A.N. Thanks to the following for their greatly appreciated reviews! : HawkTooth, Furbearinvarmint, Shadycat, WingedKatt, WriteReadReviewDie, and Guests. Keep 'em coming, although I dread when the bills for these will show up in the mail. Things are heating up now, and life will become more difficult for our principle characters-most of whom are the property of Disney of course!

My life is improving, and I'm working my way back to hopefully monthly updates!

Chapter Thirteen:

Breaking up is hard to do

"Doctor Soren? I just have a few questions, this shouldn't take long."

That voice outside the door belongs to a larger mammal than I am, Jack Savage thought through his shock. He sat rigidly for a few seconds until a paw pushed his arm.

"You're ZBI, you have to take this!" Judy hissed at him. "You're in your suit, go!"

He got to his feet, which prompted the others to do the same. Nick silently urged his mother towards the back of Soren's den, Judy reached a paw out to Skye and they followed. "Stay hidden; keep a door closed!" Jack quickly hissed back at them.

He then stepped over to a wide-eyed Dr. Soren in the kitchen, thinking furiously. He unceremoniously reached around the skunk to pull her closer. "Stall! Say something…I'm coming…anything!" he whispered right in her face.

"Again? Coming, give me a sec!" Kristen said loudly in a brittle voice—which immediately suggested a stratagem to Jack.

"Good! Be Angry! We took your fossil. I'm annoying you here." He let go of her arms and took a step back. "This whole place smells like wet fox; have anything to cover it?"

Kristen's eyes narrowed a bit in thought for a lethargic second or two. She then moved quickly for a skunk and pulled a square plastic jar out of a cupboard. A flip of a cap, and she squeezed a sizeable brown puff into the air. It was cinnamon—Jack resisted a sneeze as she fanned it about with a pot lid. She handed it to him and went to the door. Jack set it down and followed. She opened it to a crisp pair of dark blue pants with small split hooves below.

"Why are you here! I've had enough of you people today. I've already got this ZBI jackass to deal with!" She pointed back at him with a dramatic quivering finger.

The tall antelope outside leaned down to peer through the door at him. Jack didn't recognize his agency colleague beyond his stated name, but the other seemed to know him.

"You're the one from the federal office—agent Savage?" Hartley seemed disconcerted to find him here. "Excuse the intrusion Doctor Soren," he showed his badge, "I need to ask a few questions about someone you have recently met; a ZPD Officer named Nicholas…"

"Why do you think I'm here?" Jack kept his voice moderately exasperated to not upstage the fuming skunk now staring at them in turn—who he felt had dealt with this crisis admirably so far. "I get the same notifications you do," he told Hartley, who'd propped himself on the top of the doorframe with his arms and pushed his head inside to look.

"Perhaps you'd like to barge right in and recheck the premises while I finish interviewing the doctor!" Jack continued with obvious sarcasm. Kristen reacted as he'd hoped and shoved him into the antelope.

"Out! Get out both of you! This is my home you ruin my research and come and poke around in my home because of some fugitive I might have met without a warrant but I've got a lawyer!"

Agent Hartley's head wrenched down as the backward bent tips of his horns caught on the inside of the doorframe. Kristen continued to push and slap at Jack who ended up draped across the antelope's face with his nose between the ridged horns and arms loosely wrapped around the other's head. At least Hartley couldn't see him smile that way.

"You've already stolen weeks of my work! Leave this instant or I'll claim intimidation and self-defense!" Kristen finished in a crescendo.

The pressure on his back vanished and he slipped down to his feet, back against the open door. He saw Hartley's eyes widen abruptly and turned in time to watch Kristen, back turned, hike her tail and grab the hem of her dress. She started to pull it up—Hartley clenched his eyes and jerked back, catching his horns again with a clack!

"Ma'am! I'm not in your home. That'll count as aggravated assault!" Hartley cried out with panic in his voice.

"Your head's in here—that's all I need!"

Hartley fatalistically moved a few inches forward, mouth tight, tipped his horns clear and withdrew back outside. Jack backed out with him and flashed Kristen a brief thumbs up before she slammed the heavy door.

"Walk with me," Jack told Hartley sternly. The Antelope looked shocked for an instant before his face clouded over.

"You were just assigned to us Savage; we," a hoof tapped his chest, "have jurisdiction!"

"And I'm trying to keep you from accidentally exposing part of our agenda and having to explain it to Tarija! It's too early! The last thing we need is for that skunk to make a public stink and get local authorities or media asking questions about why we're hassling their citizens. She's already on edge because we confiscated her work."

Jack stopped at the stairs and pointed up at them. "You go, I'll try to salvage this—it took me several minutes to get her to let me in the first time! And what were you thinking? I'm her size! You would have been in there on all fours knocking furniture over and poking holes in things."

"I need to report. You saw no evidence of anyone else? Did you find out where or when she last saw Wilde?" Hartley's eyes pled for any scrap of information to Jack's satisfaction.

"Nothing. As for Wilde, he and Hopps met with her four days ago at the museum, Winter and I were there too! We all discussed her initial report filed with the police. The last time I saw the fox was two days later at the ZPD." Jack watched the antelope up the stairs and then made a show of persuading Kristen to readmit him in case Hartley doubled back.

Jack was pleased to hear Kristen unlock the door, then resecure it behind him. Their civilian member had a steep learning curve ahead of her, but seemed well on the way with how she'd reacted to this unexpected and stressful episode. He, on the other paw, had remained frozen in surprise like the rest until Judy pushed him into action. Skye's similar response didn't excuse his—it was an embarrassing lapse for both of them.

Skye and Nick returned to the sofa with Mrs. Wilde and sat her between them. It was hard to tell which of the mutually clingy and nuzzling foxes needed the most reassurance. Judy spared Jack a brief glance from the dining table, and drew his gaze to follow Dr. Soren's hesitant return to the kitchen—where she halted to hug herself as the shakes started.

Judy got to her at the same time he did, and they led her over to the therapy sofa where there was still a little room at one end. Skye noticed and rose for them.

"We've got an empty kitchen to tend Vivian. Perhaps you could direct your handsome son to set the table?" His perceptive mate turned her muzzle to Nick and earned small smiles from both Wildes. Nick assisted his mom to her feet after her nod and the foxes set to their tasks. Skye's timely distraction had apparently eased most of their tension.

That left a very distraught skunk in Judy's and his paws. At first they just sat with her as she quietly shuddered. Judy held her paw and spoke soft platitudes, then moved to gently massage around her small ears, then further down to relax her. Jack felt reluctant to join in. Dr. Soren accepted Judy's ministrations, but he felt that his own might add too much. Even with Skye as his candid teacher, he doubted he'd ever be as spontaneous and comfortable with unexpected emotional situations. Somehow most females were, even between species.

"I'm sure we're safe now," he said mildly. "We embarrassed that agent and I made sure that he's gone and will report what we want him to." That seemed to work—Kristen turned slightly in his direction, she'd heard. Jack finally felt secure in placing his arm around her.

"We've all had a rough day and you rose to the challenge as well as any of us," he told her. "You couldn't have done any better, you set him up perfectly and made it easy for me!"

"I'm still not trained like all of you; I thought I'd offer advice, not get directly involved!"

"You still reacted like a pro doctor—you dealt with the crisis, and waited until it was all over to come unglued. Many people think we ZBI agents don't have emotions, but like you, we do. Training doesn't eliminate them, but it helps us to control them—most of the time."

"It wasn't very reassuring that you looked as scared as I was," Kristen's voice and bearing had firmed some, and she looked at him to make her point.

"Yeah, we all were," Nick added. "Totally caught out and the first one of us to recover was Officer Hopps here," he said as he stepped over from the table and briefly tousled Judy's ears. Her eyes snapped wide open and she tried to unobtrusively bat his paw away.

Jack also gave the incautious fox a severe look, but fortunately Kristen's attention had shifted to the vixens as they brought dinner from the kitchen. Nick's grimace acknowledged his negligence as he quickly turned and took his seat. His casual familiarity with Judy hinted that something good had happened in their relationship last night, perhaps aided by his and Skye's earlier counsel. He hoped that had been the case. Unfortunately, two of their present number weren't privy to any of that.

Or maybe he had just one to worry about now—Vivian Wilde must have seen Nick's indiscretion, but hadn't visibly reacted. Maybe she already suspected or knew something about the pair—she'd seated herself at the opposite end of the table from Kristen and watched them benignly. Jack sat too, and as technically the last in to Soren's den this time, thanked the spirits that some among their number weren't being served prison food tonight. The foxes across from him took his comment to heart and dug in, while Judy and Kristen's expressions put him on notice before they began to pick at their meals.

Jack thought last night's dinner had been fraught with tension, but tonight's was worse. They all ate with a distinct lack of small talk, or even much eye contact. At least Kristen's food was still good enough to provide an excuse for that. No salads this time, but the reheated stew smelled and tasted as good as before. Too bad that several of its vegetables hadn't fully retained their earlier firmness—right now he wanted to sink his incisors into something. That was one of the more predatory urges he seemed to have acquired from his mate. Maybe if he had Skye recount her mini adventure with Mrs. Wilde, that would ease them into the difficult decisions to come. When most seemed finished with their dinner, he put his fork down with a distinct click and had their attention.

"Agent Winter, any difficulties to report about bringing in Mrs. Wilde? You took long enough that I got worried." Jack caught a 'reminder received' ear twitch from Nick in his peripheral vision.

"She was under observation when we got there sir; one agent, a hare your size with brown fur. Unfortunately posted in a good spot, I had to be silent. It took me some time to attract Mrs. Wilde's attention." Skye favored the other vixen with an uncharacteristic self-effacing look, while Vivian seemed near to laughter. That story would have to wait for another time.

"Were you seen?" Jack prompted.

"Yes, we walked right past him acting as old friends; I felt that if we left openly, the lookout would have to assume that we didn't expect Officer Wilde to show up."

"That's excellent Winter, lets hope he has a long cold night! Now Wilde has already informed us of your success in placing his friend with AblePaws, and the doctor about your confiscation of her fossil. Anything else before I continue?" Jack was pleased to see that both Wildes had noted Skye's and his careful professionalism. He felt that Vivian would test that long before Nick would again.

"I got a new assignment from Tarija and some information from her that I'm afraid is going to cost me dearly." Skye's tone and expression tore Jack up inside as he struggled to remain passive outside. Judy turned to meet his look—hers echoed the thoughts in his head. Neither of them had expected that the potential joint sacrifices they'd discussed this morning would come due the same day. Skye had also gone silent as they confronted their fears.

"Who is this Tarija person that so troubles my family and friends?" Vivian Wilde said evenly but firmly.

"She is the chief of the regional ZBI office here in Zootopia," Skye told her without hesitation. "A llama definitely working for the other side to whom agent Savage and I were recently assigned. Your son and I, as predators, have been carefully set up to take the fall for impeding their agenda. He for trafficking nighthowlers, myself for bribery and corruption."

Jack wasn't too surprised to see how quickly Skye had included the other vixen. The foundation of their own relationship was mutual trust, and she'd just decided that applied to Vivian as well—who'd referred to them as friends just minutes after they'd met. It was a clear signal from Skye that she considered her an asset rather than a liability. He agreed; Nick's mom had also impressed him with her forthright acceptance of her new situation.

"I'm assigned to find and expropriate Doctor Alder's received package about the Fairfield primitive mammal meat farm discovery, and wipe any related files that I discover on his computer—which I'd purged earlier," Skye summed up for Vivian's now wide eyed benefit. "I'll retrieve it later tonight from his museum office after I make a showing at my hotel so Tarija's tail can follow and monitor me." Skye gave Vivian an opportunity for questions; a slight paw wave bade her continue.

"Chief Tarija described the recently found Fairfield archaeological site as an apparently real mass murder carried out at an unknown location. She told me that several packages of provocative information had been widely distributed in an attempt to inflame interspecies animosities by persons unknown. All but my objective tonight have been intercepted. In reality Vivian, there were only two; the other went to the National Museum in Concordia. The conspirators are desperate to keep this discovery hidden until they are able to exploit it by first fabricating, then exposing an explosive secret of the Proteo Company."

"Do you think Tarija is aware of anything about us?" Jack asked.

"No she's not. I'm certain. After I retrieve this, I'll be the only potential leak. So once I've delivered Bellwether to federal custody," Skye put a paw on Vivian's arm, "I'm expendable."

That finally broke Vivian Wilde's composed demeanor. She put her other paw over Skye's. "You have to go through with this don't you; to hide what you know." Skye nodded. "Bellwether again dear? Are they doing this to get her out of prison?"

"No, they need to keep a closer eye on her and limit her contacts, she screwed up their earlier plans as much as your son and his…Officer Hopps did." Skye's hesitation made Mrs. Wilde's ears perk up. Jack noticed and leapt in to preempt anything unfortunate.

"Officer Wilde is our immediate problem!" he said, fully aware that he dare not underestimate this vixen either. Maybe he should ask Nick if that was a general rule with them. "Today's call for his arrest shows that our adversaries fear he suspects too much already, after all, he did help prepare the report they saw. I feel it's an unacceptable risk for him to stay here more than a few days, he'd be a lot safer if he left Zootopia altogether."

"What about me or Doctor Alder?" Kristen said uneasily. "We know everything too and they've already come looking for me."

"That's an issue," Jack admitted, "but they really don't know the extent of your involvement and Winter's got that covered. She'll retrieve Alder's package and your networks are clean; I'd expect electronic surveillance of you for now."

"Tarija's got access to your computers, and someone's probably already trying to get in there to allow verification of my upcoming report," Skye said. "I needed to give them that to allay their suspicions about you two."

"Kristen, you've got the ZPD too," Judy said. "Chief Bogo and the precinct will keep eyes on you for protection. That ZBI chief won't be able to harass you without any…"

"Wait! Wait!" Jack raised his arms to protect his germinating thought. "Oh yes, this might work! Thanks Officer Hopps. Dr. Soren, do you have any uh…obligations, family issues—anything that would prevent you from traveling?"

"Not really, a good part of my research just got stolen by that evil fox," she pointed out Skye, "and the rest's kinda on hold, so I could." Her expression added, so OK, where?

"How about if our angry skunk goes ahead and makes a complaint to the ZBI about their unwarranted intrusions? Maybe threatens to go to the media if she doesn't get satisfaction?" Jack couldn't stop a smile from spreading. "Chief Tarija would certainly want that problem to go away—maybe by giving the obsessive scientist access to her precious fossil. You get a trip to the Federal District, research time as cover, and Skye would have a trusted local contact if she needs you. That lets Tarija isolate you from problematic colleagues and contacts here, so her headquarters superiors can more easily monitor you in their territory. I'm sure that you could be boring enough for them to get sloppy about it too!"

"I don't really feel like I want to call or visit the ZBI and that Tarija person," Kristen said.

"No need! I'm ZBI, so you already have Dr. Soren. I'll pass on your complaint and take care of the negotiations as I speak fluent Fedlish!" Jack got the hoped for modest smile from the skunk. "I feel you're reasonably safe now whether you stay here or go, as long as you don't obviously try to hide your actions." Jack shifted his attention to her left.

"Wilde however will be a fugitive wherever he is. He stays hidden and we'll certainly get more widespread wanted notices, rewards offered, and surveillance of his known contacts—like us. Today's rapid response indicates they really want him—for revenge as well as being a threat. Wilde, I recall you saying that you know everybody in Zootopia—so a large number of them know you as well."

"You're right, he can't stay here," Judy said slowly. "Or at Mrs. Wilde's, tonight showed that." She got a few nods of agreement—including Nick's.

"Pity, I could've made use of him around here," Kristen said innocently. Jack saw a brief perturbed look cross Judy's face and knew that those two were each other's worst enemies for keeping secrets. Best to separate them—however cruel it might be right now.

"Kristen, I know Officer Wilde well enough that you wouldn't want him on your paws after he gets bored," Judy said before she scraped her fork around the bowl. "And as good as this was, we at the ZPD don't want to get a fat fox back."

"Might I comment?" Nick got several calm noes in response. He sighed. "Thanks for reinforcing my trust issues after I just lost my job and effectively got evicted today. You're right, Nick Wilde needs to temporarily disappear. I can't easily do that here, and places like Fox Hills and New Reynard are too obvious and small—it would take only one unscrupulous fox to sell out the stranger to the authorities—of which I am no longer a part of."

Jack felt sudden regret, the two officer's banter wasn't a response to past stress; it was to cover the reality that the newly acknowledged mates also knew they faced imminent separation. He looked to his own; Skye saw it in them too. They understood the risks of their relationship, and had kept them at bay for years; Judy and Nick wouldn't have that chance. It could have just as easily been us he realized—he'd fight to get that chance back for them as hard as he would for ours. They're friends now—which makes it our business.

"We need a well distant population center for you to get lost in…with a new identity! Nick Wilde leaves here; another fox arrives there." Jack hesitated in thought. "Problem is getting the right kind of false identity on short notice—the resources of the ZBI and ZPD are unavailable to us for this. A fake driver's license or I.D. to get into a club or buy something is enough for a teen—you'll need a better one for longer-term use.

"How about borrowing a real one?" Vivian said. "There's a lot of pride about Officer Wilde in the local vulpine community—although his infrequent visits with us have likely kept him unaware of most of that." They watched Nick's shoulders slump as he decided he'd better leave that arrow where it had struck for now.

"I'd need one that's a reasonable match for my age and description," Nick said, "and I'm not your average red fox. Most are a bit blonder than I am and have white tipped tails. Mine's a little bushier and darker on the end; maybe one out of every dozen of us." He lifted and slowly waved it—which elicited a small and quickly suppressed smile from Judy. Vivian briefly raised hers as well—as if any of them needed that familial confirmation.

"Vanya's a real friend Skye, and I think there's someone in her family that might do for this. If not, I can pass the word—don't worry, we know who to trust and will cover for each other. Needing this to help Nicholas clear his name will be all the explanation required."

"There's another issue everyone," Nick sounded hesitant. "Wherever I, or whoever I become ends up, I'll still need something to live on—even if I keep a low profile. Looking for a job or living rough in a strange place is too risky and I certainly can't use my account—I have less than five hundred in it anyway."

"Could you reach my bag behind you dear?" Vivian took it from Skye, extracted a finger thick wrapped stack of bills and tossed it to a startled Nick. "There's a thousand Nicholas—you told me to keep some ready cash for the go bag." The sweetly smiling vixen paused to let everyone appreciate the expression on her son's face. "I only used some of what you sent me over the years; I wanted to save as much of it as I could in case of need—for either of us. That is now." Vivian's tone brooked no argument. "There is another eight thousand of it in my account if we can find a way to get it to you unnoticed."

"Agent Wilde," Jack asked slowly, watching Vivian in admiration. "Would you also happen to have an organization chart for the opposition and some surveillance equipment in that spy kit of yours?" He had to wave his arms to stifle the general laughter. He got up to retrieve his briefcase and they all waited for him to resume.

"Circumstances are splitting us up before we have enough information for a coherent response to this conspiracy. Maintaining secure communications and acquiring additional operating funds are crucial if we are to have any success. We," Jack glanced at Skye, "dare not make any unexpected charges to our own expense accounts." He snapped his case open and pulled out two simple flip phones, thought for a moment, then passed them to Kristen and Nick. "Agent Winter leaves Friday and we already have a pair of these set up. You two are most likely to leave next—these have mutual contacts with ours. I was going to give them to chief Bogo, but we might not have the time." He pulled out his own and gave it to Vivian.

"Could you buy, or have someone else buy…say four more of these tomorrow? Get them prepaid for a month, a basic MigrateMobile voice and text plan."

"Do you think it's safe for me to be about so soon?" Vivian passed back his phone after a brief examination. "Won't the ZBI want to question me about Nicholas's whereabouts?"

"Now that I've had time to think, I believe it's imperative you go back home. Your best protection now is a normal routine. React to the news when you hear about it; call the ZPD to find out what happened. Do that and let everybody assume Officer Wilde is long gone! If you stay hidden for much longer, they'll have to assume you're in contact with your son. We also need that new ID fast!"

Jack pulled out several file cards and passed them around. "We'll need pens, some of you'll be writing." Vivian started to clear the table, which induced Nick and Skye to help her make short work of it.

"I only started to fill out two of those, so let Dr. Soren and Officer Wilde have…"

"Agent Savage," Vivian interrupted. "Given the circumstances with all of the agents and officers about today, and the possibility of some confusion." She waved to Judy and Nick, then Skye and himself. "Could we finally be somewhat less formal?"

"Makes sense Mrs…Vivian. I'm Jack." It was going to drive him nuts speculating about what that vixen actually knew about them—or would rapidly find out. Seems everyone he'd met recently had stripped away more of his anonymity. He also suspected that Skye was secretly pleased that she'd found another vixen to watch over him once she left. If that was a typical fox thing, then Nick was fortunate indeed to have found his pretty bunny mate.

"OK, now agen…Skye will have to leave soon to retrieve Dr. Alder's package, so we need to agree on our phone protocols. Use voice as little as possible and watch how you speak. We have ZBI tools to look for keywords in calls and text messages—which may bring closer scrutiny if you use them! Be assured that each of our names and those of individuals and locations associated with us will be among those keywords!" Jack pulled out his own card and showed them one side before giving it to Vivian to copy. "Use text as much as possible, these four digit codes are abbreviations for useful phrases to keep messages short. Our security relies on only using these phones to call each other, no one else!

"You mentioned Bogo, so he is included in the group?" Judy said.

"Yes, although you can contact him through normal work channels. For the rest of us, leave contact with him to me—I'm the least likely to be suspected among us at the moment."

"Who are these names on the back?" Kristen asked.

"We each get a code name! Go ahead, figure them out." Jack's attention put her on the spot and she started looking around the table.

"Well, this one's obvious; you must be Estelle." She pointed at Skye and Jack nodded. "And I'm Rocky no doubt, real subtle Savage! Now Tilly…"

"That'd be me," Judy raised a paw. "Farm, field, crops," she said in a resigned tone. She glared at Nick's exaggerated 'Aha!' look. "Aren't these rather childish Jack?"

"Not really, they're not meant as an effective alias, just as a simple memory aid for us."

"So I'm Cutter and you're Martin? Oh, got it." Nick said as Jack grimaced and raised his arms in a fighting pose. "So we load these names in our phones for easy caller ID."

"Exactly. Now I want all of you to write down three or four simple words related to your name. Skye already picked some star names, pass your cards and she'll put them in. When you text, include one of your words somewhere in the message as authentication in case someone else gets hold of your phone.

"Do you really expect us to memorize all of this? You've got over twenty phrases and even more codes," Judy said.

"No, just refer to your card. If it falls into the wrong paws it's meaningless without phone numbers to tie it to messages. Just don't keep it with your phone and delete messages after sending or reading one. Our real security comes from short ambiguous texts that will be hidden among tens of millions of others. If someone does suspect, it will take time to uncover them and they'll be useless by then."

"I suppose I'll use 'Marian', it's been a family name, but does not show on my records. Mom will be my confirmation word since some of you might have suggested that anyway." To Jack's consternation, Vivian was looking at him instead of Nick.

"Ah, OK that'll do. Though its close enough to what I'm using that some might think we're ah…" Jack blurted out. He tried to cover his near revelatory slip with an uncomfortable grin. Both vixens watched him back calmly while Nick was fascinated by something on the wall behind Judy—who'd tried to distract Kristen by reaching for her card. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been so wrong-footed by a female—and another vixen at that—sitting right next to his Skye. He struggled to keep his damn ears up.

Vivian had to have discerned something about their personal relationships—she appeared so self-assured and had too comfortably taken her place among them not to have done so. She couldn't have conspired with Skye just to provoke a response from him, his mate knew better! Although Skye had told him that foxes loved their practical jokes and gotcha moments, this wasn't the time! But Vivian had looked at him so…perceptively—no, maybe past him, at Judy! Get a grip Jack, your secrets safe, she's just focused on her incautious son's ambiguous partner like any other worried mom would be.

"Jack? I've got a suggestion for one of these unused codes," Nick said to his thankful relief. "We should have one for when we have to text from a different phone than ours."

"Good! Let's make that code four zeros preceded or followed by your authentication word so it's easy to remember in a hurry." He wrote it down immediately to encourage the others to do so. "That's why I left extras, I can't think of everything! If anyone can come up with more, let's do it now, we really can't let this party go late!

"Hey Martin," Nick said to him amid their brainstorming. "Does my name mean that I'm cut out of doing anything useful? Last time, we were involved!" He waved to Judy. "I can't just run and stay away from my responsibilities this time!" Now he looked at Vivian.

"Do you think I know what any of us are going to be doing Nick?" Jack said in sudden bitter frustration. "We're covert, information deprived and resource poor. Skye's about to walk into a certain trap and I'm trying to keep you out of one! I need to organize and plan so I don't have to face what we're really up against and how badly outnumbered we are! So far, what's kept me from losing it are the close friends in my life worth fighting for."

Chest pounding, breath audibly whistling, he stared around the table at his companions worried faces—Nick's had an overlay of embarrassment while Skye had started up, then hesitated and settled back into her seat. He felt soothing strokes start around and along his ears and felt less shame than he expected over the collapse of his façade of resolute leadership—he knew he had to let it out to avoid physical consequences, as did the smaller distant kin behind him. Jack closed his eyes and tried to control his breathing while Judy did what she could to calm him. It wasn't until he opened them again that he realized Vivian had shifted closer to put one arm around him and her other over his own. Skye was up, leaned over with both paws on the table and closely watched him in concern.

"Thanks, I'm back," Jack finally got the words out. He straightened up and brought his ears to attention as Judy retook her seat. "Time is not our friend tonight and I didn't help there, so we need to conclude this. Yes?" Kristen wanted his attention—if she hadn't had second thoughts about him earlier, she must be having them now.

"If I'm to travel to Concordia, perhaps Officer Nick could do the same. I don't mean together, but we might meet as casual travel acquaintances. I'd feel better having someone trained in law enforcement close by, particularly if I really need to help Skye somehow." Kristen looked at her. "Would you feel more secure with a trusted fox available if you need?"

"I certainly would," Jack put in. Skye confirmed with a nod. "That's actually a clever idea Kristen; it's a big enough city for him to melt into, and the last place he'd be expected to go with the government on his tail. We've got most of a day to think about it before Skye leaves.

"We'd have one team here to coordinate with Bogo and the companies, and one at the center of the conspiracy," Nick said. "If needed, Skye and I could pose as that couple you initially suggested Jack." Vivian watched her son while Skye couldn't resist a saucy tail flip.

"All right, enough for now. If you're willing to do some more driving Kristen, we could save time by having you drop Skye in the vicinity of her hotel as well as Vivian near home."

Nick suggested it would be prudent to have Kristen scout the tunnel and parking structure, then send an all clear before Jack escorted the vixens to her car—then he'd backtrack and walk up to the ZTA station to return to the hotel in case of any lingering surveillance. Jack understood what Nick wanted and remained impassive—when they were all gone, it would give the two new mates as much as an hour of privacy before their own inevitable parting.

"I'd like to find a clean sink when I get back," Kristen told Nick and earned two other feminine smiles. "See, I knew you'd be useful." She teased Nick with a subtle flip of her own tail as she walked to the door. Jack followed to close it behind the skunk, and caught Vivian's eye as he returned. Now was his chance to pry out what she might know.

"Mrs. Wilde, we dragged you rather abruptly into the dynamics of our subversive little group and are sending you away again after having asked much of you. We have a few minutes, can we ease any of your natural concerns about us?" Jack said, realizing he could have phrased that better due to the nervous expression it brought to Judy's face. Nick looked like he faced a sentencing. He waved toward Skye to hopefully clarify his intent.

"For such a newly formed and as you said, unapproved group, I see a lot of cooperation and reliance among you already," Vivian said carefully. "Now during my life, I've witnessed the development of some very close friendships. I see two such here, one quite unexpected, the other less so—but of a kind. Please forgive my curiosity about the obvious trust and concern you have each shown for your partners." She waited, with an uncomfortable slight knowing smile, likely having judged her prompt sufficient.

Jack stepped around behind her and stood close to the sofa with Skye to ease the pressure on Nick—who now appeared to have seen the executioner's blade. Everyone was on their feet—Judy however, seemed unsure of where to stand. Nick closed, then reopened his eyes as he steeled himself.

"Mom, I didn't want it to happen like this…I don't know what kind of future we're going to have…and I have to tell you now myself, just in case. I don't want you to guess or find out some other way." Nick motioned Judy closer and placed a paw on her shoulder to ensure their close contact—he evidently badly needed her support.

"I wasn't able to admit that I'd chosen her for a long time…until I realized she'd chosen as well. I present to you Judy Hopps—my now and forever mate."

Vivian approached the stiffly anxious pair. She crouched before Judy in silence and gave her two token cheek to cheek rubs. "I accept and welcome you into my family Judy," she said as clearly as Nick had spoken. He visibly relaxed as he heard her words. She straightened and exchanged a firmer nuzzle with her son before glancing down and asking, "claimed?" Nick nodded. "With her assent?" Judy did the same. "Vows?"

"Not yet, this just happened mom."

"I described the significance of them to her Vivian, but have not recited nor taught them—that is your prerogative," Skye said deferentially from behind her.

"Have you taken yours Skye?" Vivian gaze was steady, her voice matter of fact.

"Jack and I exchanged them three years ago."

"He must be as extraordinary as our Judy is." Vivian turned back to her immediate family. She placed her paws on both of them. "Nicholas, I anticipated this between you two ever since your new mate brought us back together. Not only had she given you a better life, the effort she went to for us was beyond what a regular friend or colleague would have done. Were you afraid because you didn't expect me to see that?"

The text notification blip from Jack's phone might as well have come from a truck backing up. He flinched and checked the all clear message as he heard Vivian ask Skye, "Did you two have anything to do with this dear?"

"Forced us to admit the obvious," Judy said. "We just couldn't before."

Vivian's arm reached to demand their presence. Of all the outcomes he'd worried about today, Jack hadn't anticipated the one where he'd be nearly smothered by three foxes.

"This is now a minor concern agent Savage, regardless of your clever solution to it. Fortunately this Dr. Soren is a typical skunk who can't see much beyond the end of her snout—or microscope." Chief Asa Tarija still loomed over him, but had welcomed him to sit this time in a chair actually high enough to let him see over her expansive desk. Jack took that as a positive sign. He carefully breathed through his mouth to try to keep the musky scent the llama had decided to wear today out of his nose. Somewhere in Zootopia, he realized, there must be a mammal willing to date this one.

"Her ZPD report about the discovery of the primitive animal, the likelihood of others, and its impact on society was thankfully cautious. That has so far allowed us to staunch any premature public dissemination of this. Chief Bogo has also readily agreed to suppress his part of it. However, some other very recently acquired information, such as that retrieved by your associate Winter last night, has revealed a far uglier picture that we must investigate."

"And Wilde's the only other one involved in creating it; any word on him?" Jack said.

"None yet. All we know is that he was in his apartment before we were since he seemed to have taken essential items. Bogo really fell down on that one with his insistence on judicial procedure! I thought he'd realize the importance of this over turf battles."

"He's in a very public position, he needs to be seen as impar…"

"I'm aware of that Savage! My concern is results. Our only lead is that two patrol officers apparently saw Wilde driving towards Sahara Square in an older sportscar. We are interviewing them today. I am also very interested in how he was tipped to the warrant we issued. He was apparently already out of contact with the ZPD at the time which implies advance notice and a leak!" However, you need not concern yourself further with Wilde or with Proteo for the time being. I have a pressing task for you that may eventually circle back to them." Tarija fussed with the files on her desk—seemingly her way to change to a more important subject.

"We have an unexpected and quite fortuitous opportunity to advance our long-term agenda significantly! This demands maximum effort from all of us and you may consider your now more crucial role as acknowledgement of the initiative you've shown. As an immediate down payment Savage, you will no longer have to work with little miss arrogant. She has concluded her work here successfully, and I…appreciate her naïve efforts on our behalf. After she leaves tomorrow, your nemesis will return to other duties at the federal office where she won't be a further annoyance to you." Tarija looked at him expectantly.

Jack showed her a rictus and risked a scalp cramp to keep his ears rigid. He added a small fist pump to sell it as subtleties of expression were often lost on other species. Thankfully, that appeared to work to his benefit this time as Tarija tapped hooves and continued.

"New evidence has surfaced that proves primitive animals live today, and suggests that they, along with certain modern mammals, are serving as a carefully concealed and actively managed food source by numerous types of predators! You will be one of several teams that must locate and confirm the physical proof of this. We must not reveal any hint of this until we have absolute proof of these crimes. Preds have walked among us with blood on their fangs throughout history, and this may finally be our chance to end their depredations upon mammalkind and secure the future for true civilization!"

Ok, the zealot speech is out of the way, get to my assignment thought Jack as he tried to look suitably horrified. Chief Tarija obliged him by passing over a file.

"This is an…issue of the Podunk Press Telegram from just two months ago. The locals refer to it as the Deerbrooke Denouncer—which is an appropriate comment on their journalistic standards as completeness and accuracy seem to be nebulous concepts for them. Nevertheless, this article had enough information to reveal the find of one of our primitive mammals—recently dead. There is no indication that it was examined beyond a local attempt at identification, which proved fruitless. Your task Savage is to not only find and bring this specimen in, but to gather enough information for us to seek out and obtain living members of this less evolved species. This is crucial baseline evidence that we must have in case our investigations are uncovered prematurely and the guilty destroy their own evidence."

Jack tried to disguise his relief that the conspiracy hadn't found living animals yet, as his resignation at the prospect of lengthy fieldwork. "This likely will take time and will require good coordination with the other teams. When will we meet?"

"You are going first, they will contact you once they are formed and ready to deploy. I have requested that Chief Bogo detach Officer Hopps to join you. She is from Bunnyburrow, and that, along with your species, should ensure easy local cooperation. Use that as your base of operations and keep a low profile until you have enough information to assign the other teams effectively. I'm sure that you will find a way to enjoy convincing little miss high profile to temper her idealism and embrace her true nature!"

Notes

This chapter post was delayed a couple of weeks because Jack Savage wasn't happy with my first draft of his chapter and demanded a re-write.