= The Fall: Violet Nightmare =

.

Chapter Three - Numb

.


.

Entering the hallowed halls of Precinct One always filled Tanaka with insurmountable pride.

Could that pride have stemmed from the other officers' camaraderie and collaborative efforts, helping forge the safe, orderly environment she knew today? Or did she take satisfaction from knowing that she could only bolster the department's aim to maintain and strengthen the harmony between mammals of all kinds in their city—as it continued to do for the last hundreds of years?

Partly, yes to both.

Today marked the beginning of what she knew would be a soon-to-be decorated career—no more looking up to her colleagues. Tanaka was now a keeper of the peace. Citizens would soon look up to her, not only to inspire but to be sought out for help and guidance when they needed her most.

It was her turn to become that idol. For that homeless mammal down on their luck and nowhere else to turn; for that poor kit from a rough upbringing who imagined no better life for themselves; for that addict whose life had hit rock bottom and couldn't shake away the demons. Even for the common mammal, lost in the city with no one else to turn to; this was Tanaka's chance to make a difference. To provide that support when no one else could.

The cheetah looked upon the enormous replica of the badge she donned mounted on the front desk's rear wall and absorbed the inscriptions that defined her profession. A brilliant gleam stretched from ear to ear. Her heart fluttered.

Tanaka felt compelled at that moment to reaffirm the declaration she had made to herself all those years ago:

She would make this city a better place for everyone.

Sat behind the front desk was the only other cheetah officer in Precinct One, Benjamin Clawhouser. Although, there was something off about how the male cheetah projected himself.

"Morning, Ben. Why the long face?" Fangmeyer inquired, gleaning the feline's brazened look.

"Hey, guys," Clawhauser flashed a small smile. "I'm okay. Just an off morning for me, that's all."

"Bullshit," the tiger rejected. "Come on, Benji. We've known each other for years. There are only a few things that get you down. Hopps hasn't broken the city again—"

"Yet," The wolf on the left flank interposed, aiming a fiery glare at his partner before looking back, retraining a gentler look.

"—And I don't think anything is going on with Gazelle right now, good or bad, so what gives?"

Benjamin scratched the back of his neck. "Edward came back today."

"Yeah, so? What about him?" Wolford asked. Gone was the hint of a caffeine-boosted snark. There was an untamed intention behind his question.

"What did he do?" Fangmeyer parroted.

"Nothing! He did nothing, I swear," Clawhauser panicked, doing little to dissuade his colleagues' reaction. "He came back from his leave this morning, and well…."

"'Well,' what?" The striped cat persisted.

"Edward looked bad. Like, bad bad."

"I know," muttered a calmer Fangmeyer.

"You've seen him?"

Fangmeyer nodded.

Clawhauser beckoned the tiger and wolf closer for a more exclusive conversation. Wolford utilized his superior hearing and stayed removed from the claustrophobic space. Tanaka envied the wolf's natural ability.

Two pairs of eyes peered over at Tanaka when Fangmeyer gestured in her direction. They went back to conspiring soon after. The tiger must have answered a question raised by the male cheetah; perhaps if the ZPD's newest recruit was already privy to their topic? Obviously, she wasn't.

Resisting the urge to eavesdrop, Tanaka overheard the whispers of the other conversations that reverberated in the thick air and pointed her gaze to those around. Considering the space, picking out individual voices wasn't possible for her, but she could pick out the name of the lupine detective being thrown around. Amongst that apprehensive commotion, Tanaka observed the uncomfortable microexpressions that came with the subject matter.

The mammals around them repulsed at the wolf's mention, reacting as if they'd caught a rancid whiff or overheard the ear-splitting screech of claws on a chalkboard. Those officers' scowls told her everything she needed to know.

If it weren't for the Nighthowler incident, Tanaka would have wondered how one mammal could create so much discourse within the confines of Precinct One.

"Damn," Fangmeyer mumbled aloud, stepping back from their inner circle's privacy and drawing the rookie's curiosity beside them. "I can't believe it's been two years already. I completely forgot."

"You and the rest of the department," Clawhauser admitted. "Edward looked so miserable. I couldn't just stay silent. I had to say something."

"You don't have to justify yourself, Ben," Wolford dispelled. "The other officers might have our grievances about him, we do too, but that shouldn't discount how you feel."

"I'm sure that Edward appreciates someone looking out for him, even if he doesn't realize it," Fangmeyer said.

Their validation seemed to lift the feline's spirits a little.

"He was my friend too, you know?" Clawhauser sullenly followed. "Deep down, I know he would have wanted me to try—for Edward's sake—but you saw him. I don't want to imagine how he's been holding up alone all this time."

"You were friends with Detective Snow?" Tanaka asked innocently.

"At some point," the cheetah receptionist clarified with a stoic smile and a shrug. "We were more 'friends by association' than anything else. Nowadays, we consider ourselves more 'close acquaintances.'"

"I'm sorry," Tanaka said, unsure what else to say.

"Don't be. Not like I know much about Edward outside of work. If that's what he wants, that's what he wants."

Clawhauser peered over at the computer monitor hidden behind the confines of his desk. Terror flashed in his eyes.

"Oh my gosh, you guys need to get to the bullpen. Roll call starts in less than a minute!"

Clawhauser was right. Those who'd occupied space around the lobby had already left and had made their way to roll call.

"To be continued," Wolford raised his coffee cup at Clawhauser, motioning to leave.

"We'll talk more later, Benji," Fangmeyer promised, flanking his partner posthaste.

"See you around, Benni!" Tanaka grinned, waving energetically at the feline receptionist before trailing the pair a few paces behind.

"Have a good one, guys! Good luck on your first day, Tani!"

Hearing her close friend unearth a fraction of radiance from his vibrant personality brought Tanaka some comfort en route to the bullpen.

Some.

Their interaction left the rookie with even more questions than when she began. If the wolf was just as bad as the others said, why did Ben still consider the detective a friend?

Clawhauser's nondescript answer frustrated her.

Tanaka understood why specific information was being withheld; his personal life was none of her business, which was reasonable. What she couldn't stand was them deeming it prudent to protect her from specifics without any say.

Tanaka didn't need protection, especially from some rude, big-headed, drunken wolf.

If the information was vital in discerning the nuances of her work environment, especially if interacting with the detective would become a daily occurrence, she felt inclined to know. Tanaka didn't want to end up in a situation that would somehow offend the detective if she said the wrong thing. Figuring out what set him off might save them both time later on.

The spotted female feline shoved nagging inquisition into the background. Obsession would get her nowhere.

Tanaka would make her protests known to Fangmeyer and Wolford another time.

Once the lot of them were clocked in, locating the door that led them to the bullpen was easy, spending less than twenty seconds in total walking time. Down the rightward archway, around the corner, first door on the right; the cheetah would do well to remember that.

Officer Sato shelved her enthusiasm and prepared herself for the rough and rowdy energy of Precinct One's finest when their trio entered the room.

Fangmeyer had always boasted about the other officers loving to flaunt their testosterone before the start of their shift. Whether it be a bout of arm wrestling, being the loudest in the room, or having the sharpest of wits, that was how they operated. They were a tight-knit pack of mammals with a common goal. Roars and riots were standard.

So when Tanaka looked around and saw that every mammal was sitting quietly in their chairs, whispering unsavory gossip amongst their cliques and patrols, she felt half-inclined to ask her friends, "What died?"

She kept that thought tucked away inside her head.

Hidden towards the back right corner of the room sat the lupine detective. Hunched forward with his elbows laid atop the table, Edward stared expressionless at the coffee cup clasped in his paws behind the comfort of his sunglasses. Tanaka could see the dark circles under his strained eyes from the side.

Once again—similar to how she saw him in the Bean—his ears would pivot to the voices and noises in the room. Both pointed extremities were aimed at the three of them, painfully aware of their presence. She could discern why.

The chairs surrounding the detective were the last to be unoccupied, two seats from the row ahead and the one to his left. There wasn't time to bargain with the others for a better spot. Wolford took one for the team and claimed the seat beside Edward, while Fangmeyer and Sato took the ones ahead.

After Tanaka settled into the second to last chair beside Fangmeyer, the cheetah could feel Wolford's frigid greeting from where she sat.

"Snow."

"Wolford," mumbled an equally cold response from the detective.

A few seconds past the top of the hour, Assistant Chief Higgins entered through the room's side door and swiftly stepped beside the dais at attention. The hippo's voice effortlessly carried over the muted conversations when he trumpeted, "A-ten-hut!"

Mammals on all sides began their ritualistic romps and stomps when the cape buffalo stepped foot into the bullpen. Fangmeyer gave the cheetah a knowing look, pummeling the desk into submission. Mesmerized by all the commotion, Tanaka sat by and watched those around her break into controlled chaos.

The wolf detective behind her was the only mammal in the room beyond her who didn't seem to partake in the rumble. Edward's discomfort was incontestable.

"Alright, everybody, sit," their chief ordered.

That didn't stop them. They got louder. Bogo wasn't impressed.

"Shut it!"

That time, the gaggle of jovial officers in the room complied with the command. A round of sniggering ensued, and everyone took their seats.

"I've got three items on the docket today, and I'd like to make this quick," huffed the cape buffalo.

"You're the living embodiment of speed, sir," the voice of a recognizable officer boasted.

"Can it, Wilde! Or you and Hopps will be stuck on parking duty for the next month."

"Can't imagine City Hall would enjoy that, Chief," Hopps followed.

Officers laughed, roared, and slapped the tables, enjoying the three-way verbal spar. Chief Bogo pinched the bridge of his snout and let out a labored sigh. Another long day lay ahead of him.

"That's enough; settle down. We're moving along. First, there is a new recruit with us here today that I should introduce, but I'm not going to because I don't care."

Muted giggles left Tanaka's muzzle when Bogo's eyes met hers. The room around her buzzed with lively jabbering and snickering of the cordial announcement.

"You already know who they are. Greet them on your own time."

Fangmeyer elbowed the cheetah's arm and flashed her a smirk.

"Second, we have someone from our ranks returning from a leave of absence starting today. As such, we have an elephant in the room to acknowledge."

Tanaka looked upon the same sea of scowls as Bogo did. Some rolled their eyes, and others muttered, but most remained eerily silent. The Chief steeled himself.

"May I remind those in this room: the city employs you to be keepers of the peace. We have a job to do. Do not mistake a blind eye being turned for license. Under my purview, verbal abuse of any kind directed at any mammal within our ranks will not be tolerated. Refusal to comply will be regarded as insubordination and punished accordingly."

Chief Bogo turned his sights to one of the larger mammals in the room. Officer Rhinowitz, to be specific.

"Do I make myself clear?"

Silence answered the cape buffalo.

"Splendid," he grinned. "Now, as for the third item on the docket, I will hand it over to Detective Hopps and Officer Wilde, who will be briefing you about their most recent findings."

On cue, the rabbit and fox dropped from their shared chair and shuffled toward the front of the room. Significantly shorter than their superior, The Chief provided a stool for his officers to stand on when they took the floor.

Hopps and Wilde leaped up to meet the eyes of those present. The lapine placed a dark red manila folder in her grip onto the boxy lectern and opened it.

It occurred to Tanaka that this might be the first time she'd had the opportunity to be face-to-face with the city's saviors. The cheetah couldn't deny how star-struck she felt.

"Thank you, Chief," she began. "Before we start, I wanted to take the time to welcome our newest recruit formally. Don't worry about jumping in right away. Take your time, and follow protocol. You're going to do great."

Beneath the coat of spotted fur, Tanaka could feel bashful warmth brighten her features. The two colleagues shared a nod and a smile. The rabbit promptly continued.

"By now, many of you are already aware of the increased number of savage attacks plaguing Zootopia as of late. We'll try to summarize the most up-to-date information to save time and bring everyone up to speed. Any objections?"

Up front, a polar bear raised their paw. Detective Hopps beckoned them to speak their peace.

"Pardon me asking, Hopps, but the only mammal in the room who hasn't been briefed is the rookie. Is another run-down necessary?"

The Chief opened his mouth and brought his hooves up, readying for reprimand, but was stopped by the lapine who'd motioned at him. Bogo hesitated but eventually stood down, nodded at her, and returned to observing.

"Valid question, Snarlov," she said. "You want the short version or the long one?"

"Long."

"Feeling adventurous today, aren't we? Don't let the Chief catch you. He'll put you on parking duty."

That garnered some chuckles from the flock decked in ZPD blue. Judy continued.

"When I joined the force, I was the typical bright-eyed, bushy-tailed rookie with delusions of grandeur; I was ready to take on anyone or anything to make a difference. Hearing that mammals were turning up missing across the city, I felt I could do more. Eventually, Weaselton happened, then the scurry in Little Rodentia, and the Missing Mammals Case right after—you all know the story by now.

"If I had more information then, or had I listened to my peers instead of blindly jumping in, maybe I might have been able to make different choices or see Bellwether for who she was instead of breaking the city?

"So, when I see another rookie walk through those doors, about to make their mark, I treat them with the respect of someone who's been here for years. I want them to be fully prepared for whatever they're up against when they exit the building. That way, they can feel comfortable reporting their findings to any of us and know how to handle sensitive situations should anything come up—regardless if they're assigned parking duty or out on a beat.

"We all wear the same badge. Every officer deserves that same chance, that same respect. Doesn't matter if you've been here one day or twenty years; don't underestimate the little guys."

Praise and admiration were murmured throughout the audience. Officer Sato couldn't stop gushing. Wilde and Bogo almost looked proud.

Detective Hopps sighed from the podium. "Good?"

"Good," Snarlov settled.

"Great. Let's move along, then. I don't want to keep you away from your patrols longer than I have. I'll hand it over to Officer Wilde, who'll give you the details."

Based on Wilde's momentarily stupefied reaction, Tanaka garnered that it wasn't part of the script.

Hopps stepped back behind Wilde on the stool, allowing her partner to take the reins of the meeting.

"Thanks a lot, Snarlov. Now I've got to follow that up," the smug vulpine jested while taking the dais.

Another round of laughs ensued. The cape buffalo huffed at the vulpine and tapped at his watch. Wilde didn't waste a second more and read from the file.

"It's been two years and eight months since Bellwether's incarceration. Since then, we've seen forty-seven confirmed reports of mammals going savage—twenty-three of which occurred within the last two months alone. Thanks to the help of our boys in the lab and the medical teams of the various hospitals all over Zootopia, we can confirm that Nighthowler was detected in each of the victim's bloodstreams. Bellwether's former associates, Jesse Bleatmam, Woolter White, and Doug Ramses, are our primary suspects.

"Based on the inconsistent locations where afflicted mammals had turned—residences, stores, parks, to name a few—we've concluded that these attacks were not premeditated, unlike the Nighthowler Case, where the attacks were meticulously pre-planned days in advance. Those who went savage did not appear to have any impact welts from pellet guns or injection points from needles, nor did they leave behind residue on their fur or body. Beyond ingestion, we cannot determine how Nighthowler got into their systems, so we're basing our investigation on that assumption until new evidence comes to light.

"As for our troublesome trio, they're ghosts. They've been covering their tracks wherever they go and are particular about who they talk to. Luckily for us, they aren't perfect. Doug really loves his lattes—shoutout to Precinct Two for that footnote. The last known sighting of Ramses was at a Snarlbucks in the Meadowlands two days ago. That's where Detective Hopps and I will be. Photos of these lovely rams will be tucked away inside your case files for reference. Should they be misdirecting us, you'll know who to look for.

"If you happen to find Ramses or his constituents, do not engage. These mammals are considered armed and dangerous; we're not talking about Nighthowler pellets. We're talking firearms. Call it in first if you get a lead. We don't care if you have an opportunity to tail them or if you think it's safe. Don't go off on your own like Carrots over here. Wait for dispatch. They'll relay further instruction from there."

Officer Wilde rifled through page after page of the documents inside the folder.

"I think that covers about everything on my end unless you've got another 'RED Talk lined up," half-speaking between those present and his partner.

"I do, actually," The detective nodded solemnly, ears drooping. When she stepped forward, she took a moment to ruminate before speaking again.

"We've all taken and passed the Nighthowler Endurance Training, correct?"

Affirmation from everyone in attendance softened her tense features.

"Good," she smiled. "Hopefully, the day never comes when we have to utilize that in the field. Regardless, you should keep up to two antidote darts per officer and one autoinjector to be used in or outside work, just in case. If you encounter any mammal exhibiting strange behavior and believe they might start turning—or even yourself or your partner—do not hesitate to use either."

Detective Hopps closed the folder and tucked it into the pit of her arm. She left the officers with a token of advice for her closing remark.

"Keep a close eye on one another, and protect those around you. Thank you for your time."

Rabbit and fox leaped off the stool and started for the side door. While removing their platform from behind the dais, their Chief expressed his satisfaction before they went about their day.

"Thank you, Hopps, Wilde. I look forward to reading your report before the day is out."

"Anytime, Buffalo-Butt!" The latter jibed before tailing the lapine out the door.

Bogo didn't pay the remark any heed. Instead, he put on his readers, grabbed the stack of case files from Assistant Chief Higgins, and carried on with roll call.

"Given the importance of finding and locating Doug Ramses, Woolter White, and Jesse Bleatmam, and the growing number of mammals turned savage, this is priority number one. Assignments:"

One by one, officers were hailed to the front of the room for their patrols. Tanaka could hardly contain herself.

Whether it be the mass amounts of caffeine that coursed through the cheetah's veins or the adrenaline of awaiting her name to be called, she found that her leg had begun bouncing up and down in an involuntarily rapid fashion. She'd been so hyper-fixated on the cape buffalo that she hadn't even been paying attention to the names of the officers around her.

Tanaka promised herself that she would look to remember those names passed another time.

Fangmeyer and Wolford were soon called along with Officer Snarlov and another Officer named Grizoli to obtain the dossier for their assignments in Tundratown.

"See you at lunch, Tani," the tiger whispered to the rookie. Fangmeyer and Wolford started toward the front with the polar bear and wolf and were out the side door before the next set of names was called.

Though, admittedly, after the much larger Rhinowitz and Pennington had been assigned to Sahara Square and set out, she realized that there weren't many mammals left in the room.

In fact, there were only four officers left.

"Delgato, Jackson, Higgins," Chief Bogo called, waving the final folder clasped in his hoof, "Happytown and the Docks."

Chairs scraped along the floor when the wolf, tiger, and hippo claimed their folder. The Assistant Chief and Officer Higgins exchanged a fist bump before the trio exited.

That left Tanaka as the last mammal standing. And with no case files remaining, she was left with deflated confusion. What would be her station if there were no patrols to assign her to?

"Last but not least, Officer Sato and Detective Snow."

Oh.

Edward was still in the room with them.

The wolf had been as quiet as a mouse for the entire meeting, so much so that Tanaka had forgotten that he had been sitting behind her.

"There are some things that I need to discuss with each of you," Bogo said, putting his glasses into his shirt pocket. "Follow me to my office, and we'll get matters sorted."

Tanaka did as she was told. Forgoing questions that would waste valuable time, she snatched her bento box and half-finished coffee and rushed over to trail the burly figure of their chief, who'd pulled Assistant Chief Higgins into a discussion as they walked; something to do about finances and budgets in regards to an outing—information far beyond Tanaka's pay grade.

Lagging behind the cheetah, out of sight, was the wolf. The detective's pace was slower than the group's, but he still skulked nearby. Apart from the clicking of claws, she could hear the infrequent sips of the coffee she'd made him.

Why did she get the feeling that today would be a long day?

O O O

The trek up to the third floor of Precinct One wasn't long. One elevator ride was enough to bring the four police mammals closer to the collection of offices claimed by those with prestigious titles and higher decorations.

Though throughout their entire ascent, all Tanaka could smell was the putrid odor of alcohol's past. She couldn't fathom how The Chief and Assistant Chief weren't suffocated while they conversed. All the while, the owner of the stench stood complacent against the wall of the back left corner, head downcast towards the floor and away from the blinding overhead lights.

How was the wolf able to get away with such blatant disrespect? Tanaka wouldn't dare arrive at her workplace hungover, let alone drunk. Hell, she figured he could be both at that moment. Bogo couldn't let that detail slide, she hoped.

When their claustrophobic box stopped and opened to the hallway, Tanaka did not hesitate to scamper out behind her superiors and sneak in a hearty breath of fresh air. She nearly ran into the backs of their legs out of sheer desperation.

Taking a right after the elevator bank and another passing the office space for the dispatch team, they backtracked toward the hallway balcony that opened into the front lobby.

Assistant Chief Higgins ducked into the office space adjacent to the Chief's, promising to pick up where they left off at another time.

Bogo guided both subordinates tens of meters forward until they reached the frosted glass door labeled with his title and surname. He stopped and turned to meet the rookie officer and disgruntled detective with a hoof on the door handle.

"Snow, I'll speak to you in a moment. Wait outside, and don't go anywhere," the hulking authority figure requested.

Edward took the time to discard his beverage and prop himself against the wall. Not a word of recognition was spoken to their superior. The phone in his pocket seemed far more intriguing than what was happening around him. Bogo didn't appear bothered by the lupine's behavior.

The Chief instead aimed his gaze at the rookie officer. "Sato," he said, twisting the handle to open the door, "you're up first."

"Yessir," Tanaka answered with a nod. It didn't take much incentive for her to step through the doorway.

Entering the cape buffalo's base of operations, Officer Sato felt herself break through the wall of humid air that lay beyond the door frame. Stuffy, and slightly warmer than the well-regulated temperature of the rest of the building, the room felt akin to the environment of the Rainforest District—which was only exacerbated when the door closed behind them.

Insulation isolated the pair from the outside world; sound ceased to be. No noise was bold enough to attempt to disturb the sacred space beyond a dull murmur. Each breath drawn became distinct and awkward, exemplified by how insignificant Tanaka was compared to Bogo's stature. That wouldn't be the case for long. But, wow, was it overwhelming at first glance.

Along the left wall, the rookie could see the map of the city plastered with gleeful photographs of varying species of mammals, both prey and predator alike. Tanaka recognized those smiling faces from the news. They were the unfortunate victims of the wave of savage attacks.

Bogo appeared to have been hard at work piecing together what little he could from the comfort of the Precinct. Box after box was pushed to the room's walls, while an unknown number of case files were scattered atop any available surface, minus the desk at the center of the office. That space was dedicated to the organized stacks of paperwork sitting inside trays awaiting inspection.

"Excuse the clutter," her superior said, passing Tanaka and taking his seat behind the desk, "City Hall has been up my tail as of late, given the recent events. Haven't had the opportunity to properly tidy up."

"It's not a problem, sir," the cheetah assured, claiming one of the empty chairs before the Chief and setting her bento box down onto her lap.

"No need to fret about formalities for this go-around, Tanaka. They won't be necessary."

"With all due respect, sir, I beg to differ," she countered.

"And why do you say that?"

"Appearance sake," the feline stated matter-of-factly.

"Enlighten me," he inquired, brow furrowing.

Tanaka saw that coming. In Bogo's defense, she'd admit that she could have phrased that better.

"You know how much becoming an officer means to me. Getting accepted into the Academy was one of the best days of my life. Major Friedkin made it abundantly clear on day one that despite how deep my connections to Precinct One ran, there wasn't any guarantee that I would be placed here; don't expect favoritism. And you know what I said? 'Good.'

"I never wanted it to be easy. You and I both know that life's hard. That's why I fought like hell to get here. Anything less would be a disservice to those who came before. I'm proud of what I've accomplished. I did this. The last thing I want is for the others to think that I'm getting special treatment because I'm the goddaughter of the Chief."

"And how do you think you're getting special treatment?" Bogo asked.

Tanaka lacked confidence in how to respond. She guessed, "Not many mammals are called up to your office after roll call, are they?"

"Not always, but some matters need tending to when officers first arrive at my doorstep. This instance is one of those times."

Embarrassment heated the cheetah's ears, pinned far to the back of her head. A critical misinterpretation of the situation.

She cast the blame on the massive influx of caffeine in her system. Chugging what was left of her coffee was the wrong decision in hindsight.

"That's not to say that your concerns aren't valid," the cape buffalo affirmed, showing no sign of offense taken. "Rest assured, I had no intention of taking it easy on you, far from it. Friedkin said you were an exemplary cadet—'an unrelenting, spotted menace,' in her words. To coddle that tenacity would only breed catastrophe. Our relationship will not compromise your progression. I can promise you that. I'm certain you'll become a highly decorated officer—on your own terms, of course."

"Thank you, sir," murmured a meek Tanaka.

"However," he redacted, "that doesn't bar me from catching up occasionally. When you're not busy, I'd appreciate some time away from this desk to have lunch with my goddaughter. Gods know I need a break."

"I wouldn't mind that, Uncle Adrian."

"Good, I'm looking forward to it," Adrian grinned.

The warm gesture was short-lived. Professionalism was restored to the Chief's features like the flick of a switch.

"With that sorted, there's still the matter that got you brought up here to begin with; your assignment."

Tanaka sat straight up at the edge of her chair and glued herself back to the conversation with fervid curiosity.

"We can go about this one of two ways," Bogo stated, "the first being aloud, or the second," both his hooves came up to chest height, signing the word [silent.]

The cheetah tilted her head, oddly canid-like. Tanaka had to beg the question, opting for quiet while doing so, [Why the latter, sir?]

[Because the detective outside has ears like a hawk, and this matter also pertains to him,] he said.

Dots began to connect as she absorbed each word.

"No," her denial whispered. Then signed, [You're not considering—]

The cape buffalo put up his hand, cutting her off, then followed, [Allow me the chance to explain.]

Tanaka, still conflicted, nodded.

[It's safe to assume you've already had a run-in with Detective Snow, correct?]

[Several,] she scoffed. The Chief appeared to dislike that answer.

[Then you have a right to know that he has been through more than any mammal should in this line of work. Matters are complicated. I'm not at liberty to disclose confidential personal affairs regarding peers to protect the mammals involved. What I discuss with you does not leave this room.]

Again, the feline agreed. Bogo continued.

[Two years ago, one of our officers, Bob Johnson, and then Officer Hopps responded to a disturbance call in Happy Town. We didn't know then that the residence was being used as a front for distributing Nighthowler. So when Hopps and Johnson arrived at the scene, the suspects inside got antsy.]

[Wait,] Officer Sato signed, [that wasn't the city's first gun-related incident since the ban, was it?]

[It was,] he confirmed. [Snow was the first to respond when Hopps called it in. He had been Johnson's partner at the beginning of his career, so it made sense for him to jump at the opportunity. When he arrived, it was already too late. Johnson suffered two bullets to his kevlar, taking cover behind the cruiser and another five protecting Hopps. The situation was handled, and he passed away shortly after.]

Tanaka didn't know how to respond. The Chief wasn't finished yet.

[Snow was promoted to the rank of detective a few months after the fact. He made quick work of the cases he overlooked and became a force to be reckoned with in the department, for better or worse.]

[What happened?] The feline dreaded asking.

[There was an incident in the Rainforest District three months ago; a distressed civilian classified as a danger to themselves and others,] Bogo answered. [Edward had already wrapped up another case and was en route back to the precinct when he took the call. He was the closest available unit at the time. Wilde and Hopps were a few minutes out when Snow made contact. They arrived, but there was nothing that either of them could do. Despite Snow's efforts to de-escalate the situation, the civilian jumped from a gondola platform.]

"Fuck," Tanaka's unintentional whisper of a grimace escaped.

[Extenuating circumstances and the nature of the event forced us to place Edward on a leave of absence and make him take a mandated psychological evaluation,] Chief Bogo vaguely signed. [After speaking with our on-site psychologist, physical trainer, and his appointed therapist, Snow was cleared to return to active duty starting today. That leaves why I've brought you here this morning.]

The Chief brought his hooves down on the table and released a breath. Seconds passed between them in unmoving silence until Bogo finally got to brass tax.

[Considering Detective Snow's strained relationship with the other officers in this department, we wanted to formally request that both of you become partners.]

Officer Sato immediately moved to decline, but the Chief waved his arms and stopped her before she could.

[I'm not finished. Please allow me to explain the situation before casting your judgment.]

Annoyed, Tanaka produced a scowl and conceded, motioning for her superior to continue.

[Thank you,] he signed. [We know that Snow is a problematic mammal to work with. However, his achievements have merit—he's one of the best detectives in the precinct for a reason. Throwing you blindly into a bad situation is the last thing I or the ZPD want for you. You could learn something from him, perhaps jumpstart your career if you're lucky. Treat this more as an opportunity than a punishment.]

Tanaka held back her tongue from muttering her true feelings aloud,

[Understand that we did not come to this decision lightly; every other officer we've approached declined, I'll be honest. But we believe this might be the best chance for Snow to get his life back on track. You're great with mammals. You always know exactly what to say. He's logical and pragmatic. The dynamic makes sense on paper.

[Just give him a chance,] he beseeched.

She didn't look convinced. The Chief rolled his eyes.

[If you still have reservations after a week, I'll move you. Deal?]

Tanaka frowned. The offer wasn't enticing. She didn't want to get stuck babysitting a mammal who outranked her. But, the Chief was desperate. She'd use that.

If he truly needed someone to help, she was inclined to do so, but ultimately she had the power of control.

This was her choice.

[Change that to 'at any point' and you've got yourself a deal,] she weakly countered.

[Done,] Bogo signed quicker than Tanaka anticipated.

She cursed at herself. She should have asked for more.

[Thank you for making this sacrifice,] he acknowledged. [We will make sure you have all the tools you need to succeed should you need them. Let us know if or when you require assistance.]

[I will.]

With a breath, the cape buffalo let go of the tension in his shoulders, then said, "Please bring in Detective Snow and wait outside. I'll call you back in a moment. I would like to talk with him before you set out.

"Yessir," Tanaka said, jumping off the embiggened chair and approaching the door.

Turning the handle exposed herself to the balcony. Officer Sato found Edward standing out of the way towards the front of the door, the unexpected presence causing her to jump with fright.

Once steeled and calm, she announced to him, albeit bland and forced, "The Chief will see you now."

Detective Snow stepped into the clutches of the office with little fanfare. The sunglasses at the bridge of his snout masked what little wordless emotion he could convey.

Tanaka eyed the lupine until the door closed behind him. Beyond the frosted glass, she thought she could make out a brash call to attention. Better him than her.

Alone at last, Tanaka released the pent-up breath held in her chest. Not the start to her morning that she was expecting.

The rookie took a few steps toward the balcony's railing and set her lunch on the ground. She took in the soothing sounds of the calm commotion below and rested her arms atop the angular wooden finish.

Passing the time mammal watching felt far more enticing than the addictive clutches of her smartphone.

O O O

Inside the confines of the Chief's office, Edward puffed out his chest and put his paws behind his back at the beckoning call to attention. He found it paramount to stand tall and proud before his intimidating commanding officer. Though, the look in his eyes behind his wayfarers told another story.

Bogo stood up from his chair and circled around the desk to observe the wolf closer. The buffalo's keen vulturous eye looked him up and down as he stepped before the tinier canid mammal, soaking in every minute detail of the detective's person.

Emotionless. Unreadable. There was nothing that Edward could pick up on while staring straight into the empty space.

The mock badge mounted along the back wall taunted the wolf, the pain and emptiness of everything crashing back down onto him. The stuffy air felt heavy, claustrophobic.

He can smell your failure, the wild thought rang. You shouldn't have come back. Nothing can change what you've done.

You're not some hero or a savior. You're washed; pathetic. Weak.

What value could you bring?

The deserving lupine took the beatings and waited for the bovine to cast his judgment.

Seconds passed until the silence between them was finally broken.

"You've lost weight," the Chief pointed out.

"I have, sir."

"Have you been eating properly?"

"Yessir."

"Exercising daily?"

Beat. "Yessir."

"Taking care of yourself?"

Beat. "Yessir."

The taller, higher-ranking mammal scanned Edward briefly before studying whatever he could from the wolf's features. Bogo eventually let out a breath, pinching the bridge of his nose as a groan of frustration left him.

"Don't take me for some naïve fool. I've lived through enough and been there before. Your tail has been dragging since we left the pen."

Edward corrected the error posthaste, opting not to emote in the process.

"I understand if you'd like to keep personal matters close to the chest, but these are questions that I must ask for the sanctity of the department and for the well-being of the officers under my wing. You may choose not to divulge specifics, but I must know how you are progressing to not push you beyond your limits. Understood?"

"Yessir," a weaker voice strained.

"Take off your glasses."

Edward did as he was told, struggling to keep them between his fingers as he brought his paws back behind him. He couldn't gauge his superior's reaction toward his appearance.

"I will ask a series of questions, and I need you to answer them honestly. You may go into as much detail as you'd like, but a simple yes or no will suffice. Can you do that?"

"Yessir."

"Have you been eating properly?"

"Been doing my best," a wavering answer came. "Some days are harder than others to stomach food."

"Have you eaten this morning?"

"No, sir. Just coffee."

"Have you been exercising?"

"Morning runs and an hour or two of strength where I can."

"Have you been taking care of yourself?"

"Yessir."

The Chief didn't enjoy the connotation behind the simple answer to that question. Hidden behind the lupine's back, he was fidgeting with his wayfarers.

"Have you been drinking?"

"Yessir."

The Chief really didn't enjoy that one either.

"Have you drank in the past twenty-four hours—"

"Only the night prior, sir," Edward spoke fast in a panic, innocent eyes darting between the bovine and the ground. "I'm sober, sir, I promise. I would never drink on the job. I-I'll even take a breathalyzer—"

"Easy, Snow, easy," Bogo eased, kneeling down to his level and putting a hoof on the lupine's shoulder. "There's no need to convince me. I believe you. But your coat, on the other hoof, begs to differ. Care to explain?"

Both of Edward's ears fell to the back of his head.

"I had a slight misunderstanding with another mammal at a bar. Happened a few days ago. It was my mistake."

"Then I assume that matters are sorted, correct?"

"Yessir."

"Good. See to it that you avoid further 'misunderstandings,'" Bogo said, standing back up and stepping back. "We wouldn't want anything else to fall on your shoulders."

"Or the ZPDs," Edward clarified.

"Right, you are," the Chief's nod wavered.

A beat of contemplation elapsed between the two until the gigantic prey mammal decided to drop the train of thought and continue on.

"Now, lastly, I'm aware that you have sessions that you have scheduled with your therapist. Have you been attending those sessions, and do you need accommodations moving forward to ensure those appointments aren't missed?"

"I have, and accommodations shouldn't be necessary. We thought it best to schedule the sessions for Saturdays every other week since we don't know when I'll be called in for overtime. I didn't want the days to overlap. My next session is planned for this Saturday."

"Good mammal. Should anything arise, I'll put in a good word to Mammal Resources to get your schedule changed."

"I appreciate the gesture, sir," Edward said. "Will that be all?"

"Not quite."

The bovine stepped away from the detective and sat behind his desk.

"At ease, Snow," he said. "Come, take a seat."

Edward relaxed and meandered over to one of the chairs. Once seated, the Chief continued.

"I've been in this line of work for over thirty years. Many officers have come and gone in my time here at Precinct One. I've been no stranger to heartbreak; tragedy. Others in your position wouldn't have bothered to return. Words can't describe how happy I am to see you here today."

"I'm ready to get back into the swing of things, sir," Edward said politely. "Sitting back in my apartment doing nothing is torture enough. I'm ready to get back out there."

"Agreed," said the Chief. "Hence why I've brought you here today."

Bogo steeled himself, as did the inquisitive wolf.

"Given the events of your fateful night in the Rainforest District, we had to reevaluate the best course for placing you back onto active duty. Many mammals have grievances regarding what's happened. They've made their intentions clear. Despite that, we've found a middle ground that might benefit your career in the long term.

"Before you cast your judgment, please take what I'm about to tell you with a grain of salt and understand that our verdict will not be up for debate—our decision is final."

Detective Snow felt his heart sink deep into his chest. Was he getting demoted?

"After careful consideration, we've determined that a demotion will not be necessary," the cape buffalo answered. Edward was tempted to relax. "Instead, we're giving you an opportunity. Starting next week, you will be working a beat as if you were a normal officer. You will re-earn your stripes and work back to managing your own cases only when I deem you ready and fit to do so. You will be paired with our newest recruit, Officer Tanaka Sato, and assigned as your partner moving forward."

"What? No," the lupine shook his head. "Chief, with all due respect, the last thing I want is to be paired with someone else, especially not with some rookie. They'd only slow me down and impede my investigations."

"I understand that, Snow. But please, don't be quick to disregard Sato. She's one of the Academy's best and brightest and has a lot to offer to the Precinct—"

Edward spoke over his superior, "And what's to say that she won't end up breaking the city like Hopps did? What could I teach her that the Academy hasn't drilled into her already?"

"I can assure you that there is much more to gain from your expertise—"

The wolf continued to rattle, "This has to be some mistake. You can't just expect me to just accept this willingly. How come it has to be me? You can't possibly believe that I'm the only mammal who can take her—?"

"This isn't about what you want, Snow!" Bogo raised his voice, cutting the wolf off. "This is about protecting and serving the citizens of Zootopia, not stroking your precious ego."

Taking a breath to contain himself, the Chief continued amidst Edward's astonished silence.

"I want to help you, Snow. Really, I do. But you must discern that I'm your boss first, acquaintance second. My hooves are tied. You cannot continue to get away with being a one-mammal show forever, and I cannot, and will not, sanction special treatment any longer.

"You were cleared for active duty with no restrictions, and we have a job to do. If you're adamant about disobeying a direct order from your commanding officer, there's the door."

The lupine's eyes darted between the Chief and his hoof, pointing to the direction of whence they came. He lay in wait for Edward to come to his decision.

Formulating the correct answer wasn't rocket science. Bogo was right; they had a job to do. Leaving was out of the question.

He wouldn't fail Bogo. He couldn't.

"No sir, I'm not," Edward retorted. "I'm ready for whatever you throw at me."

The bovine huffed in response to the wolf's meager attempt at stoicism. He then yelled towards the frosted glass door.

"Officer Sato, please step inside."

The feline entered the space and flanked Edward's left in seconds. Coaxed with the Chief's hoof motion, she occupied the remaining chair beside the wolf. Apart from a momentary glance, Edward barely perceived the cheetah.

"This will be easier to explain with both of you present. I rather have this come from myself directly. I haven't the faintest idea of what's been addressed apart from what's been documented, Snow, so I'll break it down for you once more:

"Nighthowler has been making waves in the populace and is wreaking havoc on the city," Bogo continued, pointing to the map. "The savage attacks are only making matters worse, and risking the well-being of our officers with the ongoing crisis any more than necessary is out of the question. For that reason, we've decided to work in conjunction with City Hall to order several directives aimed at improving the safety of our officers here in the ZPD while also ensuring the safety and security of the general public.

"The first and more poignant of the lot bars any Precinct within city limits from assigning detectives or officers to solo operations. That way, no matter the circumstance, if an officer comes into contact with the drug, the better the chance of containing the situation and/or counteracting the effects.

"That, apart from the lack of willing candidates—due to your own arrogance, might I add, Snow—is the reasoning behind why you and Officer Sato are slated to be partners."

Bogo leaned closer toward the canid with a fire in his eyes.

"Is that an adequate clarification to your quarrel, Detective?"

"Yessir," Snow mumbled in a meek monotone.

The cape buffalo sat back and eyed the two of them.

"One of the other directives mandated in this collaboration is what we've classified as 'Nighthowler Endurance Training.' Officer Hopps mentioned this earlier. Specialists from the ZBI who've extensively studied the effects of the Nighthowler serum discovered a way to train their bodies to resist its impact using microdoses. We'd enlisted them to train our officers to combat the rise of savage mammal cases.

"Have you received that said training during your absence, Snow?"

"I have, sir," Edward nodded. "Agent Savage was thorough and administered a scent portion to be safe. Should have submitted documentation regarding its completion about a week ago."

"Sato," Bogo asked, "how long did you last?"

"Three minutes, give or take."

"And you, Snow?"

"Just over eight," he said matter-of-factly.

"At full effect?"

"Yessir."

The unreadable prey mammal raised his brow. Even Sato flashed a twinge of intrigue. Did the lupine make an impression?

Chief Bogo pulled his pair of readers from his shirt pocket and opened a folder on his desk.

"Regarding your assignments moving forward," he addressed to both his officers, "we will be conducting business as usual. Because it takes a few days for new recruits to gain access to our systems, it's customary for rookies to be assigned parking duty to help get them acclimated to their role. We'll start there."

Bogo swiveled his head to face the wolf.

"Do you still have a spare uniform in your locker?"

"I should, sir."

"Switch out of your civies and into your blues once matters are sorted here."

"Yessir."

"You two will be covering the Savannah Central, Downtown, Sahara Square route for the first half of the week," the Chief declared, "with the latter half scheduled for the Tundratown, Meadowlands, Rainforest District route. We'll determine if another week of parking duty is necessary once the week is out.

"That should settle things for the moment. Is there anything else you wish to discuss while we're still present? Snow, Sato?"

"No, sir," the officer and detective echoed.

"Then hop to it. I expect a bare minimum of one hundred tickets by the end of the day."

Officer Sato leaped from her chair with her personal artifacts and started for the door. Before Edward could leave his seat, the cape buffalo stopped him.

"Leave the coat, Snow," the bovine requested. Edward could hear the frosted glass door shut behind him, isolating them once again. "I'll see to it personally that it is pressed, laundered, and at your locker by the end of your shift."

The wolf, taken aback by the act of kindness, stumbled on his words while removing and draping the article over the armrest.

"Thank you, Chief."

"Don't mention it. See to it that you don't make your inhibitions a habit. Otherwise, you're handling the bill."

"Understood, sir."

"Oh, and don't break my goddaughter while you're out Snow, or you'll be out of a job faster than you can punch in a ticket."

"Can do, sir."

And with that remark, the canid mammal started to take his leave to trail his feline partner sans trench coat.

But before Edward reached the door, he paused, a flummoxed look plastered on his maw. His brain had fired on all cylinders to completely process the Chief's promise.

Surely he didn't hear that right, right?

Goddaughter?

No, he did. The doubletake was warranted.

Goddaughter?!

Detective Snow rubbed at the bridge of his snout.

How did Edward get stuck with the one mammal that would have an insurmountable amount of leverage regarding his future at Precinct One?

His gut felt tense, telling the wolf everything he needed to know; this partnership between them would be arduous. For the sake of his career, he had no choice but to make the most of it.

"Biscuits," he swore under his breath.

The Chief humorously huffed.

O O O

Outside the office, leaning against the balcony rail, Tanaka watched her now partner Detective Snow exit the doorway, carefully closing the door to Chief Bogo's office behind him. Alone, the lupine finally lowered his head and exhumed a heavy breath.

With both ears back, eyes closed, and a tail nearly touching the floor, the feline could safely assume that Edward wasn't thrilled about the turn of events—she wasn't either. But there was nothing that either of them could do about it now. It was up to them to make due.

So, instead of basking in awkward silence, Tanaka took the opportunity to take a step in the right direction and formally introduce herself.

"Good morning, Detective Snow," she said. No reaction garnered beyond an ear twitch. She stifled her irritation. "Officer Tanaka Sato. We met at the coffee shop this morning. I know that this is far from what either of us was expecting, but regardless I'm looking forward to working with you—"

"Do you mind following me back down to the locker room? I'd rather not waste any more time than we already have. Those tickets aren't going to write themselves."

Tanaka shot him a blank stare and bit the inside of her mouth. Another strike-out.

"Not at all," she conceded. "Lead the way."

Snow took point and begrudgingly stepped away from the frosted glass door, guiding himself and the rookie back to the elevator bank. Their jaunt was extraordinary, with nothing to note beyond the occasional busybody looking over a plethora of documents or some dispatcher standing in the hallway enthralled in a personal conversation over the phone.

Pressing the button designed for medium-sized mammals to hail an elevator upon arrival, the pair stood in wait.

Seconds passed. Neither was willing to spark up a conversation. However, one found themselves discomposed from the lack of life in the room.

"So," Tanaka pried, squashing the unbearable silence, "what made you want to become an officer?"

"Because I wanted to 'make the world a better place,'" the guarded canid mocked with a long face.

Gears thoroughly ground, the cheetah attempted something else.

"Do you have any memorable cases that you've closed?"

"Too many to count," his snark spat.

No dice, either. Tanaka had never met a more reserved mammal. She was running out of ideas. What about something not work-related?

"Do you watch any sports?"

"No."

"Play them?"

"Not since I was a pup," Edward muttered, undoubtedly annoyed.

"Any hobbies?"

That was the straw that shattered the detective's patience. Snow turned and grilled, "Okay, what is this? What's with the questions? Are you trying to accomplish something?"

"Have you ever heard of small talk?"

"I have. Not a fan."

"I'm just trying to break the tension—or the ice, if you prefer," she grinned innocently. "Is it working?"

Ding! The light above the set of doors in front of them chimed.

"No," the wolf scoffed, "but it does feel like I'm being interrogated."

Metalic doors slid open to reveal an unoccupied cabin. Edward wasted no time slithering inside. He pushed the button for the ground floor and crossed his arms, propping his body against the rightward wall.

Tanaka flanked behind him, occupying the opposite corner of the enclosure.

"My bad," the cheetah officer halfway apologized, "I thought, seeing as we're going to be partners for the foreseeable future, the least I could do is try to get to know you better."

Doors closed, and with two occupants inside, the lift launched into its slow, delicate descent.

"And what if I don't want that?" Edward retorted.

"Nothing I could do to stop you," Tanaka shrugged.

"Then there's your answer—"

"But," she said, "I think it's a brain-dead move."

"Excuse me?"

"You heard the chief: Nighthowler is only getting worse. You're my partner now. If anything happens to you, that falls on me.

"Sounds like a 'you' problem."

"How am I supposed to know who to contact if anything happens?"

"Take that up with Mammal Resources. They have emergency contact information on file."

"Why not tell me right now?"

"Because it's none of your damn business!" The wolf growled.

Taken aback by the sudden outburst, Tanaka recoiled. Snow was bearing his teeth, and stared daggers into her. He wasn't done.

"I don't give a shit what the Chief told you; this 'partnership,' if that's what you want to call it, is only temporary. The only reason we're together in the first place is because of sheer coincidence, so don't get the wrong idea; you're just another thorn in my side. Our relationship is purely professional. Nothing more. You'll be another sorry soul's problem before the month is out.

"You want my advice?" Snow pointed. "Keep your spotted mitts out of my personal life, and do your damn job!"

The vexed silver wolf, livid beyond belief, marched out of the now-open elevator. A few fearful eyes trailed his canid form as he distanced himself away from the scene.

Back inside the cabin, Tanaka allowed herself a moment to breathe.

She was calm. She wasn't afraid of the mammal. Zootopia harbored far more terrifying individuals than an angry detective with a superiority complex.

No, of all things, Tanaka felt pity.

After everything she'd heard about the wolf, she felt more than capable of handling him. Now, not so much.

She wanted so much to call him out. There was nothing more satisfying than a bully being put in their place. But not this time.

She had to assume that the only reason why Edward would react so brashly was out of self-preservation. Why else would he be on the defensive?

And, in the end, she was the aggressor. She intended to find that line, not cross it by a country mile. She shouldn't have pushed him that far.

Tanaka sunk into the corner of her cubed domicile, tightening her grip on the railing and her lunch's handkerchief tails, and sighed.

"Fuck."