Chapter 10: Bogo's Wake-Up Lunch

A/N: While setting up the next few chapters in my head while at work (it helps me escape my crappy job), I came up with the story for this chapter. I think it's a solid one that shows Bogo learning just how hard of a struggle predators have. Enjoy!

12:40pm at the Carnivore Cravings diner

"I'll take the #4 Hal." Bogo replied to the grizzly bear as he looked at the menu above the bar. This particular diner has been around for decades and was a favorite of Bogo's.

The bear was in a beat-up, stained tank top. He was the owner of the diner and cooked half the food. "The usual hunh? Alright. It'll be a few minutes."

While Bogo sat a nearby table, he noticed other predators giving him the stink-eye. He chose to ignore them as he watched the news on the TV hanging above.

"And more on this breaking case. We are hiring a lip reader to examine Bogo's exact words to see if it matches up with the dictation took during the interrogation. But look at this scene! Bogo clearly reaches over and starts choking Lionheart. It's here that the audio kicks back in and you can hear our former mayor begging for his life."

Bogo couldn't believe what he was hearing. "That's not what happened at all! He grabbed my hooves and pulled them to his neck to make it look like I was choking him! You can clearly see him do it in the video!"

"People believe what 'dey want them ta believe Bill." The old bear said." 'Da press sells drama. Not facts. Here's yer soda."

The bear put Bogo's soda on the table as the buffalo kept watching.

"Today's events have caused riots and panic on the streets of Zootopia. There is currently a large, anti-police protest in Sahara Square and there has been a fair amount of vandalism and fights breaking out all across this city."

"This is getting worse and worse. Damn you Lionheart!"

The predators in the diner started making the connection between the buffalo being seen on TV and the buffalo in the diner. "Heeey! It's that jerk who attacked Lionheart!"

Bogo looked over at the puma addressing him. "As I've stated before, I did not touch Lionheart. The man is a psychopath trying to get this city riled up!"

"Don't gimmie dat crap! Yer a stinkin' grazer tryin' 'ta keep 'da prey down!"

"I was one of Lionheart's biggest supporters during his tenure! Only when it was revealed he was kidnapping the savage predators did I change my mind about him."

Another predator, a polar bear approached him. "You're lucky that you're the chief of police or I'd knock you on your ass right now!"

Bogo stood up and got in his face. "You wanna try something punk?!"

Finally, Hal got in between. "Alright, that's enough! I don't need a riot inside my diner! Sorry Bogo, but you bein' here is causing a lot of hostility. I'm canceling your meal. You'll have to eat elsewhere until this thing dies down."

"I understand." Bogo replied and left peacefully.

As he was walking out, an old leopard approached him. "Hold it right there!"

Bogo just rolled his eyes. "Lord! What now?!"

He turned around to notice the old leopard was on a cane and while angry, was in no position to harm him.

"Yer with the ZPD right?!"

"I'm the chief of police."

"Hunh! Thought so. You grazers are all the same. Only looking out for other prey!"

"I have many fiends and colleagues who are..."

"Who are what? Predators?! You have no idea the hell we go through. The injustice we receive! You're department killed my grandson!"

"Excuse me?"

The old leopard pulled out a tattered picture. "You see this boy?! This was my grandson, Alex! He was in his freshman year of college when he was pulled over while in his friend's car. His friend was drunk driving, not him! But the cops involved arrested everyone even though he did nothing wrong! He...He was tasered to death."

"Wait...I heard of this. It happened almost ten years ago. I had just become a sergeant. I was told the boy died due a pacemaker in his heart that the officer didn't know about?"

"Bullshit! He was only 19! He never had a pacemaker. The officer involved, ummm...trombone?"

"Trumpet?"

"YES! That's the bastard! He took a taser to him because he resisted arrest. He was only a passenger. When...when he was on the ground, Trumpet thought it was funny to shock him some more and watch him spasm."

"But there was an autopsy done."

"LIES! It was a cover up! Look into it! When we got the body back, there were severe burns on his left side where Trumpet had tasered him. He was shocked to death!"

Bogo was stunned. "Trumpet did that?! I...I can't believe it!"

"Of course you can't! You'd prefer to just ignore us preds and side with your fellow officers."

"I'm going to look into this sir. I swear!"

"FEH! I doubt it." The old man then walked off.

Bogo walked away and looked at his phone. "Looks like I'm going to be late getting back from lunch. Not that it matters."

He got into his private ZPD database and looked up Trumpets arrest records for the past ten years. He was noticing a pattern. "No prey arrests. None!" He then looked into the botched arrest case from ten years back. What he found was startling. "There's no autopsy pictures of where he was injured. The report barely mentions anything. Who was the examiner then?"

He almost tripped on a mole walking by as he was too focused on his phone. He then was stopped by a very friendly koala. "Well if it isn't police chief Bogo!"

"Oh! Ummmm...hello."

"Good afternoon! You're just in time to get a fine meal in my establishment. Come in! come in!"

Bogo looked up to see a sign that read "The Grassy Plains: Fine Dining." As he went inside, he saw how fancy the establishment was. White tablecloths, silk-covered seats and a piano in the middle with a live singer.

The owner lead him to a nice, single table. "Here you are! What can I get you started with?"

"Just a diet soda for now."

"Excellent! I'll have a menu for you post haste! Always nice to have a man who'll stand up for us little guys, you know?"

The koala quickly ran off as Bogo was a bit puzzled. "What did he mean by that?"

While the koala was away he did a little more investigating on the phone. He found out who the examiner was. He was shocked to learn he had retired just after the Trumpet case. "Hmmmmmm...Curiouser and curiouser."

He then found out the phone number of the examiner and decided to give him a call. As he was doing so, he looked around the place. Very fancy. Many wealthy people, smiles everywhere, but one thing he noticed most of all.

"All prey. Not a single predator in sight."

He managed to get a hold of the examiner. "Hello? Is this Halpert Coyoter?"

"Yes." Said the voice on the other line. "May I ask who's calling?"

"The is police chief Bogo of the ZPD."

There was a nervousness in the old coyote's voice. "H-How can I help you?"

I was looking over an autopsy of an old case involving officer Trumpet.

"I-Is that so?"

"Yes. It was a 19 year-old leopard boy by the name of Alex Prowlson. The family swears there were burns on his side, but I have no photos and no report of any such evidence from your autopsy done back th-"

Before Bogo could finish, Halpert spilled the beans. "Oh GOD! I'm so sorry! I never thought this could come to light again! Trumpet threatened me! He threatened my entire family if I didn't fudge with the results! I had to lie! I couldn't take the guilt anymore and I retired that year! Please don't arrest me! I have grandkids now! He...he didn't give me a choice! He said he'd trump up some charges! I didn't want to do it! I swear!"

"He was going to trump up false charges?! Has he done this before?"

"From what I hear, often!"

"I've been in the dark about this for so long. Thank you Dr. Coyoter."

"Am...Am I in trouble?"

"This was done under duress. If this ever comes to court, you should be okay."

"Thank you sir! Thank you!"

"That doesn't pardon you! You'll have to live with this your entire life."

"Believe me sir. I do."

Bogo hung up the phone and looked at the news on his social media. Several fights had broken out and the protest in Sahara Square was starting to get violent. "This is bad! Even if it's my last order, I'll need everyone in."

A rabbit waitress stopped by and dropped off some water and a menu. "Thank you." Bogo replied. "Tell me something. What kind of restaurant is this?"

"Only the finest establishment in the city! We cater to the more..classy clientele those who were born to graze."

"So...no predators?"

"Heavens no! We keep that filth out! Or at least, back in the kitchen where the customers can't see them."

"...I see."

"I'll be back soon with your order."

"Take your time." Bogo replied. "I won't be back when you get here." He thought to himself. He quickly got on the phone with Delgato.

"Hello?!"

"Delgato. Have you been watching the news?"

"No, I haven't seen the news."

"We've got trouble. There's been reports of violence and fights breaking out all over the city."

"All over?! Damn...Yeah I was at Nick's place and the same th-"

"No time for chit-chat. I need you and Johnson to come in NOW! Pronto!"

"Alright! Alright! I'll be there right away."

"Is Johnson with you?"

"No. Johnson won't be coming."

"WHAT?! Why on earth not?!"

"He quit the force and is supporting Lionheart."

"Dear God! Things can't get much worse. First, I'm forced to retire by the mayor and now this."

"What?!...NO!...Aie dos mio! I'm sorry to hear that sir. I'll be in right now."

"Good. I'll get in contact with officers Clawhauser and Hopps immediately."

"They're right here. Do you want me to tell them?"

"Yes! They're pulling double duty. I can't have them home until this dies down. Possibly as late as ten. Tell them this is my final order."

"Okay. Thank you sir. For everything."

"No, thank YOU Delgato. You've been a loyal officer."

He hung up the phone and stood up just as the waitress came back. "Oh! Have you had a chance to look at the menu?"

"No. I'm just going to use the restroom." He replied. "This place makes me sick to my stomach." he said under his breath.

On his way to the restroom, he heard the shattering of a plate followed by some yelling by the restaurant owner.

"You stupid, useless moron!"

Bogo took a peek in the back and saw the koala standing on the stove and hitting a young dingo over the head with a soup ladle. "Those plates are worth more than YOU! You filthy chomper!"

The coyote had his paws on his head to protect himself. "I'm sorry sir! The soap was slippery!"

"That's no excuse, you worthless pile of dung! I'm taking this out of your paycheck! A mangy chomper like you should be on your hands and knees kissing my feet. Thanking me for having a job here!"

"I'm very sorry sir! It won't happen again."

Bogo poked his head into the kitchen. "What is going on here? Did you just hit that boy?"

The koala apologized. "I'm sorry chief Bogo, but you know how worthless these chompers can be. You give them a job and they think they can just slack off. It's best not to have any preds in my establishment anyway. Maybe I should just let him go."

The coyote panicked. "No! Please sir! I need this job! I'm saving up as much as I can for college!"

"College? What good would an education do for trash like you!"

Bogo finally interrupted. "I have had enough of this! What kind of specist establishment are you running here?!"

"Excuse me? Mr. Bogo, I thought you of all people would understand the need to make sure predators stay in their place. Especially after what you did to Lionheart."

"I never touched Lionheart. All of his injuries were self-inflicted despite what the press thinks! Now you either treat this boy with some dignity or all bring the Better Business Bureau down on you!"

"He's not worth the hassle." The koala turned to the coyote. "Take your things out of your locker. You're fired!"

"No please!" The coyote pleaded.

The koala then turned to Bogo. "You need to leave. You can bring the BBB here all you want and it won't make no difference! All they'll find is the fanciest restaurant in town with no vermin. In the meantime, you can take the boy back to his trailer park and his whore of a mother."

The coyote was enraged and grabbed the koala by the throat. "You don't talk about my mother that way!"

Bogo had to pull him off. "Don't do it son! He's not worth it!"

Bogo patted the coyote on the shoulders as he calmed down. "Remember, HE'S the vermin. Come lad, I'll treat you to lunch myself."

The coyote wiped away tears as he walked out with Bogo. "Thank you sir. I haven't had a break in five hours."

"Five hours?! What a bastard! Any place in particular you'd like to eat?"

"I don't wanna be a burden sir. Bug-Burga would be fine. They got really good chili fries."

Bogo smiled as he put an arm over the young coyote's shoulders. "Bug-Burga it is then."

It was moments later when the two sat down at a table at a local Bug-Burga and Bogo was finally able to eat. "Good choice on the chili fries. They're fantastic! I'm terribly sorry for costing you your job, but you shouldn't take abuse like that!"

"I didn't have much choice. It's incredibly hard for a predator to get a decent paying job nowadays. They see many of us as untrustworthy."

"Your saving up for college?"

"Yes sir. I live with my mom in a trailer park downtown. I want to become a doctor, but the tuition to get in is insane. We've been saving for a long while now, but we got about ten thousand dollars to go. There are so few predator doctors because it's simply impossible for us to get student loans!"

"You seem like a very responsible young man. Let me see if I can find you some work. I might be able to find you something at the ZPD."

"Really?"

"Let me look through any open positions." Bogo tapped through his phone and searched the ZPD database. With him technically still being chief of police, he had access to everything. "Well there's one, but it's not exactly glamorous. You'd be the sanitation engineer for the ZPD headquarters, which is a nice way of saying 'janitor'. It pays about $18 an hour."

The coyote was excited. "That's twice as much as I was making as a dishwasher! I'll take it!"

"Normally you have to go through a whole interview process but...you're hired! As of yesterday according to what I inputted into the system. I'm not supposed to do this, but I just fudged with the rules a bit."

The coyote got up and hugged Bogo tightly to his chest. He was starting to tear up. "Oh thank you sir! Thank you so much! You're a life saver!"

Bogo smiled. "Heh-heh! No problem! I'm gonna keep checking up on you until you get into college. You hear?"

"Sure! Let me give you my number so we can keep in contact. I don't think I can ever repay you for this!"

Moments later, they started saying their goodbyes. "Thanks again sir." the coyote said. "If you need ANYTHING, please let me know."

"I will. Come to think of it, I didn't get your name."

"It's Robert. Robert Scavenge."

"William Bogo."

He started to walk away. "I'll invite you over sometime. My mom's a good cook."

"I'm sure."

"Ummm...She's single too!"

Bogo couldn't help but chuckle. "Sorry, but I'm seeing someone. Are you trying to nab me as your stepdad?"

"Can you blame me? You're awesome!"

"Thanks! I'll see you later. Bye!"

"Bye!" With that the cougar left.

A swelling of pride came over Bogo. "I wonder if this is how Wolford felt when he saved that cougar. Feels good. SIGH! I've been living in a bubble. I've worked with both predators and prey at the same time everyday, that I never fully saw the predators plight until now."

Then, with a sneer, he got back on his phone. "I've GOT to get back to work, but I have one more thing left unfinished...hello Trumpet? Bogo here. I need to talk with you, it's important. Meet me in front of the Carnivore Cravings diner. I have a...surprise for you."

Within moments, Bogo was back at the front of the Carnivore Cravings diner. Hal, the diner owner was a bit worried. "What the heck are you doing back here?! You know my patrons aren't too fond of you right now!"

"You'll see. Have you seen the old leopard who was here?"

"He's sitting in the back."

"Can you bring him out? He'll want to see this."

Within minutes, officer Trumpet arrived in his car and parked in front of the diner right in front of Bogo. The old leopard hissed as he saw the elephant. "What's HE doing here?!"

"You're about to find out." Bogo replied.

Trumpet got out of the car, a bit confused as to what was going on. "You wanted to see me chief?"

Bogo gave a phony smile. "Here he is! Officer Trumpet."

Trumpet smiled, but was still confused. "That's me! Heh-Heh!"

"The longest running officer on the force. Almost twenty-five years."

"...Yes?"

"I'm confused Trumpet. You've been on the force for that long...and yet, you've never been promoted?"

"Oh! Heh! Ummmm...well, you know me. I prefer being on the streets. A cop on the beat."

" 'Beat' is an excellent choice of words for you. Twenty. Five. Years. It takes a lot of guts to be a cop for that long. And a lot of...BALLS!"

Bogo delivered a low-blow punch to Trumpets crotch. Causing the elephant to bow over towards Bogo.

"OOOF! WHAT THE HELL?!"

Bogo grabbed Trumpets trunk and pulled him down until their eyes met. "You specist scum!" He then pointed to the old leopard. "You see that man right there?! You murdered his grandson!"

"OOOOHH OW! What the hell are you talking about?!"

"You know damn well what I'm talking about! You tasered his grandson to death! All for the crime of being a passenger to a drunk driver!"

"I-It was an accident! He had a pacemaker!"

"LIES! It was a cover up the whole time! I didn't want to believe it, but I checked your arrest record. Thousands of arrests. ALL predators! NO prey! NONE! And then...I got a hold of the autopsy examiner. He spilled the beans!"

"That backstabbing rat! He was supposed to shut his trap!"

"Yoouuu MONSTER!" Bogo judo threw Trumpet over his back and onto the concrete. The sight was shocking to the predators and bystanders watching. It was an incredible feat of strength.

You could hear Tumpet's surprise reaction. "WoooOOAaaAAH! OOF!"

Trumpet begged for mercy. "Bogo I swear! I didn't mean to kill that kid! Those tasers were new tech back then! We didn't know how much damage they could do!"

"And you thought that made it okay to shock the boy in the ribs and watch him squirm for a laugh?!"

"Oh come on! It was just some punk leopard!"

"SOME PUNK LEOPARD?!" said the old man. "That was my grandson you piece of filth!"

Bogo held him back. "Hold on sir, I've got this."

With Trumpet on his now sore back, Bogo proceeded to tie a knot in his trunk.

"OW!" Trumpet yelped. "Pwease thir! Thtop thith!"

Bogo towered over the middle-aged elephant. "Trumpet, I'm being forced to resign today, so I don't have the time to re-open your case and prosecute you...yet. But with my short time left, I can do...this!"

Bogo grabbed Trumpets badge from his shirt and forcibly ripped it off. "YOOOU'RE FIIIIRED! Now get the hell out of my sight!"

The predators cheered as Trumpet slowly picked himself up. Every part of him aching and his nose still tied. "A meaningweth gesture Bogo! Thwinton will we-hire by 'de end of 'da day! Ooooh! My poor widdle nothe!"

"Not totally meaningless. This firing will be on your record and I'll make damn sure to make your 'no prey' arrest record public. This city will know you for the fraud that you are. Now get out of here!"

Trumpet started heading towards his car, but Bogo blocked him. "Where do you think you're going?"

"To mah caw!"

"That's ZPD property. You've been fired. Remember?! So take the bus home!"

Trumpet was upset. "You bweeding-heart, chomper-woving scum!"

Bogo leaned on the hood. Smiling. "I wouldn't say such things considering your current company."

"Hunh?" Trumpet looked around and saw all of the predators surrounding him. They were growling and baring their fangs. "Ah! AAH! AAAAAH!" The old elephant got scared and ran off.

The crowd cheered as Trumpet ran off with his tail between his legs (which is pretty impressive seeing as elephants have such tiny tails) and the crowd at the diner cheered. Bogo handed Trumpet's badge to the old leopard. "I know this won't bring your grandson back, but I hope this can bring you some satisfaction."

"Thank you." said the old leopard. "I'm sorry I misjudged you. If this is who you truly are, then...then Lionheart really did do that to himself."

The other predators in the diner agreed. "Yeah!" said one of them. "I was thinking of following that jerk, but forget it! You're okay by me Bogo!"

"I'm glad I was able to show you the truth. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm really late getting back from lunch. Not that it matters anymore."

"That was amazing!" A cheetah yelled out. "How did you throw him like that without killing your back?!"

"Lots of training." Bogo replied. "Also I ummm...have been getting rather physical with another elephant as of late."

Bogo went over to Trumpet's squad car. The keys were still in the ignition. Bogo sat in the seat and immediately realized he was going to have some trouble. The car was built for an elephant. Not a buffalo. "Ummm...does anyone have a crate for me to sit on? Also some stilts for the pedals? Hoo boy! This is gonna be tough to get back to the precinct."