Welcome back my dearest readers.

I mean… Whoa! Nick is back fully. They saved Gabriel!? Lucifer has brought John and Demitri up from hell and they now live in the living world?! Oh, and there just happens to be nice, high-def, video of what went down the previous night. There's going to be some side-effects from that, for sure.

As a side note, and so you, my dearest readers understand. Think I mentioned it in the previous chapter.

I'm a Pantser. A died in the wool, 1-billion percent, unrepentant, Pantser. That means, as I'm writing this, I have no more idea of what is coming or what is going to happen than you, my dear reader, do. Anyway…

On with the show!

I do not own and thus can claim no rights to Zootopia or its characters. They belong to Disney.

Chapter 19

At the office, Judy and Nick appeared in her office, scaring the heck out of her secretary. "Judy! What? How? So it's real. You're some kind of witch."

Judy groaned. "Not a witch, Deb. If anything, I am a goddess. Although I don't like that moniker. I am not looking for mammals to worship me, I am not passing out favors, and I have not used the power I've actually had for years until last night. Have you seen the videos?"

Debra, a mink, nodded with a smirk. "It's like the top story. No one is really even sure what they are seeing. It makes no sense."

"Okay. Can you get me two of my normal morning burritos. Nick is going to need some food. Yes, this is that, Nick. Yes he was really dead. No he's not dead anymore, but he's also not a zombie or some other craziness. He has literally fought his way through hell to get back to me.

Look. I know it's a lot, and I am asking a lot more from you. I am asking that you trust that I am not a different mammal today than I was yesterday. You just know more about me, and I am sure from your own reaction, you can understand why I wouldn't broadcast it. To that point. There are going to be several beings that are going to show up here today. Some you saw on the video, some you didn't. Treat them well, and the whole situation will start to make sense."

Debra nodded. "Wow. Yeah, that's a lot. But okay. I've got your back. I suppose I should get Peter and Fabienne to come in?"

"If they're not already on their way."

"Point. I'll reach out to them anyway. Nick, nice to meet you. Oh, boss. Uhm. There have been some calls for your arrest, and other such lunacy. Driven by the usual suspects. IT already has the camera ready to stream, with alt paths and power ready if they try anything."

Judy looked at Nick with a bright smile. "And that's why she's the best secretary in the city."

"Well, if you picked her, I know she has to be the best."

Debra giggled as she walked out. "They said you two were bad. I can see it though. I think I get it." With that she headed out, closing the door behind her.

xxxXXXxxx

Nick sat and watched as Judy worked, going over a few bills and marking them up. Making notes on a proposal. Then as she went over reports, signed off on requisitions, and generally did her job as the District Supervisor."

They ate the burritos when they were delivered, then Judy got back to work. Nick smiled through it all as Debra poked her head in silently, slipping Judy more food, water, tea, etc… then reminding her about the lunch get together and that most everyone was there. Freaking out slightly about winged lions and leopards.

"Ma'am. The lunch is ready. Peter and Fabienne are here, as is a winged lion and a winged leopard. Which is crazy."

Judy nodded. "Thank you, Deb. That'll be Gabriel and Jess. Yes, that Gabriel." At which point Deb squeaked. "Don't read that much into it. While he is that Gabriel, the reality of who and what he is, is taken astonishingly out of context. Right, Nick?"

Nick nodded. "It really is. There is no war and never was. Some ancient mammals had a vision, saw some things they didn't understand, made some wild assumptions, then told others. Stories got blown way out of proportion in a game of telephone down through the ages, and now we have the faiths you know. It's really silly. Not going to go super deep, but yeah. The faiths get a lot wrong, a few things right, and then botch the execution, badly."

Deb nodded. "Okay. That kinda makes sense. I mean, him and the leopard guy are clearly together, and that is totally against what a lot of them claim."

xxxXXXxxx

A few minutes later, they were in the conference room. Mike was there as the Wolford Pack representative. Lizz, Anna, Vivian, Jenna Winters (Skye's sister), and only a few days in the job, and Jason in their official capacities, as well as Gabriel, Jess, and Lucifer. Peter and Fabienne looked at the others in a mix of terror and curiosity. The room rounded out with John, Debra, and Demitri.

Judy looked everyone over, frowning to see Anna. "I take it your suggested assistant for Jenna has decided to forgo the position after all?"

Anna smirked and shook her head, holding up her phone. "Nope. She is very excited about the chance. She loved working with you as the temp Director and wants nothing more than to work under Jenna. She's just having trouble getting here due to the protests organized and led by Meadowlaw and Eriksen."

Groaning, Judy sat down, Nick immediately giving her shoulders a rub. "It's okay, Fluff. We will figure it out. Just give it and this team you've built a chance to work the problem."

Putting a paw on Nick's on her shoulder, Judy looks back and up at him. "You're part of this team, too. I finally have you back. If you think I am letting you out of my sight anytime soon, you really are a dumb fox."

"Dumb bunny. That goes both ways. Like I told you. I remember my death. I remember seeing what that did to you. I'm not going to let that happen again."

Judy nodded. "Okay. First. These protests. Where are they? What is their composition and size? Do they have a permit, and are they blocking traffic flow or causing other problems and public safety concerns? Given that some attendees of this meeting are not here because of them, I am going to say yes. Lizz?"

Lizz frowned. "Eric and the other three station captains, as well as my direct reports, have advised that the protests are blocking the major and some of the minor accesses into the district. Composition is mostly prey, and lead by the most specist mammals. Thearance, Meadowlaw. Eriksen, etc… Each leading a different group into Happytown. They're whipping the crowd and clearly have plans to March here and make some sort of citizen's arrest, or lynching. I think that'll depend on you and how bloodthirsty Meadowlaw manages to get them. Of course, their charges are moral, not legal. At least what they think is moral, but they expect you will simply bow to them and surrender, because you won't do anything to such a group.

They have a group trying to get to the school, but I've got officers stationed there already, and since the tunnel, while finished, isn't open, we're ready to evacuate the kits that way. All of them. The school is ready, but otherwise not letting the kits know something is going on. The mammals of Happytown so far are holding the mob, and that really is what it is, back. I don't think they expected any resistance."

Judy nodded with a frown. "Okay. Sadly what I expected. Nick, can you have the shards recon?"

"Already on it, Fluff."

Peter perked up. "Shards?"

Nick nodded as he sat back to concentrate on the information he was getting. "Yeah. Shards, or soul shards. Long story about how I ended up being back here and alive. Also, hello. Good to see you both again."

"Lizz, what else can you tell us?"

"These mammals have done a good job of cutting us off from the rest of the city. We still have power because you made sure we were independent, though they have had mammals try to attack the power plant. They have successfully cut the main network and other communication lines. Clearly the level of completion of our connection to the Nocturnal district isn't something they know, as the leaders are all former council members. The current council has actually called on Bogo to stop this, stating that they will not have a repeat of the vigilante violence of the Bellwether era. We've identified the mammals that have taken these actions and passed that through other secure channels to Bogo.

The hard part here is the number of mammals they have whipped up into murderous anger on ever worsening and wilder claims. I mean, one of the groups actually looted a store for the aluminum foil and wrapped their heads with it."

Judy groaned and put her head in her paws. "Dawn wasn't wrong. Fear does work. And some mammals just gravitate to it, no matter how insane it makes them." Judy paused and looked at Nick who nodded. "Okay. Lizz, get the kits out now. Do not wait. Get them moved before these lunatics make it impossible to move them. Then I want officers in place of the teachers and staff. If there are members of the community, small predators and such, fennicks, weasels, have them stand in as the kits. If the mobs are mostly larger prey, they're probably just going to assume any small mammal like that is a kit. Coordinate with Finnick and Duke."

Lizz nodded and started making phone calls. "Mike. What is the pack's position?"

Mike laughed. "We're holding judgment until we actually know what is happening. We do not however support these mobs. We do not consider these protests because they are clearly intent on meeting out mob justice, not having their voices heard."

Judy nodded. "Good. Lizz, one more thing, though you have probably already worked on this with Bogo. Have him stage units several blocks behind the mob and be ready to catch them in a squeeze. Have your units staged in alley's and such, away from the expected path. If anything, as long as your units are blocking off paths other than to here, then they won't complain. Even give your mammals instructions to fake support if it keeps them from veering from the path we want them to go down and keeps the rest of your mammal's out of sight.."

Lizz gave a thumbs up and nod to show she heard, but otherwise didn't respond as she was still on the phone. Judy turned her attention to Anna and Jenna. "I assume that these mobs are blocking or inhibiting your people's ability to respond? You too, Jason?" Getting confirming nods from all three. "Badly?"

Jason nodded again. "Yes. In at least two cases, they have surrounded fire stations so that we cannot respond out of those at all. The firefighters and EMTs are basically stuck and under siege. If it wasn't for the zoning we've done, we might not be able to respond at all, and even then we're being pulled very thin, and not able to respond to some things. These mammals may have actually set a few fires, and we're not able to get to all of them, or are being blocked by them once we get there."

"Okay, have your mammals be safe about it, but if they can get some identification on these mammals. Photos, distinguishing marks, anything, that would be helpful to Lizz once this is over. Anna, Janice, Jenna. The same. Put those dash cameras and body cameras to use. Have them use their phones, and anything else they can do."

Janice spoke from Anna's phone. "Actually, I have several team members in the crowd who have reached out. They thought it was just a typical protest and they embed themselves so there is someone available. Body cameras have been running the whole time. The ones that have reached out state that the mob thinks they're part of them, so they have been doing their best to keep up with appearances."

"Okay, keep a list of who is in contact with you. When arrests start, they're going to get arrested with the rest, but we'll weed them out after. We simply cannot do that in the moment."

Janice spoke from the phone. "Understood. That's actually part of the training. If mammals start to get arrested, just accept it, if you get a moment alone with an officer, mention that you are an embedded EMT, but don't expect any special treatment until they get a chance to verify."

Judy smiled. "Good to know. I'd wondered about that. We were always instructed to flag a mammal making that claim for additional review. Lucifer, Jess, Gabriel. … Gabriel. How are you feeling?"

Gabriel smiled. "I'm feeling pretty good. That hot tub thing really helped, then being able to rest with my mate last night. Though according to Lucifer, we all could have been a bit quieter."

Judy nodded. "Agreed. Lessons learned. Good, we may need you guys to do some shock and awe. Nothing more than just being your higher being, selves, so we can stall the mob from doing something really bad. That said, I hope we won't need to use you guys. Now, the Leopard and Moose are Fabienne and Peter. They're some of the city's top reporters, and I am quite sure they have more questions for you than they know how to articulate."

Judy turned to Peter and Fabienne. "A quick run down. These are exactly who the names imply. However, the narrative given by any faith they show up in is pretty much wrong. They are higher beings, and that basically translates to really, really old, and powerful. From a Science Fiction context, they have ascended, after a fashion. They still interact with our world, our part of reality, but while they were once part of it, they are no longer. Their home is what we refer to as heaven and hell, and while those places are generally what most faiths describe them as, there is a lot more to it than that. They are not just for us, so yeah, we're not alone in the universe.

The souls of mammals and most other life out there will end up in some form of after-life, and while hell is a place for punishment, there is a lot that goes into that, and some edict from some priest somewhere has very little to do with where a being ends up, or why. This however leads us to how Nick has come back. He is back, but he is not back from the dead the way most think of it.

He ended up in the afterlife, worked towards finding his way back to me because of our promise to each other. However, our universe, our reality is not the only one out there. It seems that there is a being, a creature that is referred to as the Devourer of Universes. It is the remains of the minds or souls, essentially interchangeable, of the beings from its home universe that somehow survived the literal end of that universe as it collapsed back into chaos.

It has since sought out other universes that are similar to its original home, invades or infects that universe like a parasite and devours it until there is nothing left and it has absorbed or destroyed everything in that universe. Planets, stars, and souls. It then moves on. Our universe appears to be next in line. It targeted Nick as he was developing power in the afterlife in his quest to return to me and our kits. Instead of letting it plant a seed in him, Nick called in assistance from the higher beings he had gotten to know, including Lucifer." Indicating the fox like being. "As well as Gabriel, and others.

They fought the thing. It is the definition of an eldritch horror. All gasping, screaming mouths, random eyes, undulating formless flesh and tentacles. I know this because I got pulled, mentally, into that space where they were doing battle with it. I assume because Nick and I have always shared a deeper bond, one that even allowed us at times to know the other's mind. It only brought us closer, and was one of the reasons I was so shattered when he died. He didn't just die right in front of me. I didn't just see it happen. I felt it." Tapping the side of her head. "I literally felt him slip away and there was nothing I could do to hang onto him.

We." Indicating the higher beings, Nick, and herself. "We believe that this connection, that still persisted after his death, if in a barely there state, was what allowed me to be drawn there. It's probably why the devourer targeted Nick. It was going to plant a seed in Nick, and by proxy of our connection, get a seed into me and our kits. A six for one.

During the fight, Nick was impaled by one of the things tentacles. Just being touched by it can taint you, and that taint is enough to give it a paw hold in you, and from that it can fester and grow until it overwhelms its host, much like a virus or parasite. It was overwhelming Nick, because by being impaled like that, it was far more than an incidental infection, and he knew he couldn't resist it. So, instead of fighting a losing battle, Nick used what power he had gained, power freely given by a number of the higher beings that were fighting the devourer, and added his very essence into it. He sacrificed himself. Destroying himself and it by burning himself out and taking that portion of the devourer that had infested him with him.

At least that is what initially appeared to have happened. That should have been the end of the story, but as so often happens with Nick and I, it's never quite that simple." Judy leaned against Nick with a smile. "There are apparently some souls, other survivors from universes that the Devourer has consumed, but that did not get consumed by the devourer themselves. They have a separate mission. When they find a soul that they can get to, they try to save it, or as much of it as they can. So there were several hundred of these other souls attached to the tentacle that infected Nick. They carved off what would qualify as most of him, we estimate more than 95% of the being Nick was, and dragged him away from the destruction of the rest of himself and the portion of the Devourer that had infected him.

Before that happened, Nick pushed all the excess power he had drawn into himself. Everything that didn't get used to destroy the devourer piece and the infected portion of himself, through our link and into me. Burning that link out in the process and flooding me with power. That was the night I went into labor. That power is part of the reason I recovered so quickly. It's why I always have a pen at hand." Producing a pen. "And that is the extent of my use of it until last night."

Peter nodded while Fabienne sighed. "Judy, if I wasn't sitting in this room with three of those higher beings, as you called them. I'd think that you were completely off your rocker. So what happened last night?"

"Well, Most of Nick got saved by those soul shards. You have to understand, these poor things are probably older than our own universe. They've given up most if not all of their original personality and are little more than really smart drones with a preprogrammed purpose that we might use. In the process of saving Nick, they attached themselves to him and the blast that Nick created kinda fused them to him. That was the swarm of little moving lights you saw. It's also how most souls would look to us in this part of reality. What we might call the living world.

I'm clearly skipping over a lot of details here. Just trying to give you the barest of cliff notes to understand what happened. So, despite burning out the connection, Nick and I still had that oath we made to each other. It's an ancient and powerful oath, and he followed that back to me here. Only, when he got here, there wasn't much to him other than the energy that was his soul. The soul of a soul, if you will.

It took a lot to get here, and that is a process I'm not going to go into. Needless to say, when he finally arrived here, it triggered them." Indicating Lucifer and Gabriel. "They sensed something happen, something changed, and that was Nick's presence. They came to investigate that. Nick had been slowly collecting the old parts of his body, the ash and dust left behind when he was illegally cremated with the unclaimed. It was taking time because as the lawsuits showed, not only was he cremated with the unclaimed against my wishes, his wishes, his cultural and species specific edicts, but the ash was scattered illegally.

He was trying to literally pull himself back together so he could fully manifest. When they arrived, we had some conversations, it was discovered that Gabriel had been exposed to the devourer unknowingly and had been infected. What you then saw was me sharing the power Nick gifted me in what he thought at the time was his final act, back to him. This allowed him to fully manifest. We're now more connected than we were before he died.

Normally the only solution to an infection by the devourer is the death and complete destruction of that beings entire existence. Only, because Nick had some information gleaned from the soul shards not attached to him, we offered an alternative. That we might be able to cut out and remove the infection. Like cancer surgery. Given that the alternative was complete destruction and leaving his mate alone, Gabriel agreed to try. Worst case, he had to be put down anyway.

So the scream was him, and what you saw on the video was Nick and I removing and destroying the infection. That was those gray blobs you saw. You also saw one of them get away from us, and the soul shards capture it and corral it back to be destroyed. It's one of their single minded missions. The destruction of the Devourer. Vengeance, if you will, for the destruction of their own universes.

Which brings us to now. Our powerful friends forgot that Zootopia is a technologically advanced society, and so they didn't take steps to prevent the recordings. Mammals being who they are, and especially the likes of Meadowlaw and his ilk, are willing to grasp power at the expense of anyone and anything. They see something they and those mammals they have whipped into a frenzy do not understand. They apply their own justifications to it and now we have a mob baying for blood out of fear and ignorance. Just like we did when Bellwether whipped up the mobs that attacked so many innocent predators while she darted more to keep the fear going."

Judy looked over Peter and Fabienne. "So, now I put it on you to figure out how to present this to the city."

Fabienne shook her head harder. "Okay. I have one more question for you, specifically Judy. The rest I get, but you I don't. Why or how did you adapt to this god-like power you have? I mean, I just watched you manifest a pen from nothing. I know I'd freak out a bit, maybe go nuts with using it at first and get myself in trouble. But you. Other than I suspect those closest to you knowing or suspecting, no one has been the wiser."

Judy shrugged. "I was giving birth. I had new kits to care for. And let me tell you, never having to hunt for a binky or prep a bottle was a godsend. At first I didn't even realize it. I mean, I felt the flush, but this power doesn't take a form that is overwhelming like that. It just kinda is. It's there, I can use it, but if I don't think about it, I'm no different than before, except when I am using it.

I have power, but I didn't really even try to use it or learn it. I was still dealing with Nick's death, then I got hit with his second death and what I witnessed. Lucifer visited me but it just didn't really click. I would use it like I said. Then one day I did something else, and got called out on what was going on. Since then, and that was maybe a few weeks after I gave birth, I became more conscious of using this power. I wanted to make sure I wasn't doing things unconsciously. So I made the decision to not use it, save for those little convenience things. The pen, a diaper, etc… Also, the pen, it's from the supply closet. I tested it. I marked them all, then a few days later I did my usual and the one in my paw was one of those from the supply closet. Checking the closet, the pen in my paw was missing from the pack.

No, I don't know how it works. If I wanted to know, I could know that, because that comes with this power. I know what I need to know to use it when I need that knowledge, and then when I don't need that anymore, I don't know it anymore. If I need to know it again, I will. I will admit to using that trick, extensively. It's how all my bills for the council are so perfect."

Peter shook his head. "So, with everything else. You basically chose not to freak out. So you didn't."

Judy looked pensive for a moment. "Maybe partially. I mean, I chose not to freak out over Nick's second death, because I couldn't afford to. I had new kits to take care of and they needed me more. Then something else, and something else, and something else again. Running for office. Doing the job as councilor and district supervisor. There was always something else to distract myself with. I suppose it was more that I never gave myself the space to freak out about being essentially a goddess. Not my term."

Lucifer shrugged. "I wouldn't use that either. That term you used earlier. Ascended. That is more accurate. Though you are still clinging to this life and form, so you are ascended, but also not yet."

Judy nodded and pointed to Lucifer. "So I am in the process of ascending, then, and Nick is fully ascended, but manifesting here in this plane of reality to be with me. Just as Lucifer and Gabriel, as well as Jass his mate, are manifesting here. They're not, but also are, beings of energy."

Jass nodded. "That pretty much sums it up. As Judy suggested, there is a lot more to it than that, but that's it in a very simplified manner. We have forms, which you see. We have actual bodies, but can move as if we were just energy."

Fabienne came into her stride. "Okay. Then do you consider Nick and Judy part of you? I am assuming that there is a you, as a group. Are they on the same level? Are they just kids to be looked after?"

Gabriel looked thoughtful for a moment. "No, not kids. Newbies to be given some guidance, sure, if they're willing to take it and ask for it. We are a group, and no, we did not ascend at the same time. Some of us lifted some of the others up. Other's did it on their own, or with technology. There is no one way, and it's different for everyone.

I see Nick and Judy being a part of our group for a while as they learn and grow. As they fully come into and develop their power. Part of that is going to be keeping their lives here for a time. They still have attachments and reasons, good reasons in my opinion, for staying here.

What I can say is that their power is different. Not better or worse, not lesser, just different. That's not unusual. As they grow into it, use it more, it will change, and change them. The power a being gets is shaped by them and shapes them."

"That's fascinating." Peter rubbed his chin. "Let me ask you this. One of the things all those mammals in the mob have been whipped into are worried about is how dangerous they are. So, how dangerous are they?"

Lucifer chuckled. "Only as dangerous as you make them. You have to understand. Nick and Judy are functionally immortal at this point. There are no weapons that can hurt them on your world, and we are not inclined to interfere by acting on any request. In fact, we are still here out of simple curiosity and because Judy asked us to be. Otherwise we'd be completely paws off.

All that aside, they are still the people you knew before this all happened to them. So threats to their friends and family are going to invoke a response. One I think Nick and Judy will be far more careful with than I know I was."

Fabienne sighed. "Well, that's less reassuring than I hope you meant it."

Lucifer shrugged with a smirk. "Wasn't trying to be reassuring. Judy and Nick are from your understanding, gods now, with all the power that comes with it. There are currently no other beings of their type with interest in this world. That means there is nothing to put a check on them except themselves. So that's what I mean when I say, they're only as dangerous as you make them."

Peter groaned. "You." Pointing to Judy. "You could just end this, couldn't you? Snap your fingers or whatever and wipe them all out."

Judy frowned deeply with a growl mirrored by Nick. "Absolutely not!" The force in her voice echoed. "That is exactly what I have sought to avoid. I could make them all turn tail and return home with no memory of what happened. How would that be a good thing? That would be a violation of their free will, and if I start doing that, I have to keep doing that.

The literal worst part is that, I am in the position, with this power, because of mammals like those in the mob. Specist stereotypes and mindless, baseless fear. If mammals wouldn't have embraced the fear Dawn stoked, she would have never been successful. They would have seen in the moment that the predators going savage always did it at times and places that would cause the most damage.

Now they are listening to some of the very same voices, again! They're letting their fear rule them. What should I do, Peter? Should I magic them home? Should I just kill them all? I could do it so that you'd never be able to link it to me. That is not me. I'm hoping to be able to talk at least most of them down.

That's what I want. We took steps to get the kits to safety, away from these mammals before they could be given the chance to do something irreversible. The community is doing exactly what they are supposed to and staying out of the way.

Charges will be filed. The more violent ones will do jail time. The rank and file. I'll push for community service, in the community they helped wreck. The instigators. I hope they do hard prison time. I will not let this go much longer, but tell me. What should I do?"

Peter looked at Judy in surprise. "I… I don't know. What you are saying you could do is terrifying. But you won't. That to me tells me that he spoke the truth. You are still Judy. This is still Nick. I suppose we have no choice but to trust you. Fearing you, while legitimate, seems pointless in this context. Attacking you is unwise, attacking those around you. That is only going to force your paw. I see no win here."

Judy nodded, her face in her paws, clearly frustrated. "I know. Lizz, where are they?"

Lizz held her phone up. Main group is already outside. They've got the building surrounded. Everyone that can be evacuated has been via the tunnels. The mob clearly doesn't know about them. The only mammals here are those in this room, and my officers. What's the play?"

"Once their full group is here, they'll hold some speeches to whip them up more. I'll slip out then. While I am keeping them occupied, you and Bogo close the noose. When you make the move to start arresting mammals, we need to make sure there are no escape routes. So that means mammals stationed in the tunnels too.

Demitri, John. You're both officially hired as my security team. You too, Nick. Do not take action without my order, nor shift into an alternative form without confirmation from me. Deb, we will discuss exactly why you are still here later. What's your plan exactly? Also, same rules apply to you."

Debra walked out from behind some stacked boxes, a pout on her muzzle and arms crossed. "How long have you known?"

"I've known you were more than just a mink since I hired you. Didn't matter to me. I only care about your ability to do the job, which you do exceptionally. As for what you are. No idea. Care to share."

"First. What are they?" Indicating John and Demitri.

John laughed. "I am, or was, Nick's father. I was murdered, ended up in hell, though not as punishment. Foxes in hell, unless we were a real scumbag, are treated really good there. We also can take on jobs in hell. So both I, and Demitri, Nick's brother, are higher demons."

Demitri nodded. "Yeah. Was killed by a drunk driver. Time moves differently in hell. So I've been there for about two centuries or more. I stopped counting."

Debra nodded. "Fine, but I'll have to show you. We call ourselves Shifters." With that, Debra the mink shifted to become as large as Lizz, and a bestial version of herself. Huge fangs, claws, and deep voice. "There may not be more like you, but there are a lot like me." Pointing at Judy and Nick. "Many in Happytown are like me, or related. I was supposed to evaluate you. To determine if we should reveal ourselves to you. That was on tomorrow's agenda. We are ready to stand with you."

Judy nodded as Deb shifted back. "Your clothes shifted with you."

Debra shrugged. "Family trait, and actually pretty rare amongst Shifters. There are others as well, and most live in Happytown because we were and still are safer here."

"Okay. I do not want you to reveal yourself unless absolutely necessary. John, Demitri. Sounds like we have a community here that can act as cover for you if needed. Everyone stays here unless needed. Nick, that includes you.

Demitri and John, your job is to protect Anna and Vivian, as well as Mike and Lizz, if needed. Do not show your true colors unless needed. Deb, you're with Nick as my backup.

Now, before I head out there, what can you tell me? Any hints you've picked up? Suggestions I will hopefully be able to follow without breaking the city?"

Nick smiled. "Nothing you don't already know. You got this, Fluff, and we're only a few steps behind you."

"Lizz?"

"The noose is closing. We've begun picking off stragglers. They're starting to make their speeches as you suggested. Nothing crazy yet. Just some nebulous demand for answers and accountability. They're setting up a projector, so I assume the crazy will start once they've got that going."

With her ears at half mast, Judy grimaced. "Likely. I'm heading to the door. I'll slip out and wait. This sucks already. Close the noose. Start arresting mammals. Time to play distraction."