Two Vixens.
"Good morning Zootopia. I'm Fabienne Growley and here's your morning news. Early yesterday an attack was made against Prairie Mammalian Hospital near Vertiform City. Details remain sketchy about the cause but the damage inflicted has knocked down a whole section of the hospital. Some witnesses claim weapons fire was coming from the doomed section while others say an unknown aircraft attacked without cause."
"In other news the Moohan Virus has been wreaking havoc in the Meadowlands. Random families encountered strange symptoms. Strange flu-like symptoms and shortness of breath has become common symptoms. Medical authorities have quarantined all mammals affected and their families have been in self-imposed isolation. All travels outside the home for the General Public have been restricted to short trip to get groceries or daily necessities. It is unknown how long this will last."
"We apologize for not having our usual segment by our ace reporter Victoria Harridon and her ever-colorful friend Audrey Drew. Both have been in self-isolation and are documenting their experiences. We hope their reports will be resourceful and enlightening."
Abigail Canny, nursemaid to the former godfather of the Outback Mafia, watched the morning news focusing intently what had just been reported. What had been reported caught her by surprise; she only half-heard what was said, but a specific name caught her attention. She changed to another channel she knew would repeat headline news every ten minutes. Now she heard the complete story and still couldn't believe what was reported. Catherin McKeen along with her newly born litter was removed from the rubble; the camera operator was obviously prolonging the shot so maximum outrage could be generated.
This was Abigail's opinion. She once was a reporter back in her college days and afterwards worked for a local newspaper, thus recognized the tactic which was in bad taste not to mention disrespect for the dead and their families. This obviously didn't take into consideration how the Outback Isle Mafia would react. The the reporter confirmed what she recognized was the real reason for this attack. Gregor McKeen, Godfather of the Outback Isle Mafia, was killed in this attack. His body was carried out inside a body bag and placed inside the coroner's vehicle, the autopsy to be done elsewhere because of the heavy damage to the building.
Abigail shook her head. This was bound to happen. The Dark Underground had been having great success in thinning the numbers of law enforcement mammals in recent weeks; the Zootopians were bound the strike back at something of value and from what she knew this godfather was one of their Alphas. More than a pawn was knocked off the proverbial chessboard.
She turned off the Tv and headed out the front door, locking it as she went. Her plans to grab the two young vixens were almost finalized and she needed to check in with one last mammal. With the godfather and his family permanently out of the picture, there was no other mammal that had a better claim to the title than these two vixens. It was obvious that they couldn't properly handle the levers of government, thus it would fall upon her to do it in their stead. As steward she would reign supreme for years.
"...eyewitnesses reported gunfire from many different directions. Some claims contradict others but one thing remains undeniable; this hospital has been closed until authorities can determine how severe structural damage is and wither it can be repaired and restored to serving the community."
Commissioner Frank Ursus watched the news intently. He already had a report about the GSD attack yesterday and it was remarkably light on certain details. Details such as the body of a vixen and her newborn litter that now were being shown on the morning news. He had no say or approval in the operation, but miscalculations like this always reflected negatively on his police department. His wife, Jean, watched along with him. She gasped as each tiny body was removed out from the rubble; a tear of sympathy ran down her muzzle.
Frank knew better than to justify it. He knew one of the Alphas from the governing body known as the Dark Council was confirmed to be in that hospital. His suggestion to reconnoiter the building had fallen on deaf ears; now those that could act against them would do so and they had the best weapon to use against them: dead innocent victims. And dead newborns were the most effective tools.
"Was there anything they could have done to minimize injuries to others?" Jean asked mostly to state the obvious, but after years of being married to a police officer who rose through the ranks, she already knew the answer.
"I strongly recommended reconnoitering the building, but it was deemed too risky and similar attempts in the recent past alerted the target. They decided surprise was the only solution." He pointed to the screen that now repeated the scene of a young body mangled being removed from the rubble. "This could have been averted. This could have been discovered before going in guns blazing. We have troops trained to isolate innocents from the targeted ones. We could have discovered these were his family and used them against him. Afterwards we could have put her and their litter into isolation so whatever she had planned against Officer Wilde could be neutralized."
Jean scratched her jaw. "Are we certain with the death of his wife the threat against Officer Wilde is gone? Scuttlebutt says someone called the nursemaid has claims against the officer."
Frank's eyes were wide as saucers. "You were never supposed to know that! How did you?"
She made googly eyes at her husband. "As wife of the commissioner I can learn some things via means a bit more than simple persuasion. There is also another mammal who has laid claim against the todd, against his wife also. What they have against mixed-species marriages I'll never understand."
Frank shook his head. "That was another thing you weren't supposed to know."
She smiled. "The nursemaid wants power, which anyone can clearly see. When she gets control of the two young vixens that the Wilde-Hopps has custody of, she will become steward until they reach the age of maturity. But I suspect she will not relinquish control, instead she will find some way to incapacitate them even if only to deceive the doctor."
Frank shook his head. "She will have a difficult time attempting that. The Wilde-Hopps have family members at the apartment nearly full-time. Then there's the Director of Global Security that just happens to be the vixens great-grandmother. Nope... the Wilde-Hopps apartment is sealed tighter than Fort Knox."
Now it was Jean that shook her head. "If you say so, but nothing is ever impenetrable."
"...I was crawling and staying as low as I possibly could. Bullets took off my right ear's tip and Rachel has one lodged somewhere in her body. The surgeons don't give her much of a chance to survive the next surgery. DAMMIT! Whoever is responsible for the attack must be skinned alive!"
Director Judi Dench watched the morning news dispassionately. Whatever happened was completely out of her paws. She had various reports and video from nearly every angle; several weapons were clearly shown firing from the mid-level floors in that wing of the hospital. A few rounds from a shoulder-fired weapon had hit the universal symbol for a hospital: a red cross. This effectively obscured any reasonable recognition and shortly afterwards a call for an airstrike was received. The wing commander responded with several planes dropping munitions, the result was the collapse of the wing and thus effectively silencing the gunfire.
Ginger Valiant, a female river otter and personal secretary to Director Dench, watched the Tv making no sound nor comment. She had been an agent herself years ago and also been an on-scene commander in recent years. Now her promotion months ago placed her in a desk job working for the senior offer she admired most. Unfortunately this morning was not going to bode well for either of them, and she knew her council was going to be asked by the rodent.
"This isn't going to bode well for us, Gin."
"Ma'am, I'm troubled by the weapons fire that obscured the Red Cross symbol. Should that make it on national Tv... that will be an added trouble for us."
Judi turned and looked at her secretary. The otter had a point, valid one to be sure. "That is why I'm having that segment removed from public consumption immediately. And if it won't be removed, I'll work to have the part of them firing from that spot aired before they show it. I'll not allow militants to use a universal place of sanctuary as a tool to fire on us without fear of return fire."
"Ma'am... it's not the return fire; it's the cover-up."
The mouse returned her gaze and switched her DVR back to the time frame in question. She watched as automatic weapons fire rained out from the building near the symbol, and shortly afterwards the return fire that damaged the symbol. She paused the screen and looked carefully at the ruined symbol. "Can you identify it? I can if I look long enough, such as I'm doing right now."
"Same here, Ma'am. Here's something else to consider: our pilots should have known we were attacking a hospital. Why did they not refuse to attack? Surely they knew it was under the protection of an international agreement?"
"I have the answer right here" a voice said from the doorway. Both females turn around just in time to see Colonel Kohle walk into the room. He placed the After Action Report on the director's desk and sat down in his usual chair, waiting as usual for the mouse to quickly skim through the many pages.
"So the pilot and squadron commander acknowledge they knew the building's purpose, knew the weapons fire violated the international agreement, and waited for a call asking for attack on a specific spot." Judi closed the report and rubbed her eyes. "Convenient cover for us, but I doubt the public will see if that way."
"Director," the dog said plainly, "I told everyone to write their reports factually, don't attempt to cover-up errors. Let the axe fall where it may. They all agree: the militants fired from the building knowing their actions were an illegal use of the facility."
Ginger sighed. "But we still have to prove that to the public. We will have to make certain their use of firearms from that building gets onto Tv. We have to counter-balance the pics of dead young ones. That is our priority now."
"Colonel, Ginger... make it so. Meanwhile I better get copies what we have and get my arse over to the mayor's office pronto."
The office was soon empty and a sign stating it will reopen after lunch hung on the door.
Franz Wright couldn't believe what he was reading in the early morning paper. The Tv was on and he was multitasking; changing his focus from the screen to the newspaper in his paws. He knew the fox and genuinely liked him. After all, anyone that could come back after being abducted twice certainly had his respect. He understood the reason why the council sent assassins to kill any Alpha that had been captured by law enforcement; the knowledge they had could cripple their operation and quite possibly end it altogether. He especially had new respect when the vulpine bested the whole council in a death match.
Empress Whitefang turned around to see what her husband was watching on the early morning news. She knew he liked watching this, and she knew he had other sources telling him much more details. What she saw was a standard report about an attack on a public building; so she wanted to know what he did. It could have serious consequences for her empire.
"What is it that has you so fascinated about this attack?"
He reached over and pulled her close, knowing she was in her inquisitive mode but also still under the fading effect of his knot. "Our efforts against the Zootopians have hit an unfortunate stoppage. Alpha Eleven was executed because he kept underestimating the Zootopians. Alpha Ten was killed by Alpha Twelve because he acted against Twelve. Now the Zootopians have killed Ten's family in the same operation that allowed Twelve to hill him."
"So what do you want to do about it?" She was playfully rubbing his belly obviously hoping for a certain response.
"About him? Dunno. But you..." His voice trailed off as she giggled as he pulled her close and nibbled her ears. He had been resistant to have another litter so soon; she on the other paw was more than ready. She tricked him into a position where only she could see the Tv; now she was watching an obvious repeat of the morning's top story. She committed the details to memory as he committed himself to satisfying her.
Soon she had the info she wanted and he lay grinning at her. He grabbed her paw and led her to the tub full of bubble bath, and both sat in it for their favorite soak. She sent their maid to look after their youngest litter since he was busy holding her.
"I think you should tell the council it's time to up the ante. Whatever they are doing is clearly giving these Zootopians enough time to work against them."
She had an evil grin spread across her muzzle when he looked into her eyes. "It's time to finalize their downfall."
Agent Minksin awoke from the dream she had. Events of yesterday's operation played out but this time something was different. In this she clearly saw the vixen holding a cub in her arms as the mother looked out the window. She saw the airstrike as it raked across the room and dismembering the occupants as it tore apart the remainder of the building.
"Penny for your thoughts" a male's voice said nearby. He was another mink agent, leader of another team. They were unofficially a couple but as their species tended to do adults paired up and explore the relationship before committing to exclusivity. Thus far he was proving to be a keeper in more ways than one.
She smiled and snuggled against his lean but firm belly. He wrapped his paw around her, making a point to gently rub her just under her belly button. She knew this was a subtle tactic males did to gage willingness, but the nightmare still wouldn't go away and she couldn't fully appreciate him while it remained.
"It's about the mission, isn't it?" His paws now rested upon her hips, remaining there but not testing further.
"It's nothing I can't do myself. You on the other paw have something I very much want. Massage me and maybe the genie will grant your wish." Her paws were upon his guiding them to certain muscles that ached and helping him kneed them. It was obvious he had other plans but she needed to somewhat satisfy his arousal while maintaining control on far too many fronts.
"Listen" he said as he suddenly spun her around. "I've been there more than I care to admit. You'll go through a board of inquiry and as long as you present facts as you saw them; the most you'll receive is a letter of reprimand in your official records. Higher command wants this swept under the proverbial rug. We eliminated a very dangerous threat to Zootopia and quite possibly delivered revenge for the families of our ZPD."
She hissed at him as her ears folded against her head. "Don't justify the deaths of innocents! I gotta live with what I did. Not you. Not anyone else."
He looked into her eyes as seriously as her knew how. "I am not referring to the cubs nor their mother. But if it helps ease your conscious... I received information leaked to me by a friend in medical. These were the family of the Alpha we took out. I know for a fact she was planning something against the Wilde-Hopps. Unfortunately the particulars remain a mystery; but as far as I'm concerned we did Officer Wilde a huge favor."
Crystal looked into his eyes. "Still there must be video showing my actions. Disfiguring an international symbol of sanctuary has its punishment."
"True... but that's why I think you'll only get the letter. There must be video showing them firing at you first. Your only misjudgment was in not marking the room with a smoke flare and then calling in the airstrike. Live and learn from this."
He had a point. One she knew in her heart of hearts was true. She settled into his paws and allowed him to massage her aches, and after a while to do other things. Now that she was finally starting to relax she felt she could allow herself small pleasures of life. One was here in her paws, so they did as adults are prone to do.
It was a normal morning in the Wilde-Hopps apartment; controlled chaos reigned supreme as the many young rabbits roamed around playing hide-n-seek. Stu finally received word from the city manager of Bunny Burrow that he was allowed to return his kits home whenever he saw fit. Opal and Albert decided the oldest litters would best be allowed home first, these were those under the age of twelve but older than eight. His teenage kits had already been allowed to remain home, mostly to help tend the crops and keep the burrow clean. Under the circumstances the elder rabbits had decided not every weed needed to be removed since the workload was challenging enough with the normal amount of paws.
Bonnie, Jackie, and the vixen's other grandparents Carl and Kimberly Wintersprite had just finished cleaning and putting away the breakfast dishes. They kept a close eye and ears on the youngsters as they went about household chores. Luckily Judy's bedroom was locked thus keeping young eyes from seeing the decapitated head the taxidermist expertly preserved. The story of how the head came into the household had been told more than once, although Bonnie strongly disagreed with keeping it around; but this was not her burrow therefore Judy must have a very good reason for keeping it. Police work certainly had changed her daughter.
Marilyn and Caroline were happily playing with the numerous bunnies and busy searching the various rooms. By now they knew the youngest did not have body odor, a remnant of ancestry that once protected them from predators and now helped them in this game. These two were using their other senses to track the hidden lapins, and they were quickly learning to hunt as a team. One by one they flushed out the bunnies until only one remained. This one proved remarkably difficult to find, and by now both sisters theorized the bunny was cheating. Rules of the game didn't say the one hiding actually had to stay in one place; it had to keep from being discovered.
Candice was barely holding back her giggles. Her father was Aunt Judy's brother from Grandmother Bonnie's second litter. She had learned this trick of moving hiding places from a friend back in Mountainview Day Care. At first she thought it was cheating just like these cousins did; but after the logic was presented and not banned by their teacher she now uses it to her advantage. Like right now; the last to be found set the rules for the next round. And she was thus far the last to be found. As the minutes wore on she found herself getting sleepy, and as she slowly hopped from one hiding place to another she found one cousin after another either very sleepy or sound asleep. She wasn't aware when she succumbed to sleep, nor when the two vixens found her and tried to waken her.
Something was wrong with this bunny. This one was always the last to be found, but here it was lying in the middle of the floor they had passed over numerous times. Now they had proof Candice had been cheating all along, so they gently picked up the limp body in their mouth and carried it to show their elders. They were increasingly becoming more alarmed as they passed more bodies of sleeping bunnies. Once they entered the kitchen they had real cause for alarm; the elders were sitting on the floor and gasping for air. Gently they laid Candice on Grandmother Kimberly's lap and gently pawed at her leg. A moan and her slumping onto the floor was the only response they received, thankfully grandma didn't land on Candice and neither appeared hurt.
Marilyn and Caroline by now were feeling quite sleepy themselves. It must have been the thrill of the hunt that kept them from succumbing to whatever put everyone to sleep. Now they fell to the floor and soon were soundly sleeping themselves.
The front door opened and a few mammals entered, each covered in black garb with facemasks. Carefully they stepped over the sleeping kits and moving through the apartment with purpose. It didn't take them long to find what they were looking for; gently they picked up the two vixens and placed them inside a garment bag. They left as quickly as they came, and locked the front door before closing it as they went out. Little did they know a softly blinking light had seen the entire event; recording and sending the video to a computer which was monitored by a very annoyed worker.
Now the agent became alert as a buzzing signaled there was activity in the apartment. Close inspection of the live feed confirmed an intrusion was underway. Unfortunately the bodies lying about confirmed this would be over before security could get up the stairs. When the team didn't respond to the radio call the agent knew this was more than a simple break-in; the careful removal of the two vixens confirmed this. It would be useless in the short term, but sooner that ZPD was notified the quicker they could begin tracing where these mammals went.
Director Wilde was spitting nails when news reached her desk. She had enough presence of mind to remain focused, unlike last time she received bad news regarding family. It was back when news about her grandson and his bunny mate were going under trial for breaking ancient lapin laws. Audrey had since been pleased the couple proved their relationship was genuine, and now they were accidental parents due to a vixen's greed. She had since taken up meditation, and although she still thought it was useless it became a convenient excuse to keep others out of her office. She grinned and returned her focus to the situation at paw.
Reports confirmed this was expertly planned. Her team assigned to keep watch had been incapacitated by the same gas used to knock out everyone in the entire building; thankfully the paramedics were successfully reviving everyone. There was only once method that could accomplish this: the ventilation system was tampered with. It was confirmed shortly by the ZPD as they made their search throughout the building, unfortunately confirming the intruders had gotten away.
Audrey did not want to be the mammals responsible for this. More than a simple security team was knocked unconscious, and these worked for a certain mafia boss in Tundratown. She was glad she had a truce with the rodent, now she would need it as she dialed his number into a secure and heavily encrypted phone. This news would best be delivered by her before it was on the Tv and radio. Thankfully the rodent remained as courteous as he usually was, listening as she described the events and then thanking her for this information. He assured her this attack on the godmother, although indirectly, would not go unpunished. Reluctantly he agreed to receive calls from the director and exchange information; he would use tactics her organization could never use and both would share data they collected.
After hanging up, Audrey felt a wolfish grin spread across her face. Whoever did this surely didn't know what they just unleashed. And if they did, it would be best not a hair on either head of the vixens was harmed. Her organization alone would be a formidable foe, adding the ZPD would be doubly dangerous. But the Tundrtown boss... he alone was dangerous than both.
Judy was spitting nails. Seeing her husband trying to keep a brave face as he tended to his parents made her angry enough. She had grown close to the young vixens and they had become as her own kits, and judging by her mother's reaction they were considered her grandkits as well. A recent memory flashed through her mind; Bonnie was scolding the vixens for some misdeed. After this was done she had scooped them into her paws as both cried on her shoulders. Afterwards both were reluctantly handed to Nick's mother and soon after than Judy herself held them.
She snapped out of this reverie when a paw placed itself on her shoulder. The pair of eyes was not what she expected but nonetheless pleasant to see.
"Don't you worry; we'll get to the bottom of this" Agent Walker said as her own eyes showed compassion, genuine and not from forced professionalism.
Judy smiled and both sat down on the couch as the vixen told the bunny what was found out. Sleeping gas was placed in the ventilation system which knocked out everyone in the building. Several large canisters normally used in industrial processes was converted and filled by this gas; obviously the only method the abductors could use to carry sufficient volume in as small of containers as possible. These were left behind and had just completed emptying themselves when discovered by the ZPD. The cameras recording the events showed mammals in black garb but obviously wolves or foxes had done the deed; their tails and heads covered so identification would be difficult. But Agent Rogers' computer program quickly identified the species of each, but not necessarily the facial features. These mammals were trained never to look towards the ceiling, an obvious placement for security cameras.
Judy grinned. She took both agents to the office normally locked and closed the door behind them. She activated the computer system and search through the video feeds until she found the hidden camera. Stella grinned; her intuition paid off. This system was her brainchild and putting a couple cameras in locations unconventional but would capture faces normally not shown on the normal cameras. Thankfully these showed the shape and subtle features of the intruders; afterwards it was simply letting the laptop do its thing.
These were not citizens of Zootopia, nor of the surrounding areas. Their homeland was known all too well by these watching the screen, and the motivation of whoever hired them was plain as well. As the GSD agents sent copies to their superiors and to the ZPD, Judy sent one to Mr. Big as well. Her short message told him she was organizing a team to retrieve her stolen cubs, and Finnick's services were going to be used. The vixen was going to be skinned alive and hung on Judy's wall. She had trespassed on Judy's property once before when she sampled Nick's carrot. Now she did so again by abducting the two vixens that were her offspring. The young doe was seething as she let her mind work through various options, building a plan that she would use to retake that which was forcibly removed from her home.
She had to find a way to keep Nick here; it was obvious he would be the first to throw caution to the wind. But it also could be said the same thing about her. She shook that thought away; these were not her biological young, therefore she would not be blinded by a mother's rage. Or so she reasoned.
Marilyn and Caroline were unceremoniously dumped out of the garment bag. They growled and snapped at their abductor, obviously this was the most they could do seeing how the mammals were much bigger and stronger than they were.
"My... you've grown so much since last I saw."
That voice. Both knew exactly to whom it belonged, and instantly the memories of what this vixen did came rushing back. In an instant they recalled everything she did when they were still barely out of diapers. They could remember the subtle disagreements their relatives had with her, and the last night she was forcibly removed from Grandma and Grandpa Wintersprite's home. After living with their father and discovering they were completely accepted by their step-mother's family, they never dreamed in a million years they would be back in the presence of this vixen.
"They spoiled you rotten" Abigail Canny said as she watched the vixens from a distance. "No matter. You're home where you belong. We'll get you both settled into your new rooms..."
"No!" Marilyn and Caroline said in unison. "This isn't home. Grandma and Grandpa Wilde will know about this and then you'll be sorry."
Abigail merely chuckled. "Oh I doubt that. See... we aren't at the place where you last saw me. No sweeties... we are back at my home. They and an army can't come here. Now... be good little vixens and I'll allow you freedom to roam wherever your hearts content. Just don't go into the ocean; there are killer whales that will enjoy having you for a snack."
The group of females', members of a private eye club called Empress Choice, was standing around the secretary's desk watching television. It was a quiet afternoon and they decided to visit their mentor at his office, Details-R-Us Detective Agency. Mrs. Fields always enjoyed when those she and Mr. Steele mentored dropped by for a meeting or a simple visit. This morning these youngsters were talking about recent events, particularly the attack on the hospital. But it was something else that had them on edge, something that not yet made it on the public airwaves.
Ramington watched them from his office. Charlotte had a knack for preparing their protégés before the scheduled, or unscheduled in this case, meeting. They had lost a few more of their students this week; the Dark Underground was clearly spreading its targets beyond law enforcement. Anyone that had skills to discover who they are became targets, and he now worked harder to learn where they were so his fellow investigators could be forewarned. To the casual observer nothing appeared unusual, the accidents and deaths seemed a normal part of life, the dice of life simple rolled snake-eyes for the unlucky few.
"Well look what the cat dragged in this fine morning! Must've been a big one considering the sheer number of you present."
He endured the glares from the otter, swine, and both vixens as they begrudgingly entered his office as was standard procedure. Charlotte rolled her eyes in sympathy as she close the door behind her and stood in her usual spot opposite the wolf. By now each female had her informal but understood spot she would stand in. They were quickly becoming an effective team; he only hoped they got the chance to start their own practice.
"Ok, what do you have for us this morning?" He turned down the volume on the Tv so they could hear each other without distraction.
Mindy was first to speak. "Rumors have it the hospital attack was more than what the news media would have us to believe. See the dead cubs that are repeatedly shown? My friend in the Zootopia Morgue told me they are the newborn of a very powerful mammal that control vast stretches of the Outback Isles."
Janis pointed towards the screen. "See that female? Her name is Catherin McKeen. She is... was... the mother of these dead cubs. She also happens to be the wife of the mammal just spoken about, Gregor McKeen. Although my research is incomplete, I've uncovered clues suggesting she has... now had... plans to acquire Officer Wilde. Obviously a moot point now."
Rachel's tail now waged excitedly. "That ties in nicely what I found! Gregor McKeen holds... errr, held the title of Godfather of the Outback Mafia. I've also confirmed through sources that wish to remain anonymous he also holds the title of Alpha Ten of the Dark Underground. By this numeral designation I can extrapolate there are many more mammals that are equally dangerous, perhaps more so as the numeral designation gets smaller."
The wolf could see where this was going, and it was about to interfere with his personal investigation. "Leave that to me; my fellow PI's have been assigned to investigate this. We're more experienced and less likely to expose ourselves. Next, please."
Kathrin grinned. "Too late for that. Remember that hare that tried to hustle the Hopps Family out of their farm? He has a similar dual membership. Name was Gary Noble. Records show his homeland was in the Black Forest. It is unclear how he obtained his membership in the Dark Underground, but he held the title of Alpha Eleven. What was more secretive was his membership in the Servants of Truth."
Everyone whistled; that group of paranoid mammals was something proving to be a major obstacle for the Wilde-Hopps. It was thought the original group had been eliminated; unfortunately once introduced outside its ancient homeland it proved remarkably resilient. Theoreticians speculated this was more of an ideology than a religion. Either way its membership was proving to be unpredictable as it was growing.
Charlotte looked at the group. "So we have two Alphas dead and the family of one them dead as well."
This was all anyone paid attention to her. Soon it dawned on her the reason why. On the Tv screen was a big red *Breaking News* banner; Ramington turned up the volume. The helicopter showed a scene of confusion; nearly every window on an apartment building was opened and several ambulances were busy removing residents. Police were keeping bystanders across the street and firefighters busily going into and carrying mammals outside where paramedics could evaluate them. When the address of the building was announced all hell broke loose.
"Marilyn! Caroline!"
It took quick action by the wolf and the other vixen to prevent Kathrin from getting out of the room. After a few minutes and a quick phone call made by Charlotte to a connection in Zootopia General Hospital did something finally calm the vixen down. The mammal arranged for Kathrin to talk to her parents, who naturally wanted to know why she hasn't called in quite a while. They were not aware of the two young vixen's current location, and suggested calling the ZPD. After getting ahold of Clawhauser at the front desk and identifying herself as a family member, the cheetah told her that no confirmation was readily available and soon the necessary information would be available. It was only when she got ahold of Officer Wilde, identifying herself as the one that arranged the interview with the professor that she got any real information.
Charlotte pretended to be the otter, hoping the fox was still too preoccupied to realize the difference. The young vixens were missing, presumably abducted. Nick, thinking he was talking to the otter he met the other week, told her since she was an aspiring private investigator he needed her services to search for his missing cubs. Regulations prevented him from actually doing it; it never said anything about hiring others.
Ramington Steel got on the line and instructed the officer to meet him at his office, giving him the address with a timeframe. The wolf wished him well and said they will be waiting. After hanging up he addressed the group. "If we play our cards right we can use this as an opportunity to get work from the ZPD in the near future. We won't make money on this assignment; we're using it to get our proverbial foot in the door."
This struck a memory in Rachel's head; the ancient park... the warning the Mist gave her... and the voice of Mother Nature herself. This was a fulfillment of those words. The vixen was visibly excited and nearly uncontrollable. Only when she explained that somehow working with the famous fox were things going to change for the group. While the wolf was skeptical, he was at least willing to go along. Her fellow students were similarly willing to give it a go.
Rachel couldn't believe her luck was finally turning better. She just needed her group to focus on finding the missing vixens; this would be the key to gaining Officer Wilde's trust. And by extension the ZPD as a whole.
Commissioner Ursus and Director Dench were in a private meeting in his office. Colonel Kohle, Chief Bogo and Detective Markle were also part of this meeting. Someone had discreetly sent evidence of Officer Wilde having possession of a detective's badge without proper credentials or authorization. Before the bear could authorize punishment as per ZPD regulations Agent Rogers sent an emergency message to the dog who in turn urged the mouse to have this meeting. The mink encouraged the buffalo to bring the detective along without Officer Wilde; she warned it would be an explosive meeting without his presence.
"Alright now that everyone is here except the offender let's get started." The bear flipped through a few pages before continuing.
"Let's see if I have everything correct. Civilian Wilde was instrumental in solving the Missing Mammals case and as such was granted admission into ZPD Academy under the Mammal Inclusion Initiative. Upon graduation he was partnered with the officer that he helped solved the mammal case. In the ensuing months they were mandated to undergo counselling and during this they became romantically involved. This led to them becoming charged with breaking lapin laws and the next few months both were tied up in court. After being released they chose to travel north thus avoiding being available to perform duty in the Lynxion War. After nearly being killed up north they return bringing along deranged mammals and their theology about mixed species marriages dooming us all. Now that the ZPD has been attacked by mysterious mammals that want us dead, Officer Wilde is found with a badge he is not qualified to possess."
He looked over his glasses to Bogo. "Is anything I said in error?"
The buffalo squared his shoulders and looked the bear squarely in his eyes. "I stand by my decision. Officer Wilde has proven a valuable asset to many ZPD operations. Intel has *borrowed* him more often than usual. Special Crimes Department has him more often than I can keep him on the beat with his normally partner. Therefore when this emergency started and it became obvious to me that we couldn't spare anyone to investigate the direct threats to his and his wife's well-being; it was I that authorized the badge."
"I support this decision" Colonel Kohle said. This earned him a strange look from the bear.
"This is an internal ZPD matter."
"It has the backing of our department" Director Dench squeaked. "Officer Wilde has been observed by no less than several of our teams. He may be unorthodox, but he rarely is proven wrong. Team Bravo regularly requests his assistance, but I think Agent Savage enjoys the verbal sparring. Other ZPD officers just don't seem to enjoy doing this."
"Sir" Detective Markle held up his paw. Once acknowledged by the commissioner he continued. "Officer Wilde has performed admirably and within regulations since receiving the badge. He has not abused it, keeps me in-the-loop, and does nothing without my authorization. Chief Bogo is informed at all times and we are operating within the parameters he set."
"Parameters? What are they?" The bear was impatient, but keeping his tone measured since another high-ranking government department was nearby.
"We are to investigate and track down the Servants of Truth. When we are short on leads I assign Detective Wilde to process a few of my cases."
"He's not qualified... tell me again why he should be viewing material he shouldn't be?"
The grey wolf took a deep breath before answering. "Commissioner, sir: we have lost too many officers and the strain of keeping the bare minimum investigations going is costing this department effectiveness. When Officer Wilde discovered the ZPD had kept him in the dark about his accidental family, he very nearly abandoned his badge."
This caught the bear off guard. "Officer Wilde has proven himself remarkably resilient. Hence the decision to wait until medical authorities proved they were his. I approved the decision based on this. Since this attack started, paperwork and information has been disrupted. I have not received confirmation one way or another, thus the status quote."
The room went eerily silent; everyone but the bear was turning around and looking at each other.
"Sir" Bogo said as he opened his briefcase and removing a folder. "These are copies of emails I sent you regarding Officer Wilde. Some of these are dated back when the fox and rabbit were still undergoing the trial."
The bear parsed the papers, noting briefly each before going to the next. He opened his messaging program and brought up the electronic copies, carefully comparing each.
"These do not match" he said with a very concerned look upon his muzzle. "The time stamps match but certain words, phrases, even whole paragraphs are missing or completely rewritten. I want to see your computer records; we'll go there shortly and you, Bogo and Markle, operate your systems yourselves. Let's just say if my paws touch them, even if I'm within an arm's reach... secret ZPD code will activate and revert these as if I'm accessing them. No. I want your paws doing such. In this manner I will see these as through your eyes. Let's hope what happened isn't what I suspect."
"Frank" Judi placed her tiny paw on his. "Let's have our computer experts examine your systems first. If my mind is on same page as yours, we very well may have intrusion, if not outright traitor in our mist."
Detective Markle was the first to mutter it under his breath. "Servants of Truth."
The others merely nodded in confirmation. Director Judi Dench sent a coded message to Dr. Gary Bevyton, instructing him to stop what he was doing and start evaluating the ZPD's computer system.
A few hours later the elder rabbit walked into the office followed by his protégé, Marsha Springs-Leaps, and his co-worker Dr. Gene Dexter. Only the commissioner, the mouse, and the dog remained waiting.
"Well?" the mouse squeaked.
"It isn't our system or theirs that is at fault. Someone manually edited the transcripts and cleverly inserted code that sent the altered documents to higher authority. To everyone above this level." The rabbit pointed on his hard-copy of papers.
"Do we have a suspect?" Director Dench asked, receiving a nod and a finger pointing to a name further down the page.
"This one could be framed, so I'll have my program scan through internal camera systems. However, these could be tampered with as well. So I recommend the old fashion method; stake out. Have these officers and agents make unannounced trips through each department. Meanwhile we three" he pointed to himself and the two rabbits beside him "will make our own inspections of office spaces and systems. Since we have access to equipment specifically designed for this counter-espionage, we should have confirmation within a few days."
The shadowy figure noticed a tiny delay in the computer terminal. Most technicians would never have noticed it, but this one was being extra cautious. He knew how skilled the other ZPD technicians were and one in particular was perhaps equally skilled as he: Marsha Springs-Leaps. She divided her time between Precinct One and the Council of Elders estate. It was cubs play to place a sub routine on her log-in credentials that allowed him to use her electronic signature to cover his activities. Thus any suspicion would be under her credentials rather than his. The Achilles heel in this... he could only do his deeds when she was logged into the ZPD system.
One of his friends claimed to have known a strange rabbit that once worked on an ancient bunker. The rabbit had given his friend a strange electronic device claiming it could greatly reduce the amount of time necessary to troubleshoot any electronic device. Since his friend was a klutz around electronics, it was cubs play to win it from him in a game of poker. Now it proved invaluable in the paws of a skilled technician; even more so in the paws of a genius. He used it to pad his reports making it seem he was putting in more effort than actual, anything to increase the bonus in his pay.
Unfortunately this proved his downfall.
Before he could remove his precious device a sudden pain in his shoulder announced the needle had delivered the drug and before he could press down on the tooth containing the cyanide capsule the world went dark. When he came to a pretty bunny was looking him in his eyes. He knew her; he also knew the large buck holding an ancient axe used for executions.
"Hello Geoffrey. It was very cleaver using my credentials to cover your activities. It was also cleaver using them only when I was logged on the ZPD system. Unfortunately you forgot something very basic that all first-time technicians learn. Each login has a sub-routine that identifies when-where-what machine is being accessed. Thus it was cubs play to identify when I was using the system and when you were. This allowed me to piece together everything you have been doing; it also allowed me to identify those you have been cooperating with. Namely... the Servants of Truth."
The giraffe merely laughed. "Guess you have me dead to rights. Never did it occur to the ZPD that most mammals don't take kindly to unnatural dating, let alone mating. Guess it will be tough deciding where to lock me up, eh?"
Marsha kissed his snout. "Not really. See that rabbit behind me? His job is to provide the Final Solution. You know it as death. The Commissioner has already signed off on your execution; this will be done shortly because you are too big a risk to allow remaining living where your golden tongue can persuade anyone to do anything."
She placed the warrant so he could read it, leaving it there until his eyes betrayed his comprehension. "Now you understand. But just so you understand exactly where you are, let's remove the curtain so the audience can see what's about to happen."
The giraffe looked around; at least his eyes did since his head was fasten down onto a large block. The room was very decorative with carvings throughout the ceiling and other places on the walls. He recognized most as being ancient and possibly wood carved in intricate patterns, which was a favorite pastime of his. The room was oval-ish, approximately 80-feet by 100-feet, but this was a guess. On the far side was a balcony with a glass pane enclosing it, many mammals in police uniforms filled it. Below him seating nearly completely filled it and more police officers sat in them. Marsha placed a mirror in front of him and angled it so he could look behind him. Sitting in the open balcony were mammals he knew were administrative types, some worked under him.
Finally he noticed them: the commanders of various departments and precincts. Many of the higher echelon were here standing only a few feet away. Commissioner Frank Ursus stepped forward and motioned everyone to calm down; nobody was making a peep, thus it must have been a habit. He removed a piece of paperwork from his jacket pocket, put on his reading glasses, and read what was upon it.
"Technician Geoffrey Lewis Longs; you have been found to have tampered with ZPD records and computer systems. Furthermore you have been found guilty of attempting to divert your actions upon another employee, succeeding for many months and perhaps longer. By these actions many hours of mammal's efforts have been wasted, and many unknowingly sent to their deaths via ambush. By these actions you nearly caused the imprisonment and perhaps death of a genuine trusted employee. You are aware Zootopia is under assault and thus placed under martial law. Surely you must also know that normal civil protections have been temporarily suspended, liberties such as habeas corpus and Miranda rights are practiced only for civic violations and certain lesser criminal violations. Your actions are beyond treason, at least in this commissioner's eyes. Thus by the rights and duties given to me by the governor's written proclamation... I hereby sentence you to death."
"You can't do this! I have rights given by Mother Nature herself... these cannot be taken away by mortals!" The giraffe practically screamed these words.
"Rights?" Marsha asked softly into his ear, repeated through the microphone to the speaker system. "You mean the ancient ways of dealing out justice? Survival of the Fittest? Rule by the Strongest? We are at the Estate of the Council of Elders. They have a method of allowing you to experience, to prove your cunning, prove your survival skills, and prove your combat skills. Shall we allow you to demonstrate to all of us assembled just how much better you are?"
Geoffrey snarled at her. "You know full well what I'm talking about. Trial by a jury of my peers is most basic. Deny me this and you prove you are worse than I ever will be. Can you live with your conscious then?"
Marsha knelt down and kissed his snout again, then looked him straight in his eyes. "Yes. Yes I can. Goodbye Mr. Longs. I'm told a giraffe's penis makes for a wonderful walking stick. I'll have yours specially treated so it remains as close to its natural form as possible. Maybe I'll be frisky one night and... cook hot dogs over a roaring fire with it."
The doe chuckled at the uncomfortable look upon the male's face. She quickly moved away, blowing him a kiss while drawing an imaginary male appendage. She then used an imaginary knife motion cutting it off. She laughed heartedly at his discomfort, using this to conceal the Executioner's walking towards his charge. But there was no mistaking as the burly rabbit stopped next to the giraffe and put his axe into a holder nearby.
He was wearing a gift from the judges from the court of Bunny Burrow. It was a hood similar to the one worn by generations of Executioners before him. This one they had stitched a message on the inside surface, one reminding him and those that may wear this after him. It was a simple message letting the wearer know that through his hands justice was dispensed; though it may be done in error, the blame rested not in him but those that failed to discover the deceit.
Now the Executioner bent down and placed a blindfold over the condemned eyes, using rubber bands to fasten them on the head. While he was down there, he asked if one swing of the blade was sufficient. Naturally every time he asked this the answer was the same: swinging the blade was condemning his own soul. This answer used to bother the young buck, until one night Dr. Bearinton spoke to him. The elder bear told him the hidden mind trick behind these words, and then helped him to develop a counter to each mammal.
"You have the longest neck I've ever seen. Tell you what... for every inch my axe misses from your head; I'll add two inches to your golden tongue."
Marsha walked over and gave several long kiss on the Executioner's muzzle. She made certain it was the noisy type; the sound of her lips was obviously having an effect on both the condemned and the Executioner. Both didn't want to continue with the execution, but only one of them would go home with the hot lithe bunny. By now the audience was rooting for the Executioner, the noise making the giraffe uncomfortable.
The Executioner gently pulled the doe a short distance away, and then returned to his charge. He picked up the axe, measured his distance, and lifted it above his head. He let gravity do his task for him.
"Curse you! Curse you all! I'll haunt you if it's..." His words were cut short as the weight of the axe drove it through the giraffe's neck.
The coroner from Bunny Burrow entered and led his assistants up the dais. The gathered officers made room for them to reach the body. Once there they quickly diagnose that death was indeed caused by separation of head from body. As it was pre-arranged, they opened the body and removed several organs. Some would be for organ transplant, some for an auction held by a secret society. But a certain male appendage was removed and would be sent to a specialist taxidermist who made certain items for customers with a fetish. The remainder of the body was disposed of by kicking it into the pit behind the dais where a roaring fire would slowly reduce it to ash.
After the Executioner finished washing down the area, he held Marsha's arm and led her out of the room much to the hoops-n-hollers of the audience. The Commissioner led everyone in a short prayer, since the Police Chaplain was still missing in action. Afterwards everyone went outside and enjoyed the barbeque around the flower garden; many vendors had various desserts and other things for sale. Alcohol was forbidden thus many officers departed for their favorite tavern in Bunny Burrow after finishing dinner.
"So... they finally noticed? Well, I suppose it was bound to happen sooner or later."
The shadowy figure shook his head. His stooge in the ZPD Precinct One was discovered and killed. Thankfully he had many others willing to do his bidding. Each had been given small tasks, paid just enough to keep them wanting for more. He watched the execution, video recorded by one of the stooges eager to prove worthy for more assignments hence more money. It was gruesome as most execution were, this one having more of a movie-making atmosphere. The doe up on the dais proved this; her mocking the giraffe in many ways made his blood boil. He said a short prayer as he watched the axe do its job, and watched in disgust as the coroner dissected and removed organs. Perhaps he was most disgusted when the male appendage was removed and placed in a container. He knew exactly what was to become of it; certain females would pay large amounts of money for such an item. He would track this item and find out to whom it would belong. Then he would exact revenge for desecrating the body, even though the stooge made a critical error.
He pulled out his rolodex and searched for the next stooge. He couldn't use another in same department; obviously the Zootopians would be keeping a closer eye there. He found one suitable for his next tasking, a female deer that had grown quite lonely. She was quite intelligent but a completely shy in personal relationships. Perfect for manipulating. He called her number, then flirted with her just enough to flummox her. Promises of delivering a special package guaranteed to intrigue her finalized her commitment. He hung up and dialed the next stooge. This one was the perfect Casanova; its job was to deliver the package and talk-up the doe. He would arrive and take over the mind game, working his words until she willingly broke department policy solely for the sake of his continuing sweet nothings.
The male honey badger was kneeling down, conserving his energy until needed at a precise moment. Many bodies lay around him; testament to his skills but also to the determination of those trying to break his will. He was growing increasingly tired and hungry; his body starting to show this. He still heard many voices in his head, their determination unrelenting. He could tell when one voice stopped it was replaced by another. He grinned; he had been noting their timing and soon his chance would come around. Suddenly he concentrated and felt the relief as one of his tormentors screamed and stopped its assault.
He quickly pushed his advantage and was rewarded as several more lives were cut short. An after effect of this action was feeling their life energy flow into him. He wasn't certain how, but he wasn't going to jinx it. If they were determined to keep him malnourished, he would use them to keep himself alive. He could tell something negative was happening to him, but unless he decided to give up and turn over his life to their dark purpose this would never end.
High Priestess Greta Daperclaw watched as the badger made one choice after another, each led to an increasing terrible choice between two despicable choices. This was how her most powerful priests were converted and trained, this was modified to keep food, water, sleep away from the badger. Longer he remained awake, the more corrupt his soul became. It would be only a matter of time before his body would succumb to the mistreatment and lack of everything necessary to function. There it was again; several of her priests were sacrificed in order to weaken the badger further.
Excellent. He was a quick learner. Soon even he would realize, but too late, that this was precisely her plan all along. Dark Priests were not so simply because they held a certain theology; they were because their food source was different from normal mammals. Soon his internal organs would shut down due to nonuse, and then the cravings would start. The necessity of feeding at a specific schedule was more important to them than mortal beings. Perhaps this was why she could be so cruel; she used inflicting pain as a cover for feeding upon a mammal.
She turned and walked to her quarters. The last of the priests trying to break the badger's will was now a lifeless hulk. She would send a crew to remove the bodies after the badger fell asleep. Even though he was nowhere near the room they had been in, the psychic connection still remained. The ancients had long ago theorized something in this rock stratum strengthened and maintained the energy. Only when a life-force was present in one area was the energy strengthened, but once asleep it would slowly drain down to a certain level. The necklace she wore somehow protected her from his reach, she had her best scientist study it but they were flummoxed. Chipping a tiny piece was the only thing they could use to study the strange material it was made of. Now that she had a badger suffering and his dark nature slowly coming into existence she would need the protections the necklace afforded her.
Greta closed her personal compartment door and removed her clothing. The warm water and bubble bath felt quite relaxing. It also had to have an additive that prevented any electrical charge from being conducted. She was after all a creature more attuned to energy than chemically changing material into its base components and absorbed through her gut. She didn't miss the pleasure of eating physical things anymore. A side benefit was her teeth could remain white and strong. Bacteria no longer grew in her mouth thus bad breathe was caused by something else. Gas no longer caused bloating nor did it expel as farts. As far as she was concerned no longer eating was a bonus.
She did miss having physical relations with males. Unfortunately those that refused to wear condoms soon found their life-force drained. Thus another reason she was becoming crabbier and more unpredictable.