Chapter 5: Not So Amusing
The group take a shuttle to the Marshlands. The night sky and stars reflected clearly on the surface of small and oddly shaped lakes. After passing thick vegetation taking turns through it lights began to appear up ahead as they were arriving close to their destination. The shuttle arrived at the depot, which was full of many animals whom were going to be departing upon the same shuttle. The group followed Loren through a few blocks and onto the entrance of the parking lot of the amusement park.
From afar the four looked from behind a small wall of bushes on one of the edges of the parking lot. Up ahead was Wild Bliss, an amusement park on the edge of the city, partially hidden because of the grassy hills, swamp trees and marshland vegetation. It had every kind of carnival rides for thrill seekers and for couples just seeking to have a fun time. But, all the rides and junk food stands were merely just a cover for what it hid beneath; an underground casino. It was a well-kept secret from police officials as it was only known through word of mouth. Next to the paying booth did stand a ram and a cheetah keeping guard for any officer in order to let the ones in charge of the casino know there was company heading their way.
"Alright, there it is."
"Good thing you all aren't in uniform because that would have made it an impossibility to get in."
"OK let's go in." Judy came out of the brush heading padding off some of the leaves as she walked to the entrance with everyone close behind, but Nick stopped her by placing his left hand on her right shoulder.
"Judy wait, I don't think I should go in there."
"What do you mean Nick?"
"Let's just say I didn't exactly leave this place in a good standing..." He lowered his ears.
"Oh great, if it wasn't enough with Hopps bringing her badge, now it turns out Nick has a bit of bad reputation with this place." Robert pouted.
Loren chuckles at their situation, "Relax, if it's been years, I'm sure all your ex coworkers have either left or got promoted elsewhere. I'm sure no one will recognize you." She padded Nick on the back as she walked passed him.
"I don't know. I just know someone's going to call me out."
"What did you do that they'll want to take you away?"
"Let's just say I took a loan to try and make a living in Zootopia's city center… money that I didn't ask to be lent to me or wasn't mine of course."
"Oh sweet cheese and crackers."
"But hey, if our squirrel here is right then we got nothing to worry about." Nick then took the lead heading to the ticket booth. Before going up to the cashier Judy saw a sign that read no children or cops allowed a few inches away from it. The booth was composed of two levels. There was a ladder on one side for when she had to talk to the taller animals and service them on the top counter. The cashier was a sweet looking bunny with a red and white stripped hat and shirt with her name Priscilla on her name tag. She was busy reading a magazine and did not see she had costumers.
"Hi there little bunny, four tickets please."
She momentarily looked up from the magazine unpleased from being call little, but puts on a happy face, "Sure coming right up." The bunny pressed buttons on the cash register to get the sum of the total, "That'll be $79.80 sir."
Nick gave her the money he received from Robert, Judy and Loren prior. Four tickets then came up from a small ticket slot on the other side of the counter.
"There you go and may your night be wild and blissful."
Nick bends over to Judy placing his left hand on the side of his mouth to cover it from Priscilla's view, "Hah, I can't believe they still get the cashier to say it." Nick turns back to Priscilla, "Thanks darling."
The four proceeding to the park's entrance passing a cheetah standing guard with someone talked through his walky-talky. He kept looking forward as Judy walked by with her hands together in front of her vest to keep her badge covered. Once inside everyone saw the many animals walking and running around. The other animals played mini games that involved shooting water guns at a flat figure of an otter with a hole on the mouth to make a circle rise up to hit small bells. Another involved hitting the tail of a beaver to make his hat shoot up a long board to try and hit a bell up above. There were also large rides such as a Ferris wheel, roller coasters and other rides as any amusement park would have.
"Wow this place looks amazing, no wonder you worked here Nick." She gave Nick a small pat with the back of her paw on his forearm.
"Yeah well don't let the fun rides and activities fool you." He smiled nervously.
"Alright Loren, where is this medic bay, tent, or whatever it is we're looking for?"
"You sure you don't want to try any of the rides first? Maybe take a break from work?" Loren playfully suggested.
"Maybe later I'll get you a cotton candy, but right now finding the suspects is our priority."
"Alright, fine, follow me. Just don't try to make a lot of eye contact with the security here, they tend to be antsy and will most likely report you in if you look suspicious to them." She turned to Judy, "And you should be very careful and keep that badge well hidden. They see it and it will be game over for you." She pointed at Judy.
"Don't worry, it has yet to be seen."
As they were among the crowds Loren and Robert were a few steps ahead of Judy and Nick discussing about how Robert managed to leave Jungnala.
"So that's why the chief finally gave you the go ahead to transfer here."
"Yeah, he knew it was what I always wanted having applied a few times before. But it seems no matter where I go you're always there."
Loren gave a small laugh, "Well as you know, everyone said we were always inseparable."
Loren and Robert were silent for a bit not knowing what else to say to each other until Loren broke the silence, "So what's going to happen once you shut them down? Are you going to turn me in?"
"It's not going to be up to me. I'll say you helped and we couldn't have caught them all had you not been my informant."
She looked up to up, "Do you think that'll keep them from taking me away?"
"No, I guess not. But at least it would mean a short sentence." Robert knew he couldn't do anything to keep her from being jailed.
Loren shook her head disappointed at his answer, "So even after all we been through, you're still going to let them put me in jail?"
"It's not that I'll be letting them or want to, it's the law. You should've already known that when you took this life." He paused for a second, "I'm sorry, but I'll do whatever I can to stand up on your behalf."
Loren rolled her eyes turning her head away from him, "Whatever, let's just get this over with." She stormed off ahead as the medic bay was up in front of them.
"What do you think that was about?" Nick bent to his right so Judy could hear him better over the loud crowd.
"I don't know, but Loren got upset and-"
Just then a koala dressed as a clown along with his side kick a small raccoon jumped in front of them. They did a little performance juggling some bowling pins as the raccoon rode around him on a unicycle. They did a magic act that involved making the raccoon disappear as the koala placed his hat over him and stomping on it when only the feet remained to really make it fully cover the raccoon. He picked up his hat rolling it from the end of his right arm to the end of his left arm like a basketball. Then when he placed it on the ground the raccoon reappeared without any injury. Nick and Judy clapped and smiled not knowing what it all was about.
They all reach the medic building nearly at the back of the amusement park, no guards were in sight. A few animals went in, too many that the inside should've been full of them. The four proceeded inside and to Judy's astonishment there was no one.
"Let me guess a trap door or something?" Judy studied the walls with Robert for a button or lever even as Loren and Nick stood by.
"Here let me get that for you." Nick went to the medical bed and pulled a switch below the mattress causing half of the back wall to open. Down they went following a red glow not too far down a stairway. And when they reached the end they entered into the underground casino. There were the classic cards games and board games all around. There was a big section of slot machines starting on the left of the entrance. It was quite noisy from the machines and the dealers calling numbers and symbols out.
"So what is it we're looking for?" Robert had to raise his voice a bit so his friends could hear.
"You see that exit over there with the two suits in front. That'll take you to the factory by the river." Loren replied pointing to it.
"And how are we supposed to get through them?"
"I personally don't know. I've never been passed this point. I'm afraid this is the end." She shrugged.
"Not if we bring back up."
"What? No, that'll just ruin everything. Whomever is down there is going to get away if we do that carrots."
Just then one of the dealers at a spinning wheel, where winning bids are based on the numbers picked with darts thrown at it, sees and recognizes Nick. He gets his small walky-talky from his belt and calls him in.
"Look maybe the outside isn't as well guarded as Loren says it is. Maybe we could sneak through some opening."
"Are you doubting my words fox? I'm telling you they guard every inch of the premises." Loren was bothered at Nick and walked a few steps away from the group to sit on a chair.
"Alright, alright, let me just think for a second." Nick tapped his chin as he thought.
Two guards in black suits, a lion and a brown bear, show up and immediately grab onto Nick's arms lifting him from his feet.
"Sir you're coming with us and please don't struggle." The brown bear said with a calm austere voice and carried him off with his partner.
"Hey wait! What are you doing? Put him down now!" Judy demanded as she hopped beside the henchmen as Nick looked at each of them scared of what just happened. Robert was going to go help, but Loren grabbed his left arm to stop him.
"Looks like the bunny is with him. Snatch her up Leonard."
The Lion nods once letting go of Nick and grabs onto Judy's left wrist and starts pulling her with him.
"Let me go!" She demanded trying to grab on Leonard's fingers in an attempt to get free, "What's the meaning of this?!"
The two suits in front of the door Loren had pointed out earlier stepped aside as Nick and Judy were taken in.
"Oh no, this is not good." Robert said in a shaky voice trying to see what he could do.
"Well looks like your friends found a way in after all. Come on, I know of a way we could get back there." Loren grabbed his right paw leading him out of the casino.
"What do you mean?! You said that's the only way in."
"There is another, but it'll involve sneaking behind a few guards. But know I never tried to."
"Oh great let's get ourselves killed attempting to get through them for the first time."
"Be quiet and follow me."
The two head back up the stairway hoping to get to their friends in time.