Zootopia: Blind Faith

[Dynax]

Judy could hear Nick taunting the prisoner that had cursed at him and inwardly sighed. He just couldn't resist, could he? Still, it was no prerogative of hers to dictate how he processed these things. In a way coming down here might be harder than it was for her. But still, the main concern was the fact that the mammal they were here to see was gone, and by the look of the cell, she hadn't been here for some time. She saw the ugly scrawl of Nick's name on the wall and cringed.


"Well..." she said, "There's no doubt that she was probably here. We'll have to go back to the security guards and double check and see if they moved her--" but before she could get much further she heard the familiar voice. Her ears twitched and her eyes widened before she stiffened. Bellweather? This was a maximim security prison after all...she stepped back into the light to see the diminutive ewe standing not far from the bars of her cell. Her wool was still fastidiously neat, but the prison jumper didn't suit her, and it looked like she had lost some weight being here. "Ms. Bellweather," Judy said, her voice cold. There was a part of her that wanted to be vicious, and say something along the lines of "you wish w e were here to see you," but she refrained. There was no goodness in taunting a defeated enemy. "We're here on the grounds of a case that we are not at liberty to discuss."


Bellweather offered them a savage smirk, similar to the one she had worn when she had fired the blueberry at Nick's neck almost a year ago.


"Oh, but I think I know," she said, her voice sibilant steel, all false good humor. "I'm hearing all sorts of things about this Bloodmouth character. You hear all sorts of things, listening to the pred rifraff in here. Things about 'embracing the animal within' and getting back to the basics." she shot a meaningful look at Nick. "Look at you. Office Wilde. Never would have imagined it. Must feel good for a Predator to follow that track, musn't it? Even for that moment you had your fangs around Judy's pretty little throat." she brought her hooves up to her own neck to punctuate her words. Judy's ear twitched. She remembered that moment. The most important part of it had been that she hadn't felt an ounce of fear, even as Nick's fangs had rested against the delicate skin of her throat. "Didn't it come as naturally as breathing, Nick?"

[Proto Triose]

Nick came up behind Judy, talking as he did. "As naturally. Well, yes it did, second in line for mayor and only able to reach it through underhanded deeds and murder." He put one arm around Judy, resting it over her chest, proving a point that would sting the mayor more than a physical blow. A predator and a prey, being close, and her not flinching away. It was also because he'd seen her ear twitch, and was trying to comfort her and calm her down, the way she did for him oh so many times in their history.


"Opening my mouth did come rather easily." He opened his muzzle again, wide, before closing it. "See? I did it again. You're right, the more I do it, the easier it gets."


"It's certainly opening and closing more than enough. Perhaps you should keep it closed this time." She waved away his sarcasm like she usually did. Bellwether looked at Nick's arm, then into Judy's eyes. "Predator and Prey can never truly be friends, Judy."

[Dynax]

Judy leaned into Nick's touch and by extension wrapped her own arm around his waist, staring straight back at Bellweather with unflinching eyes. At her comment, Judy found it within herself to speak.


"I once thought it was impossible for mammals like Rabbits or Sheep to go savage," she said, her voice firm. "But after meeting you, I realized I couldn't be more wrong. You might think that friendship like ours is impossible, but you'll always have to remember the fact it was this friendship that put you in that jail cell."


The comment was well placed and Bellweather might have winced if she had been a weaker Sheep. Still, by the way she adjusted her glasses Judy could tell the comment stung. In the end, the ewe offered her a frosty little smile. "Nature will out, Judy," she said in a sickeningly sweet school teacher's tone. "Sooner or later you'll find yourself on the fangs of a Predator, metaphorically or literally. But I hope that it's the latter, if only for the beautiful irony."


She hit a nerve and Judy was tempted to say something back, even though she knew that engaging Bellweather was not the proper thing to dow when a Wolf security guard burst in through the corridor.


"Officers Hopps and Wilde!" she panted, coming to a stop in front of them. "We're so sorry. We've made a mistake. The prisoner you are looking for was released six months ago after her twenty year sentence was up. We aren't sure what's become of her," the Wolf said apologetically.

[Proto Triose]

Judy could probably feel Nick's breath being released in one go at the Wolf's words. So she hadn't been moved or executed or anything for more violent crimes. That was a good thing. Her ideals were still just that - ideals. "Bellwether, it's been a ... something. Talking to you."


"Pleasure?" The ewe provided.


Nick shook his head, turning with Judy and looking back at Bellwether. "No. Never that." On their way out, at the cell nearest the door, a fox's paw reached out and touched Nick's shirt. He didn't jump back, because the movement was so slow. He looked down at the paw, arm still around Judy - he was determined to make a point to every predator here - and followed it up to a face he never thought he'd see again, much less remember.


Judy could feel him stiffen, much more than he usually did in any scenario - enough that she could feel him shake, his paw clenching into a fist. "Let's go."


"Please don't." A timid voice came from the fox in the cell, a much older fox, now clenching Nick's shirt. Nick didn't move to stop it, and pointedly didn't look at the furry gentleman. "I thought it was you, when you came in. You've grown quite a bit. And an officer now! Who would have thought." Nick was still silent, and the old fox sighed, giving a tired smile to Judy.


"This must be Officer Hopps."


Nick put out a paw, to stall Judy from talking. "Don't acknowledge him. Can we just go?"


"Alright, alright." The old one held up his hands in surrender. "You don't have to talk, Nick. Just listen. Let an old father try to make amends with his boy before he dies in here. I'm sorry, for what I did. To you and your mother, leaving you both alone." He shuffled up to the bars, sticking his muzzle through, a tear sliding out of his eye. "I didn't mean for this to happen. I was only trying to do what was best for you and her, provide as much as I could for us, get us all out of those slums and into a nicer part of town. Where you could grow up with every opportunity awarded everyone else. But I failed, and miserably.


Sometimes, living there, it's hard to get out, Nick. But you did it," the old fox sniffed, an almost heart wrenching noise. "Didn't you, my boy? I'm so very proud of you. If nothing else, know I'm very proud of you, for the life you lead now. You got out. Not all of us can say the same." He pulled at the bright orange outfit that hung from his shoulders. He reached his paw out, giving Nick's arm a squeeze - to which he didn't move away or stiffen, this time.


Without another word, the old fox shuffled back to his cot, sitting down on it with a creak of the springs, and staring at his hands. Nick didn't move for the longest time. He did look at his father, turning his head ever so slightly - but it was enough of a turn for Judy to see, before the doors buzzed and let Judy and him through. Outside the station, he snapped his sunglasses on almost angrily. His tail was still bushy in agitation, and he didn't say anything all the way to the cruiser.


He stopped at the driver's side door, fists at his side, before he visibly forced his posture to relax, if only long enough to hold the keys out to the side for Judy. "I think maybe you should drive."

[Dynax]

Judy was glad to take their leave of Bellweather. There was nothing to be gained from continuing to engage her, and she could walk away feeling satisfied that she and Nick had done their duty by the city and by justice to see her there. They made to turn away when a withered paw reached out to touch Nick and Judy's felt him seize up as though he had been struck. In surprise, she whirled to look and her jaw dropped. Standing in the cell was a gray muzzled old Red Fox. He had to be at least sixty years old, his ears battered and torn with scars all along his paws, but even through all that Judy thought she recognized a familiar brow, and shape of the muzzle. And when the fox continued to speak, she actually gasped, her gut dropping.


Nick's father? She glanced at him. He must have his mother's eyes, she thought numbly, looking back at the old todd. As he spoke, she had to force herself not to keep looking back between Nick and his father. She felt like an intruder, insanely enough, to be looking at this private moment, this ugly reunion. And her heart was breaking. She had no idea what Nick's father did to land him here, but...even though she was supposed to be a cynical cop, cynicsm didn't come naturally to her heart. She believed that whatever he had done his heart had been in the right place, if not his actions.


They left the prison, and Judy's heart was heavy. Nick was very clearly agitated, and she couldn't blame him. It was all she could do to keep herself from giving him looks of pity--because she knew he wouldn't want it, and that she shouldn't be pitying him. Feeling sympathy was one thing, pity was another.


"Nick..." she started, her voice soft, but she didn't say anything after that. She wanted to know what had happened, of course she did, but in truth, she knew that it wasn't her business, and Nick had to volunteer that information. It wasn't her place to demand it, as a partner or a friend. She allowed Nick the silence. She would have tried to physically comfort him, but he was walking quickly back towards the car. She took the keys and wordlessly climbed up into the driver's seat and started the engine.


**


They got lunch at a kiosk that sold lettuce wraps friendly to both Predator and Prey (fillings included things like fruit, honey, seeds, nuts, root vegetables and of course things like roasted crickets and protein compounds), catering specifically to those on the smaller end of things. The vendor was a coyote, but his coworker was a chinchilla, which was encouraging for Judy to see on the streets. They ate their lunch in the car, which was parked in an alley with a good view of the streets, and they ate in relative silence. Neither of them had spoken much since the encounter with Nick's father.


But in the interest of the job, Judy finally sighed and wiped her mouth on her napkin before turning to Nick. "Do you think Finnick might know where this vixen went?" she asked, her voice carefully neutral.

[Proto Triose]

Nick took a drink from his cup to wash the food down, setting his back in his lap on the foil it had come in, and turned extremely grateful eyes on her. "That's a thought. Finnick knows almost as many people as I do. It's as good a lead as any we've got." Nick looked at the clock on the dashboard. "He should be parking his van right around now. If we rush, we can probably meet him there before heads out for his night business." He didn't care to elaborate on what that night business was, but if Finnick gave them a good lead, they both knew they wouldn't arrest him. Like Mr. Big, he would be too valuable of an asset to throw behind bars.


In answer, Judy started the car. Nick didn't need to give her directions, as she knew where Finnick would more than likely be parking his van, so he looked out the window as they drove. He had his window down to feel the cool air ruffle through his fur. As they drove slowly through town, he got more than enough calls, most of them unsavory.


"**censor** traitor!" a drink cup hit the side of the car with a splash.


Nick raised a hand and waved at the irate civilian, shouting back. "Yeah, good to see you too."


Judy looked over at him, her nose twitching like it did when she was concerned. "Are you sure you okay with coming back this way, so shortly after ..."


Nick raised an eyebrow at her before looking back out the window with his muzzle on his paw. "it's okay, Judy. You can say it. My dad." He watched some of the homes go by, at the cracking paint, the trash littering the streets. "He wasn't so bad, when he was around, you know. He was always attentive. Did his best to support my mom and I. When he wasn't working the streets and was trying to go straight as a door-to-door salesman." Nick practically snorted. "A fox. A door-to-door salesman." He looked over at Judy. "He didn't do too well. He was a fox, and who trusts a fox, right? People always thought he was trying to swindle them somehow. Sell them faulty vacuums. Low quality furniture. He wasn't, of course, but you know the reputation we foxes have. Can't be trusted with anything. Ever.


I suppose that's why he went back." Nick rolled the window up, then back down, up, before finally leaving it there. He didn't want the off chance that someone else would hear him. "I just can't forgive him for it, really. He raised me my whole life, not just teaching me but showing me that a fox could go straight. Could make it legitimately. Then, suddenly, I'm watching the news of his arrest. An officer showed up at our door, ransacked the place looking for more evidence. Suddenly my father isn't coming home.


To this day I'm not sure of all the details, but I know he took a job. You know what kind of job I mean. It was a big one. Conning the head of a rather large corporation. He almost made it, from what I hear. But things went bad. One of his crew - they had a gun." Nick's eyes were deep in the past, as if the whole scene was playing out before him. "There was a firefight. My father came out of it alive, obviously. But he was the only one. Him and the CEO. He swore he never fire a shot, never killed anyone, but who are they going to believe? The CEO of a big wig corporation, or a conniving, dirty fox?


So he was jailed. Did he kill anyone? Other than a con, was there any other crime he committed? I don't know. I don't want to believe he did. But whatever I believe, everyone else believes the opposite. So he wound up where you saw him. And my mom and me? We were left alone.


After he was gone, my mother. Well, foxes are known for being ... promiscuous, we'll say. She was trying to raise a son, too. Send him to the scouts. We were short on cash, and she worked as a waitress at a run down old diner. Wasn't making the tips she needed, so what choice do you think she had?


And me?" Nick looked down at himself, one paw stroking the badge on his chest. "I got into all sorts of trouble. Left at the age of ten. I was too much of a burden on my mother, and because of me, she was doing things that no self respecting woman should have to. That's when I met Finnick.


But it all worked out, I suppose. I managed to get out. Get a badge. Work on the force against people like me, like my mom and dad. It all wouldn't have happened if that rat hadn't made the choice he did.


But thanks to you, I'm here now. You believed in me. You were the bright star you chase your whole life and never think you're going to catch. When you do, you don't know what to do with it."


He stopped fiddling with his badge and looked up as the car slowly came to a stop. Confused, he looked over at Judy. "Are you lost? It's a few more blocks to Finnick's place."

[Dynax]

There were plenty of things that people could list about Judy that were not conducive to the life of a cop. When mammals started on that list, Judy had always staunchly tuned them out, or had fired back with a reason why the trait in question was helpful in her life. However, right now, those things were rising up in her guts, threatening to choke her as Nick spoke. She ignored the drink cup as it smashed against the window of their cruiser, but as the neighborhood got seedier and seedier, Nick continued to dive into a past that she had started to wonder if he would ever divulge to her.

How she had imagined such a conversation going was worlds different from this. She had imagined him opening up maybe when they were together on the couch, or overlooking the city after a long day, a quiet moment just for the two of them. Out of uniform, away from the job if only for a short time, out of reach of the responsibilites that tied them to the lifeblood of the city they served. She hoped to be looking at him, reading his body language as carefully as she might listen to his words. Instead, she was navigating twisting, cracked roads and barbed-wire fences, which forced her eyes to the road as she listened.

And as she did so, we could feel her eyes starting to water. This was the longest she had ever heard Nick talk about his past. Even when she had asked before, timidly, he had volunteered very little, and she had been very reluctant to press for more given that it was clearly painful and dug at his heart like an errant claw. And she pictured it, with her vague understanding of the experience of a poor family of foxes in Zootopia. She only had her own experience to guide her. Knowing how hard it had been to break into the police force coming from a loving family, one that helped send her to school and training and gave her every opportunity she could have asked for and fighting for the once that were denied her, she could only vaguely imagine the pain of what it might have been like for Nick. He and so many young foxes were trapped in a way she couldn't possibly truly understand, trapped in a cycle of poverty and crime that was enforced by the very institution she had come to represent. And knowing that made her all the more determined to do something about it with every breath she took while in uniform.

She cringed when Nick implied what his mother had had to do to take care of him, and the effect that it had on him, forcing him out of his childhood far sooner than anyone should be. What had she been doing at ten years old? Going to school, playing police officer, watching black and white noir films on their old television with at least twenty other brothers and sisters crowded into the TV room of the warren. Her hands had been soft then, even if her feet were tough, and the scars left by Gideon Grey still stark on her cheek. She'd been selling lemonade by the freeway, and weeding gardens.

Nick had been shunted into adulthood by then, earning greasy bills and working the streets.

And to hear him attribute his relative freedom now to her made her crack a little inside. She stopped the car and briefly rested her forehead against the wheel before turning to Nick.

"Nick," she started, her voice cracking a little bit before she forced her tone to stabilize. "I'm not lost. I just--you have to understand, we're here to make a difference, so that what happened to you doesn't keep happening. A-and, I'm sorry that this case has dragged up all this pain, and bad memories for you. I can't promise you everything's going to be okay because I know I can't honestly garuntee you that, but I can promise you that we're going to take steps to make things right." it wasn't much of  consolation, and she felt stupid for saying it. She sniffed. "You didn't have to tell me any of this...but I'm grateful that you did." She shook her head and took a deep breath. "You're one of the strongest people I know, Nick."

She started the car up again, and started to drive again.

She parked the car a few blocks away from where she knew they would find Finnick's van. As an afterthought, she hopped into the backseat of the car, ordered Nick to keep a lookout and changed as quickly as she could into her plain clothes. She wasn't sure how it would do for Finnick's reputation if everyone saw him getting friendly with a cop in uniform.

They approached the van, and Judy knocked on the back door. She knew that by now Finnick had heard them coming, but was waiting to see who it was.

"Finnick?" she called, "It's Judy and Nick. If you've got a moment, we need to ask you some questions about a case."

[Proto Triose]

Nick undid his badge while Judy changed, pretending to be as stoic as he usually was. He didn't look, but he had tilted the rear view mirror to mess with her. In truth, her words had meant a lot to him, had even bolstered his spirits. Finding out Aurora was back out, and obviously still held a grudge, had not comforted him in any way. Then Bellwether, and his dad. Even his calm demeanor couldn't withstand it all at once, so not just knowing but hearing that Judy was still herself was a breath of fresh air. It made him smile, knowing she was still as emotional as ever. How could he resist that? As long as she was herself and still there, he didn't know that he could.

He knew Finnick's usual MO, so leaned against the back of the van, his head tilted up. And sure enough, Finnick looked over the side and down at them, a golf club in his hands. "Heyya, Fin. Or should I say Toot Toot?"

"I told you not to call me that, Mittens." Finnick looked around, suspicious. "You two bring any more with you, or is this the best the police have to offer?"

Judy mouthed Mittens at him, and he shook his head at her in a 'don't ask' kind of way, gesturing around. "We need more? The only two the ZPD needs is the two here. Or have you been too busy avoiding us to pay attention to us?"

Finnick jumped down, looking Judy up and down. "I appreciate the subtlety of the outfits. Is that Nick's?" He tugged on the shirt Judy was wearing, looking over at the fox. "What's going on with that, I didn't hear anything on the news. Sly fox." He elbowed Nick - not in a friendly way, it was elbowing him out of the way so he could open the doors. Once he climbed in, his voice came out the back. "Get in before someone sees you idiots. And don't get all familiar with me."

Nick motioned for Judy to go first, climbing in after her and closing the back door. Finnick got in Judy's face, though he talked to both of them. "Nothing you see in here exists if you want help." He went about his business, finally, moving boxes around. Nick watched him with a practiced eye - technically nothing illegal, but more than enough to hold him on suspicion should the need arise. "You gone from dirty fox to dirty cop, Wilde. Still, it's an impressive move. No small part due to the bunny, I'm sure."

"And you're still pulling small time scams, so I see that hasn't changed."

Finnick poked a ladle into Nick's muzzle. "Don't start, -partner-. What do slimes and cottontail want that couldn't wait, before I kick you out on grounds of intruding without a warrant or probable cause?"

"Aurora." Was all Nick had to say, leaning back against the wall of the van.

"Oh hell no. Nick, you ain't goin after her right soon after she was released, are you?"

"We have questions for her that she might be able to help shed some light on, that's all."

"You know she don't like you, after that last snag you left her in. You were a brother to her, and you went and left her in a beautiful show of partnership. And you think she gonna just up and forget that? You're crazier than I thought you were. What you got, a death wish?" Finnick looked at Judy this time. "What you done that made him want to seek his own death?"

[Dynax]

Judy considered putting on her best professional face--they were here for work after all. But Finnick deserved more than that. She would never forget that he helped her when he had absolutely no reason to do so a year ago to help her tie up what was left of the Savage Conspiracy, and it was something that she would never forget. And since he wasn't doing anything illegal, and she hoped he correctly filed his taxes, she had no reason to suspect him from anything aside dishonest business. She did feel a twinge of guilt for this behavior, but they needed Finnick, and he had done nothing to deserve extra scrutiny. And he also could have just as easilly told them to get lost. He had no obgliation to take time out of his day. She thought back to when he had met Nick, when the latter was barely out of cubhood. He'd probably had good reason to take in a skinny Red Fox either then. Finnick's heart, she guessed, was bigger than his tiny self would have normally indicated. She wondered what his life had been like.


She hopped up into the van and Finnick slammed the door behind them both. It smelled, for some reason, like cigarette smoke, fox hair, cheap food products and gasoline. She dutifully ignored the boxes, that were, to no one's surprise, unlabeled. She listened to the echange between the two foxes. She winced inwardly at the suggestion that a young Nick and Aurora had been close. This would not help their investigation at all...


At Finnick's question she raised her eyebrows.


"Nothing he hasn't done to himself," she said, "We're cops," she said simply. "And we're partners. As long as we're both together and if Aurora is keen to stay out of prison I don't think that she'll try to hurt him. What we need to know is just how to find her. She's not in trouble," she assured Finnick, "We just want to know if she can help us with any leads regarding the case we're working. It's important."

[Proto Triose]

Finnick looked extremely suspicious, stopping midway between moving a box. "She's done nothing to wind back up there, and you both know it. Don't go pestering her with legal jumbo." He finished moving the box, then wiped his forehead with a towel, draping it over his shoulder. "You gonna help and earn your information, or you just gonna sit there, Wilde? Don't pretend you don't know where it goes."

Nick sighed, standing and moving the box he'd been sitting on.

"Still. Long as you're not bringing her trouble. She's a good fox, and a good partner. Even if some don't show her that respect." He looked pointedly at Nick before cutting open the top of a box. "Last I heard, she took a job at Back to Basics. Hear she's security or on the line or somethin. Trying to get on the straight." He almost took something out of the box, then thought better of it, going to the back of the van. "Think that's all you wanted, so if you don't mind, I'm already over time on the delivery." He gestured them out.

Nick hopped out first this time, but as Judy went to follow, Finnick stopped her. "Listen, hopalong. Don't let what I said put doubt in you 'bout that fox out there. He had my back more times than I can count. Truth told, I'm jealous of what he's got.

You helped him. A lot. So, with Aurora trying to go clean," he looked extremely uncomfortable saying this, but he kept on. "Guess I'm sayin I wouldn't miss her too much if I lost another partner to the likes of you." Then he shoved her gently out of the van, where Nick caught her, knowing Finnick's blunt attitude. "Now get out of here. Fore I call the real cops." He slammed the door on them, and shortly after, the van started and pulled away.

Nick placed Judy on her feet after he realized he'd been holding her he whole time that Finnick drove off. "Well, that was worth it. What did he say before you shoved you out? Something life changing? He's a little rough around the tiny edges, but he was always like a fath ... Well, someone I looked up to. Or down to, as it were."

[Dynax]

Judy wondered about that. Twenty years of prison would doubtlessly change a person dramatically. Aurora would have spent her teenage years and her young adulthood in jail. A time when a young mammal should be going to school, getting a job, exploring what life had to offer her. What would life in the prison yard change her into? She was distracted by Finnick ushering them out, but when he stopped her she turned to face him. She blinked in surprise at his heartfelt words before she was discharged from the van and into Nick's arms. Annoyed, she squirmed until he put her down and she dusted herself off.


"He said...well. He's proud of you, Nick," she confessed as the van drove off into the dusty day. "For making it out." She clapped her hands together, consdiering their information and trying to turn the subject to work. Nick's emotions had been bruised enough for one day. "Right. So we have a good lead! Aurora works at the Back to Basics factory. So we just need---" she stopped dead in her tracks, her ears stiffening with something like realization. "Wait a second," she said, her eyes widening. "Back to basics. Bellweather said something about predators going back to basics. Mr. Buck was the co-CEO of Back to Basics the company, and he's been murdered by presumably, the Bloodmouth, whose identity is unknown. And suddenly we find that Aurora Pircir works there?" She started pacing. "Not all of these pieces fit, but some of them must! But I have a feeling that there's something suspicious going on at the Back to Basics factory, and I think we're going to need a warrant, and to check up on Mr. Buck's former partner. We have to get back to the station!"


**


They had rushed to the station in a flurry, tires squealing. A few hours later of whizzing around through headquarters, signing affidavits and finally scurrying to the courthouse to get a warrant issued, the pair were finally on their way to visit the Back to Basics in the factory district of Sahara Square. Judy parked the police cruiser and practically leaped out--back in her official uniform.


"Okay, here's the plan," she told Nick. "We'll go interview Aurora, and let Ben Feral sweat it out a bit. Then, we'll go to him and initiate a thorough sweep of the---"

[Proto Triose]

Nick was with her the whole way until she brought up going to interview Aurora together. Knowing her history, her time in prison, and more notably her history with him in specific, he didn't think it was a very good idea that Hopps come with him. "It's a good plan, except," he did his best to placate her before saying the next part, putting his paws on either of her shoulders. "For the part where we both go interview Aurora. I'm not saying I don't -want- you there by any wild stretch of the imagination. But the part you don't know about Aurora is what exactly her ideals were." He looked around the front of the factory, looking for ... Ah, there. He pointed at the logo, with multiple prey painted all around one of their by now iconic bars.

"See those prey advertising something healthy for predators? There's a reason I'm not surprised this is where Aurora decided to start a normal job. She is not so forgiving of the way predators were treated when Zootopia was first founded. I can understand where she's coming from, to a point. Would you want me with a shock collar on? But she had a bit more extreme of a view than the Forgive and Forget one I have.

Cute little bunny like you, in her book, is still prey to we predators, and should be treated as such. You know what I mean. Blood! Blood! Annnnd death, to take a page from your script. We're still treated as poorly. You know that, as well as I do. She just doesn't have the patience or the mentality to let it go, much less to recognize the tension on both of us living in one city together. Her speeches were all along the same lines.

My point is, I don't think she's going to take very kindly to the ex-partner who got her locked in jail showing up with prey for a partner. I know you don't like the idea of me going in to face her alone, not any more than I do, but I'll be fine. I want -" he almost said 'I want to protect you,' but that would have been bad on two fronts. One, because Judy was Judy, and two, because it was dangerously close to admitting just how much he cared about her. "- to make this as effective of an investigation as we can." He finished lamely. "What if we attacked at both times? I'll keep Aurora distracted and find out what I can. You do what you do best - go after the CEO, get a tour of the factory, sniff out anything that might lead us to where Buck went. Where the Bloodmouth could have possibly seen him or any of the other animals that were posted.

You've always been better at that kind of thing than me, anyway. Right?" He tilted her head up to look into her eyes, almost pleading with her not to push it. If she did, he would let her, of course, without further argument. But it would be a lot easier on him to deal with the Aurora that was only mad at him for leaving her, and not the Aurora that would be mad at him for leaving her to partner with prey. Especially getting as close to and as trusting with Judy as he was; Aurora would see that instantly. He knew he wouldn't be able to stop himself from defending her at every turn.

[Dynax]

Judy realized, lamely, belatedly she had not asked what Aurora's extreme views were. She had been so excited about putting the other pieces of the puzzle together that somehow it had slipped her normally discerning nature to do so. She had passed into the building without comment, but now it was her job to pay attention. She didn't need Nick pointing out the distasteful advertisements to notice them, and as big and garish as they were in the form of banners on the walls, she couldn't help but make a face. This company had its head on backwards, she thought grimly as they stepped over the threshold. Appealing the angriest, weakest parts of the mammals in the city. It was obscene in a way that made her recall the obscenity of Buck's murder.


She listened to Nick with her arms crossed. As much as she didn't want to admit it, Nick did have a point. If Aurora was the type to react very badly to a Prey police officer, as awful as it was, she needed to comply with his suggestion if she wanted to maximize their effectiveness. And at the same time, she realized that there was a good chance that Nick didn't want her to hear whatever it was Aurora was going to say. In truth, Judy might have felt like an intruder in that scenario anyway.


She almost rolled her eyes at Nick's attempt to appeal to her pride but she refrained, for the most part, her ear twitching in something a little like disbelief.


"Okay," she said at last, "I trust you. I'll meet you back at the entrance."


Almost moments after she said these words, a door on the upper level opened to reveal a Tazmanian Devil in a snappy black suit punctuated with a blood red tie. His fur was shiny and expertly styled, and his claws neatly trimmed and lacquered with clear gloss. And he was visibly nervous, even flanked by some kind of assistant and a peon.


"Officers Wilde, Hopps!" he said descending some stairs to meet them and looking like he was trying hard not to wring his hands. Judy was immediately on alert, he seemed very interested in cultivating this image of a cringing, nervous individual before the law, eager to please, but she also knew that most CEOs of large corporations had excellent stage presence and cool demeanors even when it looked like they were in trouble. They were politicians at heart, and they had to be. But she supposed he did have reason to be nervous. He was being thoroughly investigated on account of being Buck's former partner. "I'm sorry that we had to meet under such circumstances. I've heard such things about the two of you. If anyone had to search my factory, I suppose I would prefer it to be the two of you."

[/size][size=78%]"We thank you very much for your cooperation, Mr. Ferrel," Judy said with a bright, but professional voice, displaying the search warrant. "For starts, I think that I'll need a tour of the building, while Officier Wilde has need to speak with one of your employees--one Aurora Pircir? We understand she has been a security guard here for some six months or so."[/size]
[/size]
[/size][size=78%]"But of course. Is she in some kind of trouble?" Ferrel said concerndly. Judy made a mental note and gave Nick a guarded, meaningful look. What kind of CEO actually knew the names of his many security guards? There was no way Aurora could have made such an impression to someone who rarely visited the the factory at all. "Not at all," Judy soothed. "We just think that she may be able to help us answer a few questions given her expertise on the security cameras."[/size]
[/size]
[/size][size=78%]"Certainly," Ferrel said. "Augusta will show you the way." [/size]
[/size]
[/size][size=78%]The long legged snow leopard at his side nodded and gestured for Nick to follow her with her tail, "This way please, Officer Wilde." [/size]
[/size]
[/size]When Nick started to walk away with the leopard, Judy thought at his back, Good luck...[size=78%]


But she turned then to Ferrel and smiled. "Shall we?"


**


Augusta led Nick up a flight of stairs, to a catwalk and down an open hallway at the end of which was a control center. She knocked politely on the door and called gently, "Ms. Pircir, there is an Officer here to see you. He would just like to ask you a few questions."


Without waiting for the vixen inside to answer, she opened the door to reveal a bushy furred Arctic Fox perching on top of a chair. She was big for her species. While Artic Foxes could grow to be the densest and heaviest of the Foxes, they could never grow as lanky or tall. She wore a poorly fitting blue security guard's uniform--shirt, pants and a little hat that sat incongruously between her badly scared ears that glittered with a row of tarnished gold piercings. Around one of her thin wrists, a vanity she allowed herself was a pair of cheap gold bracelets. She might have been a pretty vixen, but experience and cynicism had hardened her flinty yellow eyes and twisted her face into something deeply wounded and just a twitch away from a toothy snarl.


She had actually been snarling, at a black and white image on the security camera of Judy, poking around the factory and taking pictures with her phone. But when the door opened she twirled in the char to meet Nick's eyes, and her lip curled back to show her long teeth.


"We've met." she said curtly.


Augusta seemed to take the hint. The bristling fur, the nasty look were all enough for the snow leopard to politely excuse herself and shut the door before furtively scurrying away.


"Long time no see, Nick," Aurora sneered. "Been about twenty years, don't you think? I nearly lost count."

[Proto Triose]

Nick stood for a while looking at the arctic fox, at the woman before him. He remembered her last as still a child, young and naive as he was. He knew how to handle his old partner, but that was just it - his -old- partner. This new creature before him, scarred, wearing jewelry, clearly angry with the world. No, not the world. Him. How did he treat her?

"Twenty years?" He quipped, peering over her shoulder at the camera screen, unwilling to look her directly in the eyes quite yet. He kept his arms away from his weapon, proudly let his badge shimmer in the dim light as a reminder to her. In case she had any ideas. "Was it that long ago? I thought for sure I had more time to write you. Never got that letter out, did I?" Nick shrugged. "Oops. But hey, we can catch up now!"

He stepped a little closer, to the side of her chair. "I see you're following my partner. Has she done something wrong? Security wise." He reached down, spun a knob that moved the camera, then turned to face her, finally looking at her. "Well that was clutsy of me. Did that," pointing at the camera screen that showed a metal wall now. "Move the camera? My mistake, I just get so curious sometimes. Especially about this demented, mentally damaged, misguided, and," he kept getting his muzzle closer to Aurora with every descriptive term, clearly taunting her. The old her, he always got involuntary information from by teasing her. Maybe it would work the same here?

"-Stupid- character. The Bloodmouth." Nick paused, keeping his muzzle inches from hers, but not quite touching. "Heard of them? Aurora?"

[Dynax]

"Has she done something wrong? Plenty. She dug you up out of the small time crime you'd sunken into and put you on her nasty Prey arm," Aurora snorted. At the mention of the Blood mouth, her ears flattened and she let a snarl leave her lips. "You might think you're a fancy Officer of he law now Nick, but I'll always know you for who you really are. A traitor." she threw a crumpled newspaper at him. "And the mammals you claim to serve? Look at how much they love you!" she sniped. She flattened her ears further. "I don't have to answer a single one of your godforsaken questions, Officer Wilde," she spat the name as though it were a curse. "So if you want answers, you better give me a good reason to do so, otherwise you can take your bushy red tail and march it right out of this room back to your beloved bunny Rabbit."


**


"We produce a top quality product, catering specifically to Predators," Ferrel was explaining as he toured Judy around the facility. "We take the highest quality insect proteins and sometimes fish and with the help of our talented chemists and dieticians come up with a compound that is not only nutritious but gives the flavor and nutrients of what you might call...er, pardon me for saying so, natural meals. A paleo-diet, if you will. After all, we have evolved of course, but dietary necessities haven't changed. Even Buck believed in that," he assured her. "Buck was such a passionate friend, and eager to understand and reach out to Predators in a way that few Prey do. I'm sure you in particular understand that, Officer."


Judy listened attentively, and answered as politely as she could in response. Finally, Ferrel was called away to an important meeting, leaving her to continue her search since they still had time on the clock. She thanked Ferrel for his time, and continued to poke around. She couldn't find much that was at all incriminating beyond the tasteness nature of the venture, and she was almost about to give up when she saw something flutter out of the corner of her eye.


She turned her phone flashlight onto a dark corner, punctuated by the shadows of the complex machienery and the workers on the line.


She picked it up carefully with her claws. A smudged ticket of some kind, red paper, bearing a number and a logo she didn't recognize. It looked almost like a stylized slash mark, and reminded her of gang signs she had seen in the past. He ears perked up. This was more like it. Even if it meant nothing, she knew exactly whom she wanted to see after this.