THE FIRE WITHIN
Chapter 2
After getting the phone call from the chief, we headed over to city central's precinct one to find out exactly what he needed. We were just outside the chief's office and Judy went up to the door to knock. She looked at me first.
"Alright, Carrots. Go ahead."I said with an eased smile. She knocked.
"Come in." The chief's voice called. We entered and took a seat in that one large chair that's sizeable for the both of us. Bogo was instead, in the corner of the room where the window was and he was looking out of it as if he was looking into the future full of nothing but void.
"You called for us, sir?" Judy asked. That is when he turned around, flicked on the lamp, and sat down in his desk's chair.
"Yes. Now, you're probably wondering why I called you two in, correct?"
We both nodded our heads.
"Well, to put it short, they're back."
Judy and I looked at each other with confusion shown across our faces.
"And who exactly are 'they'?" I asked wondering.
"The Brotherhood of Savages." The chief said with a grim voice.
That's when it hit me. That name. I've heard of it before . . . but from where? I was only a young kit when I first heard about them. Just enough to want to forget.
"The Brotherhood of Savages," the chief continued "is one, if not, the most notorious terrorist organization in the history of Zootopia. Their group consists of predators only, whether from the smallest shrew to the biggest lion. In the past, they have been known to commit numerous crimes, all of which include mass murder and all of the victims being only prey. And if you happen to be a predator, they say you either join their group or die. Most refused and they paid their lives for it. The ones that joined . . . let's just say they're not what they used to be. But the one thing they've never been forgotten for is the burning of half the city along with countless of innocent lives. During the fire, we thought there was no hope left even from us, the ZPD, but just when we thought all hope was lost . . . they came." The chief showed a small smile.
Judy and I looked at each other again, puzzled.
"Who came, sir?" She asked.
"The baddest of the bad. The boldest of the bold, the best of the best. The Zootopia Black Ops."
Now them I remember. Before me and Judy became the saviors of the city, there was the Zootopia Black Ops. Nobody could match them when it came to these guys. They were trained by the best and only for the best. Missions and training consisted of hostage situations, bomb defusing, mixed martial arts including advanced paw-to-paw combat, assassinations, etc.. Some consider them vigilantes, but I prefer the term servers of justice on a cold platter. But if this Brotherhood of Savages is really back at it again then . . . where are the Black Ops? Another thing, why out of all the officers in this precinct or any precinct, did Bogo pick us? That's if he even wants us. I guess we're about to find out.
". . . Aaand you want US to go out there and put them in the ground." I said with a guess.
"Precisely." The chief stated.
Yep, thought so. Just when I was about to object, Judy optimistically popped up.
"Don't worry, sir. You can count on us." She saluted proudly. Darnit, rabbit. Now it's my turn.
"Woah, woah, woah. Hold that thought. Carrots, do you have any idea who these guys are? What they are capable of?" I stepped in.
"Ugh, come on, Nick. There's nothing we can't handle. They're just another group of wanted men."
"They are NOT men. They're cold-blooded lunatics thinking they're "purifying" the city with fire and flames. Carrots, this isn't the Night Howler Case. This is bigger than us. Sure, Bellwether was a mind full of villainous ideas, but these guys are farther out. I know them."
"I understand Ni-" She started.
"No, you don't . . ." Silence filled the room. All that could be heard was the occasional tick-tock of the chief's clock. I then deeply inhaled and exhaled slowly.
"Just promise me one thing, Judy." With hearing her real name from my voice made her listen with undivided attention.
"Whatever may happen, whatever happens at all, whether something happens to me or something happens to you, just . . . don't let THAT fire inside of you go out as it did to me all those years ago." I pointed to her heart. All she did was smile and nod her head slowly. I smiled back.
"Alright . . . where do we look?" I asked.
"The last known sighting of the group was on a class-b cargo ship somewhere in the Gulf of Zootopia. The captain of a nearby class-C ship reported seeing the band hijack the ship and didn't see them come out. Even though you two are my best officers, I'm sending Wolford to join for backup and overwatch. Do what you do best. Find them and shut them down. If necessary, lethal rounds may be used. Dismissed and good luck."
Judy saluted and headed for the door, waiting for me. With that, I saluted as well and went along with my partner. We're sure in for a show.