"I'm the low woman on the totem pole."
That's the message that blasted sheep left us, which opens up a whole heck of a lot of questions. The biggest one, at least to me, is whether or not she's telling the truth, and with her track record? It makes this rabbit skeptical.
In all my years with the ZIA, I've had to deal with plenty of psychopaths, but I have to say, Bellwether sure takes the cake. I didn't think that her level of insanity was possible, but heck, you learn something new every day. The question remains, though- was she being honest?
Well, I'm stuck there. My instinct is screaming "No!" at me, but lucky buck that I am, I have a sneaking suspicion that she's being honest, and that in a way, I'm to blame. Bellwether was an orphan- her parents were killed by foxes when she was twelve. In her words, "You haven't always been honest, Honest John." She's right, unfortunately.
May 11, 1987 | Office of Jack Savage | Director, Special Forces Division, ZIA
"Agent John Wilde, at your service, sir!" What a formal introduction, I never did much care for formalities.
"Please, call me Jack."
"Then in that case, call me John."
"Well, John, I have a little something I'd like you to look into."
"What's that, sir?"
"Jack, remember? Anyways, there's been a string of robberies over in Tundratown. I have a hunch that they're connected. Go investigate."
"Okay, Jack. I won't disappoint you, I promise!"
"That kid's going to get himself in so much troubleā¦."
"I'm sorry to say this, but John, you screwed up big time. I told you to investigate robberies, not shoot the suspects."
"Look, Director, it was in self-defense."
"Funny, I didn't think that pulling your gun on two civilians and shooting them point blank qualifies as self-defense. So, before you lose your badge, Wilde, spill it."
"But-"
"Spill the beans, or one, you're headed home sans badge, and two, I'll blacklist you."
"You wouldn't dare! My tailoring business is my life! If I lose that, then my family and I are done for!"
"That's your problem, Johnathan, not mine. So are you going to talk, or will I be calling your wife to let her know what you really do for your weekends?"
"Fine, fine, I'll talk, Savage, but for one reason and that reason only- my family. I don't know what your plans are, you prick, but if you drag my wife and son into this, you'll never stop regretting it. That is, if you live to do so."
"You should be thankful that you're not headed out the door right now, Wilde. Now tell me: Why did you kill Martin and Louise Bellwether? They have a daughter, Dawn, who you just orphaned, so you had better have one hell of an explanation!"
"Let's begin at the beginning, shall we? But let me say, Savage, that yesterday was in no way a good day for me, so don't push it."
"Protect and serve. It should be the ZPD's motto- oh, wait, it already is- but not the ZIA's. We're not cops, we're operatives, agents, but not officers. I didn't spend ten years busting my tail under Jack Savage and his predecessor, a diminutive gerboa named Sandthistle who made up for his lack in height with hatred for foxes, to be compared to a beat cop.
"As for Sandthistle, boy, was he ever happy when I showed up. I got flak for everything I did, even if I did it right. So when I got something wrong, you wouldn't believe just how quickly my ears could fold against my head. Just a head's up for all you mammals out there- Whatever you do, don't, don't, don't be born a fox. Please.
So when one arrogant speciesist prick retired, another one took his place. Jackson Savage, the most ridiculous hare I've ever met. Still, he was- is- my boss, and orders are orders. Still, sometimes you wonder if what you're doing is right.
Anyways, this is the eighties, and did you hear about City Hall's new city motto? 'Anyone Can Be Anything.' I wonder who thought that one up. But just because we're living in a changing world, that doesn't mean that mammals want to change. I have a feeling, Director, that you're one of those mammals.
I remember one thing in particular, Director, and that's the fact that the Bellwethers were interspecies marriage proponents."
"Which doesn't make sense at all, now does it, Wilde? They're both sheep, why would they care whether mammals of one species can marry mammals of another?"
"Does that matter, Director? Does it justify having one of your own agents, who is a fox, by the way, kill them? What were they really stealing, Savage? Let me guess- your over-inflated ego."
"I've listened to you, Wilde, now, sit down, shut your muzzle, and listen to my side of the story. Look, we all have our reasons, right?"
"I'm not so sure about that one, unless you just like cold-blooded murder."
"Which I do not, but what I do like is payback."
"Payback for what?! Darn you, Savage, their blood is all over me, and my wife's pretty close to figuring out what I'm up to. So why? This whole thing is illegal, so why, you bunny bas-"
"Before you go any farther with that, one, my parents were married, two, they killed my mother."
"I thought she was still alive?"
"No, my dad has just been really good at covering things up. Which might explain why I am. My mother was also an interspecies marriage advocate. Yes, I really do support interspecies marriage. After all, my girlfriend's a fox. Her name is Skye Winter. She's wonderful, you should meet her sometime. But to answer the question, yes, it was revenge. Just...do it, okay?"
"Do what?"
"I can't run from this any longer. I'm done, John. Just cuff me at take me, but please, take me out the back. I don't want the others to see me like this."
"If you didn't want to be seen like this, maybe you shouldn't have done it."
"So then what are you waiting for? Cuff me and get it over with."
"No."
"What?"
"Sorry, what I said was no. I will not be cuffing you."
"But-"
"But nothing, Jackson. I can't blame you for everything. I was the one who did it, so really, whose fault is it? Mine. I should be the one going to the slammer."
"Yes, but you did it on my orders."
"Orders which I could have chosen to disobey. Look, we're both guilty, just admit it. But unless you want to go down for it, I suggest you keep your mouth shut."
Monday, April 24, 2000
Bunnyburrow, Hopps Residence
"Why can't anything just be easy for once?"
"That's not life, Mom."
"Thank you, Counselor Wilde."
"You're welcome, Mom."
"That wasn't meant to be a compliment, Jet."
"Mm-hrm, I know. I think I inherited Dad's sense of sarcasm."
"Pretty much everything but his fur color."
"You got that right. Now, back to business."
"Have you made any progress, Jet?"
"Well, here's the thing- the timeline's ripped, so we're not going to be able to travel along it anymore, at least, not linearly."
"Would you please explain that? I'm a cop, not a quantum physicist."
"We can't just travel from one year in time to the next. We have to jump around, and who knows where we'll end up? Not me."
"So what you're saying is that if we try to go anywhere, we'll end up lost?"
"Pretty much."
"So what do you suggest we do?"
"Wait just a second!"
"What the-? Nick? Are you alright?"
"No, not really. Look," he said, holding out a paper.
"What is it?"
"Read it."
It was the front page of the Zootopia Daily Sun, dated January 17, 2021.
"2021? Is this a prank?"
"You had better hope so, Carrots, because if it's not, we're in for some real trouble. Keep reading."
Zootopia Daily Sun ~ January 17, 2021
HERO COPS JUDY HOPPS AND NICK WILDE KILLED IN LINE OF DUTY ~Breaking News
Maxine Marks, Reporter
After taking down Ex-Mayor Dawn Bellwether in last week's "Night Howler Crisis," Lieutenants Judith Hopps and Nicholas Wilde seemed invincible, but this morning, a sniper proved the city otherwise, killing both of the city's finest with a single bullet, fired as the two officers stood for roll call at Precinct One.
Lauded for exposing the evils of the collar system, Lieutenant Hopps is also credited with the overthrow of the Sowviet regime that had dominated Zootopia since the 1920s. Along with her accomplice, then Assistant Mayor Nicholas Wilde, she eradicated the old system and helped establish the new.
Unfortunately for the overly-energetic rabbit, with fame comes a price on your head, one that was cashed in less than two hours ago.
Precinct One Chief James Wolford had this to say about the two fallen officers: "Nick, Judy- Wilde, Hopps, your final patrol has ended. Farewell, fair wishes, and fairness awaits you both."
Lieutenant Wilde is survived by his sister, Adriana; children, Jet, Electra, and Luke; and his parents, Marian and Johnathan.
He has no other living family; his wife, Judy died at his side at the same time.
Lieutenant Hopps is survived by her mother, Bonnie, as well as 147 of her 275 brothers and sisters.
She is predeceased by her father Stu, as well as 128 of her brothers and sisters.
Her husband, Nicholas, perished with her.
A citywide memorial service for the fallen officers is to be held this afternoon.
Lt. Judith "Judy" Hopps
1992-2021; 39 Years
Lt. Nicholas "Nick" Wilde
1984-2021; 47 Years
Rest In Peace, Officers. You will be missed.
A shaking sob slipped past my lips. "K-K-Killed? Wha-What? That's not right, we're still alive, and you don't have a sister, Nick."
"Chalk it up to Bellwether then, Judy. I don't know what this is, but I can sense a storm blowing in. Are you ready for this, whatever this might be?"
"In all honesty, Nick? Are you nuts? You'd have to be off your rocker to think that I could ever possibly be ready for this!"
"You had better ready yourself up then, Judy, because Bellwether's having her way with the future."
"What is this, anyways?" I said, shaking the newspaper in my paws. "It doesn't make sense."
"An alternate timeline, perhaps?"
"Whatever it is, Nick, I'm scared."
"Me too, Carrots, me too."
