A.N. And so we come to the close of my six-year adventure in creative writing. My first ever long work of fiction started, finished, and released to the wild. I thank everyone that has given this story a look, and particularly those hardy souls that stuck through my sometimes interminable update delays to reach this conclusion. I hope that some of you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. Even at this point, reviews are very welcome for any of the chapters. I'll take a bit of a break, finally do more reading, and get back to working with Skye and Jack in their own tale 'Intertwined'.
Epilogue: Save and Close
"Why didn't you want Vivian coming with us tonight?" Judy asked her mate again; knowing he didn't have any excuse not to answer because she was the one driving.
Nick sighed and flicked an ear her way. "Because my dearest Carrots, this will be the first time the five of us will be back together since we came home, and we've got a lot to talk about. I'm quite sure the conversation won't just cover the...ah...future comportment of our lives since we outed our relationships to everyone, but considering the company, might possibly stray into more intimate subjects that I don't want to talk about in front of my mother!"
She still felt he was overreacting; Vivian had certainly earned her place within their group and would've expected to be included if she'd known about Kristen's dinner gathering. Although she had to admit, if the situation were reversed, she'd be very nervous if her mother was there. Even so, Nick seemed unduly worried that Skye and Jack might overshare their own, or be too curious about our personal lives.
Managing their futures would be the main topic of the evening. Life had abruptly and thoroughly changed for them; no more being out and about in public, including public transportation. No more casual shopping or dining, alone or together—anywhere. No more patrols or assignments as beat cops; although that should also preclude any parking duty. Assured that they both still had a place within the ZPD, their immediate and hopefully temporary assignment had been to keep as low a public profile as possible.
Which is why they were driving down pack street towards walnut in a modest car, foregoing uniforms and a police cruiser. She missed those trappings of authority, having grown accustomed to the dose of respect they'd conferred. Now they were anonymous civilians in an older car—the same beige one from the Soren's that Vivian had used. At least it was now theirs; having been a relatively cheap purchase.
How long they would remain like this on administrative leave, and what duties would ensue would be revealed within a few minutes—at their first joint in-person meeting with Chief Bogo in a month. Judy made the turn towards Savanna Central, mildly annoyed at how the lowered eyepoint of their smaller vehicle reinforced their...now lesser status.
At least they had the unobtrusive bumper sticker that granted admittance to the ZPD's adjacent parking lot. They walked in together through the rear entrance, and down the hall toward the main lobby. It had been a little over that month ago, right here, that her stupid fox had finally confessed his feelings for her. At least they didn't have to worry about confirming Clawhauser's suspicions any more; Ben's broad smile radiated vindication as it tracked them across the lobby towards the elevators. Thankfully, the cheetah dispatcher said or did nothing else to call more attention to them.
The chief had two of the highback barstools before his desk, so they climbed in and watched each other across it. Judy couldn't quite read the buffalo's unfamiliar expression; pensive? No, more like managed discomfort. Was he being polite with the two seats, or was he now ill at ease with the idea of them sitting together in the large hot seat as they'd done many times before—and on their shared one in the bullpen? He was as aware as anyone that they were no longer individual officers Hopps and Wilde, but a mated pair.
"Officer Hopps, reporting as requested," she said evenly to break the impasse.
"Officer Wilde, reporting as requested," Nick echoed without any hint of snark.
The chief exhaled—louder and longer than Nick's but seemingly as uncomfortable. He passed them each an envelope. "Hopps...Wilde, congratulations, we couldn't promote you up to sergeant, as that requires a minimum three years full service, and you're both still short of two. Still, what you accomplished requires this department and this city to look further into citations or bonuses that might apply."
Bogo paused to let them look. They were now senior officers, which came with a fifteen percent pay hike and some extra comp hours. Not exactly a heroes reward; although combined, and with her no longer paying rent since Nick's place was now theirs; it still meant a significant jump in their living standards.
Particularly mine, since I now have a private kitchen, bathroom, and hot fox to fulfill my desires!
"Your duties for the immediate future will be to continue to refine your initial reports, as directed by legal, particularly regarding your collecting and handling of evidence," Bogo resumed on more comfortable ground. "You can expect to sit for multiple depositions, and spend considerable time in the witness box as various legal proceedings commence both here and in Concordia. I expect your participation in these proceedings will last at least a year, as delaying tactics have already started. Mr. Mehra's office will keep us informed of those developments so that we can at least try to manage your schedules."
"Sir, I assume that means we'll be off rotating shifts and on regular weekly working hours?" Judy asked.
"With weekends to ourselves?" Nick added.
"Yes Wilde...Wilde's?" Bogo sighed again. "Which brings us to a more immediate issue. You will not be in courtrooms or remain on desk duty for the rest of your careers, so I need to...determine how best you two can continue to represent the ZPD to the...more traditionally oriented general public."
"You mean sir, now that we're the poster deviants for interspecies relationships," Nick shot back. "We haven't tried, or even decided, on any name change yet," he said more deferentially.
"Delaying that would remain helpful Wilde. Don't expect to be on patrol together anytime soon. Police Standards and Practices requires that officers in a personal relationship receive separate assignments to avoid the appearance of favoritism. That won't apply until your legal obligations are over—several will involve both of you." Bogo rubbed his broad muzzle, then frowned at them.
"I usually don't care about my officer's personal lives unless it impacts their job performance. That said, Clawhauser wasn't the only one in this precinct to notice the unusual level of...compatibility and cooperation exhibited by you two as soon as you became partners. As long as that furthered the mission of the ZPD, as Savage and Winter carefully maintained for the ZBI, it remained mostly contained within those workplaces. Now, you four, respectively, are public relations nightmares. If I could, I'd like to order you to swap mates and solve some unfortunate social issues.
She and Nick remained silent. Their revelation in court had been an abrupt shock to many, and the chief was internalizing the confirmation of it as much as he was complaining about it.
"The primary one being, that although your actions will be seen as heroic by many, a greater number of prey mammals will see you both as meddlers that stopped a needed effort to alleviate their abiding fear of predators, and that your continued work might yet adversely affect the lives of many others like themselves unfortunate enough to be even marginally associated with that scheme."
"They'd already offed some of their own to keep the conspiracy under control and hidden," Nick pointed out. "Why can't the media cover those casualties or explore the political angle Growley mentioned?"
Bogo shook his massive head and snuffled. "I'm afraid that's already been lost in the larger scheme. Notice there's been no mention of Doug Ramses by reporters. No identifiable remains were found of course, no one other that you few witnesses are willing to speak to his involvement, and the few images you took aren't suitable for public release. Buried, as it were, and forgotten like several others of his missing sheep associates. This could be as much a struggle for dominance between prey species, as it was a desire to cover up the involvement of known criminals filling out their ranks."
"Infighting could explain some of the breaks we got."
"Almost certainly Wilde. I feel that as we continue to unravel this conspiracy, we will find it was several parallel efforts sharing common cause, rather than a well-organized whole. The core of the conspiracy was busy managing and financing their efforts at Junction City and Deer Trail, and had to restrain the impatient zealots like Bellwether, Ramses and his crew, Chief Tarija, and Verda Kinsley to protect their longer term investments."
"That doe was a piece of work," she muttered to Nick, "I'm surprised that the Kinsley's didn't keep better control over her considering how they needed to keep their financial role hidden," she said more loudly for the chief.
"One of the things we've recently learned, that I wished to update you with today, is that Verda Kinsley was far more involved with those financial arrangements than we'd realized. She was not just a means to blackmail Alexander Clifton into working to undermine the AblePaws corporation. Her fashion company's Kerasculpt unit, had recently filed a patent infringement lawsuit against AblePaws for modifying customer's hooves to better utilize their prosthetic devices. Apparently, unlike hoof shaping for fashion, they claim doing so for dexterity enhancement is a protected innovation of theirs. This is likely exploiting a weakness in the law, as there is historical evidence for such procedures, and was another part of the overall effort to gain control over AblePaws' finances."
"And another reason her uncle is the designated fall guy to protect those higher in the conspiracy," Nick said. "Nearly all cervid. A little too trusting of others in the herd?"
"A common failing. Garwood, and others of similar position and vulnerability, are already calling for investigations from the ZBI and Justice Department. You can be sure that these investigations will be conducted at great length by detectives with powerful magnifying glasses looking for clues in cracks and corners—a narrow focus to distract them from the more obvious evidence all around. A government acts just as we do—its first priority is self preservation."
"We got so much evidence!" she objected, "they can't have totally insulated themselves from all of it."
"Hopps, mammals in the highest levels of government are expert at maintaining plausible deniability and passing responsibility down. They also have legions of lesser officials and staffers throughout their administration to assist with that. Justice Department statements that they have insufficient evidence to indict particular individuals will become routine over the coming months. You will also see a significant number of the majority population band together with them in solidarity—right or wrong. For them, this outweighs a now past threat against the minority."
"I see what you're thinking Judy," Nick told her, guessing correctly that the chief would let the familiarity slide. "We took down Lionheart and Bellwether. The first was a predator reacting to cover an emergency situation—he had no time to adequately prepare for that. The second? Bellwether convicted herself with your recording."
"We've got the video from Deer Trail!" she objected, "evidence doesn't get any stronger than that!"
"No it doesn't," her fox said dolefully. "A couple of them literally had blood on their hooves. Problem is, it's an automatic pardon for those at the top of the conspiracy. They don't have to fight over who'll take responsibility; we decided that for them."
"Your mate is correct Hopps," Bogo said with barely perceptible emphasis on the certainly difficult for him word. "Kinsley is as high in the executive branch as justice will likely reach. She will also easily claim the ZBI's deputy director, a department head, and several mid-level agents and staff. As far as station chief Tarija, she faces an insoluble dilemma. If she produces Alexander Clifton, his testimony exposes her subterfuge, if she doesn't, my recording of him implicates her just the same and puts her on the hook for his disappearance. At present her station remains on lockdown, monitored by my officers. Justice is dragging it's heels on who has jurisdiction due to probable cause, and the executive has yet to weigh in."
"It's no different than the mob!" she said bitterly, "the mooks will take the fall and the bosses skate!"
"As it ever was," Bogo said. "But we can still point an uncomfortably bright light at some of them with insider testimony from Savage, Winter, Dr. Honeybadger, and you. That deposition you gave after your direct meeting with Tarija is a start, Hopps. I'd like to continue that by scheduling some select media interviews focusing on how you were recruited by the conspirators, gained their trust, and learned of their plot. You need to do these solo, and in consequence, will probably draw greater public censure, along with epithets like 'Chew Toy'. We need you, and eventually Savage and myself, as recognizable prey mammals that were working for the rights of the other side in order to start repairing at least some of the societal damage. This will also help excuse those biased public service announcements you needed to make. Thankfully, you never got around to recording the TV spots. Legal will brief you on what subjects remain safe to discuss, and which to avoid to prevent interference with pending court actions."
"Chief, That might help repair my reputation with predators, but you're saying it will further alienate me as that majority population bands together."
"Some of them Hopps. Hopefully, on balance, more will see a successful undercover operation for the benefit of all society, not just another part of it. We have to try, doing nothing allows too many to backslide into their familiar prejudices. You six have already done more than your part in revealing and starting to degrade this cancer within government; it will now be up to the rest of us to fully excise it and conduct follow-up treatments to prevent any recurrence."
"On an uncooperative body politic who doesn't want to listen to their doctors, or take their medicine," Judy said to Chief Bogo's stoic expression.
"Now Wilde," Bogo shifted his attention, "I have a problem with part of the report you submitted; specifically about certain actions at Deer Trail. Reading between the lines, I feel that you considerably de-emphasized the role of a certain Mrs. Vivian Wilde. I understand your rationale, although it is certain that her last remaining charge will be dropped. So, off the record...what did your mother do?"
Nick quickly looked at her with worry etched on his muzzle—she nodded and he took a breath. "Sir. Mom was the first to grapple a line to the wall to gain us entry, once in, she alerted me to the presence of a ZBI guard outside of building four, then performed a solo take-down and restraint of a large active ram in the guard barracks. She then took point for our assault on the building, shot the deer guard to secure our entry, then took up a defensive position outside. From there, she shot three other conspirators while under close range fire herself, allowing our rescue of the prisoners inside. Rejoining us, she carried Ms. Winter to safety, and later held another responding conspirator at arrow point until backup arrived."
"You had your mother take point for the building breach?" Bogo asked with a distinct note of incredulity.
"Yes sir, she was the only qualified special weapons mammal we had available."
"Qualified?" the chief asked skeptically.
"She has a valid archery instructor's certificate sir."
Chief Bogo leaned forward slightly, sighed again, and examined the inside of his thick fingered hand at point blank range. "We cannot ignore the...considerable contributions of a genuine heroine, but her being a civilian, I don't know what I can do for her beyond recommending some inadequate civic citation. Perhaps she might consider guest lectures at the academy. Perhaps you all should given your successful improvisations. More avenues for the city and police review board to explore."
"I know she'd appreciate it if the city paid more attention to the upkeep of her neighborhood," Nick suggested.
"There's still time to call her and let her get ready Nick. It's only fair. We could even go over, then take her car to Kristen's—it's more comfortable than ours."
"Its not like we're saying our final partings to anyone Judy, There will be plenty more opportunities to hang out with family and friends; mom's place has enough room for all of us, even ours does. And since Jack and Skye are probably looking through mansion catalogs with the Growley's right now, we'll most likely all end up crashing at whatever place they buy."
"This one's special and you know it! It's where we really got started with this case. We're not just celebrating our success, but our survivals! Vivian should be there!" She glowered at him instead of starting the car. "Honestly, why are you being like this? Your worries about intimate conversations doesn't cut it slick. She's your mom! I think she knows what mates, and by extension us, do with each other."
"Alright, that reason was more about you than my mom anyway." he said in acquiescence; face turned to her. "You'll know why soon enough. As to my mom, she is taking her new mother-in-law duties seriously. Both of us know you've been dreading a face-to-face meeting with your parents ever since they learned we're mates from the evening news. Your one after the fact call with them didn't last long by your own admission—although you wouldn't even tell me which of you ended it! So she's going to call Bonnie tonight; to...discuss our family's futures. Knows she has a lot of air to clear since yours was completely blindsided about us. Our moms have already had that initial face to face, and nobody got eaten or impaled on a pitchfork. Let them handle it for you. Mine thinks yours will call you first once they're done."
"Now that my parents found out about us, they're just gonna hang up on her! Did Vivian think they'd simply talk to her again?"
"Don't worry about any surprises tonight for anyone dear fluff; they already set up the call through email. They'll be talking before we get to Kristen's, and mom will suggest Bonnie sleep on it before calling you."
She started up and pulled out of the lot. Setting up the call was a hopeful sign that some benefit would come from it. Vivian had already been candid about her earlier talk with mom, and would undoubtedly try to smooth the path for when mom would call her. She was thankful for that, the first curt call she'd made had removed any immediate desire to try that again. She didn't need to hold anything more over Nick for being evasive about his mom—he'd get his due when having to meet hers for the first time.
That thought allowed her to relax and concentrate on driving; it was after four, and traffic was already picking up. She did feel some sympathy for her new mate, as unlike him, she would have considerable backup when it came to relationship matters. Jack had told her that both his Skye and Vivian would be her willing advisors regarding mate management. Vixenology coaches he'd called them. Her own mom, unwilling to remain left out, would join them in that endeavor once she'd had time to accept their pairing. Judy smiled at the realization that her fox was doomed.
They both kept to idle prattle until they'd parked, used the tunnel under the street, and stopped at Kristen's door. Jack answered, still on his crutch, and they entered to find Kristen still advising Skye on dinner's progress—the other couple having apparently just arrived before them. She went to the fridge for salad fixings, Nick to the cutlery drawer after a nod from their hostess.
Dinner conversation mostly consisted of Jack and Skye's home search, and when they might be assigned their new posts in the ZBI's soon to be understaffed Western Regional facility. They also covered how she was settling in with Nick, and Kristen mentioned that she, Dr. Alder, and Dr. Ulric had agreed to postpone the release date of their respective, soon to be submitted scientific bombshells, until the present news furor had a chance to die down. Oddly, none of the others had inquired about Vivian's absence. Judy found that worrisome.
"Sorry," Jack said to her, remaining seated as they started to clean up. "Orthopedist found a partial stress fracture in addition to the ankle, I'm supposed to rest it and avoid anything strenuous for another two weeks. At least we share our fractured frustration." He gently nuzzled the front of Skye's shoulder.
I can only hope we stay that devoted! She shared a look with her own mate—who'd been astute enough to return it.
"I felt the last time we all sat here was just that, the last time," Jack said as they reconvened, changing the tone of their conversation. "Given what could have so easily happened to any or all of us, we've all been given a chance to not just resume our lives, but continue to work for acceptance of the ones we've chosen. This conspiracy we rather serendipitously uncovered, was based on fears and beliefs that should no longer have a place in modern society. This was the latest in a long string of pred-prey conflicts. Each time we gain a bit more acceptance and cooperation between ancient antagonists, but that requires constant effort to maintain. Complacency allows reversion! It allows individuals in power to continue to advance self-serving agendas that drive us backwards."
"And we didn't get them!" she jumped in. "Chief Bogo just told us that the main perpetrators, like Garwood, won't face consequences!"
"Maybe not personally Judy, but they will take a political hit." Jack said. "Being unaware of a major criminal conspiracy that high in his administration reveals incompetence at a minimum. It's not satisfying, but an enemy of civilization is at least weakened. It would be nice to bring down those apparently calling the shots, but most that actually promote these agendas aren't found at the top. They're second and third tier functionaries embedded in the Justice Department, FBI, local councils—it's impossible to root them all out."
"I see where Jack is going with this; Bogo was basically telling us the same thing," Nick said to her. "We can get some at the top by exposing obvious criminality or following the money, but if you really want to fix society, you have to start filling the cracks in the foundations."
"Political leaders garner support from the desires of their constituents," Jack resumed. "So we have to work up; change perceptions and attitudes of the populace, and the leaders they choose will evolve with them. Granted, it's a terribly slow process, but we can't abandon it because we get frustrated."
"Judy. Bogo told us that our part in exposing this conspiracy might be over, and others would continue the work. That doesn't mean that we can't still work to make the world better—still plenty for us to patch."
"Don't think that what we've done is enough; there is still much we can do to build a better society," Skye said kindly, "consider the things we still can do."
They all watched her—they expected an example. "Bogo wants to set up interviews for me—I hate doing those—but they might help to...make up for those PSA's I recorded Skye." They waited. "Maybe I could ask my family to push back about those lies Dillon told about us. They might have grounds to sue him."
"Another thing Judy. Chief said you might get some nasty blowback from the public for doing that. We two, even more than Skye and Jack, are the local poster deviants for inters. Most of them still live in the shadows. We four can start to change that! That's what Jack has been working up to tonight."
"Initially, most mammals just won't understand what you two see in each other," Jack said across the table, "once they recognize that we're all friends, they'll have even more trouble accepting that you're not interested in the dashing secret agent, and that he's not interested in The Fox." He gave Skye his adoring 'I'm the luckiest guy in the universe' look, and got his nuzzle in return.
"Better you than me pal," Nick said, "at least I'm not actively hated by every other fox on the planet—they'll just keep wondering what's wrong with me." He traded brief smiles with Skye and Kristen.
"Bunny fever dude. Terrible thing. No cure," Jack said.
"Now that we've discussed the reason I wanted us together tonight," he stated and nodded at Kristen. She got up, went in back, and returned with a fairly large, simply wrapped package. It was placed on the table in front of Jack, who thanked her for keeping it safe. The skunk resumed her seat, and primly folded her paws with a smile.
He continued. "So Judy, we four know what this is, and ask for your forbearance as we explain ourselves. And you will now understand why your loving mate didn't want his mom here.
"This, once revised by carefully selected experts, and properly edited, is the resource that will enable the task I've just set before all of us." Jack reached and awkwardly unwrapped a thick old book. Its worn and embossed binding carried no title. "I'm assuming that you've at least heard of the 'Lover's List'."
"Oh cucumbers! That's...that's like the most pornographic thing ever!" It took a few seconds for her shock to abate—before realizing she was the focus of...laughter. Jack had lost it, Skye had joined him in a somewhat more demure outburst, Kristen's chest heaved as she hissed past tight jaws, and Nick…
Her mate seemed to be in a full seizure, trying not to make a sound or attract her attention. His eyes were locked onto her, seemingly pleading for understanding or...absolution. Judy suddenly realized, based in large part on her recent experiences with fox anatomy, that she'd said something genuinely funny, and had absolutely no chance to try and recover from it. The rest quieted rapidly as soon as they saw that realization on her face.
"Judy. This is not the hard core, shock art book that the vast majority of mammals that haven't seen it assume it is." Jack briefly placed a paw on the book. "Intact originals like this are very rare, and usually reside in tightly held private collections. The rest of us make do with incomplete, adulterated, or faked copies, that still remain uncommon due to their notoriously obscene nature. Those later variations that try to shock or arouse are easily recognized, as the underlying intent of the original content's authors was not to pander to mammals baser natures, but to help inform those marginalized or driven from our supposedly inclusive society by their honest and mutual choices of unconventional partners."
"A what to expect and how to accommodate guide for inters," Kristen summed up for Judy's growing astonishment. "We want to get these updated revisions right. That's why I've agreed to be the consulting biologist for this project—my field of expertise, comparative anatomy, isn't just useful for paleontology!"
"You all knew about this," Judy said slowly. She looked accusingly at Nick. "How long have you known about this?" she asked more forcefully.
"It was at Jack's house...he told me where to find it." His ears and tail all slowly drooped in shame.
She looked at the hare. "Savage. Did you find this...book...about three years ago?"
Jack nodded. "Three and a half—a great need demanded a great effort to acquire it. We were secretly dating. She'd gotten more serious. I was desperate! I didn't even know at first if it...included our pairing!"
"And when did your mate find out you had this?" Judy noticed as she spoke that Skye wore a slight smile of contentment as her tail waved slowly—the vixen was enjoying the progression of the conversation.
"I told her two weeks before we exchanged our vows," Jack stated firmly, "By then, we knew there would be no secrets between us. We trusted each other completely." The hare then wilted in remembrance. "Earlier, before I'd fully realized the quality of her character, I just knew that if she'd found out, I would have been dropped so hard they'd still be sweeping up the shards of my heart!" He earned another nuzzle.
"Jack admitted it slick!" He shied back from her accusatory finger. "Why couldn't you own up to the fact that you cheated and read some kind of instruction manual before we...we…"
"Mated," Nick managed to get out. "I was terrified I'd hurt you Judy...I read those only two days before we...were together? Look at us, I'm twice your...I'd never risk forcing...you know that...I wanted to be the best possible mate for you, but still wasn't sure if I could, or would even be able to control myself!"
"While you were...cramming for your romantic final exam, did it ever occur to you that I might need some advice, some reassurance? I went into our...test burrow completely cold! Both kinds!"
"You sure got hot in a hurry," Nick said more confidently, "If you might recall from our first...uh, semi-intimate encounter fluff, I noted then, that you, a member of a rather different and notoriously active species—didn't come with instructions!"
"There's a perfect example of why we all need to contribute to this," Skye said calmly, looking at the larger fox, then down at the book. "Our section should be particularly informative, since we four do cover all of the perspectives."
"Our section?" she said dubiously. "How many are there?"
"Dr. Barret said there's around fifty thousand possible pairings between sentient species," Kristen said, "now disregarding all of the obviously impractical mismatches, and closely related but infertile pairs, only about two hundred and ninety unique pairings are covered here. A little less were done in adequate detail."
"You don't seem to mind ours too much Fluff. Take all the time you need to think about doing this—we'll need it anyway if we want to thoroughly research our subject."
"Nick Wilde, did you really have to use that tone of voice? This is trying enough for me already!"
"Judy," Jack said in the same, almost desperate voice he'd used on her out at Deer Trail, "There's no better time to start with this than now. We just exposed a major barrier being built to divide society; so let's tear down another long placed between individuals! When we revise and release this to the wider public, we can help so many other marginalized, self-exiled mammals—ones like ourselves—and make the world that better, more inclusive place you've always wanted it to be."
"You keep saying we. You seriously want me involved writing about what I...we? I don't think I'd be..."
Skye pushed the book across the table, "Page fifty-eight Judy."
~Fin~
SANDCASTLES b