18 Hunting A Savage Hare Pt. II

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Okay everybody, buckle up. this is going to be another longer chapter. I was going to do this in two shorter chapters, but hated to break it up, so get your popcorn ready and enjoy!

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After returning to the motel room, Nick takes mental stock of his plans for his return to the big city and beyond.

First, he'll need to stop at home. Not a particularily pleasant thought, but definitely necessary.

Next he needs to check the mail and take care of his parent's estate, and he has a few thoughts on how that might play out. Then he needs to gather up all of his ZPD equipment and return to the precinct to turn in that and whatever he has in his locker.

Then the formal resignation.

Then the goodbyes.

Opening the tracking app on his phone, Nick checks the whereabouts of a certain disgraced hare.

Noting that it seems to be in yet another college town, Nick jots down the location and looks it up on Zoogle. Seeing that it's really only about 250 miles west of his current location, he makes tentative plans to update the mammals that he spoke to earlier.

With all of that out of the way, Nick texts Judy to inform her about how his evaluation went, his meeting with Gideon and Sharla, and his meeting with sheriff Justice.

He then called and left a voicemail telling his doe how much he loved her and that he'd call and text tomorrow after his meeting with Bogo.

After that, a still tired todd lays down and goes to sleep, dreaming of his new bride and whishing he was with her now.

Up before the sun the next morning, Nick dresses in his signature green Pawaiian shirt, red and green tie and tan slacks and puts the GTO through its paces, opening up the powerful machine for a short distance. When the speedometer hits 140, Nick slowly backs it down to the posted limit of 70, still marveling at the total piece of junk that he had purchased for a song, and the good times that he and his father had together restoring it.

'It's all about second chances!" he mused.

Finally rolling up to the gate across the driveway, Nick thumbs the remote and drives forward to stop in front of his garage. Dreading what was coming next, but keenly aware of the necessity, he uses that particular remote to open the garage and drive in.

After turning off the car, he closes the garage door and enters the now empty dwelling.

Looking around, Nick is amazed to find that it really doesn't feel like home any more. Not like it used to at least.

Going through every room of the house, Nick carries item after item to the car and places them in the trunk.

Nick then rummages around in the garage for items that he knows will need to be returned to the ZPD and loads them into the trunk and back seat.

With that task done, Nick reluctantly moves to his parent's home.

Slowly entering through the back door, Nick looks around, taking in the emptiness that he feels in his heart. 'Gone.' he thinks solemnly 'Gone but never forgotten.'

Moving slowly and quietly through the only home he had ever truly known that now holds only memories and quietly wonders what he should do with the place. It would be too far to drive to very often. He didn't want to try to move back. Besides, Judy and the kits deserved better.

He knew he'd never want to rent it, which left only one option, and he knew just the right mammals to sell it to. He'd talk to them about it when he got to the precinct.

Grabbing the mail, mostly junk mail which was immediately put in the trash, the rest he placed in a small plastic grocery bag. Moving to the living room. Nick tenderly took a few pictures (mainly his parents and a few of him and them) down from the walls and off of a coffee table and placed them carefully in a small box.

Returning to his car, Nick places the mail and the box of pictures on the floor of the car, started the GTO up and opened the garage door and the gate and left after closing both.

Pulling up to a parking spot that was still reserved for him, Nick greeted the day shift officers that had become close friends over the years.

Entering the main lobby, Nick was surprised that Ben was reserved enough to NOT emit the ear-splitting greeting that he was expecting. Obviously Lola's threats were starting to have an effect on the chubby cheetah.

"Nick!" he exclaimed "it's so good to see you again. Are you okay? I heard you have a girlfriend!"

"I'm fine Ben," the todd tells him "and no, I don't have a girlfriend (which gave the feline pause), I got married instead."

"You what!" comes out a lot louder than anticipated from the totally stunned cat.

"Benjamin!" comes from the balcony, in Bogo's deep commanding voice.

"Sorry sir, sorry …" Ben apologizes.

"Wilde – my office – now!" again comes the booming voice, alerting everyone in the building that Nick was back, and possibly in trouble … again.

After taking the elevator to the third floor, Nick taps on the chief's office door and enters after hearing a gruff "Enter!"

Closing the door behind him Nick takes a seat in the usual spot.

Coming around his desk, Bogo sits on the edge of his desk and stares at the todd thoughtfully for several moments.

"So, you finally got married huh?" he asks gently (for him anyway).

"Yup. It was a bit sooner than unexpected, but I'm not complaining."

"I take it you're here to paw in your formal resignation and turn in your gear?"

"That's the plan. I've already talked to Mammal Services, my insurance on myself and Judy is already transferred to the Tri Burrows sheriff's department, and will automatically cover the kits when they're born once I get Savage to sign the forfeiture of parental rights form."

"And you plan to manage that … how?" as the bull quirks an eye.

"It'll all be legal … more or less." replies the todd with a shrug. "I have a few former associates that are on board to help me … convince Savage to sign. I've already had to promise both Lola and Judy that I won't kill the little shit unless it was down to my life or his, and I also had to promise them that I wouldn't goad him into that situation."

"Really?"

"Yeah, really. It's truly amazing how pitiful the IT security is at the ZIA …. or so I'm told." Nick admits with a smug grin fully in place.

"Hmmmm. I was going to ask for a few details, but never mind. It's probably best that I don't know. Moving on, make sure you stop by the squad bay and give your regards to the team before you leave."

"I was planning on doing just that after I turn in my gear."

Standing on the chair so he was almost the same height as his boss, Nick puts out his paw "It's been a pleasure and an honor working for you Adrian."

"The honor is mine Nick. If you ever need anything, don't be afraid to call, there are a lot of mammals here who'll be glad to assist you or lend a helping paw."

Hoping down from the chair, Nick makes his way out of Bogo's office and out to his car, where there are plenty of helping paws to aid him in transferring his gear to the quartermaster's area for turn in.

After answering a ton of questions put forth by concerned officers, Nick assures them that he's indeed leaving, but on very good terms both with the department in general and other officers specifically.

Finally making his way to the detectives squad bay, the todd is greeted with a thunderous ovation.

With almost all of the detectives offering congratulations and best wishes, Nick singles out Lola for a short private conversation.

"So, ya finally did it, huh Nick?" she asks.

"Yeah. It was kinda sprung on me by Judy's mom and sisters, and Judy was sorta pissed when she first found out, but it's all good."

"Glad to hear. And you're really gonna move to the sticks?"

"Yup. When I get done dealing with a certain buck, I'm going to nose around a place called Aurora and try to find a suitable place for us to raise the kits."

"About Savage …"

"I've got a plan. And a back-up plan. You'd be amazed just how much that little shit actually doesn't know about himself. Once Judy and I get settled, you and Bugs should bring the kits out to our place and I'll clue you in while your kits go crazy over the little ones after they're born."

"I'll hold you to that. My only other concern is ... what about your place here in the city? And your parents place?"

I've got a plan for that too. I'll need to talk to a few mammals first, but I think I may just sell it to a really nice couple."

"You've gotta be talking about Wolfeyer. Admit it."

Guilty as charged. I still have to talk to them about it, but I don't see a problem with it and I'm sure they won't. I already know they love the place and they have the means to be able to afford it, especially with Wolfie's parents being pack leaders."

"Well, give Judy my best, and get yer butt otta here, I know you've still got things to do and mammals to see."

After Nick leaves the bay, Lola's new junior partner make a comment that immediately lands him in hot water!

"I heard that Wilde married a rabbit. Pity, I thought that he had more brains than to marry a mammal that's probably a pro at bed hopping!"

Infuriated, the large hare doe proceeds to put the silver fox in his place "Listen here you speciest prick, Nick Wilde is a better cop and judge of character than you'll ever be. He grew up in Happytown and was abused by prey mammals when he was just a kit. He went into the service and was almost killed multiple times. He never grew up with a silver spoon in his mouth like your sorry ass did. If you wanna continue to be a part of this unit, you'd better change that attitude of yours really quickly or you'll not only be out of the detective division, but you'll likely be out of a job. Now, get out of my sight before I do something that I promise you that I WON'T regret!"

As the todd slinks out of the bay, he is keenly aware that every eye in the place was on him.

Making his way from the detectives squad bay, Nick has one more stop to make.

Stopping by a certain cubicle, he manages to surprise a pair of mammals that looked like thew were about to engage in a bit of PDA.

"Excuse me, are you two busy right now?" he asks in a voice a bit louder than needed, startling a certain couple!

"Damn it Wilde …!" comments Wolford.

"Did you have to do that Nick?" asks Fangmeyer/

"Did I have to? No, no I did not. Was it funny? Yes, yes it was." comes the amused answer.

"Not that it's a big deal, but what do you want?" asks a now thoroughly annoyed Wolford.

"I have a unique proposition for you two." says Nick.

"And that would be … what … exactly?" asks Liz.

"I want to sell you my place, or more precisely, my folk's place. I'm planning on moving to a small town called Aurora since I'm transferring to the Tri-Burrow sheriff's office there, and I thought that you two would like to buy my old place. I won't be needing it, I know you love the place and mom and dad wouldn't mind me selling it to you …"

"Nick, would you mind holding it down a bit, mammals-" asks a slightly nervous Wolford.

"Mike ... Dude … everyone here knows about you two, it's the worst kept secret in the precinct. Ben even has a pool going as to when you two 'll finally go public."

"Wait, what? You're kidding, right?" asks a now frantic Fangmeyer.

"Nope, everyone's in on it, even Bogo."

"Well shit …" declares Wolford.

"So," interrupts Fangmeyer while looking at Wolford "I guess the real question here is … do we want the place."

"If you're interested, I'll talk to my lawyers and get the process at least started. I need to see them to settle mom and dad's affairs today anyway."

Shrugging, Wolford makes the decision that he knows that both of them really want anyway "Yeah, I don't see why not. What the hell!" and immediately gets a giant hug from his mate.

"Judy gets the weekend off from the academy in a couple of weeks, she'll wanna see the folk's place, I'll need to go through it and decide what to take and what to leave. That'll give you two time to start getting finances together. Hopefully by the time Judy graduates we'll have found a place to live in Aurora, you can have it financed and close on the place, and we can all get started moving stuff. Sound good?"

"Sounds puurrfect!" states an obviously overjoyed feline.

"Then it's settled. You two need to head to Mammal Resources and get the process started to get married while I head to the lawyers. Then a quick trip home to gather a few items and a quick trip to visit with mom, dad and Nicki before I head out to finish up on my last case."

"Take care and be safe Nick." cautions Mike.

"I'll certainly do my best." answers the todd as he leaves the two in their cubicle.

After leaving the precinct, Nick spends a couple of hours at his attorney's office settling his parents estate and starta the process of possibly selling his folk's home, then heads home to gather some specific tactical supplies for his hunting excursion.

Leaving the lawyers office, Nick makes a trip to Pinehurst Cemetery, on the way stopping by Otterton's Flowers to make a quick purchase.

Making his way up a slight rise, Nick stops and kneels before 3 small markers.

Placing a single yellow rose on each of two of the larger markers, Nick empties his heart …

"Hey mom … dad …I-I guess you probably know why I'm here, but I gotta … I need to talk to someone before my heart breaks. I know I was really stupid by starting my walkabout … but … it … it really worked out for the best. I met this wonderful mammal, a rabbit doe. Things didn't start off too well, since she kinda almost accidently killed me, but it got better. She had just found out that she was pregnant, a victim of a date rape. The mammal she thought to be her father for all of her live disowned her and banished her from her warren. No home, no job, no money, no car, no nothin'. Adrian and I offered to pay her way through the academy, and for some reason, we just … clicked.

"You already know my past issues, but when I heard some of the things that she'd gone through, I guess I found a kindred spirit. Anyway, right now she's at the academy taking a shortened course for small jurisdictions and should graduate in about twelve weeks. After which hopefully we'll have found a suitable place in a small town called Aurora to settle down and raise her kits … I guess I should say our kits, because I plan to adopt them as my own. Which brings me to the subject at paw … the buck that got her pregnant is a disgraced ZIA agent and had been more or less on mine and Lola's radar for several years, leaving a trail of date-raped and pregnant hare and rabbit does in his wake. I'm going to find him, well, actually Lola did most of the legwork for me already. I plan on putting him in a position where he has no choice other than relinquish custody of at the very least Judy's kits, and, if I can work it out, all of the kits that he has sired.

"When it's all said and done, he'll be breathing, even though he'll be so much the worse for wear. I've enlisted the help of a few of my old teammates to make sure I don't step over the line and do more damage than I need to."

Moving over to the last slightly smaller marker, Nick places a single yellow rose that's accompanied by several sprigs of baby's breath on the marker.

*SIGH* "Hey Nikki. I – I really wish I could've known you. I know I've told you that a thousand times over the years, but now it really hits home. I think that you and Judy would've enjoyed teasing each other about me, and trying to get under each other's fur just for the fun of doing it. I think you two would have really hit it off, ya know?"

Standing, Nick relays a parting message to his departed loved ones "I'm gonna make sure to stop back with Judy … heck, she'll probably insist on it anyways. I love you all and we'll be back soon …"

As he returns to the GTO, Nick's mindset goes into overdrive as he makes a conference call after checking a certain app on his phone.

After arriving at the college town of Rapids City, Nick manages to book a suite at the local HoJo's in anticipation of his 'associates' arrival.

As the small group assembles in the shared room, Nick takes stock of the very odd collection of three very 'hard' individuals.

First, there's the most diminutive member and primary air asset, a female vampire bat, code named Radar.

The shoulder of the mammal that she's currently perched on is commonly known as a civet, code named Sparks, who is the IT and commo genius of the group.

The final member of the group is a sniper, a dark tan Dingo code named Reaper.

"So Stalker, you got a plan or not?" asks the dingo, whose eyes feral looking yellow eyes would pierce the soul of an intended victim, shortly before one of his rounds would.

"Of course I have a plan … or two …" replies Nick. "Now, listen up, here's what I wanna do …"

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As a thoroughly frustrated dark brown hare makes his way across the parking lot of the run-down motel, he passes by a dark room, noting that there's a single strand of fur still balanced on the door latch, and the small strip of so-called invisible tape along the edge at the top of the door was still intact, he makes way to the vending machine area where he purchases a large bottle of water.

Making his way back to the room he'd just passed, the buck mumbles "Damned shitty luck. Nothing has gone right since Vermillion. That crazy assed doe did something to me that I can't figure out. I can still get the does, and get 'em in bed, but can't finish the job. SHIT!"

Once again making sure that his make-shift security measures hadn't been compromised, Jack Savage eased into his dingy room, failing to notice the strange 'click' as the door closed.

As he reached to turn on the light, he immediately noticed that it didn't work.

Just as he tried to open the door just a bit to let in a little light, he noticed that the door wouldn't open.

"Having issues seeing Jack?" asks a voice somewhere in the room.

"Who's there?" asks the buck, reaching for the hare sized Walther PPK in his shoulder holster.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you!" comes the voice as a desk light suddenly comes on, the dim light revealing a red fox in black tactical garb relaxing in one of the room's chairs.

The item that most caught Jack's attention was the very large looking Sig P229 Pro that was pointed directly at him, the bright red dot of a laser sight centered on his chest.

"You can finish drawing the pea-shooter," remarks Nick casually "just do it very slowly, drop the mag and empty the chamber. Then toss it under the bed."

As Jack follows the instructions, Nick keeps talking "Now do the same thing with the derringer in the holster at your left ankle, you can keep the folding karambits, you might need them later."

That done, Jack asks "Now what, are you just going to shoot me?"

Laughing, Nick stands and steps to the tightly closed curtains, opening them slightly.

"First, if I'd wanted you dead, you'd already be dead. Second, sit the fuck down in that chair and you might want to take note of the other little red dot on your pretty white shirt while you're at it."

Looking down at his shirt, Jack pales a bit by watching a second red dot dance around.

Just as the buck sits, he hears a soft 'pfut' and feels something hard and wet hit his neck, just before he loses all voluntary muscle function and falls forward out of said chair to face plant on the dingy carpet. Again.

"Shit" he thinks, "not again!"

"Yeah, is the same thing that my associate hit you with before." admits a grinning Nick "but this batch will only last about five minutes."

After picking the buck up and placing him back in the chair, this time securing him to the chair with a special purpose zip tie around the buck's torso, Nick sits back down and activates his throat mic.

"All call signs, all call signs, sitrep, this is Stalker actual. Subject is secure and compliant, report to my AO asap. How copy."

Even though Jack couldn't make out the incoming conversation, heard three distinctly different voices reply.

A few minutes later, there's series of three taps on the room's door, and Nick presses a remote, which unlocks it.

As three more mammals enter, Jack immediately that all are clothed more or less the same as the fox – black combat fatigues, body armor and appropriate sized weapons, except for the … bat?

"In case you were wondering" begins Nick "I'm Nick Wilde, otherwise known as the Night Stalker. My friends here are Radar, our eyes in the sky," (as Radar is a vampire bat who lifts a wing in acknowledgement) "Sparks, our IT guru," (a civet who winks at the unlucky hare) "and Reaper," (a dingo who has what appears to have an AR10 style sniper rifle carried across his chest as well as a pistol of some sort on his hip) "I think you can guess his specialty." (the dingo's yellow gold eyes send an involuntary shiver up and down the buck's spine).

"What-" as Jack tries to make sense of his now perilous situation.

"What we're doing here," Nick interrupts "is basically to get you to more or less voluntarily sign a couple of documents." Nick supplies.

"And those would be … what … exactly?" Jack asks, even though he has a very good idea as to their purpose.

Placing a set of papers on a small end table just within the buck's reach, Nick continues. "Therse are what amounts to your surrendering any and all parental rights to any and all kits that you may have produce during your little date rape escapades over the last several years."

"You will NOT deprive me of my legacy!" yells the angry buck. "I am the greatest special agent that the ZIA ever produced!"

"Yeah, let's talk about that for a minute, shall we?" Nick counters softly as he lays a paw on a thick manila folder, that Jack instantly recognizes as official ZIA material.

Opening the folder, Nick begins reading out loud to reinforce what his team already either knows or suspects. "Special Agent Jack Savage, birth name Xio Zuian, is actually a native of North Vietnam along the Cambodian border. He is what is known is an Annamite striped rabbit (Nesolagus timminsi).

"At the age of approximately four, Zuian, his parents and an older sister emigrated to Zoo York City. While the parent's small food business did well, Zuian and his sister were constantly harassed because of their striped fur. After Zuian was brutally beaten and the older sister raped, the family moved to Zootopia where things were much better.

"When in high school, Zuian led a basically normal life, and excelled in declamation, or declam for short, and debate. He also seem to be quite a hit with the ladies.

"After graduation, Zuian tried his paw at politics, and although he seemed to garner a lot of followers, he failed spectacularly at the polls.

"When the MII became law, Zuian was recruited by the Zia in the hopes that his charisma would garner him attention as a more or less secret agent of some sort.

"When his test scores and physical prowess were put to the test, Zuian was deemed borderline at best, and actually scored well below par in several subjects.

"Not wanting to admit defeat, the ZIA convinced Zuian to take the code name Jack Savage in order to avoid the otherwise inevitable stigma of hiring what would have turned out to be a gigantic failure of the MII system and being made a laughing stock of all of the other alphabet agencies.

"When given his first assignment, something simple really, Jack failed miserably. A simple snatch and grab of an unknown hare's daughter, that had been kitnapped by a rival warren. At first the mission was a success, but Jack let his dick get the better of him and he raped the poor 14-year-old doe. The father was, of course, furious. The agency ended up forking out millions in the cover-up.

"After that, unknown to him, Jack was always shadowed by at least one or two other agents, to make sure that his hits went as planned or other support as the need arose."

"BULLSHIT!" yells the now incensed buck "LIES, ALL OF IT!"

Picking up the entire folder, Nick walks the folder over and lays it on the small table withing easy reach of the hare. "Here it is, all of it in black and white. All of it in the official files which the agency gladly provided. That's how badly they want you out of their fur."

As Jack begins to look over the files, Nick sits back down and continues "Just so you know, all of your bank accounts have been locked and are being emptied. The money will go to the does that you raped and the kits that you have so egregiously produced. All of your property, both real estate and fursonal, everything will be sold at auction and the monies raised will join the rest of the funds in a special account for use by the rape victims and their kits."

As Jack listens to Nick and reviews the unvarnished and unredacted reports, tears begin to form in his ice blue eyes.

"So … I have nothing?" he asks.

"If you sign the papers giving up all claims of parentage for any of the hundreds of kits, the government will supply you with a passport and a one-way ticket back to your home village. You will also be given a stipend of one thousand dollars a month, quite a lot for someone in that part of the world, so you'll be well off enough.

"Be warned Jack," continues Nick "thanks to Sparks here," (who waves and again winks at the buck) along with cooperation from the ZIA, ZBI, and most of the rest of the alphabet agencies, you've been entered into the facial recognition database. It you attempt to leave the Viet Nam, Cambodia, or Laos region, you will be considered a threat to international security and will be terminated without warning, do you understand?"

A now broken and weeping hare can only stare at his captors, one by one.

"There … there are no other options?" he asks between sobs.

"There's one, which I would fursonally not recommend." admits Nick, even though the gleam in his eyes indicate that the statement is untrue.

"And that is … what?"

"One on one fursonal combat. You and me, to the death. You sign the papers, we battle to the death. If you win, you get to tear up the papers and go your way. There's roughly a million dollars in cash in the trunk of your car, and the team has promised to not interfere in any way. If I win … well, I guess even you can figure that one out on your own."

After pondering the situation for a few moments, Jack makes his decision –

"First a question," the buck begins.

"Okay, what?" answers Nick.

"Well two, kinda related to the situation. Where will this take place and aren't you worried about outside interference?"

With a sly smile Nick's answer actually startles the buck somewhat.

"We'll do the deed right outside in the parking lot, it's pretty much empty in case you hadn't noticed. The reason it's empty is because we bought up all of the rooms. The management as well as the cops have been notified that we're planning on doing a rehearsal for an action movie that'll be released at some point in the distant future so there should be no interruptions. Sparks and Reaper will provide security for any curious civilians while Radar keeps an eye on things from above."

"Weapons?"

"You'll have your two custom karambits and I'll use just a single claw on each paw. I won't bite unless you bite first."

After furiously signing both documents, which just happened to be already notarized, Jack paws them to Nick and tells him "Cut me loose and let's get this over with …"

"You're sure you wanna do this?" asks Nick.

"At this point, what do I really have to lose?" comes the steadfast answer.

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AN: for those wondering, Xio would be Jack's surname, while Zuian is his given name.

In this context, a 'hard' individual is one who is typically introverted - an individual who enjoys the company of friends with whom he or she has grown acquainted. As Introverts they have a lot of thoughts going through their heads and tend to analyze whatever they see at the time. Being hard is simply denying and refusing to acknowledge current emotions. These mammals are 'hard' because of their years in mortal combat against ruthless enemies

Vampire bats are in a diverse family of bats that consume many food sources, including nectar, pollen, insects, fruit and meat. The three species of vampire bats are the only mammals that have evolved to feed exclusively on blood as micropredators, a strategy within parasitism. Hematophagy is uncommon due to the number of challenges to overcome for success: a large volume of liquid potentially overwhelming the kidneys and bladder, the risk of iron poisoning, and coping with excess protein.

The American civet (Viverricata americanum) is a species of small, lean, mostly nocturnal mammal that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the rainforests, swamps, marshlands, forests, and open woodlands across North America to help boost biodiversity.

The dingo is a medium-sized canine that possesses a lean, hardy body adapted for speed, agility, and stamina. The dingo's three main coat colourations are light ginger or tan, black and tan, or creamy white. The skull is wedge-shaped and appears large in proportion to the body. The dingo is closely related to the New Guinea singing dog: their lineage split early from the lineage that led to today's domestic dogs, and can be traced back through Maritime Southeast Asia to Asia. The oldest remains of dingoes in Australia are around 3,500 years old.