Burrow-Tec. Two centuries ago it brought hope to those trying to trying to escape the savagery of war. The company was founded to provide safety and security while the surface healed, awaiting the future generations to rebuild and repopulate; at least that is what the books told me. Standing here, beneath a sign self-promoting the company as the savior of all mammal kind, and thinking about what I had just witnessed, all I can say is that Burrow-Tec can go fuck itself. I don't even know if the company survived, but if they did, and if I find out that they had interests other than 'protecting' us, then I will find them and I will hurt them. If not for vengeance over the atrocities I witnessed in that facility, then to protect the rest of the world from them, and this time I will succeed.

"Miss, dawn is breaking and you still have not had a moment of respite. I think we should find shelter before we continue our journey."

"You know Onion? After everything we had just been through, I am feeling surprisingly alert." I checked my map, "We are less than an hour from Hope. Let's just get there and then I promise I will rest a bit."

"That adrenalin will wear off eventually Miss, and when it does, don't complain to me that you need rest."

"Thanks, mom."

I wonder what my mom would think of me right now if she was still alive. Would she scold me for being so reckless? Or would she be proud of me for everything that I have accomplished, for overcoming so many adversities and still managing to keep going? There is not a day that goes by that I don't think of her. Even now, I keep recalling advice that she gave me, knowledge that she imbued to me to keep me safe. Sometimes I wonder if she was preparing me for this, if she knew that I would be doing something to help others. I miss her.

"Miss? I am picking up something."

I also miss peace and quiet.

"Where at?"

"Approximately forty feet from here, due North."

I turned towards where Onion detected something and brought up my own scanner to confirm it. It was moving very slowly, but enough to pick it up. Ahead of me were several large that seemed to gently brush the clouds above. We have gotten out of the park and the change from barren lands to sky reaching city was very abrupt. This park must have given the residents of those upper floors quite a view during its peak.

Just like everywhere, abandoned cars and trucks were scattered on the streets, but in addition to the larger vehicles, there were much smaller rodent ones that scattered around a small tunnel that lead into the park. That must be how the residents of Little Rodentia went about their travels without getting crushed by park goers. They may have been transport to the smaller mammals, but to me, they just looked like toys.

I saw movement ahead ducking behind a large truck. The sensors were only picking up one thing, so whoever it was is alone. I had no idea if it was another thug, or simply a wandering wastelander, but I wanted to make sure that if it was a ne'er-do-well, that they are not about to cause any troubles, especially with the mood I was in. I told Onion to hang back as I went to investigate. He gave me his usual concern for my safety, but I assured him that if there was any sign of trouble, we would simply leave well enough alone. I'm pretty sure he knew I was lying, but he kept silent and did as told.

While keeping an eye on my scanner for any additional threats, I slowly moved from car to car towards the truck. So far there was the one blip on my map, so even if it was a threat, I should be able to handle it easily, especially after everything else I have been through. I finally reached the truck and stood there listening. The blip was just on the other side of me, but I couldn't hear anything. I really hope it's not a ghoul, but then again, I do feel like shooting something. Gah! This really was corrupting me. I checked the map. The blip was gone!

"Well hello again carrots."

That voice, that raspy and full of himself voice. Maybe I would shoot someone, just in principle.

"I said don't call me carrots, and have you been following me?"

"From my perspective, I'd say you were following me … Olivia was it?"

"Cut the act North. What are you doing here, and most importantly, where the fuck are the coins you stole from me?"

Despite my radar not showing anyone there, North walked out from behind the truck, his paws in the pockets of his ragged pants. He took a few steps back and then just stood there looking at me.

"That I stole from you? Well, I highly doubt that they were yours in the first place, and is it a crime to steal something that never actually belonged to you? No, I think not."

"I don't care, I want them. Now." I leveled my gun at his head, "and put your paws where I can see them."

"What, you a cop now? Last time I checked, Zootopia no longer has any sort of law enforcement, or even laws for that matter. You going to police this whole world all by your lonesome carrots?"

"I will do what I must to protect any and all that need it."

"And would that protection include shooting an unarmed and defenseless fox?"

"All I see is a ghoul." He was right though, despite what he looked like, he was in his own mind and he was unarmed. I couldn't let myself stoop to that level.

"That's what they all say. 'If it looks dead, shoot it in the head'. Can't say I blame them, you can't reason with those savage ghouls, no matter how much you try. Me, however, I am a business man."

"In the business of what? Thievery?"

"Did I say I was on the straight and narrow? No, I did not. The problem is, out here, everyone walks the thin line between good and evil, and for most it's an uphill battle."

I lowered my gun. He was not acting aggressive, and to be honest, even if he did want to cause me harm, I doubt he had the guts to do it. Figuratively speaking. I took a few steps forward, but he responded by taking the same number backwards.

"Thank you for putting your pea-shooter down, but I like my personal space."

You know that part of you that just makes you want to punch someone? Well North is beginning to tickle it. I may not shoot him, but I did not say I would let him walk out of here uninjured. I put my gun back into my belt and covered it with my coat. Maybe if I act disarmed, he will let his guard down. I always have B.A.T.S. just in case, if I could get the thing to work when I wanted it to.

"So you're a business man huh? How about I just buy back the coins?"

"Afraid I can't do that sweetheart. I … already sold them."

I really wish he would stop calling me sweetheart like I am his daughter or something. However, I did notice that he stumbled when trying to say he sold them. I bet that fucker still has them. He did say there was no law here, so maybe I can try to take them back, by force if necessary. Why were these things so important to me? I should just meet up with Onion and leave him to his own devices, but something is tugging at me, saying that I need to get them back.

"Sold them? Well maybe you can tell me whom to?" I took a small step forward as I said it. He must not have noticed because he did not budge.

"Sorry, business confidentiality and all that. Gotta protect my clients."

"You probably don't even remember who you sold them to." I took another small step. Just got to keep him talking.

"Sweetheart, I know everybody."

"Everybody? Well then you must know plenty on me." Only a few more steps.

"That's the thing, I don't. You are a pretty new player to these parts, Miss 'I want to make the world a better place.' All I see is some carrot loving bunny who is way out of her element, who is trying to wear the big boy pants but just manages to trip over her own feet. Yes, I do know of your morerecent events, with the theater. Everyone has heard about how some small bunny single handily took out an entire gang of Gray Quills, only to be rescued by those walking tin cans and swept away to a technological wonderland. Most mammals, myself included, think it was either an over exaggeration, or a simple ploy to give this world a hero, but once thing is certain, you are causing ripples in the waters carrots, but you better be careful or else those ripples, they will wash right over you."

So my events at the theater is turning some heads? Good, maybe it will make it easier to find out what I need to know in regards to the events at Beaverton. I managed to take a few more steps during his speech, and was only a few feet in front of him. He had to of noticed, but he still stood in the same spot.

"Well tell you what, next time I decide to single handily take on an entire group of thugs, I'll make sure you have a ring side seat so you can enjoy the show."

With those final words I quickly squatted down and propelled myself towards him, tackling him to the ground. Or at least that was the plan, I did not expect to fall through him! I crashed against a car and rolled down onto the pavement. I looked back and saw North standing there, or rather, an image of him, rippling through the air like magnetic distortions on a screen. It was a fucking hologram!

"Gotta love pre-war tech. This beauty was popular in the entertainment business. A lifelike projection of anyone, anywhere. Gazelle used it to do multiple shows at once during her anti-war rallies with these babies."

"So that's how you managed to take my bag without me noticing!"

I was so stupid! Why did I not realize this? We had similar things in the Burrows, only they were used for the engineers to find out the best way to fix stuff, but I never had interest. I was always too busy actually trying to fix something instead of trying to figure out how to figure out how to fix it. That would explain why my Pip-Boar wasn't picking him up right now, but it did pick him up earlier, he must still be nearby.

"Well, since I know about this charade, you can show yourself now, the real one."

"Sorry can't do that, you already tried to assault me, so I need to protect my skin, figuratively speaking."

"You fucker! You get over here right now!"

"Bye carrots. Maybe we will see each other again, but hopefully after you attend your anger management classes. Oh, and carrots? I do know more about you than I let on. That Pip-Boar you have speaks novels of you. You might want to step away from holo-me."

"What are you …"

I heard a sizzling noise coming from the holographic North as the hologram faded away, leaving a small hexagon on the ground. It would have been barely visible if it wasn't for the sparks starting to emit from it. Fucking damn it! I dove behind the nearest car just as a small pop and fizzle created a narrow plume of smoke from the ground. That bastard got me again!

I got up and walked over to where the hologram was. Whatever the device was, it was now a smoldering heap. He must have triggered some sort of self-destruct mechanism on it. I was expecting a loud explosion, but it was once again a distraction to let him escape. Next time he won't get away from me so easily. I know his tricks, and I will be the one who has the upper paw the next time we meet.

It's been ten minutes since that bastard North got away again, and I can still feel him getting under my skin. I don't know why, but there is something about him that seems to rub my fur the wrong way. I could care less that he is a ghoul, despite his … disconcerting appearance, he acts just like any rational mammal would … well, any intelligent … gah! I really need to stop painting this bastard as someone more than a degenerate. When someone is trying to kill me, the solution is simple, when someone is simply being a jerk, that complicates things. Damn this sense of morality.

I shook the thoughts out of my head and focused on what is ahead of me, getting to the town of Hope, alive. According to my map, it was not that much farther, and since we found the rail system we were on before, it should be easy, provided there were no other unexpected surprises, but from my experiences so far, the unexpected is usually expected.

I didn't really study much on Zootopia as a city when I was in the Burrow, mainly since I really couldn't care less about a city that may not even exist anymore. I also never thought I would be in a position to see it for myself. Moments ago I was in a rather flat area that was once a city park, but now the buildings towered over me, many of them vanishing in the clouds. It was making me feel very small.

Not all the buildings stood the test of time however. I could see in the distance that one of them had fallen in the past, completely decimating the tracks ahead and creating a rather difficult obstacle to maneuver past. From the looks of it, that one building had taken a few others down with it. Debris from the building covered the area. Concrete, steel, glass, and even the occasional relic from the past, in this case the warped remains of a metal table, became annoyingly persistent in blocking my travels.

"It's starting to get hard to move om these tracks, and it seems that we have a bit of an obstacle in front of us anyways. I think we should get down to the streets and find a way around."

"That may be easier said than done Miss. Take a look below us."

What was that robot talking about? I moved to the side of the tracks and glanced down. The sun was in a position that casted a shadow over most of the street below, but I was able to make out something … moving? I grabbed the scope and got a closer look. There were not too many cars below us but I saw plenty of … bodies. These bodies, however, were not just a few dozen innocent bystanders who died during the war, they were ones that had the unfortunate luck to survive.

"Ghouls. Why is it we run into these fuckers constantly?"

"They are becoming quite a pain Miss."

At first glance, you couldn't tell that they were 'alive,' but watch long enough you could see a couple crawling around. They seemed very lethargic, but I knew that once they got going, it was hard to stop them. I don't know if they were able to hear or see better or worse than when they were alive, but from the looks of it, they didn't know we were here, and I planned on keeping it that way.

"Looks like we need to find another way.I really don't feel like dealing with them right now."

"How about the building Miss?"

"We need to find a way around it."

"I mean, what about going through it?"

Through it? That actually never occurred to me. I just saw it as an obstacle, an impenetrable barrier that would require me to think outside the box to bypass it, when all I needed was to remain in the box and come up with a straightforward solution. I pointed the scope towards the building. I couldn't tell how deep it was, but I was able to make out a way into it. It looked as if the entire side consisted of windows, and the fall had shattered most of the glass covering it. It must have stuck out from the rest of the buildings when it was erect. While many of them had a multitude of windows, many of them either had an organic shape to them, like the antlers of a gazelle, or reminded me of the Burrow, with its infrastructure made up of metal with sharp edges. The buildings were just as diverse as its residents once were.

We decided that the building would be much safer than trying to evade a swarm of ghouls, so we continued on to the collapsed structure. The tracks were slowly getting closer to the surface, but thankfully not close enough to draw any unwanted attention. I could not make out how many were actually down there, but I did not want to risk getting spotted by one of them and causing a scurry, especially since I saw a few, larger mammals among them. I am sure a rhino could finish taking down this already teetering track system. It started to bend in all angles, some of its support beams must have been damaged by the collapsed building. Luckily it still felt sturdy, it just was awkward to maneuver at times.

Onion stayed behind me, keeping a look out for any unusual movement as I finally reached the point where the tracks ended. The structure's fall must have torn down more of the rail than just where it landed because I could see a good fifteen-foot gap between where I stood and one of the unobstructed windows.

"Hey Onion, you wanna give me a lift?"

"You know that I cannot support your weight like that Miss."

"You calling me fat?"

"You know that is not what I am refereeing to Miss. In actuality, I think you're looking a little malnourished. I don't think living off of whatever centuries old food you find is very healthy."

"Gee, thanks for your helpful advice. I'll be sure to hit up the next Trader Doe's I pass. I am sure that after two centuries they still sell quality organic food."

"No need for sarcasm Miss, just stating the facts."

Sometimes I love that bot, but most of the time I wish I made him mute, or maybe only able to communicate through a series a 'beeps' and 'boops.' Then again, I am sure I'd get annoyed by that too. Anyways, onto the situation at hand. Normally I wouldn't be agonizing over a jump like this, but I still have not had a chance to relax enough yet. Between being chased by some winged menaces, falling though yet another large hole, and narrowly escaping some thugs from a rather unsavory lab, my legs throbbed in agony at the mere thought of trying to make a jump like this, but I had no choice. It was either this or face an unknown number of flesh eating monsters. I promised myself that I will relax once we get to Hope, and nothing will stop me from doing so.

"I am going to try to jump it Onion."

"You sure you're are up to it Miss?"

"No, but would you rather me be down there, with them?"

"I suppose not Miss. Do be careful."

"Careful? That's my middle name."

I think I heard a scoff from him. Can a robot even scoff? I shook my head and focused on clearing it. Looking over the edge of the track, I could see that the distance to the ground was nearly equidistant from that of the building, so even if I missed, the fall shouldn't kill me. I took a deep breath but something caught my eye from below. While the rising sun was starting to cut through the shade, it wasn't high enough to create any noticeable glow down below me, but one was starting to slowly emerge. My heart stopped when I realized what it was.

I heard a bellowing below me as one of those green glowing bastards, this time a hippopotamus, looked straight at me, as if trying to peer into my very soul. The noise it was making caused more movement on the ground. It was alerting the ghouls below to my presence. Fuck! Turning back towards Onion, I took my bag off and handed it to him. The extra weight would have just slowed me down. I backed up a bit more, allowing myself some distance to build up speed and then shot off running.

I could feel the tracks shaking as some of the larger mammals must have been trying to either climb or collapse it. I ignored everything as I reached the edge. While there were plenty of opening in the building before me, I had also noticed some dangers as well. Shards of glass still in the shattered windows, large spike like structures, possibly broken girders or other support, and all the dangers that I couldn't see waiting for me inside. If I timed this wrong, rather than falling into a pit of ghouls, I could get impaled on something, and both those outcomes would really ruin my day.

Once I had a mental image on where I wanted to land, I focused on pushing my legs to their limits, which were pretty low right now. I couldn't hesitate even for a moment. I reached the edge, squatted down and pushed up with all my might. I dared to peer down as I flew over the gap, and I saw dozens upon dozens of ghouls, all of them reaching up as if trying to pluck me from the air. Was it because of that glowing ghoul that there were so many down there? Or did they all 'die' while attending some kind of mass event? I couldn't think about that now, the gap closing as the building getting dangerously close. I saw that I was going to make it! That is, until I started to loose velocity and began drifting downward.

"Shit!"

While being airborne like this did not offer too much room for maneuver, I was able to move my body in a way so that I was now aiming towards the room next to my original target. This did however put me much closer to the ground as I noticed ghouls starting to climb the structure. I was about to make the landing, and I really hope it was a safe one. I tucked myself into a ball as I fell through the window. I felt a sharp pain on my back as something cut me as I tumbled onto a the surface. I rolled for a few seconds before I was able to stop myself. I placed my paw on my back where the pain was and pulled it away, fur soaked in blood. At least I am alive.

"Miss! Those creatures are starting to swarm the building!"

Onion floated down to where I was as I heard scraping noises coming from outside. I ran over to him and grabbed my bag and reached in for something. I got to the edge and saw a bevy of ghouls scaling the side. I only had one more grenade left after this, and I was getting used to having them, but they have been very helpful to me. I popped the cap and pressed the button. I could see the glowing one, just standing there as if it was a general conducting his forces. I smiled and I swore I saw it take a step back when I did, as if it knew what I was about to do. I released the button and the grenade fell.

"We have to move, now!"

With my bag flung over my shoulder, I started to run towards the opposite end of the room. Everything was disorienting. The walls being my floor and ceiling and the only exit was a sideways doorway. Thankfully I did not end up in some rodent's office, so the doorway was large enough for me to take a running slide through. I heard the explosion as I emerged from the other side. The entire building started to shake and the shock-wave rippled through the metallic structures. I tried standing up but another shake knocked me down. I didn't delay getting up again as I made sure Onion was right behind me. I made sure not to look back as we searched for a way out.

We were in a long corridor, but due to the positioning of it, the doorways on the 'floor' were more like pit traps. Most of them had their doors missing, so I had to jump over them, each time the muscles in my legs burning as they tried very hard not to simply lock up. Even the occasional closed door I tried to either jump over, or in the case of the smaller ones, move around so that I did not risk falling through them. For all I knew, the ghouls managed to find a way in at a lower point and were ready to burst open from below me.

Thankfully, there were not a whole lot of obstacles in the corridor. A few small statues and a couple unidentifiable machines were scattered here and there, but nothing that would hamper my movement too much. I still had not seen nor heard any signs of the ghouls, and while I would love to say that I killed them all, my luck was not that good. I could see the end of the hall approaching, and just like the room I first entered in, there was a lengthwise door about to greet me, but this one was closed.

Unlike the other doors that were made of mostly wood, this door was a solid metal one. I had to crane my neck to read the words that were written on it: Stairwell. This would not do. Normally if you were running through a building with who knows what chasing you, stairs would be a welcome sight since they typically lead to the ground floor, and thus the exit. In this case they were not very helpful. I needed to go straight, not left or right.

I changed a look behind me but there was still nothing. I felt myself starting to relax when I heard scuffling noises coming from the leftmost side of the stairwell. Fuck! They must have found a different way. I saw a sign posted near me that said: Emergency Exit, and pointed towards the right, up the towards what was once the roof. It might have been for a fire escape or something, but anything is better than this. Climbing it at this angle was a slight challenge. Since I couldn't use the stairs as they were intended, I had to run along the wall and then jump up to the next wall to continue. My legs wanted to give out, so I occasionally just pulled myself up with my arms. I could still hear the noise, but they were either slowing down, or I was moving at the same rate as them, but thankfully I never saw one.

This went on for at least seven or eight minutes before finding the metal door marked: Emergency Exit. I pushed on the handle and it fell down under its own weight. The bright sun nearly blinded me as I left the much darker building. I stepped out but quickly pulled it back when I realized that the surface outside was in actuality the metal railing that surrounded the fire escape. I carefully placed a foot perpendicular to the bars, trying my best to support myself. Once I was sure I wasn't going to fall, and that Onion had escaped with me, I struggled to lift the door back up. It was very heavy, especially how it was positioned. Once I had it up enough, Onion floated under it and aided in me lifting it up. We finally got it back to its closed position, a small click securing it in place. I just hope they don't try to open it.

The ground was not too far from where I was, although simply jumping down in my condition. Ahead of me, I could see the continuation of the tracks, gradually declining in elevation as it traveled away from me. In the distance I saw the skyline that was made up of dozens of buildings. Each with their own shape and architectural diversity. It almost looked like a wall, being formed behind a large building. That's when I noticed that the tracks ahead of me converged onto the building, along with a few others arriving from different angles. Between me and the building, it was flat and clear, just the park surrounding Little Rodentia.

I took out my scope and looked closer. The building looked as if it was built in a large arch, with antler looking towers on a few sides, although I could tell that at least one had broken at some point. All the rails converged in a central arch on the building, but I saw that it had been boarded up. The top of the building must have contained multiple windows, but they were boarded up as well. Written there in large red letters were three words that brought relief to me. Town of Hope.

"Looks like we made it Miss."

There were many thoughts going through my head at this moment. I was glad to have finally made it to my destination alive. I was also looking forward to rest, relaxation, and meeting up with Bo and his family again, thinking it would be nice to see how they have been since we first met. Mostly, I was glad to see that the town was standing, and not a charred husk. I don't know what I would have done if Hope had meet the same fate as Beaverton.

My relief was wiped away as an explosion jarred my thoughts. Smoke started to billow up from the opposite side of the distant building. Then I heard gunfire echo through the air. Even with my scope I was not able to view anythingthrough the building, but I knew something was wrong. I started to find my way down towards the street, completely forgetting about any ghouls that might still be after me. I did not know much about Hope, nor knew what was going on, but deep down I knew something was wrong.

"Miss!"

"We gotta move Onion! Hope is in trouble!"

I ignored all my pain as I pushed myself to run. I forgot all about the ghouls, the exhaustion racing through my body, and the stinging pain from where I sliced open my back. Images raced through my head. The innocent cheetah being gunned down after asking for help, and the look of fear on Bo's wife and child as I tried to disarm their collars. Smoke from the explosion drifted towards me as images of Beaverton flashed in my head. The smell of charred flesh. The pig who was simply trying to save innocent children. Then I remembered Mr. Big, sacrificing himself to save me. I will not let anymore innocents die, even at the cost of my own health. I will protect Hope. I will protect anyone who is in trouble. North thought I was some bumbling bunny who was way in over my head. I will show him. I will show everyone who tries to challenge me.

My name is Olivia Springs, and I will be the hero this world needs.