Chapter 25:

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"How did you know my name," the younger bear growled.

Kozlov took a breath in and out. "I recognise you, you look like your father. -More fire in blood maybe, I…" He paused. "Now, last I hear you still have time inside jail. And yet…"

"-Yet here I am," the young bear growled back.

"Yet here you are," Kozlov mused. "On orders of Rattigan, da?"

"-I… -I here on part of myself!"

Kozlov paused before bringing up his finger, shushing him. "Do not want to attract attention."

Timofey scoffed before freezing, head tilting. A slow bewildered chuckle escaped from his mouth. "What? -What you…" He shook it out, teeth baring. "Are you not going to scream for help!?"

Kozlov shrugged. "Not yet."

"Why not!?"

"Because I want to listen to you, young misled mammal, I…"

"I am NOT MISLED!" the young bear roared, marching up to Kozlov, pulling out his box cutter and holding it tight, shaking, neck level. "I am here to make you pay for abandoning us. Abandoning us when we needed you!"

"Did Rattigan abandon you?"

"I… -His wife abandon us, his wife use us, me, MY family," he stomped his foot. "Only now do I realise that breaking us out was a distraction. Not even my mother realises, we are free now but on limited time. All to serve their own needs. Well, at least I will make use of this."

"-And you do not want to know what you were distraction for?"

"I… -You think this will save you?"

The older bear shrugged. "Has been working so far."

Timofey snorted out a laugh. "Go on then, explain."

Kozlov shrugged. "Down in Nocturnal District is compound used by ZPD for witness protection. A family was staying there, one who lost a member during Project Chaos…"

"Like myself, you trying to play me?"

"Nyet," Kozlov said with a sigh. "Your father die trying to kitnap the them, for Rattigan. Do you resent them for that?"

"-What! I…"

The older bear nodded. "Nyet, because you know it was just business. They be defended, like you strive to defend family honour. I am glad, at least, you see the sense there."

"Sense? -If I meet them, I…"

"They not ones who kill your father. But they still ones who lose father of their own. Father, uncle, an academic with research in key areas, key areas that Rattigan wished to get answers on, for ultimate goal. But said mammal strong, refuse to work, after all Rattigan have no leverage. Rattigan know, given stakes, academic would let himself be tortured, killed, rather than help. -But suffer family undergoing same fate? He better mammal than I, screams of innocents get to him, he does not wish for victory at any cost."

"So, so what? They kitnap family and…" Timofey paused, silent.

Kozlov slowly got up, leaning forward to hold his paw. "And that is why they need distraction, Da? -Indeed, with no mammal to defend, they charge in, they take family. All as the hour gets near."

"I…" the younger bear said before shaking his head, staring the older one down. "So, that is it huh, I break out of prison to provide distraction?"

"Da," Kozlov replied. "Though, that begs important question?"

"No it does not," Timofey warned, sliding the knife of the box cutter out, getting ready to…

"Who else did they break out with you?"

"I…" the younger bear said. "How did you… -Stop distracting me, I…"

"Your pauses tell truth," Kozlov said. "And more important, with such chaos in centre of city, what point is there in busting young mammal like you out so far away?"

"-It drew off T-U-S-K, it…"

"-Others were broken out with you, mammals who hurt Anonymous Vulpine in past, mammals who…"

"How… -Are you working with them too!?"

For once a look of rage and disgust grew on the older polar bears face. "Nyet." He turned and spot at the ground. "That would betray every sacrifice I ever make, every life I let be taken, every…"

"Including my fathers, including every other bear you let down!"

Kozlov shrugged. "I guess I see why you come for me now. And probably."

"Probably?"

"Depends if you view if I sacrifice them or not. Wish to know true story? Stay quiet, you still not attract any attention, which is surprise. -But still, we carry on."

Timofey let himself glance around, however quickly, lest the older bear be planning to pounce him. Inside no mammals seemed to be watching. Outside, on the other balcony areas, he couldn't see anyone.

"-And how I worked out others broken out, known by Anonymous Vulpine?" Kozlov asked, choking a little and shrugging. "I know it his family, I know they break you out, I fill in the gaps." He leant forward. "Let me guess, the mammal who framed him?"

"And two others who hurt him. Who I was not there to stop."

Kozlov gave a slow little nod. "Did you know they were being broken out?"

"Only the one who frame him, only on the day, I…"

"-And you work out connection, you know it have something to do with Vulpine, you just surprise I know," Kozlov explained. "And guilty, heavy in heart, that good mammal is to be hurt with your help."

Timofey looked on. "Is that how you feel? Abandoning all us bears, us loyal bears, when Big fell and we need you most."

"You blame me, and not Fru-Fru…"

"She just fluff-headed shrewlett, it not her responsibility, it yours!"

"And I stood around," Kozlov said. "I there as I realise Rattigan making play to bring us remaining bears under his wing, after blasting Mr Big before…"

"What, Rattigan take down…"

"Seems obvious to me, I think to other bears too, though they have nowhere else to go now…"

"Who's fault is that?"

"How much harder should I have tried when they would not listen?" the older bear asked. "When they asked me to do thing that I could not do."

"What. Give little trinket or whatever, give…"

"Not just little trinket. Though now, knowing how things went…" He shrugged. "Not sure how playing things differently knowing talisman busted anyhow would have went." He looked out over the glistening snow, heavy as the warm sun cast down on it. "Hard to think things could be much more dire than this."

"So…" Timofey paused, beginning to laugh. "So what, you have key to old nuke or something. I know you used to be in secret service." He let the box cutter drop back into his pocket, if still in his grip, and walked forward. "I suppose that may be an explanation. Now I need to know why you tell no-one, let us just sit and rot, like…"

"Would you believe that it was horcrux of the devil himself?"

Timofey just stared at him before laughing.

"-So, no then," the older bear waved off matter of factly.

"So what," Timofey scoffed, staring down at the older bear, box cutter now out again. "All this, for religion?"

"Nyet," the bear replied. "And even if god did exist, I not think he very happy for me, for things I did to his faithful. -No, there may be no god, but there is, was, devil. And Rattigan seeks to bring him back and claim his throne for himself."

"I am wasting my time here," Timofey growled, marching forward, panting, box cutter rising and…

"They have not abandoned you."

The young bear froze, tilting his head.

Kozlov shrugged. "If he succeeds, at least in first part of plan, I assume city will be in such chaos that you and other escapees will not need to fear capture again. -So he not abandon you. -He not help you, at least actively. More… incidental bonus of plan."

"You're buying time," Timofey grunted, shaking his head.

Kozlov nodded. "I buy enough, da."

"Enou…" The bear froze as he felt a gentle prick hovering over the back of his leg. He slowly looked down to see a red fox vixen, her neck heavily bandaged, looking up. In her paw was a small tranq gun.

"This army fox vixen we been working with," Kozlov explained, looking at her. "Feeling better?"

She gave a muted scoff, a witty smile and a shake of her head.

"Don't worry, I be one speaking to young misled cub."

"I…" Timofey spoke out, taking a breath in. "I am not misled, I am not…"

"-And yet I hear your voice shudder, and yet I see you held back." Kozlov's features softened. "We have bears in the business, those who see it as way out to better times, sacrifice their souls so children can be unblemished. Your father was not one of those, and I sorry for that."

"I DON'T NEED YOUR FORGIVENESS!" Timofey roared, teeth bared. "I don't! Do not dare insult my papa! Do not…"

"He raise you to be who you are, and look where that lead you now?"

The cub looked around, eyes closed before looking up. "Nyet. My own stupidity lead me here too. But still, if on this path…"

"Not end of path, not yet," Kozlov said. "You can leave it now, turn in, we can vouch for you, you still live long life."

"I… I, you're just saying that, you're…"

"My dreams are haunted by those I let be crush under my claws to rise up," Kozlov said. "Innocent mammals, innocent families, young little foxes and faithful parents, those in wrong place at wrong time while I have quota over head. -There be those I led into battle on roof of the world, to be slaughtered. -Those who died in fear and panic, plane crashing into ocean after I gave devil an excuse. Those who put faith in me, who died, who were crushed under metal claw. -Those many died when opponent took nuclear option." He leant forward. "Those who suffer when I arrive in this city, burden around neck, trying to make new life only to find that my menace, my cruelty, my strength is only asset. As I go on, hurting mammals. As I find other great ones take down devil by themselves, my work… -Meaningless. Young Timofey, I am mammal bound in countless sins, cursed and weighed down by so many lost souls, but you? -You not there, not yet. You can leave, turn away, and I not one to judge."

He stood there, shaking. "What about her?" He glanced down as the vixen gave him and then Kozlov a knowing look.

"Oh, she judge everyone."

"So, not much point, given her needle, huh?"

She pulled it away, taking a step back.

"She also pragmatic," Kozlov said, looking over. "Help us, and we will give long tale to ZPD about how Rattigan's girl confuse you, how she use peril of your mother, guilt of your father, taking you off path, misleading…"

Timofey snorted. "I still earn many extra years behind bars."

"Many less than if you try and kill me."

"And if Rattigan succeeds anyway? Or this… This demon thing?"

"Then they have in store for me much worse fate than you can provide," Kozlov shrugged, smiling. "Honestly, in your best interest in every way to not do this," he smiled.

"And let you off…"

"Or, help take down the one truly responsible for all of this," the bear said, getting out of his seat and looking up. Timofey took a step back, Kozlov's full height looming over him, overhanging, indomitable, unstoppable and…

The large bear took a knee, then another, leaning down and shrinking himself until they were close to level, him slightly lower, neck right in line for…

"I try to guide bears to better path, I try to warn them off, I…" He sighed, looking down. "I misplay, I slip up, I underestimate opponent and keep burdens to myself. I fail, one of many. -But Rattigan. -He one who topple Big empire, using faked tax documents slipped in right place to puncture chink in armour and let mammals flood through. He one who rally bears to his cause, despite my warning. He one who sent them on tasks, who held back guns for so long, who sent father on final battle, who burn them so bright until nothing is left." He looked down, then up at the younger bear. "Forgive me for my failings, or not. But if wish to avenge father, avenge life you could have had, save life you might have now. Help us, take him down, stop him."

"No," Timofey hissed, eyes close, head shaking. "You can't just get me to… -Why should I…"

"Krisssss…." It came out as a shallow hiss from behind him. "Toffffff…." He turned, the red vixen still there, the dart still in reserve. "Errrrrrrrr…" A paw around her neck, helping her wheeze out the words. "Sssssssoooonnnn…"

"How you know that name…" Timofey said, quietly.

"Wrong mammal," Kozlov shrugged. "Wrong place, wrong time, wrong locker. -Wrong father, wrong field of study, wrong city, wrong villain. Wrong luck. -So much, on him, on mammal you know was good."

"I…"

"Who, let me guess, did you hurt? Scare him, I…"

"-I thought he… Nighthowlers… When I learn…"

"Who you couldn't keep safe."

"I…"

"To whom you release his worst demons from Pandora's box. Da?"

Timofey stood there, trembling.

"Tell me, did you betray him?"

"No," the bear hissed. "NO, I did not…"

"And does he deserve all this, does he…"

"-No, but…"

"But then why not help? Get your revenge and save him now when you could not before. Why not?"

"I…"

Kozlov slowly reached up, paw going to the box cutter and taking it out. Timofey didn't resist. He didn't resist as the larger bear pulled him into a hug, despite how…

-It didn't even feel wrong.

Instead…

Instead he held him tighter, he trembled, he…

-A few tears.

Only a few tears.

"We put this right. We put this right as much as we can, brother," Kozlov said. "That sound good?"

"Da," the younger bear said. "Da."

He heard the door behind him slide open. Somehow Kozlov had slipped the vixen the cutter without him noticing, she had released the cable tie on the door lever, and in came a panicked and now confused looking pair. A striped hare and a sand coloured vixen.

"Do not worry about him," Kozlov said. "Mammal from youth penitentiary. -Told to bust out, and help bust out others, or else mother would be silenced as witness. Young, scared, but came to me to get help. And to help back, with all he can. Is that not right?"

Stepping back, nodding, Timofey looked around. "Da, I…"

"Come, let's find security mammal, let's…"

"-Can I eat first?"

He looked almost shocked that he said it, but Kozlov just laughed, stretching himself up and leading the younger bear in. "Let us see what they have. On me, brother. On me."

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The cell was quiet.

A few drips of water rattling down. The breath of mammals in the dark.

The occasional sob of Mrs Fox.

Ash paced back and forth, back and forth, pausing before bracing his feet, letting out a powerful punch at the lock. It rattled and shook before coming to a halt.

"Your technique is good," came a response from the neighbouring cell. "Though I don't think it would be able to break a lock of that strength."

Ash, smoothing a paw over his aching main-pad, nodded. "Think you'd have better luck?"

"The fact I haven't attempted my own lock does suggest I think the chances are slim."

"Right, right," Ash replied, looking around. "The walls are solid concrete…"

"So no chance to work out the mortar," his imprisoned cousin replied. "And while the bars are much more recent additions, they have been well cemented in place."

"-Doesn't seem to be any faults with the hinges," Ash grumbled. He blew a puff of air, looking up. "I suppose it is most logical to save our energy."

"Indeed."

"Doesn't feel right though."

"I can understand the origin of that sentiment."

Ash grit his teeth, looking around. There had to be a way out, there had to be… He looked over to the small metal cots and the thin blankets they'd been provided with. The slop bucket. The small jugs of water. -His father, sitting there, smiling. "And what's the plan?"

Mr Fox let his smile grow. "As you said, it's best to save our energy for when the time is right?"

"And when might that be? Ten minutes? An hour. A day, a month, a year?"

"Or… Ten seconds," Mr Fox offered.

"Right, ten seconds."

"Or seven."

"Are you about to say four?"

"Three."

Mrs Fox and Kris got up in the neighbouring cell, walking over.

"Two."

Ash's tail began to wag.

"One," Mr Fox said, reaching down, only to pause as he brought his finger in front of his mouth. He looked around, slowly walked forward to lean against the cage door, and brought a stub of a key from his pocket. Through the bars, bending his paw, the tight little key squeezed its way in through the lock and, slowly, began to turn.

Every mammal held their breath. Even with the meagre glow of light coming in from under the outer door, barely enough for their night vision to work off of, they saw his focus at its peak. Gently, slowly, working it in, turning it… Their breath held, a slight crumble rang out as they key turned, the gate began to open, and…

It snapped, just in time for Mr Fox to swing it open, all the mammals breathing a sigh of relief. The adult vulpine composed himself, heading straight for his wife. "Dearest," he said softly. "For making you wait and not being there for you, I…"

She dove through the bars, grabbing him and pulling him back, tight. He hugged her back, gently kissing her as tears trickled from her ears. "She… She…"

"We'll get him back, I promise," he said softly, turning over to Ash. Looking on, he saw the small vulpine holding the broken remains of the key in his paw, watching as it crumbled back to plaster.

Mr Fox just smiled, bringing out a set of soap bars in response, grin growing.

"But…" His wife began, as he smiled. "My dearest…"

.

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The witness protection house was exceedingly boring. -Certainly there were some positives, the excessive amount of time to bond with loved ones chief amongst them. Guiding the older kits, partaking in amusing merriment with the youngest, being most intimate with his dearest. -The odd activity to spice up the now generally consistent routine of the day to day. But, after so long, being around the same mammals had worn the number of possible conversations that they hadn't had before very… thin.

-And attempts to either wait for the youngest mammal of their group to master the english language, be it in the traditional auditory form or the sign form that Ash had been learning and reportedly those youngest amongst them could get a grasp on even before their vocal cords came under full comprehensive control, were not bearing much fruit.

That led to the head of the family standing alone in their enclosed garden at what the clocks told him was 'quote-unquote' night, staring up at the unchanging scenery, contemplating the inevitable confrontation between him and Dr Paddriach confusingly named for a mouse assigned rat at birth Rattigan. For it truly was inevitable, for him and a mammal so fantastic yet turned to evil to confront each other once more.

There was a part of the fox in that A-R-A-B, mostly his tail but maybe a little more. A spark, a kinship, one was his yin for the other's yan, and maybe it had manifested through his nephew but a show down was inevitable.

-He already had his blueberries stocked and partitioned, ready and waiting, marker on his pawpad to remind him of such.

But what else?

Thinking it through, thinking of the process, the most inevitable of the inevitable routes this would take would be a brilliant but ultimately doomed attempt to flee him, followed by captured, followed by keeping them under lock and key and forcing his brother in law to work for the villainous scoundrel, in whichever capacity it was that had made him such a pragmatic draw for the little rodent.

So, lockpicks. He had already procured a well endowed little supply, but more was needed. Other standard supplies and necessities for working their way out. Swiss army knife, tape, more tape, a small but very sharp file, some long rope, a tiny little torch… But, more might be needed.

They'd be waiting around a while, so some ready snacks would be of great use. As would some toiletries, soap, etcetera… -Naturally a small towel to pair with that soap.

What kind of place would they be held? Some medieval dungeon, some kind of cell, what kind of mischief could they cause the rat and his master plan. Seal up a pipe, clog a keyhole, maybe some plaster would do.

Over great time he thought it through, what they might need, what was essential, and slowly procured it and hid it away so, when what he felt was coming came, he would be prepare. And it would be…

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"-Fantastic," Ash said, holding up the dried up key. Crumbling it away, the plaster slowly falling to the floor, Mr Fox smiled as he brought up the two bits of soap, the imprint of a key pressed into them. -Take it at an opportune time, press the mold so, if returned, they still had a chance, fill it up and let it set. "-You have snacks?"

"I have garlic!"

"...That is not usually considered a snack."

"No, but it has already shown itself useful in my myriad of adventures so has a better record than most things. Plus, I'm a little proud of how I'm able to stop people smelling it!"

"But… -No snacks?"

Mr Fox's smile faltered a little. "I was not able to procure snacks."

"But you were able to get and cover up the smell of garlic, along with polyfiller."

"Maybe if we knew the reason why we'd know how to fix the world, alas we don't," Mr Fox said, sighing as he looked down at the lock holding his wife and nephew in. "This lock will take a lot of effort, time, and potentially more effort to crack into. Indeed, I had already deduced that, from the inside, our one would be exceedingly difficult to break. -And I had the key thing, so it made more sense to wait. Regardless…" He rolled a bundle of tape over to Ash. "Put a few extra on the latch, plus some sticky-pads on the frame. I don't want the door locking itself again, or coming loose and open at an inopportune time.

Ash did that as, handing a small torch to Kris, he began looking over the lock, starting to work. "Okay," he told his son. "Fill up the key mold with some more, then go to the door, listen out for anyone coming.

"Okay," Ash said. "Do you think it's the same type of key?"

"I do not know, but I do know that if any of our captors come in and make a late night visit, they may not notice the door already being unlocked as they open it but we will notice them locking it again."

"Right," Ash said, as Mr Fox carried on, doing his best to… He hissed as one of his picks snapped.

"Freddy…"

"Don't worry Dear, I'll…"

"Freddy…" She said again, paw out to hold his shoulder. He paused, looking up.

"Dearest," he began.

"-We'll need help anyway," she said, taking a breath in. "To get Rowan. To get William. To…" She wiped her face. "Get Ash out of here. Go with him, get help, then come back and get all of us."

"My dearest, that's a completely unsuitable and unworkable proposition."

"Yeah," Ash cut in. "We're not leaving you."

"I know," she said, taking a breath in. "You're rescuing us."

Kris moved up next to her, looking at Ash. "You're getting to rescue me," he said, a grin growing on his face.

"You're acting like my self esteem is still low enough that that's a reason I'd do it," he huffed.

"But you do see the point."

He looked away, grumbling. "-Not that I like it."

"Not that I like it either," Mr Fox said, standing up and brushing himself down. "And indeed," he turned to Felicity. "The moment I know Ash has a chance, I'll come back for you. Plus, with me still in the cell I can somewhat cover for Ash's absence, to an extent."

He leant forward, paws through the bars as he touched those of his wife. Nose resting against nose, then forehead against forehead, eyes closed.

Finally, sighing, letting go, he turned to see Ash holding his nephew in a hug. They turned, moving to the outside door. Unlocked, ears against it, they moved out, giving their loved ones one last, long, lingering look before leaving.

.

"So," Ash whispered, as they snuck their way along the maze of corridors, looking at the various signs, labels, the pipes and wires snaking around and above them. "-Where did you hide all that stuff?"

"Normally, in my tail."

"You don't have a tail anymore."

"In lieu of tail fluff I chose chest fluff. And a thick shirt and jacket combination.

"It worked."

"I know it did."

They went quiet as they approached a corner, Mr Fox darting back and forth before giving the all clear.

"I…" Ash looked around. "There was a presentation on this place, or at least mentioning this place, the day it all went wrong."

"That can describe a lot of days."

"The day they arrested Kris."

"That one stands out above the rest."

"I know, I was there," Ash said, brow furrowing. "Do you think all this would have happened if Beavis had got the right locker, if it was me?"

"I suppose it depends whether or not Rattigan would have made the connection to you and your uncle, for whatever ill disposed deed he requires him for. Regardless, I…"

Mr Fox paused as he came on a heavy steel door, a series of locks in place.

Ash's ears went down. "This doesn't look like the way out."

"Alternatively it very much does, it's just a very difficult way out." Looking around, trying to think, Mr Fox closed his eyes. "What do we know about this place?"

"Underground."

"Yes."

"Very secure."

"Yes."

"Very well built."

"All not very helpful."

"Designed to be air tight."

"That would mean we could not breathe."

"Well, we can, so it's not."

"An excellent point," Mr Fox agreed, pausing as he looked around. Ash followed him, keeping close. Soon coming up to a vent in the ceiling, he held his paw out, eyes closed, feeling a soft ruffle on the inside.

"Somehow, this is connected to the surface. Or at least, close enough to the surface for it to count."

"Or to a big fan. And lots of vertical shafts," Ash pointed out.

"Potentially…" Mr Fox said, nodding. "Still, with no better ideas."

He looked around. The corridor was built for mammals many times their size, but there were plenty of bits and pieces left around here and there. Old stacked chairs, filing cupboards, bits of debris and building materials from its original use or the slow conversion under Rattigan and Co.

Including a very helpful ladder.

They brought it over and climbed up, Mr Fox quickly undoing the nuts on the vent cover and hiding it away. The passageway didn't look well used, but still… Better look like a replacement never taken place than something more obvious.

In they crawled, hunkered down on all fours, slowly making their way onwards, towards the breeze. Step after step, twist after turn, helping themselves up or down vertical shafts, none too tall or deep…

Yet.

Finally, though, the wind picking up, the roar in their ears starting to increase, their small torch picked out the fast rotating blades of a fan up ahead. Tapping his son in front of him, Mr Fox passed over a piece of metal he'd acquired before they went in, Ash walking up, soon fighting against the roar as he pushed it in and…

He jolted back as the fan slammed to a halt, the metal wedged between a strut and a support.

Grabbing another blade and, with a stretch, bending it out to stop any more turns, they carefully stepped around it.

After that, the ductwork became impassable. Air filters, bars, Ash shook his head until Mr Fox tapped to his side.

The young fox looked around, smiling as he saw the inside of a latch. Using a small pair of pliers, squeezing it together, trying to turn the stiff metal around only for their grip to slip off and slip off and slip off…

-Finally, it opened. Finally they stepped out into the shaking rumble of a large plant room. Only a few of the machines seemed to be running. All were old, rusting, by the looks of the slim beam of light those that did run had been Frankenschwhiened back together with bits from different units.

And then Ash closed his eyes as the world went screaming white.

"-I should have warned you…"

Blinking, Ash looked over to see his father by the light switches, the orange glow of incandescent bulbs illuminating the space. Numerous different vent fans in different states of repair, ductwork leading from them, and a large set of central ducts rising up. It was then they noticed that the roof wasn't concrete like the floor and walls, it was bare rock, chiselled out, the stalactites felled.

Up above, the various ducts rose up along with a ladder, a steel grille in place as a ceiling, then again above and above, rising up into who knew what.

They moved towards it before freezing, a soft flutter of wings coming from one corner. Looking over they saw a bat, wing up over his lips and one eye winking. And then he flew out, through a grill in a corner of the room.

The pair raced over to follow them. Looking down, they saw nothing but a cave beyond, twisting and turning before vanishing away, abandoned and empty.

"Was he with them?" Ash asked.

"He seems most different to the one I have encountered before," Mr Fox said. "But we cannot take any chances. We must climb!"

They turned, racing towards a ladder up to the tangle of incoming ducts. Mr Fox paused as he reached it, noticing a wire cable tied to it, rising up. "Most likely to security systems of some kind, higher up. We'll cut them when we're a good way up."

"That might set off an alarm."

"Unlike running into the detectors themselves, which will set off an alarm."

"Point taken," Ash said, watching on as his father went to the ladder, held on tight and began ascending. Up one level, then another, approaching the true start of the shaft that led up and…

"It's too small," Ash said, Mr Fox looking at it. The ladders had been tightly rung together, and it seemed the whole way up had been designed for use by a smaller mammal. Most likely a weasel or ferret of some kind. The ladder onto the next level went through an anti-fall cage with a narrow square aperture, Mr Fox managing to get his head through, only for his shoulders to…

He sighed, getting down and looking around. Were he coming from the top, he could probably swing himself over the guard rails, plant some feet on the metal cage around the ladder coming in, then slip through there. -But doing such with gravity hindering and not assisting was annoyingly beyond his ability. "Indeed, it is too small, just."

"For you…" Ash said, a slow ripple running across his fur.

Mr Fox slipped down, handing him some supplies. "Son…" He said, breathing out. "I'll do my best to get the rest of them here. I promise. Out of their way, out of their harm. And if you come down, if you can rescue us…" He paused, leaning in and holding his son. "Well, even if it doesn't work. Even if there's a block up there, or I never see you again, or…" He held back, seeing the tears glisten in his son's face. "Thanks for being such a fantastic son. See you soon."

"See…" Ash choked out. "-I love you."

Mr Fox, turning to enter back into the ductwork, nodded. "And I love you too." Two whistles and a double tongue click and he was in, Ash turning back to the ladder and squeezing up to the next level. Above him, the shaft seemed to go on endlessly.

Paws on the next rung, he continued his ascent.

Up and up.

Well out of the way as a loud buzzing filled the room once more.

Outside, in the abandoned and empty cave, a large cargo drone landed down next to the rest of the fleet. Two pairs of paws hit the floor. One tiny, one small but by comparison huge.

The stark cliff of concrete rose above them, the new lights on behind the grill near the top going unnoticed. -Even before the two were lit by the shining glow of light that emerged as the steel shutter door at its base was raised up.

The mammals inside walked out, one chief amongst them running and squealing as a small figure jumped into her. "PADDY!"

"Oh my most devious," Rattigan swooned, leaning back and admiring her. "That, was delectable. Genius. Pure evil."

"And effective," she purred. "He's working as we speak."

"Good, good," the rat said, pulling out the small talisman. "We are within grasp! So long waiting! So near."

"-Excellent," came a voice from behind them. They turned, spying Woundwort standing there.

Felicity looked down, frowning. "Is he going to be a problem?"

Rattigan shrugged. "Only a future Rattigan one. And not a big one at that."

Woundwort chuckled, looking over at the pair, then down at the talisman. "Whatever happens. It will be glorious. -Do what you must do. -I meanwhile do believe you have an old friend of mine, who I wish to visit while I still can."

.

.

"You shouldn't be up."

Lt Vixen shrugged, waving Skye off.

"You shouldn't even be at this hospital."

The red fox vixen sighed, bringing out a piece of paper and scribbling something down. 'I applied for a transfer.'

"Did you get it?"

'Better to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission.'

Skye narrowed her eyes at the red fox who didn't seem to pay much mind, instead looking over to Kozlov and the younger bear, who was currently shovelling down his third helping of food.

Jack watched him. "What kind of place has food bad enough to make hospital food good?"

"Jail," Kozlov snarked, the hare conceding the point.

"Besides," Skye said. "The food in the canteen tends to be better than that in the wards." She looked over to her sister. "Though given the state of your throat…" Her features softened. "How is it?"

The red vixen scrawled something down, Skye's ears going back as she read what was on it. "You really should be back under care, what about pain medication…"

Something else was scrawled out. 'You understand Kozlov might be dead if I hadn't have come?'

"But you didn't know that he'd be in that situation, did you?"

She shrugged. 'Karma paying us back for our streak of bad luck.'

"Though will say," Kozlov said, leaning over. "Think I had it covered." He smiled, looking over to their younger ward. If anything, the wannabe mobster and fugitive from the law looked more bashful than anything.

The red vixen scribbled out her next response, Kozlov looking over it and giving out a snort of a laugh. Timofey looked at it and groaned. Jack, unable to resist, leant over and couldn't help but let a small smile grow on his face. 'It's surprising how easy AND useful it is to acquire up a fake tranq gun.'

As if to prove the point the red vixen brought out the weapon she'd wielded. A block of painted wood, a now clearly fake dart on top. She shrugged. 'In lieu of anything else,' she wrote. 'Better than nothing.'

Cutlery clattering down, Timofey huffed. "So, rather than humiliate me further, you want help?"

It was Skye who nodded. "-Yes, please, we… -We've worked with the ZPD before, and we've heard what's gone on, we…"

"Is good," Timofey said. Sighing. And so he began explaining his side of things. -Starting with the basics of his encounter with Kristofferson Silverfox during his brief incarceration, moving on to the time after his release, his mothers arrest at his fathers funeral, the communicator being dropped off in his cell. -Talking, explaining the situation, about how releasing enemies of the Anonymous vulpine would spook the ZPD, give him more of a chance. -How he busted out, how things were different, how he began to clock that there was so much unsaid… -How it dawned on him that they were no distraction for him, if anything he was the distraction for them… How they were all distractions, just goons, pawns, being thrown around by those mammals for whatever purpose they needed.

"And now," Timofey scoffed. "You say it's to 'bring back devil?'

"Were you from the far east?" Kozlov asked, the younger bear looking over.

"What, I… -No, but father was, I…"

"Did he ever tell me about Sovonochi?" the larger bear asked. "The owl of night?"

Timofey gave a scoffing laugh, only to pause, hints of pink coming through him. "Ghost stories, da. Monster who'd come and pick off snitches, and…" He worked his paw over his mouth, the pink hue of his face increasing. "You know that Roarsh album with the snowy owl on the cover?"

"Fly by night?" Jack asked.

Timofey nodded. "I… -Really scared me as a kit, when I saw it once or…" He bowed his head down a little. "I don't like owls."

"I don't think any of us do at this stage," Skye said, Kozlov following on.

"-Da. One creature, form of owl but of cold metals beyond our knowledge. Ancient, waiting. Hidden, but woven through history. Goes by many names. Sovanochi, Keehar, Yezulu, Thunderbird. I knew his as Sizogo Orla, before I learnt true name. Clockwerk."

Timofey choked up a laugh. "I think this stupid before, but… If that is his super secret scary name, then I almost think it more likely that you not making this up. You would have done better than come up with that."

Kozlov nodded, shrugging. "Indeed. Like how through years of effort, of fighting, my comrades and I only made him mad. -Though, without realising, we laid foundation for two heroes to cast him down years later. -But now, Rattigan, foolish and arrogant mammal he is, thinks he can gain command of body, power, and use it to rule."

"This is…" Timofey shook his head, looking around. "You sure we at right kind of hospital?"

"Not too long ago," Jack said, stepping forward, "I'd have agreed. -Now though, seeing what I have seen. -Exploring the ancient temples, the cults that worshipped him, fighting alongside mammals who have battled him for years, I… -It's cool as cuss."

"Still mad," Timofey muttered, looking down as Lt Vixen scribbled out some more notes.

'Have you seen what we've been working on?'

"No…" He began, Skye's eyes widening as she pulled out some pictures, shifting them over to Kozlov.

"-Right, forgot with the fugitive thing, but… -Honey and I have built three electric cannons, to your and Jorin's design with improvements from Carmelita's. -Moreover, we do have ammunition now for that old AA gun that's been rusting in my yard for…"

She was cut off by a choking cough from Timofey. "You have A-A gun?"

She smirked. "It was a steal. -And if Lang Cars gets away with that rocket launcher on their lot, I…" She shook her head. "Girls can be cool too."

She ignored her sister writing out 'cool as in the way dumb boys define it' as she carried on. "Either way, while the electric guns got some test-fire's, and seem to hold up, their still clunky and slow compared to Interpol's design."

"Which he have being supplied, Da?"

Jack raised a finger. "In the news reports I saw a distinct lack of them being used."

"I…" Skye said. "They were supposed to be coming today, it might be that they are held up in customs, or…"

Kozlov snorted. "Typical."

"-Chances are it's not going to be that soon before he can do his thing," Jack reasoned. "He's only just gotten Dr Silverfox to work for him, it'll…"

He was cut off by Lt Vixen scrawling something out. 'From the shared information files and character profile's, Rattigan, despite the egoism, is still an incredibly intelligent mammal. One who will have been studying Clockwerk, his technology, his legacy, for over a decade. It's not without reason that he already has much of what he needs to go forward, and is just waiting for the last few clinchers.'

"And I thought you were the optimist out of the two of us," Skye muttered, paws up and wiping down her face. "Either way, no guarantee that that AA gun will work. I was planning to get some of the cannons over to the ZPD to fit to their helicopter. Carmelita says she's getting her jet pack out and prepping it, getting it ready to fuel, though it will take a while."

"-I really am in wrong hospital," Timofey grumbled, Skye turning to him.

"I… -I know it's overwhelming. It was for me first, but…" She looked down. "Right now, with what you've said, can you describe that lorry. The driver. When and where were you dropped off?"

"I… Da," Timofey said. "Why?"

"Because," Skye said. "From what I've learnt, Rattigan will have to have a very special base of operations where all this is going on. -And we might just have a lead to find where to get in."

.

.

Judy raced back into the small office. Everything was chaos outside, most of the ZPD still triaging its wounds from the attack. But the bunny raced in with a new vigour, not seen in ages. "Just as you said," she started, the mice already at work with Nick and a few others.

"Perfect, perfect, that devious little mammal," Basil said. "And we have had some unexpected news. Seems like one of their plans has finally blown up in their face."

"What?" Judy asked, "how?"

"-It seems," Nick hissed. "That in order to bust out the perfect rogues gallery for scaring Dr Silverfox into working for him by threatening Kris, they hired a polar bear inmate at the youth penitentiary. The son of Melissa Krovstoit. He fed them information, helped bust some of the mammals out, only to realise a lot more was going on than was said. -Either way, he had a change of heart, 'somehow' found Kozlov, and gave us details of his ride. -Which I'm currently tracing right now, -much helped as I know one of a few places he might be going, but still…"

"Uh-hu," Judy said, walking over. "And how much more is there to that?"

"Quite a lot but I'm inclined to give the cub a break. I mean, arresting his mother at his father's funeral, using him as an unknowing bug?" He looked over at the mice. "You must admit that was a low blow."

"And look how it worked out in the end," Basil retorted. Finally, Nick switched to another camera, pumping his fist as he saw the vehicle he'd been tracking slip into a nondescript warehouse.

"Wait, that's…" Judy began, her ear tilting. "Wasn't…"

It was Dave that walked up, smiling. "Unfortunately, you can't see the head of the former access shaft, seeing as the camera is mounted onto it. -Either way, a quick additional tunnel in for smuggling, and they have direct access down to our little menace and the most perfect pre-built villain lair situated below the city."

"All while the two or three groups up above who would be in charge of it and easily find him out were hacked and believe each other is in charge and it's not their problem," Judy continued.

"It's the most stupid over absurd thing I've ever heard," Nick said, nodding. "So of course he'd do it."

Basil walked up, nodding. "Indeed, it seems like always we have failed to appreciate his level of… imagination, shall we say."

"In any case," Carmelita said, barging in. "We now know where he is. We now know where they are. -And even if the ZPD are in shambles, there are enough of us to go in and do a commando attack. Right now."

"-Right…" Judy asked, looking over.

"Sí," she said. "Let them rest on their laurels, drunk on their victory, and before that fades, before they have a chance to reach their ultimate goal." She looked at Nick. "Besides, you want to rescue that family sooner rather than later, ¿sí?"

The fox nodded, only to pause as Judy shook him from the side. "Nick! NICK!"

"Wha… What is it?"

He turned over to a different screen, one covering some of the other suspected entrances and exits, even if they knew that Rattigan would never use one so heavily watched. Indeed, he didn't.

"What is it?" Carmelita asked.

"Yeah," Nick said, a massive grin growing on his muzzle. "About saving that family, it looks like they've saved themselves."

They all looked on to see a small figure crawling out of the concrete rimmed vent shaft, slowly trying to find a way down.

"I'll call any units in the area to meet him," Carmelita said. "As for the rest of us, pack up. ¡VAMANOS!"