Chapter 63
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AN: Just an fyi, I'll probably be afk next friday, so the update will likely be a few days late (monday or tuesday).
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The blast ripped through the air, the left hand door window buckling in as it was transformed into a spider web of white cracks, shot fragments lodged in like captured flies.
Carmelita slammed on the brakes and began to turn the wheel, screaming out a curse word in Spanish as the vehicle began to turn the other way. In the back the various mammals grabbed onto each other tight, Nick wrapping Judy into himself and staring forward as the white wolf last seen at Dr Silverfox's place raced forward and turned, tires screaming as he began akira sliding to a halt.
They didn't see him stop though as the whole world spun, the car skidding into the road and then back the other way, the rainforest around them blurring out as they cartwheeled around, screaming and shrieking before they were slammed to the side, airbags exploding. Judy winced down, biting her bottom lip so hard that she swore she almost pierced through it, paws over her ears trying to shield them as the deafening bang gave way to a hideous grinding sound, the car shuddering to a stop.
Her body buckled in and out, chest heaving with each deep breath against the pressure of the arms around her and the pressing weight of fur and fat around that. Eyes slowly opened and she saw Nick shudder as he slowly unwound himself, the fox blinking and looking down at her. "You… You good?"
"Yes," she said, shaking before pushing on, arm going out to reach for the seatbelt release, only to find it covered up by one of the panda bears. "You too?"
"I think," he said as he turned. Up in the front, Carmelita was busy yelling into the radio before putting it away. Another loud bang echoed around the car, the image of the road and their path of destruction across it obliterated as the front screen was hit, turning white. The vixen, panting, looked back, terror on her face.
"I'm sorry," she said, undoing her seatbelt and opening up the hatchway between the front and back of the vehicle. She gave those in the rear a quick look before reaching for her shock pistol. Another shot hit them, the windows beside Kozlov, facing out onto the road, getting blocked out too. The vixen's ears were pinned back as she looked around. "How much can these things take?" she asked.
"The bodywork has bullet proof fabric in them," Judy said, "and the windows are…" Another shotgun blast rang out, this time taking the two windows on the driver's side, blocking out the view of the forest beyond.
Head in her paw, Carmelita hissed. "If it can hold…"
Another blast rang out, the rearview window whited out.
"Nyet," Kozlov shivered. "Don't think they did not plan for this."
Holding her shock pistol up, the vixen grimaced. "We'd be charging out into who knows what…" She said, walking over. "You'll have to yank the door open so I can fire out and hope…"
"Put the car into reverse!" Judy yelled.
Carm just blinked, looking back. "¿Qué?"
"Just do it!" Nick ordered, starting to shimmy his way out of the seat belt as if to do it himself.
The vixen just did so, pulling the shifter back and then looking on as the centre console screen blinked, showing the displays of the various parking cameras around the vehicle. She looked at it and smiled. "Clever bunny and fox." And then her expression froze as she saw one of the wolves racing forward, a tinfoil wrapped plant pot in his paws. Her expression turned into one of horror as she raced down onto Kozlov's feet. "The door. Three-two-one!"
He pulled it open, snapping his paw back as a blizzard of shells ripped into it, tearing long claw marks along the inside finish. All as Carmelita pushed her shock pistol out and fired blind. One shot, two shots, the shotgun blasted again and she swore as a third electric charge was released, pulling her paw back in as Kozlov slammed the door shut.
Bringing up her left paw she gave the grazed marks on the top a quick suck before her ears perked, yelling coming from outside. And then the back of the vehicle was lit up by a burning orange yellow glow, fountains of flame erupting as if a volcano had chosen to punch up through the roadway just behind them.
The vixen, checking back on the cameras and seeing the thermite charge going up in flames in the middle of the road breathed a sigh of relief.
"They have more where that came from!" Panda King warned, pointing out as two wolves brought out similar devices.
Carmelita let out a groan and a yell as Nick, pushing his way forward, spoke up. "But they don't know that we can see them, right?" He pointed at the frizzed out windows. "And I don't see too many with a gun."
"Nick, you, I and Carm can make a run for it," Judy said, "but…"
"Kozlov, get with Carm," the fox barked. "And give her your thing! She can run off with it. Carm, give me your shock pistol."
"Nick," she said, shaking her head. "I'm the superior, I'll cov…"
"-Yeah, well it's my stupid idea, I cuss up it's on me," he yelled, grabbing it. After a second she let go, the fox thrusting his tranq pistol back to her in return before making his way over to Kozlov's side. "Right, when they first light it up, you all run out the left. Kozlov and Po, easy enough for you. The warlord panda is on the wrong side, but just try. Judy…"
"I'll open the door for you," she said, running forward through the open hatch and under Kozlov as he moved across. Nick looked back at her, the start of a shake on his head. She just glared back. "The bodywork will last a few seconds. You all run out the side, when it starts coming in we'll duck down and go underneath, got it?"
They were wordless for a second before Nick shouted out. "Door!"
Eyes widening, Judy reached over and pulled it open, Nick letting out a duo of stray shots before pulling himself back in as another peppering round came from the shotgun. He hissed, Judy reaching over to put a paw on him.
"Just the chemical burn from the death tree," he muttered, "not shot just yet…"
"You got one of them," Carm said, seeing a second thermite charge starting to erupt on the road. The first was still going, and together they erupted into a fiery mass that was already making the inside of the vehicle uncomfortably hot.
A slam rattled from above them, the camera showing a wolf pulling down and away. Nick glanced at the cameras one last time, trying to picture where the armed wolves were, as a crackling began above them.
"NOW!" Nick yelled. Judy pulled the door open as he pushed his paw through and fired out, his fur standing on end as screaming bolts of electricity launched out in front of him and his fingers were lashed with a sudden cutting pain. There were screams and yells, he could feel the doors open and the others fleeing out, jumping into the undergrowth. Wolves barked orders and called out, the car rocked as the Panda King held himself at the door.
Judy looked on at the camera, spotting two armed wolves making their way around to chase after those going into the brush. "Other side!"
Nick pulled away and jumped over, turning a worried glance up as he saw a portion of the roof begin to darked, the sound of spitting and hissing flames emerging from above them. Judy pulled open the door and Nick leaned out, firing a duo of covering shots.
"NOW!" the bunny yelled, the panda king jumping out and into the wild. The wolves, ducking around to avoid the electrical assault, focussed as they saw him, only for Nick to fire out another round.
The fox gave a glance up, a fountain of sparks was blowing out on the roof and the inside finish was catching fire, the molten metal breaking through.
The fox, bunny's paw in his, leapt, feeling the heat radiate down as if it were leaping to catch up with him, his tail pulling back to avoid the blooming inferno.
His front paws, shock pistol still in one, aimed at the bent crash barrier and lifted him over and across, turning as he went to aim his weapon and let out more covering fire while he could. Judy raced with him, landing on all fours as he crashed into the bent bamboo and vines with his shoulder, rolling as he went. The bunny was already on all twos, starting to weave through the forest, and she paused and turned as she saw him turning and getting up, a lash of shot whipping above his head.
Back lowering, ears pinned, the fox turned back to the now blazing cruiser, eyes narrowing before he fired out at the silhouettes of the wolves, already starting a flank through the forest. The electric charges sparked and cracked against the damp covered wood, singing moss and losing their charge, all as another peppering of shot came, the fox yipping and ducking down. "Run!"
Judy didn't need to hear it again, pushing forward and racing along the path the large bears had carved, all before pulling to the side and sliding down a hole beneath a fallen branch. Split up, lead them away, she turned and saw Nick on all fours, shock pistol in his mouth as he took the same advice, turning to the left and vanishing.
Judy just pushed on, he would be fine. They were small, they could slip away and…
"YIP!"
She froze, her ears shooting up and turning at the yelp from her partner. A scream of his name almost rammed its way up through her throat only for her to hold it back at the last moment, turning, tranq pistol in paw, in case she needed it.
Ears still scanning, turning to try and hear where he was or what was going on. The sound of larger mammals crashing through the forest rang about and, as she heard more noise, she pushed on. Towards where Nick would be, ready to face off against them with him and…
She froze, her body beginning to tremble in place before she fell to her knees. Carmelita's shock pistol, thrown forward and away, lay there in front of her.
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"Well, better than nothing," the white wolf smirked, grabbing his bike and stepping onboard, revving the engine and taking off. Already he could hear the blazing sirens around him, but he had his methods and tricks. Off he roared, his mammals behind him, picking up the pace. "Third time's the charm," he smirked, looking down at the slumped red and blue figure in his lap, a tranq needle impacted in his back. He pulled it out, tossing it away, all while settling him into his lap. Like a real cub having a ride out with mama.
Hey, what could he say, he rocked every outfit he wore and mob boss biker mom was in no means an exception.
The wind whistled in his fur as, checking his police tracker, he signalled to his mammals and then took a sharp turn, leaning in and power sliding around before throttling up and cutting through an alleyway.
So they weaved, cutting forward through paths the ZPD mammals who'd been called in for backup couldn't hope to manage. Finally, double checking and feeling confident, he fished down onto the foxes utility belt and pulled up the radio. A click on and he held it up to his muzzle.
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"I repeat! Officer Wilde is down and taken by an unknown enemy, heading unknown!" Carmelita yelled into the communicator, both for their sake and that of the cops who'd arrived. The backup that had finally come.
Most of them already knew from Judy.
She was sitting there practically shivering into herself, ears down and half looking like she wanted to vanish and half looking like having to wait here, helpless, would kill her before she could.
The vixen had taken over to begin with, ready to take the pressure off the bunny cop. But now, for the sake of giving her something to do…
"-Helloooooo ZPD!"
They all froze, looking at their communicators. Judy's ears perked up a bit before whipping hers up so fast it seemed to travel faster than a bullet. "WHERE IS HE!?"
…
"-Yeeesh. Seems I got the right number. Anyway…"
"You will hand my partner BACK you hear! You will not touch a fur on his body and…"
"Well, he's been given a nasty prick by our tranq dart so far, so might be a little too late for that."
Judy grit her teeth, trembling, about to yell something else only to hold back, grimacing as she looked up at Carmelita. The vixen cop nodded and took over. "What do you want?"
"Oh, nothing much," he said. "Just all four of you who were in that car to come to a certain address. With a certain thing…"
"You understand what that thing is, huh?" Carm said.
"Oh, I do. And I want it in the next twenty minutes. Quay seven-two. The old warehouse. Your fox for our thing. Nice and easy!"
"And if we don't come?"
There was a pause. "You know, after dealing with troublesome foxes in the past… I'd like one in rug form. I think it'd suit him."
And with that he cut off.
The road was silent for a moment.
Judy's nose twitched before she grit her teeth. "We get him back," she said, turning to face Carmelita. "Don't you dare say we don't…"
"I'm not going to," she snapped back, paw wiping down her face. "We don't have time to think or plan anything smart, but still… We have a trick up our sleeve…"
"Yes," Judy agreed, looking around. Kozlov and the two pandas were standing there, the bunny holding back. "Cuss…" She hissed, rubbing her face. "Cuss… Listen, I know by every right you should be left out of this and…"
Panda King snorted. "No," he said. "For all I have done, I will stand and help you bring fox back."
Kozlov stepped forward. "Da," he said, snorting. "He might even like me after that."
"Well I'd volunteer anyway," Po waved off.
Carmelita cut to them. "This is a risk," she warned. "But I hope it is just a play by this mammal, working for Rattigan or someone else… They want the Talisman. By the sound of it they got a place by the docks, Sí?"
Judy nodded, ears going up. "They might be planning to do a swap and escape via the water. If we get the coast guard in and block the strait…"
Carm nodded. "And I'll call Bogo, get some bats or drones in. If Rattigan is involved, they could be planning to get their own one to take it."
Kozlov smiled. "In which case, you follow him…"
Carm nodded. "Not that we won't have backup outside too." She looked around at the other officers. "Call your chiefs, get every spare mammal to the location. T-U-S-K too!"
They looked around, unsure or not, before one of them spoke up. "Can we have Bogo or someone to…"
Carm nodded, pulling her communicator out. "Chief! They've given their stakes, we have a plan, but we need a mass deployment of forces including the coast guard, port authority, anyone with a boat basically as well as some pursuit bats and…"
She paused, ears flagging for a second before she shook her head. "The mammals on the Little Vostock goat escort wouldn't get here in time anyhow. I'd say carry on with it. We wanted to be there to see it through, but you should have enough. I just need your confirmation for the units here and…"
She held herself for a second before nodding, throwing her receiver to the lead mammal. "Sir?"
He nodded, holding it up to his ear and relaying on more orders.
Mammals were already running off to their vehicles, the bears splitting between them. Carmelita began stepping forward only to pause, looking down to Judy next to her. The bunny was trembling, her eyes red and wide, her breath hitched.
The vixen looked at her and held her paw, their eyes meeting for a second.
And then Carm pulled her into a hug. "This is why I didn't want to get you involved," she sniffed. "I know how it feels, but… But I promise. You will not lose your Nick like I lost my Sly. I promise."
She let go, Judy trembling where she stood. The bunny took a breath in, pulled in a sniff, and nodded. "Thank you," she said, before racing off to a waiting car. Carm turned to race off with her, only to pause for just a moment.
She imagined him still there. Grey fur, bandit masked face. Ready and willing, he'd get that fox back no issue.
"What, unlike a certain Vixen I know?"
She turned to the empty space next to her and flashed it a smile before racing off to join Judy by the waiting cruiser. They got in, and together they pulled off and away.
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"Dammit…" Bogo groaned.
He placed the phone down and let out a huff.
The room was silent for a second, until a rattle on his door pulled up his attention. "Come in."
The door swung open and in walked Clawhauser. The cheetah had a fretful look on his face, walking in like he was about to crack and fall through ice. "Chief… Nick's…"
"Those mammals will pay if they so much as lay a finger on him," the Chief growled. "Get Precinct Four on the line. Apparently they want to exchange him for some item and Hopps and Carm think they plan to get it out via air or sea. Get every boat we have in the area, get every bat or drone ready. You overheard the location?"
He nodded.
"Good," the buffalo snorted, grimacing. "Now go out there and tell them twice. And if you hear anything about this, or the Little Vostok run, be ready."
"Yes sir, I…" He paused. "We're still doing that?"
"Yes," he said, "we're still doing that…" He paused as Detective Oates walked up to the door, Basil and Dave on his shoulder.
"We heard about Wilde sir…" Dave began.
"We're on it," Bogo said, waving Clawhauser off. "There's nothing you can do, other than be there for the plan we already had."
The mice stayed silent before Basil spoke. "Of course sir. I hope that they think we're distracted, or are distracted themselves…"
"Either way, it's time for this showdown," Oates cut in. "Wolfard and the crew are ready in the trucks."
Bogo nodded. "Then I'll send them on their way," he said. "By the time they're in any danger, Wilde's deadline will be over… Still…" He paused, pressing his communicator. "Clawhauser?"
"Yes sir…" He chirped.
Bogo let out a breath. "I'm transferring all control of the hostage situation to Precinct Four. Order them to get the crisis team together NOW, there should be enough time for Carmelita to brief them." He signed off, cradling his forehead.
"Are you sure they can get everything together in time?" Dave asked. "Organising all that…"
"We've already got all the resources we're going to get there by the deadline on the way," Bogo said, rubbing his brow. "This means if it turns into a siege, or a chase, someone who knows the local terrain will be ready. In any case… I suppose it's payback for us dealing with those howler cooking extremists on their doorstep a while back."
A long pause filled the air, the officers at the door nodding. Either way, they still looked nervous. Oates wore a wide eyed look, Basil twitched here and there, Dave pulled up a claw to fidget with but began nibbling on it. Something not missed by the mammal whose shoulder he was standing on.
Oates smirked. "I'd say you should get something else to nibble on. Else the way I see it by the time this night is out you might have gotten yourself down to your elbow."
"Huh," Dave said, twitching up to face him. "I suppose that's a good idea…"
"And in terms of things to nibble, I happen to know some very special…" Basil began, pausing as he saw a look on Bogo, back at his desk. One that made it seem that Nick was still standing in the room with them, loaded with some awful pun and with his finger on the trigger. The mouse just rolled his eyes. "I'll save myself from reporting you to Mammal Resources for that minor prejudicial thought crime sir, given that I was actually going to mention there being plenty of very interesting flowers and seeds with calming properties."
"Well, in lieu of our temporarily absent fox," Dave replied, ears going just a little pink. "Once this is over there happens to be one seed that certainly…"
"-Enough," Bogo cut in. "Get out, get your job done, get something to nibble on."
With that, they left, the door closing. "You know," Basil mused, "I think I might go for some seeds to nibble on too. And it just happens I've heard of a place nearby selling such things."
"Strange that," Oates nodded, walking down the atrium. "So have I."
They gave a nod to Clawhauser, busy on the front desk, before leaving through the front door.
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Bogo, checking his security camera and seeing them go let out a huff, hooves knitted and his teeth grinding.
He could do with something to chew too.
Work out the stress.
Keep him occupied.
Or at least a part of him.
If there was one part of being the Chief that he hated it was this.
Him, here, behind a desk.
Everything now moving out of his hooves. Out of his control. The orders to the chess pieces given, delegated, running on auto as he didn't even get to watch it all.
The whole fate of this night, their targets, one of his own…
His command, but completely relying on others…
He paused, a cracking sound in the air, before looking down and seeing worn down scratches in the edge of his desk.
A breath in, a breath out.
He hoped this waiting was going to remain the worst part of all of this.