The Marlot Hotel sat along the coast, a cube-like structure with colonial aesthetics. A twin room on the top floor had been the only room type left when Bogo made urgent plans to travel, but he was glad now for the extra bed. Ben was sitting on it now, staring at the picture on the wall. It was a watercolour painting of the forest and marshlands that lay near the town.

As for Bogo, he was standing before the window, forearm raised and pressed against the glass. He glowered at the tourists and locals wandering the street at night, going in and out of the nightclub across on the street corner, oblivious to disastrous series of events that had led to this point. He'd just gotten off the phone to the local Chief of Police. The yak had claimed he'd known nothing of NEST, or the sleeper agents that had been under his snout for who knows how long. Two years ago, Bogo would have believed him. But that had been before he'd discovered the treacherous actions of Trunchbull, his mentor and predecessor.

When Bogo put the phone down, Ben's ear twitched, and he looked away from the painting. "What'd the Chief say?"

"He says he never even sent those bastards in the first place. Allegedly, some other unit had been dispatched."

"Could he be telling the truth?"

"Maybe." Bogo admitted and dropped down on the other bed. "They found three dead mammals when they got there. Won't say who until the living are accounted for. But the officers who arrived on scene checked the cameras and confirmed Sedor was there. So that's us off the hook."

"I'll have to go back into custody, won't I?" Ben looked resigned to the idea.

Bogo scowled. "I told them no. You're under ZPD custody now. First thing tomorrow, you are coming back with me to Zootopia, and you'll stay there while I come back for Elba."

Ben made no attempt to argue. Instead he decided to kill some time with a nap. Bogo watched him lie down and drift off, glad that Ben was on the same page as usual. It was bad enough that Hopps and Wilde had gone looking for trouble. Sneaking into private parties, breaking into illegal art galleries, getting mixed up with Koobus Bloody Lupine… the last thing he needed was Ben becoming a vigilante too. This feline attracted trouble without even trying.

Ben fidgeted as he lightly snoozed, shifting himself so he was facing Bogo. He could see that Ben was troubled. Who wouldn't be, after having their past come back to haunt them like this? Bogo felt a pang as his eyes looked over the feline's form. He should be happy that Ben had reduced himself to a healthy weight, but now he looked small. That silly spark which had caught Bogo's attention had dulled in the years since that horrific incident. He'd watched it dim during those rare moments when they could be in the same room together, confiding in each other, with no-one around to question the propriety of a predator-prey friendship.

Bogo felt tired all of a sudden and fell back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. Fifteen hours remained until the plane took off, and he had no idea what to do until then. He couldn't leave Ben alone and he couldn't make any investigations of his own.

Actually, there was one thing he could do…

He took out his phone and applied the earbuds. He opened the One Hot Dancer app on his phone.

That was when he heard the soft shushing sound coming from the door. He sat up and saw the envelope, red as blood, lying on the thin carpet in front of the door.

"What now?" He breathed. The sight of the envelope instantly put him on edge.

He heard shifting fabric- Ben was sitting straight as a post. In five seconds, he was across the room and plucking the envelope from the floor. The first thing Bogo after getting up did was open the door and poke his head into the hallway outside. Whoever had slipped them the note was long gone.

Bogo shut the door and watched Ben open the envelope. It had the number 17 on it. Ben pulled the note out and read it. He closed his eyes and clenched his jaw.

Bogo sighed. "Sedor found you."

Ben handed him the note, envelope and all. "He always does."

Bogo read the note and grimaced at what it said.

"D'you think he there already?" Ben asked when he was done reading.

"If our mysterious messenger is any indication..." Bogo threw the paper on the bed and grabbed his phone. "If he thinks we're going to walk into his trap, he'd bloody well think again."

Ben's paws were on the phone before Bogo could start dialling.

"Mansa, wait. Let me talk to him, first."

Bogo had heard him wrong. He must have.

"You're taking the piss."

"No." Ben tightened his grip around Bogo's hoof. "But you know what he's like. He'll never leave me alone."

Bogo yanked his hoof out of Ben's grip. "So you want to waltz right into that restaurant and let him put you out of your misery? After everything we've been through?!"

"Of course not, but I can't keep doing this!" Ben shouted back with a ferocity Bogo had never seen in the cheetah. "I can't keep running and wondering why I keep getting dragged into these stupid conspiracies! I want to know what he knows!"

"I want to know too but think of who we're dealing with!" Bogo took a deep breath. He needed to calm down, but it was difficult.

"Oh, trust me, I know who we're dealing with!"

"He almost killed McHorn! He ripped Woolton's throat out with his bare teeth! He almost took me off at the head!"

Ben looked down for a moment, as if fully comprehending what he was getting himself into. When he looked back up, his expression held firm. "I know. But he's not in Twilight anymore. He just wants to talk."

"You don't know that."

"I do, and so do you. He's had every chance to kill us since we came to this town."

Bogo shook his head. "He may not want to kill you... yet."

"Mansa, I'm going. The longer this goes on, the more mammals get hurt. And I want to know about Subject 0."

Bogo felt a faint ache from his arm where that hybrid freak had bitten him. The scar on his neck could be felt, too. He wouldn't say it out loud, but Ben may have a point.

"No. He's too dangerous. He's not going anywhere near you, and that is that."

"Five minutes. He gets five minutes with you and then I call for backup. Make sure he knows."

The hotel restaurant was a modest place, with gentle lighting and a self-service buffet offering fresh seafood and vegetables. Sedor was sitting in one of the centre tables with a briefcase on the table top, dressed in a simple dark grey suit clearly intended to not attract attention. It looked a size too large but still fit perfectly, likely thanks to the armour he still wore beneath. There were three other predators in the room, all sitting at tables right next to the walls.

At Bogo's instruction, Ben nodded and walked to the buffet first, keeping his distance from Sedor's table as he passed. Bogo approached the table closest to Sedor's, glancing at the other carnivorous guests. Two of them glared at Bogo, paws poised near their hips. Sedor gave each one a sharp glare, and they put their paws back on the table. Bogo sat down at the table. He didn't have the appetite to join Ben at the buffet. Sedor didn't seem happy to see him, but not surprised either. Then again, the note hadn't instructed Ben to come alone.

Ben took his time at the buffet. He'd stopped at the end of the table, staring at the wall. Bogo could almost imagine the second thoughts he was having.

Bogo's hoof balled up on the table top. His gun and badge lay hidden beneath his black jacket.

You can still walk away. There's a fire exit right there, not five feet away from you. I'll make sure you're not followed. Walk away, Ben.

Instead, Ben squared his shoulders, picked up his half-full plate of seafood and donuts, and walked back over. He sat down at Bogo's table and turned his chair so he was face to face with the bear.

"Five minutes. You get five minutes and then we call the police, NEST or no NEST." He said shakily. He looked shrunken, his black ears pinned against his head. It reminded Bogo of a child being forced to sit in the same courtroom as his abuser.

Sedor pulled out a pocket watch. Bogo almost laughed. Two years post-Twilight and he's still keeping the Wonderland aesthetic. "I suppose I better start with this, then."

He opened the briefcase and pulled out a newspaper clipping. He reached across the gap between tables and allowed Ben to take it.

"Elba had a copy of this, in his room at the villa." Ben said.

Bogo looked at the article.

BRAITHWAITE CAR WRECK: ASININE ERROR OR SWAMP CURSE?

A car has careened through the ranger station at Braithwaite National Park.

"It was Subject 0, wasn't it?" Ben asked. "It's here, in Florada." He stared long and hard at the article, using it as an excuse to not look at the bear responsible for his trauma.

"Did you know Elba was collaborating with the President to find him?" Sedor asked.

"No. He told me he was going to a conference. When I found his copy of the article, I pretended I hadn't seen it."

"Wait, are we talking about the President?" Bogo asked. His mind blanked out for a moment.

"Si." Sedor said. "Signor President was attending the conference this year, but my sources told me he was attending a private meeting with Mayor Elba alone."

"Is that why you're after me again?" Ben asked. "If you're looking for some insight, then I'm sorry to disappoint you."

Sedor chuckled mirthlessly. "I had a feeling that Elba would have kept the true purpose of his trip from you. For your sake, of course. But I didn't come here to confirm my suspicions. I didn't even know you were in town until I heard that Elba was abducted."

Bogo leaned forward. "And if you didn't abduct him, who did? Is NEST still working for Theodore Swinton?"

"Definitely. Theodore lost his only daughter and had his life's work destroyed in the span of a fortnight. He had to blame someone."

Ben swallowed. "Could Elba be alive?"

"Maybe."

Bogo scowled at the unhelpful answer. "And what the hell are you doingin town?"

"Easy." Sedor pointed at the newspaper clipping Ben was holding. "We're looking for Subject 0, too."

Ben cocked his head. "Too?"

Sedor pulled down his collar to show a partially healed cut on his neck, almost invisible beneath his thick fur. "Seven weeks ago, I was doing business with Koslov when I got jumped by some stronzi, just like you were. Too bad for them, I never go out without my second suit."

"What the heck is a Stronzi?" Ben asked.

"Stronzo. Asshole. At first, we thought they were sent by Mr. Big. They looked the part, tracksuits and all. But one lead led to another, and it turns out NEST is masquerading as a growing criminal gang known as the Night Howlers. A cluster of herbivorous career criminals using the infamy of the Twilight Incident to bolster their street cred.

"Not enough cred to get our attention." Bogo said.

"They use anti-predator sentiment and the usual promises of purpose and profit to draw in recruits, all led by a puppet ruler who answers directly to Theodore. Only a select few know the true nature of the organisation."

"So how did you find out about their 'true nature?' Ben asked, his fingers making air quotes. Bogo was feeling especially sceptical.

"The mammal leading the assassination attempt was one of those select few. I… persuaded him to tell me who he worked for, and I got far more answers than I had expected."

"Are those stronzi still with us?" Bogo asked.

Sedor paused. "Don't go looking for them. You won't like what you find."

Ben shifted in his seat, as if trying to inch further from Sedor without leaving his chair. Bogo hid his disgust by lowering his gaze to check his watch. Their time was two-thirds gone.

"If Subject 0 is in the National Park, what're you doing chasing after me?" Ben asked. "I gave my testimony in the court case, I'm useless to you now."

Sedor's expression hadn't changed once since the meeting had started. Even as he rested his elbows on the table, it remained unaltered.

"I know what Pottermass put in his will. He told me, before his suicide."

Ben gaped, horror-struck.

"I don't give a damn, personally. I prefer to make my own fortune. But for that kind of money, you can bet Swinton will do very unpleasant things to make you give it up. I can keep you- and the fortune- safe."

"You what?" Ben gave a short, staggered laugh. "You don't give a damn? I find that hard to believe."

Sedor shrugged. "Well, what would you like to do?"

Ben stood up. His paws were shaking. "Just what I've been doing, Sedor. Surviving. Taking my chances with Mansa has worked out pretty good so far, so I'm going to stick with him."

"For how long? NEST will get you eventually. Those agents you've faced so far? They're just the outer circle."

Ben shook his head and looked Sedor in the eye. "After everything you've put me through… the flippin' nightmares I've had to live with… why the hell should I think you're the safer option?"

Ben and Bogo had left without resistance, thanks to Sedor shutting down any attempts from his men to intercept their way out the restaurant. Ben didn't say a word. He trembled all the way up the elevator and didn't stop until they were back in their room. He sat on the bed, obeying Bogo's gentle commands to breath in through the nose and out through the mouth.

"I didn't ask him. I had questions about Subject 0 and I didn't ask him." Ben spoke weakly.

"You probably wouldn't had liked the answers anyway." Bogo said, lightly clutching the black bottle of wine he'd taken with him.

"Every time I look at him, I see him… f-feeding on Woolton… I was so scared… I wanted to just get away… You were right, I should've never- I was so stupid…"

Bogo planted the bottle of wine on the bedside table. "I still wish you'd listened to me, but I wouldn't exactly call that meeting counter-productive."

Ben looked up. "What?"

Bogo took out the gun he'd concealed and laid it beside the botle, pointed away from either of them. "I've seen his type before. If we'd dragged him into interrogation, he'd wouldn't have given us a damn thing. But you got him to talk. That counts for something."

If it made Ben feel better, he didn't show it. He lay down on the bed and turned his eyes toward the ceiling.

Bogo sighed and slumped down on his own mattress. There was nothing more to be done except wait for daybreak, and hope that Sedor kept his word and left them alone. God, he needed booze. He uncorked the bottle with his bare hoof and emptied one quarter of its crimson contents.

Bogo grumbled under his breath at the taste. It tasted decent for wine, but he preferred the white stuff. He put the bottle back- where it was almost immediately taken by Ben. Bogo started to feel the wine take effect as he got his phone out once more and re-opened the app. A recent update had granted the option of changing Gazelle's red sparkly dress to one of her other iconic outfits. Bogo was starting to get sick of the colour. He'd seen enough of it to last three lifetimes. He picked a long green gown with a slit down the thigh, plugged his earbuds bag in his ears and pressed play.

Two seconds later Gazelle was dancing on screen alongside a tiger with a glitter speedo and Bogo's head.

"Wow, you are one hot dancer, Chief Bogo." When Gazelle spoke Bogo's name, it sounded nothing like her. Not that he noticed. Just watching her shake her hips made him feel better.

"Wait, is that Gazelle?"

Bogo turned his head sharply. Positioned vertically from Bogo's perspective on the bed, Ben was awake and staring at Bogo like he'd just performed a triple somersault.

"No!" Bogo held the phone to his chest. Only then did he realise the earbud wire wasn't plugged into his phone.

Oh bollocks.

"I'm Gazelle, and you are one hot dancer."

Ben sat up straight. "You have the app, too? Why d'you never freakin' tell me?"

Bogo sat up quickly, feeling the hot flush of embarrassment. "I didn't- God, it's just a-"

"Oooooh, Mansaaaa!" Ben was beaming now, paws balled up and pressed against his chin. What else have ya got? The Red Beryl Album? Prance Prance Gazellution?"

"I don't-" Bogo blinked. "Red Beryl Album?"

"The remastered soundtrack of her first fifteen songs. You never heard it?"

"No. Have you?"

"Heard it? I bought it!" Ben leapt from his bed, retrieved his phone from the hotel room desk and started frantically scrolling through his list of albums. "Come on, where're you, Rs… Ahah!"

He pressed the play button, and the first of Gazelle's songs emanated from the phone, crisper and cleaner than the original recording. Resigned, Bogo lay back against the pillows and turned off his app. He watched Ben's leg bouncing to the beat and he stood between the desk and Bogo's bed, and smiled to himself.

So much for his spark dimming.

The song came to an end, and the next one started with a fierce burst of drums. If the soundtrack played in the same order as the original, the first award winner, Try Everything, would be played last. Ben was doing a little jig now, arms waving and hips swaying with the beat. His fur glinted rose gold in the lamplight. Bogo hoped to God he wouldn't start singing.

"Do you dance, Mansa?"

"Nope." The little white lie came out on impulse.

"Come on, don't tell me Gazelle doesn't make you wanna shake your groove thing!"

Bogo felt a flush at the mere idea of it. He quickly covered his embarrassment by grabbing the now light-weighted bottle. "You're guzzled, aren't you?"

Ben jigged over to the window, pulled the blinds shut, and turned back to Bogo with a cheeky grin.

"You've got no excuse now! Get your butt offa that bed!"

"Oh for…" Bogo got up and took the twirling cheetah by the paws, even as he felt the rhythm of the song beckoning him, like a siren's psalm. "Get to bed before you make yourself sick!"

"Chiiieeefff…" Ben started thrusting his paws back and forth, causing Bogo's arms to do the same. His chocolate eyes shone with mirth as Bogo's whole body started twisting to the beat. It was partly the drink, he told himself, but he didn't want Ben to stop smiling.

It didn't take long for Bogo to succumb after that, the subconscious need to let loose after this long, dark period of his life overcoming him. He let go of Ben's paws as he let the rhythm take hold, never straying too far from his feline friend. Even as he closed his eyes, he could feel Ben's presence. He'd felt it since their first meeting in Pottermass's library. From that moment on Ben's mere existence had changed the course of Bogo's life, just as Sedor's existence had changed Ben's, but as a blessing rather than a curse. Even when he wasn't physically here, Bogo felt that presence. He never wanted it to disappear.

There was no choreography, just two ordinary, slightly intoxicated guys prancing and stepping to a song that carried them like the ocean sweeping over the beach outside the hotel. Maybe he was drunker than he thought, because Bogo wasn't sure exactly when the song changed to Ordinary Animal World, or when he and Ben came back together. Ben took the lead, holding Bogo tight as they revolved on the spot. Bogo held him in return, enjoying the warmth and the feeling of feline fur against his hide. At some point he felt Ben's paw gently slide up his arm and over his shoulder toward his neck. It stopped at the collarbone, his warm pawpads touching the place where his jugular had been cut.

"I'm sorry." Ben breathed. "You shouldn't be a part of this."

"They made me a part of this." Bogo didn't want to think of them now. Not Trunchbull. Not Koobus. Not the cursed Swinton still living.

Ben's head fell against Bogo's chest. "I just want this to be over."

"It will. They started a war. We'll end it."

"Mansa…"

"No more talking."

He caressed the back of Ben's head as the song reached its second chorus. The feline relaxed, letting the music retake control.