In the Paws of the Servants (Part 1).
"Good Evening. I'm Fabienne Growley."
"And I'm Peter Moosebridge. Here's what's happened around the world today."
Onscreen was a scene showing a tall building, One Police Plaza. Usually its front doors were a buzz of activity as different mammals entered for any number of reasons and just as many exited. Today the hoof and paw traffic was considerably slower.
"Since our broadcast was hijacked by those mammals identifying themselves as Servants of Truth, the top brass at 1PP have been behind closed doors. Our inquiries have gone unanswered thus we suspect they are occupied with what was presented. The abduction of Officers Wilde and Hopps itself is horrifying, especially at a time when Zootopia's governing agencies thought they were winning the fight against the Dark Underground. How this recent action affects the war plans is best left to speculation, but what we do know is everything seems to be either on hold or others will be carrying the fight against the underground dwellers while ZPD focuses on their missing members."
The view shifted to the Hopps Farm as seen from a nearby hillside.
"A little bird told us the Hopps family is dealing with more than their missing sibling. Details are sketchy but our source suggests it centers on the family living in the original burrow. Medical authorities have been occupied with many mammals from the farm, how they incurred serious wounds is up to debate but one thing is certain: it wasn't due to farm work. Neither does it involve the newest members of their family, so one is left to use their imagination. We sent our team to investigate what's happening in the Tri-Burrows and this is what we received."
The scene changed to somewhere outdoors, the long fields showing the effects of the gentle breeze. Mammals were busy in the fields and judging by the movements these were more than rabbits. Movements also suggested they weren't weeding or harvesting, at least if one wasn't a farmer or crop specialist. Victoria Harridon and Audrey Drew were looking away from the camera obviously talking about something and quickly turned facing it, obviously someone getting their attention.
"Good day everyone. Audrey and I have been out in the chill of this fine morning. As you can see whatever happened to these farms, at least this one in particular, seems to have reversed itself. Out there are the original farmers with some newly hired helpers. We were told they are simply doing an evaluation of the fields and thus far no long term damage has been noticed. Unfortunately not every farm has been reclaimed as you'll see in a moment. Nobody said it but we think the injuries on the Hopps farm is somehow related to reclaiming these farms. That's our theory but it could also be they simply are defending their own property. Roll the tape."
The scene switched to what appeared to be a hillside with an old wooden doorway, one someone would recognize as used on old farm cellars used to store certain foodstuff. This one opened up and mammals dressed in black garb walked out, closing it behind them before the group walked somewhere off the screen. The two vixen reporters were back on the screen moments later.
"Victoria and I theorized the mammals you just saw belong to those mysterious mammals that have been attacking the Tri-Burrows. We showed this to the GSD who promptly confiscated our tape; thankfully we had already uploaded it onto a thumb drive hence why you viewers are seeing it. Spokes-mammals for General Rommel refused to say anything more than the stock answers we normally receive, same thing goes for the GSD. We can only speculate our long-range telephoto lenses allowed us to get the shot without alarming those that just exited. What you just saw proves those strange mammals come not from some faraway place as the military wants you to believe; they come from underneath our paws. Many of our audience have had their own stories from past events and we think these would be the first to agree with this assumption."
"We would be remiss if we didn't urge our viewers caution; these strange mammals are dangerous and highly trained. The GSD has confirmed this and urge everyone to remain outside the zones previously designated. Back to you Fabienne."
The moose appeared onscreen with a few pages in his hooves. "We have an update to the story we brought you not too long ago. The swine that ran out of the Mystic Spring Oasis appears to have been victim of a prank. Further investigation revealed..."
Cindy and Ginny knew something wrong was going on but nobody would say a word. Ever since yesterday afternoon all the adults were on edge, as if something bad had happened. This was not lost on her siblings either, which made the young ones quite nervous. Great-grandmothers Opal and Elizabeth were over this morning trying to comfort her siblings; Grandmother Bonnie was with Grandmother Bridget both were holed up in their mother's room. Great-grandfathers Albert and Floyd were somewhere in the burrow and most likely talking to the Trackers.
"Good morning Cindy, Ginny."
A pair of paws picked up the two young does and placed each upon a lap as a large fluffy tail wrapped around them. These were the two vixens that seemed to be wherever Grand Tracker Marquis was, one an Arctic fox the other a Grey fox. This wasn't the first time these two young does had sat in these laps; it seemed the elder wolf enjoyed having these vixens hold them as he told a story or two.
"Good morning Miss Daniels, Miss Walker... the burrow is angry today and nobody will tell us why."
The two vixens gave the bunny sitting upon their lap a gentle hug. "You are quite the observant ones out of your litter. Someday you'll both make excellent Trackers, but not today. The grand tracker is busy this morning and sent us to do his morning ritual, which is to start his day talking with you. Perhaps later on he'll find you and let you know what's going on."
"But Miss Daniels, he hasn't done that at least not for many days."
"Sweeties," the Arctic fox said giving the little doe another hug, "He has been busy. As I'm sure by now both of you are aware many Trackers have not been around the burrow. They are over in Bunny Burrow Hospital having their wounds tended. Our recent incursions into our former homeland has hit upon more difficult resistance, thus Agent Rogers of something called GSD has been helping us devise better methods. Unfortunately this means our operations are on hold hence why we can spend this morning with you two."
There was something... someone... missing this morning that concerned both young does': Aunt Kimberly. Now that they thought about it no one in the burrow admitted to have seen their aunt or her Tracker team. Surely this was a mystery the two little does' would be allowed to investigate if nothing more than verify they had arrived sometime in the middle of the night and were sleeping-in late. The vixens must be mind readers because they hugged the little does' and assured them the Grand Tracker was having the teams out looking for them, at least those reasonably able to go on patrol.
The two vixens ushered the little does back into the burrow, pausing just long enough to adore the holiday decorations that adorn the outside. It was the holiday season and it was nearly halfway over, the decorations for the Harvest Festival changed for the current holiday and these soon to be changed for next. Warm cider was given to these as one of their father's siblings fussed over the two young does, the vixens gave a brief discussion on current events stopping only to sip cider and enjoy breakfast pastries. This was the usual morning routine the elder wolf normally did with these youngsters and it was obvious it helped calm and settle them down. When the normal time elapsed the vixens stayed longer due to the two little does' insistence, playing a game called *house* and enjoying watching just how much the two young ones had learned about how the burrow operated.
Jackie and her husband John spent the evening taking care of their grandcubs, both should have won an Oscar for their performance in making certain the two vixens were kept clueless about why neither of their parents were home that evening. Both were fed and said their bedtime prayer before John opened a book and read them a story; afterwards both were tucked under the covers as they slowly fell asleep under the soft singing of nursery rhymes and songs by their grandparents. After a good breakfast Jackie and John bid their grandcubs goodbye and the Denninsons and Wintersprites took the young vixens far away from Zootopia. Audrey had paid them a visit before the sun even thought about rising and gathered all three sets of grandparents to explain about the abduction of Judy and Nick, and her theory of who was behind the double abductions. No one disagreed with the Director of Zootopia Health Commission; they just wished that Marilyn and Caroline's unexpected trip into their care was under other circumstances.
Marilyn and Caroline were happy to go live with their other grandparents, but their questions about where their parents were at was met with simple *they're busy elsewhere*. Considering their father didn't come home after the awards ceremony both were expecting to see him come home last night. They were puzzled why their mother didn't come home; same answer was given when they asked. Grandmama Audrey and Grandpapa Arnold gave same answer as Grandmother Jackie, so the young vixens decided to wait and see when they would hear from their parents. They couldn't put their paw on it, but they were certain something was purposely being withheld.
A limousine was waiting downstairs and the young vixens greeted the panther driver and his wife as they usually did, mimicking their mother's big bunny hugs. Finnick and Valarie were there which made the young vixens happier yet. The fennec fox whispered something only the two sets of elder foxes could hear and when these were inside the limousine the two fennec foxes waved goodbye as the vehicle drove away. As the vehicle meandered its way through the great city and finally through the hills, valleys, and past the farms of the Tri-Burrows the elder foxes kept smiles on their faces but inwardly were troubled by what the little fox said. Now that they knew this vehicle was under the protection of a major crime boss, they looked for the tell-tale signs of sentries as they passed certain landmarks. Obviously they were inexperienced in the ways of such things but sometimes they were certain they saw something.
Finally they entered the border between the Tri-Burrows and the Meadowlands. As the vehicle moved past large fields where sheep still preferred to graze as their ancestors did, the elder foxes felt more at ease. This was home, at least for the Wintersprites. The Denninsons would be staying here because Audrey strongly suggested it would be good for all involved, and four sets of eyes were better than two. They also strongly suspected that being together would keep those misguided mammals from attempting something against the two vixens, but probably it was easier to protect them if they were all in one place. This was the other thing the little fox whispered, and slipped them a small communication device to be used if the Servants of Truth attempted abduction.
The vehicle drove through the town of Mountainview and through the small valley in the hills on the other side. Soon they were in a large valley and at the homestead of the Wintersprites and parked in the new garage that Judy and Nick helped build the last time they were here. Both sets of elder foxes were surprised when Mr. Manchas said he would be staying here as long as the two vixens were, and he would be driving the family anywhere off this homestead.
The vixens were in their bedroom which had been set-aside solely for their use as the elders were in the living room getting a briefing by the group of mammals Mr. Big had sent for their protection. GSD sent only one technician and this was to relay messages to-from the homestead but also any legitimate messages from nearby agents. Director Dench would have sent a standard team but the Tundra Town boss made it clear her teams would better utilized in the upcoming incursion against the Dark Underground; his teams were better suited for bodyguard duty, even if it meant allowing curlers into one's fur and playing house. A knock on the door surprised everyone, especially when after opening it revealed the priest that once stayed here. He simply said he was tasked with ensuring everyone's nerves were calmed; but only to the elder foxes did he say the high priest wanted him here as the vixens were already accustomed to his presence and most likely would want to know what he did since last they met.
It was agreed for everyone to remain here for two weeks and then go to the Denninsons' home in the Outback Isle for another two weeks. If Nick and Judy were still missing at that time then both sets of grandparents would go with the vixens to their Great-aunts' home in Vulpinstan. If after this the Wilde-Hopps still weren't home then most likely no amount of shuffling from their elders homes would keep the ugly truth hidden; most likely before they went to the Rorschach Family's' estate both young vixens would have a very good idea something terrible had happened to their parents.
Koslov, Colette, Melissa Leporidae, and Janice Rosenberg watched the trio of Arctic shrews pace back and forth across the desk. It was rare that Vito Big actually got off his chair, but the brazen abduction of the godmother and her consort hit him a bit too close to home. True, the bunny was abducted before, but in those times there didn't seem to be a sense of urgency and finality to end her life. The Servants of Truth were far from what their moniker implied, at least to his way of thinking. Fru Fru and Ziva were pacing for their own reasons, most likely trying to come up with suggestions on how to respond to this insult upon their family, which the godmother certainly was an informal part.
Muttering was heard from the shrew as he paced back and forth, clearly arguing with himself the pros-n-cons of what should be done. Earlier several of his lieutenants had placed before him a plan; it was a generalization how to identify wither or not a mammal belonged to the Servants of Truth and gave several suggested how to deal with them. In that meeting he allowed each to present their case and argue the merits and demerits, and by the end of the meeting he acknowledged they should finalize the plan. Fennick along with Keven and Raymond were dispatched to track and follow the clues on the Wilde-Hopps; they needed to know before the ZPD anything regarding the abductions.
The Tundra Town boss stopped, turned around towards the other two Arctic shrews, and said a single phrase: "Movie time."
Fru Fru and Ziva blinked their eyes and raised an eyebrow each. It was obvious further explanation was needed.
"We'll get the Regal Giraffe Theater to run a short video of the godmother, the ones I had altered so her dignity could be preserved but the image of a sexy bunny arousing males of different species would be preserved. It is a known symbolism that bunnies are the epitome of sexiness; therefore we can conclude that any mammal that doesn't react favorably to the video is first ones we'll test to see if it harbors hatred for mixed species relationships. Some of these obviously will do so out of morality, these we already know how they think and act. It is the other ones we want to provoke, to force them to reveal their true natures."
Fru Fru spoke first. "Those that act out of genuine hatred... surely these are more cleaver than to be tripped by a simple video?"
Vito Big hugged his daughter. "True, but we still have our ace in the hole: the original videos of the godmother performing intimately with her fox. Those we suspect as members of the servants we'll offer them a free movie as compensation for the unexpected short video before the movie they paid for. These will be sequestered in a secluded room where we'll show the actual videos of the Wilde-Hopps. Showing these surely would drive them beyond reason."
Ziva cocked her head. "Let's not show them lovemaking; rather I think something else will provoke them. Since they want to prevent dissimilar species from copying our godmother, let's use these. Seeing that which they are trying to prevent onscreen very well just might reveal those we are searching for, this will protect the dignity of our godmother and reveal their true nature. Afterwards those that reveal themselves we can show the actual videos, rubbing salt in their proverbial wounds."
The shrew hugged and kissed his wife. "Perfection as always, which is why I married you. Your suggestion we'll use and I'm certain will flush them out quicker than anything I could have come up with."
Ziva hugged and kissed her husband. "Perhaps, my love. But we both know your mind is as keen as they come. Let's gather our friends and put it in play."
Lieutenant Markle was sitting with Detective Joe Friday in a dark corner of the coffee house. Fennick with Raymond and Kevin were at another table in a different room, these sitting so they could watch the entrance as well as the barista as she took orders and served various coffee confections. Coffee... whoever came up with serving it in so many different flavors and additives deserved a medal for deceiving the public. Wendy Springpaw was hidden behind a curtain watching her laptop that was tapped into the surveillance cameras; she also was going over the recording using a hacker program that allowed her access. While the others were waiting for the mammal they wanted to nab, she wanted to find out how many times the hyena entered the store and more importantly at what times. Her team was outside watching the perimeter in case it came alone or with friends, this would be helpful to those inside. A barista, red fox vixen, was preparing an order that was just phoned in and the mammal was due at any moment.
They didn't have to wait very long. A male hyena still in his MERT uniform drove up, got out of a car, and went inside. He was greeted by the barista who promised his order was almost ready and asked if he wanted the usual side dish, which he nodded his head in the affirmative and stood before the selection of sweet breads. It was obvious he was excited about something as he was whispering to nobody in particular. He must have found something funny because a loud laughter roared from his throat.
Finnick smiled. His long ears hear exactly what was being kept to oneself. He didn't need to approach the mammal; Raymond and Kevin already slipped quietly out of the room and were blocking the exit. The two detectives also had moved towards the mammal and stood behind him, one having a pocket recorder in his paw as the other had a pad and pen in his.
"Good morning, Mr. Heckle. Getting ready to start your shift?"
This must have caught the hyena off guard because a swift intake of breath was heard by everyone. The look on his face was priceless as he looked around him, first towards the front door that he just entered which now blocked by a polar bear. Next he looked to the door behind the barista, now another polar bear standing on this side of the counter, obviously blocking a direct attempt to leap over the counter. He turned towards the detectives and smiled.
"Good evening, detective. What's with the additional mammals?"
Detective Joe Friday smiled. "We, my buddy and I, just want to ask you a few questions. You don't mind us asking do you? You have nothing to fear about them, they're just spectators."
"Of course... ask away. I don't have to answer and I have nothing to hide."
"Great. Let's see..."
The store's speakers must have had a mind of its own because a hyena's laughter poured out of them and continued doing so. The male before them cocked his head and smiled.
"Good vocals. His family must be proud. What's his name?"
The detective smiled towards the male, then held up his recorder and pressed play. At first the two sources were a competing mess, but when the detective turned a dial his device slowed until its sound became in sync with the store's speakers. The male listened for a bit then let out ruckus laughter.
"We are having laughter challenge? Warning... I'm the reigning champ of my species."
Now it was Lieutenant Markle's turn to play his recording. The male listened and looked back at both detectives.
"Looks like we are. I declare myself the winner. Now if you two will excuse me my latte is done and work beckons."
"Not so fast, chuckles. First was your voice recorded just a bit ago by the detective here. Second was recorded on my zphone when a member of my team was abducted. And what played on the store's speakers... those are every time you laughed inside this store. Wanna know what they have in common?"
The male displayed a toothy smile. "Don't tell me... all are me, correct?"
"Bingo. Give him a cookie."
"Sorry bub, you can't prove it. One hyena sounds same as the others."
Wendy entered the room and walked up to the male, her eyes giving off an evil vibe. "Wanna bet? Here's your voice as you uttered them this evening."
Her finger pressed a button and the laptop played its recoded message, the voice of the male clearly heard through its speakers. Onscreen a program was playing, the line scrolling across the screen made a series of vertical movements indicating vocal ranges the recorded voice made.
The male shook its head. "Nope. That ain't me. Can't see what all this means."
She smiled sweetly. "I wasn't finished, sweetie. Let me show you your own voice."
Onscreen the program played what he just said, the program marking the tops and bottoms of each movement. She pressed a macro and this recent recording was compared to what he said earlier this evening as he waited for his latte. She pointed to both recordings, noting the similarities of each as the top points matched on both recordings. Then she compared the recent recording to that on Markle's zphone, showing him the same points made on both.
"Everything matches. These are enough for a judge to hold you in jail before a trial. Considering one of these was made shortly after a ZPD officer was abducted, I'm certain the judge will not grant bail. Better not drop your bar of soap in the shower."
The hyena let out a very loud laugh but suddenly gagged before going silent. Keven had silently moved up behind the male and waited for a signal to grab him, making sure to place a finger nail into his mouth to prevent the male from crushing down on a cyanide capsule that may be hidden inside a tooth. Unfortunately before they could place a muzzle over his snout a small explosive ignited which blew a hole in his chest.
Wendy shook her head. "Damn... should've known they switched from cyanide-filled tooth to a fake pacemaker. Well... at least we have documented proof his voice in real-time."
Markle gave her a hug. "Thank you for trying. Let me have a copy of everything for my report."
The Arctic vixen kissed him. "You owe me an evening dinner, I think at the Grand View Restaurant will do just fine. You do remember where it's at, top of the Palm Hotel?"
Markle nibbled her ear. "Oasis Hotel you mean."
She smiled. "Some call it Golden Palm Hotel, because of the casino nearby."
A cringe formed on his face. "Can't go in there. My job takes me there too often. But dinner is a go. What's the evening recreation?"
Her tail fell across his muzzle. "I'll let you decide. Maybe something will give you a hint."
He knew exactly what she was hinting at and smiled. Perhaps her flame was still going after all these years.
Detective Friday smiled. "Ok, let's wrap this up. I'll call-in for the mortician and wait over the body. You two can go find someplace suitable."
Wendy frowned at the wolf. "That's not a good idea... the mortician I mean. Considering the ZPD still doesn't know who inside its ranks belong to the Servants, may I suggest we bring the body with us? My place has a freezer suitable to conserve the body until we can get our coroner later today. It's after midnight you know."
The body was wrapped up inside a couple tablecloths and Fennick placed a couple large bills on the counter, letting the barista know it was to pay for the tablecloth and the cleaning bill. The vixen smiled and promised her lips were sealed, then wished them luck in finding Officer Wilde. As the group left the store they noticed a photo of Nick in a frame, it was a publicity photo the ZPD used as a recruiting tool. Obviously the lipstick lip-prints made it clear at least a few vixens wished the ZPD officer was available on the dating circuit.
The trip back to the warehouse was uneventful and soon as they parked they took the body to a room. Finnick and the bears went to a guest room where they could sleep for the night and give Mr. Big a report on the body in the morning. Detective Friday went into another guest room to write up his report and get some sleep. Wendy's crew went to their rooms snickering as they did. Markle found himself pushed into Wendy's office and the door locked behind them, it was obvious he wouldn't get to sleep for quite some time.
Judy awoke with a mild headache, pausing to let the dull throbbing and the world settle down. The bindings holding her against something in a vertical position told her she was most likely tied to a large wheel of some kind, probably like it belonged to a Conestoga wagon and modified to be used for something other than on a wagon. The smells told her she was not the land of Oz or up north in the Land of the Prophesy. But it did suggest she was underground and not in a burrow or a cave, something akin to a cave but more... rock quarry. One thing seemed familiar, a reminder of her recent abduction. A feeling of evil she wished she would never again be in the presence again.
"She awakens once more. Ok little bunny... no sense pretending you're still sleeping. I know you are awake."
Judy did indeed know and kept her eyes lightly closed.
"High Priestess Greta Dapperclaw... we meet again. How's the paws? I understand you barely escaped from the cavern when the attack hit. Did you remember to pay Bellwether and Swington? Reneging on a legitimate debt, even those of illegal sources, is still punishable by law."
A paw backhanded across her face, judging by the force it was a small species and most likely another rabbit. When she opened her eyes and looked at the mammal that hit her, she stared in disbelief. Standing before her was a female rabbit Tracker: sand colored fur with cream belly, blue eyes and wearing the same clothes she wore earlier today. A wry grin crossed its face as the female gently rubbed its paw. Judy could only look dumbstruck at her and ask the obvious question.
"Kimberly? Why?"
The doe leaned over and smiled evilly, looking Judy straight in the eyes.
"Because unnatural relationships should never be allowed to continue."
Judy blinked. This didn't make sense. She had spent hours talking with her sister-in-law's sister and this was the last thing she expected to utter from the doe's lips. Nothing outwardly suggested anything about this rabbit was not as she presented herself to be. Evelin, the family's living lie detector, spent many days talking to this doe. If she couldn't figure out the true nature of this doe then the Dark Underground's training must be very good. Her respect for that underground society just went up a few notches. She had underestimated them and when she got out of this mess she vowed never again to take any organization lightly, it just might have deadly consequences. Perhaps this explained that strange expression on Chief Bogo's face when certain gangs' names were mentioned during a debriefing. Judy smiled, now understanding what it meant.
"Surprised? I've been well-trained in all forms of manipulation, as one should be if one's duties involved infiltrating a society to gain resources and other useful things."
Judy's ears picked up a subtle sound and she turned her head. Beyond an open doorway were several of her family members, siblings and their young, all walking with paws in braces and feet connected to a long chain. She watched in disbelief as the numbers made it clear these were her siblings that had gone missing recently, now the mystery had been solved. Most of these lived somewhere in the Tri-Burrows with the rabbit families they married into, others lived in the various towns spread throughout the Tri-Burrows as well as nearby areas. With the new anti-reproduction medication Lapin society's numbers would be limited and controlled, albeit limited in five year increments. A pit formed in her belly, there was a reason for this and she was certain she didn't want to know.
"Oh, you recognize hasenpfeffer. Good. We don't know what it is about your family that tolerates relationships with predators, so it's best to root out the whole family tree just to certain we've eliminated the gene responsible. Too bad it means my own nephews and nieces will be sacrificed, but first they will have to be removed from your family's burrow. That won't be a challenge."
Judy struggled to free a singular paw, stopping after a while when it became obvious these were tied by a professional. Meanwhile the contraption she was tied upon was pushed out the doorway by a bear, following the chain gang of lapin. Up ahead the hallway opened into a large room and soon the rabbit-tied upon a rack was placed upon a dais. Judy couldn't help but notice the similarity between this room and the Grand Courtroom where the Council of Patriarchs and Matriarchs gathered to hold Final Judgement on unnatural relationships. Below her was a similar flat area that a small desk stood next to a circular raised area. Judy recognized this as an auctioneers pedestal and judging by the singular rabbit still with its feet and paws bound in chains that was placed upon it Judy suspected she knew what this was for.
Looking up and around her she saw rows of seating, these arranged like a movie theater and packed with almost every predator species she knew. Another brief moment of déjà vu... another moment taken out of her past. Someone had gone to great pain to create a scene from her past, a place she associated pain and judgement... both upon her and dispensed by herself. Someone recreated in great detail the Council Joint Courtroom.
"Like it? When we learned about your trial and how you became that which once judged you, well, we thought it perfect for bringing our final solution against you."
A gavel was heard and a voice started speaking rapidly, various predators in the audience started raising its arms which elicited a response from the mammal standing nearby the dais. Judy blinked rapidly, realizing what was happening... her family was being auctioned. No sooner than she started to yell when she was back-pawed again, this time much harder. Looking up she saw Kimberly with a wolfish grin that bordered on the sadistic.
"I wouldn't do that again if I were you. Each time you attempt to intercede you automatically add a thousand zoodollars to the bid, and I don't have to tell you how unhappy this makes the bidder. Just thought you'd want to know. Oh... and before I forget, it also adds a most unpleasant result to the mammal being bided on. So unless you want your family to suffer more, I'd recommend keeping your trap shut."
Judy decided to keep her mouth shut for the time being, her sore cheek testifying to the seriousness of these mammals. It was disgusting how in this modern age prey were still being eaten, raised to be food for predators that refused to accept these prey were sentient mammals like themselves and had rights afforded them by citizenship and rule of law. After the lapin received a final bid the auctioneer signaled the winner and a predator led the unfortunate rabbit over to a small table; what happened next left Judy horrified.
The victim was stripped naked and tied onto the table. The mammal who won the bid came over and with its own claws ripped opened the belly, watching gleefully as the blood and guts fell out of the wound. Judy could only fold her ears as the screams continued until finally loss of blood sent the rabbit into unconsciousness. The mammal pulled the skin off the body and gave it to another mammal that took it away, and then reached into the carcass pulling out the remaining organs. Next the body was skewered with a spit and put onto a device over a small campfire, rotating automatically as the mammal applied spices onto the meat.
Judy was sickened as each of her relatives met the same fate, killed before her eyes. The young were auctioned off entirely with their litter and these were killed by beheading, gutted, and the whole litter either put upon a baking sheet into an oven or put into a boiling pot. Pregnant females had their unborn kits placed back into their carcass along with herbs and stuffing then placed into an oven. Teenagers were auctioned in pairs and of different sex, apparently the meat of bucks and does' taste different. Thankfully due to her training both in the ZPD and becoming a junior member in the council of elders, she was able to mask her reactions... most of them at least. She was a bunny after all and a female one at that. She stifled a chuckle, her father was the emotional one out of her parents but her mother could be emotional in the right circumstances... like what was happening before her.
Each predator seemed to prefer to prepare its meal different from the previous. All were forcibly gutted in plain view of Judy and their skin physically pulled off the body. Some followed the first predator and had their rabbit slowly roasting over a fire; some carved the meat off the body and put it into a cauldron where a mixture of vegetables and splices were waiting. Few chose to have their meal baked unless it was a pregnant doe and fewer yet chose to eat their meal raw. One predator, which Judy recognized as the butcher Nick's relatives sometimes went to get specialty meats, put his rabbit's meat into a meat grinder and added spices. Judy thought about her husband; if he were here it would sicken him to realize that his family's favorite butcher served rabbit, most likely under a pseudo name.
She said a prayer as each were killed, her family gnome would hear these and bring each soul to the big meadow in the sky. She was not normally a religious rabbit, but she kept the family tradition of praying to the gnome mostly to curry favor from the supernatural. Thus far in her short life strange things had happened for her benefit; she wasn't certain if the family gnome approved of her choice in a life-mate. But it's too late to turn back; prophesy depended on this marriage, now quite possibly another if the Rorschach Family was to be believed.
She lost track of time as well as tears and emotions. When the parade spectacle finally ended and the last of her family lay upon a skewer slow roasting over a fire her captors rolled her back into the previous room. Her limbs unbound from the rack and someone squealed with glee as she slumped down upon the floor, drained of energy and emotions from the hours she had endured. A cattle prod jolted her with an electric shock; even after all they put her through it wasn't enough. Now it was made plain as day just how deep their revulsion of her went, not a shred of decency or compassion remained. They departed the room leaving nothing behind, not water or food. When she went into unconsciousness it was crystal clear what they had planned for her, she could only hope Nick would be safe and now working to find her and bring her safely home.
Nick woke up... no, was forcibly shaken... from unconsciousness when the world turned bright as daylight and pain wracked his body as everything decided to turn topsy-turvy. For a few moments he was not thinking only reacting as the world found one method after another to inflict pain upon his body. No sooner than one episode ended another started, why this was happening wasn't making sense. Howls of anguish erupted from his throat as each wave of pain rolled through him, ending only for some unknown reason his body turned in a direction the pain didn't expect. Moments later the fog shrouding his mind lifted and he could see the situation he was in: it wasn't pretty.
He was in a large pit surrounded by an amphitheater filled with many mammals. As his mind adjusted to the waking world it reminded him it was trying to inflict pain upon him. Another jolt of pain and bright light filled his mind, these episodes were becoming quicker to clear than a few moments ago and now he knew what caused them. A rabbit held a cattle prod and was manically giggling as it lunged towards him, laughing when it made contact with its target. It was becoming clearer the rabbit wasn't his primary concern as a large paw contacted his jaw. As he struggled to get off the floor he took a quick look before him it was obvious he was surrounded and this fight was intended more for sport than to beat him until every bone in his body was broken or ached. His rabbit tormenter yelped when it found itself flying through the air, Nick had a moment of clarity and pushed the cattle prod's end down into the ground and pulled its shaft until it bowed slightly. Since the rabbit had a firm grip the prod pulled him along as it naturally returned back to its previous straight position, now the rabbit found itself flung against one of its partners as both rolled across the ground.
Nick didn't have possession of the prod for very long; the shaft now was forcibly shoved up into the backside of a wolf that now was experiencing the electric jolt from within. Nick rarely tried to harm another mammal, his elders pointed out that path easily led down the Dark Path which few mammals rarely recovered from, leading to expulsion from civilized society and into a society governed by the primal side of life. The body lying on the ground he wasn't certain was dead or seriously injured, whatever its condition he didn't has time to mourn or enjoy. His tormenters barely registered the sudden turn of events as they send more against him.
It didn't take rocket science to know adrenaline lasted only so long and they had the superiority in numbers. He dunked and was momentarily satisfied as the bear went over his body and tumbled into another, the scream obviously coming from whatever mammal it landed upon. Nick took a quick glimpse and shuddered, the rabbit now lay under the bruin with a leg bent at an unnatural angle and blood oozing from its mouth. Nick knew this sign, internal injuries most likely caused by broken ribs when the larger mammal crashed into it. He was further aghast when the bear broke the rabbit's neck to end its suffering followed quickly by gutting said rabbit and pulling the hide off its body. Bear and rabbit-carcass were out of the battle but there was plenty more taking their place.
Until a whistle blew.
"Combatants... return to your rooms. Magnificent fight... you all shall be rewarded."
Looking down into the arena was a mammal whose clothing made it clear it didn't belong here, wherever here was. Its clothing also suggested it was quite powerful, suggested Nick knew this specific mammal. Now as it made its way down in a makeshift elevator along with burly guards, the crowds in the seating growling their displeasure at the ending of the fight but obviously being cautious not go too far. As it strode towards Nick he noticed the reaction of the mammals surrounding him, obviously these clearly recognized who it was. It didn't take Nick very long before he remembered who this mammal was; her husband was very powerful up in the outback Isles but something was disturbing about her.
"Ah, he remembers me. Good, I appreciate leaving a lasting impression upon the males."
"Catherin McKeen, consort to the Restored Godfather of the Outback Mafia. Back from the dead aren't we? Quite the miracle I say."
Catherin laughed softly before reaching out and pulled his muzzle close, letting her kiss linger far longer than appropriate. A sound rang out as she pulled away, obviously enjoying breaking vacuum signaling a proper kiss.
"Can a bunny do that? Perhaps but certainly not as Mother Nature intended. Or this."
Nick grunted when her paw grasped his groin, resisting giving her any further satisfaction.
"You look like you see a ghost. Let me explain... she was my only littermate and as you are familiar sisters tend to share similarities. Oh before I forget... I want her head returned. Her comfort in the afterlife demands her body be whole."
Nick kept his face neutral as her paw continued moving through his chest fur, lingering longer than necessary as they felt each muscle in detail. Meanwhile his mind was reviewing everything he could remember about the godfather's consort. In Zootopia mammals in high society often were in the public spotlight and the media tended to know everything about them, naturally he assumed the same was true in other societies. As a member of the Council of Elders he had access to data on other societies, but he was hard pressed to remember anything about Gregor's wife.
"I'm not the one that took her head; you'll have to take that up with my wife. Warning: she tends to collect heads, don't give her reason to collect yours."
Catherin laughed politely.
"I'll keep that in mind. My sister and I shared males, there's something delicious about fooling them. They think they can outlast us, maybe perhaps a singular female but not a tag-team. Gregor never knew he was being played, how could he? His first wife gave us the template to work against him; she used medication, we used subterfuge."
Nick frowned. "This is nice family history and all but it doesn't..."
A paw pressed against his lips. "It most certainly does. As the remaining living member of the rulership of the Outback Isles mafia, it falls upon my shoulders to..."
Now Nick looked sternly into her eyes. "Ummm... pardon me but Catherin was killed. Her dna verified the body was hers."
Catherin gave him another noisy kiss. "Wrong. I just told you everything you need to piece together exactly who I am... and what's going to be your fate."
Nick's mind pieced together the clues: sole littermates, shared males, tricked a mafia boss, and now supposedly the death was in error. If true this meant... crap.
"I see you finally pieced the puzzle together... we're twins, a medical mystery why a singular egg divided and separated into two embryos instead of remaining whole. Both of us became pregnant by Gregor, my sister was content to work behind the scene and we were about to spring the truth upon him when you Zootopians attacked. I was fortunate to been elsewhere when that part of the hospital collapsed. My sister was watching both litters at the time; unfortunately our cubs died in the attack. I'm told the dust cloud clogged their lungs thus suffocating them, their bodies were gathered quickly and buried in our family's mausoleum."
She held his muzzle again as she placed another noisy kiss upon it.
"I knew the Servants of Truth were trying to capture you and your pretty little bunny wife. Their failure was laughable and amateurish, as was that of the inept swine-sheep duo. So I made the Servants an offer: they get your pretty little wife, I get you. Compromise I think is more than satisfactory all things considering, not that either of them can pry you out of my paws."
Damn. Nick had up to this moment felt all he had to do was resist until Judy found him. She was quite the persistent bunny and he had on more than one occasion witnessed her tenacity performing her duties as a beat cop. Now that she was a sergeant he knew it would be tough forcing herself to let the junior officers do most of the work. Rank of sergeant was the first step on the ladder of promotion which forced an officer into a managerial roll, learning how to manage underlings and accept praise and punishment for their actions. He smiled a slight grin; she already had some experience seeing that Chief Bogo had pulled her into his office and praised and punished her for his failings.
Nick was disturbed from his thoughts as the guards quickly put shackles and chains upon him and pulled him as they followed her out of the pit. Catherin led them through a long and barely lit tunnel, its end opened outside the building where the view across a valley made it crystal clear where they were. Outback Isles. He was looking towards the godfather's estate, it was a good distance away but one he could never forget considering what happened there changed his life. A brief image of two young vixens flashed before his eyes and he smiled, these were changes that he never regretted. Wither she noticed his astonishment or merely imagined it the vixen decided to make plain the situation.
"Surely you didn't think we were still in Zootopia? That was too big a risk which certainly would have encouraged the ZPD to perform a rescue attempt. Then there's the little matter of the military operation with that famous fox general. Mmmm... now there's a todd I'd love to add to my harem."
Her face went in a pleasurable expression Nick knew was of a daydreaming vibe. He grinned: vixens of nearly all ages swooned over the generals' image on recruitment posters and he wasn't surprised it was the same in far-away countries. She shook her head obviously regaining her composure and presence of mind.
"No... I'll not let my prized consort be taken away so easily. You will not be down in the slave pens toiling away until I desire a different male, which would give you an opportunity to sway minds as your training enables. No... you'll be secluded near my bedroom ready to service my needs on a moment's notice. Just so you know medication and manacles will prevent any attempt to gain the upper paw."
A sharp pain signaled the needle doing its job and afterwards he felt the drug begin its work. Before the world turned into a blur he recognized the metallic taste as belonging to a drug he thought he had seen the last of. It was in his teenage years before he met Finnick when the harsh reality of living alone on the streets of Happy Town that he once was addicted to it. This made its user quite receptive to suggestions, and before the world went blank his last conscious thought were of Judy.
Colonel Kohle rubbed his temples; Director Dench sat upon her Segway her face sullen. GSD had contained all news of the Wilde-Hopps double abduction successfully until the ZNN newscast was hijacked. More than the citizens of Zootopia were up in arms; it seemed the country as a whole wanted the beloved duo safe and sound. Of course not everyone was of a positive opinion of the fox-rabbit, as such tempers flared as differences in opinions caused many fights. It was all ZPD could do to quell the violence, if one considered too few officers against numerous mammals' intent on violence. The National Guard now patrolled the streets under orders to *shoot first ask questions later* which they did on the first 24 hours, thankfully those most likely to throw a hoof or claw were either hospitalized, in the morgue, or reluctantly abiding by the curfew.
A knock on the door brought both back into the present. Ginger Valiant, a female river otter and the personal secretary to the director, leaned her head through the barely-opened door. The expression on her face made it clear this was important as it was unannounced.
"Apologies, director... colonel... it's what you asked for."
The otter stepped inside and beckoned them into the room, closing the door behind her as she left the room. The Canter family sat down in the chairs where the mouse pointed, each being seated as the Scottish terrier pushed the chair under the elder does' rump as Ralph did likewise for his wife. He sat down beside Mindy who was sitting beside her mother, concern etched onto his face just as it was on the two does. A moment passed by as the Segway adjusted itself so that the white mouse could see the guests better.
"Thank you for coming on such short notice. Please be assured we are searching for your missing family member... excuse me, Kimberly... just as diligent as we are for the Wilde-Hopps. Information we have so far is sketchy but I wanted to express how important she has become to us, hence our effort to locate her."
"That will be difficult, considering the expanse of our underground community" Bridget said softly. It was obvious she was deeply concerned and a hint of distrust lingered in tone of her voice. These were Topsiders, they wouldn't know the extent of punishment the chancellor would go to against those proclaimed as *traitor*.
"Ma'am... Bridget, would you think for a moment? Of all your kits in your litters, were there any two that seemed identical? As if nearly spitting images, peas in a pod so to speak. I think this info just might be helpful in our search."
Bridget glared at the white mouse; it was hurtful remembering those that died in the Great Purge. This event, once the truth of who released the plague and why, was rarely on the elder does' mind as the hurt was nearly unbearable. It was the reason she and her remaining kits dedicated themselves to work on behalf of the families that the Council of the Twelve had black-marked and purposely withheld government aid.
"Rachel" Mindy said softly. Bridget turned swiftly towards and now glared at her daughter.
"Rachel is...?"
Mindy looked her mother in the eye, both locked in an old fashion contest of will. Moments later the elder doe lowered her head, her eyes closed and a tear fell to the floor. The younger doe held her mother close and both shared a moment of what was about to be told.
"Rachel was a sister a couple litters older than mine" Mindy said softly. "She looked remarkably like Kimberly if one ignored the black streaks on her ears and her odd twitch of nose. She was among the many of my siblings that succumbed to the Great Purge, and she died in my mother's paws. This is why we do not speak of it, the pain simply is unbearable."
The room remained quiet for a few minutes, waiting for the guests to compose themselves.
Bridget continued. "As Dr. Frankinmyrl is aware, my family has been tasked through many generations of gathering new genes. Our bodies used to return impregnated or carry a buck's *donation* so it can be purified and distributed by the council. For obvious reasons it was easier to bring back *donations* when not in heat, but the council granted us *gene carriers* as we were known to keep a litter conceived from a Topsider buck. Rachel's litter was my choice but unfortunately this litter turned out to be problematic: stubborn, hard-headed, selfish and self-centered. It was Rachel that killed my husband with her own paws when he attempted to discipline her for something. I never forgave her for that deed but I mourned her death as I held her when the plague took her final breath."
Bridget blew her nose into a handkerchief then continued. "My husband was chosen by the high priestess to marry me and warned against harming me because of the duty I was forced to do on behalf of the council. He was the father of most my litters, but because of the council his litters were born far apart. I suspect when Rachel learned he was not her biological father this encouraged her to become more rebellious and perhaps was the trigger event that caused her to murder the buck she must have seen as her step-father."
Director Dench placed a tiny paw upon the elder does', receiving a slow nod in return. Mothers had a way of communicating without saying a word.
Colonel Kohl cleared his throat. "How was her body disposed of, may I ask?"
Mindy motioned her mother to remain silent. "When I became a Scavenger thus a government employee, I had access to certain files, one of which a friend let me read the contents. The bodies were disposed of in a ravine that was located in a very secluded part of the cavern. These bodies were sealed inside water-permeable bags and thrown into it."
"Water-permeable bags? Why?"
Mindy looked at the dog as if he were a simpleton, and then realized her error. How could he know? Topsiders couldn't know.
"Perhaps a short geography lesson is in order" the young doe muttered.
"Some parts of the caverns are flooded with non-salt water, signaling it isn't open to the ocean. Other parts are flooded with brine water, signaling it is open to the ocean. It is one of these ravines that the bodies were thrown into because ocean-dwelling predators lurk there; hence a convenient way to dispose of plagued corpses."
The colonel said no more but quickly left the room. The young doe may not have realized it but she just revealed a possible back-door entryway into the caverns. It was a long shot but it just might allow access for a team to reconnoiter with minimal chance of detection. He needed to get in touch with the military and have a submarine scout the seafloor around the Tri-Burrows. It would be tricky with all the shipwrecks leftover from the Lynxion War but not the first time it had been done. The clue about ocean-dwelling predators told him all he needed to know, there were a small number of species in this area that was known to use caves as seasonal homes.
Meanwhile the director asked a few more questions before bidding the Canter family a good afternoon. Ralph held his mother-in-law's paw in one paw and his wife's in the other as he led them both to his father's truck, as they drove back to Bunny Burrow they remained quiet letting the mother-daughter duo console each other. It was hoped that when they arrived Kimberly would spring from out of the director's office, bringing relief to a situation that now seemed fraught with more questions than seem proper.
Ralph found himself puzzled. Ever since he discovered he was about to become a father he noticed his priorities had slowly changed. Back then he worried about his siblings and their welfare, now he worried about his wife's family. Perhaps it was his sister and littermate, Judy, surviving two kitnapping attempts that caused his mind to assume she would survive this one as well. But his sister-in-law disappearing without a trace was disturbing. It shouldn't have been: the mission was going down into a known Dark Underground access point thus encountering the enemy should not have been a surprise.
After they arrived home Bonnie and Opal along with several of Ralph's siblings greeted them and walked to the Canter's Burrow as it had become known these days. Opal didn't mind her previous home having this change of names, after all such was the nature of change as the older generation passed away leaving the younger generation as the current homeowner. They were greeted by his kits when the front door opened by two vixens who greeted the returning adults as well. It seemed that Miss Daniels and Miss Walker became kit-sitters on a moment's notice, perhaps matriarchal protectiveness of the litter or maybe simply training for when they became mothers themselves.
After ensuring his wife and mother-in-law was in the care of his mother and siblings Ralph took his leave and went outside to his favorite spot where he could be alone in his thoughts. He wasn't surprised when Stu, Albert, and several of his brothers arrived and sat near him. As he told them what was given by the Director of GSD, they asked questions and he answered best as he could. He felt a bit of relief; having the males of his family here made his apprehensiveness temper a bit. Counsel of many males gave him something he could cling onto, a rock which he was sure he would need in the uncertainty in the days to come.
M.