AN: 3 months! The Runaway rabbit has passed 3 months. And we are passed the halfway mark of the story. There's not much left, and I'll give a bit of a spoiler. In the next chapter is when shit really starts to hit the fan. So fasten your seatbelts, keep your arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times. And prepare as we reach the top of the climb to climatic events, evil plot and villain reveals, and death ridden escapades.
Chapter Fifteen
Get Well Soon
Jack awoke with only a few hours of sleep, less than what a doctor would advise. He and Nick took turns at the shower that connected to the fox's bedroom. Jack still sported the same clothes he wore yesterday, the white t-shirt with blue accents and his dark brown khakis. The other ones Judy bought were now nothing but ash in the burned carcass of the cruiser. He didn't mind them. Jack waited in the main room for Nick to finished getting dressed. As the door opened Jack observed the fox not dressed in his uniform. The red fox now wore a light green Hawaiian shirt, brownish gray khakis lighter than his, and an indigo tie with blue and red stripes. Jack commented, "Interesting choice."
"It's what hustler me wore in his heyday, so why not?" Nick commented showing off the outfit.
"As you say," Jack ended the conversation gesturing to the door for Nick to lead. Nick held the door open for the white rabbit, "Let's get some breakfast and head off to Carrots."
"Can't disagree with that." Jack added as they went to exit the building. He had not eaten much ever since he got the Nexus. He needed some nourishment.
…
They stopped at a nearby Bug-Burga place. Preds mostly ate a diet of bugs and fish, this was a law established by Zootopia to cater to the meat eaters given that their main source of food was their fellow citizens. Bug-Burga was a massive chain restaurant with multiple establishments dotted all over the metropolis. They were mostly found by high pred demographic areas. Nick's apartment sat right on the edge of one. Even though it catered mostly to preds they did have a few options on their menu for prey. They seemed to only have recently started doing this. Obviously a means to tap into a far larger market of customers they were initially alienating.
Nick never really ate at the place, in part to his vegetarian diet. His dad was vegetarian, and thus the lifestyle stuck. He did try the bug stuff, but it felt like eating cardboard to him; at least what he figured it to taste like. He never ventured towards fish, and decided not to. Nick ordered mixed fruit and maple oatmeal; he made sure to ask for extra blueberries with it. Jack settled for a fruit and yogurt parfait. Strawberries, blueberries, plain yogurt, and granola crunch on top.
They ate in a booth off to the side. Nick covered the meal. The fox sparked a conversation, "So what did you actually find out about the case last night?"
"I was able to see what those wolves did to their hideout while they were chasing us." Jack answered.
"And what did the big bad wolves do Stripes?"
"Cleared house and then drove off. I had Ness track the car with the stuff they took. Most likely it would have gone to some other base of operations."
"It went to a warehouse towards the Savanna Central waterfront," Ness spoke aloud.
"I guess that's where we will be headed then," Nick commented.
"After we see Judy," Jack added.
They finished their breakfasts in relative silence afterwards. Neither of the two owned a method of transportation. Jack decided not to suggest what he used last night. Nick had it covered with his Zuber app. Jack's was unable to accurately process due to him being in a different Zootopia. With a male beaver as their driver they were taken to Savanna Central Medical, the hospital Judy was sent to. The beaver dropped them off. Nick thanked him and he drove off towards another fare. Jack followed Nick through the automatic front glass door into a decently sized and furnished reception area.
Jack's nostrils were instantly assaulted by the smell of antiseptic. The reception room was a long white room. The walls were a pale avocado color. Seats that matched the color flanked along the two longer walls. Places periodically between the chairs were glass topped white coffee tables. Each topped with an array of various magazines. Most likely majority of them were old by months. Along with the tables there were also plastic giant birds of paradise. At the head of the room two hallways forked off. At the base of the fork sat a wooden reception desk that matched the decor of the room. The top was an off white gray and the base was the same avocado green. A single nurse sat behind the desk. Others would fill the other three stations as the day went on and more visitor and patient traffic came.
Nick pulled himself up the slightly higher counter. The camel nurse removed herself from the papers in front of her and looked to the fox and rabbit. She asked, "How might I help you gentlemen today?"
"We're here to see a Miss Judith Hopps," Nick spoke. It felt weird for him to speak her entire name. He knew it would be easier for them to find her if he did, but it didn't sit right on his tongue. The nurse turned to the computer screen next to her. She typed in the name. After a few seconds of reading what the monitor display she turned back to the duo, "I'll need both of your IDs."
Nick reached into his pocket and fished his out. Jack did the same. Nick passed his to the nurse as did Jack. Jack was curious if his license would even count in this world. Without saying a word the camel began to type at her computer furiously. As she finished she spoke, "Ok Mister Wilde and Savage," she turned back to handing them their IDs, "You must wear these while you are in the hospital."
She reached to side as something was printed from under her desk. Nick grabbed them both and handed Jack's to him. They were name tags with their names, Judy's, and the time they checked in. The camel ordered, "Just take the hallway to your right. Judith is on the third floor in room Three-Three-Eight."
Nick thanked the nurse as he put his tag on, crumpling up the wax paper back and tossing it into a bin next to the desk. Jack followed the action and went down the hall with the fox. They found an elevator and called it. It arrived a few seconds later. They rode the empty lift uninterrupted to the third floor. Right outside the elevator a sign was glued to the wall denoting which rooms were which way. Judy's room was to the left, which they followed. 338 was not that far of a walk. The door to the room was open. Nick knocked on the ajar door as he entered, "How are we doing today Carrots?"
The single occupant of the room perked up at the sound of a familiar voice. She peeled her eyes away from the news she was watching to the door. She watched as Nick, followed by Jack, walked into the room. She spoke up, her voice showing signs of strain and droopiness from medication, "It's nice to see you guys."
"How you doing?" The fox asked as he neared the edge of the bed that seemed to swallow Judy. She had the blanket drawn over her body hiding her injuries. But he could see that her right arm was in a sling.
"Still sore," Judy answered looking to the bed, "But I'm still here."
"How long are you going to be out of commission?" Jack asked from the side.
Judy looked to the other rabbit. She let out a small smile that faded away, "I'll be here for a few more days before they will release me. They said I'll be bedridden for another two weeks or so."
"It was that bad?" Nick asked.
Judy didn't answer. She simply removed the blanket. She was dressed in a traditional light blue hospital gown. A cast was wrapped around her entire left leg. There were signs of other bandages underneath her gown dressing her lower abdomen. After a few seconds she spoke up, "Along with the damage to the leg two bones were fractured. A few of my ribs were misaligned," Judy lifted up the side of her gown slightly just able to show the wrapping that went around her entire stomach. She finished off, "And my arm was also dislodged," She faintly moved her right arm.
"But are you ok?" Nick asked as she finished.
She looked to Nick as if he should know the answer. She answered nevertheless, "This is me we are talking about Nick. Bunnies bounce back very fast. I'm no exception to that."
There came no response from either Jack or Nick. Judy filled the silence, "I haven't seen that old outfit in a while Nick."
Nick looked to what he was wearing. He looked to Judy and said, "Would you rather me come dressed in uniform?"
"Don't you have to be in today?"
"Nope," Nick answered quickly. He didn't give Judy a chance to respond, "We've been taken off the case."
"Why?" Judy was a bit shocked, and Jack could catch the faintest hint of sadness.
"Isn't it obvious Fluff," Nick asked. He waited for Judy to answer. He cocked his head to side as he waited for a few seconds to pass. He pointed to her leg, "You are out of commission for a good amount of time."
Judy's ears fell. She looked to her leg and then back to Nick. Raising and eyebrow she asked, "What about you and Jack, can't you still solve it?"
"Bogo wasn't the one that took us off the case?"
Judy was confused again. She let out a huff of annoyance, "You know I don't like these games Nick. I can't read minds!"
Nick gave a snicker. Jack decided that he should step in, "The HICU stepped in Judy."
The rabbit looked to Jack. As did Nick over his shoulder. Jack continued, "The head of it came to the scene. He seemed to have strong armed Bogo into giving back their case."
Judy nodded, "But what about you two then, no case?"
"Bogo saw it fit for me to be off duty till my partner gets better." He leaned in closer to Judy and whispered, "Doesn't want me to replace you with another bunny."
Judy shoved the fox away and warned clenching her good fist, "Don't you dare say a dime a dozen."
"Ok," Nick raised his arms in surrender, "I won't say that bunnies are a dime a dozen."
Judy just rolled her eyes and sat back down against her oversized pillow. She spoke before silence could set in, "So what are you two planning on doing today?"
Jack decided to get right to the chase, "We have a lead in the case."
Judy removed herself from the pillow wearing the same look of confusion. She didn't speak; she just looked at the two to explain. Nick took the mantle, "Bogo may have taken the cops off the case, but we are doing it as vigilantes."
"Bogo will have your hide for this you know that right Nick." Judy pointed a finger at the fox.
"He's already gotten my hide several times since I joined the force," Nick rebutted with a shrug of his shoulders.
Jack continued, "The HICU took the case from Bogo, but I am still a consultant in the eyes of the public. I work with you and Nick alone, and I am still on this case. I can't be taken off it since I am not an officer."
"You are blurring the line Jack," Judy countered, "You have no jurisdiction to do any of that."
"No I don't" Jack agreed. He lifted up his right arm and the Nexus projected a hologram in the middle of the room. It was no longer wireframe, but colored. It was a map of a section of Zootopia. The exact location Ness tracked the car to. Water, marked blue, filled half the hologram. The roads were marked orange and the ground was tannish. A large building in the center of the display rose above the flat surface. Jack explained, "Ness was able to track a car that fled from Arum Drive. It was loaded with whatever they were keeping at the site. Ness was able to track it to here. And that is where we are going."
"With no backup," Judy pointed out.
Jack removed the display, "I'm all the backup we need Judy."
"It still doesn't change the fact you guys can't do that." The heart monitor in the room began to beep more furiously.
"Why not Fluff?"
"We barely got out of those wolves' clutches with our lives. What make you so certain you can survive this one again?"
"Because they made it personal," Nick said resting his arms on the bed. He looked to Judy, his face softer, "They hurt you. Any mammal that hurts a rabbit like you doesn't deserve mercy."
Jack's ears dropped as he heard Nick's statement. Nick continued, "And now we know what we are getting into, so we will be prepared."
Judy sighed. She knew she couldn't press the issue any further. It would be an uphill battle with the fox. She gave a smile, "Be safe Nick."
The fox nodded and removed himself from the bed. As he did an otter nurse rushed into the room. She surveyed the situation and asked, "Are you ok Miss Hopps?"
Not waiting for an answer she made her way over to the bed, hopping up. She began to inspect the rabbit, "I'm fine."
Seeing it as their time to leave Nick and Jack made their exit. Jack hovered at the door. Judy looked to him. Jack spoke, "I'll watch out for him."
"Good luck Jack."
"Get well soon Judy."
Jack rushed to catch up with Nick who was already halfway back to the elevators. They didn't speak as it came to their floor and they rode it the ground floor. They exited the hospital and stood on the sidewalk. Nick asked, "So where exactly are we going?"
"It's part of an older industrial area," Ness answered, "One that is not really in use for shipping and storage since the city seems to have moved away from that area to attract more residential and commercial buildings right on the waterfront."
"The perfect place to hide whatever they are doing to make mammals to go savage," Jack commented.
"The entire area is planned for demolition soon," Ness added, "The building that they are at is not though."
"What's the address?" Nick asked.
"300 Pacific Avenue."
"We can't take a Zuber there." Jack commented "We want to be a little more under the radar."
"Walking is out of the option," Nick added, "Don't want to be exhausted if we are going to get in a fight with these guys."
"I have an idea," Jack suggested, "Follow me."
He directed Nick towards the side of the hospital. Here there was a small parking lot, for some visitors, the main parking was in the back. Seeing no one was coming Jack stood in a rather empty section of the black asphalt. Channeling energy from the Nexus he produced several of the glass like blades he did last night. He did quick work into reconstructing the exact motorcycle he drove. It looked even better with the sunlight gleaming off of it. As well as showcasing its transparency, being constructed mostly of energy based crystals. Nick gave a whistle, "Nice handy work."
He looked to Jack, "Can you always do this?"
"No," Jack lowered his arm as he stopped drawing energy from the Nexus, "I did it last night after I visited the crime scene. I needed a way to get back and I have not yet gotten use to teleporting."
"You can teleport?" Nick was even more amused.
"Me, no. But Ness can control the teleports."
"Why don't we just teleport to the place instead." Nick suggested
"There are few problems with that," Ness objected, "One being we don't know the makeup of the area, we could end up in a wall, or right next to a wolf. Second, teleportation is a bit of showy operation, completely going against the element of stealth that we want."
"Ok," Nick stepped in to stop the computer, "I get it not the best option."
He looked back to the motorcycle, "But isn't this still a bit flashy and attention pulling?"
"I might have a solution for that," Jack stepped in. He channeled more energy and directed it towards the cycle.
…
The mammal hidden in the shadows stood in his perch. The one he always was in when he oversaw the labor of those who were making his ambitions a reality. The mammalpower down below seemed to more than double. Various mammals, preds and prey, of different sizes were moving from end to end of the massive structure. With the rushed work hours they were working to get the entire thing ready by tonight. Today was the day of the big test. The confirmation that everything will go as planned. A smile formed on the mammals' face as he thought about everything finally working. He will finally prove to Zootopia what it has failed to do ever since its inception.
He was distracted by the phone in his pocket buzzing. He quickly fished it out and saw the number was blocked. But only one mammal should be calling him at the time. He answered and waited for the caller to answer, "It's all set sir."
"Is it functional?"
"Yep, just needs the confirmation to proceed."
"Did you get our guest of honor yet?"
"We were just about to go get her."
"Good. I want you back here after you prime it. Cast off will be before dawn."
"It will certainly be a nice wake up call for Zootopia."
"Yes, yes it will. I'll see the fruits of your efforts on the news."
"Very well, see you soon Sebastian."
With that Sebastian ended the call and stowed his phone away. He looked back down to the structure below. It was a work of artistry how the old cargo container was transformed to suit his needs. It no longer carried cargo, except for one thing. His masterpiece. His Rambrant. His Lionardo Da Vinci.
