Chapter 11: Recovery
The four crept through the maze of tunnels, the break in the wall led to some kind of old tunnel system, some were old sewer drainage, others that led to subway tunnels, the displaced dirt and mold that had formed on the ground had foot trails in them, along with drag lines. Based on this Kaiden had figured that the pangolin had come down this way, dragging Judy unceremoniously like a child drags a teddy bear. It made sense that the pangolin might not have been able to carry Judy the whole way. But at the very least the trail was telling them they were going the right way.
The four predators were definitely catching the smell in the air with their snouts, but Nick was able to catch the scent of something else, Judy. He definitely knew her scent, living as long as they have together, Nick had encountered Judy's scent in all of its varieties from the stench of late night stake outs and bugaburger to the spicy and musky aroma of love making and everything in between. This scent though was the unfortunate familiar scent of fear from her, the one scent he hated. To Nick, Judy was a lot of things, happy, enthusiastic, compassionate, loving, and kind. But afraid, no that was something he never thought of her as being. Having seen her face down many things, Fear was not something that came easily to Judy Hopps. But there it was none the less, which meant whatever this pangolin was putting her though, was cutting right to the core.
Nick hadn't noticed but eventually felt the hair up on the back of his neck standing on end, his teeth gritted and a low growl echoed slightly off the walls of the tunnel. His protective instinct kicking in, 'Judy, please be safe.' He thought.
They continued through the tunnels for a while. Eventually happening upon tunnel lighting, it was different than the surrounding aged structure, it looked newer and functional, the wiring was exposed, but care was taken to secure it to the wall but not to any kind of permanence. The small dangling lights were illuminated which was markedly different because up this point, they had been walking through darkness.
Nick has motioned with his paw to follow him, he could sense they were getting close, in his mind this pangolin was going to pay, he wasn't sure how, but that he would make him pay.
"What are we following Nick?" asked Kaiden.
"Judy." Nick replied.
"Even down here? There are so many conflicting smells." Kaiden retorted
"Trust me, I can tell, it's her." Nick stated convinced.
"Hmm." Kaiden replied
They continued down the tunnels, being careful to keep an eye out for any trip wires or other booby traps. If this truly was the pangolin's hideout, though it was certainly deep underground, he clearly wasn't expecting any visitors.
Meanwhile…
"Listen to me Brandon, you can't kill Bellwether." Judy spat
"Why not?!" he asked angrily.
"Because if you touch her, especially under the guise of 'teacher' all you will be doing is creating a martyr."
"That evil little lamb, a martyr?!" he replied in disbelief.
"Yes. There were people that helped get her in power, people who had a vested interest in pushing a pro-prey agenda. You touch her, all you will do is show people that preds ARE dangerous, and that they would cold bloodedly murder someone who is already paying her debt to society."
"How can you defend her? Especially after what she did to you personally, what she tried to do?"
"I'm not defending her or what she did, but I know how people think, as far as mammals of this city are concerned, she's guilty AND she's paying for that guilt in jail. Going after her now just escalates things."
Brandon was hearing the words but he was still packing his bag, with Judy not willing to help him, he had to change to Plan B.
"Brandon, please stop!" she begged.
"No!" he said in frustration.
He stopped and approached the rabbit grabbing her by the chin and making sure she was looking into his eyes.
"Don't you see, we ALL have to be punished, the guilt that each of us has must be ultimately judged and accurately punished. To let any ONE mammal off the hook is a betrayal to all those who accepted their punishments accordingly."
"But she WAS punished, she's in prison."
"That's NOT enough!" he replied coldly.
"And who are YOU to decide that!?" she exclaimed.
"The one who was victimized." He fired back.
"It was because of her that my life was destroyed, that my wife is dead, that countless others that were affected and STILL affected by her actions."
"Sentencing her to languish in prison, in the relative safety of other prey animals, is exactly what she wants. And the best that she could have hoped for."
"But she deserves a truly just punishment to fit her crime."
"That's still not for you to decide."
"That may be so, but I am the one who is taking the charge." He replied.
"You'll never get into the prison, even WITH my help, they would never let you in with anything that could be a weapon." She said dismissively.
Brandon stepped back and paced for a moment as if considering something, he grinned to himself, as if suddenly realizing he missed something. He turned back to Judy
"Ya know, I sometimes forget that other people don't think the way I do, that the way my brain works now, I often forget just when I am most of the time."
"Don't you mean 'where you are'?"
"I meant what I said." He replied.
"We didn't have that conversation yet." He replied albeit cryptically.
"What?" Judy asked confused.
"I'm not going to the prison Judy."
"Why not?" she asked raising an eyebrow.
"Because that's not where Dawn Bellwether is…" he replied with a smirk.
"What are you talking about?" she replied shaking her head.
"Dawn Bellwether hasn't been in prison for over 2 months, the lamb you have there now is just a double that's standing in for her, the guards who knew her were transferred, and the ones there now just assume the double IS her."
"Assuming that's true, how could YOU know that?"
"Because…you told me, or rather you WILL tell me." He said with a smile.
"Brandon…" Judy scoffed finally having enough.
"YOU CAN'T SEE THE FUTURE!" she screamed.
"It's impossible, nobody can. You're just delusional. You've had a lot of bad things happen to you, unfair things. But that doesn't mean you have superpowers!" she exclaimed.
"So you don't believe me?"
"No, I don't, because it's impossible, it's just impossible."
There was an uncomfortable awkward silence; the two of them just stared at each other, reflections bouncing back and forth.
"That is what they said about you." The pangolin finally replied.
"They said that you doing what you do, being who you are, was impossible."
"But here you are."
"We live in a world of infinite complexity, infinite possibility, where there isn't such a thing as impossible."
"Brandon, you have to accept the reality of your life, the reality of what has happened, and who you are…and…." She explained.
"Pshhh, that's your father talking." He interrupted.
"You don't know my father." She stated flatly.
"Yes, Yes I do…or rather, I will."
She shook her head in frustration. Brandon grabbed a blue notebook off the nearby desk, rolled in his paw, she held it like a baton.
"The mammal who wrote this play believed in equality for ALL, not for SOME, not for MOST, not for those who are deserving or can purchase it but for ALL, regardless of who you are."
"Brandon, I wrote that when I was nine, NINE YEARS OLD." She pleaded
"'Out of the mouths of babes.' Even at such a young age, you had the insight, the vision of truth, you realized even then the world had practiced a different set of rules then it preached, you realized even then that inequality abounded and even then, you resolved yourself to change it. That's WHY you are where you are, and have done the things you have done, Judy."
"And it's why before this is all through, why you WILL do what you will do. Because for all of us, for true equality, You Judy, YOU, are the one who will change the world, along with that fox of yours."
"I know you don't believe me Judy….but you will. You will, you'll even come to depend on me in the war that is to come."
"What war?" she asked confused.
"Indeed."
Brandon tilted his head and went wide eyed as if seeing something. The sound of gunfire rang out and he dove behind the table. Judy turned to look in the direction of the gun fire. She heard the sound of pawsteps rushing up to her
"Judy!" called out Nick.
"Nick!" she called back.
Nick walked up and frantically cut her loose with his knife. The moment she was out of the restraints she jumped into him, squeezing him in a hug practically as hard as she could. Kaiden, Kit and Vivian went to the other side of the table that Brandon had dove behind.
"Freeze!" the three ordered.
"I don't think so" he replied.
"See this is a Deadman's switch, I drop this and we all die." He replied.
Brandon stood up while Kaiden, Kit and Vivian still had their guns trained on him. He was holding a silver pistol gripped remote in his paw.
"I let this go, this entire area collapses. I've rigged Panther explosive packages all around these tunnels."
"High-powered demolition charges? You would you twisted son of a bitch." Commented Vivian.
"It's a simple matter of survival." He replied.
Kaiden and Kit lowered their weapons
"Stand down, Agent Carter." Ordered Kaiden.
"But…." She replied frustrated.
"Carter, If we pop him and he drops that remote," Kaiden explained.
"Smart fox." He replied.
Vivian lowers her weapon as well, Brandon takes this opportunity to back away from the group.
"What do you want?" asked Kaiden.
"Just a head start." He replies.
"Yeah, there's not a chance in hell we are going to let that happen." Muttered Kit.
"It's not like you have a choice." Brandon fires back.
Judy stepped forward, at first Nick pawed at her shoulder but she patted it to let him know it was alright.
"Brandon, listen to me, it doesn't have to go down like this. We can get you help, please, let me help you."
"The only help I want is to get to Dawn Bellwether."
"I can't help you with that, I told you."
"Then we have nothing further to say."
"I doubt that very much." She said sadly.
Kaiden stepped into the conversation at this point.
"Ok, let's say we let you go, what's to stop you from blowing us up anyway."
"I give you my word." He replied.
"I'm going to need something a bit more concrete then that."
"Judy, you KNOW what we've talked about, you KNOW I didn't bring you here to hurt you." He pleaded.
"Dawn Bellwether hurt me, she hurt a lot of people, she's going to continue to do so unless she's stopped."
"What the hell is this pangolin going on about, Bellwether is in prison!" snapped Vivian
"Judy, you know what I've seen, what's coming, just please keep an open mind. Remember the box, take it with you, its contents belong to you anyways."
"That's it, this bat shit crazy pangolin is going down!" exclaimed Carter.
Vivian raised her weapon.
"Carter, No!" "Vivian!" "Snowball, Stop!" yelled the group.
Just as she was about to take the shot a powerful explosion rocked the tunnel system, knocking everyone off their feet.
"You crazy pangolin" shouted Vivian as she was trying to get back to her feet.
"This wasn't me, someone must have set off one of the packages, it sounds like it was from the inlet pipes above, we have to get out!"
Right as he said that a small bit of water seemed to trickle in from the nearby walls, it didn't make much of a noise but the rate at which was crossing the floor was cause for alarm.
"You have to leave, Go GO!" cried out Brandon as he ran out one of the tunnel doors and disappeared.
"We have to go after him!" exclaimed Carter
"No, we have to get the hell out of here!" replied Kaiden.
"Wait, the files, we have to take those with us." Insisted Judy.
Kaiden and Kit quickly went over to the box and opened it, it contained a stack of papers and folders, which surely would be destroyed by immersion in water.
"Kit, find me some plastic, anything."
Kit went through the nearby storage that Brandon had hauled down here, he made a small living space with the storage pieces, finding a box of kitchen trashbags, Kit ripped open the box and pulled a few plastic bags from the roll.
The two agents quickly put the files in the trash bags, squeezing the air out before tying them off, repeating it twice with another bag for safety. Grabbing Brandon's duffle bag and forcing them inside, zipping up the bag, Kaiden slung it over his shoulder.
"Ok let's get out of here, and NOW!" exclaimed the fox, paying attention to the fact the water was already pooling at their ankles.
The group looked at the tunnel that Brandon took and the tunnel that they came down not sure which way to go.
"Sheesh, all we need now is a ticking clock." Kit commented sarcastically
The speakerbox on the wall spoke.
"Alert…Alert…..Panther...Explosives….are…now…activated…All…Personnel…should…retreat…to…minimum…safe…distance….immediately…Time…till…detonation…Ten…minutes…."
Kaiden looked at Kit as if blaming him.
"I know, I know, I regretted it the moment I said it." Kit winced.
"Ten minutes, it took over fifteen to get down here."
"You think we can cover that ground in that amount of time?" asked Nick.
"We're going to have to, let's book it." Said Kaiden.
They took the right passage and ran as fast as they could down the tunnels, desperately trying not to make a mistake, a wrong turn in this maze would mean certain death.
"Can't we just disable the detonator?" asked Vivian as they ran.
"No, they are connected in a ring, it only takes one to set them all off, and Kaiden and me couldn't find and disable all of them in 10 hours, let alone 10 minutes." Exclaimed Kit.
They continued to run through the tunnels, being slowed down by the increasing depth of the water which was now up to their shins.
They came skidding to a halt when they reached a section of tunnel that was lower than the section they were in, in essence putting it deeper underwater.
"Shit!" exclaimed Kaiden.
"How far to the junction, K?"
"If I recall only about 100 feet, but remember that will put us in the sewers."
"We don't have time to find a way around."
"Alright folks, we got to swim."
"Woah, wait a second." Vivian stepped back.
Kit turned around and saw that Vivian was a bit trepidatious about getting in the water
"Don't tell me you don't know how to swim?" he asked in disbelief.
At first not wanting to answer, she fidgeted around.
"No, ok, No I don't. I always figured there would be time." She replied defensively.
Kit huffed and rolled his eyes.
"Get on." He said thumbing at his back.
"What?!" she responded in surprise holding a paw to her mouth.
"We don't have time to see you flop around, now get on my back and hang on, do as I tell you."
"Alert…Alert…..Panther...Explosives….are…now…activated…All…Personnel…should…retreat…to…minimum…safe…distance….immediately…Time…till…detonation…Seven…minutes…."
She still hesitated; Kit not wasting any time grabbed and flipped her onto his back.
"Now hold on." He ordered.
She held onto him like a backpack. The four of them stood near where the bend in the pipe was.
"Carrots, you ready for this?"
"Yeah, let's go."
"Alright, on three." Called out Kaiden.
"Three." They exclaimed and jumped into the water.
There was already a current in just the small section of tunnel and unfortunately it was pushing them back towards the way they came, they had to swim hard against it, every now and then bobbing their heads above to catch a breath, each time the surface being closer to the top of the pipe.
Eventually they reached the junction; the doorway into the sewers, by this point the water had now reached close to the top of the pipe, with only enough room to fit their heads.
The four stop to catch their collective breath. Kaiden leans down and feels the water on the other side of the door, the current is even stronger. Coming back to the group he apprised them of the situation.
"Ok, we got a problem, the tunnel right outside had a very strong current, and it's wide, which means we have to cross the gap to the other side and make the next junction, good news is, it's in the same direction of the current."
"And the bad news?" asked Judy.
"The bad news is, that current is so strong, if anyone doesn't get to the other side by the time they get pulled to the junction, they'll miss it, and there is no swimming against that current and I don't know where it will dump you out if anywhere. It could dead end somewhere for all I know."
The group all showed looks of worry on their faces, Kaiden basically just described a certain death situation, what other reaction could one expect.
"Fine, just do it." Replied Judy.
"Ok, deep breaths everyone." instructed Kaiden.
The group all take a huge gulp of air and plunge themselves into the water, through the doorway. Kaiden's description was an understatement, the current was indeed strong, swimming even perpendicularly was painful, the loud rush of water, the beating of the torrent of water pouring down on them.
Judy managed to swim ahead, her strong leg muscles of her rabbit heritage coming in handy for this task, she looked back for a moment to see Nick focusing on her as he kicked as hard as he could. She tried to grab for his paw, but he pushed at her feet to keep going. Judy, then Nick, then Kaiden with Kit lagging behind trying to carry Vivian through the water, Vivian was terrified, clinging onto Kit like she was trying to burrow into his fur. She was well aware that if she lost grip she would have no ability to recover and die.
Judy managed to reach the other side, with Nick right behind her, they ducked under the junction door way and reached the surface on the other side. When they broke the surface, they exhaled loudly, coughing and hacking up water, they floated over to the nearby stair and sat for a moment.
Judy and Nick were panting as they looked back towards the door way. The others had not surfaced yet.
"Nick…Nick!...The others…." She pointed.
She realized that it was taking too long and Judy stumbled back towards the water, Nick reached out to stop her. The two froze as two forms emerged from the water, the loud exhales and coughs.
Kaiden and Kit with Vivian emerged from the water.
"Holy shit, I don't want to do that again!" exclaimed Kit.
"We got to keep going." Called out Kaiden.
They clambered out of the water up the nearby stair, at the landing above the group took a few moments to collect their wits, Kit carefully put Vivian on the ground. She was trembling madly, the combined fear and low temperature of the water.
"Hey, hey look at me." Comforted Kit with a smile.
Vivian looked squarely into Kit's eyes, she didn't say a word.
"It's ok, you made it! You're going to be fine." He said with a smile.
Still speechless, she leaned forward and hugged him, Kit at first being surprised by the act, returned it.
"Hey, you're alive, you fine." He comforted again, a trembling arctic fox shaking in his arms.
"Thank you." Said whispered, her voice almost breaking.
"It's ok, Vivian." He consoled with a caring smile.
"You can call me Snowball if you want."
"Ok…Snowball" he replied with a chuckle.
"Alert…Alert…..Panther...Explosives….are…now…activated…All…Personnel…should…retreat…to…minimum…safe…distance….immediately…Time…till…detonation…Four…minutes…."
"We got to go!" called out Kaiden.
The group picked themselves up and went into the higher dry tunnel. The wet squish of their clothes as they ran echoed throughout the tunnel and the distant white noise of the water.
Within seconds the water had made its way to the tunnel at the top of the stairs and started to flood, Kaiden could see the water coming up into the tunnel, luckily they made their way to the nearby ramps that Brandon had built and ascended them.
They finally managed to get to the last tunnel, running towards the break in the wall underneath the bar.
"Alert…Alert…Panther...Explosives….are…now…activated…All…Personnel…should…retreat…to…minimum…safe…distance….immediately…Time…till…detonation…Two…minutes…."
The announcement echoed through the speakers in the tunnels counting down. They finally managed to reach the break in the wall and emerged into the basement, quickly ascending the stairs, the rapid heavy pawsteps clanking on the old wooden stairs. They managed to get out of the aging bar and got outside, they piled into the car, Kaiden started the vehicle its engine roaring to life, jamming the gear selector into drive and practically putting his foot through the floorboard.
"Does anyone know how long!?" asked Judy.
"I'm running a clock in my head, we got about sixty seconds." Replied Kaiden.
"K, drive away from this street there could be a tunnel underneath."
The car lurched forward, it's tires screeching as they tried to grip the street. They sped away from the area trying to get away from the blast and likely subsequent cave-in. Kaiden finally pulled the car off onto the nearby sidewalk but kept the engine running.
"Twenty seconds."
"Any particularly inspirational last words?" asked Kit.
Kaiden stopped and looked deep in thought for a moment then turned to open his mouth. Several moments past with his mouth agape.
"Yeah, I got nothing." He shook his head.
"Five…four…three…two…one…"
Deep resounding bangs were heard from under the ground, even though they were feet below the street the blasts could be heard and more importantly felt. Like a bass drum being hit over and over. The abandoned buildings and business across the street from them, collapsed into the now vacant space caused by the collapsing tunnels below, it appeared as if the buildings were just swallowed up by the earth.
The group turned in absolute bewilderment.
"Holy….Shit…." muttered someone.
Within seconds, a hole appeared two blocks wide, running the length of the district all the way to the water's edge at the other end. The entire tunnel system underneath collapsed and the buildings and constructions above collapsed on top of them.
"You think he made it out?" asked Vivian.
"There is no way in hell he made it." commented Kit.
"Yeah, maybe." Replied Kaiden unsure of what to think.
"Good." Nick said his venom in his voice.
Judy simply looked on in silence, feeling a twinge of sadness.
Weeks Later…
"This Fabienne Growley and Peter Moosebridge for ZNN, Special Report, as reported by Officer Judy Hopps some weeks ago, the identity of the terrorist known only as 'Teacher' was a pangolin named Brandon Meeks, a deranged and disgruntled ex-mining engineer for Takashi Mining Group, who was dismissed citing 'Emotional Instability', the deranged Mr. Meeks' reasons for causing this wave of terror was seemingly due to his anti-predator beliefs, Mr. Meeks operating under the guise of a predator, wreaked havoc in the hopes of generating and increasing the already turbulent predator/prey dynamic in the city. His actions culminated in the kidnapping of Officer Hopps and the destruction of a large part of south Gnu York. We at ZNN attempted to interview Officer Hopps to get her side of the story but she declined any comment. We here at ZNN wish for Officer Hopps to make a full recovery after her episode with the terrorist. And now for a report on the current status of the Gnu York disaster zone, we go to Peter Moosebridge."
–
"Thank you, Fabienne. Yes the hole created by the detonation of a large number of demolition charges has proved to be a tough challenge for the ZPD and the salvage crews contracted by the city. According to an inside source at the ZPD, the terrorist was in the tunnel system with Officer Hopps shortly before the detonation, and it is generally believed that he perished within the blast, killed by his own bombs as it were. Of course salvage crews are still searching for the body of terrorist himself. With more on this story as it develops, this is ZNN…"
Zootopia…Downtown…at a café near the ZPD.
Nick and Judy were enjoying lunch, taking their time, Chief Bogo has offered her light duty because of her ordeal, but she of course as always simply went back to work as she always did. It seemed the terror threat was over, and that life was returning to normal, the people walking around, going to work, going to play, living life.
All the 'things' that were destroyed would be rebuilt in time, all the people killed would be mourned and memorialized, but the sad fact is, life would resume, life moves on. The likes of Paxton Mobley would continue doing what he does best. Originally wanting to protest his false arrest to get Judy Hopps kicked off the force, the fact that she was kidnapped had earned her a reprieve from his political fire. It seems attempting to defame and attack a kidnap survivor of the very terrorist who was attacking the city doesn't look good in the eyes of the people. But no matter, Judy was aware that the likes of Paxton or someone else would always be out there.
Nick must have seen that Judy was lost in thought because his poked her nose to get her attention.
"Boop." He said with a smile.
"What you thinkin' Fluff?" he asked.
"It's a lie you know, what the news is saying." She replied perching her chin on her paw, her arm on the table.
"You need to stop thinking about it." He replied
"I just keep thinking he was right, he said this would happen."
"Carrots, look I know you told me, what four or five times, but how many times do I have to tell you. He's crazy." Nick commentated while circling his paw by his head.
"What if he's not, Nick?"
"And what, he can see the future? Let me put it this way, If he can see the future then why didn't he see his own death? Moreover why didn't he take steps to prevent it? Why was it SO important that he tell you?"
Judy didn't answer, Nick already thought she was crazy for believing him but to repeat the warnings, Nick wasn't ready to listen. She craned her head towards the TV, a sullen look on her muzzle.
"I never bought that, by the way."
Judy spun to face Nick.
"Bought what?"
"That he NEEDED to tell you, like why? Why would he need to let you know these things, for what purpose? Something definitely was going on there."
"Nick, could you promise me something?"
"What's that fluff?"
"Just promise me, if anything ever happens to me…That you'll stay good." She pleaded.
"What?!" he replied shocked.
"Look, I know that being a cop was my dream, and even if you fall out of it, just promise me no matter what you end up doing that you will just stay good."
"Carrots? Where is this coming from?"
"Please Nick, just promise me."
"I promise. I promise. Now please tell me what's going on, you're scaring me here, fluff."
"I just…want to know you'll be ok. This whole thing has just kind of reminded me, of my own mortality, that's all."
"Yeah we think we have all the time in the world. Life is short and…" said Nick
"…and for some tragically so." She said, immediately realizing Nick was echoing Brandon's words, or maybe he had echoed Nick's.
"Hey, how did you know I was going to say that?"
"Just a guess." She replied a look of silent, sad confirmation.
"I promise Judy, you have my word."
"And one more thing…I…I want to tell my parents."
"About us?"
"Yes, about us, even if they heard it on television, I still think the details should come from us."
"Wow…thank you." Nick replied, feeling a happy.
"I'm sorry." she said
"What?" He replied a bit confused.
"I'm sorry Nick." She repeated.
"What for?" he asked.
"It should have come A LOT sooner, you deserved better."
"Look, Judy, I know you have your reasons, I understand."
"No, Nick, it's no excuse. I was afraid of my family, of my parents, but in letting myself be afraid I was betraying the one I love most."
"I don't think of it as betrayal, but I understand where you coming from."
"Either way, I'm sorry."
"I appreciate that Judy, and thank you."
"I've arranged with Bogo to take a few days off next week, and I figure we could go up there and tell them then."
"Wow that soon."
"Yeah, I figure it's long past due. I know the last time it was more of a meet and greet, and I know my brothers and sisters liked you, but this time its…."
"its 'Welcome to the family time'?" Nick surmised.
"Exactly." She confirmed
"Well Fluff, you know me, always by your side, no matter what."
"Yeah, I love that you're always there."
"Hey Team WildeHopps right?" said Nick offering his Paw.
"Team WildeHopps forever." She replied taking his paw into her own, intertwining their fingers.
Though she didn't say it, Brandon's words echoed through her mind "The war that is to come." She tried her best to hide it from him, but she knew, in as much as she could, she knew those words had an air of truth to them. She didn't know when, she didn't know how. But she was realizing that she did believe Brandon. That some part of her believed every word even though she didn't want to admit it, even to herself. That something was coming, something dark on the horizon.
"How far are you prepared to go? How much are you prepared to risk? How many people are you prepared to sacrifice for victory? Are you willing to die friendless, alone, deserted by everyone? Because that's what may be required of you in the war that is to come."