Shorts, Ideas Going Nowhere, and General Brain Droppings

by Blkdragon7

This is where I will put shorts, when I have them, ideas that don't seem to be going anywhere, and other brain droppings. Some may take up a chapter or two, others be only a few paragraphs. This is basically just a place to dump that stuff, and give you a little extra something now and then. I do not expect updates to happen often. Rated M, just in case.

4. A Little Something Darker - Part 1

A/N-

Hello my good readers. Welcome to part 1 of A LIttle Something Darker. Note, neither this or part 2 are short, so strap in, it's a long one. This is AU to both of my other main stories in that Nick is, or was, a member of the Hellketta clan. By the end of this story, he will be putting that to some not insignificant use. I hope you enjoy.

As always, I do not own Zootopia. If I did, I'd be doing more with it than Disney is. Then again, I think just about any of us would be. :)

XXX

The Pit, Natural History Museum, Zootopia.

An injured rabbit is attended by a red fox todd, as they both look up as a small ewe with a poof of wool on her head and wearing a smart power skirt-suit looks down on them. Two burly ram officers standing next to her.

The ewe laughs maniacally. "Oh, I'm not going to kill you. He is!" And with that, she whips an air powered pellet gun into view and fires at the fox, hitting him in the neck.

The fox begins to growl and writhe in apparent pain, his movements becoming jerky for a moment as if struggling with himself before smoothing out, he turns on the rabbit and she realizes that their plan had failed.

The ewe laughs again. "Mmmm. These blueberries are quite good. I assume they are from your family's farm, dear Judy? I'll have to import some. Unfortunately for you, I've always kept a spare pellet on hand. I had originally planned on using it by dissolving it in Lionfarts coffee. You took care of that little problem for me though, if not exactly how I wanted it to go down. He is out of the way, either way." Watching the injured rabbit scramble away from the fox. "Now, your friend gets to take care of you, and I get to blame your vicious death on him. Then when we cure him, and I can watch him suffer knowing he's the one that murdered you."

With that she pulled out her phone and called the ZPD, talking about how a savage fox was murdering the rabbit. In the pit, Judy had backed up against the wall of the pit she and the fox were trapped in. Knowing there was no way to save herself, she started crying. "I'm sorry Nick. I wish I could tell you how much I actually love you."

A disgusted scoff from above was her only answer, and the growling of the savage fox as he stalked up on her. Though as he went to lunge, he froze, sniffing the air.

xxx

Just shy of 24 hours earlier, under a stone bridge.

A red fox, hugging a small gray rabbit to his chest, smiled, then flinched. "Ow ow ow. Tail, Off the tail!" Finding himself slightly confused as to how she was able to step on his tail, as that would have required him to wrap it around her, and that would just be crazy. Though his confusion deepened, given that was exactly what was happening.

The gray rabbit looked down, embarrassed and wiped her eyes. "Sorry Nick. I have a feeling I'm going to be saying that a lot." She was glad her ears were down, so he didn't see the blush that currently warmed them. Feeling his tail wrap around her, and knowing how meaningful the fact that his tail was wrapped around her sent a thrill through her that only deepened the blush.

Nick smiled down at her, finding himself unable to remove his tail. "So, Uhm… You were saying … Something about flowers?"

Judy nodded. "Yes. Night Howlers are flowers. Toxic flowers. They will make any mammal go savage, apparently it happened to my uncle. I always knew them by their botanical or scientific name, Midnicampum Holicithias, but apparently they are commonly known as Night Howlers, because eating one makes you savage for a short time.

What must be happening is someone has created some sort of drug from them and is dosing predators. When I busted a weasel named Duke, he was stealing bulbs that were for Midnicampum Holicithias, Night Howlers."

Nick nodded. "Okay, so you need to find Duke. I can point you in the right direction, but if they are making a drug like that. We can't go together. It's too risky. What if they were to dose me?"

Judy looked up at him, down at his tail, then back up. "Nick. I'm pretty sure you couldn't hurt me even if you wanted to." Giving his tail a stroke and smiling at the shiver that sent through him. "That said, if you want to be safe. You could always mark me, and I would mark you."

Nick's voice caught in his throat for a second. "Judy. I… I'm a fox. That means a lot more than I think it does for rabbits."

The blush fully coloring her cheeks as she looked up at him bashfully and stroked her paws over his chest. "Nick. I have been beyond miserable for the past three weeks. Miserable in ways that my excuse of breaking the city doesn't explain. I know I got set up at this point. I've gone over it in my head. They didn't give me any sit down with the PR mammals, for that matter, I was a four day rookie and hadn't even been given a training officer yet, just put on Parking Duty and then, as you know, given 48 hours to solve a case.

If it wasn't for you, I would have been back in Bunnyburrow in disgrace before mammal resources was even able to complete my paperwork. I couldn't do that without you, and I can't do this without you. Even now, we're going to be doing this as vigilanties, because I turned in my badge, and well, you were always a civilian." Giving him a fox worthy smirk.

"Yes, but marking? I have a feeling I understand the logic, but that's hard for me."

Judy's smirk became downright devious. "Nick. I've done some reading. I know how meaningful your tail being wrapped around me is, and I have to say, it's even softer than my fantasies. Now, I know the meaning of marking for you. To a rabbit, it's essentially an engagement. I'm not proposing we go full out, just between the ears. That way, if either of us get dosed, there is a chance that our savage minds will recognize the other as their mate, and not attack."

Nick nodded and swallowed weakly. "Okay. I get that." Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly as he tried to formulate the words he wanted to say, her amethyst pools holding his mind hostage. "But Judy. If we do this. … If we do this. After… When it is all said and done. I want to actually date you. LIke you said, I've been far more miserable than explained by what happened, and my tail appears beyond my control. That tells me a lot about my feelings for you."

Judy's smile turned slightly embarrassed. "I'd… I'd like that, Nick."

xxx

Back in the pit, the fox starts sniffing the rabbit's head, then begins to mark her fully and completely. The rabbit returned the favor with equal vigor. "Oh Nick. Looks like dating is a foregone conclusion." An enraged and disgusted bleat comes from above, the fox looking up and growling, standing protectively over the rabbit.

The ewe grabs the weapon from one of the rams and, pointing it into the pit, pulls the trigger just as the ZPD enters the building. The round catches the fox in the shoulder causing him to yelp, then strikes the rabbit in the chest, who screams in agony.

xxx

Nick woke with a groan and rolled onto his side. Squinting to see his surroundings, his eyes popped open. He quickly rose to his feet and looking around, his heart dropped. He was in a cell, and it looked like one of the cells at Cliffside. He could hear other mammals, all predators, growling and making other savage noises.

It was these noises that brought a memory back to him. Being in a pit in the museum. Being shot by Bellwether. Judy… His eyes teared up. It wasn't a blueberry that hit him. "Oh gods. Did I?"

Bellwether's voice came from outside his cell. "Strangely, no, you didn't. For some reason, you foxes have some instinctive thing when it comes to your mate that gets past the drugs. So I tried shooting you. Figured if you weren't going to eat her, I could say I was trying to save or protect her. Sadly, I missed, but really, it worked out in the end. Only got you in the shoulder, but got her but good."

Nick fell to his knees. "No…"

Dawn nodded. "Oh yes. Oh yes. It went through your shoulder and hit her right in the chest. Broke my arm, but that worked out so well in my favor, really. With her dead, she bled out in a matter of moments, and you savage, no one was left to oppose me. They told me that while you may have marked her as your mate, you hadn't actually mated, or you probably would have died already. Too bad for you, but works out for me. You get to live with the knowledge that you failed, and that failure killed her. Fitting for a disgusting inter like you, and good riddance to her as well."

Nick wept as Dawn laughed, speaking to himself. "I'm sorry, Judy."

"Don't worry, pelt. You'll be getting out of here soon. We've got you fitted with a special collar. A fake one, if you will. Unlike the collar every other predator in the city and beyond now has to wear, yours won't shock you. Lucky you, right? I want to make sure you get to feel everything."

Nick looked up at Dawn, tears streaming down his face. "You won't get away with this."

Dawn laughed as she walked away. "And what are you going to do? As far as the world is concerned you're still savage. Oh, and by the way. It's been three years, pelt. We waited 3 years to cure you, enjoy what remains of your life."

Nick simply curled up and cried where he fell until he finally fell asleep, his dreams disjointed and of Judy crying, of pain, and of the huge hole that was most of the right side of her chest. He did not sleep well.

xxx

Some time later, Nick was not sure how long, his cell door opened and a ram, one of the ones from the museum, entered. He considered attacking, he was angry enough now, but he knew better. They led Nick out and after putting a bag over his head, dragged him away. A short ride later, he was tossed out into an ally. Removing the hood, he looked around. He was in Happy Town, and there were a lot of predators, all with collars with cheery green lights on them. He'd seen such things before, in history books. Shock collars. Reaching up to his neck, he found one around his own neck as well. Picking himself up, he started wandering, and did so aimlessly for a time until he found himself on the edge of Happy Town and a checkpoint, mammaled by prey officers.

They scanned his collar and waved him through without a second thought. Making his way to his warehouse he found it still standing, a small tent city of predators living in what used to be the parking lot. Nick ignored them all and walked up to the building. Several of them tried to stop him approaching the building.

"Hey, buddy." Seeing Nick ignoring them. "Hey, fox! You can't go near the building. Finnick won't like it."

Nick glanced back, his dead, bloodshot eyes looking back caused them all to recoil. "If Fin has an issue, I'll bite his face off."

Stepping up to the small to medium mammal door, Nick entered his code. When it failed, he frowned and entered the emergency override code. The door unlocked and popped open, entering, he closed it behind himself. Looking things over, he could see the dust build up in the main part of the warehouse. He could also see the van, and a trail from the van into the apartment area and back. Nick nodded to himself. Fin was still respecting things. Said fox burst out of the apartment area, which was the offices at one time, bat in hand, light on his collar yellow.

"Who dares? I'll be feeding your carcass to the preds outside…" Freezing upon seeing Nick. "Impossible!"

Nick just shook his head and walked past. "Not impossible, worse than that. We'll talk later. I need a shower and alcohol. Lots of alcohol."

Fin watched Nick go past, shock written all over his muzzle as the bat fell from his paws. Whispering to himself. "But he's supposed to be savage."

Nick stopped, looking over his shoulder, kinda surprised that he heard Fin. "It's a drug, and Bellwether is the one that created and uses it. She even has a cure, obviously. We'll talk more tomorrow. Tonight…" Tears started to run down his face again. "Tonight I'm going to mourn."

Fin just nodded and closed the door to the apartment, heading towards his van. Nick stripped down, then saw the blood stain on his shirt. A clear hole in the shoulder and his blood there, but the rest smelled different. Taking it to his nose, he realized what it was. It was the same shirt he was wearing when it happened. Setting it aside gently, he finished undressing and climbed into a shower set as hot as he could possibly stand it. He then spent the next hour scrubbing until his fur was sore, crying the entire time. Once out of the shower and dry, he didn't bother getting dressed, instead finding the scotch and sitting on the couch. Downing a third of the bottle, he turned on the tv and watched the news, which only depressed him more. Done with that and a bit more than half the bottle downed, he looked up as he turned off the tv, the door opening.

Fin led three mammals into the building, a badger he recognized from when he and Judy located the missing mammals, an arctic vixen, and a slightly overweight cheetah. Nick stood with a growl, the bottle still in paw, and took another pull from it. "What do you want?" Pointing his free paw at the badger. "You! You couldn't figure out it was some sort of drug? How was that hard? Judy figured it out as soon as someone told her that the common name of Midnicampum Holicithias is Night Howler. You could have ended all of this, but instead, we're stuck in this hell-scape created by Bellwether!"

Nick dropped to his knees, crying again. "I failed her. Got dosed, but I wasn't the one that killed her. Bellwether shot her. Was trying to shoot her, or maybe she wasn't. Doesn't matter. She's dead." Draining the rest of the bottle in one go. Nick stumbled to his feet. "All of you. Get out. Skye, unless you plan on fucking me, fuck off. I'm going to try and kill myself with alcohol tonight, and if I fail, then I'll try again tomorrow."

The cheetah shook his head. "Sorry, Nick. Judy sent a few messages before things went to hell. One of those is to protect you from yourself if she didn't make it." Nick heard a puff and a sting in his leg. Looking down, he sees a tranq dart. Growling as he feels the drugs start to kick in. "Fuckin hell." Before promptly passing out. He was unaware that the cheetah caught him before he could fall.

xxx

Nick woke with a groan but found himself in his own bed. Rolling over, he felt a hangover trying to assert itself but found a bottle of Tygranol and glass of water on the nightstand. Popping those, he finished the water and shook his head. Reaching up to scratch his neck, he found a collar and his heart seized. Everything flooded back to him and he realized it wasn't just a nightmare. It was worse.

Standing, Nick decided he was not going to let Judy's death be pointless. A fire started to burn in his heart and the tears in his eyes dried up. "I can collapse later. Right now, I have to make this right." Walking over to his closet, he opened a panel on the back wall, and after having his paw scanned, a panel opened next to the bed. Opening that, he entered another room, the lights coming on automatically.

Looking around, Nick sighed sadly. Looking over at a photo of his mother on the wall. "Looks like I won't be keeping my promise after all, mom."

A voice came from the bedroom. "And what promise would that be?"

Spinning, claws out, Nick sheathed them and leapt into the arms of his mother. Tears falling again. "Mom…"

Vivian wrapped her kit in a hug. "It's okay, sweetie." Petting his ears and the back of his head. "It's okay. I've got you."

Nick sobbed into her shoulder. "It isn't okay though. Bellwether killed her, and I got blamed for it. She was my mate, mom. We were going to date, but we both knew where it was going to go. But… But…." He couldn't talk, his legs giving out.

Vivian kneeled down with him. "Then I know what promise you are talking about, and if that is true, then that promise was never meant to cover a situation like this. But if it makes you feel better about it. I release you from that promise. I could never expect you to not go after the mammals that did that to your mate. I smelled her mark on you when they called me to identify you in that cell. I knew then that you didn't kill her, but no one would listen. Eventually I got with Fin and we created this little safe place. I advocated for geo-fencing, and the politicians were happy to go with that compromise. Collars are offline in Happy Town and here. There are a few other places, but they are all over populated and poor because no one will hire a pred for anything but menial labor, and the administration controls the flow of goods and such. We're also not allowed to farm or do things like that. Best you can find is a rooftop garden, and meat costs a fortune. Only us omnivores are doing okay. The true predators, they are suffering. Their kits are born underweight."

"That's her plan. But I am going to end it. First things first though. I need to get this collar off, verify that there isn't any GPS or anything in it, and then make a mock up."

"You have friends, Nick."

Standing with a deep breath and wiping away his tears. "I do. And I will use them, but there are a few things I need to do first. To determine what actually needs to happen. Now, since you have released me from that promise. It's time I take some action. I will be back into the kitchen to eat something soon."

Vivian gave Nick another tight hug. "Okay."

Nick turned back to the room, pulling on a pair of black jeans, and then boots after that. He then added a t-shirt, and button up, finishing with a jacket. He then opened several cabinets and began to arm himself. Thinking back to a few moments before and shaking his head. He knew it didn't happen anywhere but inside his head, but he needed that. Chuckling as he holstered a pistol. "Maybe the gods are real and Karma was just giving me what I needed to move forward. In any case, I do need to eat." Then, finally, fully armed, Nick grabbed a mask and motorcycle helmet and looked at himself in the mirror. Frowning at the collar around his neck.

Quickly moving over to a workbench, he had the collar off and in pieces in less than a minute. A few moments later, he had the GPS isolated and programmed into a computer, allowing him to spoof the location on demand. The recording device was disabled and erased. Replacing everything from when he entered the warehouse up to that point with just re-plays of his crying. He knew he didn't have to worry about it having already been sent, because there were no signals that could get out of the building. It was essentially a giant Furaday cage.

Once done, he grabbed the mask, helmet, and a pair of sunglasses. Sealing the room behind himself, Nick entered the rest of the apartment and headed to the kitchen, ignoring the others sitting on the couch. Ben and Honey just gawked at Nick's appearance. Both Skye and Fin cursed under their breath and shared a very worried look. This look deepened when they saw him cooking, not just heating something, but full on cooking. This was bad news, in their books.

Fin approached. "Nick?"

Nick looked over. "Oh, you're still here." Looking past Fin. "Okay. Who else wants food?"

"Nick. You're cooking. You're wearing…"

Nick nodded. "I am. However, before I go anywhere, all four of you are coming to the workshop to have those collars addressed." Fixing Skye with a look. "Unless you have already done that?"

Skye nodded. "Yes. The only thing that works is the GPS, and we can disable that whenever we want to. No point inside this building, so."

"But you can only disable so many at a time, and only right after a maintenance cycle or something, right?"

Skye nodded. "Yes. Nick. Are you okay?"

Nick shook his head. "Not even remotely. I need to go deal with a few things. But don't worry. No one will be dying tonight, unless someone gets in the way, and then only if necessary."

Fin and Skye shared a terrified look, picking up the subtext. No one would die, tonight. "Nick, you don't have to do this."

Nick frowned. "Fin. I do have to do this. I cannot see Judy again. I cannot visit her grave, which I will do, until I make this right. I failed her. I failed my mate!" The heat and anger in Nick's voice made them all take a step back. "While I am out. Skye, Fin. Start six and prep. "Doc. You heard what I said, right? Midnicampum Holicithias. That is what the drug is based on. Fin and Skye will show you to the lab. Get to work. Places out in the sticks like Bunnyborrow use them to help keep bugs off their crops." Turning his attention to Ben. "You're Benjamin, right?"

Ben nodded. "Ben is fine, Mister Wilde."

"Call me Nick. If you have any contacts or a way to tell me who in the ZPD can actually be trusted, I need to know that. I know not all prey are going to be with this, but there is only so much they can do when most of them are petrified because of Bellwether's little drug."

Skye spoke up. "It's worse than that, Nick. We have samples of the drug now. Every collar issued in the last year has had a small vial and mechanism in it to inject the drug into the wearer. They've made kits as young as twelve go savage. And the ZPD just puts them down, now."

Nick nodded. "I know. I saw that on the news. Despicable. Do you have a disabled one I can have?"

Skye nodded. "I'll get it for you. We've had the full workshop and lab running for over a year. There is just only so much we can do. Since they don't actually test the content of the vial, we've started replacing it with just colored water with traces of the needed chemicals in it so it looks like it just got old or was a bad batch. Our modified ones still give a shock, but not the debilitating one they are designed to give."

Nick nodded. "I get it. Can't tip your hand. You've been putting in some backdoor code I assume?"

"Yes, that's been our biggest effort, and success. They seem to just trigger a mammal at random. So we have volunteers. Mammals that have agreed to go savage in place of others. They never leave predator areas, and it hasn't been questioned since few predators leave our areas now anyway. If anything, it has helped things calm down."

Finishing cooking with another nod, Nick served up the food and began eating. "Okay. Get me that disabled unit. Benji, get me that information. I plan on leaving in two hours. There are a few other things I need to do."

They all looked at each other. Honey finally speaking. "I'm sorry. What is going on? Who are you to tell us what to do?"

Fin turned to Honey. "Honey, Nick is the reason this place and that lab you have been using exists. He is why we have the things we do and have been able to set up the resistance that we have done. The rest. We will explain later." Glancing over his shoulder. "Because I think he's going to break his oath."

Nick spoke after swallowing. "Don't think it. Know it."

With that, Nick left a stunned Fin and Skye, and a very confused Honey and Ben. Heading down the hallway towards the back of the apartment."

Ben turned to Skye. "What promise?"

Skye shook her head and sighed. "A promise he made to his mother when she died. That he would never take a life. He was so serious about it, he stopped eating chicken and even bugs. He would only eat tofu, beans, and other plant based protein sources." Pointing to the omelet." He just cooked an omelet with real eggs, diced chicken, crickets, and ate it. To him, that is already breaking that promise."

Fin nodded, and I would think as a former cop, that you'd recognize the symbol on his helmet."

Ben turned and looked, gasping after a moment. "He's Hellketta‽"

Fin nodded. "Only one left alive. He never killed anyone, because he was recruited after him mom passed. She was killed due to doctors ignoring her because she was a fox. He was 14. Was only 2 years after his dad was murdered. Yet, even then, he never broke the promise. That in no way means he doesn't have the skills that symbol implies."

Skye nodded and wiped a tear. " And they killed him mate, and blamed him for it. He's not just going to kill whoever did it. He's going to war."

Fin frowned. "You don't think…"

Skye held up her phone, showing security cameras. A feed showing Nick deep in the warehouse, shifting a crate to one side, easily. "Fin. It took Henry to move that crate before, or all of us and a pulley. He just shoved it out of the way. With ease. Honey? What did that stuff do to him?"

Honey frowned. "From the tests, it amplified healing factors and increased muscle density. The way he acts, they only cured him recently. So, if the increase in strength we saw over just a few weeks says anything. He's probably as strong or stronger than a polar bear."

Fin laughed darkly. "And if he was already as strong as a wolf?"

"Then I have no idea, but it will be literally as strong as his body could possibly be, and since we saw bone density increase as well. There really is no telling."

Ben glanced at the video on Skye's phone. "What is down there?"

Skye shrugged. "I don't know. Was told I didn't want to know."

Fin shook his head slowly. "Nothing good. That is the vault. It is where all the secrets are kept. If Nick is going in there, and he's the only one still alive that can, then he is doing more than just going to war. What he is going to do to the mammals that killed bunny cop… May the gods have mercy on them, because Nick won't. That's all the dark secrets. That's names. Evidence. Who is guilty of what. It's drugs and poisons that make Night Howler seem like low grade nip."

Ben frowned. "That seems bad. Should we stop him?"

Fin sighed tiredly. "It's already too late. We should get to the tasks he set us. Hollywool used to make films about mammals pushed too far and waging a war against things like drug kingpins and corrupt cops. What that fox is about to do is going to make those films seem like Howlmark holiday specials. Our best option is to do as he asks, and stay out of his way."

They all nodded and went about their assigned tasks. Honey, now having the actual source of the toxin that underpinned the Night Howler, knew how to come up with a fast action antitoxin. Fin and Skye headed for another part of the warehouse to start, as Nick suggested, preparing. Which entailed accessing weapons vaults, checking over several vehicles, and activating computers and systems that were infiltrated throughout the city. Including backdoor links into city systems like the traffic cameras and cameras in places like the mayor's and chief of police's office.

Exiting the vault, Nick sealed it behind him, several folders under his arm, and additional weapons hidden on his person. He then moved the weighted crate back over the entrance. Looking at it, he shook his head. "I shouldn't be able to move that. I doubt Bellwether knows about this side effect. I thought it felt familiar, but 20 years will dull the memory."

Entering the lab, he laid the folders on the table in front of Honey. Flipping through them, he picked up two, leaving three. Pointing to one in a green folder. A gold and red one, also there. "This should be everything you need. It includes a formula for an antidote. It also has a formula for a vaccine of sorts. I'm sure you'll need to tweak it a bit, and it still leaves a mammal very aggressive when dosed, but will keep you from going full savage.

The gold one is the vaccine. The red one is a derivative I want you to make. It gives a mammal strength, speed, immunity to pain, etc… We will be recruiting troops and building an army."

Honey looked at Nick like he was insane, because at that moment she was fully convinced he was, and said so. "You're insane. I thank you for the other two, but I will be doing nothing with that," Indicating the red folder. "accept putting it in the incinerator."

Nick shrugged. "I do not actually need you for any of it. I may be out of practice, but this laboratory was built for me, and with the intention of manufacturing these compounds and more." Grabbing a readout off the desk showing the composition of the Night Howler serum from the collars. "In fact, it would appear that whoever created the Night Howler, had access to a portion of the formulas in all three of these. Would explain the increased strength after 3 years under the influence. Based on this formulation, if memory serves, and assuming it was the same thing I was exposed to, it would have run its course in 6 more months, give or take."

Honey scoffed. "That's absurd!"

Nick pointed to a pair of compounds listed. "These act as stabilizers. They also have a halflife. Once the amount falls below a certain level, the body's natural filtering and antibodies can go after the compounds. Within 24 hours a mammal's body will be clear of the compounds."

Gasping, Honey pulled the report back, glancing at the red folder. "And will that hurt those who take it?"

Nick shook his head. "No. Not unless they use huge quantities of it. One dose lasts about 8 hours, depending on the mammal. They'd need to take at least ten doses at once to be at risk, and one dose has the same effect as ten and doesn't last any longer. So long as you formulate exactly as those instructions direct."

Honey nodded. "Okay. I will look at it. But why do we need an army?"

Fin walked in. "Because in a situation like this, taking out the head, Bellwether, isn't enough. You need mammals to hold control long enough for your message to get through to the population."

Nick nodded in agreement. "Correct. You also need those troops to maintain order and fill in for law enforcement when they're part of the problem. Which is why we need to know from Benji who we can trust in the ZPD."

Honey looked at them in surprise. "So, you have done this before?"

Chuckling, Nick shook his head. "No, but the map of how to do it has been around for a very long time. It is a tried and tested playbook. We just need to add a few plays to account for social media, tv, etc…"

"That you are even familiar with how to overthrow a government is terrifying. Because that is what you are suggesting. What then? King Wilde?"

A deep frown took over Nick's muzzle accompanied by a growl. "No. No way in hell. Once we have control, those guilty of knowingly perpetuating this are arrested. We will hold true, proper, and fair elections. What this city once was, the hope it represented, will be reestablished. At that point, I will walk away. I will have done what Judy would demand of me. Then I can visit her grave, beg for forgiveness and hope she will accept my soul in the next life."

With that, Nick walked away. Honey watched him go, then turned to Fin. "He makes it sound like he's not planning on living past that." Seeing the almost shattered look on Fins muzzle, Honey teared up. "Oh… She was his mate."

"And he's a red fox. His mother had him to keep her going. Nick… He has only this. Making the world a better place, and if we can't find a new purpose for him before this all ends, he will, just as he suggested, curl up on her grave and not move again."

XXX

Nick zipped through the city on a custom electric cycle. It was late afternoon going into evening. He had confirmation from Ben that Chief Bogo could be trusted. His GPS set to continue to report him at the warehouse. His destination, precinct one. Stopping the bike in a dark alley, he got off, pulling a tarp over it that made it appear as a pile of trash. Satisfied, he quickly scaled the side of the building, entering through a fourth story window and slipped silently and unnoticed through the building. The camera's blind to his presence due to the things Fin and Skye activated. His presence was noted as no more than a shadow by the few mammals there. He entered the Chief's office just as much a shadow as he moved through the building.

Giving the door a push, causing it to close, the Chief looked up confused. Mumbling to himself he got up to reopen the door. "Bloody drafts."

An echo-y voice sounded in the room. "Leave it closed, and lock it, Chief. We need to talk."

Spinning around, hoof on his sidearm, only to find it not there. His heart went cold seeing a small mammal in all black and a motorcycle helmet, crouched on his desk and holding his gun casually. "Who? How?"

"All will be revealed once the door is locked and you sit down so we can talk. That's all I am here for. Someone tells me you can be trusted, and I intend to verify that." With that, the mammal stood, clearly a fox based on the tail, setting the gun down and stepping to one side of the desk. Bogo considered the mammal and noticed a symbol on their helmet catch the light. Knowing it intimately, and if legit, knowing he would be dead if that was the intent. He locked the door, retrieving and holstering his weapon as he returned to his desk.

Regarding the fox. Definitely a fox, standing on one side of his desk. "Ok. Who are you? Or are you just here to end me?"

The fox shook its head. "You know better. No. As I said. I've been told that you can be trusted. My first question to you, and your answer will determine a lot. Do you know about the drug in the collars?"

Tossing the sample from Skye across the desk. Bogo picked up the collar and sagged in his seat. "Yes, and there is nothing I can do. It is law that we have to put down any mammal that goes savage. I've not told my good officers, because they would never pull the trigger, and the ones that I'm unsure of, or I know are bad… I'm not willing to give them any more excuse than they already have. Doc H said in the last message I got, that they still had no cure."

The fox nodded. "Bellwether has a cure already. You do know she engineered the whole thing, right?"

Bogo nodded, reaching into his desk, pulling out a small carrot shaped pen. "I do, but this recording is all I have, and it isn't enough." Holding out the pen.

Nick took off his helmet and mask, taking the pen carefully and pressing play. He listened to it all. Falling to his knees at his yelp and her scream. Her choked apology to him. "I'm sorry Nick. All my fault. Love you. This life and next..."

Nick didn't cry, but held the pen to his chest. "Not your fault, Judy. It was my fault. I should have recognized what it was. In this life, and the next, but not until I finish the job. I will make the world a better place. For you." Looking up at the shocked face of Bogo. "What have you done since that day? When did you figure out what was really going on?" Nick's voice getting louder and angrier. "What have you done, other than let your officers murder the victims‽ Have you even tried to do something? Or just sat back, knowingly complicit in it?"

Bogo rubbed his temples. "You should still be savage. I visited you two weeks ago. So she does have a cure. But it would require that they admit to it being a drug. I didn't find the pen until I was going through her effects to close the case, months later. Her death was ruled accidental. With the cameras down in the museum, supposedly for maintenance right during when it all happened. That recording is the only proof."

Nick nodded, putting his mask and helmet back on." The dose in the collars is enough to be lethal if left untreated. We will not only have a cure, but a vaccine against it in the next few weeks. Compile a list of officers that are on your side and would stand with you, and a list of those who would be on her side." Leaping over and perching on the window sill. "A war is coming. Make your choice."

Bogo nodded. "Then that's an easy decision. I chose Ben."

Nick nodded, taking note of the words with interest hidden by the helmet and exited the window, quickly climbing up to the roof. Passing across the park like a ghost, to drop down near his bike. A few minutes later he was zipping through traffic again, heading for his next destination.

Bogo looked out the window at his city, one torn to pieces by fear inflamed by the mad ewe in the mayor's office. A division that persisted through the random forced murder of innocents. One that kept him from the love of his life. For Bogo. He was ready. Turning back to his desk. He had officers to evaluate. Schedules to update in order to the max the number of good officers that he could pair up on the same shifts. As well as put a trustworthy officer who will follow his orders with someone he knows would reject that order to ensure they're controlled.

XXX

Nick slipped through into Tundra Town via one of the many tunnels for maintenance workers and such. Not a path regularly monitored and certainly not covered by any checkpoints, as the main roads were. Maneuvering through traffic, he comes upon a large estate, pulling up to the gate, a large and angry looking reindeer minding the gate. Without bothering to look at the guard. "Tell him that his eldest son is here, and this is not a social call. If it is Fru now in charge, then tell her that her big brother is here. In either case, this is not a social call, and I come through the gate as a courtesy."

The guard laughed darkly. "And what if I don't?"

"Then I will drive away, and when you wake up, it will be just before you find out just how cold that water actually is. I said no one was going to die tonight, so long as they don't get in my way. You are about to get in my way."

Turning to grab the phone in the shack and talking to himself. "I wonder how much I can get for that bike." Picking up the phone. "This is the gate. I've got a fox on a cycle saying he's the eldest son or some such. … Yeah, actually…" His look of confidence evaporated a moment later. "Yes sir." Hanging up, he waved Nick through.

Stopping in front of the door, Nick dismounted as the door opened. Another burly reindeer holding it open, a polar bear hidden just inside in shadow. Nick took notice that the shadows didn't affect his ability to see Koslov at all.

Walking past the reindeer and looking up at the very nervous looking bear. "Koslov. Is he still in charge, or has Fru taken over?"

"They are changing paws. He supervises, but she is in charge." Nodding, Nick continued past, Koslov and Kevin following. "Please. They are in meeting."

Nick walked past the usual place. "I've no interest in meeting there. Bring them to the library."

Koslov frowned. "Nicky. I do not know how you are walking around. You were savage. You killed the godmother."

Nick spun on Koslov, a vicious growl emanating from him. "If you believed that, you would have tried to shoot me the moment you saw me. She was my mate! I couldn't have hurt her if I wanted to. Bellwether shot her! Then, since I was savage, claimed she was just trying to protect Judy, since I wasn't going to do what she expected and eat her. Do you not know that there is a drug in that collar that can make you savage at any moment?"

Koslov and Kevin both took a step back in shock. Koslov spoke sadly. "I do. I had Skye add a poison to mine. This ensures if it is ever me, I will not live long enough to hurt others."

Nick glared at them. "Good. However, a cure is in the works, now that I am awake. Bellwether already has one, it's why I am awake now. She expects me to wallow in misery. She knows nothing of who I am. You!" pointing at Koslov, "Do… So stop with the posturing. Have them join me in the library."

Koslov growled back down at Nick. "Nicky! You do not give orders here."

Nick took off his helmet and Koslov gasped seeing the mask. "I am relieved of my promise, and even if not, I will be breaking it. Have already broken it. I told Fin and Skye that no one would die today or tonight, so long as they do not get in my way. You, are getting in my way." With that, Nick turned and continued. Neither Kevin nor Kozlov followed.

Kevin looked to Kozlov, concerned by the shock and… fear? On the other bear's face. (translated) "Koz. Why do you let him speak to you like that? He has no authority here, hasn't since the day he was thrown out. I still do not understand why he was not iced that day."

Kozlov shook his head. "Because there is more to that fox than you know, or want to know. No one that knew him believed that he actually gave a skunk rug. Still, appearances had to be maintained. Just know this. Him wearing that mask… He said he is relieved of his promise. That is a very bad thing. We need to let Fru and Big know he is here."

The two bears quickly moved to the study where the Bigs were meeting with several mammals from Little Rodentia. They arrived as things were finishing up and the rats, mice, and others were carried out by several reindeer. Entering as soon as it was clear. Fru Fru noticed them immediately, and the agitation on their muzzles. "Koz, Kevin. What is the matter?"

Koslov kneeled down. "Mistress. Sir. Nicky is here. He is here as the Shadow…"

Fru growled, cutting off Kozlov. "How dare he! I want him in chains so he sinks!"

Big however put a paw on her shoulder. "Remember dear. Do not, even when dealing with such things, let emotion rule. Remember what I told you we learned about the rug after Nicky was driven out. How terrible would it have been to learn that after having iced him."

Fru Fru nodded, taking a deep breath to calm herself. "You are right. He has been savage all this time. We need to learn how he is not anymore and what he says happened to Judy."

Kozlov nodded as Big smiled. "Correct. We need to recognize that we will not always have all the details, and to not act rashly. Now what did Nicky say to you, Koslov?"

"He is in the library, waiting. He is here as the Shadowed Blade, not as Nicky. He said he is relieved of his promise. That Miss Judy was his mate and that Dawn shot Miss Judy and claimed that she was trying to protect her. He says he is awake because Dawn has a cure. He is wearing 'the' mask."

Big frowned and shook his head sadly, glancing to his daughter. "My dear. This is not good. We must hear what he has to say. If he is relieved of his promise, and he truly saw her as his mate. He means to wage war."

"War against who, daddy?"

"The world. Dawn and the government she has created. Only he can tell us, but I do know this. If he has claimed the blade, then mammals are going to die if they stand in his way."

Kozlov nodded as he lifted the two shrews and turned to Kevin. "Kevin. Assemble the tops. I will join soon." Kevin nodded and rushed away. Kozlov walked slowly towards the library. "I believe you are right."

Big nodded. "We will know soon enough."

XXX

Nick stood in the middle of the room looking over the many books, noting the new ones added since he was last in that room. He was about to pursue them while he waited when he heard the heavy steps approach. Turning away from the door, he waited. There was a bit of theater needed. He heard Kozlov enter and move to the table where the Bigs would attend the room. He waited, trying not to smile, not that they would see it behind the mask, but it would color his voice. Big finally spoke. "We are here, Nicky. Please, explain how you are here, and the truth of what happened."

Nick turned, the mask having the designed effect. "I will tell you, but you must first know. I intended to break my promise. Have broken my promise. Mammals will die, and it will be by my paw. However, I was visited. She said that the promise was never meant to cover such a situation, and released me from it.

As I am sure you assume. I will bring war upon Dawn Bellwether and all who stand with her. I will bring down this farce of an administration, and those who were knowingly complicit will suffer accordingly. I will, in Judy's name, make this world a better place. Only then will I visit her grave and beg forgiveness for what I must make happen to set right my failure. My failure to protect her. My failure to prevent this. To answer the question. Yes. I have claimed my blade, and it will taste blood many times before this is over and I put it away.

I will make war, and I will make it right. However, due to the state of things, many more innocents will die to mend what has been broken. I know I am compromised, but I will not relinquish control. My vengeance demands it. That does not mean I cannot get advice from those with cooler heads.

I therefore seek your council. Will you accept this role, as Skye and Fin have as well? Help me direct my rage. Mammals will die, but some need not, and I would simply wipe the city from the map and start over if I let myself."

Fru Fru stepped forward. "Is that true? She was your mate?"

Nick nodded and pulled off his mask. "It is. She is, was. Will always be." Pulling out the carrot pen, he pressed play, letting it run its course. When done he wiped a tear. "Bogo didn't find this until a year ago. He is ready to end the evil that Dawn has done, but some evil will be needed to get us there.

Like with a forest fire. Sometimes, fire can be your greatest weapon. I have given Honey a cure and the original formula the Night Howler was created from. They seem to have had only pieces of several formulas. Still, with the Night Howler in the collars and the complete formulas, Honey should be able to create a vaccine for those not yet dosed, and a cure for those that are.

She will also be making Blood Moon. We will give that to those who will be on the front lines, and I gave her the final version. Those that survive should not be saddled with the aftermath of Bloody Moon."

Big nodded. "That you know you need advisors speaks to your restraint."

"I know that what must happen would hurt her, but I also know that it must be done. To do it the slow way would sacrifice many more innocents than needed. Like surgery to remove cancer, sometimes you end up removing a bit of healthy tissue to get all of the cancer. The same can be said here, and like ignoring the cancer, failing to act decisively will only cost more than doing what must be done. I can only pray that she will understand."

Fru Fru nodded. "I think she would understand. We are with you."

Nick nodded and put his mask back on. "I'm sure you already talk to Fin and Skye. Coordinate with them. It will take time. We need to lull Dawn into a full sense that she has won. So I must play my part in public. I will cry where it can be seen. I will let mammals abuse me. When the vaccine is distributed and the cure is available wherever needed. We will give the cure to Bogo, and he will get it to mammals he knows will use it. When all these things are in place and an army is ready to march. I will make my move. I will leave all those preparations to you, Fin, Skye, and Bogo. I will play my part for her amusement until you tell me all is ready. Then it will be you that waits."

Fru Fru nodded. "We will be ready." Nick gave a nod, put on his helmet and left, leaving three very confused and concerned mammals behind. Once they got confirmation that he had actually left the grounds, Fru Fru turned to her father. "Daddy. We should tell him."

Big shook his head sadly. "He will find out soon enough. If Fin and Skye haven't told him, then we should not. They are more family to him than we ever were. They never threw him away as we did. There were certainly appearances to be had, but I allowed my emotions to rule the moment, and thankfully reeled them in before I went too far. Still, it shows the respect he still has that he asks us to take on these tasks for him.

Besides, if he were to learn that truth, right now, in his current state of mind. … There would be nothing to hold him back at that point. His rage would boil over, and the unfounded fear the prey have, would become manifest. The streets would run with blood until he exhausted himself, or he was put down."

Fru Fru nodded sadly. "It isn't fair. I believe him now. He is not wearing a mask. It is almost strange to see his true feelings on display like that. I could feel his despair at losing her. As well as the rage keeping him standing. I fear, when that rage ends, so will he."

Kozlov nodded sadly, glancing to the door Nick left through. "There is no question. I have known many red foxes. It must be something great for them to live past their mate's demise."

XXX

Over the following months Bogo slowly changed the configuration of the ZPD. He carefully tested his officers, slowly bringing more and more in on the truth about the collars. He wasn't sure how the carrot pen found its way back into his desk, but the recording helped convince good officers that were on the fence. That, and seeing the inside of the collars and the vial of dark bluish purple liquid. A quick check of any predator's collar showed it to be exactly as described. There were many that were horrified to learn that they had essentially been conscripted to murder innocent mammals for the power and fear of Bellwether's vision of a predator free world. A few so enraged that Bogo had to physically restrain them, explaining that a plan was moving forward. One they would be integral to. That they simply needed to be ready.

He set up teams of trusted officers, who were moved to patrol places where it was arranged that the initial assaults would take place. Others who were able to keep up appearances were paired with officers who it was known, knew the truth and didn't care. Who were happy to get any opportunity to eliminate one more pred from the world. Their task was, when the time came, to deal with those mammals. Arresting them, restraining them, or simply eliminating them, as needed and according to the situation.

Doc Honey asked for and received some advanced chemical synthesis units and began cranking out the vaccine, the cure, and doses of Blood Moon. The cure was delivered first, and into the paws of those who looked after the volunteers. That way they could be cured before ZPD could murder them. Bogo provided a supply of old tranq dart guns which were loaded with the cure and ready for whenever needed.

The darts were modified so they delivered the cure and knocked the mammal out, ensuring that their collar didn't shock them, slowing the effects of the cure. Those tranq guns had been stuffed in storage after Bellwether got the laws changed, due to predators continuing to go savage, and her making it a legal requirement to put them down. Something billed as necessary for the safety of the city, and compassionate to the poor, poor, unfortunate pred.

The vaccine was something taken with food, so it was easily taken without the authorities knowing what was happening. By two months in, ninety percent of the predators in the city, and seventy five percent of those in the surrounding communities were vaccinated. At three months, only the volunteers with a small number of others due to where they were, were not vaccinated.

The volunteers were also reintegrated into the community, a handler, vaccinated themselves, and issued one of the tranq guns, with them at all times. Fin and Skye, coordinating with the Bigs, built up more than two thousand mammals, all predators, who were trained as soldiers. Every former ZPD officer signed up, and along with some former military and ZBI, were made leaders of groups. The smallest groups were called a skulk, and consisted of ten mammals. Five skulk's they decided to call a pack, and five packs were named a pride. They put together 10 prides for a total of 2500 trained mammals. With a few dozen additional skulks worth of mammals with special jobs when things started. There were weapons stashed and ready, with the bulk of the tranq guns from Bogo ready to be handed out to every predator to defend themselves. In all the planning and preparation, they all watched as Nick publicly wandered the city appearing truly miserable. He took several beatings, and just limped away afterwards. They all also knew that there was deliberation in the way he walked the city. They knew this because he provided reports on security, camera coverage, habits of primary targets, etc…

After four months, they were as ready as they could be and let Nick know. With thankfully only eight mammals being driven savage, and only six of those being put down, the other two happening well after the cure darts had been deployed. Twenty mammals stood around a set of large tables in the Wilde Times warehouse. They had just finished going over some final planning. Every member of the army had six Blood Moon doses, and every one had experienced it and knew what to expect. The battle plans were done, and mammals were in place. Big stood on a table next to where Nick sat, slouched and seemingly asleep. "Nicky. I have given my advice, and you have taken it, mostly. Now it is time for you to act. It is time for the blade to be unsheathed."

Nick did not move, but spoke. "It may be, but that does not make it easier. Perhaps it is good that it has taken us a week over four months to get here. As lightning fast as that is, it has let me think. I know what must happen, and in the moment, I do not know if I can hold my paw."

"If you mean, Dawn. Then I will give you this advice, and this permission. Something I hope the rest all share the sentiment. When the time comes. Do not. It will not make you feel better, but it will slake your rage. It will also be a mercy. For what you will do to them will pale against what the mammals of this city will do to her and her lieutenants."

Fin stepped up. "He's right, Nick. I know you won't make their deaths easy, but it'll still be better than what the city will do to them. So as he says. Do not. Let the rage flow and do what must be done."

Nick nodded and stood. "So be it. It will start in three days. At Dawn. Because, what better time than that to end this."

Nick walked out, giving everyone there who didn't know him pause. The mammal walking through their midst was not the sad and pathetic mammal they'd gotten used to. Instead, a fox burning with a rage that gave them pause moved past. A few minutes later, Nick appeared again, dressed in black, motorcycle helmet in paw. He ignored the assembled mammals, simply exiting the building. Wolford watching him go. "Hey, he wasn't wearing a collar."

Fin nodded. "Yep. That's a statement you should all listen to. Skye."

Skye stepped forward. "Bogo got us a key. That allowed us to confirm how they open and remove the collars without needing to be somewhere like here at the warehouse. Every skulk will have at least three keys by morning. So that will be one of the initial jobs of the skulks. Get collars off mammals, then give all but one of those keys to mammals to keep removing collars. They need to keep one in case they come across predators out in the city."

Fru Fru spoke up. "We need to get as many collars off as we can, as quickly as possible. We know Dawn can trigger the collars remotely. Our intel suggests that there is a doomsday option that will trigger all of them to not just inject the Night Howler, but set off the shock until the battery exhausts itself."

Fin nodded. "Make sure your mammals are ready. Nick knows the keys will be ready tomorrow morning. Therefore, we go at Dawn, the following morning."

XXX

Nick wandered the city, slipping from district to district aimlessly. He felt himself buzzing. It was always like this just before a mission. Didn't matter that he'd always been sent on surveillance and data recovery ops. His masters and teachers respected the promise he made. Still, that in no way meant his training was lacking. If anything, that meant his training was superior, and became the standard used for later recruits. Not that they recruited many. An organization like the Helketta didn't last 3000 plus years by being aggressive in that way. You last that long by being extremely picky. They accepted Nick and his promise, because the world was changing, and they were trying to adapt. Fewer and fewer of their activities and contracts were for murders. Information was becoming the need, and while those old skills were still needed, and could be applied to the different needs the world seemed to have, they became about self protection, something proved by Nick's own final test mission.

He managed to get dirt on a world leader without being seen, the old skills coming into play. The mission was so successful, Nick not only graduated, but was given a percentage of the commission and put into training to be a master himself.

He had been on an information gathering mission when the government attacked the Helketta and others. It seemed that someone didn't appreciate their existence, specifically their old ways. The truth was that the government alphabet agencies of the world that had patterned themselves after groups like the Hellketta, didn't want the competition.

All the other masters had killed many times, Nick having only just been named master, and never having killed, was not on the government's radar because they didn't actually have a list of members, just an estimated count. They didn't know he existed, or if they did, they didn't know who he was. His success in managing to not have to interact while completing his missions, saved his life.

It was also true that they assumed, incorrectly, that whatever members they missed would lack resources or access to the knowledge they planned to steal. In the end, underestimation and incorrect assumptions were the rulers of the day when it came to eliminating the Hellketta and others. The deviousness and seriousness that groups like the Helketta used to protect their knowledge and members proved far more than the alphabet agencies expected, and what little they claimed from the mess and destruction was incomplete at best.

Nick knew of several other survivors from the Hellketta and other groups, although he was the only master, save that of the Cheth, who survived for much the same reason he did. Most, like him, were not known, because they were not killers. The surviving master of the Cheth lived happily in the bright lights of the stage, a place none thought to look. Just as Nick hid in the plain sight of a mob enforcer and information broker, then simple hustler. Who would think to suspect a fox of all mammals?

Yet now, with his promise released, Nick was planning to do what he had not just promised his mother as she died, but himself, that he would never do. Kill another mammal in anger. He found it odd, considering the reality of what he would soon do, he found himself without confliction on the matter.

He knew, also, that despite the rage currently taking a backseat in his mind. In the moment, when he had Dawn before him, it would come rushing to the fore. He needed a plan, a focus of what he would do. While the rage would have him simply rip her to quivering, screaming, bits. Something that would certainly satisfy his more primal need for vengeance. It would also be woefully inadequate to the suffering she needed to experience as penance for the suffering she had inflicted. And that suffering was to the whole city, not just the predators, but the prey living in fear for no reason. The ZPD officers who were unwilling instruments of her insane genocidal efforts as they unknowingly murdered mammals who were themselves victims of Dawn's evil.

It was that mindset that allowed him to tap into the Hellketta training and knowledge he had for so long suppressed. So, he set to wandering the city to think, and consider the punishment that he would visit upon her. Her and her hench mammals. He had time. The keys would be distributed by morning. Still more in place by the following, and that is when he would strike.

Stopped at an intersection in the Rainforest, he heard a commotion. Turning to see, he found a moose abusing a tiger. The tiger taking the beating out of fear that their collar might be triggered. With a growl, Nick sped over, knocking the moose off his feet with the rear wheel of his bike. Dismounting his bike, Nick had the tigers collar off a moment later. Ignoring her protests, he turned to the moose who was getting up. "What is wrong with you? Stupid pelt!"

Nick quickly stepped forward and swept the moose's legs out from under him again, bringing them to his level. "I wonder. Are you aware of what these collars do to another mammal?" Holding it up and pressing a claw into a hole on the inside surface. The prongs extended and a clear stun gun like arc flashed between them. As he kept his claw in the hole, a needle extended suddenly, and a purplish blue liquid squirted from it. The moose's eyes wide in shock and fear. "What… What was that? It would have injected that stuff into her?"

Nick nodded. "Very much so. That was a drug that suppresses the higher brain functions of any mammal. Prey as well as predators. Though only predators get to have a taser strapped to their neck, that also contains a drug that will turn them into mindless beasts that the law then requires be put down."

Staring at the collar, the moose whimpers. "But that means…" Looking past him to the tiger. "Her mother…"

"Exactly. And she cannot fight back. It isn't based on emotions. It is based on heart rate. Her heart rate gets too high and she gets shocked. Trigger it too many times, and you'll be drugged and turned into a beast, then legally murdered. There is a cure, an antidote to the drug. Always has been, but prey like yourself have allowed yourselves to be driven, to be ruled by fear."

Nick produced a collar key. "The question is. What are you going to do with this knowledge? That the only reason they go savage is because they have been drugged. Then murdered, by law, to cover up this fact. No one questions it. The drug can be triggered remotely as well. So what will you do? Hmm?" Holding up the key. "You have the opportunity now. You can take this and start removing collars, starting tomorrow at noon."

Looking at the key, then the tiger, and back. "Why then?"

"Because that is when an attack on the control center that remotely controls the collars will be made."

"Why tell me? I could just go to the authorities."

Glancing back at the tiger, Nick sniffed the air with a smirk. "Because I am a good judge of mammals. Because I believe you are not just some terrified prey, but knowing the truth, you would seek to right such an evil. Because I liberated this key from a ZPD cruiser, since most cruisers have several. Not that they use them. If you were to do that, they would track the key to the cruiser it was removed from. When it passed through this area, where the cameras were suspiciously not working when you were here as was the cruiser. The officers away, looking into a break in. Easy to blame some random predator that didn't have a collar. And the testimony of your slave, because we both know that is what she is to you, isn't going to hold any weight."

The moose had honest tears in his eyes. Looking around and seeing they were alone. "You don't understand. My family stood against the laws. My father never believed any of it. We took in her family and others because we could. To try and protect them."

The tiger wrapped the moose in a protective hug. "It's true. We grew up together. He's as much my brother as my actual brother. He's also my mate. That's what you are smelling. His hits are for show. We've practiced it many times. I love him, but I have never been able to truly show him. He could never hurt me, nor I him."

Nick nodded and focused on the moose. "So. What'll it be?"

"Give me the key. I will free as many as I can."

Handing over the key. "Stay out of sight, since you don't have a collar. Wait until it starts. You'll know when. Then do what you can. Remember. ZPD cruisers have keys."

The tigress nodded. "We will. I think I can keep him occupied until then. Now that I don't have to worry about my heart rate and can truly enjoy him." A lustful grin spreading across her muzzle

The moose blushed, but gave her a worried look. "Kittra. Have you not enjoyed our time together before?"

Kittra smiled warmly. "I have enjoyed every moment with you, but I could never truly give all of myself because of the collar. I plan to rectify that." Pulling the moose to his feet. "It is time I show you just how much I love you, without the reservations and restrictions the collar forced on me."

Nick retreated and drove away silently, before turning back and following them. Ensuring that they got safely behind closed doors. Catching a view of a very passionate kiss as the door closed.

A wistful smile on his muzzle, Nick continued on his way, knowing he had just cemented a relationship and helped with the pending revolution.

XXX

Nick rode until mid afternoon the following day before finally pulling into a safe house. He had given out a dozen keys and knew he'd set up an extra distraction for the following day. Knowing that even more mammals would be safe when Dawn tried to activate all the collars. There really was no question she would try, once what was happening became clear. They hadn't gotten to all the predators, so there were still many at risk. Any that had been in a situation such as Kittra, basically the slaves of the higher class prey, were still at risk. He hoped when he took action, he could get to her before she could try. After a quick shower, Nick prepared himself a simple meal. As he ate, his nose started twitching. He was picking up something familiar, but he couldn't quite place it. He noticed that someone else had entered the safe house, but was unworried as no alarms had been set off.

Finishing his food, he placed the dishes in the dishwasher next to where he sat, as he was sitting at the kitchen island. What set his hackles off was when he heard his name called. "Nick? Nick Wilde? Are you here?"

Something about that voice matched the weirdly familiar scent he couldn't place, but almost felt comforting. Exiting the kitchen and entering the living room, he froze. There, with their back to him, was a rabbit. A rabbit with silvery gray fur, and black tipped ears. The scent and voice hit him hard. They were so close to hers. The rabbit turned to face him, and while he knew it wasn't Judy, they were shockingly close. After a moment of staring, he found his voice. "Who… Who are you? You're not Judy, but you're so close, it's kinda messing with me."

The rabbit nodded. "My name is Jannet. I'm Judy's litter-mate, and also her twin. Fin and Skye asked me to come see you. They hoped that I could talk you into not doing something in the morning. I'm not sure what, but they seemed concerned. So I agreed."

Nick nodded and moved to the couch, motioning for Jannet to join him. Once she was settled on the other side of the couch, he turned to face her. "The resemblance is amazing. So, here is what is happening. Early this coming morning, I will begin a one mammal assault on Bellwethers compound, or wherever she is at the time. My intention is to bypass the majority of the guards. I only plan on engaging Dawn herself and her lieutenants and direct hench mammals. The one thing I haven't figured out is how I kill them. Unless forced, I plan on making it last. Dawn specifically. She deserves it for shooting Judy and blaming it on me."

Jannet frowned. "You were savage. Wasn't she trying to protect Judy from you?"

Nick shook his head and simply played the recording. "Judy was my mate in all ways except us actually mating. We had admitted our feelings to each other, but wanted to actually date a few times before jumping in. However, we marked each other." Jannet gasped. "For a fox, that is basically the wedding. I know for rabbits it is more like a proposal or engagement. We talked about it. We both agreed that the results of us dating was already a foregone conclusion. We knew our feelings. Expressed them to each other. And since we knew how marking would affect my instincts. We did it for safety, knowing that it was possible for me to get dosed. Which happened.

As you heard, because of the mark, even savage, I wouldn't hurt her. So Dawn tried to shoot me, only she missed, hitting me in the shoulder and murdered Judy in the process. Normally, having lost my mate as a red fox, that would be it for me. But with me being savage, tranq'd before I could recognize that she was dead, and that we'd not mated to complete the bond. I am holding on for those reasons and the rage at what Dawn did to me, to Judy, and the city.

Once this is over. I will find her grave, beg her forgiveness and fall asleep. I will not wake again. Now you, Jannet, have a decision to make. Will you report to Dawn, or wait here? Neither option matters. The question is, if you choose to report in, then you put every predator at risk. Dawn has the ability to remotely set off every collar. How many mammals will die, I cannot say, but it will be alot."

Jannet frowned. "Why would you think I'm working with or for Dawn?"

"Because neither Fin, nor Skye would have sent you, and if they did, they would have told you what they wanted. Also, they don't know where I am. I also have my collar set to report me being here. Figured she would want to know where I am."

"She has clearly lied. But I still can't let you kill her. I know Judy wouldn't want that."

Nick smiled sadly. "I know. But to set things right. To make up for my failure in protecting Judy and preventing Dawn from creating this murderous dystopia. Mammals will die. Dawn must die. And my instinctive need for vengeance demands that it be violent and terrible. Sadly, Jannet. You show clearly that you are not actually convinced. But that's okay. When Dawn sends mammals here in the morning, they will not find either of us."

Jannet chuckled darkly. "Why is that? I'm sure killing me will simplify things for you. I look forward to you begging her forgiveness for murdering her twin!"

Nick smirked. "Sure, it would. Though I won't be killing you. You just won't wake up until it is all over with. You'll be safe and secure, and protected from everything about to happen."

"Hard to drug me, when I haven't eaten or drank anything."

Nick's wrist flicked. "True, but there is so much about me that Dawn doesn't know. She will learn soon enough, but not until just before her end."

Jannet gasped and looked down at the small dart in her shoulder. "What? How?" Her voice becoming groggy.

"Because I have not always been just a popsicle hustler. I even told Judy some of it, and she didn't reject me. It's why we were going to date. So the whole truth could be exposed before she made a final decision. Even if she claimed nothing would change her mind." Nick played the final section of the recording where Judy committed to Nick with her final breath. "She committed to me as a fox would. I will finish this and make it right, no matter what it takes."

Jannet stared at the fox for a few more moments, tears running down her cheeks. "But Judy… She…" the drugs finishing their job as she slid to the side, unconscious. Nick picked her up and walked towards the wall of the kitchen. Passing through a secret door after manipulating the stove and coffee pot. The signal from his collar and the tracker Jannet had on her reflecting as if they were still there. Him in the master bed, Jannet in the guest bedroom.

Once in the true safe-house, three buildings away and in a reinforced basement apartment. Nick laid Jannet in a bed to sleep, then retired to his own bed. His sleep undisturbed by nightmares or dreams, just a comfortable feeling of acceptance and resignation that permeated his mind. When Nick woke, two hours before dawn, he checked on Jannet, gave her another dose to ensure she wouldn't wake until late the following morning. He then wrote a note with instructions on how to get out of the safe-house. Once that was done, he set about his final preparations. He woke with several ideas of what to do with Dawn. So he prepared for each one that was practical, then made ready for combat. He knew that in this mission, he was going to be killing mammals.

Finally, it was time. He looked himself over in the mirror nodding in satisfaction. He was as ready as he could be and had 45 minutes until dawn. It was just enough time to get into position. He'd set up auto guns and other surprises over the last few months. Having been anything but idle.

Out of the corner of his eye he caught movement in the mirror. Glancing, he saw his mother with a sad but proud smile, and with her, Judy, wearing the same sad yet proud smile. Both giving him a nod before vanishing.

Nick wiped a tear and left the safe house, a sad smile briefly on his muzzle before being replaced by grim determination. It was time.

XXX

Enough of a cliffhanger for you? :D I hope you have enjoyed Part 1, part two will post soonest.