of medium size stood with paws crossed behind his back, but that's not what grabbed his attention. In the background kneeling on the floor and looking towards the ground was the bunny who had been haunting his mind for weeks. It was unmistakable the exhaustion that was present throughout her body. He recognized the clothes she was in as being the same ones she wore on the night they went drinking for their celebration, only they were much more dirty and torn. There was also noticeable blood stains on her fur and cloths that made the foxes fur stand up in anger.

Next to the bunny, not that Nick was paying much attention to him, the missing moose politician was in the same position as Judy. Nick had been right, this was all connected.

The masked animal had been silent, just staring at the camera that was recording him. Nick felt as though he was staring right at him, straight into his soul. Just seeing him stand there made the foxes blood boil like never before. There was nothing he wanted more at this moment to beat this mammal to a bloody pulp. McCabe had gotten down there and realized what was happening. He looked at Nick and noticed a killer look in his eyes, along with his aggressive tone in body. It makes the wolf uneasy to see him like this.

"Speak, come on, talk you son of a bitch," Nick growled softly. He wanted, no he needed to know what these animals wanted. Why did they take Judy. What are they trying to gain from this. After what seemed like forever of waiting, he spoke up.

"Mammals of Zootopia," he said, his voice being modified by something. "I am the Speaker and I come with a message. This once great city has fallen into dark times. Impurities and corruption has swept through these once fine streets leaving chaos in its wake. Crime is higher than ever before, poverty touches in every corner of this city, unemployment is reaching new records, and more and more animals are being thrown to the streets. That time is about to come to an end." He paused and the camera panned out revealing more tied up mammals all kneeling down for the whole city to see.

"The tides of change are upon us all, and we will cleanse this city one mammal at a time," from off screen two mammals were dragged in and placed down in front of the Speaker. One being a male bobcat dressed in jeans and a white tank top, and the other a horse wearing a nice suit. Both were squirming around, trying to scream, but all that came out was muffled whimpers.

The Speaker pointed towards the bobcat, "This is Robert Feline, convicted for multiple rapes but was never caught by the ZPD." Nick knows exactly who that cat is, he has been able to evade the police for months and it frustrated him beyond belief. "And this is Spencer Williams, the head of a bank that has cheated thousand out of their hard earned money. Today we make an example out of them." Nick suddenly realized what was going on, but all he could do was stare as the Speaker snapped his fingers and two gunshots came from off screen. In an instant the two fell over dead as blood spilled from their heads. Nick heard McCabe gasp is shock and heard Clawhauser crying next to him. He could blame either of them, this was a public execution and it is sick and twisted.

"We are here to do what no government can, cleanse the streets of corruptness and evil. This will not be the last time you see us, a revolution has begun and we are the spark that will start a wildfire. Change is coming, and nothing can stop it." And with that, the screen went black then changed back to what it was originally on.

Nick couldn't stop looking at the screen, still seeing the image of two animals being shot and killed in live television for everyone to see. This is far bigger than anyone could have imagined. These people have just declared war on the city, claiming to be the new enforcers of the law deeming themselves the judge, jury, and executioners. But that isn't how things work here, no matter how atrocious the crime. They will pay for this, and he will get Judy back before they can get to her, that he promises.

Sorry about the delay, school had me busy this last week with tests and essays. Luckily that's over for now and I was able to get this chapter done before I'm bombarded with more work. I hope ya'll enjoyed this chapter, and for those waiting for the appearance of Judy, next chapter is all about her.

Thanks to everyone who has supported this story, you're all awesome. I'd really enjoy to here what you think of this chapter and the story as a whole so far.

Keep On Keeping On

Peace Out