Fire Instinct Blue: Outline
Season 4: The Fire Triangle
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AN: Brace up, as we're swinging back around and diving into some of the meat of Fire Triangle's plot. And both filling up some more original Vlad and Lucy stuff and remembering a few things from Guardian Blue season 3 too!
The following borrows from:
Fire Triangle: Season 1 (Merc Marten): Spoilers pretty much all the way to the end.
Guardian Blue: Season 3 (Alps Sarsis): Chapters 1-16, covering the non-police stuff from that fic.
Guardian Blue: Sheepless in New Reynard (Alps Sarsis): The entire small story.
When Night Falls (Upplet): Chapters 1-10.
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Nick and Judy (the pair's importance in the mission largely kept under wraps, with most of the news going on about Jack Savage) pose as a pair of newly engaged looking for a ring at the Rafaj brothers jewellers. Asking for a lavender one, the jackal is resistant and soon becomes suspicious. Realising this, Nick brings her in for a big snog, kissing her hard and outraging him. His hippo guard throwing them out, they return to a ZPD van and run a spectroscopy on it. It is an illegal Reino diamond. The ZPD raid the place, though things nearly get out of hand with the hippo guard. One of the officers, a wolf named Tad Howell (maybe he was the one who busted deer kid), almost gets crushed by a dumpster but activates something. He goes super soldier, throwing the hippo off and is briefly glimpsed by Judy before running off and turning back. She's confused, not sure if what she saw was real or not.
Meanwhile, Judy's family are still processing the news that she's married a fox. Overall, it's cautious but supportive, though there's a faction against her, one increasingly turning to a new tv and radio show hosted by a hyrax (Rocky Hardasty). He claims that pred-prey relationships are unnatural, they make mammals uncomfortable, and given that one mammal is always intimidated by the other it's nothing but a recipe for abuse, pain and suffering. A few mammals at the ZPD share the view, one leaking the video feed of their kiss online, extending it to make it seem their relationship is getting in the way of their work. Tora doesn't know who it is, and rages about it a bit. However, it's also shown that she does not approve of their relationship, and calls them by their old surnames.
Meanwhile, the new Mr and Mrs WildeHopps go to a small reception at Vivienne's bakery, now open and doing well. With Conor and some friends playing music for them, the fox asks if Erin came, Judy revealing that she hoped to but just got swamped with farm work and practice for her audition (Conor saying he's still looking forward to it). They're broken off a bit as someone says 'What do you mean she isn't here', as it turns out Max March came her thinking he could woo her… And his silverbun cousin and wingmammal Zach overheard and just told him the news. They leave before anyone can tell them to.
Down in the nocturnal district, Lucy is checked up by Vlad's private doctor. She's expecting twins, and progressing well, much to Vlad's delight. He takes the time to propose, Lucy accepting.
The mammals continue to discuss what's going on when Sharla arrives. She comes off as rude, insinuating that her best friend would never go away and get married without inviting her, eventually coming across as very insulting towards fox customs. Judy asks her to get out, while Sharla says that she needs her help, something's happened to her brother, Gareth. He worked in Lanolin and is missing, and if she goes to the cops they'll think he was in on it, she'll be ignored given that everyone hates sheep now. Conor is there, and as she waves near the back of his head he has a reflex snap, almost biting. She angrily says that he needs a muzzle, at which point Vivienne marches in and drags her out by her wool. Sharla angrily asks her to say why she thinks her species is better than others. She was there helping the Greys who made their life in the burrows a misery, and think they have a right to get away with it. Vivienne shoots back about all the things she's faced as a fox, and how her son has a fear of muzzles after a bully like her forced one onto him. Sharla is shocked, saying she'd never do that, she's just scared and wants her brother safe and has her best friend abandon her. They were going to be bridesmaids… Vivienne still doesn't like Sharla and makes it clear, but gives her a number to follow. Someone who can help her find her brother.
Meanwhile, announcing his new standing, Jack begins talking about how he'll oppose his brother, listing the worst La Peigne did. He's cut off before he can though by some other councillors, cutting him off with data protection laws and such. After, he's met by the deer mother, talking about what her son went through and if he can help, he promises. Skye, affected, thanks him for doing that in private. He's also praised by a squirrel councillor, an engineer from the public works dept, who's planning to run too. Though politically different a few ways (for instance, later on, he wants to fully turn the pallet express into an official tram and cycle route, with a small loop of track nearby given to the enthusiasts), he and the rabbit strike up a warm professional relationship. Jack's campaign manager, a meerkat called Samantha, warns him against it thought, saying the politics is a cut throat business. She takes him to meet up with his new director of communications, Neil O'Possum and they start getting things together.
La Peigne meanwhile is furious at his underlings for giving his brother an even bigger stage. He orders the funding of opposing candidates, and a smear campaign against him, focussing on his ex-con fox girlfriend. On seeing the video of Nick and Judy marrying and kissing, he's angrier still. At a meeting, he checks with his board and the operation to go ahead with The Fire Triangle begins, along with a submission to up public pressure and split Judy from Nick. Knowing it might act as a distraction and jeopardise the main goal, he gives Sarah a right to overrule him and make him stop if she feels it's needed. Sarah then goes to grill the wolf officer recovering in hospital over his serum use. He defends it, and she warns him to never use without permission again.
Vlad meanwhile is busy making sure things are organised and set up well so he can take time off to bond with his new pups. His Chief Lieutenant, a naked mole Rat called Lester, notes that while they're now well armed and increasingly highly trained, there is a potential chink in their dominion. He reveals that the Sahara Square mob boss, Rocco 'the red pig' Peccari, is planning to open a massive annex to the palm casino in the nocturnal district. Though angered by such a breach of mob etiquette, especially seeing how 'the porkchop mafia' have always played the political system to make sure only they get to have a casino, he decides to handle it diplomatically. The Red Pig might be under the misapprehension that he is still deceased. As might Big. He orders a second in commands meetup between the three organisations. Kozlov, Lester, and Joey 'the shadow' Porcini. Watching on, Lucy leaves, in a bit of a sad mood.
Sharla finds herself in New Reynard, where she meets with Honey and Motti. The badger was part of a hacker group infiltrating the company and has a friend, Big Bad, in there. She says the wolf has gone missing (saying it's a wolf he plays in his RP, where they have a relationship). It's also clear that she doesn't like sheep (e.g. trying to make Sharla learn her kafka trap laden 'termite mound of sheep ideology' poster (which includes 'describing the poster as a kafka trap' as proof of it), not helped when Sharla insults Sam (sweetest kit in the town) by insinuating that Robin Hood (big statue of him in the middle) never existed. They go out, finding what looks to be the home of a literal dire wolf, only to first get caught in tripwires and then find (to Honey's ludicrously melodramatic and ott despair) that Big Bad is in fact a sheep. Gareth. He was a major whistleblower and is sheltering in fear of his life. On hearing that Reino's assassin is dead, he allows them to take him back, working with the cops and being put under Honey and Motti's protection.
Their campaign slowly gathering pace, Samantha realises their paperwork hasn't been processed yet, without it they can't run. Jack goes to refile the, meeting with city hall worker Bradley Stagnew. The red deer comes across as similar to the squirrel from before, even offering advice and support, and they seem friendly.
Vlad checking up on Lucy, she explains that there was one member of her family who stood by her side through the trial. Her sister Lilian. However the bat probably thinks she truly is a monster now, given her wealth of crimes while out as Zootopia's most wanted. Vlad though encourages her to reconnect, given how she's come out the other side, which she does, finding that her sister has an ordinary life and forgives her. She's even excited that she's going to be an aunt.
Duke meanwhile makes contact with Nick and Judy. He reveals that his brother in law opened his sweet shop with loan shark backing, and the shark is pulling everything back in 'supposedly as he's getting out of the game'. He even spied an email saying 'This'll be your last payment, and mine too. Let's raise winegums to the rest of our free lives'. Worried it's a lie, and others are suffering, he feels the best thing to do is to tell. Albert Tufts agrees, talking about how this guy is likely the mysterious 'phantom' and how his hacking could open security holes for all sorts of others. As best they can, Nick and Judy try to identify where the pick up is, bumping into Conor and Mike helping Finn wash his van as they do so. Finding a promising location (a beach locker room), they set up a trap with Tufts and Swinton (the pig transferring over to the ZPD after falling out with the new prison management) before watching Conor win back a friends guitar in a jam contest. They brief Tora on this… again not calling them by their new names. She points out that it would be confusing to have two Officer WildeHopp's, and she thinks it best that they keep working together. Judy cuts her off, saying that it's about respect. In doing so, Tora reveals that she thinks Judy is reckless and a danger to herself, and that Nick is needed to keep her in check.
As part of his campaign (advised by Samantha to find some positive things to champion), Jack and Skye visit the 'pallet express'. Lots of mammals, after Nighthowler, Lanolin and 'Bogo's coup', have become disillusioned with politics, and lots of new independent movements have started. Lots of these are co-ops or unorganised movements, and one of the most interesting is 'The Pallet Express', clearing the remaining abandoned parts of the old Zootopia Trolley network (those non-street running parts not already repurposed, re-openned or had the tracks pulled) of weeds and creating a couple of new public transit lines, run on by mammals with homemade trolleys who charged a fee for passengers. Talking with some of the organisers, Jack hammers out a plan to give them a license to redevelop it into a combined velo-rail, bike track, public park. Skye especially enjoys having a go driving one of the carts, and they end the day on a high note.
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Jack: "I'm here at the old Acacia Street Trolley Depo, to talk about something very interesting and very Zootopian. With all the recent shake ups and scandals, I get that many mammals are fed up of politics. They think the old ways are useless, harmful, and in many places that has caused riots and violence. Yet here, in Zootopia, in the short time since Chief Bogo took over as temporary mayor, we've had citizen groups strike out not to tear down, but aiming to build, grow, improve and make the world a better place, where they feel failed before. And, when talking about failures, the old Trolley network always comes up."
Jack moves past a bunch of homemade info-maps as he goes around the building. "At its height one hundred years ago, it spanned the entire city and moved its people. But since then, it has fallen from grace. Some of this wasn't so bad, it was even good, the most popular parts upgraded into key sections of the ZTN network, or the modern tramways. But much was abandoned, huge areas of old street running gone, hundreds of marooned segments of old right of way scattered across the city, and four long, complete lines eventually left to rot. (shows diagram, lines looking like: -A). We all know how many discussions have been had about doing something with it, from the southern reach through poverty stricken Happytown to the northern section, cutting right through Old Growth city and the most vibrant parts of the rainforest. Yet it has gone nowhere, until now:"
Turning the corner, he reveals a crowd of cheering mammals on homemade trolleys (mostly moped powered, but also electric, bicycle, even steam). There's even a 'weed wacker', mounted with strimmers, which they used to clear the way of weeds. Learns there's no official timetable, everyone just having a go. Some trying to make a business (even developing an app to help prospective customers), some for fun.
"So if you had more resources, what would you do?"
"Well, we've got a network of three connected lines, and one disconnected. We'd like to see it all joined together again, but that would need money to reopen tunnels and put in place some new bridges. We'd also like to make everything double track, it already is in a bunch of places, but getting it across the network would really help those in it for fun and business... There'd also be space for bike paths and such on the side, which would be great too. We could open out the banks for art, for people to grow veg, for gardens... We can have this long park that people use to get to work on their bike or catch a trolley for fun, and others are playing with their own trolleys... It's more than just a rail line, it's something special."
"Exactly," Jack agreed. "This is one of the craziest times in our cities history. And it's brought out the best and the worst of us, and I don't want to just brush the best out with the worst. All across the city, mammals have tried all sorts of things and I want to support these enterprises, I want to see that creativity go on as living history. And so, as Mayor I'll bring in support to help these... crazy amazing things carry on and prosper. Starting with a new Pallet express charity organisation, to keep open, promote, expand and run this amazing thing. Not for the people who made it happen, but by them.
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The next day, Jack wakes up, sharing a bed with Skye. She gets up to make breakfast in bed, but as he works he hears a clatter. Finding her crying, she finds an attack video on the news, not only questioning his skills but pointing out his relationship with Skye. Various old prisoners are shown who knew her, talking about her wrong doing there (but never her crime) ending in Sarah talking about how Skye scarred her for life. Jack comforts her and is not a happy bunny, immediately taking aim at La Peigne and getting in one of Gazelles lawyers to charge a defamation suit. It soon turns out though that the ad is being played on every break, and after getting a message he tunes into Rocky Hardastey's morning radio show, talking about this and how she previously worked with Nick, insinuating a bad connection. Jack offers to quit, but Skye shakes her head. It's scary, but she's going to try and hold on for him, given that mammals like the deer and his mother are relying on him. No, them. It seems she's involved now anyway, so she'll try to help out as much she can, even if it's the total opposite to what her passion is. With that, Skye joins on full time in Jack's campaign.
To their horror, Nick and Judy see Conor pick up the money packet and are forced to track him as he goes out to play a game of volleyball, returns back, then leaves via bike and subway. Nick desperately trying to argue that he'll just be a link in the chain to the real phantom (the name for the loan shark/ serial hacker). However, at the same time, a bunch of pigs under Sarah's command set fire to a tuxedo store. This stops Conor's train, and Judy pursues him into the smoke filled streets. As the roof collapses, Conor jumps to drag Judy away from a falling power line, Nick running and trying to grab him from behind. This triggers him and he nips Nick by accident, immediately apologising. He's ordered to get on the ground and is arrested.
Back at the precinct, he's being interrogated, the prosecutor who works with the judge continually telling him to waive his right to a lawyer, with the promise he goes easy on those who don't waste his time. Conor continually refuses. It's been discovered that he has a fake ID but also that he didn't have the cash on him. However, his big charge now is biting a police mammal (proven with DNA, a test to find out who he is being ordered). Finally allowed to call, he uses his beat up old phone (the one Danny gave him) to make it, before a local lawyer comes in, arguing they've got him dead to rites. Conor doesn't cooperate, remaining silent (though making a usual suspects reference when particularly ticked off) until Vern Rodenburg comes in, having been hired. He easily argues that they have no case against him for the money, and it's just the biting which, given the clear signs of abuse, could be involuntary. He's to be arraigned, the news really hurting Erin given that she's been his online friend and is getting ready for her ZAPA audition, which he promised to attend. Max March and his Silverbun wingmammal Zach try their thing… And soon regret it.
Conor also defends his use of a fake ID, arguing that a fox in the foster system could never do anywhere as near as well as he did. Tufts blows him off. In private, Nick tells Vern that he has to help the cops, but if say Vern asked him about the time he grabbed Conor there before and almost got nipped, then he'd have to testify. His mother is witness to another incident where someone reached to his nape, startling him. The rat asks if there's any not-fox witnesses. Nick gulps, asking what Judge it is, Vern responding George 'Judge Predd' Schlatten, who once screamed at him for saying they were fellow rodents. Nick remarks that Sharla might, but there may be better ones.
Judy is emotional, and she and Chief Tora get into a spat on being called Judy Hopps again. Tora says again that she doesn't respect Judy, given the reckless stuff she just did. Tempers flare, and she publicly challenges the Tiger to a sparring match.
Vivienne and Duke are distraught at the news, especially the weasel, given that he thought he was doing good. Vivienne said he might be, who knew if someone was forcing that sweet Fox to do it. On talking to Nick, she also volunteers to look after Conor once he gets bail or is released. The fox, in juvie, bumps into his deer friend, learning that they'll be taken to court together.
Somewhere secret, Lester and Kozlov meet, starting to talk. The bear notes that one of their businesses recently caught fire, the mole rat sympathising at the accident. The bear is less convinced of that, but before they can react Joey 'the shadow' Porcini appears almost out of nowhere. The consiglieri to the red pig, the black boar says he's eager for this meeting, and correctly presumes that the remnants of the Nocturnal mob are concerned about the expansion in. He says that though the red pig was all for bringing them on to his team, he cautioned that such a big shift in the balance of power could be very dangerous and could provoke Kozlov's organisation. Thus it was wise that the highest surviving member of that great organisation was here to hammer something out with the two of them. Lester corrects them, the nocturnal mob is very much alive, and he is still second in command. When Kozlov asks who is in charge, Vlad's voice speaks up. 'I am.' Joey remains calm, only raising an eyebrow, while Kozlov crosses himself. Regardless, the bat explains that his is alive, well, and though even more in the shadows his organisation is more powerful than ever.
Joey brings out his phone and informs his boss, who is put on speaker. Though very angry and shouty and immediately bringing up the nocturnal district expansion, Peccari has most of his ire from not being told. 'You can't blame me for scatting all over your turf when I thought you were gone! I've sunk a whole loadda money on this thing, and have a lot riding on a lot of stuff. You can't just pull this on me now." Vlad suggests a totally legit joint operation, one of his companies investing in and taking a fair large minority stake in it. The red pig, mollified, agrees, and welcomes Vlad back.
Meeting adjourned, The Shadow slips off as silently and quickly as he appeared, Kozlov and Lester leaving together. The bear advises to Lester that he might have hit the Sahara Square mob with the reveal at the very worst time. He hopes it isn't true, but he thinks they have something VERY big and dangerous just getting off the ground. He hopes, if true, Vlad's return will make him reconsider.
At Deer kid's retrial and Conor's arraignment, Jack and Skye attend, wanting to support the deer mom. Vivienne, Duke, Nick, Judy, the celts (the Carlisle brothers, the Tazzies), Conor's friends and Jack and Skye all watch on as the deer's new lawyer argues his case. The judge begrudgingly clears that deer, though blames him for making a bad testimony. The deer flips him off, the judge threatening to give him a final night in jail on contempt, to get the message across. The deer is quiet, and nods to Conor as it's his turn. While Conor is standing, Nick realises who the judge is (the one who muzzled him) while he both realises who Nick is, who Jack and Skye are, he boils at their marriage and relationship (long time Rocky Hardesty fan, just seen him play the kiss vid) and finally snaps when he realises that Conor was the one who brought Vern in on the previous cases. He refuses any bail, sets the trial for a months out (ideally set on a date pre-established as that of the archery competition/ big victory in Robin Hood and 'H for Honour') and, as a last matter of spite to provoke Nick, orders Conor to be held in max security V3 restraints (previously established as used on one of Darmaw's cultists). Cuffed and shackled with covers when out of a cell, along with being muzzled.
Nick is mortified but Conor calms him down. As he's finally being led out, Conor looks at the deer friend and whistles out a tune he's shared with him before. The deer picks up, the judge and his mother telling him to stop, but he only getting louder. More of the kids begin joining in (even some of the adults, like Skye, Vivienne and Billy), and when the deer kid gets ordered to spend a final night in jail, the room erupts as they defiantly sing 'I fought the law, and the law won'. The judge is powerless to stop it as the mammals all rise up.
The judge and prosecutor are shown discussing it later, talking about how he both went too far and how good the kit is for 'the program/kits for cash', the prosecutor (note, NOT the one who dealt with Travis earlier) telling the judge to stay quiet. The head district attorney is critical of the judge, but says that the chance to get the phantom is vital given the damage he can do. Stand strong, don't show weakness against Vern Rodenberg, but he wants a fair and level trial.
In a holding cell, Vern commends him on his performance but Conor is a bit worried, asking if certain things would happen (things that chill vern, given that there's only one place he heard them being used). Either way, he's put in his cell and, not long after, release orders are filed. Out he gets, and though there's a delay getting a guardian ready (a motion for one comes in, one (a female fox) turns up) he gets out. He ends up back in his loft, getting to work on his computer, guzzling energy drinks before falling asleep just before dawn.
Meanwhile, Sarah directs a set of polar bears to set fire to a recycling plant. A pig mafia boss witnesses the aftermath from his yacht and is not happy. Jack also goes in for breakfast with Bradley Stagnew, Skye dropping him off but then getting yelled at as 'jailfox' by a stranger. Jacks goes to go after them, but Skye just tells him to enjoy his meeting as she can solve her own problems (promptly puddle splashing them with her car). Jack and Bradley start to talk over details and such (the deer asking about some courtroom drama he heard about).
Not long after, Swinton comes in and hears Conor was released, freezing. "He did what!" Calling everyone, they have the same reaction (including Jack, still with Bradley), eventually to be revealed. He escaped. The release order was fake, sent in by a hacker. Given this, releases are frozen just as the deer kid is being released back to his mother. Nick and Judy have to restrain her as she cries, though they promise they'll sort it out for her. Making an exception after confirming with the judge, they go in to get him out, finding the whole cell block singing 'he fought the law, and he won' at his call. Nick and Judy are taken off the case, though Tora might have something coming up for him.
In a flashback, it's revealed that Conor hacked into the ZPD and did multiple things to delay their tracking of who he is. He then contacts his hacker friend, who goes for a distorted voice call over to check what he's told them. Though distorted, it's hinted to be Honey.
Nick and Judy catch up with Jack and Skye, the hare is frustrated. It took a long time to get the advert down, and the news is out now, Skye encountering mammals who hate her. Samantha advises they tackle this head on. Though scared, she decides to tell the truth, releasing it (though it'll get less coverage than the first one by far). However, she learns she can't say that Sarah abused her, given that it could be grounds for whoever this was to take it down. However, Jack helps her word things correctly. Meanwhile, he says it's his brother behind it, given that Sarah works for him. He mentions the things he's learnt, such as of crazy Wex. Jim McCrodon (of the company's) young cousin, who broke into rich mansions to host parties. Eventually cornered, he stole a plane and tried to escape, but was captured and sent to the hardest juvie there. Granite Point. He had a mental breakdown and is currently in a permanent psych ward. He wonders if it's for the best, given that all bar one of his family is dead or missing, the last in jail.
They follow Judy across to her sparing match (for a while, Nick has been asking her to reconsider). She and the tiger both lay out their issues with each other, the tiger stating that she feels Hopps is reckless, she jumps into things, she does not think ahead. Thus she isn't deserving of respect, and she feels the marriage is one built on quicksand. An emotional fling doomed to collapse. Judy states that she can think ahead, she can plan, while she tries to jump in to save people in emergencies, she knows how to plan ahead and manage risk. The spar begins, Judy immediately tranq'ing Tora. Everyone is shocked that she cut the gordian knot in such a way, but when Tora wakes she calls Judy Officer WildeHopps.
La Peigne finally decides it's time to get the serum implant himself. He begins revelling in his new strength, much to the concern of Doug and Sarah. They try to warn him and he quickly clocks that yes, he's going too far. He gives the two of them the right to ration his use of it.
Things go quiet for a while, before things start happening:
Lucy, flying back from Lilian's, is showing a big baby bump now, not that far away. She giggles as she finds Vlad, covered in paint, decorating a nursery for his new pups. Giggling and flirty, they carry on together, dragging Lester, Russ and Sprock into it too.
Skye's video goes out, getting small but strong support. Swinton sees it, seeing Skye, and decides to visit her.
Nick and Judy spend some time as a newly married couple, enjoying it. Though they get some abuse, they also get some support (for instance, after having their cruiser rear ended at some lights in a three car slow pileup (and chasing the car thief at the back who caused it, none other than Craig Blackfoot whos finally caught, to be held in ZPD youth detention until he can be extradited to Bunnyburrow as a witness in his uncles trial), the opossum in the centre car (after un-possuming) talks about how they think they're cool).
Samantha checks in on Jack, only to see him with Bradley Stagnew. The meerkat and the deer act coldly, they've been very opposed in the past, and she warns Jack not to to trust him.
Out in the burrows, a bunch of minstrels appear with Sam (from New Reynard) to prank/ 'get' Sharla for besmirching Robin Hood's honour.
Meanwhile 'he fought the law, and he won' graffiti (Styled after Hood's sign in 'H for Honour') begins turning up everywhere, popularised by Deer kid and some of those in the court and juvie. Conor, his internet off as he slowly dyes his fur, knows nothing of it.
Joey 'The Shadow' Porcini slowly reviews some reports from the recycling plant fire, eyes concerned as he passes them over to his boss. However, on approaching the red pig (not really revealed/ still in the shadows), he's a bit surprised to find him talking quietly on the phone. As it hangs up, he asks: 'Clovestone?' The red pig says yes. Taking them, Peccari redials a number and makes a call… -To Vlad. Explaining that they're business partners now, he gives a long talk about who's your friend, who to trust, who's an enemy behind a smiling face. Vlad agrees, but says he knows that one of the best options is to be patient and wait. The nocturnal mafia is it's own proud beast, that will go where it wants to go. He gets called off though as Lucy screams. Flying over, he brings in their doctor, who says it's just a false alarm. They smile and relax, and Vlad plays on his organ for her into the night. Falling asleep in his wings, he promises to keep all three of them safe from whatever storm is out there, and whispers an apology to his old family for failing them, and vowing Fangpyre justice if he ever finds out who took them from him.
La Peigne, angry at Skye's video, tells a friend to send out a public offer. She can go back to her prison and tell everyone what happened. Sarah looks at him and nods, she's too chicken to go through that. Skye knows she should and wants to, but is nervous and scared. She is helped by Jack, but Swinton appearing, who was kind to her there, gives her the strength needed to do it.
Finally, another arson attack hits the Tundra town limo services. Tora calls the two in. She suspects a mob war is going on between the Tundra Town Mob (Mr Big) and the Sahara Square mob (the Red Pig), and asks Nick and Judy to investigate and stop it before it tears the city apart. Nick gives Judy the lowdown as they return home, only to their shock finding Sam there waiting for them.
After finding out the kit took the train there after pranking Sharla, Nick gives him a talk about not worrying his mother, before offing him to Vivienne while he and Judy work the next day. On picking them up, they're snapped, the picture making its way to Rocky's show where he goes on about the dangers of interspecies adoption. Judy only knows about this when her family try and call her, though Tora sends out a press release with the truth. For their final day, as they talk to those they know under Mr big (Manchas and Fru Fru) they send him off under Finnick.
Conor meanwhile makes a food run (via the pallet express) to the fish markets, the change in diet to change his scent. Disguised as a large arctic fox with his summer coat, he gets the supplies (treating himself to a platter of live oysters, the speciality at Finneagles (at first he despised them, but to show Jr he ate and ate them until he loved them)). Before going back, he sees the graffiti going up. Asking about it (claiming his step father had him grounded for a week) he learns what's going on and, after remembering how the deer was treated, vows to make sure nobody suffers the same fate.
N & J learn that Fru Fru is expecting a son, Nick realising that Mr Big must want out, the red pig using the time to hit him given their hatred of each other. It's been tit for tat so far and, thinking it through, he thinks he knows the next site. They get home to see Finnick and Sam partying out, before showing them a video. It's a music vid from Conor (with his version of the song 'Connemara Fox'), put up by proxy, telling everyone to watch a livestream he plans to do. It also features a pic of him and Erin playing at Carrot Days.
Sam going back, the two reminisce about what it might be like to have a kit, both sad given that if Conor had asked…
Swinton escorts Skye back around the prison as a visitor, and though hard she finds strength and explains what happened. She finds that her old cell is home to Dawn Bellwether, now heavily sheared, but saying that she's fine. Skye though realises that she's blinking S-O-S to her, and secretly tells her that she knows. Jack ends with a powerful campaign video about justice reform, dropping in the bad judge and his treatment too, including a reference to Conor (He fought the Law). He says that La Peigne may be his brother, but they stand for the exact opposite. Skye and Jack, talking with Swinton, they decide that something is up with these prisons. Hearing that lots of things happened around Granite Point that sound like what happened here, he suggests that Skye goes over and investigates. She wants to, but isn't sure how to, suggests hiring a PI.
La Peigne meanwhile pressing play on a new video, and smiles as it uploads. Nick and Judy are called to the office where it's revealed a deep fake has been put up, showing them doing dirty deeds in a squad car. Tora promises to try and prove it's so and get it down, but fear they won't before Rocky gets to feature it. The squirrel, in private, reveals he does not approve, but he approves of the mud slinging even less. In any case, he has to get ready for the live stream. Vern is also watching it, both out of curiosity and due to a suspicion he has about the judge/ prosecutor pair. Conor, amongst playing the first song he personally wrote, gives an anti establishment rant calling on the youth to band together, not give the bad guys what they want, and to all sing out 'we're not gonna take it' at midday every Sunday. While Judy isn't happy, calling it a standard anti-establishment I'm mad as hell rant, hypocritical given what he did and the school he was at, she and Nick realise it is just a bit out of character for him… They and the precinct psychologist realise he's trying to stop anyone getting into trouble. The video trace fails to get anywhere.
The deep fake is proven, but it's too late. Rocky features it, and buries the retraction on his radio show. Nick and Judy meet increased hostility but also support, from friends and strangers. It comes to a head when the brief is given on the arson stopping mission. Nick suspected that one of the red pigs pizza chains would be hit next, and various mammals are sent out. One (suspected to have leaked the first vid) loudly objects to Nick and Judy being partnered, much to the anger of Tora (who, when called out, admits that she was wrong, mean, childish and not becoming of an officer, yet alone a Chief). The protesting officer refuses to believe that the video was a fake, and loudly quits.
Albert meanwhile goes to Bunnyburrow to interview Erin, learning about her upcoming audition.
Nick and Judy get caught out in the sing protest which works (including one large crowd stoked up by deer kid, much to his mothers horror), though Conor is emotional seeing his band mates leaving an empty mic stand for him. That evening, after discussing a few things, they start the stakeout. One of the ZPD polar bears (not on the case, given the fear he'd be mistaken for one of bigs) is revealed to be another worker for La Peigne, going with a different bear under the command of Sarah. The pair break into a different shop, only to be blinded with lights, three razorbacks there having worked out it was the next target. With a flashbang they distract them, racing through a door to find themselves in a bathroom. With permission given, they activate their serum.
Outside, it's revealed to be the flower shop duke stole from in the movie. The owners arrive to hear screams from inside, the shutters getting dented as the pigs are thrown into them. They call the cops and the red pig, both seeing a polar bear escape in a van and smoke rising.
La Peigne hears the news of the failure, but realising that Nick and Judy will be going there, he has an idea.
While it doesn't flash over, the ZFD getting there in time, it's a knife's edge. Judy consoles and interviews them while Nick goes to a suspected perp. He realises it's a razorback, one of the red pig's, sent here to defend it. Only something's wrong. He's broken, traumatised, reeking of fear and crying for his mommy… his nanny… anyone.
They work out that the red pig tried to stop this, and while polar bears came to do it, something's different about them. Nick makes the connection with howlers and what Judy saw, especially when he was corrected. The razorback was talking about 'a Nandi', a mythical white demon bear from mythology (set up with Motti earlier). After risking his life to get some evidence as the fire finally flashes over, Nick and Judy try to leave, only to find a flash mob there, protesting against their relationship. Tora escorts them to their car, getting them out.
They talk, the pair learning that frantic pig's wife is the brother of one of the red pigs most feared enforcers. The pair nervously mention a potential connection to night howlers, Tora acknowledges, but regrets to inform them that they're being put on temp leave with pay given the protests. She advises they split apart, let the heat die down.
Rocco 'the red pig' Pecarri is finally fully revealed, screaming out his razorbacks for their failure and leaving one of their own behind. He sends them off before thinking things through with Joey 'The Shadow' Porcini. There's a proposal for a meeting with Mr Big, who's claiming he didn't light any of the fires (the red pig thinking the fires as his place are an insurance/ cover thing). Joey will go, and then chase up Clovestone. Pecarri does NOT want the deal to go through. But if Big keeps his attack after snitching on them like, then so help him… Joey asks about the jackals, Rocco spitting on the floor. 'Keep an eye on them, and if they do anything against us after what they did... You know what to do.'
La Peigne meanwhile talks with Sarah about what the heck happened. The pair conclude similarly that the red pig made an educated and correct guess. Given the heat, fire triangle is being suspended… for now. Sarah mentions that Joey Porcini was seen meeting Rupert Clovestone, and it might pose a risk. LP just laughs, saying that he's surprised Rupert is still alive. 'He's the setting sun, Sarah. Red, wavering, weak, harmless and soon to sink below and vanish. And a new day with dawn with a bright and new rising sun.'
Little does he know that the mysterious figure who encountered one of Lucy's bats on the Lanolin spy mission is there above them, recording everything. Viewed from a computer screen, an old voice speaks out. 'And you are an arrogant upstart, in my kingdom. Enjoy your days as Alexander the Great, savour them, as you don't have many left.'
Conor meanwhile begins doing dead drops, converting his money into cryptocurrency. He plans to try and find the location of a similar safehouse to his back in Fenholt, get a new ID and move… He learns that Guild, whoever they may be, is very much on their side, converting the money with no fee and advising him that he may be able to run the program he used to become Conor Lewis again to get a new ID.
Jack, at a meeting with Samantha, pauses as he sees some shock news. Bradley Stagnew announcing his run for mayor. Shocked that his supposed friend did this, and took info from him, the bunny talks to him. The deer just states that this is the political game, it's cut throat, and suggests that Jack just isn't up to it.
The bunny goes back to Samantha and resolves to work harder and win this. He has a long day at his campaign headquarters, though Skye comes in to cheer him up. He gets distracted though when he hears the sound of panicking from nearby. Going to check it out, he discovers the squirrel he knew having a panic attack… based around a fear of predators and sharp teeth. He confesses he's had it for years, and though he tells himself he has nothing against predators and wants to serve them and all mammals, it often makes him feel guilty of being a speciesist like Bellwether was. Skye and Jack comfort him, the latter saying that he wants to bring compassion and thoughtfulness into this, and on a sky tram going back home talk… Skye feeling that he's a brave mammal, braver than she was… Jack though gives her a massive pep talk, the pair confessing a lot to each other (though distracted by what sounds like a loud bug).
They get off the tram only to be SWATTED, the buzzing sound being two gerbil jerks in a drone, who filmed it all, claimed a fox with a gun was holding a hostage and shots had been fired, and laughing at the fun of it. Jack loses it, though one of the officers (Catano) calms him down. Skye tharned up, deer in headlights, but calming down almost cynically says that staying at home might not be the safest option. Little do they know that Conor, doing another dead drop (and checking out his old guitar shop again) was hiding nearby. He sees the jerks, and decides to do something (to open the next season)
Skye and Jack go to bed, only to be woken up by a barrage of calls and emails. Pred and Prey, stay away. Called to Tora's office, they find Bogo, Tufts, Nick and Judy there. All the bunnies and foxes were Doxed, and struggle to sort it, though some weird things happened involving the anonymous tip who told them… hacking the police union source for Nick and Judy and releasing it to ZPD cybercrimes so they could fix it.
Having one last talk, Skye states that she wants to help Jack and find the truth behind what's going on with Jack's company, but she's not a detective or anything and will need help. Jack then takes her to a private location, meeting up with Vern, who states that he's been smelling something very smelly for a long time. Introducing his PI, a mongoose (maybe Ci-Ci's son in a fun come-around), he and Skye plan to fly back to Fenholt, to investigate Granite point and find the truth behind it all. Meanwhile, Finnick, Gideon and finally Vivienne have their stuff vandalised. Judy and Nick, realising it might be the only way to help their loved ones, choose to leave each other for now, living apart and working at different precincts, until, they hope, it truly dies down. It still hurts though, and they leave each other in tears.
Finally, La Peigne is shown. Some things have been worrying his underlings, he seems to be having mood swings, his strength is increasing massively. It's shown that he's slowly starting to change due to the serum but, regardless, he's confident. After all, his network has cleaved Judy and Jack from those filthy foxes, and all of it was his idea. From first hearing about the kiss to making the deepfake to bringing up the mob. All him, him and him and, though the Fire Triangle is still on hold, things are looking good for him, and it will be a dark day for all crime lords in the city.
Finally, Lucy is shown, her waters breaking. Attended to, Vlad looks on concerned, until his face brightens as a cry rings out. Wrapping up their two new children and holding each other tight, they both agree that this is the happiest day of their lives.
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Notes:
Primarily follows the main Fire Triangle plot, albeit adjusted. Claudia Nizhang, the red panda councillor who used to be a cop and took part in the finnagles raid is replaced in function and expanded by Jack Savage, while the kiss scandal and the issues over Nick and Judy's potential relationship are replaced here by a manufactured outrage over their marriage (though most set pieces remain the same, if some given to Jack and Skye).
Jack's run for city hall pulls in elements from the When Night Falls Nick's mayor run plot. Samantha and Neil are supporting characters, while Bradley appears as a friend first before developing into a rival.
With the focus on the nocturnal mob, and their huge presence, a longer establishment of the Sahara mob is needed. A fun little reference from FT, a Palm Casino annex in the nocturnal district is introduced. Initially, Joey the Shadow is the face of the organisation, given his charisma. I'm thinking of the comparison to Kobayashi from The Usual Suspects (funnily apt given how Conor actually quoted the most famous line from the film in his interrogation). Regardless, his seeming ability to appear and disappear, gives the initial intro of the Sahara square mob a nice edge. Backed up when the voice of the red pig is angry, intimidating… but not brainless. Eventually Pecarri is introduced in full, chewing out his subordinates as in Fire Triangle, and then discussing their next moves with his second in command.
Rupert Clovestone is also mentioned and teased, laying the foundations for his later inclusion.
Vlad and Lucy are mainly kept up/ have tabs put on them, showing her pregnancy develop. Coasting away at the moment and causing little fuss, but getting ready for when they end up in the game once more.
The mystery spy from the Lanolin raid is reintroduced again, and this time spying on La Peigne. Again, building things up as (eventually) stuff set up in Fire Triangle concerning the mob politics will mesh and transfer a bit over to the similar stuff in When Night Falls… Both involve Mr Big against their own new mafia… And I'm aiming that you get a juicy taste of both. Some juggling required, but I have a cunning plan to make it all work. (And it's also fun to see that La Peigne isn't as untouchable as he thinks he is).
The Pallet express is introduced fully earlier on, for use by Conor later. (Sidenote: this whole idea of citizens taking the initiative has so much potential to develop, but there likely isn't much time. Maybe Marian gets involved in one going around repairing peoples houses and helps by supplying food. We could feature Nick and Judy briefly interacting with an anarcho sheepiclist commune member called Dennis. Or a Wolf 'Self proclaimed Number 1' yelling 'Power to the People' off a rooftop, a single mouse echoing it back. Or heck, some whole Kitsunegari style occupy Zootopia Central stuff (I'm already thinking of something like that for the next season, to keep a character busy)) If this whole thing still had momentum by the end of FT and Conor's story and we want to carry on, then maybe the new antagonists could be some of these guys. Radicalised into thinking bad elements still exist in high society and must be purged. Full Baa-der Meinhoof/ Pred Army faction style.)
The non-case elements, primarily Judy's issues with Chief Tora (who could have been introduced in season 2, put in charge of cleaning up outback), are brought in from Guardian Blue S3, as is the sheepless in New Reynard plotline with Sharla (her coming to Judy at Vivienne's bakery replacing the meetup they had in Bunnyburrow in GB Winter's Hearth). Ditto for Sam, who turns up just like before (he and Finnick being there for the video watch through also allows them to rock out and, on Judy asking if all foxes are budding comedians, three are present to simultaneously answer 'budding?') The new mayor candidate from GB S3 also turns up, just running and interacts with Jack.
Because of his redemption arc earlier, Duke has a different, more altruistic, reason for going to the police… And in doing so, knowing Conor, makes what happens even harder on everyone.
The court room scene is built up to be far more powerful than even its lofty heights in FT. Multiple extra characters with skin in the game are there, with the originally no named deer character who first picks up the tune being someone you know very well, and to whom the tune means a lot. The deer kid then follows on to help the lionisation of Conor among the youth, further rebelling from his mother as he does so.
Having been established as a good mammal before, for trying to help Skye, Swinton is better known by the readers. Moreover, when Skye has to confront her fears in the prison, she and Skye get to meet again. Skye, having previously risen up to confront her fears with Jack's help, is able to move on to doing it with an old 'friend' and, by the end of the story, is willing to go off to a new city with only a stranger to help out.
The Swatting is moved to Jack and Skye rather than Nick and Judy to help even the hurt out.
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Hypothetical episode names:
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With this ring: Nick and Judy's marriage gets off to a wild start, both with their friends, family, and on the job. Not all are happy, but when it comes to wrapping up the Reino Del Sol diamond case, that might not be a bad thing. Jack announces his mayoral run, while Vlad and Lucy attend to family matters.
Sheepless in New Reynard: After a tip off by Vivienne, Sharla's search for her brother leads her to New Reynard, and a resident with very interesting views on sheep. Vlad discovers a challenge to his dominion while La Peigne commits to claiming his.
Leap of faith: Lucy reveals a long-held regret, one that Vlad encourages her to take a chance on and repair. Jack and Skye meet a group of mammals doing their bit to build a new Zootopia. Duke decides to stand up and share some news with the ZPD, hoping to do some good and help bring in a bad mammal.
Fire and Mirrors: A slick criminal operation is begun, Jack and Skye wake up to a terrible shock, while Nick and Judy's own investigation goes horrifically right.
He fought the law: Conor is interrogated and finds a familiar ally. The second in commands of the three city mobs face off. Skye talks to the press, and unknown to her an old friend sees her and decides to help out. Nick gives witness in court, and discovers an old enemy in the perfect place to rain hell.
Fox goes Rabbit: Conor gets a surprise, but not nearly as big as the one the rest of the ZPD get. Judy and Chief Tora's relationship boils over and the pair face off, while Skye is faced with a new challenge and an old friend.
Heating up: With an old friend by her side, Skye faces her fears. Laying low and under cover, a food run has Conor discovering just what an impact he's had on the city's youth. A second mysterious fire has certain mammals angry and others worried. Nick and Judy get a new mission, and one almighty surprise.
And he won: Nick and Judy try to investigate the reasons behind the arson attacks, while the true source has a nasty surprise ready and waiting for them. Conor resurfaces online, with a message for the masses. Erin gets an unwelcome visitor, with just a few questions.
Not gonna take it: Conor's call to the kits of Zootopia is heard, while the silver fox plans his next moves. Nick and Judy put forth a plan to catch the arson attackers in their tracks.
Best laid plans: The fallout of the arson attack hits everyone. Little do they know, there is always worse in store, and some light in the dark.
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AN: this one was interesting, as it was probably the quickest to write for myself (mostly all FT's plot, with non-clashing GB stuff added in) but it took a while to format correctly for you. Filling in gaps here, a bunch of scooting back to season 2 and 3 (before their release) to add in lots of set ups for things like the V3 restraints and fill out Deer kid's time in prison…
Also, given that the WNF/WIF was initially written as an optional extra here: I'd originally just noted at the end that Vlad and Lucy would be having their pregnancy going through the series, so just sprinkling some things out… Ditto with Bradley and Clovestone from WNF.
So there was fitting those in and writing them out here. However, with Vlad and the nocturnal mob taking such a presence, and it all now shifting to Merc's Sahara square mob, I realised you needed some lead in/ set up. So the issue with the casino annex in the nocturnal district (originally part of a fun little shout out in FT S2) was put in, and a meet up between Lester, Kozlov and the intro of Joey the shadow put in… Followed by him popping up a few times before the eventual full reveal of his boss… In pretty much the same manner as in FT (The Sahara square mob got plenty of mentions in FT, and it was pretty level with the tundra mob… so both seemed balanced. Issue here is you've got a HUGE focus on the nocturnal mob for a bunch of seasons, so you need to lead back in to the two Fire Triangle players). Anyhow, as said above, introing in via Joey the Shadow feels like it'll work very well, with him acting very much like a Kobayashi to Peccari's Keyser Söze.
Series 5 (and on) is where things will get really tricky… As after bumping up to where GB S3 currently is here and wrapping that up… I'll be running into where Fire Triangle and When Night Falls are at the moment, and will overtake them.
So from that point on, I'll be speculating and conjecturing towards my own ending. So things could probably go very wild, and in the future people reading this and wondering 'why the heck isn't he doing this or that'. Indeed, I've pretty much written out a very self-contained and concise season 5 already based on what I already know, but a huge chunk of that hinges on what I assume will go on at Erin's audition… A massive, long hyped scene I can see a HUGE amount of the plot pivoting on and around, which is right on the cusp of coming out. Indeed, in two weeks time (after the 21st Jan 2022 release of this) I'll likely know what's going down there, and might have re-written a chunk of my assumptions based on it. Even a small change or event in what goes down in it will likely have a massive effect on what could, might and will happen going on. Alas, I won't know until the day it hits.
Regardless, I'll mark the point where it goes from stuff already out to full on speculation… And then, way later on when Fire Triangle wraps itself up, I might put out a 'season 5 revised' chapter, which shows how it might all wrap together based on how the fic actually goes…
With all this talk of FT, you might be wondering about WNF. I actually know how When Night Falls will end, and am helping Upplet write it given some irl stuff really destroying writing time for him. However, due to the nature of this crossover, the politics arc with Jack's mayorality will go into a different place than that in WNF... The characters from there will probably have the same 'mid-game' goals (that current readers will know about) but different end game goals. Meanwhile, the mob war from WNF merges very closely into that from Fire Triangle, so after setting the crossover between the two up, the plot of the latter will be taking the lead, showing how things go…
Though maybe touches of what I know will be going on in future WNF might seep in. We'll see, and either way I'll probably have to drop some kind of Glomar response about this all.
Anyway, the above means that how I end this is very likely tied to how I think Fire Triangle will end… And though I've got my theories and can source a lot of evidence (heck, I can reveal that Skye's little visit to Dawn and her actions, along with Lucy stealing from LP's place the stuff she used on Martina, was based on them) Merc, while setting some things up for years, also writes and innovates very much on the spur of the moment. Fire Triangle readers will have likely noticed that a lot of what I've done in seasons 1-3 has been setting up things from fire triangle. I mean, just look at the deer kid XD. In FT you first saw him in that courtroom and he had no name.
Heck, earlier on the day of formatting Season 4 for publishing, I was going back to season 2 and 3 (and earlier here) to introduce a bunch of reoccurring set up to something Merc added in his latest two chapters (that, though not actually confirmed just yet, could practically be yelling 'shoot me, hang me on a wall, and call me chekov'. I have a very, very strong idea how it'll be used, but don't actually know yet. Indeed, Merc keeps on adding new elements, including to them, coming up to the big ZAPA audition scene.)
So who knows where it'll go. But I do have a roadmap set out that will pull everything together and take it to an end. And in any case, a lot of what I'll writing for a bunch of characters will be guesswork anyhow, as if not my own the changes here have, by this point, made these versions their own characters.
Anyway, that's all now… And I'm probably gonna put a disclaimer similar to all this up at the start of chapter 5 anyhow. But, this has all been very fun so far. Thanks for following and reading, and I look forward to next time, as we venture forth into the undiscovered country.
Cya then.