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Chapter 46: A lot of things in life got in the way, therefor the much longer gap than usual. I do hope the wait was worth it! Story is coming to an end. Only two or so chapters left.
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A/N: This story is a very loose crossover of Zootopia and Ace Combat 7, with emphasis on Zootopia, so this is the section where the story will be posted. The reason for the story's existance is incredibly simple: Just take a look at the personal emblem of the player character "Trigger" that shows up on the tail of all aircraft he flies. It got the ideas forming around, and really started when combined with this realization: By only taking a few characters and plot points from AC7 (hence the very loose part of the crossover), a what is hoped to be a compelling story can be formed.
As far as background information that can help with understanding the backstory: Zootopia is unchanged from the movie, and story takes place after the movie. On a larger scale, Zootopia is a city belonging to the nation of the United States of Animalia. To continue the theme with Incredibly Lame Animal Puns, the Ace Combat nations of Ocea and Erusea, renamed to Ocelotia and Urusia (the Urus is an extinct cattle variant that lead to the modern domesticated cow) exist as neighboring nations to Animalia, and are currently at war with each other. The United States of Animalia, and by natural extension, Zootopia, remain neutral in the conflict.
Since the story is set after the movie, movie spoilers are ignored and assumed to be known (if they will be relevant to the story). The only major spoiler for Ace Combat 7 will be the relationship between "Trigger" and the character that will be renamed to ex-President Hareling (how convenient of a pun). Considering the target audience for the story, this spoiler point falls into one of two categories: You already know, or you won't care about the plot point being spoiled. As it is, you have been warned.
The last major point to be made is that the story is being written in a very loose "because why not" approach. As of the publishing of the first chapter, the next few chapters are already written: Chapter 1 simply kept getting longer and longer, so the decision was made to split it up. That also allows for an earlier publishing date, and will give me feedback on how interested people are with it. Even if it will be unpopular, will I finish it? Very likely. Yes, I am aware that my track record for finishing the stories I started is terrible, but look at it this way: It's been over 10 years since I started writing fanfiction. If anything, this story almost didn't even get started because after several years of not writing fanfiction, it just felt weird. But I decided to metaphorically bite the bullet and started typing, because, again, why not? But because I am significantly older than when I started, I also like to think that I know a thing or two about completing tasks.
-T|o|o|T-
Chapter 1: An extra assignment
For a city that had managed to survive a near civil war caused by a predator-hating sheep, Zootopia liked to consider itself to be a bastion of resilience and strength. The residents got shaken to their core, granted, and the Nighthowler incident proved to everyone that perhaps they were not as strong as their banners and advertisements would claim, and yet, in the end, they moved on.
So when a single airliner crashed unexpectedly into the harbor off Savanna Central, apart from the usual initial frenzy and fear-mongering, it was only a matter of time before everyone calmed down. When it was announced that there were no passengers on board to have been in danger, the writing was on the wall for the news to become old news.
Still, others remained skeptical that it was a mere accident. After all Zootopia was the center of a large scale conspiracy that could have easily spilled outside of the city's borders, if not the nation's. Who was to say that there wasn't some other behind-the-scenes dealings going on that brought the airliner down?
And sure, while the neighboring Ocelotia and Urusia were struggling against each other, stalled out in a stalemate with one another, the United States of Animalia was still very much adamant with its neutrality in the conflict. The city of Zootopia itself was close to being on the other side of the continent of the conflict at any rate, so even if something did spill across the fence, Zootopia won't be anywhere close. So for the city's residents, the conflict was just something they got to read about during their morning routines. Or watch in the evenings, if that floated their boat better.
Still, mammals were asking about it, if only for curiosity's sake, so it ZNN's duty to echo the questions, even if only half-heatedly. The response, as usual, was tedious and official as per usual for government representatives. The newest official bulletin was as follows, and the snow leopard on the television, while professional, didn't look excited at repeating the message.
And on a single, small television set hanging off a wall in ZPD's Precinct One lobby, the latest media update was being read, while in a very professional manner, also without any hint of emotional investment.
"Sources within the MTSB have confirmed the identity of the recent airliner crash just off Savanna Central's harbor as belonging to an international flight originating from Ocelotia. In light of this revelation, the MTSB wishes to stress the following points to the general public:
First, despite the war between Ocelotia and Urusia still escalating, neither combat nor foul play are suspected to have been the cause of this tragedy. The airliner was in communication with Zootopian airspace control as per standard procedure right up until the moment all contact was lost. It is highly unlikely that either nation would seek to test the neutrality of Animalia by continuing the conflict within its airspace, especially over such a populated city such as Zootopia. As of currently, a mid-air accident or equipment failure is suspected to be the cause of the airliner's fall. Since the accident occurred within Animalian airspace, the MTSB will cooperate with Ocelotia's own agency to get to the bottom of the cause of the accident.
Second: As workers continue to pull everything they can find out of the harbor, all citizens are asked to be courteous and leave plenty of space for those involved in the salvage operation. Please don't gather in crowds around the worksite as to leave space for vehicles to enter and leave without delays.
And third: There is a possibility of debris from the airliner being found within the city of Zootopia close to the docks area. If you come across such a find, please contact the local authorities right away, but do not approach or touch the debris under any circumstances. It is most important that all evidence be tagged and cataloged as it was found.
And finally, most importantly and perhaps with the greatest of luck, but the most up to date sources claim that there were no passengers on board, with only a skeleton crew fling the airliner. So while our thoughts and prayers go to the pilots and crew of the airliner, we are also eternally grateful that the death toll was far lower than it could have been.
This message will be updated live on our website, as well as that on the MTSB. I'm Fabienne Growley, ZNN."
"-Nick? Nick, stop watching the TV already, we have a morning briefing we need to get to."
The fox officer's ears swiveled in the direction of the voice. Blinking at the interruption, Nick smirked as he saw his rabbit partner approaching him. "Well morning to you too, Carrots," he greeted with a carefree attitude. Waving a paw at the television set, he then asked. "So, how much you want to be that we'll be standing guard at the docks again?" he asked.
Judy frowned at his casual demeanor. "Nick? An airliner crash is not something to treat lightly," she scolded. "Even if there were no passengers on board. Protecting the recovery effort is a very important job."
"Yeah, well," Nick shrugged casually. "That's what you say about every job. Chasing bad guys, sure. Going to a local school to show the kids how we keep the city protected and secure? Even better." He then winked at his partner. "Placing parking tickets on cars that stayed in the same place one second too long? You're well on your way to curing cancer with that attitude!"
Despite wanting to be angry at him for using such a cheap shot, Judy couldn't help but grin instead. "That's not fair, Nick! We get placed on parking duty often because Bogo trusts us to get it done quickly and properly!"
"Yes, because angering the citizenry of Zootopia is exactly how we convince them that we are on their side," Nick protested. While his smirk lessened, it didn't fully go away either. "Carrots, all I am saying is that you have a very nasty tenancy to treat all jobs with the same enthusiasm."
Now it was Judy's turn to smirk at her partner. "And that is a bad thing exactly how..?" She placed her paws on her hips, eager to see what lame excuse Nick can come up for his counter.
"Well, instead of giving all jobs one hundred percent," a part of him realizing that it was getting dangerously close to them being late to the bullpen, Nick walked over to Judy and pushed her along in its direction as he spoke. "I was thinking, well, some jobs might only really need ninety percent effort. Eighty even."
He opened the door and the two of them were instantly greeted by the boisterous noise of the other officers and their usual morning silly antics. Even as he returned their various greeting as the two of them walked down the center to their usual spot at the front of the room, he continued to explain his rationale to Judy.
"Heck, something like parking duty? Twenty percent effort is being far too generous. So I was thinking, instead of diluting all of that effort into everything, what about concentrating it instead?" He sat down in the combined chair, Judy hopping over next to him. "Less than a hundred where you can, but then also one hundred percent plus when its needed!"
Judy grinned, shaking her head. "You can't give more than a hundred percent to a task, Nick, you know that's not how it works," she argued instead. "Admit it, you just don't like admitting that you don't give everything you can to the jobs Bogo gives you."
Nick grinned. "And that's a bad thing exactly how..? he asked, echoing Judy's tone down exactly as to what she used on him. "Burning out because I ticketed too many cars is not my idea of devoting everything I can to the city. And speaking of burning..."
Lazily, Nick Wild pulled a sleeve back from his uniform to show the fur on his arm. "Carrots, for all of yesterday we got to enjoy the great outdoors by standing around and making sure that no one interfered with the workers getting that plane out of the water. But because of that, I swear, this beautiful red fur is going to bleach into a dull yellow soon. And personally, I don't want to end up looking like Finnick." Rolling the sleeve back down, he let out a long, exaggerated yawn. "Of course, knowing Bogo, he will want us to write up some nice long, multi-page essay on how no, we didn't in fact let a mouse car drive underneath a crane."
Judy crossed her arms in annoyance. "Oh, don't be such a spoil-sport, Nick! I'm sure we'll be rotated out into a patrol, or investigate some report. Besides, you of all mammals know that these slow jobs are the most important ones. It's an airliner crash, Nick, it's important that the cause be found out as quickly as possible, so that it won't happen again." Uncrossing her arms, she reached out with a paw, closing it into a fist. "So the usual question still stands. Ready to make the world a better place?"
Nick simply waved a paw at his partner. "Just saying, if they wanted to keep folks out, all they needed to do was to set up some concrete barricades down. Problem solved." Never the less, smirking like he always does, he closed his paw and bumped it against Judy's. "Bet still stands on what we're doing today." His eyes darted to the side of the room when the secondary entrance door opened up.
"Atten-hut!"
Higgins walked into the bullpen, bringing the conversation to a halt as all of the officers stood and began to pound on their desks as per ritual to introduce Chief Bogo into the room.
Said buffalo didn't look happy as he entered. But then again, he made a habit of not appearing happy. "Settle down, everyone! I said settle down!" The pounding stopped. "Good news for today, we are returning to normalcy today. The MTSB has informed me this morning that they will not need as many officers holding down the fort, which combined with officers from other precincts finally deciding to show up, it means that most of you will be able to return to your previous tasks."
Which, as he began to hand out assignments to the various teams of officers, wasn't actually all that much.
"Hopps, Wild!" Judy's ears shot straight up in excitement at the day's prospects. Plus, it was an opportunity to earn a quick win from Nick as well. "Traffic duty!" The ears dropped slowly. As much as she was glad to win her little 'bet' with Nick, it was a Pyrrhic win at best: Monitoring traffic to hand out speeding tickets was not much better than parking duty. Sure, there was always the potential of getting into a chase, but at least you got to ride around town to put parking tickets. Traffic duty too often involved spending hours at the same spot, and was therefor, arguably, even more boring.
"You know," Nick started to tell Judy as everyone shuffled out of the bullpen, "if I didn't know any better, I would say that you want crime to happen, just so you can stop it." His comment was rewarded with a punch to his arm. "Ow! Carrots, that hurts!"
"Well then don't say things like that, Nick!" Judy replied, "you know that I would never wish for someone to get hurt just to give me a chance to do something." Then, wishing to distract him from the fact that perhaps he was rather uncomfortably close to hitting home the fact that she was always on the lookout for action, she quickly added, "and as for that bet you made about our assignment? I win. Told you so!"
"Yeah yeah," Nick mumbled. "Still doesn't stop you from complaining when there isn't anything to do"
The duo continued to bicker on and off for all sorts of things as they gathered their gear and made their way to the motor pool. Picking the only police interceptor that was modified for their smaller sizes, Nick allowed himself to relax in the passenger seat as Judy took the wheel. "Bad day for speeders when the bunny's behind the radar gun," he said with a grin as the interceptor rumbled to life. Pointing a finger at the roof, he brought it down quickly so that it pointed out of the motor pool and to the street in front of them. "Hit the road, Carrots!"
Just as Nick predicted, traffic duty didn't end up being very exciting. Most of the time, if a speeder drove by, Judy simply had to hit the lights for the offender to suddenly remember that they were not in quite the hurry they thought they were. For those mammals who insisted that they were in a hurry, a freshly written speeding ticket would convince them otherwise. Still, several tedious hours later, the fox and rabbit were sitting at a cheap diner for their lunch break, enjoying the breakup in the monotone duty they were assigned to. Waiting for their food to arrive, Nick was tapping his paws on the table to a tune in his head, while Judy next to him was busy filling out the latest paperwork on the various tickets they handed out. His mind wandering, Nick couldn't help but to overhear the conversation from a group of beaver construction workers, huddling around their own meals.
"-no airliner I know uses matte gray as its livery. And the tail section that got pulled out of the water. it's escaping me for the moment, but I swear I recognize that design."
"Don't start with your conspiracy theories now, Donny! I just want to enjoy a nice warm meal before we return to work. That pavement isn't going to fix itself, you know."
"Yeah? Well, how much do you know about aircraft, huh?"
"Nothing at all! But that's not important, Donny. The fact that you are always saying this and that about conspiracy this or that… that's important."
"-C-17! I knew I recognized that T-tail, it belongs to a C-17! That's a cargo plane! Now riddle me this: Matte gray. Military cargo bird. Flown by a country who's airforce is currently in a significant conflict. Makes you wonder, doesn't it?"
"Okay, Donny, you might have a point there. But then answer me this: Why risk breaking the neutrality of Animalia by flying a military flight over our airspace? And even if someone pulled a fast one on us, why blow it up as you claim it to be? It crashed into the sea anyways, so why worry?"
"First of all, I never said Ocelotia blew up their own aircraft, I just said I don't think it was an accident. Second, do you know how many variables there are in where a plane goes when it's wings fall off? Slightly different winds, a different flight speed, heading angle, you name it, frankly it's a blessing that the crash didn't happen in the city. Call it divine intervention if you want, but it's only pure luck that those cops there aren't busy pulling bodies out of downtown at this very moment."
Nick quickly looked down at the empty table as he realized that the beaver actually referred to him and Judy. The movement caught the bunny's attention, who simply gave a slight grin, her eyes still on the paperwork in front of her.
"Serves you right for eavesdropping on mammals, Nick. You know that's very rude behavior."
The fox shot her a glare. "Well excuse me for not having two giant audio receptors on top of my head," he complained just as he connected the dots. "...Hey, you were listening in too!"
Judy shrugged her shoulders. "I will neither confirm nor deny your theory." Her eyes quickly glanced away from Nick and the paperwork. "Since it looks like our food will soon arrive, here." She took the rest of the unfinished papers and moved them in Nick's direction. "You can do the rest on the second half of our shift, not like you do all that much in the shotgun seat. Perhaps you will even finish before Bogo is forced to skin you alive for tardiness. For once."
Nick flashed a grin at the waitress who finally delivered the food to them – a basic cricket burger for him, and an even simpler greens salad, topped with chopped carrots of course, for Judy. "Why, I have no idea what you are referring to, Carrots. I still have every single strand of fur that I was born with."
In between mouthfuls of lettuce, Judy paused in her chewing, reached across the table, and lifted something in front of Nick for him to see. "What about this one?" She asked, waving a single strand of auburn fur before the fox's face.
Nick grinned again, acting as casual as ever. "You can keep it if you like," he replied, "give it a name! Yes, Carrots, I do on occasion allow a strand or two to escape and live out a life of freedom." He grabbed his burger and began to eat it, chewing loudly while making sure to overemphasis how much he enjoyed the quick meal. He tried to refocus his attention on the group of beavers, but they somehow got into talking about which sheep-run organization was responsible for all of the chem trails above Zootopia, and so he quickly lost interest, and went back to smacking his lips at the greasy meal he was consuming.
Rather than comment on how she knew that Nick was trying to provoke a reaction out of her, Judy let him be a messy fox as she quickly finished up her own lunch. Getting up, she grabbed some spare change Nick left on the table as she went to pay for their meal. It was a simple alternating cycle, really: one pays for the meal, the other pays the tip. Sure, many times it would be just easier to pay separately, but on other times, it would take longer, or just be that slightly more annoying.
Turning back to fetch the fox to return to work, Judy couldn't help but smile when she saw that with the remains of his burger set off to the side, Nick was hunched over the stacks of paper she had given him, pen in paw and busy filling out the forms. Sure, her fox was brash, often rude, and made it far too much of a habit to not have manners, but she also knew that when he didn't think anyone would notice, or didn't care if they did, that Nick was more than capable of doing even the mundane, boring chores of modern life. Skills that no doubt had helped him with his hustling, and were now in turn used for the greater good.
"Ready to go?" Judy asked, drawing Nick's attention away from the papers. "Car's already waiting."
Gathering up his work, Nick made sure not to forget his drink as he followed the bunny back to the over-sized police interceptor waiting for them on the parking lot. "So, miss long-ears," he started to say as he clasped his seat belt on, "since you can get away with listening in on mammals without looking suspicious, what did you think of our beaver friends?" He smirked in her direction, repaying the favor of 'scolding' her for eavesdropping.
Pulling out of the parking lot, "What do I think about that conversation?" she repeated, then returned the smirk to the fox. "Whatever the official story is on it, that's what I think."
Nick folded his arms in annoyance. "Aww, come on now, Carrots. I'm not a civilian, and it's no fun to just default on the answer like that!" When Judy refused to give in, he chose to glare out the window. All pretend, of course, he didn't actually care what she thought in this case, but it was more of the principle of letting her know that Judy can't get away with hurting his feelings. After several minutes of staring out at the passing city as they drove to their traffic duty location, he remembered that he had wanted to look something up. "Say, Carrots, about those beavers again, what was the number of the plane that one guy mentioned? It was C- someth-"
"-17" Judy answered before he could even finish asking the question, her eyes glued onto the road ahead of them. She did risk a quick glance at the fox when some sudden movement from Nick caught her attention out of her peripheral vision. "Nick! You know that we can't use our phones for personal use while on duty!"
"But this isn't personal!" Nick countered, "well, not really. But it's very loosely related to what we did yesterday, so it's not not duty related." He waited until Judy had to stop their interceptor due to a red light. "See look, what do you think of this?" He held up the screen for her to see. "Remind you of anything from yesterday?"
Judy looked over the many different images of the aircraft on the image search that Nick pulled up. "My eyes were on the crowds, Nick, not on what they were pulling out of the water," she eventually said, "and even from I saw, which wasn't much, I might add you, it was all broken bits and pieces, so I wouldn't know what I was looking at even if you showed me directly." Returning her attention back to the road, she let out a sigh. "Listen, Nick, our job isn't to worry about that. As the news loves to remind us all the time now, that's the MTSB's job. So unless you want to switch occupations, I can recommend that you put your phone down, and rather get going on those papers you still need to complete."
"You're no fun, Carrots."
It was the perfect opportunity for an oldie but a goldie. "You know you love me."
The fox sighed. "Called it. You really ought to be grateful that I allow myself to walk straight into these things."
Their conversation about airliners and beavers over, it was time to settle back into 'traffic duty mode', which much like the morning, wasn't much. It did allow Nick to not only catch up, but to actually complete the paperwork that was due, even if it did require some nagging from a certain bunny cop. Still, there was no hiding the triumphant smirk on his muzzle as they pulled into the motor pool at the end of the day, a folder of papers under his arm ready to be delivered to the appropriate holder.
Ridding himself of the folder into his cubicle, Nick didn't bother waiting for Judy. Or in this case, she hadn't bothered to wait for him, already off to the ladies' locker room to change out of her uniform. Since they always met up by Clawhauser's desk anyways, he didn't pay much mind to it as he went to get himself changed as well.
So it was to his great surprise that when he got out, Pawaiian shirt over khaki pants of his usual casual wear, Judy was waiting right outside the door, still dressed in her police uniform and looking rather impatient. Her foot was tapping repeatedly on the ground – never a good sign.
"If you had waited a whole half minute later to turn off your radio, you would have heard me call you out of the locker room," she said as a reply to his questioning stare. "Bogo wants to see us in his office."
Nick's ears fell, and for once, he remained silent. A visit to the office at this time of day meant that he was going to be in serious trouble – it's not like Carrots ever did anything to deserve disciplining. Except that for once, he could also not figure out what he had done that would get Bogo riled up like this. Sure, Nick was always quick to shoot a sly remark and his sarcasm towards the chief knew no ends, but he drew the line with practical jokes towards his fellow beat officers, and only the ones he knew would take the joke, roll with it, and potentially repay him in kind. In other words, apart from attitude, the fox made sure that he didn't actually do anything that would lead to actual trouble with his superior. Judy made sure of that all the time. But by the way she was looking at him, he was saddened to see her look of disappointment. There was no need to guess that she was also trying to figure out what he did to deserve the punishment.
And he was changed into his Pawaiian getup on his way to his boss' office. What an idiot.
Knowing that delaying would only make things worse for them, Judy knocked on the door as soon as they came over. A short but stern "enter!" was shouted from the other side of the door. Nick felt his hopes raise slightly. Bogo didn't sound too angry. At least not any more angry than his normal self. Best be careful though and not get hopes too high up.
The bunny and fox cops entered the office, with Nick trying as much as possible to hide behind Judy, if such a feat was possible considering their size difference.
The buffalo looked up from his work when the two entered, and snorted in annoyance. "For goodness sake, Wilde, don't look like you're walking to your funeral. I need you and Hopps on an extra assignment for today." It was then that he noticed the clothing Nick was wearing. "Wilde, please tell me that you at least have your badge with you. I do recall very clearly sending out a message to you and Hopps, one that apparently she received but you somehow didn't."
Nervously, Nick pulled his wallet out of his pocket, showing his badge to Bogo. "Good, then I don't have to reprimand you for being out of uniform. Now, I really don't have time, and neither do you, so I'll get straight to the point: I need the two of you to meet up with Officers Fangmeyer and Wolford. Clawhauser will tell you where. Some suspicious activity has been reported in the Jungle District, and they found pair of interlopers running around and getting citizens all nervous. Had at least several complaints already today."
"What are we needed to help with, sir? As in, exactly?" Judy asked. This didn't sound like a very 'urgent' assignment, more rather like something that would be assigned at the next day's morning roll call. Plus, there was the added fact that when it came to actively tracking mammals, the duo of Wolford and Fangmeyer were almost impossible to beat. "And the suspects? Did they do anything wrong?"
"You and Wilde are both small enough to follow the suspects," Bogo replied with a sigh. "They have been reported using small alleyways and dark corners to hide away whenever cops would get close to investigate. Wolford can follow them, but not quickly enough. Fangmeyer, if there is no way to get around, is too big. And it's out of the jurisdiction to request help from Little Rodentia's forces. So they asked for the two of you specifically."
Pointing out the door, the chief gave a stern look at the two officers. "As for the suspects, no, we are not aware of them breaking any laws. But they do know that we're following them, and they are actively evading us. So at the very least, we can argue probable cause for getting close to them and at least making contact. Find out what they are doing and why the residents are getting all worked up over them. Get the latest info from Clawhauser." Bogo glared at the two officers, but especially at Judy. "Do not gossip with him while you're there. Also, by the time you link up with Wolford and Fangmeyer, I, and Clawhauser as well most likely, will be done for the day, so you'll be reporting to the evening different dispatcher. Pay attention to the radio for the switch. Wilde: Do not try their patience, they are not used to you nor your radio habits, and I don't want to spend tomorrow morning having to argue you out of a reprimand. Overtime for all of this has been approved, and we'll figure out tomorrow's schedule after this is all done as well. And last minute questions?"
Nick and Judy both shook their heads.
Standing up so that he can lean closer to the bunny and fox, Bogo's stare could almost bore holes in their heads if the buffalo so wished. "I do not want an incident with this. Now go."
As the two turned to leave, the chief cleared his throat to get their attention. "Actually, I have a better idea," Bogo announced. "Hopps, you get the information from Clawhauser. Wilde… loose those rags of yours and put your uniform back on. Now git!"
