(AN: Hello Fellow readers. SirRedFox here posting a new installment of "The Long Hustle Vol. 2." First off, if you're reading this, YOU'RE AWESOME! And, thank you.
So enjoy this new chapter of "The Long Hustle: Vol. 2, The Empire & The Emperor." And please, fill free to leave a review or comment. Thank you.)
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Results:
Jack Savage stood behind the two-way mirror and looking into the interrogation room of Precinct One. He leaned back on a table in the room.
It looked as though it had been a good while since he had slept. His fur ruffled and he smelled like black coffee and cheap protein bars. The room was hot and stuffy, so he took his suit jack and it hung on the coat rack. The sleeves on his white button up shirt were rolled up. The tie around his neck loosened as it felt like a boaconstrter wrapped around his neck and squeezing its prey.
Tapping his shoe impatiently, while he over-watched Skye talk to Madge Badger, who had been running the black market hospital. Jack decided it best to let Skye take over the interrogation. She had a better formula for getting mammals to trust her and cooperate.
In the room with him was Sargent Officer Wilford. He sat in a chair and had his legs propt up on the two-way mirror. Busy admiring the x-rays of this Khan fellow's paws. Holding the x-ray up to the light showing how he surgically put metal claws into his hands.
"You know; I'd be lying if I said that part of this wasn't cool" Wilford said with a bit of glee in his voice. "This Khan fellow turned himself into a real live Logan from the X-Mammals comics. You've seen him in the movies. He's the wolverine with the metal claws."
"I don't watch that many movies" Jack said not even taking a look at Wilford, only focusing on what was happening in the interrogation room. "Isn't there somewhere you should be, Sargent?"
Wilford looked at his Supermammal themed watch and gave a resounding nope. Jack shook his head and crossed his arms in annoyance with Wilford. The wolf was a pester. He continued to on look at Skye's interrogation of the badger. He takes note as she stood up from the table and made her way to the door, exiting the room. Jack got up as well. He decided to meet her in the hall. Seeing Jack leaving, Wilford got up from his lounged position and followed Jack out the door to meet Skye
"Well?" Jack said, voice heavy with suspense as he cornered Skye in the hallway.
"She said, she will testify" Skye said. She held her hand up at Jack, stopping him before getting too excited. "Under certain conditions. She wants to be put into witness protection with her medical license reinstated. We do that and she'll give up the names of every mammal she treated baring Shere Khan's mark, along with a few name places."
Jack opened his mouth to say something but then closed it. He was at a loss for words. He had no idea if the ZBI had the power to do what she demands. They couldn't reinstate her medical license, but perhaps they could move her time table up. Usually if one's medical license is provoked it is a three year wait till the Medical Board of Examiners can come to a decision to have it reinstated or not. They could possible move her up to not wait so long once she goes into witness protection. If what she testifies to is solid evidence.
A loud cough broke his line of thought. Jack and Skye both look up to see Director M heading their way. With a white handkerchief in one hand that was stain pink with phlem.
"Well," he said with anticipation. His eyes darting from Skye to Jack then back at Skye. He gave a loud cough into the white handkerchief in his hand. Wilford took a step back not wanting to feel the moose's wet spittle on his face.
"I think we can come to an agreement where she will testify" Skye said after giving a long sigh, as if just finished taking a difficult task. She wasn't happy having to make a deal with a crook, but sometimes in this job you have to make a deal with the devil in hopes of getting what you need. Right now the devil was a furry badger named Madge.
"See to it that you get it done" Director M said. "Right now, that badger is the only card we hold in our hands." Looking down they all give slieght nods in agreement. It was a simple request, but such a heavy task to do. Every lead they gotten has gone up in flames, literaly.
"Wilford!" Wilford hears his name loud and clear. Though only Wilford was being called out. They all turned their heads to who exactly was calling out. Nala, looking spiffy in her uniform approached the lot.
"Wilford" she said. "What are you doing? We need to head downstairs."
"Why do we need to head downstairs?" he said a little confused.
"It's Basil. He needs us. Said he sent you an email."
Wilford blew a raspberry and waved his hand away. "I trash anything that mouse sends me. He uses his own coded language and expects us to understand what he's talking about."
"That's why I asked Terra what he wanted, and he wants us to meet him in the morgue." She turned to the three ZBI agents. "All are welcome to come, if you like that is."
Jack, Skye, and Director M all looked at each other and shrugged. It wasn't like there was anything better to do, other than arrange a drawn up deal with Madge's demands.
They followed Nala down to the Precinct One's morgue. Entering they all gave a shutter as the cold air clamped to their bodies. Skye wrapped her arms across her chest and rubbed her arms to stay warm. It is always an eerie thought as to why they keep the morgue so cold. It was so the dead bodies don't spoil as fast.
"Ah, Officer Wilford. Officer Nala" came a fashionable sounding voice. They all look up at Basil riding on top of Terra's shoulder. He clung on tight to the cheetah's fur. Dressed in his white lab coat and puffing on his Calabash pipe. Terra carried a large clipboard in her hands and was dressed in her usual green scrubs. "You will be happy to know that the results are finally in."
"What results would those be?" Wilford said
"The results of that panda you encountered in the warehouse raid" he said.
Nala, but especially Wilford have been waiting to see what exactly happened to that zombified panda on the night of warehouse raid. The both of them felt excited, slightly nudging each other like a couple of kits, to finally know.
Displayed out on the table was the dead panda, now gutted open and dissected like a frog that has the unfortunate luck to be science class project. The cheetah and mouse did a throw job performing the autopsy and ran multiple, if not dozens, of test on the dead panda.
"And here are the results" Terra said.
She held out the clipboard for one of them to take it. Wilford, being the closest snatched it up first. Wilford looked at the papers up and down and his smile began to fade. He didn't understand a single thing the clipboard said, it was all in medical jargeon. Most of it was a list of medical names he had never heard of. There was sulhemoglobin, maniacal rage, testosterone implex, catecholamines implex, and many more he didn't understand.
"Okay doc," Wilford said, his excitement gone and replaced with annoyance. "Lets pretend that I failed high school chemistry and you just tell me what all this means."
"That in your hands officer, a list of atomic chemical traces found in the panda's body." Basil said. "Think back to that night officer. Remember your detailed description of the events that occurred. You said, after getting into a normal fight, with said panda, you dunked the panda into a vat filled with blue grayish water, along with a few other chemicals pouring into the vat. Well, if you look at that sheet you hold in your hands you will notice the atomic chemical compound that resides heavily in the Midnicampum Holicithias flower, also known as Night Howlers. I believe that you dunked this poor fellow into a vat of extra-concentrated formal of Night Howlers. This would explain the sudden rage for the brain was being overloaded with catecholarmines which is a chemical associated with rage."
"Okay that would be what caused him to go savage, but not how he suddenly got superpowers and turned his blood thick black" Wilford said.
"No it wouldn't" Terra said, speaking up. There was a confidence in her voice that sort of surprised Wilford and Nala. They were so use to Terra becoming so nervous around other authority figures that she would develop a stutter.
"But remember officer Wilford, you stated in your report that other chemicals were being poured into the vat of concentrated Night Howler formula."
"Yeah, so?" All the drug busts they made involving Blue Sky were just mere competitors trying to recreate the real Blue Sky drug. No mammal had successfully made the purist Blue Sky that Shere Khan was slinging on the streets. Every other criminal organization were selling knock offs of the original formula. Some had even tried making whole new kind of Blue Sky and would add in any thing they can.
"So," Basil said, picking up where Terra left off. The combination of these other chemicals had a heavy spike in testosterone, Oxidative hydroxylation in the liver, numbness or complete lack of feeling throughout the whole body, sulhemoglobin in the blood turning it black and thick, an increase of dopamine in the brain, and instant muscle mass increase,"
Wilford couldn't help but smile at the very thought. The irony of it all was so heavy. Grinning his timber wolf teeth. "Are you telling me that I created my own super-villain?" he asked, with excited disbelief. "I basically created an evil super soldier. A reverse Captain Zootopia if you will."
"Sure" Basil said, a little annoyance in his voice. Puffing on his pipe. "If you want to dumb it down then yes, you created a super villain, or a super soldier serum. However way your kit like mind can understand it better."
Basil hated having to dumb down things for his co-workers instead of them storing more knowledge things in their mind palace. That's how he imagined the mind working, as an attic that one should withhold only the most important of details and information. Instead most mammals, like his timber wolf colleague, fills his mind attic with useless knowledge like comic books. Thankfully there was Terra. She had become well trained in Basil's way of thinking. Understanding what certain knowledge one should obtain when working in this line of business. She had even come to understanding Basil's weird coded emails.
Terra cleared her throat to speak. "If a proper chemist was able to take everything from that list and measure it to the precise degree, they very well good make a 'Super Soldier' serum." Terra used heavy air quotes when saying super soldier.
But they weren't trying to make a super whatever potion," Nala said. "It was just mere accident."
"Still, It would be easy for someone to do. Take Officer Wilford for example, he created such a serum by accident" Jack said.
"Yeah and-" Wilford started to say then stopped. He stuck his snout up in the air and sniffed. Each mammal had their very own scent. He recognized everyone's in the room except one. It was a new scent that he had picked up hanging outside the morgue. "Someone one is at the door, ease dropping."
As if the stranger had heard his cue to come in, the door opened. Standing there in the doorway to the morgue was a tall lion. He was about Terra's age, perhaps a bit older, with broad shoulders and a puffed out chest. Hair of his mane was combed back, almost in a slick style.
"Sorry" the lion said a bit sheeply. "I didn't want to enterrup whatever it is you all were doing in here."
"Landon!" Terra said, a little shocked and embarrassed as she gritted her teeth and pressed her lips tight when saying the lion's name. Terra grabbed Basil off her shoulder, against his protest, and placed him on the desk. She quickly trotted over to Landon to speak with him. "I clearly told you to wait outside for me when you got here" She said.
"I know, I know" Landon said. "But I can't help it I want to see the most beautiful feline in all of Zootopia."
He wrapped his large arm around Terra and pulled her in close. Terra was glad she was far away from the group. She didn't want them seeing her blush red with embarrassment to a child like crush. Composing herself she turned back to the group huddled around the dead panda on the gurney.
"Hi" Landon said to the whole crew. "Names Landon, I'm-"
"Terra's secret boyfriend, we know" Basil said mockingly.
"What are you all working on in here?" He asked.
"Nothing that should concern you I'm afraid." Basil said. "Terra, is there something you want to ask me, or is your friend done interrupting us."
"Doctor Basil, if it's alright with you, I'd like to head out for the day. All my work is done and on the table."
Basil took a few puffs from his pipe and stared at her. No, not stare, but glare at her. He let out a deep deep deep sigh as if overworked, tired, and defeated. Closing his eyes and rubbing his forehead, he gave her a soundly 'very well.' Terra made a small cheer in excitement and wrapped her arms around Landon's neck and kissed him on the lips. She grabbed her purse and jacket that were strung on the back of a chair. Giving everyone a friendly wave goodbye, she followed Landon out of the morgue, holding on to his hand tightly. And as soon as she left, everyone had a comment to say.
"Well, he seems nice" Skye said, still shivering to the cold room.
"Now I know where she's getting her confidence from" Wilford said.
"I thought it strange the way she didn't go into a flourish studder around authority" Jack said.
"Yes yes. Good for her" Director M said before giving a loud whezzing cough into his handkerchief.
"I don't like him" Basil said, speaking up loudly for all to hear him.
They look at the little mouse on the desk. His arms were crossed and foot rapidly tapping the table. He puffed hard on his pipe and gave a dissatisfying glare at the morgue door as if Terra was still there.
"Why's that?" Nala said. "That was the only time you've ever met him."
"He's a useless good for nothing distraction" he said. "A distraction to me and my work. A major distraction to her and her work. He makes her late and stinks of disgusting black coffee." He puffed hard and rapid on his pipe
"Sounds to me that some certain mammal is jealous" Wilford said. "Jealous of a certain lion that might take away his favorite lab assistant."
"Jealous" Basil said, sounding offended. He took his pipe out of his mouth and pointed it at Wilford. "I am one who simply has a higher calling to understandings and problem solving, and do not like such work being obscured by ridiculous things such as love and what not. I thought Mrs. Terra to be one of the few that sees the importance in our work, but I was wrong."
"Come on," Nala said. "Go easy on her. She still cares about the work you do; she just now has someone special to share it with."
"I hope that's not the case. Terra knows good and well that anything that happens in this lab, or precinct for that matter, should not be share with anybody. That includes so called lovers." Basil hoped Terra knew good and well not spill any secrets they uncover. He stuck his pipe back into his mouth and crossed his arms in a huff.
Director M coughed loudly into his handkerchief. It sounded as if he was coughing up a lung. He wiped his mouth clean of any spittle or phlem that was on his mouth.
"Alright," Director M said. "I've heard enough of this discussion. Jack, Skye, If our witness is willing to cooperate than we will need to transport her to a safe location. I want you too to over see this transportation. And make sure that you succeed in your objective instead of failing spectacularly." He pointed a boney moose finger at them.
"Yes Sir" both Jack and Skye say at the same time.
Back at the condo apartment, Jack sat at his computer looking up city street routes. He wanted to be prepared this time. He didn't want another screw up on their oversight to happen.
Skye's soft fingers touch his shoulders. She was standing behind him, like a graceful spider luring closer to its prey. Though Skye was ten times more beautiful than any spider could be. Jack looked at the reflection of Skye on his laptop screen. He noticed that she wasn't wearing any clothing other than her bra and panties. Her hands softly, and slowly, made their way from his shoulders to his chest. She started unbuttoning his shirt and sliding a hand inside. Jack couldn't help himself. He closed his eyes and let the thrilling sensation over take him. His heart started to beat faster and his blood ran hot like fire. He tried bringing himself back down to reality and focus on what was important.
"Skye," Jack said.
"Yes," she responded back. She talked in that sweet soft voice of hers. He might as well be talking to a grace giving angel.
"We can't get distracted. We need to properly plan our transportation of Madge Badger" he said.
"What is there to plan for?" she said. "We simply take her to the rondayvoo point."
Jack firmly grabbed hold of her hand and pulled it out of his shirt. He opened his eyes and turned around to stare at Skye. "Your right," he said. "It should be a simple task to pull off. But, look at all the other task that should have been simple operations. Gary Reynolds being taken executed and set on fire. The hospital raid going up in flames, literally."
"And are you trying to say that all those incidents area the result of use being together?" Skye asked. She had a hand on each hip, elbows spread wide from the body, and her chest thrusted out in anger. Jack didn't want to admit it, but it turned him on when she was angry and sticks her beautiful chest out. Then again everything that Skye did would make him hot, sweaty, and flustered like being in a sauna.
"No, no. I'm not saying that at all" he babbled. "All I'm saying is that, we could really use a win right now. God knows we need it."
Skye walked to the end of the bed and sat down in the center, crossing her legs. "I get what you are saying Jack, and you are right. We really could use a win right now. I guess that's why I'm doing all this. Because I'm nervous as can be and only think of is you as a happily little distraction right now."
Jack got up from the chair and made his way to the seductress. He grabbed a hold of her hand, gently massaging it, and looking at her into her scarlet blue eyes. "We're going to win Skye" he said told her softly, like a lover in a romance novel. "I don't care how long it takes us, we will win."
Jack raised her hand up to his lips and kissed her hand gently. Skye pulled him in closer and gave him a soft kiss on the lips. He responded back by cupping her cheek and kissing her. He felt her fully unbutton his shirt and slip his shoulders. Jack eased her back onto the bed and straddled her. He moved his hand from her shoulder to the side of her body, like a leaf that is carried softly down a calm river. Her arms wrapped around him like green vines wrapping around a post. They continued all thought the night.
Later Jack was staring up at the ceiling. There love making and now were at rest. Their clothes were tossed everywhere around the room. Skye laid on her side fast asleep, covered up by the bed sheets. Jack continued starring up at the ceiling thinking about their conversation earlier. Yes, they do need a win, and yes, they are going to win this war orchestrated by the ZBI and Shere Khan. The only question was, in order to win how much must they lose.
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(AN: Thank you for reading, and Thank you for reading this. Again, YOU'RE AWESOME! I hope you enjoyed this new installment, I do try leaving you, the reader, with wanting more.
In the next installment, things become fast and furious when trying to get Madge to a secure location.
As I said before, please leave a commit on how you'd rather have future chapters come out, or a simple review letting me know what you think. Thank you!
- SirRedFox)