Zootopia

Chapter 2

Roland awoke to the unpleasant screeching of his alarm as it throttled him into consciousness. Groaning in reluctance at the rude awakening, he rolled of the bed and fell the two foot gap down to the plush carpeted flooring, the alarm howling in his ears. The man dragged himself to his knees and slapped a hand onto the small nightstand beside his bed, drunkenly fumbling around for his phone in an effort to shut off the irritating warbling it emitted.

Once found, he quickly shut off the miniature siren, lowering the screen towards his face so he could check the time.

6:00

Frowning, he tossed the device onto the mussed sheets of his bed in dismissal and dropped back to the carpet. The young man slapped a palm on his forehead and shut his eyes, sighing in frustration.

'Damn… I slept in.'

Used to be he could wake up without the need for an alarm, and now that wouldn't even work. He knew things were a little off for him after Faraza, but that didn't make it any less infuriating. If he didn't hurry up he would be late, and on his first day to. Roland knew from personal experience that first impressions meant everything. And if he wanted to start off on a good standing he had to get moving.

Drowsily, he wormed his way towards his duffle bag to quickly rummage inside for his uniform.

Pulling out the black ensemble, he finally forced himself to climb to his bare feet, padding over to the bathroom with a loud yawn that threatened to crack his jaw. With the twist of a brass knob he entered the restroom and dropped his clothes onto the porcelain counter, taking the time to get a good look at his exhausted reflection in the wall mounted mirror.

Fatigued amber eyes scanned a haggard tan face and its developing five o'clock shadow as he ran a finger over the dense stubble. His eyes lingered momentarily on the faint scar on his right cheek before he tore his gaze down to his chest with an almost imperceptible shudder.

Roland pulled his sleeveless undershirt over his head and dropped it to the tiled floor of the bathroom, giving himself one more look in the mirror.

While unable to pride himself as a professional bodybuilder, he was definitely not a slouch either. A recognizable six pack dominated his lower abdomen and not much fat could be seen on his respectably muscled frame. The man led a very active lifestyle, and though he was a fan of junk food and all its sodium and preservative enriched glory, his job was not one where he could afford to let himself go.

Leaning towards the shower in the cramped room, he turned the nozzle and activated the jet of cold liquid, waiting for the water heater to do its work. Once the temperature had reached an agreeable level, marked by the cloud of steam forming in the crowded lavatory, Roland slipped out of his shorts and hurriedly stepped inside and out of the cold.

The hot water washing over his body jumpstarted his fuddled brain almost as effectively as a mug of scalding hot coffee and he wasted little time washing away the dirt and grime of Kalber for the final time.

He spent only a few extra minutes in the warm embrace of the high pressure deluge before reluctantly shutting off the flow of water and grabbing the bleached white towel hanging on the rack to dry off. It seemed another perk of living here was the shower. It definitely was a sight better than the one he had in his one person apartment back in his hometown.

Stepping out of the cramped stall, he patted himself with the fluffy cotton, pleasantly surprised by the quality of her bath towels.

After toweling off, Roland reached for the uniform on the counter, recalling the last time he had put it on as he slipped into the pants. He only hoped things would play out differently. This was his only shot at keeping his line of work and expect to preserve any semblance of a normal life. He knew it would take some amount of adjusting to get used to this place and its strange inhabitants, but that was preferable to what would have awaited him if he had stayed back in Kalber.

Sighing, he slowly buttoned up the dark colored shirt and fiddled with the collar as he walked out of the bathroom. Crossing over the bedroom, he lifted his duffle bag onto the bed and dumped out its contents onto the silken sheets, everything left he had to his name sat in a small disorganized pile of mismatched clothing.

Sifting through the mess, he found and pulled out the holstered handgun that had been buried amongst his briefs, lifting it up towards his head for a closer examination.

At one point not so long ago he thought he would never pick up a gun again. He had never been a big fan of firearms and had a healthy level of respect and loathing for them. The high levels destruction they could wreak in such a short span of time was deplorable; he knew that better than most. Yet he was also a firm believer in the axiom, fight fire with fire. Guns would exist regardless of his opinion on them. It made no sense then to leave himself at a disadvantage an adversary would have no qualms of exploiting. That, and well his job kinda required it.

Roland eyed the glossy matte black finish of the deadly weapon for several minutes in silent apprehension, the firearm dredging up a slew of unpleasant memories that brought a sharp migraine to the surface of his thoughts.

Eventually, he belted it to his waist, doing his best to ignore the haunting weight of it dangling at his side.

Delving once more into the mess of clothes, he retrieved the polished gold metaled badge that went with his uniform, and after a few seconds of musing, he pinned it to his chest.

There was a lot of emotional baggage attached to those things, the sight of them bringing back memories both good and bad… but mostly bad. He no longer knew if he was fit to wear the uniform, but he did know that he would do his best to live up to it. His past self, had made a lot of mistakes. But this was supposed to be a new beginning for him. And he hoped it would work out better than last.

Wondering what kind of day this was going to turn out to be, he almost forgot something he had to take with him, finding it sitting in the center of the rest of his wardrobe, the sleeve of a dark red t-shirt draped over it.

Roland knocked the sleeve off and picked up the obsidian ball cap, reading the lettering around the shield-like insignia on the forward-facing part just above the bill, a deep set frown on his face. Special Weapons and Tactics, Kalber Police Department. He recalled how proud he had been of that accomplishment, one of the youngest men in the city to have ever joined. He also reminded himself how that had been one of his last good memories he had made of his previous home.

'If I had only know how quick my luck would change. I might have done things a little differently.'

Exhaling heavily, he firmly pressed it onto his head and spent a few seconds straightening the cap out before heading towards the hall. Giving his room one last look, he strode outside and carefully closed the door behind him.

Now in the hallway, he made his way down the stairs, his boots thumping softly against the carpeted steps. Halfway down, he heard a voice.

"Ah, Mister Winters, you're awake. There's some breakfast in the microwave if you're hungry." His vixen landlord spoke up from below as she crossed the threshold of the living room and stopped at the bottom step. Looking up, she briefly paused as she took in his new and unexpected apparel, clearly surprised at finding him wearing such a thing. The female was silent for several seconds as she registered what it was he wore. "You're a police officer?" She asked in an incredulous murmur.

Roland nodded with a wane smile, used to getting a variety of reactions to him in uniform. For some reason people were always surprised. "Indeed ma'am I am, a preserve of the peace."

"I must say… I had not thought you would be." She mumbled quietly, transferring her gaze to the floor once more.

Her docile attitude once more mystified him. He didn't know why she acted the way she did, but he was starting to get the urge to pry. But for now he would remain mute.

"I had assumed you were a business man."

Roland traveled down the last couple steps, shrugging offhandedly. "That's not so ma'am. I was transferred from my office in Kalber to Precinct-1 here in the city."

She accepted his response with a curt nod and a heavier tone. "I see…"

"Is something the matter, Miss Calvet?" He asked in mild concern. He hoped she did not have any problems with the police as many he knew back in Kalber had. Otherwise he could be out of a place to stay soon after finding one.

The vixen hurriedly shook her muzzle, pulling it into a pert smile. "No. Of course not, it just came as a surprise. In fact I… well I honestly find it quite…relieving."

Roland was relieved himself to hear that and nodded graciously. "That is good to hear. I appreciate you inviting me into your home. The last thing I would want is to cause any problems for you."

She dispelled his worry with a dismissive wave of her paw. "It's not a problem at all… rather it helps ease my mind. This neighborhood can be quite rough at times. So it would be nice to have an officer on short demand." She smiled up at him, her first attempt at some type of humor since he arrived.

Roland chuckled, more for her then any amusement of his own. "I imagine it would be quite the perk."

She shared his laugh; the vixen's purring chuff a quiet musical tone that struck him with its unexpected charm. "Yes, well my offer still stands. If you're hungry, there's a cheese omelet in the microwave."

"Ah… yes, t-thank you. That sounds great." He stammered inelegantly, suddenly finding it hard to articulate himself. Confused, he politely ended the conversation and retreated to the kitchen to grab the offered morning meal.

Bewildered, he quickly scarfed down the scrambled eggs coated in cheese, making sure not to get any on his uniform. He didn't have much time left to speculate on his actions and so he readied to leave. Stacking his plate and fork in the sink, he bid his landlady goodbye and hurriedly traveled down the steps and onto the sidewalk.

Crossing the road once he had the opportunity, he halted at a car parked alongside the curb, the large vehicle shining brightly in the morning light. The sun's yellow rays glinted off the pristine black finish of his newest acquisition.

On a whim, Roland had visited a dealership before stopping at the DMV to put a down payment on the 2015 land cruiser. He had decided it would be best to have his own set of wheels sooner rather than later. Having his own transportation would be crucial in making his life easier in the beginning months. He could not nor wanted to have to rely on others. And so with the last of his funds, and a few good words, he managed to acquire the car.

It was a beast of a vehicle, (though a few years dated), and a good purchase in his eyes, especially since he had been able to get a decent deal on it. The fact he was a cop was played well into his hand during the negotiations to settle on a price. With a 1.84 percent interest rate on the machine it was price he could afford, even as strapped for cash as he was at the moment… at least as long as everything worked on his end.

Flicking the button on the key chain, he unlocked the doors and shuffled into the SUV. He spent a brief spell familiarizing once again with the vehicle before inserting the keys and turning the ignition, jumpstarting the hulking engine.

Roland listened to the dull rumble with a smile. He always had a fondness for big cars, and this definitely fit the description. Plugging his phone into the charger, he locked it onto its tiny plastic mount and pulled up the maps app to search for directions to the precinct.

Once he plotted his course, he backed out of his spot and cruised down the street.

Roland shut off the car's engine, keeping his hands firmly wrapped around the steering wheel as he exhaled nervously. He leaned back in the seat and rested his head against the padded upholstery. Nervous, that's what he was, more so then he had been before stepping on the train. Outside, a steady flow of mammals waltzed in and out of the precinct's glass doors, the alternative blue hued uniforms of officers speckled throughout the small crowd.

This wouldn't be like his first day on the force, back in Kalber they had all been the same species. Here, he would be completely out of place. He couldn't even count on them all having vaguely similar sizes.

As he opened his eyes he watched a rhino duck inside, his horn barely scrapping against the door's stone frame, the mammal at least a full nine feet in height.

'Damn that guy's huge.'

Even nervous as he was, Roland could not help but chuckle at his own unease. He wasn't some green around the ears recruit; he had been an officer for five years, three of which he spent as a detective. He had been through countless situations that were far more deserving of his anxiety, car chases, active shooters, bomb threats, heists. This should be a cakewalk in comparison.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped out of the car. 'Come on Roland, just pull yourself together and try to get through the first day.' He advised himself as he moved towards the doors and fiddled with his badge for the umpteenth time.

This time he did his best to ignore the looks. He doubted returning the flood of curious glances would make him feel any better about his situation. He just soldiered through the discomfort and awkwardness, his long muscled legs carrying swiftly towards the door and to a place that would lessen the attention centered directly on him.

Raising a hand, he pushed the revolving entrance and crossed the orbiting threshold that deposited him swiftly out on the other side. He allowed himself to lift his gaze, scanning his surroundings intently. The foyer of the precinct was larger then what he was used to. The one he worked at in Kalber was barely large enough to house more than a handful or so of people. But here, you could probably stuff the whole of the KPD inside with some room left to spare.

Roland wasn't sure what to make of the size, finding it a tad ostentatious. But he supposed the main station of the city could afford to be a little grandiose. Despite the variety of species and its size, it looked to function just as the one in Kalber had. But, since he didn't know the layout he zeroed in on the front desk in hopes the cheetah manning it could lead him to the chief's office.

The closer he got, the more he realized how… large, the receptionist was. He certainly did not fit the stereotype for the athletic felines. Roland managed to get all the way over to the desk's counter before the portly cat noticed him, the young mammal captivated by his mobile device and whatever app he was occupying himself with.

The voice coming from the phone distinctly matched that of the singer he had heard on the train, Gazelle was her name if he heard correctly from the jumbotron just outside the train station. While he was distracted, the young human studied the cluttered mess consisting of the feline's desk.

Clawhauser, that's what the tag fastened to the cat's XXL shirt informed him. Amid the disaster that was Clawhauser's desk were a few hollow bags of chips, a pair of stained coffee mugs, and a half-empty box of doughnuts wedged between the feline's impressive waistline and the stone edge of the granite slab desk.

He waited a little longer before deciding to clear his throat, shaking the cat from what Roland was beginning to think was a worshipful reverie.

"Huh… what?" The chubby spotted feline mumbled as he was shocked out of his distracted train of thought. It took him a few moments to realize that Roland was standing in front of the desk, and when he did notice the human he leaned back in his chair with the perfect replication of a stage gasp.

"Oh wow you're a human!" Clawhauser stated the obvious with almost childlike enthusiasm, his eyes widening into saucers as they took in the bizarre sight.

"Last time I checked… or has that changed." Roland replied as he glanced down to his uniformed body in good humor.

The spotted cat blushed slightly at his remark and chuckled, a sound remarkably similar to that of a giggle. "Yeah I probably deserved that one. Momma always did say my mouth ran faster than my brain." The feline's grin widened as he glanced down to his belly. "Though… I'm not sure she was just talking about words."

Hearing that Roland chuckled himself, the man always up for a good joke.

"You must be the transfer Chief Bogo told me to look out for today." The cat took his eyes back down to the desk where he sifted around the doughnut box, selecting one glazed in an unhealthy amount of icing and shoving it into his wide maw. "When he said... you'll know 'em when you see 'em… he wasn't joking." Clawhauser mumbled in-between mouthfuls of the frosted treat, showering the desktop with a rain of half eaten crumbs.

"He knew I was coming in today?" Roland asked in surprise as he idly brushed off the growing dusting of doughnut residue on his uniform. He had not given an advance notice besides the message sent before he left for the train. And that didn't have a specific time for his arrival.

"Yeah…" The cat replied. "Chief always knows when new officers arrive." Glancing around, the cheetah leaned in closer to whisper in an almost awed tone. "It's like a six sense or something."

Roland was surprised to hear that he had been expected that day. But he supposed it was logical to assume he would come in soon after arriving in town.

"You know… you're the second officer to start today." The tubby feline remarked while the young man was distracted by his thoughts. "They came in just a few minutes after you did, caused quite a stir you know." The cat blathered on, already on the prowl for something else to eat. "The first bunny on the force… just the absolute cutest little gal I've ever done seen. Oop, I said it again!" Clawhauser gasped in mortification, clamping his thick paws over his muzzle.

Roland did not pay attention to the feline's reaction so much as what he said, the young human glancing up to the cheetah curiously. "Bunny you said?"

He had to wait till the cat took his paws away from his mouth before he got his answer, the pudgy cheetah mumbling something about insensitivity. "Oh yeah, a little firecracker with a cotton tail she was, all ready and raring to go." Clawhauser shook his head sadly. "But I feel bad for her. She's gonna have a tough time with Chief and the others."

As curious as he was on whom the bunny might be, he still had business with the police chief. "Hate to interrupt... Clawhauser was it?" He asked, checking the name tag again for clarification. "But can you point out the Chief's office for me?"

The cheetah nodded eagerly, using a half-eaten doughnut as a pointer. "Right, right of course. His office is right up the stairs and down the right hall, names on the door you can't miss it…?"

"Roland, the names Roland." He answered the unspoken question.

"Well then Roland, good luck with the Chief. He's not the best when it comes to…" The cat thought it over and frowned. "Well anything besides work really."

Leaving the enthusiastic and podgy cheetah to his devices, Roland bid him goodbye and moved to climb the spiral stairs off to the left. He didn't know what to think about the cat, other than that he was certainly an… interesting fellow. The man had to admit that he had not met anyone like him back in his time at the KPD.

What would this Bogo character be like? The chief he had previously worked for had been a good man, and a better friend. Though that had changed somewhat after Faraza, most everything had. Still, he had given him this opportunity so Roland supposed they had ended it on good terms. If he wanted his time here to be pleasant, he would have to do his best to remain on this chief's good side. He knew how unpleasant a disinclined superior could make your day-to-day life.

Roland did his best to dust off his uniform as he reached the top of the stairs and crossed the marble path down towards the Chief's office. This was his chance to get a read for his new boss, just as it was his chance to make a decent impression. It's not like he was the only one of his species in the entire city, starting his first day of work in a familiar yet alien environment he knew nothing about. No, it wasn't like that at all.

'Heh… no pressure.'

He held his grimace for only as long as it took to knock on the Chief's door.