Hello, again!
I know this seems odd, but I am posting this chapter along with another one today. I actually made these chapters a while ago, and after some consideration, I'm going to go ahead and post them.
Now, I do not know when the next chapter will be. Might be tomorrow or a few days from now.
Well, I hope you all will enjoy these chapters. I don't really know what my writing style is yet, and I know my writing needs some work. But, I can assure you, I will get better. This is as much of a learning experience for me as it is just something fun. I will improve in the later chapters, you can count on that.
...
The small grey bunny, complete with ears that were almost longer than her body, bounced to the beat of a Gazelle song, a very popular pop singer, while she sat in a police cruiser she shared with her partner. Together, they were patrolling street after street. It wasn't the most exciting assignment, but it helped to keep the city safe.
Humming to the beat of the song, the rabbit, Judy, took note of the beautiful, yet repeated, day. It was simply amazing how the engineers of Zootopia, the city she was sworn to protect, had created a way to artificially create environments for a wide range of species. With its help, they built enough districts suitable for an incredible amount of animals. For example, the Nocturnal District had a very specific environment that was perfect for the, you guessed it, nocturnal dwellings inside. But it wasn't without issues. For example, a lot of days were not unique. Just slightly different. They just felt like they were copies of the previous day, even with some similar cloud formations.
Still, the entire system was impressive and it kept the days looking amazing. It just made things a little repetitive from time to time. Today in particular was yet another amazing, but far too similar, sunny day with perfectly puffy clouds peppered throughout the sky, which was a brilliant baby blue.
The cruiser pulled into the center of Savannah Central, one of the many districts Zootopia offered its residents. The district was made to accommodate the most diverse range of species possible, even having its own form of transportation for mice and similar rodents and something for larger citizens. The residents themselves made for an always-colorful display of wildly different furs and fur-patterns.
The buildings that surrounded them were marvels of architecture, combining creative uses of stonework, glasswork, and accommodations for all species to create a very unique look that only Zootopia possessed. It was like walking into another land. You see, many other cities were built for a particular mammal, reptile, or et cetera, making it very difficult for a different species to take residency. Zootopia is different. Any animal can live there comfortably. Really, it is the first of its kind, but also isn't the last. Ever since its initial construction, many other cities were built with features that mirrored the original city that allowed for complete harmony between any and all species. But there hasn't been another city yet that perfectly captured what Zootopia offered. They were mere reflections of the real thing.
Though, even Zootopia had its flaws. As the first bunny police officer, many civilians just do not take her seriously. Sure, she may not be as strong as a wolf or rhino, but that didn't stop her from taking down Bellwether. Judy just didn't need the muscle. Her skill and determination is more than enough to get her through the toughest of days. Still, she has to deal with jerks here and there who believe she should be thrown off the force. The citizens of Zootopia just can't seem to get rid of their discriminating thoughts.
She still had it relatively easy, though, at least compared to her partner. The poor fox has to deal with it on a daily basis. Sometimes, it's small things; a jerk over here making rude comments, or perhaps a store refusing to sell anything to him at the normal price. Other times, it is much worse. On more than one occasion, a knife has been pulled out on him for no reason at all, and that's not even the worst of it. Discrimination and prejudices seemed rampant in the city. They needed something to help people become more accepting and less judgmental.
But, despite it all, she was happy. More happy than she had ever been, and it all was because of her partner. He had helped her through so many difficult times in her life. Without him, she wouldn't be where she was right now. Her dreams wouldn't have become a reality. She owed him.
Well, she owed him a lot. It's been a year since he had graduated from the Academy and become her partner, and within the year, he had saved her life countless times. Of course, she had done the same for him, too. It was what partners did. They watched each other's back. But she still wanted to show him how much he meant to her.
Luckily for Judy, it had been a year since the fox had become her partner. Perhaps for the anniversary of his graduation at the Academy, she could do something special for him… he was special to her. He just didn't know it, and she had a hard time coming out and saying it.
"You know, I haven't forgotten." Her voice faltered slightly. She had finally worked up the courage to say what she was about to say.
"Forgotten what?"
"Well, today is a special day," continued Judy, turning her head towards her best friend who had a look of slight confusion on his long muzzle.
"Is it 'Carrot Day?'" He smiled at his little joke. "Ow!" a grey paw struck his upper arm. "Okay, I didn't deserve that one."
"Yes you did , and no, it isn't a non-existent holiday for rabbits."
"It doesn't exist? Everything I knew about bunnies is wrong!" He chuckled while Judy just glared at him while they were at a stop-light. He knew she was suppressing a laugh. She then looked away as her suppressed smile faded.
"Nick… it's your day."
"My day? Fluff, you know my birthday isn't this month. Although, we could pretend it was and you could buy me a present," be ruffled her fur after he said this. It was all in good fun, his joking. They always had playful banter like this. Though, Judy usually participated more. Something was up. What was she talking about?
"Today is the day you became my partner… the day you graduated from the Police Academy… It was a really great day."
"Oh! Oh.." his ears flattened on his head. "I can't believe I forgot about that. I had never seen you happier. You were practically glowing," he chuckled. "It's as much as a special day to you as it is to me, aaaand I forgot. I'm sorry, Judy. That why you've been quiet? I knew something was wrong."
Did he just say 'Judy?' He never said that unless he was very serious or troubled over something.
"Hey, it's fine, Mr. Wildly has a bad memory." She smiled a genuine smile and had a soft laugh over her pun. It was alright. This week had been extremely difficult and annoying for them both. She almost forgot, too. "It just means a lot to me, too. That day has been permanently etched into my memory."
"You see, us foxes pride ourselves with our superior memory and intelligence," his muzzle curled with a cocky half-grin, a look that his bunny loved, but quickly dissolved into another frown, "…and we try our best to remember days that are important to the animals we care about. I really am sorry, Judes. I know it's important you. I still can't believe I-"
"You keep feeling bad over nothin' and I'll be forced to take back the surprise!" She playfully eyed him angrily as she cut him off.
"A surprise, huh? Care to tell me?"
"Then it wouldn't be a surprise! Dumb fox," she teased.
"Alright, alright, fine, I'll actually be surprised by your surprise."
"Good." The light had finally turned green and she began driving again. Traffic was awful today. "I just wanted to do something for you." She was walking on thin ice. This was sounding more and more like a date… something she wanted, but Nick… she didn't know if he felt the same.
"You know you don't have to do anything for me, right? Just having you here is enough for me." Nick was starting to feel a little guilty about it.
Judy, on the other paw, was starting to feel a bit flustered, thinking that he might have been flirting. "I know, but…"
"Sorry for cutting-in, but, turn into that parking lot to our right. I think I just saw a antelope with a magnum."
"What?" Her fur was beginning to stand on end. "Firearms are illegal within the city."
"Exactly why we are parking. Hurry," he urged her.
…
As they exited their vehicle, they saw the antelope enter an electronics store that Nick recognized. It was run by a raccoon named Sly R. (The 'R' stood for Ringtail) Murray. Nick knew just about everyone within the city. That knowledge is one of the reasons he is still alive today.
Together, they ran towards the store. There were no gunshots yet, but panic ensued once the pedestrians caught sight of the antelope clutching the illegal firearm.
This was about to get interesting.
Judy lagged slightly behind as she called in the situation to their Precinct and trying to get back-up. "Freeze!" yelled Nick as he blasted through the doors. "Lay your weapon down on the ground and put your hooves in the air where I can see them!"
"And if I don't?" spit the criminal who just stood there with a look of smugness. They were right where he and his pals wanted them.
"We'll be forced to take you down in a less comfortable way."
"Sounds like fun." There it was. Judy saw it. The look many criminals get before they make a kill. Throughout her time as a cop in Zootopia, she had become far too familiar with that look a killer gets in their eye. The flash in their eye, the way they stare at their prey. It made her skin crawl. This time, the look was pointed towards her best friend and partner, Nick Wilde. He was the bullet's prey today.
"Say bye-bye."
What happened next was complete chaos. It would seem that Nick saw the look in the antelope's eye too and quickly rolled out of the way, taking cover behind metal shelves that carried an assortment of televisions and Blu-Ray players. Judy took cover behind a metal shelf as well.
Hundreds more bullets shot out from behind their original criminal as at least five other armed animals poured from a door behind the check-out desk. What was going on?!
At least their back-up at arrived. Two cruisers, each one holding a team of two inside of them, skidded to a stop in front of the store. They jumped out of their vehicles and proceeded to use them as cover. Soon, each one of them pulled out pistols.
The fox and rabbit tried to refrain from using lethal firearms as much as possible. Neither of them carried one with them like most of the other officers did. Instead, they used modified tasers that could fire rapidly, only needing to have a new, charged cartridge inserted every three shots. Problem was, it was still a taser. It only temporarily incapacitated the victim, meaning that they could get back up after thirty or so seconds. They were almost useless in firefights when they did not keep the criminals on the ground.
"Nick, Judy, get out of there!" yelled a rather alarmed rhino from behind his cruiser. He noticed the antelopes nearing the team.
"If we move from this spot, we're dead anyway!" shouted Nick, barely able to even hear himself over the constant barrage of bullets.
"Nick, I'll cover you! Go!" yelled Judy across from him.
'Seriously?!' he muttered under his breath. That was an awful idea and he would not leave his partner there alone. It would be a death sentence for her. "I'm not going anywhere without you!"
She huffed to herself. He was stubborn even when his life hung on his decision to move.
"Huh?!" Nick yelped, being grabbed from behind by a seventh robber none of them noticed before. It was a burly ram.
The firing stopped. Silence hung in the air as the fox struggled under an iron grip. "Don't try anything, unless you don't care about this pelt's life." The ram's grin grew with each syllable. "All we want is just some money. It isn't worth a life, now, is it?" Of course, this was a lie. Money didn't matter to them. He simply needed a highly respected cop.
"Let go of him!" The rabbit was furious. What had just happened? This was meant to be just a simple robbery. They had stopped plenty of them during their time as officers. It actually became somewhat easy for them.
"Where's the fun in that? Turn around and walk away. Make sure your fellow officers do the same, else the fox gets killed. There is no 'if's and buts,' about this. Leave. Now."
"Nick…"
"I'll be fine, Judy. Just get yourself safe. Please." He was being pulled away from them all. He didn't struggle. It would put them into further danger. "I'll see you again." The ram cackled once he heard that.
Judy's tiny laws began to shake on their own as she watched her partner be taken away from here. They were meant to protect each other, to make sure that, no matter what, they both saw the light at the end of the tunnel, especially after a day like this. Yet, he was a hostage, now. She failed him. For the first time since after the press conference, a memory that she hated, she cried.
…
Gentle droplets of water fell from the sky every few seconds. The sky had begun to be blackened by dark rain clouds in the few minutes the robbery took place. Perhaps the artificial environment was a bit 'glitchy' as well. It was a beautiful day just a moment earlier.
A fox was being shoved into a black van by a golden ram and six rusty-brown antelopes. Every one of them trained a gun on the forehead of their captive. Soon, his paws were tied up by thin wires that threatened to cut through his fur and into his skin.
'At least the rest are safe,' thought Nick.
Together, the pack of mammals drove in silence as more and more water fell from the sky. A thundering could be heard in the distance as the rain grew more powerful.
No one followed them.
…
A rabbit was being held by a pair of dark grey paws and soon was sat down in the passenger seat of an unfamiliar cruiser. A roar came from in front of her as the engine growled to life. The wipers were soon activated.
"We'll get them," came a low voice from the rabbit's left. "No one takes an officer of Precinct One and gets away with it. We are the best of the best. We'll save him. He'll be okay."
The grey bunny's ear twitched, but she did not show any other sign that she was even alive. Her sobbing had stopped, instead deciding to sit in silence with her thoughts buzzing around in her tiny head.
"You know," the voice chuckled. "Nick and I, we went bowling once. I thought it would be an easy win for me. His arms are just scrawny, you know? Yet, somehow, he crushed me, two-hundred and ninety-five to two-hundred and sixty-four. He has so much power, that skinny fox. It seemed like the pins just jumped out of the way of his bowling ball out of sheer terror. He's stronger than he looks. He'll survive whatever they put him through."
The bunny couldn't help but to let a smile appear on her lips. She looked up and saw Mark, a wolf that Nick hung out with a lot. She couldn't believe that she couldn't recognize that voice.
"Thanks… that helps."
"Anytime."
Judy leaned her head on her paw and looked out the window. She could barely see anything with the rain obscuring everything behind the window.
"Can't… can't we get someone to follow them?" Her teeth were grinding against each other as she forced herself to speak.
"You know how it is. They would kill Nick if we followed. Do you really want to risk that? We can save him, but it can't be now."
That was true. If anyone tried to follow, Nick's life would be in even more danger than it already was. The safest option for him would be to just wait, to let them hide him, perhaps torture him, while they search for the red needle in the haystack that is their city.
The wolf and rabbit informed Bogo of the news once they arrived back at their headquarters. They had never seen him so distraught, so at a loss. He had no idea what to do other than wait and grasp at the very few leads they had. What else could they do? Their only hope, really, was to wait and have the store checked out. Maybe there would be something there to identify their criminals. Something they could hold on to and trace to Nick's location before it was too late. Until then, it was a waiting game.
It wasn't until thirty minutes later that they had a phone call about a crash that resulted in a shootout.
…
There was a popping of tires followed by a skidding as their driver desperately tried to regain control of the vehicle, only to have it turn and roll on its side in the empty street no sane person over visited, as it was the home of many gangs.
"What happened?!" roared a very angry ram, his hooves flying wildly in frustration.
"Our tires ran over something, I think!"
"And you didn't go around it?! Idiot! Grab the fox, we need him! You better hope I'm kind enough to not bash your skull in!" Soon, almost all of the occupants of the crashed vehicle crawled out. One was making his way towards their hostage who happened to be the only one still inside the van.
The hostage himself was unconscious from the crash with a red liquid coming somewhere on his body. It was difficult to see from his fur, but it was there all the same.
Just then, thunder roared above them all as light flashed a dozen times around them. It seemed that lightning had struck just beside them.
Except, it wasn't lightning. The sound wasn't even thunder. It was a torrent of bullets that shot from the buildings above them. Down went the driver, his body full of gaping holes. Next went the ram, and then another antelope. In the end, not a single life was spared, except for a fox who was already hanging on by a thread due to the crash.
…
After twenty minutes of driving, a rabbit sprinted towards the crime scene after exiting the police cruiser, taking in every detail. Every tire was ripped and torn apart, exposing the metal beneath them. The destroyed vehicle was a black van turned on its side. Glass shards blanketed the road and the inside of the beaten vehicle. There were also seven bodies on the ground. Each one of them was lifeless. She recognized the bodies.
Sprinting towards the back of the van, she began to fear the worst, but tried to remain calm. It could be, it had to be, a different band of mammals. No, her fox couldn't be in there. He was alive, she thought. He had to be. He was elsewhere. They could save him. They would. He'd be okay. She was being destroyed on the inside.
And there he was, lying unconscious inside of the van with a pool of his own blood, soaking his fur. Behind his right ear, there was a huge cut with blood pouring from it, same with his left wrist. Sparkling glass was embedded in his crimson fur, and he was immobile. Almost lifeless. Nick Wilde shown no signs of life other than a very faint pulse. Judy tried to stop the bleeding by tearing apart his uniform and wrapping the cuts up with it. She then began to carry him away from the crash site with the help of two other officers.
This day was meant to be a good day. Happy. Enjoyable. She wanted to treat her fox to a dinner at a very fancy restaurant. He was special to her. This gift was more than a simple night out. It was supposed to be a date, if he allowed it. But it was ruined. He was severely injured and Judy did not even know if he would survive the crash…
'If' Nick survived the crash… that thought made her want to cry. If. A cold hatred of that word brewed inside her.
Then the paramedics arrived, and in the blink of an eye, the bodies and almost-lifeless Nick were taken away. Gone. Away from her.
If she wasn't being restrained, she would've hopped inside the ambulance too. She just had to make sure that her partner was okay. If he would ever be okay again. If he would survive to see another day. If she could tell him how she felt. If she could see those emerald eyes full of life again. If she could feel the softness of his fur without the blood. If she could spend another day with him so that she could know that he knew just how much he meant to her.
'If.' That word stayed in her thoughts. So many if's and not a single solid answer. It was torture. At least he wasn't in their clutches anymore. Those disgusting hooves. He was safe. He could survive.
What if he didn't? Cold tears formed in the poor bunny's eyes. All she could do now was wait. No change in that regard. The only difference was that he was dying while the medics worked on him, instead of him being held hostage and maybe being hurt. It was still a waiting game.