Chapter 13

"Calm down, Hopps," Chief Bogo said calmly as the news continued with the video while Emily still holding Judy as the nurse put the bandage on her left arm where the IV needle was attached and cut.

"In addition," the terrorist leader in the video continued, "the headmaster of this inferior school and the deaf prey children are to bring back here by tonight to join this traitorous predator for our victory banquet tonight. We demand our right of superiority over preys! Sieg Heil!"

The leader and the big cats gave the Naxi salutes while the blindfolded police officers, Husky, and Nick were still held by the terrorists as the video ended. The news returned to the stunned newscasters. They did not say anything for a moment in shock before one of the anchors, Peter Moosebridge, composed himself, turned toward the camera.

"W – well, t-that's what the SPS terrorists had demanded," Moosebridge stammered in shock at first before speaking smoothly, "We should hear from the Governor and the Mayor regarding this demands shortly."

Judy and the others stared at TV in dismay for a moment. Bogo coughed to get their attention.

"All right, everybody," Bogo began, "Seems that we got a lot of things to do to rescue our officers as well as to find a way to end this madness. I have some ideas but I would appreciate any suggestion from you guys."

Judy walked over to Bogo and looked up, "With respects, Chief," Judy said firmly, "The heck with the day off. I want to help free Officer Wilde and Husky and I would appreciate any assistance in this action. I won't take 'no' for an answer and I am very determined to resolve this crazy situation."

Bogo looked down at Judy, as he folded his arms, and pondered a moment, before speaking, "I remember your determination in solving the missing mammal/savage case couple years ago, so I am giving you the assignment to rescue our officer and…," Bogo paused, as Judy silently cheered, "You also need to coordinate with the Army so you would need to obey their command system, clear?"

"Yes, sir," Judy agreed. "And, I may have some ideas so I would need Finnick's help. Will you let him join us in this situation?"

"Of course, permission granted," Bogo said as Emily walked toward him and stood next to Judy, saying, "Sir, I would like to volunteer to help out and we never know that they may need medical attention so I want to be prepared for it as I am trained EMT."

"Count me in!" Chawhauser chimed in before Bogo could reply.

"All righty, Y'all can help Officer Hopps but you need to keep in contact with us at all time," the Chief said. "All right?"

"Yes, sir," everyone declared.

About fifteen minutes later, Judy, Jason, and Emily left the hospital together in Jason's police cruiser and went to find Finnick and Maria at the convention center. The place was filled with many animals. As soon as the trio entered, some of the worried parents rushed to them, begging for some answers and whereabouts of their loved ones. Jason, the tallest of the trio, held his paws up.

"All right!" Jason yelled, "All right! Settle down! We are not here to answer or to assist y'all with anything! Y'all have to go to information booth or something! We understand your concerns but we are just here to pick someone up and we go on our way out. All right?"

The other animals sighed in disappointments and went out of the way as the trio walked pass toward the information booth at one end. They apologized for getting in the line as they were in urgent matters. Judy arrived at the booth first and asked one of the police officers, a male zebra.

"Hello," Judy said, "Do you know where the fennec fox named Finnick who is with a deaf rabbit are?"

The zebra looked at the iPad for a moment, turned back to Judy, "Last time we checked, he was in the food court area at that corner that away." He pointed at the said corner. "Otherwise, he is assigned to area E next to the food court. Hope you find them, Officer."

"Thanks a bunch!" Judy beamed and the trio went over to the food court to find Finnick. When they arrive there, there was no sign of him or the little deaf rabbit girl in the food court so they backtracked a little bit to the assigned area E and found them sitting on one of the cots, signing. Maria saw Judy and ran to her before Finnick could react.

"Judy!" Maria signed as Finnick walked toward the trio, "Where's Mom?"

"Her mom is not here yet?" Judy said to Finnick who shook his head and said, in a low voice, "I saw the news with Nick. Made me mad and I wish I could do something to get him out."

Judy looked at him and back to Jason and Emily, returned to fennec fox with a big smile. "Actually, you are the first person I thought to include in our rescue mission so you are coming with us."

"You're joking!" Finnick said as he crossed his arms.

"No hustle, Toot Toot!" Judy said, confusing the others as only Finnick knew whom she meant as they met while Finnick was in elephant costume the first time.

"All right, Officer Toot Toot," Finnick said, still confusing the others, "We have a problem. Who is gonna watch over Maria while we are gone?"

As if on cue, the female bunny came behind the trio and Maria saw her, beaming. "'Opp!" shocking Judy and turn to see her mother came down to hug Maria.

"Mom!" Judy gasped, "What are you doing here? Where's Mrs. Bunhill?"

"Oh, they are in Zooston for one of their sons' tour at his work at NASA and couldn't get a plane ticket in time so they asked me to come and get Maria while they fly back tomorrow as it's the earliest available flight out of Zooston."

"Oh," Judy sighed, turned to Finnick, "I guess that answered your question, right?"

"Yes, I guess I am ready now," Finnick began but Bonnie interrupted, turned to Judy, "Honey, am I to guess that you are going somewhere, why couldn't someone else take care of it instead of you?"

"Mom, I have to do this," Judy said, "We need to get Nick and others out of danger soon."

"Nick?" Bonnie asked, "What happened to Nick?"

"Haven't you heard on the news, Mom?"

"No, I just arrived as soon as the terrorist attacked the school and Mrs. Bunhill called me to come here to take Maria. Why?"

Judy sighed and before she could say anything, Jason chimed in, "Officer Wilde and Officer Husky have been captured by the terrorists at Zootopia School for the Deaf and we are mounting the rescue mission."

"Judy!" Bonnie exclaimed, "Do you mean to tell me that you are going on that rescue mission? Don't you know it's dangerous and – "

Finnick interrupted Bonnie, "Ma'am, this bunny is very resourceful and stubborn bunny cop and Nick told me countless of times of how Judy saved his tail on the job. From what Nick told me, he would not trade anyone for Judy on saving his life on any important assignments since – oh – I guess I have to break my promise to him but you need to promise not to tell anyone before I continue."

Bonnie and Judy looked at him and then to each other, they agreed as Emily said, "I'll take Maria to get something to eat so y'all have a private conversation." They agreed as Emily asked Maria, "Want to get something to eat before we go?" while gesturing eating and Maria agreed to go with her. Emily took Maria to the food court. Now, they are alone before Finnick resume.

"All right," Finnick began, "I have known Nick since we were soldiers in the same unit during the Iraq war several years ago and – "

Judy interrupted him. "What? I didn't know you two were in the war together. He never told me about it."

"Not surprising," Finnick resumed as he crossed his arms, "It's not something to be proud of because that war was based on the lie created by previous President. The economy was so bad that Nick could not hustle anyone to support himself so he had to join the army. That's where we first met. We have to save each other on several occasions during the war. We had two tours before returning home when the new president reduced the troops. Nick has regretted it since he got home because of the war started on a lie. He promised that he would never mention this to anyone. Since I had no family so I joined my army 'brother' to Zootopia and been hustling with him until you came to his life and changed him for the better. Now I know that Nick would not trust anyone but Judy or me to save his life. Ever since I met her couple years ago, I have found her to be very unusual bunny as she's very sly and smart, like a fox, and I have learned to trust in Officer Toot To – I mean, Officer Hopps. , you should trust her too"

"All right, I understand, Mister - ?" Bonnie said.

"Call me Finnick, Mrs. Hopps."

Judy turned, bend down a bit to Finnick, grabbed him by his shirt and said, "When this is over, you and Nick had better tell me everything from that war! I mean it, Toot Toot!"

"All right!" Finnick said, "All right! We will do that, okay?"

"Good," Judy said as she let him go, turned to her mother, "Okay, Mom, let go get Maria and we'll be on our way."

The group walked over to the food court area and found Emily and Maria sitting at one of the tables. They noticed that Maria had a cookie. Emily saw them.

"Y'all ready to go now?" Emily asked.

"Yes, we are and thanks for watching Maria for a bit," Judy said as Bonnie sat next to Maria as she's not done with eating cookies. Finnick walked over to Maria, signing something to her that Judy has a hard time understanding their fast signing. Maria understood, signed quickly and hugged him. He returned the hug.

"Thank you for taking your time to come and get Maria, Mom," Judy said to her mother. "I wish that it was in the better situation."

"Yes, and be careful honey," Bonnie said. Judy returned the gesture and hugged her, "I will and I love you, Mom."

As the group left the center, Finnick turned to Judy in a low voice so that Emily can't hear, "I assumed that you need my help because of my size, am I right? Go as Nick's baby son dressing as an elephant or something?"

Judy laughed at the memory, "Oh, no, nothing of that sort, Toot Toot. But you are right about one thing, we need you because of your size."

Emily turned to Judy, said in low voice, "What's up with this "toot toot" thing between you and Finnick?" Judy laughed, "Well, it's a long story but it is between us and leaves it at that, okay?"

Finnick sighed in relief upon hearing Judy saying "it's between us" as they walked together toward Jason's cruiser.