Our Finest Hour
Chapter 2: Beware Happy Town's Talons
I remember them, my old family. I remember how dad always used to smile, even when the world would kick him when he was down. I remember mom's sass and the way she wouldn't take shit from anyone, anywhere. Once, I was an older brother. Nikolai… he was an energetic bundle of fox. Always smiling like dad, but curious. Nikolai was curious and smart, even at the age of nine. We all knew he would have gone on and changed the world with his genius. Most of all, I remember walls painted with their blood and the color of their guts. That was twelve years ago. I was thirteen when I saw my family murdered.
Waking up in a cold sweat, I turned in bed to check my clock. By the iridescence of the screen, I could tell the time. It was six in the morning. Yawning, I rolled in my mattress and buried myself in a nest of blankets. Today was my day off. Working the bug farm was an important task, but couldn't a guy get a break every once in a while? Happy town wouldn't starve to death without me at my post for one day.
"Wake up." Boomed a familiar voice. I startled awake, wiping the grogginess from my eyes as I sat up. Sleep fatigue weighed down my muscles, muddied my mind.
"Dad?" I spoke, unsure.
"I'm right here, son." I opened my eyes, and it was him. Decked out in his blue uniform, a stun gun at his waist, was Adonis Bogo. He looked none too pleased that I was still asleep at- I flicked my eyes at my clock- one in the afternoon. I gave him a little smile.
"I don't have a problem with you dropping by, but it looks like you should be at work." I observed. He shrugged.
"I just wanted to come by and tell you to stay off the streets for a while. Another round of relief workers is rolling into town. I don't want you caught up in whatever happens." Right, because the Prey supremacists made it their prerogative to test the new blood for weakness. I nodded.
"I'll be careful." Dad rolled his eyes. He'd heard that one before. Reaching over, he ruffled the fur on my head.
"Just be safe." I batted away his arm playfully.
"Okay, okay. I'll stay out of trouble." His greying muzzle softened into a smile.
"Love you." He reminded me as he took his leave.
"Love you too." I affirmed as he left. I stood still, listening for a few moments as he closed my front door behind him. Did he forget…? The sound of tumblers falling into place eased my anxiety. I didn't want to get out of bed just yet.
A half hour later, I was still in bed. Until of course, my phone rang. Leaping out of bed, I scrabbled to my nightstand and grabbed the dancing device. Giving a stare at the caller I.D, I felt a thrill at the unknown number. I knew exactly who it was. Answering, I put the phone up to my ear.
"Hello." I opened cheerily. A man's deep voice chuckled on the other end of the line.
"Always the smiler, huh, Delta?" I shrugged, even though no one could see me.
"No matter how you feel, always show them a smile Talon. Bright fangs scare the Prey. And it pisses them off, to see that they can't break you."
"A good attitude to have." Talon approved. And then he got down right into business. "I need you to come in today, sorry for the short notice, but you're the best shot we have." I rolled my eyes.
"Flattery will get you nowhere, but what, pray tell, is the mission?" I asked, sauntering over to my drawer. Holding the phone between my head and shoulder, I whipped out a pair of trousers and a clean red shirt.
"Escort. The IFRC is sending in another wave of relief. You're going to be part of a squad led by Echo. It is vital that the supplies AND personnel make it to their base of operations in Happy Town." He seemed to sense my oncoming concerns. "Don't worry about the police. With the eyes of the world on Zootopia, the government isn't going to try anything. Besides, Happy Town's ours, remember? You'll be free of the men and women in blue once you cross the border." I sighed.
"Yeah, okay. I'll be right over. See you in a few." I hung up. Slipping into my clothes, I checked myself before rushing out the door. The lock clicked behind me, satisfying some part of me that wished to curl up in a warm, safe den and ride out the storm.
Happy Town was a bustle with activity. Children ran laughing along streets lined with trash. Ever since we'd claimed this part of town, all the civil services had stopped functioning. We had to do everything, including trash collection ourselves. You can see how well that went.
Predators milled about in patchy clothing. Merchants and food vendors clamored along the cracked sidewalks, hawking their wares. Armed members of Talon patrolled the streets, concealing themselves behind black masks and dark sunglasses. I waved to a few as we passed each other. They returned the gesture in kind. Feeling my stomach growl its discontent, I remembered sheepishly that I'd forgotten to eat anything before heading out.
Dodging a few wolf pups and a lion cub chasing after a Frisbee, I walked up to an old she-bear peddling fried cockroach kebobs. The scent of fresh cooked bugs and fowl hung thickly on the air, making me drool in hunger. The old bear, clad in an off-grey tank top and ruffled jeans looked at me expectantly. Fishing for my wallet, I pulled out the money and paid the nice lady. She wasn't wearing a collar. No Pred in Happy town wore a collar. Dismantling the Taming initiative was the first thing Talon did once control had been fully established and the Bellwether wall was erected.
"One please." I asked politely. She handed me the kebob and gestured for the next customer after taking my cash.
Licking my fingers, I hurried the rest of the way. Reaching a mostly abandoned part of town, It didn't take me long to spot the entrance to headquarters. Approaching a sewer grate in the middle of the road, I inspected the manhole and found our calling sign. Scratched into the rusted metal in two strong downward strikes was a crude talon. Smirking, I lifted up the metal disk and stepped down onto the ladder. Ugh… I wrinkled my muzzle in distaste. The smell always got to me. God damn it was bad today…
Dropping down onto slimy concrete, I nearly gagged at the feel underneath my bare feet. Getting it together, I brought up my imaginary map and cautiously began the trek through tunnels of winding rusted pipes. I shivered at the thought of getting lost. The sewers of Zootopia were like an undercity, reaching deep down into the bowels of the earth. Losing your way down here meant certain death. No way could anyone find their way to the surface by just wandering around. Good thing I'd memorized the way. I was NOT looking forward to a painful death by starvation, alone in these disgusting halls.
Soon, my travels brought me to a thick, wrought iron door. Relieved, I rushed up to the slick metal and knocked. The thuds echoed down the lonesome hall. I waved to the camera staring at me from its corner. The lenses narrowed like a synthetic eye. Banging sounded from the other side of the door. With great protest, it creaked open; revealing a white wolf covered in scars. One of his ears was missing. He wore grey cargo pants and a black tank top. Several knives were belted across his body, including a revolver holstered at his waist. Talon gave me a welcoming smile and let me inside. Talon HQ was bustling today. Mammals clad in black hurried to and fro, some had their snouts stuck to computer screens and other monitors dispersed through the wide open space. Other members studied the armory, cleaning and inspecting all of our gear. It had to be in tip-top shape if we were to stand a chance against the government. Alas, this being a part of the sewer, the smell was impossible to remove. The scent of feces was thick on the air.
"I'm sorry to pull this on you, but we need to show Zootopia and the world that we're serious. Everyone knows your alias; the Black Hood, the fox who never kills." Talon was grim. I nodded, following his train of thought.
"'Black Hood protects mammalitarian aid group.' I can read the headlines now." Talon snapped his fingers.
"Exactly. It makes us look good. Freedom fighters instead of the terrorists everyone makes us out to be." I reached out and we grabbed each other by the forearm. I grinned.
"I'm ready." Talon nodded.
"Good. Go kit up. We move out when you're ready." I stood to attention and gave a salute.
"Sir, yes sir!"