Acknowledgement:
I would like to thank ADeadMissionary for helping me edit this chapter. He is a wonderful author that I would recommend. You can check out his profile and stories at your own leisure.
www fanfiction net / u/ 1160012/
Disclaimer:
The following is a fan-based fiction. Zootopia and its characters are owned by Disney. The songs I reference here belong to their respective artists as well.
(The song Clint Eastwood by the Gorillaz begins to play)
Chesterization proudly presents
A Zootopia fanfiction
Wild times with Wilde: Renovated
(Song ends)
Chapter 2: A Sample of Freedom
It hurt to breathe. The air around Nick was so sterilized it stung the inside of his nose every time he inhaled. Though that didn't explain the twinge inside his ribs. Probably the internal bleeding, he thought morbidly. He sat on a polar-bear-size bed with his back slightly slouched and eyes half closed.
That squirrel nurse said 'The Doctor will see you in 5 minutes,' Nick thought to himself. You said the same thing, he glanced at the clock on the wall, 15 minutes ago. He looked around, waiting. He was in the standard predator room. It had enough space to keep an oversized bear, tons of medical equipment for all kinds of bigger predators, a large cage to keep such predators from getting too hysterical, several warning lights, and a handful of tranquilizers that could take down an elephant.
Nick scratched his chest. This hospital gown was starting to get on his nerves. Remember, no visible aggression. He drew out a long breath and tried to keep his face as close to stoic as possible.
Ears perked as Nick heard the sounds of frantic animals from outside. He watched the open door of his room intently. Soon, he spotted a gurney being pushed down the hall, surrounded by doctors and nurses, followed by a panicking bear couple. On the gurney, barely visible through the mob, he saw an unconscious bear cub. He did not look a day older than ten in his bright yellow 'BIRTHDAY BOY' shirt. His fur was a little fuzzy and roughed up. On his neck was a gift from the city: a brand new shock collar. Before Nick could react, the hospital bed and everyone around it disappeared down the hall.
Once the distraction had passed, Nick let out another drawn out sigh.
He began to scratch at his chest again, nearly fed up. Just as Nick was beginning to consider taking off the gown all together, the doctor stepped in. Although, it was hard for Nick to think of him as such in his current garb. It was an armadillo, wearing thick black padding and armor plates. Nick closed his left eye and used his other to focus on the doctor. The prey looked more like a SWAT member who was about to pin Nick to the ground than a medical professional. Although, seeing how sluggish and clumsy he was while wearing it, he would have an extra hard time trying to restrain Nick.
The squirrel nurse came in after the doctor. She took cover beside the doorframe then swiftly ran behind the doctor. She gave him an X-ray photo then dashed toward a big red button at the corner of the room. The doctor held the cyan and black photograph up. He said, "Okay, Mister Wilde. Um, eh, the X-ray revealed that there is nothing broken or fractured. However, I just need to double check." He took a deep breath and exhaled, fogging the glass on his helmet. "So, we will now take off the collar."
The doctor put the photograph down on a desk and pulled out something that resembled a supermarket barcode reader. Step by step, he approached Nick. Through his glued-on smile, he said, "Please, heh, remain calm with the knowledge that I have wife and kids back home, who are waiting for me. Did I mention that today is my daughter's birthday?"
Nick did not say a word. The fox just stared blankly into the distance. The doctor turned to the nurse. Her paw hovered above the red button. "Okay, let's do this." The armadillo reached his hand out, trying to get the scanner closer to the light on Nick's collar. The nurse bit down on one of her claws. Her other hand was millimeters away from the button. She started shaking when the device unlocked the collar. The warning lights within the room started to play out. A siren blasted into Nick's ears. Nick recoiled at the sound, causing the poor doctor to back away. Nevertheless, Nick tried to stay still. This whole show was already wearing him out and he did not want it to drag on any longer. Like a member of a bomb disposal unit who had just removed a fuse, the doctor slowly withdrew his hand, taking the collar with it. He then put the collar on the bed, right beside Nick.
Nick's eyes began to lose focus. The siren gradually faded away. He felt a light breeze down his neck. His back slowly straightened up, his shoulders free of the weight that they had become so accustomed to. Nick closed his eyes. Wind flowed over him, ruffling his fur. When his eyes opened, the hospital was gone. His mouth had no trouble cracking a smile when in front of him was an all too familiar field of wheat. He was nine years old again, small and lithe and ignorant of all the pain in the world. He started to run. Crushed branches of sweet-scented wheat brushed against his feet. Usually, such shenanigans would get him into trouble (mostly lawsuits); but at that moment, he did not have to worry. He was a kid, and most kids were free. Crackling and rustling of wheat drew his eye to the left. Cloaked in the shadow of the tall stalks, another mammal ran parallel to him. Someone was racing against him! Well, if he was going to race, he wasn't going to lose. He sped up, raised his hands in the air-
"Everything is good, thank you for your cooperation." The relieved voice of the doctor broke his fantasy. Nick found himself once again in the standard predator room with enough space to keep an oversized bear, tons of medical equipment for all kind of predators, a large cage to keep such predators from getting too 'hysterical', several warning lights, and a handful of tranquilizer that could take down an elephant. The nurse was missing, and so was the collar on the bed sheet. Nick saw his warped reflection on the doctor's helmet. Like in his fantasy, his arms were in the air and his face was split with an euphoric smile. But, now the collar was around his neck, a familiar green light once again shining from below his chin. As reality asserted itself, he watched his own exhilarated expression crumble. "Mr. Wilde, are you okay? You look like you are experiencing a stroke. Do you want to transfer to another department?"
Face stoic, Nick shook his head and lowered his hands. "No. Can I leave now?"
"Certainly. Do you want me to guide you back to your clothes and personal belongings?"
"No, that's not necessary. Thank you." Nick hopped down from the bed and slowly walked away.
The doctor took off his heated helmet and looked at Nick, seemingly dumbstruck. It took him awhile to say, "You're welcome."
A few minutes later, Nick was back in his suit. Nose curling from the scent of putrid sweat and rotten bug meat wafting off the black cloth, he stood in front of the hospital reception desk. He had to crane his neck up a bit to look at the receptionist. "Give me the bad news, how much is the bill?"
The doe behind the desk looked at him, one brow cocked. "The bill? You have nothing to worry about Mr. Wilde. Your friend has already paid."
A wrinkled formed on his forehead. "My friend?"
"Yes, a white cat. Said he was your croquet buddy."
A memory flashed in his head. The cat in the garage! I wonder... "Right, yeah. My croquet buddy. Where did he go?"
She said, looking at her watch. "He left, like, half an hour ago."
"Oh." Nick's head drooped down. Then he perked up again, looking back to the doe. "Did he leave anything for me?"
9:00 P.M.
Nick was walking along the semi-empty boulevard, miles away from the hospital and nearly half the district away from his home. With the direction he was taking, he was actually getting further away from his father's shop. The nurse's voice played back in his head. "
He just left behind 200 dollars and told me to use it for your bill. Seemed to be in quite a hurry, so I didn't ask too many questions. He should be more careful. If that were Janet, then the money would be gone. Anyhow, here's the change."
Nick reached into his pocket and pulled out 53 dollars and 25 cents. His head brought up tons of questions. All of which had the same answer: He's gone, so it doesn't matter. Nick separated 3 dollars and headed to the nearest subway station. An hour and a half of fee should be enough to get him home.
Nick's face returned to its stoic state the moment his tail touched the subway's seat. A handful of animals occupied the train car he was in was. There was a tiger construction worker, (part of) a family of bunnies, a horse, and a couple of sheep. Nick looked through the window, witnessing a reflection of himself on the murky glass. The green light on his neck was still on.
A rhino entered Nick's car. He systematically asked the passengers to show him their passes. Everyone in the car, except for one animal obliged. The rhino did not notice that at first. Only when he was about to enter the next car did he see the last one. The rhino reached down and said. "Sir, wake up."
A voice came from the front seat. "Huh? What? Who the heck are you? Wait, where are we now?"
"I'll tell you, but first, ticket please."
The animal grunted. "Yeah, yeah. Wait a minute."
The Rhino eyes started rolling, his arms crossed. "Sir, I don't have all day."
"Pff, we both know that's a load of manure." The mammal yawned. "Just give me a- There we go." The Rhino reached his head down to have a good look at the monthly pass. "Are we good in the hood?"
"Yes." The Rhino said then moved on to the next car.
"Hey, you didn't tell me-" The door closed. "Fine, I'll do it myself." There was a pause. "Aw dang. Nine thirty already?" The animal then climbed on the back of his seat. "Hey, does anyone know where we are?" a white cat with glasses asked the other passengers. His eyes scanned around, searching for an answer, but all he got were sideway glances and Nick's surprised face. The cat quickly dropped down and kept his silence. His eyes were constantly moving, his mind searched for an excuse.
Nick walked up to his seat. The fox smiled and said. "We are approaching Saddle Station. Mind if I sit here?"
The cat avoided Nick's eyes. "Sure, free country and all."
Nick sat down then whispered. "Do you remember me?"
The cat answered, with the same volume "Yeah I do. You are one persistent fox, I'll give you that."
Nick offered him a handshake. "Just lucky. I don't think we have been properly introduced. I'm Nick. Nick Wilde."
The cat glared at him. "Pal, giving me your name is the biggest mistake you could ever make. Second only to following me."
Nick's smile didn't waver. "Oh, really? I guess I'll just take my chances with the infamous Parkade Raider, then."
The cat climbed up his seat once again. All the animals on the train car were looking at him. "Hm. We should get off before these fine folks start asking questions."
"What the matter? What have you got to be afraid of from someone you just helped?"
The cat pointed at Nick. "Listen, fox. If you want to say 'thank you' or 'you are a shining example of an upstanding citizen of Zootopia' or whatever platitude the mayor has been giving out lately, I'll take it. You're welcome. Just take my kindness and forget about me. Please. You're just gonna cause me and you trouble. Let things roll, okay?"
Nick began to laugh, though quietly.
The cat's eyes squinted. His tone darkened. "Oh, I get it. You're here to blackmail me aren't you? Are you going to turn me to the cops and get some of those sweet good-citizen credits? Is that it? Huh? For your information, I've been to prison. Nothing intimidates me anymore." He then gave Nick the most intimidating look his sleep deprived face could provide.
Nick chuckled. "Now that's cute." He paused and a looked around. "Kid, you need a drink to calm you down." Just as the train about to stop, Nick got off the seat and headed for the door. "Come on, Parkade."
The cat pointed his finger. "Don't call me that."
9:45 P.M.
The cat and Nick were sitting on a bench near the Saddle Station. Nick had himself a bottle of beer while the cat clung onto a bottle of soda. With some struggle, the cat managed to pop his cap open. Nick just shook his head slightly in disapproval. The cat spat at him. "Don't judge me! Cats have very low tolerance to alcohol."
Nick took a sip. "Heh. Last time I checked, that is not true."
"How many cats have you actually met?"
Nick paused a bit then said. "Good point."
Another train came and went. Both of them stared at the electrical sparks that flashed across the wire above the train. The cat drank a little bit more.
Nick asked. "First day on the streets huh?"
The cat shook his head. "No, I started a long time ago. Don't remember when."
Nick chuckled.
"What's so funny, fox?"
"I have a few friends that lived on the streets since they were young. Something tells me that they would laugh too."
"How relevant. You think I'm going to buy that from a guy in a suit?"
"See, that's your problem, no longtime street dweller would talk like that."
"Bah, who needs that when I'm always one step ahead?"
"Really? Then why are you drinking with a stranger?" The cat raised his index finger, paused, then lowered it. "Just saying kid, as jittery as you are, you're not going survive the streets of Zootopia." The cat looked the other way. Nick continued. "So, runaway or desperate?"
The cat finished the bottle and said "Runaway, sort of."
"Sort of?"
"I'm not some antsy runaway teenager who lives off of leftover money from a privileged parent who refused to pamper him, okay? I left because there was nothing for me. I made my own income in my own ways." A reminder rang up in his head. "Petty theft not included. I was merely collecting a sample. It's complicated. But, it's different." He tossed the bottle into a nearby trashcan. "What about you? Desperate or a runaway?"
Nick looked up at the polluted inner-city sky. "Desperate, sort of."
The cat spat at the ground. "Pft! There is no sort of in that." He had a second look at Nick. "Judging from the suit… Let me guess: Debt?"
"No. Not yet, anyway. I may be desperate, but I know a way out. Big difference." He slapped his hand on the cat shoulder. The white furred mammal immediately brushed it off. "The funny part is, you helped me get the idea. And I need your help in one department."
"Really?" The cat made a face. "You know I'm not really a thief, right? And stealing is by no means a way out."
"No, kid, nothing like that. Just let me finish, okay?"
"Okay?" The cat tilted his head slightly. "I'm all ears."
"How much do you make from your way of doing things?"
The cat started weighing two imaginary objects with his hands. "Enough to keep me afloat. Not enough for anyone to notice."
"So, you do small and, may I guess, illegal things to get by?"
"Yup."
Nick downed the last drop of his bottle. "Have you ever thought about doing something that matters?"
"All the time," said the cat. "When I was six. But as you can see, the only thing that matters to me now is myself. What are you getting at, fox?" He gave Nick a sideway glance. Nick retaliated by an expression that said, Seriously? The cat knitted his fingers together. "Okay, I'll shut up now."
"While I was in that hospital I had a revelation. About something that predators need."
"Stop with the dramatic pauses, man. Just say it."
Nick stood upright and looked up. "I will make the best amusement park that predators could ask for. A place where we let loose and be free." His index finger pointed upward.
The cat closed his left eye. "An amusement park for predators? I could count at least three things wrong with that idea." The cat flashed three of his fingers. "Let's begin. You know why none of us rides roller coasters, right? The moment the adrenaline hits, we get zapped. It's not fun. Two: The chance for any predator to get a loan from a bank is next to none, much less a fox. Oh and, well, not that I want to hurt your less-than-one-day-old dream, but do you know how hard it is to make an amusement park? What about funds? Location? And... I don't know, permits?"
Nick gave him a smirk. "I'm pretty sure you could have answered one question already." The cat was unamused. Nick continued. "Oh, by the way, your collar turned off again."
"What?" The cat looked down and frantically checked his collar. His confirmation came in the form of a small shock. Recovered from the jolt, he glared at Nick. He gave a fake laugh. "Haha, very fu- Wait! You can't be serious. You mean taking off their collars?"
"Not permanently, of course. I'm pretty sure you can make it happen for a few predators for a few hours."
Any hint of sarcasm disappeared from the cat's face. "Nick, that is-"
"Illegal. I know."
"That's no joke, Nick. That's borderline felony right there."
"I said I know. But look at it this way: You've been to prison, right?"
The cat's eyes drifted to the upper left. "Yeah, but, not serving time, though. Why?"
"The rumor on the street is that, regardless of what kind of crime you have done, you are pretty much screwed. Once you are in, you are done. Do a small crime, you go in, you get out, but no one from the outside will help you. No matter what those commercials say, no one helps someone with a criminal record. All that makes sure that you go back, if they even let you out in the first place."
The cat looked down. "Yeah, I saw a guy spending, like, a decade for some small crime that even he couldn't even remember."
"So, the risks of doing something illegal, whether big or small, aren't that different. So, are you risking going to jail for petty crimes that any no-good teenager can do, or do something that matters for us all?" The cat got his head down this time. His thoughts began to race. "Listen, kid. This city has taken so much freedom from all of us predators. Let's take some of that back, huh?" Before long, the cat jumped off the bench. He started walking away.
"C'mon, kid."
The cat turned around. His left hand placed on his chest. "Oh, you think I'm walking away? No, no, absolutely not." He pointed at Nick. "I'll help you, but, not with that mentality."
"What mentality?"
"Never, ever think being caught is the final result. Okay? This is not some crusade suicide mission. We are not martyring ourselves here. We will pull this one off so smooth, that we will have freaking fireworks and no one will bat an eye."
Nick shrugged. "Sure, wouldn't want to close up shop too early, anyway." Nick threw his bottle in the can.
The cat crossed his arms. "We'll charge a fee for this one, right?"
Nick's expression and mouth said, "Of course."
"Good, 'cause I don't do charity. Before anything else, let's talk pay. I want 50% of whatever we earn."
"WHAT?"
"Hey, I might not be a professional street dweller, but I'm not an idiot. Your revelation came from me. And I'm going to help you carve out a niche for this place. If I'm taking a huge risk, I want a reward that matches."
"I guess that's fair."
"Consider that a generous offer, because I can help you with more than just opening the collars." The cat looked at his cracked phone. "Well, it's getting late. You can crash at my place. I'm sure that you'll want to see it."
Surprised by the last sentence, Nick just said. "Fine, lead the way."
They headed North, towards the edge of Zootopia. The area was drastically different from anywhere else in the city. It was underdeveloped and seemingly uninhabited. There were large dirt mounds the size of hills everywhere, sitting next to unoccupied foundations. Judging from the wild greenery that had grown over everything, the concrete pads had been there for a while.
The further they went from the bustling city, the taller the grass around them became. The cat snapped his fingers twice, attracting Nick's attention. "We are close. See that dome over there?" Nick looked around, but all he could see were grassy hills and overgrown foundations. However, one hill was smoother and more uniform than the rest.
Supposing that it was the dome, Nick replied. "Yes". Nick then heard a rapid rustling sound. Seeing the rapidly retreating back of his new cohort, he started to run toward the dome as well.
They were soon in front of the dome. It was a factory of sorts, though Nick thought it was an aircraft hangar at first. It was hard to tell what was manufactured in this place, since only the rusted, skeletal shell could be seen. He sure that there was a sign amid the darkness, but he must have missed it. The cat dragged the main gate open and invited Nick in. Inside was darkness. However, Nick's eyes could just make out a few boxy outlines.
Nick said. "Is this your place?"
"Eh. I live here, but technically I don't own it." The cat turned to the left and grabbed something. He gave it a yank, the sound of an engine weakly turning over echoing out across the huge space. After three or four pulls, the engine finally roared to life. Lights mounted haphazardly across the warehouse flickered on, giving Nick his first clear view of the place. The cat was standing next to with what looked like a modified lawnmower. The engine was linked to a fuse box. That explains the noise, Nick thought. Lying on the floor beside it was several other lawnmowers. All had their blades taken out and replaced with copious amounts of copper wire, duct tape, and magnets.
Nick saw what were mere silhouettes a moment ago: A pickup truck with its engine exposed; scattered piles of scrapped machinery; stacks of plywood; a crate filled to the brim with duct tape; and various miscellany scattered over everything. He noticed a collection of items huddled off in a far, far corner. That was when he noticed how much space this cat had. The place was big enough to house a carnival and half!
Like a master of ceremonies, the cat walked forward and slowly spun, his extended arms indicating the whole, huge space. "What do ya think? Looks like I got the location part taken care of."
Nick did not answer. He was too busy putting imaginary rides and attraction in this empty space.
The feline continued. "You know what the best part is? I know how to contact the guy who owns this place. The price is dirt cheap, by real estate standards. You'll have to take care of that part." Nick remained silent, still occupied by his thoughts. The cat snapped his fingers. "Hey! You still listening?"
Nick snapped out of it and said. "Eh? Sure. How did you come across this place anyway?"
"A little research and a little dumb luck. I was just looking for a new place to live that isn't infested with homeless. So, I took a step beyond, going to a place no homeless had tread before." He put his hand up in a dramatic manner. "Did a little digging and found reports of former Mayor Swinton's abandoned projects."
"Abandoned projects?"
"Yeah, after she took office, she managed to attract a lot of investors to the area. The guy who owns this place was one of them."
Nick tilted his head. "Why did they stop?"
"Don't know. The money just dried up. There are some rumors that the whole area is a cursed burial ground. Some say the whole thing was a scam. I don't know and I don't care. Bottom-line: I lived here long enough to know that there are no ghosts, and the place is up for grabs." He clapped his hands. "So, what do you think of this place?"
It took Nick a while to answer. He gave the whole area another sweeping glance. "It's perfect." An exhilarated smile began to show, the same 'Happy Face' he wore when he had the vision in the doctor's office. "No one would look for this unless we told them to. We'd be safe."
"Heh. That's the idea, Captain Obvious." The cat checked his phone. "Aw, crackers. It's eleven, I need to go to work soon. Anyhow, I'll show you around the place and lay the ground rules."
Nick followed him toward the 'far, far corner'. The stuff in the corner was much more organized than the rest of the junk. The central piece was a desk made from two office desks nailed together. On top was of it were six computers (two desktops and four laptops) that linked tight to each other with jungles of different colored wire. Below it was scanners, printers and an icebox with a fan strapped to the side. All these electronics were connected to another fuse box, which was powered by another makeshift lawnmower generator. The cat took out the parking tags in his pocket and tossed them on one computer. Beside the desk were workbenches that housed machine components and tools. On one bench, Nick saw a striped down lawnmower. On another was a baseball bat sitting beside two Taser guns and coils of copper.
There wasn't a bed, only a couch with several off-color patches and a rickey frame. Sitting on it would give one the view of a cooking station made from cinder blocks, iron rods, and charred branches. Books with random titles and topics were all over the floor. A large amount of them was about engineering, mechanical and computer. Then there were books likeThe Stranger by Albert Camel; The Basics of Fencing; Do It Yourself Makeup; Homemade Special Effects; The Rise of Computer-Generated Images; Doomsday Preparations; PMP without a Certificate; and Cooking With What You Got. There was a fridge along the wall which did not connect to any power outlet, a few photos stuck on the door with magnets. A large, but outdated safe stood next to the appliance
Like a tour guide, the cat gave Nick pointers. "You can live here as long as you stay away from my computers and don't waste my fuel. Feel free to sleep on the couch. Just don't jump on it. The fridge doesn't work. It got dried bugs and fruits in there. You can have some, but only if you put in more later." He approached the couch and fished a handheld scanner from between the cushions. It was covered by duct tape, except the lens. "Here, have some 'Freedom'. On the house." He nonchalantly tossed the device to Nick. "Don't think about running of with it. You would only cause yourself a lot of trouble."
Hands nearly shaking with excitement. Nick aimed the scanner at his collar and pulled the trigger. A click and the weight fell off his neck. Nick was once again racing through the golden wheat field. The cat picked up a table on the floor and stood it upright. The sound of the legs slamming on the floor broke Nick from his euphoric trance. "You can work here. There is some paper and pens lying around somewhere." He waved his index finger around. "Don't expect me to do everything. You must earn that 50%. If you want something done, like rides, attractions or whatever, design them yourself. I'm just gonna help you fill out the mechanical blanks any way I can. I'm not a genius or a magician, so keep whatever thing you have in mind simple. Also, I am always about function before form. So, if you want something to look nice, do it yourself." He had a quick look at Nick. "Feeling the pressure yet? If this is a silly dream, you can quit at any time. However, once you do, forget about everything and just leave me be. Well, I would prefer you pay me back something, for courtesy's sake. But yeah, afterward, you and I don't know each other. We go our separate ways."
Nick said with a sly smile. "Have some faith in me. We are going see this one through."
"I'm literally not holding my breath. Anyway, I'll be back from work around noon. By god, if I find something missing-"
Nick badly faked the cat's voice. "'I'll be making a big mistake', I know."
The cat gave a thumbs up. "Then we understand each other. Now, if you'll pardon me, I need to go." The cat picked up a gym bag on the floor then headed toward the door.
Nick said, "Kid. Are you forgetting something?"
The cat turned around. "What?"
Nick stuck his hand out. "We should shake hands, as business partners. Sealing the deal."
"Pft, now that's rich." The cat took it and shook. Both tried to make their grip as strong as they could. "Alex, Alex Mieu. My real full name is too difficult for you Zootopian to pronounce, so let's just stick with that."
"Nick, Nick Wilde."
"This is not going to end well, I'm telling you."
"How many amusement parks have you actually built?"
Alex made a face. "This is why I can't stand foxes."
Author note:
Thank you so much for reading. If you enjoyed what you have just read and wished to see more, please follow or leave a review. They would give me the motivation to write more for everyone. All feedbacks will be appreciated. If you find anything lacking or flawed in my story (grammar, word use, etc.), please tell me in the reviews as well. I shall do my best to update these chapters sooner and make them more polished. This is one of my first stories so please forgive possible mistakes in the future and help me fix them.
Thanks again and have a pleasant day.