Author's Note:
The story continues (finally). Here is a taste of the sequel, which uses the Firefly episode "The Train Job" more as inspiration, and deviates significantly from the original plot. You can find the rest of it under the name "Zootopia That Was 2: The Train Job".
A few spears of light pierced gaps in the window shutters, stabbing through the darkness of the crowded room. Mammals of every kind sat hunched over at the bar, or in small groups around tables. Waitresses slipped deftly between the tables, delivering drinks (and occasionally food) to the customers. Some customers played games at their tables, but most just talked quietly, leaning close to each other to keep their conversations private.
Soft, gentle music drifted from the front corner as a trio of camels played. One camel sat on a large boxy drum while tapping complex rhythms. Another played a stringed instrument, some kind of long zither with a sound box that rested on his shoulder. The third played a small wooden flute. A fourth camel, dressed in a flowing gown decorated with shiny brass ornaments, danced around the room in time to the music. Like the musicians, she was largely ignored by the establishment's customers.
As the dancer circulated, she passed a group of mammals sitting in the back corner: a red fox, a tigress, and an enormous cape buffalo. A board game rested on the small table between them. The tigress sat quietly with her eyes closed. The fox looked to the side, his ear cocked. The cape buffalo stared at the fox and said, "Your move."
The fox remained immobile. M'bogo, the cape buffalo, spoke a little louder. "Captain Wilde, it's your move."
Nick Wilde, the fox, quickly glanced at the board, moved a piece, and returned his attention to the mammals across the room. M'bogo snorted and scowled, drawing the attention of Sherani Fangmeyer-Clawhauser, the tigress. She looked at the board, shook her head, and said, "Sir, you clearly aren't paying attention to the game, and I've had enough for today. Can we head back to the ship?"
Nick didn't move. Sherani said, "Sir? Can we leave? You made contact, right?"
"Huh? Yeah, made contact half an hour ago. Check out the oryx." He nodded towards the bar.
The trio in the back watched a large antelope with a scar across his face stand on a chair. He tapped a glass with a knife.
"Quiet! Quiet, everyone!" the scarred oryx shouted. "This is a great day, a glorious day, a day of... glory for everyone in the Union of Allied Planets. Six years ago, today, the Alliance defeated the Independents, and put an end to their 'Browncoat Rebellion'! Today is Unification Day! Everyone, a toast to the Alliance!"