After what seemed like an eternity, Judy finally felt the pain stop. No more slashing, jabbing, piercing feeling on her body. She breathed heavily feeling blood ooz from her wounds. She was sure that the raccoon would let her bleed out. However, contrary to what she thought, she began feeling the mammal start bandaging her up. Why? Why go through all of that just to spare her? She tried to look over at him but her vision was much too fuzzy. She couldn't make out anything save for a solid looking shape that she assumed to be the doctor. She tried to speak her him, but all that came out was unrecognizable ramblings mixed with pained groans.
"Quiet now, officer," she heard the raccoon say, "and no moving, we don't want you dying on us quite yet, we have other plans for you," he chuckled coldly, sending a shiver down her spine. What on earth could they want with her now, they already tortured her for the torture, what is her purpose here.
The sound of a final tearing bandage made the doctor sigh with satisfaction. "There we go, all patched up," he clapped his paws together, "Now let's not have to do that again, huh? I'll make you a deal; you don't try to run away again and I won't skin off apart of you, or maybe I'll get myself a lucky rabbit foot," he laughed. He loosened up the straps and soon after Judy felt two large paws grasp her shoulders and began carrying her away. "Now have fun at the party," he shouted at her before the door slammed shut behind them.
The next little bit was all a blur for the bunny. She remembers being set down in a kneeling position and she could feel the presence of others. There was a lot of hushed talking followed by a long pause of silence. Judy felt like she needed to move and get out of there, but she couldn't. Her body was much too weak, and honestly she didn't want to. The thought of ever going back to that room with the doctor terrified her. She doesn't even want to think about the scars that would CV remain on her body. The stinging sensation of being cut into repeatedly still lingered, making it painful to even breath.
The silence ended as a low threatening voice cut through the air. Judy couldn't make out anything he was saying, in fact she could feel herself fading fast on the edge of consciousness. Suddenly, the sounds of gunshots echoed in the room causing the bunny to jump. She honestly expected to feel the force of a bullet hit her but was relieved to find she was unscathed. However, that only raised the question of where did the bullets end up. She wished her vision wasn't all blurry.
Next thing she knew, Judy was being dragged away again for an unknown amount of time. After awhile she felt herself being hoisted into the air followed by some muffled speaking, this time, though, she understood it, "Let this be an example of what happens when you try to escape," the voice sneered. Judy heard a few gasps. She was then lowered and she felt herself being put into what she figured was her bed back in her cell.
"Judy," she heard someone call to her who she knew could only be Earl, no one else in here cared weather or not she was fine. The bunny didn't respond, not having the strength to do so. She felt herself becoming weaker and weaker, not being able to move an ounce of her body, until she finally gave in to the exhaustion. Judy felt herself fall into unconsciousness, not knowing if she would wake up again.
Weeks have passed now since the first broadcast of the public execution and from then the whole city has gone to shit.
Nick faced his computer rubbing his paws on his head. He didn't think things could have gotten worse than the nighthowlers incident, but oh was he so wrong. This was ten times worse. The executions have sent the city into a mass panic and there is no end in sight for how bad things are getting. The city has done everything in its power to assure everyone's safety, issuing a mandatory curfew, staking out police and any volunteers on every street corner as to ensure the safety of every citizen, but it all seemed for nothing.
With each passing day more and more animals have been reported missing and all of them just seem to disappear without a trace, nothing but a little card saying 'Tides of Change' ever being left behind. If that wasn't bad enough already, the first broadcast wasn't the last, not by far. Every other day at the same time every channel is forcefully taken over and two more animals are executed as the insane 'Speaker' spits out his nonsense and they couldn't do anything to trace it. It was starting to drive the fox mad. It didn't help either that he knew eventually that Judy would be one of them that would be executed in front of everyone's eyes. That would be the day Nick knew he would lose control. That's a day he hopes won't ever happen.
He hasn't seen her again since that first broadcast, nowhere in the background like before. It actually was reliving to not see her at all, rather than have to witness her amongst all that killing.
Then to add to the already massive hellish situation that group has put them in, it seems Zootopia's underground has started getting ballsier. With all the police focusing on the domestic terrorism, your everyday average criminals have started getting busier even with the looming threat of being abducted and executed. At first, Nick was assigned to work as the lead against the 'Tide of Change' but that was before all the public executions. Now he bounces between helping with that case and looking into the near infinite calls that come in every day. It has been awhile since the fox got a full night's rest.
After the first public executions, the FBI were immediately called into action. The day after the broadcast, Nick remembers the station surrounded by government vehicles and the building flooded with mammals in suits. Nick's familiar with them, having worked a joint case awhile back, close to the beginning of when he started. This was different though. This time they handled everything mostly in secrecy, only sometimes briefing the officers, but even then it was very vague which just further frustrated the fox.
He hates taking the backseat. He wants to be in the driver's seat, hell even the passenger seat, but being kept so much in the dark on such a huge thing was starting to make Nick's blood heat up. He just wants some information on the lunatics they are trying to bring in, that seems pretty fair he thinks.
At the sound of someone clearing their throat, Nick blinked a few times and snapped out of his thoughts. He doesn't know how long he had been like that, but for however long he was spaced out he had been staring at nothing but a picture of him and Judy. It was the one they took the day before she was taken from him, as part of their one year celebration as partners. It's the last taken picture of her and he looks at it more than he would want to admit.
Nick looked over at who was trying to get his attention, only to be met with a coffee mug being shoved in his face. He looked over it to see his partner smiling tiredly at the fox. Nick has to admit, the kid has grown on him. He is a fantastic cop, one of the better rookies to come through here (not better than himself of course), and is great to just hang around. Plus, he remembers to always bring the fox his coffee in the morning with out him even asking him to.
"Good to see you this morning, McCabe," Nick said as he grabbed the hot cop of liquid energy, "and thank you as always."
"No problem," the wolf smiled, sitting down next to the fox as he let out a hefty sigh.
"Long night?" Nick questioned.
"Just another night of patrolling nonstop, at least the company is nice," he beamed.
"Paired with Abby again?" the fox asked as he grinned knowingly. Abby is an attractive wolf who has been here a little longer than Nick, but less than Judy. Also, McCabe's taken a bit of a likening towards her.
"Yah," the wolf admitted, "But that's not important. What's on the agenda for today?" McCabe deflected the conversation. Nick wasn't going to let this go, he would bring it up again and McCabe knows this.
"Just the usual," Nick turned back towards his computer and motioned towards the contents on it's screen. "We have a couple pawfulls of reports about potential ties with our favorite organization." Nick sighed. The two of them have gone and responded to a lot of calls these past couple weeks, all of which didn't end up giving them any useful information. These mammals are very good at keeping out of the line of sight.
"From patrolling to house calls, this day can't get better," the wolf chuckled.
"Could be worse my friend, could be much worse," Nick stated, hopping out of his chair ready to get on with the long day of work ahead of them.
"I don't see how things could be much worse, Officer Wilde," a familiar voice called over to the fox. Nick turned and faced the voice, having to look down to make eye contact with it's owner.
"It's been awhile, stripes," Nick folded his arms looking blankly at the rabbit.
"So it has," the rabbit responded. McCabe nervously looked between the two as he felt a building tension begin to rise. He doesn't know these two's history, but from what he can tell it isn't the best. At least that's what he thought until the two of the started laughing then walked over to each other and shared a friendly hug. It took him s second to realize what happened.
"It's good to see you Jack," Nick said happily.
"Same with you Nick," Jack grinned. Nick turned and faced his partner and gestured towards the bunny.
"McCabe, this is Jack Savage. Judy and I worked on a joint case with him and his partner awhile back," his smile faltered for a second as the thought of Judy crossed his mind which was clearly seen by the other two. McCabe was about to say something, but Nick continued on before he could. "Speaking of your partner, where is the beautiful Skye?" He questioned.
"She'll be around shortly, there were a few things she had to take care of when we got here," Jack explained.
"So why has it taken you too so long to get down here, I assumed you two would have been here much sooner?" Nick wondered.
Jack smiled shyly and scratched the back of his head, "Well, um… you see," he mumbled on getting the fox to be suspicious. What wasn't this rabbit telling him.
"It's because we were on our honeymoon," another voice butted in. Nick watched as a pure white fox walked up to Jack and gave him a small pack on the cheek. To be honest, Nick wasn't expecting that.
"You two married?" Nick asked with wide eyes.
"Yep, happiest day of my life," Sky beamed down at her husband.
"Well, congratulations I guess. Though I am a bit offended you didn't invite me to your wedding," Nick scoffed playfully.
"Yah, it was a bit sudden. There wasn't really much of anyone there to be fair," Jack said.
"No, it's fine." Nick remembers back when they first came here. The two did tend to act really friendly towards each other, but Nick would never have guessed they'd get married. Comparing the two together is like night and day, but he guesses they make it work. That made him start to think about him and Judy. Maybe a relationship between them could work if someone like Jack and Skye can get together.
"Well this is certainly a nice reunion, but we didn't come by to just say hello," Skye informed the fox.
"Oh? So you got something for us to do?" Nick questioned hungrily. He has been craving to do something worth while on this case.
"Yes we do. Seems that that little organization finally got a little sloppy. During what we can only assume to be another kidnapping, they weren't expecting their victim to be armed and one of them was shot right between the eyes. The victim was an ex-marine so what would you expect," Jack debriefed them on the situation. 'Finally!' Nick screamed internally, they have something.
"What about the victim?" McCabe asked sounding slightly worried.
"He was shot a couple times in the body. Something must have spooked the others because they took off leaving everything there; the only time that has happened. He was rushed to the hospital and is currently in emergency surgery. They aren't sure he'll make it." Skye explained.
"What's his species, his name," McCabe demanded, becoming impatient. Nick has never seen him act like this which worried the fox about his partner.
"Uh, Kendal Walker, wolf," Skye said, confused by the wolves outbursts. Once he heard the name, Nick knew what was going on.
"Who is he?" Nick asked softly.
"My dad," McCabe replied weakly. He stood there for a moment as the others watched how he would react. Nick started to reach his paw towards him, but McCabe took a step back. "I need to go," he whispered.
"I understand, I'll let Bogo know," Nick told him. The wolf thanked his partner before taking off out of the building.
"What are the chances of that," Skye asked aloud.
"No kidding," Nick sighed.
"So, should we go check out this body then?" Nick asked, getting the other two to agree. They walked away down towards the autopsy lab. Nick couldn't help but feel that this was the first step that would lead to taking down this organization, something that excited the fox more than anything could in his life at this point. These bastards have caused this city so much pain. He would make sure these assholes faced justice one way or another.