Alex's eyes fluttered open to silence. No medical machine whirring, no fluorescent bulb buzzing, and no chatter of research staff. Just beautiful silence.
He winced slightly when adjusting his head. He fell asleep with his legs dangling off the couch, his neck stuck out to one side, but it was the most freeing sleep he'd had yet. He shook his legs, bringing blood back to them after the awkward sleeping position, reflecting momentarily on the lack of a shackle rattle. He slowly sat up and stretched his back, and a satisfying crack shot through his body.
The ceiling lights were still on from last night paired with strips of sunlight peeking between the drawn curtains. Alex walked over to the windows and parted the fabric just enough to fit his head between them. The morning light pierced his eyes with unexpected intensity. He briefly shielded them with a hand before they finally adjusted to the brightness.
Outside, the world was moving quickly, but Alex felt like the moments passed in slow motion. A stoat mother and son waltzed down the sidewalk, paw in paw, the young kit skipping with seemingly endless energy. Though he couldn't hear them, he could see the laughter in their smiles. A tiger dressed to the nines that dwarfed the stoat pair tapped away on his phone with one paw while a half-eaten bagel sandwich sat in the other. An army of eight squirrels jay-walked to the other side of the street, all of them dressed in similar black and red streetwear. Comically small baseball caps turned backward sat atop their heads while they shoved and bumped each other like a group of teens in high school.
Alex pulled his head back behind the curtain and shivered. It wasn't entirely a shiver of fear, but uneasiness was definitely at the forefront of his mind.
He took slow steps around the home, scanning each little detail meticulously set up for him. Nothing at first glance looked different than what he'd expect to find at a human house. Even the paintings with abstract mammal shapes didn't seem too far off from things from his world.
The kitchen felt marginally smaller than what he was used to, and it made him wonder if homes were designed with specific mammals in mind. He opened a cabinet and was immediately hit with the strangeness of this world. Vaguely familiar foods were all rebranded with silly animal puns. Everything from Quagga Oats to Mice Krispies cereal lined the shelves, his eyes rolling further and further to the back of his head after reading each label.
The upstairs had two bedrooms. One was set up with his sleeping accommodations: a bed that could probably fit six people comfortably, ornately crafted dark wood dressers, a golden vanity, and a walk-in closet larger than his college dorm other room could be best classified as an entertainment room. Bean bag chairs sat in front of a projector screen almost double the size of the TV screen downstairs, cords from multiple gaming consoles hung from the projector unit itself, a colorful desktop computer sat in the corner, and a bar area lined the back wall. It was significantly more than he ever expected to use, but he wasn't about to complain. He did feel like the strobing disco ball hanging from the center of the room was a bit overkill.
He walked down to the end of the upstairs hallway and pulled the curtain back to reveal the enormous pool out back. A fire pit sat at the far end of the yard, and the wooden deck surrounding the area had more pool chairs than he had friends.
Friends.
Alex shut the curtain and shivered again. He stood quietly listening to the house creak and groan, trying his best to ignore the onslaught of mental anguish that was attempting to work its way into his head.
Ding!
The sound of a doorbell ripped him from his thoughts. He made his way downstairs and up to the front door. His hand hovered over the doorknob briefly, but a quick gulp and exhale helped him push through. Opening the door revealed a familiar elk dressed in a dark red blazer and black pants texting away on the front porch.
"Ah, Alex, good morning," James shoved his phone back into his pocket. "I hope you slept well?"
"Mhmm," Alex replied, peeking behind his massive figure to see if anybody could see him.
"Was everything to your liking?"
"It's great. Thanks."
"Excellent," he smiled. "Ready to go?"
Alex peeked past James once more. "Um… Maybe?"
James chuckled. "I know this isn't easy for you. But, It'll be fine. I promise."
James gestured for Alex to follow and began walking down the front porch steps. Alex swallowed one final time before descending the stairs behind him. His eyes were fixed on the cracks in the pavement initially, but his curiosity soon got the best of him and he looked up. He was immediately hit with what felt like hundreds of different mammal eyes trained on him. His body tensed up, but he didn't stop walking. A sheep standing on the opposite sidewalk reached into his pocket and pulled out a phone.
"Don't worry about them," James said, not bothering to turn around to face him. He could almost sense Alex's unease. "Let them take photos and record. This is all a part of the process. It'll be alright."
Alex took a deep breath and kept his pace steady. He entered the backseat of the limo sitting at the curb and released a long sigh once the door closed. The tinted windows felt like body armor at the moment.
"I know it's overwhelming," James said, placing a reassuring hoof on his knee. "It will get easier."
"I hope so," Alex sighed.
"Think of it like every major news story. Mammals are only interested because it's all new. They'll eventually get bored and move on to the next thing. If everything goes as planned, It won't be long before you blend in with the crowd "
The rest of the ride passed in silence, Alex mesmerized by the streets filled with bipedal mammals all going about their day. It wasn't long before they pulled into the horseshoe driveway of the ZBI headquarters, much to Alex's chagrin.
"Don't worry, we're not here to run any more tests," James sensing Alex's unease once again. "This will be the home base for our operations. At least for a little while. Just until you've integrated a bit more."
Alex and James walked into the building and straight to the elevator. Most of the mammals mulling about the lobby didn't pay too much mind to Alex besides the curious glance here and there. They entered the elevator and waited for the agent to punch in the code. Alex expected them to descend but was pleasantly surprised when the elevator lurched upward.
After about a minute, their ride slowed to a halt, and the metal doors slid open to reveal two wolf agents. One was pitch black and the other a glossy white, both of them nearly identical in height and build. They said nothing as they eyed up the elevator patrons behind reflective sunglasses, then turned and marched down the hallway behind them. James nodded to Alex signaling for him to follow.
It wasn't long before they reached a conference room at the end of the hall, the figures of Nick, Judy, and Samantha chatting away behind the soundproof glass that surrounded them. Judy caught Alex out of the corner of her eye and tossed him a small wave and smile, the action causing everyone else to simultaneously turn their attention towards the approaching human.
The black wolf held the door open for the human and elk. Alex wondered if the wolf was staring, but his eyes were a complete mystery behind the tinted sunglasses.
"Good morning, sunshine," Nick greeted. "How was your first night as a free mammal?"
"Fine," Alex answered. "Not sure how free I feel yet."
"Give it some time," Judy added. "Zootopia was built for everyone. You'll find your place, and soon enough, you won't want to ever leave."
Alex tried to return a smile, but it faltered a bit after ruminating on the word 'leave.'
Samantha clapped her paws together, abruptly grabbing everybody's attention. "Let's save the pleasantries for the public."
"Right," James said, unlocking a briefcase centered on the table and removing a bundle of paper-clipped documents. "The integration plans." He spread the papers across the table for the room to see. "Like I mentioned yesterday, Alex, this might be a bit overwhelming. But, I promise this is being done to ensure the smoothest transition possible. New things tend to… scare mammals."
Alex gave a nervous but honest chuckle. "I'm aware."
"Excellent. Because of this, the integration plan is going to occur in three phases: The initiation, the introduction, and finally, the integration. The initiation will consist of a guided tour of the many districts of Zootopia. You won't be required to talk or interact with the public during this period. The focus here is to be seen; get as many mammals to notice you as absolutely possible. We're working with the media to capture plenty of footage and get your face on every news outlet and phone screen."
"Ok," Alex gulped.
James gave Alex a commiserative smile and then continued. "The introduction is where interaction with Zootopia's citizens begins. This will be a fairly controlled process. We won't expect you to strike up a conversation with just anybody. The goal here is to show certain mammals with influence that you're no threat. This should then trickle down throughout the rest of society. We have a few events on the timeline that shouldn't be anything more than small talk and cocktails."
James gave Alex a look as if to check for lingering questions. Alex nodded to let James know he was following along.
"Integration is when we finally make sure you're seen as a valuable member of society. This means involvement in the community, possibly local government, and of course, you'll need a job. You'll still receive your government living stipend, but this isn't being done for the money. It'll be pretty hard to be treated as a functioning mammal of society if you don't work."
"I guess I understand that," Alex said, a bit annoyed that he couldn't even escape work in a different universe.
"Fortunately, you don't need to worry about any of that right now." James shuffled the papers back together. "One step at a time, and all you need to do right now is be seen."
"Which means…" Judy jumped in, almost bouncing from excitement. "It's time for you to get your first taste of Zootopia!"
Alex couldn't help but grin at her enthusiasm. "I assume you'll be giving me the tour then?"
"I wish!" Judy huffed. "The ZBI is handling resourcing for your integration, so you'll be with Agent Carter and Agent Jackson for protection."
Judy gestured to the black and white wolves respectively that led him to this room, their backs pressed against the glass just outside the conference room door. Alex was glad that his bodyguards looked intimidating, but it didn't help contain his nervous exhale.
"I'll be with you the entire time as well," James added, placing a comforting hoof on his back.
"Alright," was all Alex could give.
"Don't worry, bud," Nick playfully nudged him. "Not many mammals get their own private tour of the city, especially with an entourage of ZBI agents protecting them. Plus, you get to see our gorgeous mugs again for lunch today."
Alex nodded in response.
"I think he's been briefed enough," Samantha's voice cut through like a knife.
Judy rolled her eyes at the panther. "You ready, Alex?"
Alex nodded again and exhaled. "As I'll ever be…"
James and Alex made their way out of the room. Without a word, the two wolves followed in tow, and the group re-entered the elevator and descended back to the lobby.
Although this was the second time Alex was leaving the ZBI, he felt more nervous than the first. Not only was it midday in the massive city, but the entire goal was to be seen as much as possible. Popular wasn't a word anybody had used to describe Alex before.
A few more mammals turned their heads to stare at Alex as he waltzed through the lobby this time, but it'd probably be a while before the lingering stares fully disappeared. They waltzed outside and up to the black limo. Alex, James, and the two wolf bodyguards piled into the back seating area.
"Where are we going?" Alex asked as the vehicle roared into motion. "Shouldn't I be out in public?"
"Oh, you will be," James chuckled under his breath. "We're taking you to the city center; Savannah Central Station Plaza. Lots to look at, and lots to be seen by."
Alex regretted asking the question. He watched as the trickle of mammals traversing the streets grew into a rapid stream. The sound of activity began to penetrate the car frame as they approached their destination. The pace of the vehicle slowed as traffic exploded, car horns blaring and annoyed mammals shouting at each other to 'get a move on.' The congestion continued to build as Savannah Central Station came into view, an ocean of mammals scattered about the vast plaza.
"You can pull over here, Cecil," James noted to the driver. The antelope at the wheel nodded in return, pulled the car up against the curb, and stalled.
Alex looked out the window at the sea of faces. Humans had various looks that helped distinguish them in a crowd, but this made him truly realize how similar people could be. Alex was mesmerized by the immense range of bodies and facial structures that crowded the area.
"Carter, Jackson," James addressed the wolves. "Secure the area, please."
The two wolf agents nodded and exited the back passenger door. Alex watched as they walked in opposite directions around the vehicle and made gestures toward passersby to back away.
"Alex."
The human turned his attention to the elk staring intensely at him, almost like a parent about to scold a child.
"I need you to listen very carefully," he said. "As soon as you leave the limo, do not attempt to interact with anyone. Mammals are going to stare, mammals are going to record you, mammals are going to outright gossip like you weren't even there. You might even hear some rather… unsavory comments. But, It is crucial that you stay calm. No talking back, no gestures, and absolutely no outbursts of any kind."
Alex stared wide-eyed, then nodded in a choppy fashion.
"We're intentionally making a big show of your arrival to increase visibility," He continued. "Agent Carter and Jackson may act like other mammals are out to get you, but you're not in any actual danger. And, even if you were, they're highly trained professionals."
Alex wasn't sure if that made him feel any better.
"First impressions are incredibly important here. Luckily, you won't have to actually do anything to make a good one. Just take a deep breath and stay close to me. Alright?"
"Ok…" Alex rasped.
By now, a small crowd had formed a semi-circle around the parked limo. A few folks had already pulled out their phones in anticipation. From beyond the tinted windows, the wolves gave a subtle thumbs up.
"That's our queue," James grabbed the door latch and looked at the scared human. "I know it's not going to be quite as relaxing as you'd like, but try to enjoy yourself. It is your tour after all."
With that, he pushed the door open and let the roar of society assault their eardrums. James stepped out while holding an open hand behind his back, signaling to Alex to wait. The human caught little glimpses of mammal heads trying to peer past James' figure, their phones at the ready.
"Folks, please step back," James addressed the crowd. "Give our guest some breathing room."
"Who is it?!" Somebody shouted. "Is it Gazelle!"
"No way! Gazelle's limo is way bigger!"
"You'll all see soon enough," James answered, continuing to gesture for them to move back. "But first, I need you all to please make some room."
The air filled with murmurs as James and the two ZBI agents guided the crowd. Alex was a bit nervous about how much they were building up his entrance. He understood that hype builds publicity, but he hoped they factored in hype increasing expectations.
"Ladies and gentle mammals," James announced. "My name is James Horner. I'm the Senior Director for the Mammal Inclusivity Initiative, and I'm ecstatic to introduce you to the newest citizen of Zootopia. It's not every day that we get the honor of welcoming an entirely newmammal species." There was a sizable increase in the murmurs from the crowd. "Please know that he's gone through quite a traumatic process to get here, and it's his first day seeing the city up close. So, I ask that you kindly keep your questions and comments to yourself. we want to make sure he receives the warmest welcome this wonderful city is known for. Without further ado, I'd like to welcome our very first human to Zootopia: Mr. Alex Baker!"
The moment his name was mentioned, Alex's heart began to palpitate furiously. He scooched himself closer to the car door where James was moving out of the way for him to exit. It took every fiber of his being to avoid retreating deeper into the limousine. He felt the sunlight splash across his face as he stepped out, partially blinding him, which somewhat helped since the silhouettes made the figures look marginally more human.
The sounds coming from the crowd changed orchestrally as Alex's grand entrance unfolded. It began with a murmur that dwindled into almost complete silence as he fully exited the vehicle. Then, the murmurs started again. Then, they grew. And grew. The various musings of passersby slowly morphing into full-on choral commotion.
"I-It's the mystery mammal!" Someone shouted.
"I knew the government was hiding it!" Another yelled.
"I heard it secretes a poison that can paralyze you!"
"Doesn't look very intimidating to me… I bet I could take it on in a fight."
"What's up with the head fur? Does it shave the rest of its body?"
Alex's eyes were glued towards the crowd, but he couldn't focus on anyone in particular. He felt locked in place from a complete state of shock. The barrage of vocalized thoughts from the growing crowd grabbed hold of his limbs and refused to let go. His heart had been racing before even leaving the vehicle, but now it was pounding in his ears to the point he thought a blood vessel might pop.
A hoofed hand gently touched Alex's back causing him to flinch. "I'm right here," James gave him a subtle wink.
"Folks, please!" James' voice cut through the cacophony of voices. "Firstly, He is not an it! He's as much of a mammal as any of you are! Secondly, he only seeks support from his fellow Zootopians! Give him the courtesy of treating him like an equal."
"Blow it out your ass, prey!" Somebody from the back shouted. "Where's my fucking support?"
James chose not to respond.
"Alright, Alex," James turned to the human, still speaking loud enough for the gathered mammals to hear. "Shall we show you around?"
Alex mustered everything he could to speak. "S-sure."
The two wolf agents began pressing the crowd to move again, this time to create a path for the elk and human. They waltzed between the parted sea of mammals, Alex keeping his eyes glued forward and trying his best to ignore the incessant commentary from the peanut gallery.
"You're doing great," James whispered. "The hardest part is over."
Alex wasn't sure he believed him.
They pushed forward while the two ZBI agents continued creating a lane for them. Most mammals moved out of the way before Alex even got close, but he was grateful he had bodyguards there, regardless.
"First stop on our tour," James said, almost startling Alex. "The Savanna Central Oasis."
Alex looked around at the lush green space in the center of the plaza. Dirt walking paths cut through the grass and a small set of trees with wide canopies were sprinkled about the area. A large pond sat neatly in the middle, a couple of paddle boats mingling about it.
"This area is the primary arrival point for the city," James continued. "The Zootopia train station travels about all parts of the country bringing mammals of all walks of life together." James gestured towards the building where mammals spewed out along with their luggage. "Over there is the city hall, and right next to it is the courthouse. We sure hope you never end up there, huh?" James nudged Alex lightly and chuckled.
Alex tried his best to focus on what James was telling him, but his attention was far from the architecture and drawn directly to the mammals surrounding it. It seems like the reactions he got could be filtered into three categories: those who were frightened would try to scramble away in the calmest way possible. Those who would simply stare from a distance, their faces blank or possibly awestruck. Then, there were those who scowled, their features scrunched into a grimace and refusing to look away. It was as if the sight of him alone caused anger to seep from their pores. Alex briefly locked eyes with a horse bearing the aggressively disapproving look and felt his stomach knot and his skin crawl.
"Do you like shopping, Alex?"
Alex was startled once again. "Uh… I… Don't know…"
"Hmmm," James sensed Alex's heightened uneasiness and scanned the area. "Maybe now is a good time for lunch?"
Alex nodded absentmindedly. He wasn't hungry, but his mind was on auto-pilot.
"Wonderful," James clapped his hooved hands together. "I know just the place."
The elk pulled out his phone and tapped away on his phone while Alex continued mammal-watching. It only took two more ominous glares before he finally gave up and stared at the stone pavement beneath his feet.
"Right this way, Alex," James ushered him. "It's not too far from here."
The pair made their way towards the southern edge of the plaza, the two wolf agents marching closely in tow. Their path was made easy by the mammalian crowd parting like the Red Sea, some folks even waiting to cross a busy road at the same time as the human. The further they ventured from their starting point, the more gossip he heard from the crowd. Alex felt his stomach tighten again, the whispers from every direction bouncing nauseatingly around his skull.
Alex's entourage approached a friendly-looking outdoor lunch cafe, bright yellow, orange, and red hues covering everything from the building awning to the patio chairs. They walked past the entrance gate and up to the order window, standing right behind a towering hippo. This was the closest Alex had gotten to another civilian at this point, the unsuspecting customer tapping away on their phone as they waited.
The line crept forward while Alex did his best to block out the growing sounds of gossip from the cafe crowd. Another hippo with a startled expression cautiously approached the line from the side, scooching in next to the already waiting hippo. Alex watched as the new line member nudged their hippo friend and jerked their head backward. The original line member tried their best to inconspicuously peek behind them but accidentally made eye contact with Alex. The human watched them lean their heads in close together, attempt another peek, and finally decide to leave their spot in line. Alex received a pat on the back from James as they took their new line position, much to the upset of his stomach.
When it was finally their turn to order, Alex couldn't focus on the menu. All he could see was the shaking weasel standing three feet back from the register, while the rest of the staff peeked from behind a kitchen wall. Once James realized Alex wasn't going to speak, he ordered a meal for the both of them, grabbed the ticket, and ushered Alex away from the window quickly.
"Alex?" James asked with concerned eyes, grabbing a seat at an empty patio table. "You look pale. Are you alright?"
Alex didn't respond right away, his eyes wandering from James and over to the other tables around him rapidly emptying of patrons. "I don't feel so good."
"Hey now!" A voice shouted from the cafe entrance. "You're not eating without us, are you?"
Alex and James looked over to see Nick and Judy pass the restaurant gate. They waltzed over to the table, smiles plastered across their cheeks.
"You picked a good place," Nick said. "Best bug burgers in town."
Judy made a gagging face, which Nick playfully bumped her for. When the two officers noticed Alex wasn't even cracking a smile, their faces dropped the happy-go-lucky looks.
"Rough morning?" Nick asked.
Alex rolled his eyes, his stomach gurgling. His head lolled on top of his crossed arms resting on the wooden table.
"I'll take that as a yes," Nick answered himself. "He's not looking too good."
"Nobody tried anything, right?" Judy questioned.
"No," James answered on Alex's behalf. "Folks have kept their distance. Maybe a few nasty looks, though."
Alex rolled his eyes again accompanied by another gurgle. A few?
"I assume he's been dealing with some commentary," Judy said.
"An understatement," James said. "Those that weren't whispering to each other were quite vocally creating fiction of him."
Nick scratched the back of his neck. "I guess I'm not entirely surprised."
Alex's stomach churned violently while the group played back his torturous introduction. He swallowed hard at every attempt his body made to rid the contents of his stomach.
"Order 47," The voice of a server came from behind. "Two beetle burgers with the works and a side of fries."
The red plastic tray dropped into the table center. Just one glance at the food and Alex's body finally gave in. He shoved his head below the table surface and heaved into the colored pavement below. The group winced in unison at the squelch.
There was a long gap of silence before Nick let out a drawn-out breath, "I think that's enough for today."
"Right," James agreed. "I'll fetch the limo."
"Let me take him," Nick said.
"No, no, we couldn't do that…" James tried to protest.
"Look, he obviously needs to get out of here pronto, and you can see where the cruiser is parked. I'll get him home much quicker than a stretch limo."
"Honestly, not a bad idea," Judy admired. "You don't have those often, slick." She elbowed him playfully. "I can stay here with James and talk to the public; make sure everybody knows it's a police escort and not an arrest."
James tapped his foot nervously before sighing. "Fine. Get him back safe."
Nick turned his attention to the back of Alex's head peering from below the table. "You hear that bud? I'm getting ya out of here."
Nick gently helped Alex up from his bent-over position, resting a paw on his lower back while guiding him to the police cruiser, the human heaving into the gutter one final time before sluggishly entering the front seat. He buckled himself in and curled into a fetal position, groaning with his head pressed against the window. The door to the driver's side popped open, and Nick jumped in, bringing the engine to life. Nick flipped on his lights and pulled away from the curb, the gentle bumps in the road feeling oddly soothing to Alex.
Five city blocks of silence passed before Nick finally spoke. "You need a stomach pill or something? Judy keeps a bunch in the glove box."
"No…" Alex almost whimpered. "Just need to get back."
Another three blocks of silence passed.
"Listen... I know platitudes aren't going to help, but it does get easier. I know a thing or two about not being accepted. Being constantly judged comes with the 'Fox Package.'" Nick tacked air quotes on at the end.
"A smoother talker like you?" Alex moaned out a joke.
"The flattery is always appreciated," Nick chuckled. "But, I'm serious. It wasn't easy for me growing up, and to be honest, it still isn't easy. Even as a cop, I see the same uneasiness of 'shifty ole me' running around town. Before I met Judy, I kind of let myself become what others thought of me. She helped me see that giving folks a chance actually made a difference." Nick continued driving quietly for a few moments before waving a paw dismissively at himself. "Bah! I'm preaching to the choir at this point. I just want you to know that you're not alone."
The rest of the drive to Alex's house was quiet, the human lost in thought. Nick pulled up to the curb and killed the engine.
"You need help getting inside?" He asked.
"No, I'll be alright," Alex replied, squirming his way out of the seat and onto the sidewalk. He grabbed the door to shut it but hesitated. "Uh… Thanks." Alex coughed. "I appreciate it."
Nick smiled and gave a two-finger salute before Alex shut the car door. He staggered into the house and flicked the lights on to the newly familiar living area. With his stomach recently emptied, the kitchen seemed like a reasonable first destination, but Alex's body couldn't help but gravitate to the couch that cradled him on his first night. He flopped down, his face landing on a pillow, and let his tears soak the fabric.
Hi friends! Hope you enjoyed the newest chapter! Don't forget to Favorite, Follow, and Review!
I apologize for the disappearance. Life has a funny way of making things difficult sometimes. Because of this, I'm going to completely nix the upload schedule. I will upload chapters as soon as they are written and edited, but I'll do my best to make them 4000 words to make it worth your while.
Thanks so much for your love and support!