Hello again! This is the end of what I've already had written, so expect a larger delay in between chapters from now on. The support I've gotten has been amazing. Thank you! You guys rock!
Our Finest Hour
Chapter four: On the Brink
Staff Sergeant Judy Hopps walked through the wreckage of the battlefield. Her huge, sensitive ears picked up a myriad of sounds. The crackling of fires yet to be doused. The screams of the injured as they were carted away. Idle chatter among her soldiers. She paid barely any mind to these distractions, as she was still busy hitting herself for missing a golden opportunity. Judy had crippled the black hood! The face of the Predator movement- NO. There was no movement. Those damned chompers only had a terrorist rebellion. Still… Apprehending that fox (He's either a fox or a diminutive wolf, Judy wasn't blind) would have been a major blow. Not to mention what that noggin of his knew. The occupation of Happytown might have ended if he could be broken in an interrogation cell. Someone like him definitely knows the location of their headquarters.
"Staff Sergeant!" An Okapi called, running to Judy's location. Judy only pursed her lips and took in the carnage, a question on her mind. "Staff Sergeant, we know who's responsible!" He cried again as he closed the distance.
"Where are all the bodies?" Judy questioned, ignoring the Okapi for now. Her question was legitimate. Of course, all the dead had long since been taken away before she even arrived, but that wasn't worrying in and of itself. What was, is that the Talons seemed to take no casualties. Odd, but a false observation. The field medics and first responders had reported seeing empty pools of blood amongst the fallen, so… perhaps they were moved? Judy groaned. That didn't make any sense though. For what reason would the corpses of terrorists be moved?
"It was the Talons ma'am!" The Okapi shouted, tired of being ignored. Judy's ears shot up straight and tall.
"What?" She barked, turning her head. "Why didn't you start with that?" She snarled angrily. The Okapi only shook his head. Judy rolled her eyes. "Well, take me to the evidence then." Judy started tapping her foot impatiently.
"Yes ma'am." He saluted and led her down to an abandoned apartment block. Bullet holes peppered the brick walls. Judy stepped in a spatter of blood in her hurry and grimaced.
On their way, Judy spotted Talon prisoners being corralled between the walls of a makeshift cage. One by one, they were fitted with tame collars and chains. Pity welled up in her shriveled heart. Judy didn't very much believe in the taming initiative, seeing it as barbaric and a lure for civil unrest, but the law is the law. At least the prisoners all wore faces of stone, standing proud as their very mammality was stripped from them. In part, this is what made them so difficult to break, why none had been broken by the enhanced interrogation techniques. They believed in their cause. Talon soldiers believed so deeply in their cause that even under the face of intense torture, they stood tall and unwavering. Stalwart actors who only ever said one thing. 'For the liberation of the oppressed.' Judy found it both admirable and frustrating. Once captured, nothing else would pass their lips, save perhaps a curse or scream.
Judy eyed the scene before her with narrowed eyes. Talon bodies were strewn about the room, but something was off. She put her finger to it immediately. The blood splatters on the walls were just all wrong. If the bear slumped up against the window had actually died that way, had been shot that way, there would be gore following the exit wound out the back of his head. Not to his right. Even the RPG launcher tossed to the side of the dusty, abandoned room was suspect. It was far too small a weapon for the mammals who lay dead. It was a weapon designed for use by medium sized mammals, not the polar bears, lions and tiger corpses Judy saw. Turning her head towards the Okapi who waited patiently by the door, Judy asked him a question.
"Who else suspects the talons orchestrated this attack?" The Okapi blinked.
"General Swinton ma'am. She was here earlier and concluded who was responsible." Judy ground her teeth in frustration. That idiot Swinton! Did she want to declare war? Judy sighed, controlling her anger.
"Go back to your post soldier. I need to have a word with the good general." The Okapi saluted and directed Judy back down through musty corridors to the streets below.
Back in central Zootopia, Judy thumped her foot on the floor as she waited for an audience. General Swinton was busy brushing elbows with Mayor Bellwether, while Judy sat in the reception area with evidence to prevent another Bloody Monday!
"Politics." Judy sighed.
It was another half hour by the time anything happened. Sitting on a comfortable sofa surrounded by the sounds of tinkling water from a gorgeous fountain, Judy was nearly vibrating from irritation.
"Judy." The alpaca receptionist called through her microphone. "The mayor and general will see you now." 'About fucking time!' Judy wanted to scream to the heavens, but she kept her mouth shut. Saying such things was ill becoming of her post. Hopping down off the sofa, she marched straight to the double doors and swung them open.
General Swinton and Mayor Bellwether were sharing a laugh. Two empty glasses and a bottle of liquor sat on the mayor's desk. Judy wanted to slap a hand to her face. Were they already celebrating!? If the public became misinformed, there would be WAR! Not only would Zootopia wage war on Happytown, but no doubt the United States, the city-state's closest ally, would flex its considerable might. Innocents will die, and for what? It would be over a misunderstanding. Someone planted those bodies there, and that must be investigated before any further moves were made. It was obvious as to their motives, but why?
"Mayor Bellwether. General Swinton." Judy gave the two a bow. Mayor Bellwether, a small ewe with big, round glasses, was wearing a sharp black suit. She had poufy wool on the top of her head that looked oh so soft. General Swinton on the other hand was a female pig. She wore her green uniform with its many medals and honors. Swinton had pale blonde hair and had her makeup done up for this occasion. "I have a status report from the attack earlier today." General Swinton rolled her eyes, while Bellwether looked on, an interested gleam to hers'.
"Oh what else is there to know?" Swinton threw up her hands. "The Talons attacked an international aid society. It's cut and dry." Through gritted teeth, Judy worded her response.
"With all due respect General." Judy spat. "It is not cut and dry. All the evidence points towards those bodies having been moved. We don't know who actually attacked the aid society." Swinton scowled something mighty.
"Does it matter at this point, staff sergeant? Remember who you speak to." Judy spluttered in indignation. She remembered to keep her cool, this time, when addressing her superior.
"It does matter General Swinton. This kind of misinformation will lead to war with Happytown. The civilian casualties of Bloody Monday were unacceptable." Judy continued. "If we hadn't the backing of the U.S, the United Nations would have lobbied severe sanctions against us."
"Screw the U.N." Swinton waved the very idea of them offhand. "Those bleeding hearts can't touch us. There is literally no limit to what we can do, short of attacking the U.S or its interests. But why would we ever get rid of such a useful ally?" Swinton smirked. A blaze of anger was simmering inside of Judy at her generals' blatant arrogance.
"Ma'am." Judy addressed to mayor Bellwether, who had only listened intently. "Many member states of the U.N are calling our disproportionate attacks on Happytown and policies regarding Predators 'ethnic cleansing.' They believe a slow genocide is being carried out. This is tarnishing the city's reputation." Mayor Bellwether leveled a severe gaze at Judy.
"Let me worry about the city's reputation Staff Sergeant. You continue on about keeping us secure." Judy gulped at the Mayor's tone. "And about these claims… forget them." A wickedness came upon Bellwether's eyes. "If we wanted a genocide, the act would be unquestionably visible. What's going on now, is merely a military action. Do you understand me?" Judy sighed before saluting her commander in chief. "I understand ma'am." Bellwether nodded, satisfied.
"Good. Then you're dismissed." Judy left the office in a huff, feeling drained from the experience. She had a bad feeling in her gut. If she were a police officer, Judy would investigate the hell out of those two. A small smile graced her as thoughts of her favorite mammal crept through her mind. It was high time she visited him.
Dressed in plain-clothes; jeans, a white long-sleeved shirt and a gray hoodie, Judy Hopps made her way through the abandoned industrial district. It was cold. With every breath she took, a cloud blew from her nostrils. Night had long since fallen on the land, but a full moon hanging in the cloudless sky granted plenty of light to her weak, diurnal eyes. Coming to the back of an old warehouse, Judy found what she was looking for. A dilapidated clinic. The lights were on. It was open, despite the hour and location.
A bell tinkled her welcome as she opened the door and let herself inside. Sitting at the receptionists' desk in the lobby, was a rather obese cheetah. He was absorbed in his phone, maybe playing some game or some other thing. His collar, shining a healthy green light, had to have been custom made. Even then, it still looked far too small on the cheetah, nearly hidden in a layer of fat. Besides that, he wore a blue sweater with a light pink undershirt. Judy couldn't see his pants.
"Evening Clawhauser." She greeted jovially, giving the cheetah a beaming smile.
"WHAT!" He yelped, his collar turning yellow.
"You're one hot dancer…CLAWHAUSER…" A mechanical voice finished the pre-recorded line. Judy doubled over in laughter. Recovering, she shot him an affectionate look. The cheetah really was such a character.
After taking a minute to calm his racing heart, Clawhauser saw the bunny in question and shot her a winning smile.
"Hey Judy." He waved excitedly. "What brings you here?"
"Oh you know." Judy waved him off. "Just visiting my favorite Pred themed amusement park. Wanted to see my favorite fox while I was at it."
"Oh em goodness!" The cheetah squealed, doing little excited hops.
"My favorite couple! You two are just so c… Adorable! I was going to say adorable!" Clawhauser failed miserably at the save, his flustered face doing much to betray him. Judy only rolled her eyes.
"Just tell him I'm coming down." Judy ordered, drawing on her military training. Clawhauser nodded fiercely. The cheetah pressed a button on his intercom.
"Nick? Your little Judy is here to see you." Judy shot a friendly scowl at him.
"Carrots? Send her on down." Nick's voice drawled up from the intercom. Clawhauser looked up expectantly.
"Want me to show you down?" Judy shook her head.
"I remember the way. Have fun you hot dancer!" She gave a laugh and shot finger guns as Benjamin's face went redder than a tomato.
Walking deeper into the clinic, Judy entered examination room 2B and surveyed the place. It was an ordinary room for a clinic; hazardous waste disposal, sink, table and anatomical posters covering the walls. Judy jogged to the doctor's desk and reached down. Searching behind the piece of furniture, she eventually found her quarry; an inconspicuous button. She pressed it. The far wall slowly swung inward, revealing a dank passage that sloped underground.
Lit dimly, Judy paced through the passage. Some of the posters hanging from the concrete walls caught her eye, one of them in particular. It depicted a stunningly handsome red fox in tan slacks and a hideous green Hawaiian shirt. His smug smile was bordering on shit-eating levels. Coming to the end of the passage, Judy emerged into the amusement park proper. She had to blink at the bright lights after spending time in the dark tunnel.
Judy smiled as she looked up at the Roar-a-coaster rising up out of the back of the enormous warehouse. Her smile grew even larger when she looked up to the manager's officer standing on stilts. There he was, Nicholas Wilde, plastered to the window with a goofy look on his face. Giggling, Judy broke into a run and jumped up the stairs two at a time. Reaching the door, she calmed her breathing for a few moments before knocking politely. Two, nice raps. The door opened and Judy jumped into arms that never failed to catch her.
"Hey there Carrots!" He said warmly as Judy looked up and gave him a quick nuzzle. That nuzzle quickly developed into a passionate kiss as their lips found each other. Still carrying his bunny, Nick walked over to his couch and sat down without breaking the kiss. Her taste was divine on his tongue.
Judy broke the kiss first and gasped for breath. She looked into his deep, emerald eyes and found the love she felt in her heart reflected there.
"I love you Nick." She felt so safe in his arms wound around her little body. He looked down at her, his smile so sincere and warm.
"I love you Judy." He gave her his heart, and a small kiss on the top of her head. Judy soared.
I wish we could do this in public, like any normal couple." She fretted, shifting in his arms.
"Well, I hate to break it to you Carrots, but we aren't exactly a normal couple." Nick teased. Judy punched him in the arm, eliciting a wince.
"You know what I mean, dumb fox." Nick smirked.
"But I'm your dumb fox." Judy smiled.
"And I wouldn't have it any other way." She pulled him in for another kiss. Nick's phone buzzed. The both of them groaned.
"I'll get it." Nick muttered grumpily. Leaning forward, Nick grabbed up his phone from the cluttered coffee table and scrolled through the messages.
"Oh shit." He cursed, a look of shock coming over him.
"What is it?" Judy asked, trying to edge her head in to get a look at the screen. Nick sighed before putting down the phone. He covered his eyes with a paw.
"A good friend of mine got hurt today. You know Martin, right? Bogo's fox?" Judy gasped. She knew him. He often accompanied his father to city gatherings. She spoke to him rarely, but Judy understood he sometimes helped Honey keep the mechanical aspect of the park running.
"How?" She asked, genuinely worried.
"He was hit by shrapnel in today's attack." Judy felt a twinge of guilt strike her heart. She hated civilian casualties, making it her mission to cause as few as possible.
"Is he going to be okay?" She nuzzled Nick comfortingly. Nick nodded.
"Yeah. Just a leg wound. He's going to be out of commission for a while, but he'll be fine." Judy smiled.
"I'm glad to hear it."
"Me too." Nick looked out the window of his office, marveling at the amusement park he created with his friends. It was a dream come true. He realized, looking down at Judy affectionately. To get the girl and do something good for Predatorkind. His own little way of striking back against the machine of hate called Zootopia. Nick felt truly blessed indeed.