Pawson sat in the break-room alone. He held a now cool cup of coffee and wondered. "What if they are right? Maybe I should join them for the changes I want. No, no that's stupid." He took a sip from his room-temperature drink and swallowed it without even comprehending how cold it was. His train of thought was swifty broken when Bogo entered. "Chief, I didn't expect you to come."

"What did you learn?" The question sounded more like a statement with how it was emitted into the almost empty room.

Jacob nodded and pulled out his phone. Although he didn't play the recording. "Sir, I learned that this group, known as the 'Laws of Nature', have a few higher ups, one is known as 'Storm', he is..." There was a slight pause as Pawson knew what this looked like from the other perspective, another raccoon and it is a criminal mastermind? "He is a raccoon, but he is a serious threat." Bogo stared menacingly at the raccoon in the chair. Jacob seemed to keep his cool in this situation and continued. "There is a few of these types of arenas that they have set up, maybe whittling them down could get us closer to getting storm behind bars." Jacob spoke with conviction, but Bogo stared at him, seeing if that is all. There was too much at stake to just let some details slide, he needed all of them. The two stared at each other, waiting for something to happen.

After a couple minutes of silence, Wolford walked into the room. "Hey, Pawson, you're with me. I may want someone who has had experience with this." Then he noticed the staredown that was happening right in front of him. "You know, maybe I caught you two in a bad time." He then nodded to himself. "Meet me outside when your done." He waved his paw then left, leaving the buffalo and the raccoon to do what they did so well in the last however long they were at it.

"There's nothing more to add then?" Bogo asked firmly, asserting his dominance to gain all he needed.

"Nothing more, nothing less, sir." Pawson responded as if knowing exactly what to say in this situation. Bogo grunted then nodded, raising his hoof to the door. "Thank you chief."

As Pawson left, both parties thought the same thing:"That was weird. Not in a good way." Pawson decided to be more careful with how he acted and headed directly to where the new duo would be found. He waltzed around, squeezing past many of the mammals that were present, whether they were cops, arrested thugs or citizens that were providing information or just simply complaining, he didn't care. "Hey, I'm here, is the Chief always that stern?"

"He'll come around to liking you after a while, it could be sooner than you expect." Fangmeyer answered, "But he will be a little rough around the edges when you first meet." Wolford started the car. There was little speaking that happened over the drive, since Pawson didn't know where they were going yet.

"Okay, we sat in silence for long enough, where are we going?"

Wolford then spoke up. "Well, I thought we should have a little peace and quiet while we ask a few questions."

"Questions, like what?"

"As difficult as it is for me right now, I need to know, how do you know about everything you asked about?" Fangmeyer nodded along to what the sergeant was saying. She then turned her head to the back and glared at the raccoon.

Pawson scratched the back of his head. "I err... had a little help, from a CI."

"You have a CI already?"

"Well, not me, but Judy did."

"Hopps has a CI you are currently getting info from?"

"Yeah. Saved her somehow."

"We'll need their help then." Wolford demanded. "Would he be able to do that?"

"Not up to me, is it?" Pawson responded smugly, while still trying to keep his composure. "I'll see what I can do." He then added with a straight face. After a couple second break, he continued, "No promises though."

"Good enough for me." Wolford surveyed the road ahead of him. "Anywhere we wanna go?" As the question was asked, Pawson fished out the little leaflet of a map and threw it to the front. "Already have a great plan for us?"

"If by great you mean, help the city, then yeah, I do." He smiled proudly. "Go to the nearest circle, we'll start clearing them out. One by one, help those that are trapped there." He then paused for a second, "Like officer Hopps."

"Hope she gets well soon, if that means anything." Fangmeyer retorted. It was still clear that the losses were still fresh. "Atleast she's still alive, and on our side."

"Couldn't agree more." Wolford frowned. "Would hate to be the next mammal that betrays us."

"Duly noted." Pawson answered. "I'll be sure to be just as cruel as you to the next one." Wolford smiled at that one. Fangmeyer shook her head in disbelief and a slight chuckle.

As they finished their banter, the radio started. "We need a few mammals to assist in Outback Island. Sergeant Wolford, respond. Copy."

"Message received, where do we go? Copy."

"Return to the precinct, you would need to be in civvies."

"We'll be there in 10, out." Wolford returned the radio. "Why would we want to go there? Shouldn't we be focusing on the looming threat that is happening here?"

"Could be linked." Pawson spitballed. "They could also have an issue and need our help to deal with it."

"Guess you're right. What would they want over there?" Wolford started thinking. "There's nothing there of value right?"

Fangmeyer then chuckled. "What about everything that is exotic and only grows there, or did you forget about that?" She asked with a raised eyebrow. Wolford froze for a second then nodded in defeat. "Also the crime lord there, quite business savvy he is there. Could be extremely beneficial to have a mammal like that, especially one that knows the place." She then smiled. "If not that, maybe the simple placement of the area, it's secluded and hard to reach. We know they are outsiders, so they could have a small foothold nearby that lets them easily get to us." She patted the wolf's shoulder. "Next time think a little bit more than not at all."

Wolford simply groaned when that barrage of facts and logic was fired out. "I get it, I was a little pre-emptive with my assessment." He then shook his head. "To be fair, my previous partner thought more of possible scenarios." Pawson just sat in the back quietly, smiling like an absolute fool.

The car stopped and both turned around, and at the same time they both state, "So, what are you smirking at?"

Pawson shrugged. "Oh nothing, this just reminds me of me and Mary."

"Who's Mary?"

"My girlfriend, why do you ask?"

Both of the front seat officers blushed at that and looked at eachother, staring awkwardly without any idea what to say in response to what was just suggested. Finally, Wolford spoke. "I... I... we... no... we aren't a thing." He finally finished definitively.

"Right, and Mary is just a friend, no relationship there either." Jacob rolled his eyes as he said his piece. Wolford got out of the cruiser and headed into the police station. "Well, you might have to say it then." He turned to Fangmeyer.

She jumped slightly at that comment. "What do you mean? What are you talking about?"

"Not you too... Fine, you two be like that right now, but I'm telling ya, there's something there between the both of you." With that, Pawson left the cruiser and headed inside to get changed, back into civilian clothing.

He left the changing rooms, wearing a tracksuit. Outside was Wolford waiting, he was in jeans and a regular black shirt with a grey jumper on top of it. "Bogo wants to see us. I assume you know why."

"Yeah, I got it." Pawson responded. "His office?" Wolford nodded as he walked in front of the raccoon. "Why do you think he needs to talk to us? Isn't this something that we can just learn through the radio? Well, he's the boss right?"

"Yup, don't ask questions." Wolford opened the door and let the smaller mammal in. Inside was Bogo, Fangmeyer, still in her uniform, and one other mammal, who seemed to be in basically equal rank to the buffalo, but not quite as threatening.

"'Ello mate, noice ta see yas here on such short notice." He spoke with an extremely strong and thick accent, making him almost undecipherable, but they managed.

"Don't tell me, you all sound like that?" Pawson fired back but was met with an elbow in his shoulder.

"Nah, Am just kiddin'. It ain't that bad." The dingo answered, he then chuckled. "I'm just glad that he's not a suck up like you." The dingo pointed at Wolford. "Live a little." Wolford looked at Fangmeyer questioningly, who shrugged, not knowing what was happening either.

"Chief Durnham here is quite the" Bogo looked at the chief beside him. "careful type." He then took a second to compose himself. "He will be the one taking charge on your next operation but you are to act and behave as if nothing is different, you are upholding the reputation of two police precincts." He looked at the two mammals in front of him. "We chose the two of you due to the fact that you have a certain set of desirable aspects. You have the skill knowledge and ability to go through any procedure, with minimal loss, be it physical or civil." He then turned to the raccoon. "And you have knowledge on these mammals, knowledge that no-one else possesses. This makes you a prime candidate to be selected on this mission. I must warn you however, once you are sent in , you will not be able to leave easily. We believe you are capable to get through this though."

"Ya make it sound like they're entering hell itself, they're goin' undercover. There's a chance they don't even need ta fight." He smiled. "Where, you're going, there's plenty of outsiders where you're goin'. Don't get lost though." He chuckled at that one. "Nah, just kiddin' again, you'll do excellently." He stood up and planted his paw on both of their shoulders. "Let's get this shit done."

Pawson quickly asked about the officer that was to assist him. "Why is Fangmeyer still in her uniform?"

"Sorry ta say this but most felines are too 'classy' for such events, sure you'll find some but they're suspicious all the time. That and she is a she." He put his paws by his hip. "I mean this with as little disrespect as possible but there are rarely female tigers in the criminal underworld. I'm sorry but it's true, that and the fact that they don't like outback island." The dingo started to scratch his head. "There's a lot of reasons, and many of them are that they don't like this place." He chuckled and nodded to himself. "We should advertise to them a little maybe." After chuckling to himself, he continued. "She'll be there, but with the rest of us, waiting to back you two up."

"So we'll be going in alone?"

"Well, you'll have one other mammal with you, but otherwise, yeah, you're completely alone." He smiled. "You'll meet the last member when we get to the island."

"What will we be working with?" Wolford quickly asked.

"Not much, you'll have radios and your badges, that's probably it."

Pawson then asked in response, "What about my pistol that I conceal carry?" Durnham turned to the buffalo confused. Bogo just nodded. This caused the two other officers to look at him for a second. "What, I'm smaller, so I have a gun, that's an issue?"

"N-no, just, it's rare to see an officer with a firearm, instead of a taser."

"I have both, the pistol is harder to reach."

"Okay, well, you can bring your pistol, if that means anything."

"It does, the usual criminal has a gun, no? It would be easier to fit in with one."

Wolford smirked and shook his head. "You are thinking too surface level." He then turned to the smaller raccoon. "What about how you act, how you talk, what you say?"

"Me? I'd worry about you, criminals aren't any different to regular mammals, you know why? Cause, they don't care enough." He paused for a second. "But I did, I wanted to be better. So, don't try lecture me on how to be undercover."

There was an awkward silence in the room. "I don't want to see you dead as well." He looked down at his feet. "We don't need another loss so soon."

"Victory isn't measured by losses, it's measured by gains, if we keep acting like this then yeah, they will win, we can't tip-toe with them, we need to go." Pawson stormed out of the room, shutting the door behind him. He sat down on the cold ground and covered his face with his paw. "Stupid, stupid, stupid. Should've just nodded along. Now they'll throw me out of the case."

Back in the room, the two chief's and the tiger stared blankly shocked at the display they just witnessed. Wolford was slightly upset at what happened and felt a tinge of guilt. "Sir, don't take this as how he would act normally, I've seen him act before. He will do whatever it takes to get this done." He paused for a second and swallowed quietly. "Don't remove him from the case, he hasn't done anything wrong."

Durnham nodded and smiled. "I guess he's still on, as long as you can find him. We need to get goin' now."

Bogo then stood up from his chair and removed his glasses. "If that happens again, I will bring both of you back, not only that, but I will make sure you two will regret acting up."

"Sir, he is still a recruit, I will take full responsibility for his actions."

"Fine, he will be spared, you will make sure that it all goes buttery smooth. Any mistakes and I might even take your badge." Wolford looked slightly worried at the threat.

Fangmeyer was also looking on scared. "Wolford, it's not too late to choose against that decision. You don't know how he'll react."

"No, it was my fault, I pushed him to be like that, he's right, I don't know him, I should only worry about myself."

Fangmeyer heard this, got up and slapped him in the face. "Don't doubt yourself, this all started when McHorn betrayed us, it wasn't your fault." She looked at him for a couple seconds. "Don't doubt your own ability because of him."

"You're right, sorry. But that shouldn't mean that my mistakes should cost him." Wolford stood his ground. "He has a chance to do something great, I say give him that chance."

Fangmeyer nodded and smiled, "If that's what you think, then go find him. You know before it's too late."

"Right." He then turned to Durnham, "Where should we meet, sir?"

"Outside, there's an outback cruiser, hard to miss. Oh, and don't call me sir, chief is fine but sir is a no-go."

"Yes s... chief."

"Splendid. I'll see ya around." Chief Durnham left the room.

Bogo remained, staring at the wolf before him. He didn't say anything, he just remained silent for this. The wolf didn't react, he just looked back, hoping that there wouldn't be anything further to discuss. In the end the wolf spoke up, "Sir, permission to leave."

"I was waiting for you to ask, granted. Find that raccoon, and keep him in line." Bogo responded. "You will be under Chief Durnham's command for the time being, remember that."

Wolford nodded and left. He shut the door behind him rapidly, sprinting around the precinct to find Pawson. He asked a few officers if they saw him, but most said no. Only one pointed him in any direction; it was Clawhauser. "I saw him go back to the changing rooms. Was he taken off the case?"

"No, no. I made sure of it. Thanks by the way." He responded breathlessly, while still running as fast as his body would let him. He barged into the male changing room. "Pawson! You in here?"

The aforementioned raccoon left one of the cubicles, dressed in his uniform. "Here to put salt in the wound?"

"Why have you changed? We gotta go?"

"We?" Jacob was puzzled. "I'm not kicked off this case? With how I acted with you, surely that meant." He then smiled. "It was you. Clever wolf." He laughed. "Give me two minutes, I'll be over at the cruiser."

Wolford nodded and turned before stopping. "Wait, how did you know about the cruiser? You weren't gonna just leave, were you?"

"Considered it." Pawson called out from his cubicle. "I even left the building, but I decided against it and thought I could do a patrol or something. You know something that is actually worth it, for the city I mean." He paused for a couple seconds, still changing. "For what it's worth, I didn't mean to react like that." He zipped up his jumper quite audibly. "I'm sorry, I don't doubt your ability or your judgement but, I want some responsibility and some ability to act. Don't nurture me like that."

"I get it, it's always difficult when you start. No-one knows what you can do, I get it, I really do." Wolford rested against the wall of the room. "I was the same when I joined. I wasn't given a chance and well, I guess I made myself one. Everyone when they start always think its something to do with 'It's because I'm x y or z.'. Now, I'm giving you one, don't ruin it."

Pawson left the cubicle and looked at the wolf leaning. "Why do you want to give me a chance?"

"We all deserve at least one right? Take it. Don't look back. Always head held high, keep going forward. That's how we become better."

"Fine, I'll go but no promises."

"Buddy, I got my career on the line."

"You idiot, you did not." Wolford just smiled and shrugged his shoulders. "Ugh, you put too much pressure on me."

"I thought you said you wanted some responsibility."

"FOR MYSELF, not you. You're a sergeant now, you can't just throw it away."

"If it gets you to pull yourself together, it will be worth it." Wolford finally finished, leaving the room after he said that. "Remember, when we move anywhere, we want to keep our head down, no unwanted attention."

"Couldn't agree more." Pawson retorted, knowing roughly what it was like. "You stand out only if you can back up your wild claims or if you're an idiot asking to be shot." Pawson stated that with a slightly weaker voice. Wolford noticed this but didn't want to pry, seemed like it was a tough pill to swallow for him. "Let's just say I know first paw."

"Duly noted."

The two made their way outside, where they saw everyone else important to this case waiting. Fangmeyer was seated in the back, whereas Durnham was behind the wheel. "You'll sit in front." Wolford quietly declared to the smaller raccoon.

"oh, do tell why." Pawson coyly. He then sniggered under his breath, hoping that it wasn't heard by the larger wolf. Luckily, it really wasn't. Wolford groaned at that comment, pretending not to react physically. He kept a smile on his muzzle outwards. He didn't want to show how annoyed he was at what basically amounted to constant teasing. "You know, just go through with it. I feel you won't regret it. I mean how long have you two known each other?"

Wolford stopped. "At this point, I don't even know."

"Exactly, just tell her how you feel. Trust me."

"What would you know about it?"

"Hello, I'm in a relationship." Jacob responded instantly while laughing. "Or did you forget? Eh don't worry too much about my life. Yours is the one that is currently shaky at best." He smiled while speaking. Wolford just sighed. "Alright, let's just get in." Pawson opens the front passenger door and takes a seat, waiting for the wolf to sit down inside. "Lets roll."

The dingo behind the wheel smiled confidently, "Couldn't agree more." He started the ignition and drove off. "Well, I say we quickly debrief you lot, since it would make it quicker." Everyone grunted in agreement. "So we have found sufficient evidence to enact a raid on a cave. As sad as it sounds, we found proof of an illegal fighting ring located there. To make it even better, we found out that our favourite new locals may have had a few visitors there."

"That's why you guys got me." Pawson responded. "I'm the one with the most knowledge on them."

"Yup, that's right, you'll be our ace in the hole."

"You know, it is weird that a recruit knows as much as you did just like that." Fangmeyer added.

"Yeah, I know it is but that's just the card I've been dealt, accept it." Pawson fired back, knowing he was being tested right now. He then quickly resorted to a factory default answer, to not seem like an absolute jerk. "What I mean is, we all have our specialities and we all can do something very well."

Durnham laughed at that. "We only say that when we don't wanna offend someone. Nice cover."

"Never mind then." Pawson commented. He raised his head and rubbed his forehead a bit. He had no idea what he was getting into right now. "What do we know about the cave?"

"Not much, that's why your going undercover, try to find more info about it to start a raid."

"What if we need back-up?" Wolford quickly asked, looking at their options.

"Then we start the raid, that's when it will hit the proverbial fan." Durnham frowned. "Try and get out of dodge in that situation." he advised. "We don't want another bad situation."

Fangmeyer and Wolford instantly picked up on the another part. "What do you mean another?" They both asked at the same time, scared that it was a sign that shown up too late.

Wolford then continued, "We aren't at risk of 'collateral damage' or accidental crossfire, right?"

"Umm." is all the dingo responded with. He started to blush a little and tried to avoid any form of contact. Everyone knew what that meant and groaned. Everyone except Pawson. He heard this and was oddly giddy about it. It was noticed by all in the car.

"What, it means there will be a massive brawl and there will be fun." Everyone looked at him with confusion and distrust. "Oh come on, live a little."

Durnham then laughed a little more, "I like the fire inside you, just upset it ain't police fire."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I know you'll find out soon enough, and we'll be ready for it."

"That's weird." Pawson commented under his breath. Then they reached the ferry. "Time to get out?"

"Well, the cruiser needs to get on as well."

"Right." He sighed. "I forgot about that one detail."

"Don't forget anything about the case though."

"Right, about that, we need names, right?" Pawson asked as the car rode onto the large boat.

"We have them ready, you'll learn them when we reach the station." Durnham answered reassuringly. "And there is a third undercover officer. Another wolf actually. He'll be your ticket in as well."

"Let me guess, he's a local and we are friends of his, because they are more likely to trust him, they may trust us? It could work but what if it doesn't?" Pawson asked hypothetically. "We don't have much to show that we are who we say we are." He continued, unsure whether this is a good idea. "Should we improvise?"

"Well, I guess ya have to. We don't want to dead precinct one cops."

Both Wolford and Pawson spoke in unison. "Hey, to hell with the precinct one part, I don't wanna die."

"Oh, I have faith in both of you to survive." Durnham said with a false bravado that no-one noticed. "Besides, there's three of you not two."

Fangmeyer then cut in. "I'm part of the back up now." She paused for a second. "I can be comms for them but I will set up in ballistic armour and be part of the raid."

"I have nothing against that." Durnham answered. "Actually, I respect that, try and help your … boyfriend?"

"Err... no?"

Durnham turned to the raccoon and whispered. "I'm not the only one seeing this right?"

"I already spoke with both of them about it. Now, it's on them."

"Fair enough." The barge started to swim away, gently swaying in the calm waves that were present. Pawson left the car and walked over to the edge, looking into the distance that was barren and empty. It was tranquil.

"Everything is so hard now, so confusing. I thought it would be obvious what to do but is it really?" He muttered to himself as he watched the fish dance energetically around the boat. The delicate motion soothed the raccoon and calmed his nerves. "Yeah, I'll just go with the flow. See where that leads me. It should be what I want." He gave a faux smile to the fish that still ignored him, curious about the giant piece of metal that was moving around. Pawson then turned upwards and looked at the horizon. "We'll see what happens."

A/N: So, I have many different things that I would call reasons for my absence but I'm back now and oh boy am I glad to be back.

Many things have happened so I was really busy and my previous laptop was broken, again. Now I have a new laptop so lets hope it doesn't break.

Anyways, story, huh. Lots of things happened here, well, mainly just the trio is now going to outback island, where someone else is... huh.

Til nest we meet, and of course, I wish you all a good one.