(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.
Nick gets a history lesson, teaches Khan how to play chess, and makes his first drug run. We also got to an sight into a mysterious caller and Khana relieves an idea to his brother.
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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Welcome to Priderock:
Jack, Skye, and Nala looked up in awe at the magnificent skyscraper that was Priderock Inc. The tower Shot straight up and was one, if not, the biggest building in Zootopia. The glass panels making it shimmer and shine. Towards the top the building, protruding outward, was a sky deck with a helicopter landing pad. It made the top of the building look like a large misshapen capital 'L.' Supposedly, the top of the skyscraper is suppose to represent a large stone sculpture in Africa that looks like a throne erupted from stone. Jack whistles in amazement.
"So this is Priderock Incorporated" Jack said, staring all the way up at the building.
"And I thought my family was rich" Skye said.
"You really think if me and my husband had any part of this company we be living in a small suburban home right outside the Rainforest District? Well, not ours yet. Besides, it's my husband who is trying to work his way back into the company, by using lots of lawyers. The head board members, and along with the main share holder, his uncle, tried to buy him out of the company. It was a some what decent proposal and offered a very large buy out, but we turned it down. My husband, Simba, knows that is father would have wanted him to have a seat at the table along with 50% ownership of the company."
"How much did they offer to buy your husband out?" Jack asked.
"12.5 million dollars to buy us out."
Jack and Skye both shoot her a look of disbelief.
"12.5 million dollars!" Jack said, repeating what Nala had said. "Who walks away from 12.5 million dollars?"
"My father isn't even nearly half that rich" Skye said.
"It is not about the money. It's about my husband's rightful place as head of this company," Nala assured them.
"Well either way, we need to go in and talk to your uncle, or uncle in-law, or whatever." Jack said.
"Actually," Nala said. "Do you really need me to come with you?" She sounded nervous almost scared to go into the building. "Perhaps we should wait till Wilford has met with Gray Tuner and see if knows anything."
"Nala," Skye said. "It is best if we have your expertise when dealing with your husband's uncle. He might be more cooperative if you are there."
"Seriously doubt that" Nala said. She took a long look up at the skyscraper. Taking in a deep breath and letting it out slowly. She turned back to Skye and Jack. "Okay," she said. "I think I'm ready to do this." They marched up the marble steps and into Priderock Incorporated.
The lobby inside the building looking ravishing. The lobby had white couches and chairs in fine artificial leather, with glass coffee tables in between them. In the center, in front of the elevators, was a large marble receptionist desk. Sitting behind the desk was a female rabbit. She was around Judy's height and age, only she was pure white. She wore a fine dress suit and had the name tag 'Rachel' pinned to her right side.
"Hi there" she said. "Welcome to Priderock. How can I assist you today?"
"ZBI" Jack said. "I'm agent Savage and this is agent Skye." They flipped open their badges and waved them in front of the receptionist. "This is Officer Priderock, who is assisting us today. We need to speak to the CEO in charge of this place. We need to ask hima few questions."
"Priderock?" she said. "As in the name of the company?"
"The very same" Nala said.
"Just one moment please" the receptionist said. She got on the phone and dialed a number. A long pause of silence before someone on the other line answered. "I have the ZBI and ZPD down in the lobby wanting to talk to Mr. Priderock." Another long pause. "Very well, I'll let them know." She hung up the phone. "Mr. Priderock is very busy I'm afraid."
"As if," Nala said.
"You'll have to arrange an appointment if you would like to meet with him."
"Listen, you tell Mr. Priderock that he can either let us up and have a peaceful conversation with him, or we can come back with a warrant to drag him in for questioning."
Jack gives the receptionist a dead eye stare. She gets on the phone and dials up again. She repeats everything that Jack said.
"Mr. Priderock says that if you plan on coming back with a warrant his lawers will be happy to assist you."
Jack wanted to protest, but Nala stopped him. "Tell Mr. Priderock that Officer Priderock is here. Tell him that..." Nala seemed to be trouble finish saying her words. If Jack and Skye didn't no any better they would say that she was slightly trembling. "Tell him that Nala is here."
The receptionist gave a discouraging look, then rolled her eyes back as if to say "very well." She got back on the phone and repeated what Nala had said. Another long pause before the receptionist said "ok" and hung up the phone.
"Mr. Priderock will gladly see you. Just take the elevator to the 110th floor. His assistant will guide you from there. You all have a lovely day." The receptionist said with a half cheery half disgruntled look.
"Thank you" Jack said.
Skye put a hand on Nala's shoulder. Something dwas bothering her, Skye could tell that. She could actually feel Nala tremble and make quick rapid breaths.
"See," Skye said. "You're already helping us."
"Yeah," Nala said. "Glad to be of help."
They got into the elevator and pressed the 110th floor. It was a long way up, but when the doors finally opened, a beautiful white female tiger was there to greet them. She had blinders on and a white cane in her hands.
"Hi, I'm Mr. Priderock's secretary, Penny." She blindly stuck out her hand for someone to take. Jack hesitated taking her hand, as if her hand was some kind of creature. He took her hand and gave it a firm handshake. "Just follow me to Mr. Priderock's Office." She led them forward.
"So Mr. Priderock hired you to be his secretary?" Skye asked. The white tiger nodded her head. "It is just strange because your-"
"Blind?" Penny said. "It does surprise most mammals. But believe it or not, Priderock Incorporated is the number one company with the largest diversity of Mammals. No other company will you find more prey and predators of all different sizes and genders. That's also including ones with certain religious beliefs or handicapped, like me."
"That was something Simba's father, Mufasa, put into place before he died. It is something Mr. Priderock has to put up with." Nala said.
"Yes. Before his untimely death, Mufasa established lots of great things for all mammals of Zootopia. I was too young to know him, but the senior workers and board members speak highly of him."
"That's because Mufasa believed in equality. Every mammal providing there part in the Circle of Life philosophy. He was really big into that."
Yes, he was. Here we are." Penny said, leading them to a huge double doors office.
Walking through the large double doors. The office was decorated in a slick lime green marble look. It was very big with a large black desk close to the large circular window. There was a balcony that one could walk out on and look down at all Zootopia. But what was troubling was the three hyenas in black suits and sunglasses working security detail. First a male hyena, named Banzai, in the far right corner, another male hyena, named Ed, in the far left, and lastly a female hyena, named Shenzi, blocking the entrance that they came in. Something appeared wrong with the hyena on the far left. He couldn't stop giggling, were as Shenzi and Banzai stood at full attention.
Behind the desk stood a thin and toned lion. His fur was orange and his mane was black and slicked backwards to give it a smooth look. He wore a black suit and had a patch over his left eye. In his left hand was a cane. The head, or top, of the cane was a golden lion in mid-roar with ruby red eyes. The tip, or bottom, of the cane was solid gold and pointed. He walked around the desk to greet them his cane making a tap tap tap sound as the gold tipped bottom made contact with the marble floor
"Mr. Priderock, I'm agent Savaged and this is agent Skye" They, once again, showed their badges. "I'm sure you are familiar with the ZPD officer with us.
"Mr. Priderock" Nala said, arms crossed. "I thought you favored being called Scar?"
"Ah Nala." Scar said, with a frightening smile on his face. He stood in front of Nala, looking directly at her. "It is always so good to see you," he reached out to touch her hand. Nala quickly stepped back and put her hands down by her side. "And Mr. Priderock worked best in the focus groups." He turned his attention to Skye and Jack. "And how can I help the ZBI and ZPD today? Looking for another generous donation to the department, curtesy of Priderock Incorporated? Because I have family on the force and I want to see them in safe hands."
"Anything in your hands is never safe" Nala said. Nala and Scar gave each other a dead eye stare.
"Actually, Mr. Priderock" Jack said.
"Scar" he said.
"Excuse me?"
"Scar. Officer Nala is correct. I do prefer going by my more common name, Scar."
"Very well, Mr. Scar. We are here to get some information that you might be able to help us with."
"And what would that be?" Scar leaned back on his desk.
"The sector of your company that deals in making military grade weapons." Jack said.
Scar was taken aback by this. The hyena on the far left continued to keep giggling. Scar finally told him to shut up and his laughter stopped. Scar's curved smile changed and he had a concern look upon his face. He walks over to a liquor table, holding only the finest liquors in the world. He pours himself a drink.
"And why would the ZBI be interested in our most profitable branch of the company?"
"Are you familiar with the make and model of these weapons," Skye said.
She pulled out two large photos from a file under her arm. They were pictures of the UZI and the K&H submachine gun used in the downtown Savanna Central shoot out. Scar looked at them for only a second slapping the pictures down on his desk.
"Other than their fine craftsmanship, no. Should I know something about these weapons?"
"The military branch of the company, Scar," Nala said. "Do they make these kinds of weapons?"
"They make all sorts of wonderful things," he said.
"Are You aware of the incident that took place in downtown Savanna Central?" Jack said.
"Yes, and I heard that the good guys came out on top." He said, raising his glass as giving a toast. "Our tax dollars working at their finest."
"As if you pay taxes" Nala mumbled under her breath.
"The weapons the perpetrators used, the weapons in those pictures, were of military grade. Weapons that could have been made by your company"
Scar took a long sip from his drink and stared at them all. He let a loud sigh. "I suppose no more use in hiding it." He said. "More than a month ago a shipping containment went missing. We couldn't find it, and hoped that it was just a one-time flunk. An error in our system."
"And this gave you no hesitation to alert the authorities about." Jack said, shock and disgusted in his voice.
"Like I said before, we went on the hunch that there was an error in the system. Also can you imagine the PR disaster it would have caused if word got out that a shipment of military grade weapons was stolen? The market would drop on us."
"That's what you're worried about" Nala said in an uproar. "The companies image over the safety of the mammals working for you. How many of your employees work downtown, in the poor district?"
"A lot that depend on their job here at Priderock Inc." Scar said, taking a firm stances on the subject. "If it weren't for this place, the streets of Zootopia would be flooded with the poor and the homeless."
"Not if Simba was given his rightful share of the company. He would make sure that things like this never happen, or his father Mufasa." Nala said.
"Don't you dare say his name," Scar said with a growl in his voice. "My brother and my nephew are cut from the same cloth. They would never be able to keep su-"
"Enough!" Skye said. Throwing herself between the two lions and make them step back. The three hyneas took a step forward, all reaching into their coat pockets for something. Most likely a weapon. "We didn't come here to settle a family agenda." Skye said. "The two of you can sort that out on your own time. Right now Mr. Priderock, I mean Mr. Scar, we still have questions for you to answer. Perhaps you can enlighten us on what exactly was inside this shipping containment?"
"Do you know how many shipping containments are sent out from this company on a daily bases? And not just military branch, but the entire company. So many, not even I can tell you"
"Well we're going to need an invoice list for everything that shipment conatained" Jack said. "And we expect it swiftly otherwise we will come back with a warranet a strip this whole building, top to bottom."
And This isn't the first time the company has been under investigation, am I correct."
"I don't know what you mean?" Scar said, playfully.
"Just two years ago, for laundering money through a banking company know as Rock Solid Banking. Am I correct?"
"Rock Solid Banking is still a good idea with fundamental advantages for all mammals. It allows any mammal the ability to open an count and let what little they have earn interest and invest their money properly even those with a criminal past. Something to help prisoners earn a profit before being released. But it didn't work out so now all locations have been shut down and all systems removed all that we had set up in prisons."
"Because you were having large amounts of money be banked by customers that didn't exist or were dead."
"There is no proof of that." Scar said.
"At least not enough proof to put you away." Nala said.
"Agents are there any more questions you would like me to answer?" Scar said.
"No." Jack said. "I think we are good for now. But I wouldn't think about leaving Zootopia any time soon. We might have some follow up questions for you."
"And any questions you can think of, I assure you that my lawyers will be the ones answering them."
Scar walked over to where Nala stood. He grabs her arm in a soft grip. Nala's breathing starts to heave faster and heavier. He got in close to her almost having his body touch her.
"It really is great to see you, Nala" Scar said. "After all, we are family."
Still holding a firm, but soft, grip on her arm he embraced her in a hug. Nala with stood the hug only for a mere second before she started struggling to get out of his embrace. Nala stepped back, patting and brushing her uniform as if dust had gotten on it.
"If you excuse me, I have to go to the bathroom."
Nala turned and head for the large double wide doors. She met the female hyena, Shenzi, guarding the double doors face to face. The hyena did not move but looked directly behind her at Scar. He nodded and she stepped to the side. Even opening the door for Nala as she left. Jack and Skye said their good byes to Scar and headed out the door, following Nala.
Scar's happy smile, went away as soon as the doors to his office closed. Ed went and sat on the couch he started up giggling again. He pulled out a small baggy of Blue Sky. He emptied the contents on to the glass coffee table, crushed the Blue Sky into a powder, and sniffed a line of the Blue Sky. He laughed uncontrollable. Scar, with his cane, swung at the hyena cracking him across the face with gold lion handle. He fell down sideways, but he never stopped laughing.
"For Aslan's sake," Said Banzai. "What the hell is a matter with you, Ed?"
"Sir," said Shenzi. "Is this a problem that needs to be dealt with?"
"No, not yet" said Scar. He took his eye patch off and looked at her. His left eye, now clear, was white as a marble with a huge scar across it. "But it is something we need to keep an eye on."
Jack and Skye waited out the bathroom for Nala to come out. But one minute went to two, then two to four, and about that time Skye said she would go in a check on her. Entering the bathroom, she heard light sobs. Turning the corner, she saw Nala at the counter crying tears into the sink. Skye approached slowly and put her hand gently on Nala's shoulder. Nala looked up at sky, tears running down her face.
"I'm sorry," Nala said.
"Nothing to apologize for" Skye said.
Nala wiped the tears away from her face with her sleeve. "He's not a lion, he's a monster. You have no idea of the horrible things he's gotten away with."
"It is okay," said Skye. "We're not going to let him get away with this. Or anything bad that he's done."
Nala hugged Skye. It brought her comfort to her. "Trust me," Skye said. "We'll get him."
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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: We take a trip to The Arena.
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)