FIRST SALVO
A Zootopia fan fiction by Dan

Rated M+

(c) Zootopia 2016 by Disney Animated Studios
(Artist ownership) Ayden Gull from BRO GULLS by Anti_Dev
(Artist ownership) “I Will survive” by William Borba 2017
(Artist ownership) Will and Alex Gray, Sheath and Knife by Harmarist
(Artist ownership) Anubis and the buried bone by Harmarist
(c) (Artist ownership) The K’zin by Lary Niven.
(Artist ownership) Don Carnage Disney’s TAIL SPIN
(Artist ownership) Ikkey the Fox Kit by Inkbunny’s Ikkey
(Artist Ownership) Master Guns Flash by Inkbunny’s Flash Timberwolf
(Artist Ownership) Chuck  Dawson (cat) From Omaha the Cat Dancer  Reed Waller 1994
(Artist Ownership) Jag Damien Tiger from PuffyFluffy of Inkbunny
(Artist Ownership) Dean Wilson from the 1980 cartoon Animalympics
(Artist Ownership) Tanya Mousekovitz from American Tail

Chapter 30

Liberty Time part 5

MCRD Savanna
Quanaco Fleet Marine Base
Combat training range...Nanny Goat Slope
9:12 pm 22 August 2040
      Covering ground for a rabbit is normally a swift and easy thing to do, when you’re not burdened with a combat back pack on a ruck frame and a rifle. Even on four legs you stuck out like a misshaped tortoise and you were slower than you wanted to be but all of it made you not only super careful, it made you extra weary  of every little noise your big ears picked up along the way and the lack of a moon was actually an advantage to the five brothers for it cut down the unwanted extra glare that normally could have hampered their excellent night vision.
     Nori was on his turn to sprint ahead and “point” for the others and as he promised, he dragged Dori right on his fuzzy tail, much to Dori’s annoyance. When they stopped in the darkness among a patch of desert scrub, Nori pushed Dori onto his stomach and stood up to carefully look into the darkness around them and test the air with his nose. As Powen expected, they had reached the crest of the long slope in the topography around 9pm. From this point back to MCRD ten miles away, the brothers would have the high ground against opponents. The way back was going to be rough ground and slow; taking the next day and night to navigate the ten mile distance, but if it took almost all the allotted time? That was fine. Slow and steady favored the brothers out of a hurried rush for a cot and a meal.
     Finding things clear from where he stood, Nori pulled out a “cricket box” and “clicked” off a coded message for the other three brothers to join up.
Note: Cricket boxes were given to American soldiers on D-Day in June 1944 as a way to tell friend from foe at night or in the heavily forested and brush parts of Norman France where visibility was a difficulty. A “click” from a cricket was to get two “clicks” in return from an allied soldier. However, German bolt action rifles when cycled often sounded like cricket boxes.
     First Owen, then Powen and last Ori sprinted up the slope until they were all gathered at the top and laying on their stomachs in a circle. Another good advantage being bunnies? You didn’t have to talk above a very low whisper to be heard clearly…
    “No one heard anything coming up?” Owen asked the others, who shook their heads in reply. “Good.” Owen said as he reached into his large carry pocket on his pants and pulled out the armored tablet. “So here we are.” Owen said as he pointed to the dim blue lighted map. “A road is to the right of us here about a half a mile. The pre-briefing said there would be vehicle and armored patrols as well as foot patrols and entrenched watches so be extra attentive as we move. Don’t feel bad if you chase a ghost and jump at a cricket ok? Better to get spooked by a bug than ignore a fixed machine gun. Every sound should cause a call out.”
    Dori huffed a little….”Owen? Can you tell Nori to stop trying to climb up my rump?”
    “I’m being a pain in your ass for a good reason and it’s not because you have the wafers.” Nori replied.
    “You’re smothering me.” Dori complained. “I can take care of myself very well thank you? Don’t get me wrong “Bear Bear”? You’re just being a little over protective on what’s just a training mission.”
      “Better I treat it seriously now? than not at all.” Nori replied. “You’re going to be a corpsman Dori, a medic. Damn right I’m going to stay glued on your butt because everyone’s depending on you being alive if and when they need you, so stop your complaining and get used to it.”
      Nori patted Dori on his back...”Doc? That fits you nicely Dori. Those glasses you wear all the time just say “doctor”. I wouldn’t be so protective of you if I didn’t value you so much.”
      Owen patted Dori’s paw...”Don’t fret brother…Nori’s just sharing the same feelings we hall have. You’re going to be a damn good doctor and we’re going to make sure you get to be one.”
      “Will you guys stop “China dolling” me to death?” Dori yelped quietly.”Your always trying to shelter me from anything, cut me some damn slack!” Dori took a moment to sigh and resign himself to the fact that his brothers were going to remain as stubborn about him as they always were. “Are we going to lay here and shoot the snoots all night or are we going to get going?” He said gesturing with his thumb.
       Ori smirked...”So impatient….So Owen? Are we going or what?”
       Owen looked over the armored tablet then pulled out his all weather note book and a pencil. “We are here now...I want to make five miles before dawn. If we shift left one hundred yards….the way forwards from there looks like a lot of rocks, rolling hills and scrub. Very difficult to dig any holes around all that unless you’re a very large predator with good paws or you have entrenching tools, which will be a dead give-a-way.”
     Owen looked at Powen...”Pow, Pow? You got the point. We go one, two and two….Ori with me left, Dori and Nori right. Twenty and three…..Powen, twenty yards ahead...Dori and Nori, twenty yards from me and Ori. If you have a contact? Three quick clicks, count to three and then one for front, two for rear, three for right, four for left. Do “NOT” start shooting and no “Rock n’ Rolling” magazines unless I say “Light em up.”
Note: “Rock N Roll” means full automatic fire or point and spray.
      Owen twitched his nose...”Everyone ready?”
       When the other brothers nodded in reply, they all split and spread into a triangle formation with Powen taking up the point. The next seven hours would be spent in a very slow and methodical advance with stops as each brother paused to sniff the air and turn his large ears like a set of radar antenna as their natural night vision scanned for any sources of body heat…
       Dori pulled a pair of Vanilla wafers from a pocket and patted Nori on his shoulder…”Your medication.” He said in a whisper only a bunny could pick up.
      “Thanks.” Nori replied. “Brings back memories huh? Skulking around at night? Getting out of the warren house at 2am to do all kinds of stupid things?”
     “Giggles…taking daddy’s truck?” Dori said.
     “Oh fritz.” Nori replied...”The five of us trying to work the steering and the pedals?”
     “What a cluster fluck.” Dori said smiling.
     “Damn it….” Remember daddy? “Darn it Bonnie! Some one stole my truck!” Nori mimicked their father Stu. “Damn it all to Fritz!” “And where were we Dori?”
    “All huddled in Owen’s room under the covers because Ori left his stuffed animal in the cab.” Dori said. “Daddy was fricken pissed.”
    “Boys! Get down here!” Nori replied. “Oh Fritz I thought we were so dead when the sheriff found the truck in the river. “Did you boys see anyone messing around with my truck?!” And what did good old crazy Ori do? “I can’t lie daddy! I took it!”
     “Daddy looked at Ori like he’d gone stupid.” Dori said. “We sure lied our butts out of that one. I think we should finally fess up to it and tell him. It was wrong to lie to him.”
       Nori nodded back. “I think we should. I think we should all blame Ori and say he was right so Paw can spank him and we can laugh at how he enjoys it. Let’s face it Dori? Ori is the most tenderized bunny in all the borough.”
      Suddenly...three clicks sounded out from up ahead and other four brothers dove for the ground with their rifles pointing in all directions. Then came a single click.
       How far the brothers had advanced since they started from the crest of the hill didn’t matter, only the fact that Powen had pressed himself against the side of a small hill concerned Owen as he slowly moved up and crawled on his hands and knees….
     “What cha got there Pow Pow?” Owen asked.
     “Contact front. Bout...oh….fifteen yards North. Five voices so far. And? They stink like dogs. I swear wolves don’t bath or wash their tail holes good enough and that flea powder fricken tweaks my nostrils bad.” Powen said. “Do you have that snake camera you ordered from Pawzazon?”
      Owen slowly pulled a fiber optic line, with a camera lens at one end and a USB port at the other end, out of his back pack and attached it to the armored tablet. He gave the camera end to Powen and watched the screen while his brother manipulated the camera over the lip of the hill…
      “Hold it right there “Pow Pow”.” Owen asked with a raised paw finger. “Yeah...it’s a fixed trench. I see only two wolves.” Owen said as Dori, Ori and Nori crawled up...”What gives?” Ori asked.
      “Wolves.” Powen replied. 
      Ori snorted. “Thought so….gawd they stink. Must be wet fur and Advantage flea powder.”
      “We can skirt around them.” Nori said.
      “And….they might be our company mates.” Powen said. He reached for the armored tablet and tapped the screen...”Owen? Bring up the WIFI connection listing?”
      “You really did your homework don’t you?” Owen asked as Powen looked at the screen….
      “Well? There’s another company WIFI active some place. The signal strength from it is good.” Powen said as he looked over the rim of the hill. “Let me try the blue light.”
      Owen nodded in approval and turned to his other brothers...”Spread out. Everyone stay at least five yards from each other, get ready to “rock n roll” these guys. Ori? You toss two grenades, I’ll toss two grenades if we start shooting. Let’s pin these guys in the trench…...go.”
      The brothers spread out in a firing line as Powen pulled out his combat flashlight and affixed a blue filter to the bulb head...”You got the camera on them?” He asked Owen. “I don’t want to stand up and give em a good target.”
     “Yup.” Owen replied. “Go ahead and give em the signal.”
     Powen took the armored tablet from his brother to watch the reaction of the entrenched group of wolves as he raised his paw with the flashlight over the lip of the hill top and started flashing a series of “morse flicks” with the button on the power switch. He sent a signal, waited a few seconds then sent the signal four more times until the wolves in the trench sent the reply…
     “Well they replied with the right signal.” Powen said to Owen. “Now one of them’s standing out of the trench waving his paw at us.”
     “Must be some of our company mates then.” Owen said, yet Powen waved his paw in reply….
     “Everyone stay put for a minute.” Powen said as he stood up and waved at the wolf...”That’s “Droo” Druchi. Let me go see him first.” Owen said as he just casually walked the distance from where the brothers lay poised with their rifles pointing to where the wolves were sitting in the trench.
     “Is he too cocky or what?” Ori snorted at Owen.
      “You know Powen’s at his best when he’s this calm.” Owen replied. “Stay sharp.”
      “Do we have to drag these canines with us?” Nori huffed. “You can smell em a mile away.”
      “Everyone cut the gabbing.” Owen warned.
       Powen walked up to Druchi, a Grey Wolf with a reddish streak of fur running from his head to his tail, and smiled...”Yo Droo. You guys chose to move at night too?”
      “Yeah.” Druchi replied. “How many you got?”
      “Four others. Let me wave em over.” Powen turned back to his brothers then snapped his rifle to his shoulder and quickly shot the four wolves in the trench before they could try to aim!”
“BLAM!BLAM!BLAM!BLAM!”
“OH SNIT!” Nori yelped as he jumped up with his rifle and charged!
“NORI?!” Owen yelled. “GAWD DAMN IT!” Owen chased after Nori with Ori and Dori right behind him and caught the bigger bunny by an arm...”What the hell are you doing?!” Owen snapped at Nori.
“I thought Powen had put himself in a bushwhack!” Nori huffed back.
“You move when I tell you to move “Gorvilla”. This could have been a sucker play by a split company and you would have gotten us all whacked.” Owen said with a snort. He then patted Nori on the shoulder. “Need to control those impulses better, brother.” Owen then walked up to Druchi. “You got captured huh?”
“Me and my five didn’t last the first hour.” Druchi replied. “I was on point and the other ones tripped a bouncing Betty land mine simulator. Yeah….they have mine fields out here too by the way or did you figure that out?”
    Powen slung his rifle over his shoulder. “We’re not moving at a slow crawl for nothing.”
    One of the wolf Marines who got hit in the trench snorted at Powen...”Hey cotton dick, how did you know we weren’t in your company?”
    “Maybe you should have watched your prisoner more. He gave you pups away when he waved at me.” Powen replied. “You guys didn’t see he was waving “no” with his paw finger? What kind of Marines are you guys? The comedy clowns from the Repo Depot?”
     Owen looked at the wolves as they climbed from the trench. “Nope. They’re weekend whelps. Marine reserves.”
      “Probably a bunch of garden groomers in real life.” Dori snickered.
       “What was that carrot sucker?” One of the wolves snarled.
       “Want to make a jump and get a set of flat teeth clamped on your snoot dish licker?” Nori snarled back.
        Powen waved a paw...”No fights guys, we don’t have time for that. Let’s rape these wolves of their equipment and get going.” Powen said as he walked from wolf to wolf stripping them of their weapons and ammunition and rifling through their pockets….
     “Owen? More grenades. Everyone? More ammunition. Dori? More bandages. Druchi? Your armored tablet back.” Powen then looked over the four defeated wolf Marines and waved his paw….”Go home now. We won’t tell everyone you all got tail wiped by a bunch of cotton tailed dick faces, we’ll be that kind.”
      Owen gave Druchi a back pack and an M-14 paint ball rifle. “Don’t take anything we say about wolves seriously?”
      “I don’t care.” Druchi replied. “I know my scent is pretty rank with you guys.”
      “Why do you all use that Advantage stuff? Doesn’t work worth a damn any way. Dori asked. “If you ask me? That stuff causes dermatitis inflammation.”
      “Guys? Can we all stop the medical school discussions and shut our snoots?” Owen barked. “Droo? Do you need some time to rest or are you fit?”
       Druchi cycled the charge bolt on his rifle. “I’m fresh. What’s the plan?”
       “We want to make our five mile mark by 4am and dig in where there’s soft ground so we can make some fighting boroughs.” Powen replied.
        “So with Droo...” Owen said as he pulled out his armored tablet. “We put Powen farther out, droo behind him, Me center, Ori to our right, Nori to our left and Dori behind us. Same reaction plan….three clicks, pause then one click for front, two for left, three for right and four for the rear. Everyone understand?”
       The others in the group nodded and soon they were off again across the cold Sahara expanse.
The Gray House
Rain Forest District
11 pm 22 August 2040
      Alex picked up his smart phone from the night stand and looked again at the number Kimba had given him for Tina Weiss. Why a female wolf that popular would be interested in him was strange...unless all he’d be to her was a trophy she could use...but Alex didn’t see Tina being that type of female. Yet he didn’t fit the school jock mold, he didn’t play school sports at all. In fact he wasn’t a stand out at all unless she liked the outsider / studious kind. Though he’d had that long sexual fling with Will...Alex didn’t consider himself a full on homosexual...at least not yet any way. He shook his head to “clean the cobwebs” out and decided to throw himself into the pool of fire by tapping the call button and waiting for Tina to reply….
      “Hello?” She answered in a sweet yet sleepish voice.
      “Sorry to call you so late.” Alex replied. “It’s Alex Gray.”
      “Oh! Oh no problem...I wasn’t sleeping just yet. Hi.” Tina said. “Let me guess? Kimba told you didn’t he?”
      “Yeah.” Alex replied as he sat up in his bed. “He was pretty insistent that I give you a call. He thinks…..he thinks that you like me….though we’ve never met or talked to each other that silly cat. Oh I’m sorry….he’s a “rare white lion” so I’m supposed to bow and call him a gawd or something stupid.”
      Tina giggled….”He’s partially right. I like you….because well…..you have such a gorgeous face and beautiful hair...”
      Alex played with his head tuft of thick long fur...”I waste my whole day in perming and preening it but this isn’t about me as much as about you.” Alex said. “I think….I think you’re to beautiful for a scruffy slug like me.”
      “Scruffy you’re not.” Tina replied. “As for a slug? I haven’t stepped on you yet.”
      Alex played with his lips...”Hmmmm…how would you like to do dinner?”
      “How about I pay for a movie and you pay for dinner?” Tina replied.
      “What movie do you wanna go see?” Alex asked.
     “Wolf’s Rein of course. Unless you’ve seen it?” Tina asked.
     “That’s cool!” Alex replied. “No, I haven’t seen it but from the previews it looks like a pants wetter.” Alex slapped his forehead. “Oh….that sounded just smart.”
      “You’re so funny.” Tina replied. “Tomorrow night?”
      “Yeah….tomorrow is fine.” Alex said with a smile. “See you then, Tina.”
      “Night Alex.” Tina replied before she clicked off.
      As if on cue...Alex’s father stuck his head through the bedroom door. “I better see a condom in your wallet before you leave.”
      “What?!” Alex yelped back. “Oh what the hell Dad?! You were listening through my door?!”

       “Well….you didn’t exactly hide it Son?” The big wolf replied. “You will carry a condom.”
       “Dad?! Get the fluck out of my room before I snap your tail off?! Damn!” Alex snapped. “And don’t you tell Will snit about it! You tell Will and I’ll leave!”
      “Oh cut the dramatics Alex.” Gordon Gray snarled. “I’m just being your attentive father. You’re going to be a gentle-wolf and treat her right…..right?”
       “At least she’s not a male Kangaroo in a dress?” Alex sniped his father. “Did you treat “her” right Dad?”
       “Just checking what your intentions are Son.” Gordon snickered.
       Alex jumped off his bed and wrestled his father out the door….”Ok, check done now get the fluck out of my room Secret Agent prick! Go! Go to bed and try to please mom for once as if you could ever do it right any way!”
       Alex closed the door and sighed as he leaned against it….
      “Bring a turkey baster too Alex.” Gordon sniped from the other side.
      “GO TO FLUCKEN BED DAD!” Alex yelped back.
July 24, 2023
Judy and Nick’s apartment
Downtown Zootopia

       Judy was looking around in a real panic while Nick stood in the living room holding a fresh diaper in his paw…

       “Jackson?! Jackson Wilde you come out here right now! Now little mammal!” Nick yelled.

        “Oh my gawd Nick!” Judy gasped. “I left the front door open! Jackson! Jackson you come to Mommy right now!” Judy ran from room to room going through the closets, looking under the bed, behind anyplace she thought her little son could hide. Then she snatched her smart phone off the kitchen table…

        “Carrots?” Nick asked. “What are you doing?”

        “I’m calling my mother!” Judy yelped. “Oh Gawd Nick! I left the apartment door open! He could have ran out!”

         Nick calmly walked up and grabbed the phone. “You are not going to call Bonnie and Stu Carrots.” Nick said as he held the phone out of Judy’s reach. “If you call them? They will panic, they will get in Stewarts’ old truck and they will get into an accident.”

       “But our baby’s gone Nick!” Judy screamed. “What’s wrong with you?! Ugh! Sometimes foxes drive me bat snit I swear!”

        Nick tickled Judy’s chin….”I always say you bunnies get too emotional over everything, If I know our Son….by the way he is part fox so I do know him carrots...he will not have walked out of the apartment because right now he’s getting his giggles from us going stupid crazy.”

      “Well then mister fox!” Judy huffed. “You find our Son!” Judy snapped as she hopped up and snagged her phone...”I’m calling my mother!”

      “Aaaachoo!” Suddenly a cute little sneeze broke the air.

      “What did I tell you Carrots?” Nick said as he slowly walked around the apartment. “He’s part fox and part me and when I was young and liked to play the diaper steeple chase with my mother? I always looked for a good place...”

       Nick reached into the freshly cleaned laundry stuffed into a plastic basket and pulled out Jackson! Minus a pair of fresh underwear. “AH HAH!” Nick yelped with a smile...which turned into a frown the moment the whiff of fresh urine caught his nostrils….

       “And…...he peed all in the freshly washed clothes.” Nick snorted.

       “Grrrrrr….” Judy stomped across the floor growling. “Young mammal! Do you know what you just put up through?!”

         “He’s a year and a few months and he doesn’t care.” Nick said as he wrapped his arms and paws around his son. “Don’t you spank him Carrots.”

         “Oh I’ll do more than spank his little butt.” Judy said sounding angry as she took Jackson from Nick...”Jackson! No! No! No! No! No you do not run away when it’s time to change your diaper! No! You do not hide from Mommy and Daddy! And no…..I can’t spank him because of that face...Ohhhhhh….Jackie? Please, Please, Please don’t do that to Mommy again.” Judy hugged her baby tight as Nick stood patting his foot on the floor.

        “She might not spank you kiddo but I have no such problems.” Nick took Jackson from Judy and started to walk towards the baby’s room…

        “NICK!” Judy yelled. “Do NOT put a paw to our Son!”

         Nick stopped and raised a paw finger...”Carrots? Spare the rod, spoil the kitten….cub…..cub-ten….fox-bunny baby…..whatever? Just…...chill.”

         Nick placed Jackson on the changing table in his room and waved his new diaper in his snoot….”Ok Jackie...here is where you and I come to an understanding.”

        Jackson stood up, grabbed Nicks cheeks, kissed him on his lips and said in a sweet squeaky voice….”Dada? Gook-kee?”

        “Yes Jackson….a cookie. No…...nooooooo…...you little scam artist?” Nick huffed as he tickled his son. “Who runs the house here?”

          Jackson plopped down on his butt laughing…..”Daddy!”

         “Yeah! Yeah….that’s right.” Nick replied as he laid his son down on his back. “That’s right Jackson...I am King Fox of this house, not you. We tell you to do and you obey. Mommy and Daddy are big and you are little. You don’t tell us what to do and when we tell you to behave? You behave…...because we do not want to spank you. Bad Jackson means bad spankings on you little bum and we don’t….”

        Nick had closed his eyes during his long winded speech of superiority and sure enough? Jackson was still nude and on the loose again!

         “What the?!” Nick said as he looked at the empty change table. “Carrots?! He’s flown the nest again!”

the Paradise Cove Hotel
Seal Island in the Outbacks
11:30 pm 22 August 2040
        Darla shook her head as she chuckled….”You?….You were a terrorist to your parents!”
        “I thought it was fun to ditch my diapers and watch my poor mother panic.” Jackson said as he shrugged. “I really wasn’t always that bad. Did I ever tell you how I revenge pissed on my Dad?”
        Darla chuckled...”I have a feeling this is going to be amusing.”
        “I was….I think Mom said I was nineteen months old at the time. I was wanting a baby cookie so I pointed to the jar and got my Dad’s attention. He told me latter that he said “no” because it was very close to dinner. All I knew? ,being as young as I was, was that the big old fox said “no.”….the big meany. I decided to exact my revenge at being so jilted by my father...hence forth….operation stinky shower.”
         Darla smirked. “You had good bowel control at 19 months?”
         “I had excellent bowel control at 23 months.” Jackson replied. “So Dad does what every Dad does before bed time. He climbed on the couch, laid on his stomach and went to sleep. I of course….went right to work and my Mom got lucky and caught it in pictures and video on her trusty smart phone. Down went my diaper, out came my penis and splash! The look on my “pissed off” face coupled with my Dads’ complete shock at being ambushed is priceless, Mom even has it framed in the house as “The pissy Jackson”
       Darla almost fell out of the bed laughing….”OH MY GAWD! You were totally a terrorist toddler!” She said as she punched Jackson in the arm and snuggled up to him. “So? Have you found a wedding dress fit for me yet?”
      “Tough to find one that fits well on an otter.” Jackson replied.

       “You’re making excuses Jackie?” Darla said with a pouty face. “You promised
me a beautiful wedding dress?”

        “You otters can be so demanding.” Jackson said as he pulled Darla onto his chest and tickled her nose...”We have one more day before we have to go back to the ship for duty so what’s on tap for fun tomorrow?”

        Darla thought….”How about we walk the top of the hotel? We haven’t looked at the rest of Seal Island.”

        “Yeah….That’s cool.” Jackson said as he gave Darla a kiss. “You feel like a shower?”

        “Yes…..” Darla replied. “I’m starting to get overly oily. Don’t want to make any of your further feeble attempts at grabbing my tail any more difficult do I?”

         “No.” Jackson replied. “I really am at a sorry disadvantage to you in the ocean, the rivers, a pool and even a tub Dar. I yield to the superior mammal that you are.” Jackson said with a bow. Darla followed Jackson into the bathroom and soon both were passionately into kissing, petting and soaping each other thick with suds…

        “Mmmmm….I love this fruity scent shampoo you have for your fur.” Jackson said as he scratched his paw claws into Darla’s back. “What is that? Tropical delight?” He asked her as he rubbed.

         “No….” Darla replied as she placed her paws onto the wall of the shower and arched her back inwards….”Mojo Sundae. Funny name for a shampoo huh?”

         Jackson paws in his scratching to sniff deeply….”No….It’s very erotic.” The bunny-fox said as he slowly poured more of the shampoo from the bottle. He slowly massaged it into Darla’s back...down to her rump and gently rubbed her tail from the base to the tip……

        “And…...you just lost!” Jackson yelped happily!

       “Lost?” Darla asked. “Lost what?”

        “I….just stroked your tail from the base to the tip in water and you lost.” Jackson snickered.

         “I said “in water” Jackson!” Darla yelped.

         “You didn’t specify the kind of water? Darla!” Jackson yelped back. “We’re “in” a shower, a shower has water, you get “into” the shower to be covered by water so you lost.”

         “Oh you are so “dick-snit-airy-ing” the meaning!” Darla snapped. “Of course I meant a “body” of water, not a “spray” of water! And I didn’t say we would go into anything to be covered by water!”

         “Well you didn’t specify the conditions. You lost!” Jackson yelped. “Should I pull out my cell phone and play every conversation we’ve had regarding this little game?”

        “You recorded them?!” Darla snapped.

        “If it meant having to fact check you wrong? Of course I did….like you haven’t been doing the same?” Jackson said as he tickled Darla’s chin. “Come on Dar? You know my Dad? He gave me all his best tricks in return for grooming his tail and let me tell you? I groomed his tail…..a lot.”

        Darla sneered...”That sounds so perverted.”

        “Well anyway? You lost. Admit it?” Jackson said as he leaned over Darla’s back and gently rubbed between her legs...”You have to admit? It was one of our lack luster competition ideas wasn’t it?”

       “You still have to work for it Jackie.” Darla said with her eyes slit’d.

        Jackson kissed over her neck…”And work I shall...to make you happy.”

         Darla was soon feeling like she would melt...”I like a hard working mammal.” She said with a cooing sound as she slipped downwards in the tub until she and Jackson were writhing around in deep passion for each other…

         “Let me get a rubber on?” Jackson said softly.

         “This ATM doesn’t accept plastic.” Darla sighed.

         “It’s rubber….not plastic.” Jackson replied.

          “Don’t start with the “Dick-snit-airy” again school teacher?” Darla snorted as she held Jackson by his arms. “Just hurry up? I’m getting cold down here.”

           “Just want to be safe.” Jackson said as he reached over the tub to the bathroom floor and pulled a rubber from his pants pocket.

           “Always the boy scout.” Darla said as she wrapped her arms around Jackson’s neck and pulled him down. “I don’t want to smell like burnt tire rubber.”

          “That’s why foreplay was created.” Jackson said softly. “And next to my father? I am so gifted at….Magic Tongue.”

          Darla snickered. “Your father’s also known as a good bull snit artist too.”

          “If you didn’t like his artistry? You would never have fallen for my charms?” Jackson said as he kissed down the length of Darla’s body and felt her quiver as he began to minister to her pleasure button…

           “Ok…...sigh….maybe you’re not such a bull-snit artist like your father?” She said softly. “Perhaps your ten times better than him?”

MCRD Savanna
Quanaco Fleet Marine Base
Combat training range
four miles from Nanny Goat Hill start
Six left to MCRD
3:39 am 23 August 2040
       The Brothers and Druchi Droo (wolf) had picked up three additional members from their recruit company in their slow and careful walk over the Savanna range. Private Mossburg (a male lion) Private Rabina (a female leopard) and Private Surry (another bunny) each were survivors from their deposited groups. Obviously the OpForce Marine regiment chosen to give the recruits a hard time was racking up a good score of kills.
      Powen brought the squad to a stop with a raised paw and brought them into a circle where the rolling sand and rock ground formed a protective bowl around them as Owen Hopps pulled out his armored tablet…
     “Ok….” Powen spoke. “We have one more mile ahead of us before we have to stop and dig in. Between us and where we want to go, there’s a road going from East to West at about a thousand yards ahead. To the right of our path is a combat training vilage and you can be sure the OpForce has that stuffed as well as the road patrolled so we can expect things to be a little tight.”
    Private Rabina studied the map. “What about a diversion then? Two of us break off, shoot up the town and force the OpForce to deal with us while the rest break through?”
    Owen looked at Powen. “Q	uite the risk. It would be better if we kept everyone together and maintained a good “power bond” so we can put as much rounds down range as possible. Give the OpForce a bee hive they dare not tangle with.”
    Powen replied. “Well don’t dismiss her idea right out of the gate brother. A diversion’s a good idea...if we could grab a vehicle?”
    “Pow Pow? Are you suggesting we trash a taxpayer funded military vehicle for some kind of crazy diversionary tactic?” Owen snorted.
       “Ummmm…..yes…..yes I do.” Powen replied smirking. “It’ll work, trust me.”
        Dori stood up for a moment and stretched himself...”Can’t wait to get to that spot Powen so I can get some sleep...”
      Then…..”THWACK!”….Dori felt a sharp sting on his chest and felt splatter hit his face! “OH GAWD DAMN IT!” He yelled as he looked down at the paint splotch.
      “SNIPER!” Owen screamed and the small platoon dropped to their stomachs and ate sand while Dori sat on his butt pouting….
      “YOU SUCK SNIPER!” Dori yelped.
       Nori rolled onto his back and looked at Dori...”Told you, you can’t stand up out here!”
      “You think?” Dori huffed back. He turned to Owen and frowned. “Sorry Owen.”
       “We shall avenged your splotted memory.” Owen snorted. “Pow Pow? Best guess?”
      Powen replied. “He shot behind us and up the hill. He has the high ground and the advantage.”
      Owen waved his paw around. “Everyone move towards the uphill side of this dip! Pull your bodies in as tight as you can, don’t give this shooter a good target!”
      “Easy for you to say Bro.” Nori huffed as he pulled Ori close to his side. “He’s got to be about half a football field off Owen. Maybe seventy yards?”
       “Simple way to find out.” Powen replied calmly and without hesitation he raised his head up a little above the depression and threw up his ears….
       “KABLAM!” “KEERACK!” “ZING!”
       A paintball round flew between Powen’s ears causing the bunny to fall backwards onto his butt...”OOF! Oh?…..I say bout? Eighty Yards?”
      Dori snorted. “That was a stupid thing to do Powen?”
      “No.” Powen replied. “That was a scientific method. You standing and yawning? That was stupid.”
       Private Surry scowled...”So what’s the plan here? We can’t spend the rest of the night trying to play with this guy? He’ll have a whole company coming down on us by morning.”
       Private Mossburg took a chance and quickly popped his head up, only to be kissing his snoot into the sand as a round brushed his left ear!
       “Crack! Zing!” Snit! He must have Night Vision Goggles or a scope to be this good in this darkness!”
        “He’s staying up on the high ground.” Powen said. “And while he’s got good night vision? I don’t think he’s using NVG (Night Vision Gear) or he would have taken us all by now.”
         “He could rush us.” Nori snorted. “Wouldn’t get us all but enough for any of his buddies to clean us all out by dawn.” Nori tried to rise up to aim into the dark but got jerked back down by Ori…
          “Don’t be foolish and waste your amo?” Ori said. “Hey Powen? Think you could nail him with the right bait?”
          “I’m sure that whatever you come up with Ori? It’s going to sound stupid.” Powen replied.
         “You guys never appreciate good ideas.” Ori snorted. “It’s worth a try?”
Moments later…..
        “What?….are you doing?” Druchi Droo asked Ori as the bunny removed his uniform.
        “Will you please get dressed?!” Rabina snorted. “What the hell?”
        “When facing a hunter? Act like a target.” Ori snickered back. “Who wouldn’t want to nail this good piece of Rabbit butt huh?”
        Owen shook his head. “Powen was right Ori...this is stupid.”

        Mossburg smirked. “Let me guess? He’s gay.”
        “No….” Powen replied. “He’s sort of a pain enthusiast with an over-drive of sexual tension.”
        “Yeah…..he’s gay and into bondage.” Rabina huffed.
        “I am NOT gay!” Ori snorted back. “And I certainly am not into bondage. I kind of enjoy being disciplined for being a bad bunny.” Ori said. He turned to Powen...”Can you get him if I can “trick him” out?”
        “That just sounded all kinds of disgusting brother.” Powen said as he adjusted his sights. “But I’ll set for fifty yards, hedge a little and see.”
        Ori wiggled his tush...”After all? You need to protect my beautiful cotton tail for future disciplinary needs.”
       Owen shook his head. “The after action report on all this is going to be interesting reading.”
       “I can’t believe we’re letting this happen.” Nori snorted. “This isn’t in our fighting manuals Owen.”
       “Since when do the Marines ever fight by the manuals?” Owen replied.
      Ori looked over the lip of the depression and sniffed the air….”He’s out there but he sure is good at hiding his scent.” Ori said as he looked at Powen. “You ready there brother?”
       “Do your thing.” Powen replied. “Just don’t do this if we get into real combat? Looking at your butt blinds me.”
       “Sheesh…..critic.” Ori snorted as he stood up naked….”HEY SNIPER! HOW ABOUT A NICE PIECE OF BUNNY BUTT?”
       The other Marines in the depression didn’t know if they should laugh, wince or shrink from embarrassment as Ori waved his tush around with his tail popped up like a big “get me!” flag…

      “OH COME ON THERE SNIPE-EEEEE….DON’T YOU WANNA HAVE THIS NICE FLUFFY TAIL ON YOUR KEY CHAIN?” Ori yelped. “COME ON MAMMAL?!” Ori said as he bent over and pulled his hind cheeks apart. “NAIL ME IN THE BULLS EYE MOTHER FLUCKER!”
       Owen was shaking his head and trying to ward off laughing himself silly...” Powen? Please don’t miss?”
       “Not my intention to do so there Owen.” Powen replied as he sat taking deep breaths. “So long as Ori doesn’t over due this performance of his?”
        Just for fun….Ori waved his butt in his brother’s face...”I don’t understand this mammal, Powen. He or she doesn’t want my tail? Don’t I have a gorgeous tail brother?”
       “At this distance? I won’t miss your “bulls eye” Ori. Finish this up already? The sniper’s smarter than you think.” Powen huffed.
        Suddenly….Ori dove for the ground as his ears detected the sound of movement behind him! “SHOOT!” He yelped as a paintball zinged past his head and bounced unbroken off of Powen’s right shoulder as he stood up, aimed and fired three rounds into the dark!
“BLAM!BLAM!BLAM!”
       A moment of silence went by and then a voice sounded out….”I’M HIT! YOU SUCK!”
      “I don’t believe it.” Private Rabina snorted. “It worked. That stupid, perverted trick worked.”
      Ori sat on his butt pulling up his BVD’s...”Well of course it worked. No one can resist the beauty of my cute rabbit butt.”
      Up walked a weasel Marine with his sniper rifle draped over his shoulders. “Stupid but effective. I was trying to hold back but I wanted to see how high I could have made you jump.”
     “Probably not that high since I’m immune to pain back there.” Ori said snickering as he patted his behind.
       Powen gestured with his paw….”I’ll take the rifle and your amo and anything else useful in your pockets?”
       “I should know better.” The Marine sniper said as he crossed his arms. “When I saw those big floppy ears perk up? I should have backed off. How much of me did you guys hear?”
        “Very little.” Owen replied. “Given that you had us in a hole. Of course you’re dead so I won’t bother asking if there’s anything between us and the next say….fifteen hundred yards?”
       “I’ll tell you only because I know the gunny who’s leading the group and he’s a dick and I hate his hump.” The weasel snorted. “You’re going to run into an AV-9 patrol with a squad and they have an elephant ears on board so you’ll need to be extra quiet or they will light you up good. They have mortar  and grenade launcher simulators. Good luck with that because I think you ‘re all that remains of your training company by that point.”
        Owen looked at his group. “Ok….they just made camping simple, we’re going to have to stay here tonight.”
         Dori waved goodbye to the others...”You guys enjoy the dirt. I’ll be thinking of you tomorrow in the chow hall, or from the comfort of my bed. I’m dead remember?”
Nick and Judy’s house
Downtown Zootopia
5 am 23 August 2040
        Judy woke up to the faint sound of soft music playing from a pair of head phones and turned to see Nick reading some papers in his paws…
        “How long have you been awake?” She asked.
        “Just an hour.” Nick replied as he adjusted his reading glasses. “I wanted to look at these four offers again for the house and you know….my back’s singing again.”
        Judy sighed...”You need your sleep.”
       “I’m not taking those tranks.” Nick replied. “You know those aren’t good for anyone? I’m fine Carrots….really. Wanna go make some coffee?”
        Judy slipped out of the bed and stretched. “Sure. Oh? Can you manage yourself today?”
        “I manage myself every day Carrots. Why do you ask?” Nick asked as he rolled onto his side.
        “I promised Dawn Bellweather we’d go out for a females’ breakfast.” Judy replied.
        “How timely.” Nick said. “Gid Gray is coming over this morning to see me. We’re going to have a “fox nip” and you’re not invited. Gid wants me to be his test mammal for a new fox specialty breakfast pie and I want to talk to him about investments in his company.”
         “If you want to invest some of our money on Gideon then you didn’t need to ask me about it.” Judy said as she dropped her panties and pulled a bath towel out of the dresser draw. “Should have done it a while back.” Judy said as she stopped at the bathroom door. “Those four offers? Are you going to start showing off the house?”
       “Jackson’s insistent.” Nick replied. “He wants us to move as soon as we can.”
        “I don’t want to move until I retire. I thought I made that clear to him?” Judy said as she leaned against the bathroom door frame.
        “Carrots?” Nick said with a serious face. “Jackson said he has no interest in coming back to this house for old times sake. He wants us out of the city and there’s no ambiguity as to why. He will hound us until we move and that’s what we’re going to do as soon as possible. That being said? You and I will sit with these four offers and select who goes first and who goes last. Now? Go, shoo, shower like a good bunny. And tell Dawn I said hi.”

Kobo Cottage Orphans’ home
Windy South Island, The Outbacks
6 am 23 August 2040
       Chancy (Will and Alexs’ Uncle) awoke on a floor mat to find he’d picked up a “comfort teddy” who slept with him most of the night. Another Marine couldn’t miss the opportunity to snipe….
       “Awwww….what an adorable couple. I didn’t know you like em young Gunny?” The Corporal snickered.
        “I’ll beat you until you are young you snit.” Chancy replied. “I guess she took a liking to me.” Chancy said as he gave the female kangaroo joey toddler a kiss on the head. “Now doesn’t this beat getting into bar fights Corporal Olander? (a Lynx)”
         “Good for evaluations.” Olander replied. “This place needs a little love. So can we adopt any of these?”
         “If we’re single….no. Single parenting is not allowed in the Corps. But? If and when I do retire, I will come back here to file papers. This cute little thing’s grown on me.” Chancy said as he got up from the floor mat and gently kissed the little joey on her head.
         “So why aren’t you married Gunny?” Olander asked. “To much love for the corps I guess?”
        “Ambition can be a mean drug Corporal. It deprives you of everything but the drive. I had two serious relationships...just didn’t fit well with my personality. Maybe for me it’s too late, I mean, who wants a retired old scruffy Marine?” Chancy said as he and Olander walked to the kitchen.
         “It doesn’t mean you can’t try Gunny.” Olander said. “You’re not “that ancient” I mean….you love cubs and kittens, that’s obvious. There’s plenty of single females out there with a cub or a pair of Kits hanging on to their shirt tails, there’s your ice breaker.”
         “Perhaps.” Chancy replied. “Well today’s fun time activity is going to be putting up that new sheet rock in that playroom we’re building...”

        Chancy felt a tug on his BVD’s and looked down to see the little female joey toddler looking up at him…
        “Good morning sunshine.” Chancy said smiling. “And what do you need?”
        The joey wrapped herself around Chancy’s leg. “Awww...she wants to be an appendage.” Orlander said as he tickled the joey’s chin and quickly got a nip from her teeth! “Ouch! Ok…..she’s clearly staked her claim to you obviously?”
          Chancy knelt down and gave the joey a kiss….”What is it sweet heart? Diaper or are you hungry?”
         “She’s pointing to the kitchen so obviously she’s hungry.” Olander said as Chancy picked the joey up. “Gunny? If you don’t leave here with her? I’ll be shocked.”
        “Just the fact that she likes me is surprising. Then again I’m not that strange to cubs and kits, I have two nephews I spoil a lot. One’s going to join the Corps when he’s old enough.” Chancy said as he carried the joey into the kitchen and sat her on the counter. “What’s it going to be darling? Cereal or fruit?”
         The Joey pointed to a bottle on the counter….”No….no…..no beer for you.”
        “She has her priorities right.” Orlander giggled as he reached for a head of bananas and got a pair of waving paws in reply. “Yup….she wants fruit.” Orlander said as he pulled off a banana, peeled it and gave the Joey her breakfast. “So what’s up after we go home Gunny?” Orlander asked Chancy.
        “I try to put in my papers again to retire.” Chancy replied. “I really am getting too old to be running through the bushes. If I don’t retire then you won’t move up to take my place and enjoy the privileges of dealing with drunk and rowdy youngsters and the sudden shock of seeing two tied up marines getting it on in the showers.”
        “Or...a Marine who bangs a tranny on liberty.” Orlander snickered.
         “That is a rumor.” Chancy snorted back. “You’d be better off not mentioning it again.”

         “Just wondering if “she” was worth the effort Gunny?” Orlander said with a devilish sneer.
the Paradise Cove Hotel
Seal Island in the Outbacks
7am 23 August 2040
       Darla awoke to the smell of cooked food and Jackson tickling her lips with an oyster shell...”Good morning.” He said softly.
       “Mmmmm….did you order breakfast?” She asked as Jackson used a pick to open the shell and feed her the oyster…
     ”Nope. I used the little room nook. I made you a big pile of scrambled eggs with oysters and clam. Me? A piece of salmon, eggs and toast.”
        “I hope this happens every morning on our weekends.” Darla said as she sat up and watched Jackson affix an eating napkin around her neck. “You’re so sweet.”
      “That’s what I hope the ZPD believes when I become a crime boss.” Jackson said smiling.
      “You? A mob boss?” Darla asked.
      “I’m not laughing am I?” Jackson replied seriously then he busted out laughing. “You’re right...me? A crime boss? In a dream. All I want is to be a simple electronics guy at some department store handing out advertisements and showing little nose pickers the latest video games and smart phones. And my wife? She can move her paws around like “Vana White Lioness” selling the latest home entertainment system….in the nude.”
      “Fat chance in a thousand years jackie.” Darla huffed. “You know? Part of me wishes we could stay here and part of me is screaming to get back to welding. I can’t sit back and enjoy this place for very long, I’m not the veggie kind of mammal.”
      “What?” Jackson said with a smirk. “You mean I’m sexually boring you? I’m hurt Dar…..very hurt.”
       “Want me to kiss your boo boo?” Darla asked as she reached out and softly cupped Jackson’s privates under his BVD’s.
        “No.” Jackson replied as he got close to Darla’s snoot and gave it a lick kiss. “You just sit back and let me feed you breakfast. Then we can go on from there.”
         Darla replied softly. “Maybe you would make a good mafia boss after all?” 
Bucky’s Resturaunt
Downtown Zootopia
8am 23 August 2040
       “Morning Judy!” Dawn Bellweather (A little female lamb) said with joy as she hugged Judy and pulled her along to a table...”Now allow me to buy the breakfast? I insist you don’t argue about it because I am paying.” Dawn persisted. “So? Tell me you are so not ready to retire yet? I know you too well Judy, you have a ton of butterflies in your stomach.”
        “Dawn? Don’t be silly? Of course I’m not ready to retire. Of course my stomach is all knotted up right now. But….I wanted to pay for the breakfast to reward you for all the good work you’ve done with the Department Public Service Announcements. You’ve always had a spark in creative dramatics.”
         Dawn smiled and went into some improv dramatics, bringing back memories  for both of them….”Oh! Do hurry! Officer Hopps is down and she’s being attacked by a vicious fox!” Dawn emoted like a distressed heroine. “Oh my! He’s ripping her clothes off and despoiling her!”
        “Dawn!” Judy yelped with a coughing laugh….”Cut it out...giggles.”
         “I was pretty bad wasn’t I?” Dawn said as she looked down-cast for a moment. “But of all the mammals I didn’t expect to visit me in prison so soon after my conviction….you? Judy….I’ve never really shown all the appreciation I have for you.”

         “You don’t need to go overboard Dawn.” Judy replied. “Especially with my retirement ceremony. It doesn’t have to be a colossal event, I don’t want to burden the whole city...”
        “Burden what?” Dawn asked. “Burden? Judy, admit it? You are the most popular police officer and Chief in the whole history of the precinct, stop being so modest and let the city show its love for you for once? It’s not like “I” could go up to the mayor and say...”All she wants is a nice card, a bunch of flowers and a coffee maker.”
        “A new latte maker in the new house wouldn’t be so bad.” Judy said as she looked at the menu.
        “And how’s Nick?” Dawn asked.
        “He’s Nick.” Judy replied. “Same old lovable fox. He can’t wait to get into our new place in Aden. We’re going to go over four final offers for our house after I come home from work.”
       “And Jackson? Is he getting married?” Dawn asked.
       “Strongly possible.” Judy replied….”Though I hope he might hold on a few more years. He’s in love with an otter he’s known since junior high and her folks? Well….they’re otters.”
       “They’re species-ists” Dawn said frowning.
      “Now Dawn? Don’t phrase it like that?” Judy warned.
      “It’s the truth Judy.” Dawn replied waving a hoof hand. “You know otters are notoriously tight about their species, especially their females. And Jackson being a hybrid is going to face some stiff push back. Can’t I be honest?”
       “I didn’t say you couldn’t speak your mind.” Judy replied as she looked at her arriving breakfast platter. “I love how they do breakfast around here.”

        Dawn sat sniffing her plate of cooked veggies and greens….”sniff”….”They have some professionals behind the cooking counter. But seriously? Jackson’s a sweet mammal, the best of two friends I so adore but honestly, he won’t win over a pair of very centered water mammals Judy. I just don’t want to see him disappointed.”
        “Jackson will prove you wrong Dawn.” Judy replied. “He’s far more resilient and resourceful than you think. Besides...let’s not start any arguments? We’re here to enjoy breakfast not talk about my son’s sex life.”
        “Speaking of?” Dawn giggled. “How’s your sex life?”
        “Dawn? Really?!” Judy replied smirking.
         “Oh come on Judy?!” Dawn snickered. “Are the stories of foxes expertiveness with their tongues true or what?”
        “You are terrible.” Judy replied. “Honestly.”
        “Well?” Dawn pressed. “How else to explain why you are so happy all the time? And please Judy, don’t lie and say it’s because Nick spoils you or loves you or any boring details. How often do you two do the “tongue raider” video game?”
        “Obviously your own girlfriend is good at her performance too Dawn.” Judy snapped. She then looked around and sighed….”At least...four or five times a week.”
         Dawn gasped...”You two are fanatics!”
         “Don’t tell the whole damn world Dawn?!” Judy gasped….”We play a lot of “predator and prey” that’s why we’re so happy, it pleases Nick’s deep down “DNA” and my little fettish of being an innocent and weak victim to a powerful brute. Our marriage is all about playing and keeping things fun.”
       Dawn then down turned….”What are the doctors telling you about Nick? I know why you chose to speed up retirement Judy.”
       “He won’t get better.” Judy replied. “I mean….he will lose his ability to walk eventually, I know that’s going to come some day and….and I’m ready for the shock….just that….”
       “Judy? I am so sorry.” Dawn said waving a hoof hand. “That was so callus of me...I…..”
        “It’s…..it’s alright.” Judy said as she patted Dawn’s hand. “We’re going to be alright. Nick’s already adjusting for it so I’m not worried, I mean I’m not going all to pieces, which I would be if this was any other fox but Nick. He jokes about the whole thing like….”Well? I might not be able to get it up anymore but hey...I can still hold onto a wheel and you’ll have a garden wheel barrel for compost carrying so I won’t be totally useless.” Stuff like that.”
       Dawn smiled. “I have always admired you for your strength Judy.”
       “It’s a facade Dawn so don’t tell the news papers about it ok?” Judy replied.
Nick and Judy’s house
Downtown Zootopia
9am 23 August 2040

        Nick opened the door to see Gideon Gray with his old friend Travis Halfgate the weasel dressed in a pair of jeans, a white collar shirt, a leather jacket and a big brimmed hat…

       “Morning brother.” Gideon said with a smile in his country draw of a voice.

       “Morning Gideon.” Nick replied as for a moment both foxes shared a pleasant hug and snuggle of cheeks between them, an all fox species show of mutual affection…

       “Travis. Good to see you. You’re looking “usually weasel”.” Nick said as he gestured the pair inside.

      “Good pleasantry will get you everywhere Nick.” Travis said as he gave Nick a fist bump. “Hey Gid? Don’t forget to tell him my part in this pie?”

      “Oh no...” Gideon replied. “I was gonna take all the credits for it. Honestly Travis?”
     “You two want some coffee or something to drink?” Nick asked.

      “Coffee’s mighty fine.” Travis replied as he found a place to sit in the living room. “So where’s “Jude”? Working?”

       “She took the morning to have breakfast with a friend of ours.” Nick replied as he placed the tray of hot coffee before Gideon and Travis as Gideon cut slices off the big pie he had brought with him…

       “You can eat it cold but I brought it in a warmer oven so you could try it piping hot and soft.”

        Nick accepted his slice and smelled the aroma wafting off of it...”How do you come up with these pies Gideon?”

       “I torture Travis.” Gideon replied. “Naw…..actually it’s a lot of trial and error, averages out to around ten failures per success. This one took some time because you know we foxes are quite fickle with food. I had to make some variations on the spices and grasses in this one.”

      Nick took a taste, paused to experience the feel of the food in his maw and on his tongue then swallowed with a smile….”Wow….feels almost silky? Not too harsh and perks craving...” Nick took an even bigger bite and “yipped” pleasingly at the result...” The crust? What did you put into it?”

      “Vulpine nip.” Gideon replied. “So?”

      Nick licked his chops….”I want another slice! Oh my gawd…..this is heaven!”

      “I’m surprised he ain’t wetting himself.” Travis giggled. “Told you the sprigs of Lendrei would perk his pecker.”

      “Dang it all Travis?” Gideon snorted. “You ever heard of professional courtesy here?”

        “I is being professional!” Travis replied. “Look at him Gid? He’s about to hump a sofa pillow.”

         Gideon regarded Nick’s apparent body rubbing and smiling joy with his pie slice and slitted his eyes a little….”Perhaps we should look at side effects and put a warning label on this pie?”

         “If you don’t sell this pie Gideon? I’ll have Judy arrest you for deprivation of the species.” Nick said a he pointed to his empty plate. “This pie will sell like crazy with foxes! Damn, it’s gonna put Vulp-agra to shame!”

         “See?” Travis said to Gideon. “What did I tell you Gid?”

         “Glad you enjoy it.” Gideon said to Nick. “So you wanted to talk investing?”

         “Yeah...” Nick replied. “I want to invest in a lifetime supply of this pie so I can drive Judy crazy.” Nick said with some yipping. “I’m just playing around with you Gideon but seriously? You keep making big hits with food like this and I’d be stupid not to invest. What are you thinking as to the future?”

         Gideon looked at Travis. “Here’s where you come in Travis. Make the pitch.”

         Travis pulled a “paw pad” tablet from the leather bag Gideon carried with him and did a quick presentation of “Gray Foods” venture plans…

        “So we keep expanding at a nice easy pace, we’re very careful about approaching new ideas and we’re always looking at the long haul not short term gains. Our current plan is expanding into the internet delivery service and cell phone on-demand delivery realms. But our real passion is back where we live. Gid wants to hand the operations of the business over to his oldest son Brier and rebuild our hometown elementary and middle school with a huge college style cooking school so me and Gid can teach home economics.”

         “I’ve always wanted to make sure our little ones could grow up to be self sufficient and confident you know? That was something I didn’t have as a kit, which is why I was such a “mean tail”. Judy probably told you a lot about me as a kit fox? I was a raving little bastard.”

          “He was practically going feral.” Travis remarked. “He sure picked on Judy a ton.”

        “A mark of my early stupidity.” Gideon replied. “I got my ass beat more than a few times by her claud hopper feet. You bagged a great wife Nick.”

         “I think I was more the “bagged” one in the relationship.” Nick said as he offered more coffee. “I like your future plans for expansion and the “home eck” project is a great place to put your money for sure. So? How much do you recommend we invest?”

         “No more than five thousand bucks to start with.” Gideon said. “I would recommend you start with a grand just to play it safe. I know that food companies are always considered safe investments but things can still happen to affect stocks like natural disaster, crop failure, mange, war…...rabid weasel zombie tornadoes.”

        “Why does it always have to be weasels Gid?” Travis snorted.

        “It’s just a joke Travis.” Gideon replied. He turned back to Nick and gestured. “Why don’t you talk it over again with Judy and finalize a number? Right now our stocks are holding at 25 bucks a share, a nice stable number.”

        Nick replied. “Alright. Let me talk to Judy again and we’ll call you. Now let me have another slice of that pie?”

        

The home of Don “Mini” Lanzoni (Son of the late Mister Big)
Tundra Town
9am 23 August 2040
    Tall Paulie (the big polar bear and Mister Big’s old right hand bear) Walked into the enormous bedroom where “Mini” Lanzoni was having breakfast with Fru Fru and his children…
    “Darling? Please take the children and leave me to talk to Paulie?” Mini asked. As soon as Fru Fru and the children were gone, Mini waved a paw around…
     “So? About this wolf with the “peacenik” affliction? What’s his wrap, his story? What do we know?”
     Paulie sat down in a chair. “Well….he’s twenty, has a brother named Alex who’s sixteen, two parents. He’s a homosexual with a lover in the Navy.”
    “Eh….figures.” Mini Lanzoni snorted. “A peacenik and a tail banger, always in a combination. Continue...”
     “Very bright. Very clean. No history of any trouble with the police. In fact he’s just a plain, unoffensive wolf.” Paule said.
      “Cept he’s a mouthy peacenik, tail banger.” Mini Lanzoni snorted. “He’s flapping his butt licker too much. I want him to be “educated” so he won’t become a bigger problem. If you get my meaning Paulie?”
      Paulie knew what “Mini” wanted and he curled his lip...”Don Lanzoni? If I may speak counsel as I have always done in good faith for your father? To “educate” this minor offending mammal would be…? Of risk to the family reputation. He only wants peace. I myself have two cubs of military age and I don’t want them in a war and I know you would never want your own children to go through such a thing so...how can there be any wrong in wishing and working to keep the peace? To “educate” this wolf seems...very risky and extreme.”
      Mini waved a paw...”You don’t see this “tail dragging effeminate little fluck” as a threat to our family?”
      “Begging your understanding my Don but….he has not directly threatened us at all.” Paulie replied.
        “But….” Minie replied. “He’s threatening to turn the whole city into a collection of soft tailed, limp wristed little fags.”
         “Don Lanzoni?” Paulie begged. “His choice of a life isn’t the factor in all this….”
        “Paulie?” Mini warned. “Shut that big snoot or I’ll have it chopped off. Kapeesh me? I love you as my father loved you Paulie but there are times where even with your great size, you’re brain somehow takes a vacation. You don’t see this effeminate little bastard as a threat to our family? As a threat to our city? All the Kzinti are waiting for is that one little speck of weakness. Maybe they hit us with a surprise attack? Maybe they knock out the shipyard? Maybe they sink our Navy? Don’t you see the damage that could do to our….beneficial income advantages?”
       Paulie groaned. “You’re thinking of money?”
       Mini jumped up on his bed, walked up to the edge of the mattress where Paulie had his paws resting and bit into one of the tips of his fingers! “WHAT DID I TELL YOU?! YOU BIG STUPID BEAR! SHUT THE FLUCK UP AND OPEN THOSE EARS! I SPEAK! YOU GAWD DAMN LISTEN AND DO WHAT YOU’RE FLUCKEN TOLD OR I WILL HAVE YOU ICED!”
       Mini stood shaking until he raised his paws and stopped to think...”sigh…You misjudge me Paulie...that’s dangerous. It has little to do with money and more to do with survival. The family can not survive on smoking ruins, sunken ships and rubble. That bowl slurping little wolf “bitch boy” will turn the whole city soft and those “Zint” bastards won’t let such a wonderful opportunity go to waste. I want you to give that “bushy faggot” an education, I don’t care how you do it or who you do it too...his family or his flucken boyfriend but you do it. Let me worry about the media and the stories, you just carry out my orders. Kapeesh me?”
       Paulie nodded back. “Yes my Don.”
       Minie patted Paulie’s big paw. “I’m sorry I bit you. It changes nothing in how much I love my big white teddy bear. You’re everything to our family Paulie.”
        Paulie excused himself from the bedroom and walked through the house to an entertainment room where Raymond and Kevin (The Polar Bears from Zootopia 1) were playing a game of darts…
       “Ray?” Paulie said with a gesture. “I have a job for you.”
       “Yo Paulie.” Raymond replied.
        “Ray? I want you to go meet this peace group organizer wolf named Will Gray. Tell Mister Gray I want to meet him for coffee or lunch tomorrow at Delveki’s seafood. Tell him….he WILL be there at noon, he can bring a friend. Tell him that if he refuses? Then he will be sore convinced not to skip. And tell him no police, he calls the police? Someone just may have a little accident. Perhaps someone very close to him.”
        Ray realized who Paulie was talking about. “Why’s the Don interested in this guy? What’s he done?”
        “Who cares?” Paulie replied. “Don says….we do. Now go and arrange this thing please?
ZOO 570AM Radio Station offices
Downtown Zootopia
10am 23 August 2040
         Will sat in the reception lobby with Bobby and Chuck reviewing notes and plans for the upcoming reception party for the returning fleet from the Outbacks as they all waited to meet with “Miss Piggy” (Yes...that Miss Piggy) so they could broach to her the possibility that the Zootopian military was sending spy units to the Kzinti home islands…
        “So I talked to the Chipmunks’ agent and they’re locked in for an appearance.” Chuck said as he read his text messages. “They’re coming to Zootopia anyway to talk to Gazelle about being in her upcoming television broadcast to start her last tour before retirement.”
          “She’s going to do it for all the troops right?” Will asked.
         “Yup.” Chuck replied. “They’re going to put three destroyers together under the Lenny Arson Bridge to the tri-boroughs. They’re still working out the details though.”
         A door opened and a female pig with flowing blonde hair entered the room. “Good morning!” Miss Piggy said with her usual positive flamboyance. “Welcome, welcome. She said to Chuck, Bobby and Will as she stopped to shake paws...”My, my….You must be William? I am Piggy. You are as gorgeous as I’ve heard you’d be.”
         Will panted his tongue a little and waved his tail...”And you are as charming as you sound on the radio Miss Piggy.” Will said with a smile.
         “Who does your head tuft?!” Piggy said as she reached out and Will allowed her to run her hoof hand through his thick fur….”Who is your stylist? I must know his or her name!”
         “Actually? I do it all myself.” Will replied. “Curls and everything.”
        “You? Are an artist.” Piggy said. “So all of you follow me to my office please?” Piggy said as she led the three male mammals to her office.
         Bobby leaned over to Will...”I swear she makes me want to go strait.”
         “Bob? You know she has a reputation for a quick temper and a good right hook?” Chuck snickered.
         “Actually? I have a mean left upper cut.” Piggy replied with her warning voice. “So don’t press your luck pal. “giggles” I’m only kidding! Please come in and take a seat? Would you all like coffee? Tea? Espresso?”
          “Coffee’s great.” Bobby said as he sat.
          Piggy pulled her office chair over to the coffee table in the room and sat with a pad of paper...”I’ve been wanting to talk to you all for some time but you’ve been busy obviously. When you called me William? You told me you wanted to broach something you’ve been thinking about?”

        Will cleared his throat...”Yes. Some time back you did a program on our military drones being flown close to the demarcation line between Zootopia and Kzin and how dangerous that was and it had me thinking for some time about the fact that we don’t have just airborne drones but also submarines. Well? My question actually comes from a dream I’ve had, which I’ve talked to Chuck and Bobby about. Maybe I should write a book because it felt so real and bizarre. What if we were using our drone submarines to land spies on Kzin? I mean it’s common knowledge that these submarines we have can carry mammals.”
        Piggy played with her long hair...”It is a possibility.” She said. “But it would be highly illegal, risky and dangerous to do. You’re talking about a “war trigger” and something of that scope being done “under the nose” I dare say would be tantamount to treason even if the intentions were good.” Piggy said as she took notes. “You’re sure this is a dream of yours?”
       “He called me at like 2am last week.” Chuck said. “Trust me Miss Piggy, he was dreaming and pissing himself silly over it. But Will’s premise is a good one, it would be one thing to fly a drone past the Demarcation Line, another for a submarine to pass through it. We three have learned never to put anything past our own government. Good citizenship questions constantly to keep the government constantly honest.”
       “That’s well said.” Piggy replied. “I’m going to use that phrase in my programs and give you the credit for it Charles. So do you want me to approach this issue directly or somehow work it into an interview?”
       Will, Bobby and Chuck looked at each other...”I think we should slip it into an interview.” Will said. “At least say enough to perk some interest in the public.”
       “Well said.” Miss Piggy replied. “Then we will do an interview and “Mwah” truly will give the subject the boost it needs.”
         Will bowed his head a little...”Thank you for being so understanding Miss Piggy.”
        “The condition of course my fine wolf?” Piggy said. “You teach me the secrets of your beautiful hair tuft.”
          Chuck leaned over to Will. “Queer eye for the strait mammal. Come on Will? The opportunity for a show is knocking at your door here.”
          Will snorted back. “Do you want to get bit?”
MCRD Savanna
Quanaco Fleet Marine Base
Combat training range
10am 23 August 2040
      The small band of Marine recruits led by Owen Hopps had dug “fox-holes” and “warrens” for themselves among the rocks and scrub of their position with each taking turns watching their perimeter for Opforce contacts, like the squad of eight wolves now being observed by Nori “Gorvilla” Hopps who shared a trench with his brother Ori. At the moment...Ori was pulling his pants and underwear up after a vicious and much wanted butt blistering by his bigger brother. The fettishy Ori couldn’t go too long without being slaked for a spanking…
      “It’s getting tiring lying for you Ori.” Nori whispered. “You’re gonna wash yourself out.”
      “Will not.” Ori replied with a huff. “What cha lookin at anyway?”
       “A squad of “dum dum” bush tails falling into my trap.” Nori said with a smile.
      Ori reached for the binoculars...”Let me see!”
      “You can see good enough! Quit it!” Nori snorted. “You want to ruin it?” Nori turned his attention to the prowling wolves, their noses hiked into the air...”Oh yeah….they’re getting a nice whiff of it now...come on dumb dumbs, cum all over yourselves and forget you’re gonna get bushwhacked.”
       “What are you using to bait em?” Ori asked.
       “The stuff paw sent me in my goodie package from home.” Nori snickered. “Prego white tail female urine.”
       “Does work good don’t it?” Ori said. “Look? They’re tongues are dragging!”

        “Wolves can’t escape their “Dennah” (DNA) Nori said with a whicked grin. “That’s it droolers…...closer…..closer…...and……
“BANG!”
        A bang cap charge sounded and a spraying mist flew up and out over all the wolf marines who gagged, howled, cried and threw themselves into blinded stumbles or rolling fits on the ground as a terrible pungent liquid soaked them!
      Ori was shocked….”Holy Cheese nuts and balls! What did you do?”
      “That was the other thing daddy sent in that package.” Nori replied as he leaned against the wall of his trench in self confident glee. “Skunk juice. I sprinkled it all around the perimeter and made that little special trap for those long snoot dumb dumbs.”
      “You’re a cruel, genius SOB Nori.” Ori said as he gave his brother a punch in the shoulder. “Whew! Look at them! They’re still crying and dancing!”
      “I think we can all sleep soundly the rest of the day.” Nori said as he slipped down to the floor of the trench. “Wanna snuggle Ori? Dori’s not here.”
      “Nah….” Ori replied. “I’m all perked up. Just gotta say Nori? I always love it when you tear up my butt with your paws. Daddy could never smack the right spots.”
     Nori smirked back. “I still say you’re gonna late wash out of basic for this affliction of yours. I’m surprised you can even think strait?”
     “Well I think strait enough to function.” Ori snorted. “And besides, there’s nothing wrong with a little extra discipline to keep your focus and perspective on things? I think it gives me a little “hop up” in courage. Remember, I’ve always been the big risk taker among us all.”
      “You took the risk hoping you’d get caught and your butt would get a good tenderizing.” Nori snorted. “Taking risk involves seeking not to get spanked….or killed. But it wasn’t like any of us could say no to each other...right?”

        Ori sat down and rested his chin on his knees...”Do you think they’ll let us serve in the same outfit when we leave basic?”
       “Hard to say.” Nori replied. “Dori’s going to medical school and the rest of us will be going to School of Infantry for advanced training. Bunnies are all assigned to forward artillery scouting, artillery guns or scout snipers and there’s no sure thing that we’ll all be posted in the same place.”
      Ori sighed...”We’ve never been broken apart before. It’s bad ju ju to break up a brood. You’ll be so sad if Dori’s posted else wheres.”
      “Don’t remind me?” Nori asked. “Come on? Cuddle with me? You’re not Dori but you’re still soft.”
        Ori snuggled and allowed Nori to spoon with him till they fell asleep. Not far from their trench, Owen, Powen, Mossberg and Rabina were huddled together looking at Owen’s armored tablet…
       “The moon’s gonna be up tonight.” Owen moaned. “That’s gonna suck.” 
       “We have to cross the road to get to the end. The Armored Vehicle, foot patrols, machine gun nests and mines….I have no doubt they put mines down.” Powen said as he rubbed his paw finger over the pad. “And going around all that will take way too long.”
        Rabina sat with her arms crossed...”As much as I hate to admit it? I admire your other brother’s foolishness.” She said.
       “Ori?” Powen replied.
        “Stupid but effective.” Rabina said. “Which is why I propose a radical solution to our problem thanks to mister “spankmeabunch” bunny. And yeah, this is going to be radically stupid.”
       “Anything’s worth a try.” Owen said. “So what’s the plan?”

The Outback Islands
King’s Kleft, Seal Island
noon 23 August 2040
      King’s Kleft was the mountainous and lush green filled promontory that rose above Seal Island which was covered in hiking and climbing trails. It was also… “clothing optional” yet Jackson and Darla were comfortable enough in just a pair of swimming shorts and flops for their feet.
     Jackson stopped along the walking trail to pull a pear off a nearby tree and split it in half. He offered Darla a piece which he took small bites from until they were joined in affectionate kissing on the kleft top.
     “I’m glad we’re going back on duty tomorrow.” Darla said as she lay on the grass and snuggled her lover...”This was nice? But I’ll get fat here from all this paradise.”
     “I don’t think I’d mind you being fat.” Jackson snickered. “More plushy otter for me.”
     Jackson reached into his back pack, pulled out a hotel blanket, covered himself and Darla and threw off his swim trunks. “There! Better comfort.”
     Darla reciprocated and tossed hers, allowing Jackson to roll on top of her and kiss snuggle her neck….”You are still committed to trying to talk to my father rather than getting married when we get home?.” She said. “He won’t listen to you.”
     “I’m not trying to make him listen.” Jackson said. “I want him to know what kind of Son in Law he’s getting. He has to at least realize my commitment to you, that I’m not going to just give up and quit.”
     Darla played with Jackson’s lips...”How do your parents really feel about us? Judy and Nick? I know they like me but what’s their real feelings?”
     Jackson rested his chin on Darla’s breast….”My mother I think? She wishes I should have trended more towards a bunny. She’s a mom, it’s normal isn’t it? Wanting a grandchild? Your mother must be the same?”

         “Yeah...” Darla replied. “She is. It’s not like she won’t have a hundred chances between my brothers and sisters but I think I was always the favorite child, the female with stronger stuff you know? My mother taught me to be an expectant mother since I was a cub with dolls and nurturing lessons. Your father though? He is “so chill” about things.”
        My Dad doesn’t sweat stuff...”Everything falls into place.” He likes to say. He doesn’t care if I chose a fox, a bunny, an otter or a weasel. An elephant? That might be a stretch for him but whom ever I chose to be my wife? My father’s one expectation would be for me to treat her as he’s treated my mom and if I fail that expectation...you’ll know it when Dad shows up with his paws balled into fists. Other than that? Dad’s been perfectly willing to keep his paws off and let me bump, bruise and beat myself silly.
        Darla played with Jackson’s red head tuft and his long ears...”We haven’t thought of a date yet or how big we want the ceremony to be. I still want a wedding dress no matter how big or small we have a ceremony.”
        “You haven’t described to me what kind of dress you want?” Jackson said smiling. “Do you want me in a suit and tie or in uniform?”
        Darla snickered...”I want you in leathers with a ball gag.”
        Jackson slapped her lightly in the snoot. “Crazy otter….”
       “Ok? You in leathers and a ball gag, me in a dominatrix costume and we’re log rolling. What’s wrong with a spicy wedding? Nick could be getting whipped and spanked by Judy in her chief’s uniform?” Darla giggled.
       “I’m sure my mother would be right on board with that idea.” Jackson snickered. “It should at least satisfy our species traditions. A little bunny, a little fox and a little water mammal treat.”
       Darla smiled...”A mating swim between us as part of the nuptials.”
       “Well?” Jackson thought...”I don’t know how my mom would react to a public sex display. I know I’d probably have to go through a ton of practice to satisfy your father’s expectations.”
       “Yeah….” Darla replied a little resigned. “That would be way too complicated but an otter mating dance in water is nothing to be missed trust me. You wonder why otters are so strong in their unions with each other? To me? You’re no different than any otter I could have fallen in love with...even if your swimming is sort of sub par at best.”
      “Wow...that’s harsh?” Jackson snickered.
      “Do you love me because I’m beautiful to you or because I never try to lie to you?” Darla asked.
      “Hmph...” Jackson snorted as he cupped Darla’s cheeks. “Stop trying to play innocent? Both of us are skilled liars or is our whole history together a fabrication of amusement?”
      Darla smiled. “Let’s face it? If we did become crime bosses in the future? We’d be pretty formidable.”
      “Right now?” Jackson said as he kissed Darla tenderly. “The only thing I care about is….we’re naked, we have a blanket and up on this little mountain? It’s…. a little cold.”
      “Well come on in and warm yourself up Jackson?” Darla replied smiling. “Or do you need a signed invitation?”
The Outback Islands
Paddy Beach, Elsbane
The Hotel Del Corinado
noon
23 August 2040
      “Mmmfff….” Rudy Dolf rose from the bed with his head stinging from the night before. The evidence of the hours of fun lay on the floor and in the bed in the empty tall bottle of Soju berry wine and Carisa’s naked gazelle form laying passed out next to him as he sat up…
      “Wow….” Rudy said to himself as he held his throbbing head. He then realized it wasn’t his head pounding but someone pounding on the door to the room…
      “Hey Red! It’s Fibo, you in there?” Came a voice from the other side of the door. “Red! Open up! Rise and shine there apple snoot!”
      Rudy grimaced. “Oh gawd of Val Hallah….Fireball? How the heck did he find me?” Rudy stumbled to the door and fumbled with the lock. “Stop hitting the door you doof! Ugh….my fricken head smarts!”
      Rudy opened the door and a khaki brown reindeer with a blonde head tuft stood on the other side in the hallway with his arms crossed. “Long time no see bro.” The Navy senior chief said as he gave his little brother a punch in the shoulder. “Damn Rudy! Put some draws on! Damn….just what I needed to see in the morning? You’re prick with a string drool….damn Red!”
      Rudy quickly snatched up a shirt to cover himself as Fibo pushed himself in. He saw Clarisa’s naked form on the bed and smirked at his younger brother… ”Dude! A Gazelle and a fox at that? Mmmm...you go red hot snoz! How much was she? You didn’t pay a grand did you?”
     Rudy pushed Fireball hard. “She’s NOT a WHORE you stupid bastard!”
     “Ok….ok…..have it your way, she’s not a whore. But damn Rudy...she’s gorgeous.” Fireball said as Rudy covered Clarisa up.
    “Will you stop gawking at her?! Why the hell are you chasing me around any way?” Rudy snapped.
     “I can’t watch my little brother?” Fireball said with a shrug. “You haven’t been attacked or teased this whole time right? And of course you know why? Big brother is always on the case.” 
     “Big brother is always “in” my way.” Rudy snorted back. “I can handle things alone Fireball or isn’t it obvious that I’m an officer and you’re a chief?”
      “And your rank gives you “shelter points” from all the reindeer who quite frankly little bro? Don’t give rat turds about you being a “boot ensign”. I hope you didn’t get drunk with her in town?’
      Rudy picked up the wine bottle and pushed it into his brother’s chest. “No...I didn’t. I guess you’re a lousy spy as well as a lousy Chief petty officer. I’m glad you’re not on my ship because if you were? I’d request to be your Division Officer just for spite.”
       Fireball grabbed a chair. “So how did you meet up with this one?”
      “Long story.” Rudy replied as he looked at Clarisa. “But...I like her and fluck you and anyone just because she’s not a reindeer.”
      “I’m not judging you on your picks of females Bro? Easy. It’s all cool with me.” Fireball said waving a hoof hand. “Like I’m one to talk right?”
       Rudy sat on another chair...”Mom and Dad ok?”
       “Why you asking me?” Fireball asked. “Haven’t you even wrote them? At least write Mom something Rudy? You can’t keep up being angry at them forever?”
       “Just Dad maybe.” Rudy snorted. “I’ll never forgive him for that stupid nose cap he made me wear from Kindergarten through elementary school. And you shouldn’t feel any sympathy for him at all as many times you got your ass beat up protecting me! You know why he did it?! To protect his standing at the Elk’s Club! Who’s going to want to talk to a buck who’s fawn is a misfit bastard?”
        Fireball couldn’t counter that argument. “Yeah…it was selfish, it was stupid and it made things worse but they’re our parents Rudy. At least call mom? At the very least?”
        Rudy sighed and nodded...”I will call her when we get back to Zootopia. Just do me one thing Fibo? Please? Stop shadowing me and trying to protect me like we’re back in grade school? It’ll actually play negative with my duties and give me bad reflections. Let me stumble over my own hooves for once?”
        Fireball stood up. “I’ve done it for so long only because I love you little brother. I’ve always been there for you and I still will even if you protest it.”
       Rudy stood up and gave his brother a hug. “Stubborn bastard.”
       “Always.” Fireball replied. He regarded Clarisa with a smile. “Just between you and me? She’s a nice catch...for a strait horn.”
        “Get out of here before I kick your tail like I always did at the Reindeer Games you goof ball?” Rudy said as he pushed Fireball towards the hotel door as Clarisa began to wake up.

ZPD First Precinct “First Prinky”
Downtown Zootopia
2pm
23 August 2040
      Retirement might be looming around the corner but no one could tell Judy that. She hadn’t slowed since her first day and she wasn’t going to slow down on her last. At the moment she was going over department statistical papers and scribbling circle graphs on an eraser board set up against one corner of her large desk…
     “Burglaries down again….car prowls down again….traffic stops staying steady...petty theft down….mmmm….fantastic.” Judy said happily to herself as she listened to her favorite music on her smart phone and colored in her pie charts. With any luck the remainder of her days in uniform would pass by in relative boredom,
      Page Clawhauser knocked on the office door and stuck her head in. “Chief? If you have a few minutes, there’s a pair of gentle-mammals here to see you?”
      “Show em in Page.” Judy said as she stopped working on her charts and pulled the wrinkling out of her uniform. The first to come in was a young wolf wearing blue jeans and a yellow T-Shirt…
      “Afternoon Chief Wilde.” The young wolf said. “I’m Morty and I work for the Intelligence Bureau along with my Grandfather.”
       “Interesting.” Judy said with her paws behind her back. “You’re still in school though right?”
       “I am but I was asked to help out because I have a knack for deciphering languages and codes. I brought a mutual friend with me who wanted to see you.” Morty said as he gestured Kawam-ura to come inside and remove the hood on his sweat shirt…
      “We meet again. Good afternoon Bunny Commander Judy.” The Kzinti said with a bow.
        Judy walked to the edge of her desk and waved a paw...”You’re looking well Kawam-ura. Genki Desuka?” Judy said smiling.
       “Ah! Yes….very well thank you.” Kawam-ura replied in unsteady Zootopian. “Morty here has been teaching me Zootopian which is a little difficult.”
       “I do most of his translating.” Morty replied. “But he picks up very fast. He’s been allowed out into the city “in cognito” with a pair of plain clothes tiger cops so it doesn’t cause problems. We can’t keep him cooped up in a compound all day, it’s not right.”
       Judy sat on the edge of her desk. “And how do you like the city?”
      “The expanse confuses me.” Kawam-ura replied. “In my country, we use every bit of space for buildings in the cities and we grow up with our buildings, not out. Even on your trains, I can stretch out even with different size mammals around me. In our capital city, the trains are always packed full at rush hour and you feel like a fish in a tin can. Takes adjustment.”
       Judy nodded. “But honestly? Is there anything about Zootopia that’s a little troubling maybe too different from your own culture?”
      Kawam-ura replied. “There are some things which in my culture would be kept more discreet. I am not easily offended and showing such displeasure in public about others would be considered rude conduct. Yet….there is much that would surely offend my society. Just having predators and prey exist as equals is a deeply offensive belief to Kzinti. I have told Morty much in private about how prey mammals are treated in Kzin that….I would find difficult to explain to yourself.”
      Judy waved a paw….”You don’t need too...if Kzin is a classic predatorial society as I’ve learned through history and stories. Still….it is sad that even in this day when most of our world has long found ways to abandon the ways of our forefathers, some still hold tight. There is so much we could offer each other, I mean, Kzin from your descriptions is fascinating! I’d love to see a Kabuki theater play or a Sumo match between two big tigers.”
       Kawam-ura smiled. “Has anyone told you that your buoyant nature shines like the sun on a rainy day?”
       “Flattery will get you everywhere Kawam-ura San.” Judy replied as she reached out and rubbed Kawam-ura’s snoot. “I liked you from the first day we met.”
       “Tell me Judy Chan?” Kawam-ura asked. “Do you have family? Husband? Children?”
       “Well….I come from a huge family, you know bunnies. But I’m married to a fox and we have our son Jackson who’s in the Navy.” Judy couldn’t resist pulling out a wallet picture and of course the Kzinti had to squint to get a look at it…
       “He looks like you.” Kawam-ura said. “You must be very proud of him.”
       “Mother’s always brag about their children.” Judy replied. “Must be the same in Kzin? You must miss your parents, your family?”
      “I do...” Kawam-ura replied. “I didn’t take all this risk to come here if I didn’t love my family or my country-mammals. The average Kzinti, the every day farmer and laborer? They don’t want war, they’re way outside the centers of power. But every day we have been told that our ways of life are under threat, that Zootopia is a vile perversion of the natural way of things and that it is an infection which must be removed like a cancer. There has been a war fever building in Kzin for a long time and I am not sure it can be kept restrained. This upsets me so much.”
       Judy nodded...”Believe me. I understand how you feel. I worry about my son every day but he’s an adult who makes his own choices so….I must respect and have faith in his judgment.”
       “I hope he will have an incident free life.” Kawam-ura replied. “For your sake Bunny Commander Judy.”

The Brothers and Druchi Droo (wolf) had picked up three additional members from their recruit company in their slow and careful walk over the Savanna range. Private Mossburg (a male lion) Private Rabina (a female leopard) and Private Surry (another bunny) each were survivors from their deposited groups. Obviously the OpForce Marine regiment chosen to give the recruits a hard time was racking up a good score of kills.
Will and Gilly’s apartment
Sahara Beach
3pm
23 August 2040
      Bobby got off his smart phone...”The interview with Piggy is all set for the 28th after we have that party for the returning fleet.” He said as he turned to watch Will who was sitting at the kitchen table with his lap top and a printer…
       “That’s good.” Will replied. “I’m printing out some of my phone pics and old picture files for my photo album.”
        “Amazing that anyone even has picture albums these days.” Bobby said as he walked over to look at the growing album book. “That was you as a cub?” Bobby said as he pointed to one of Will holding Alex’s hand as the toddler wolf followed him into some beach water in a diaper…
        “That’s me at eight years old and my little brother at two.” Will replied fondly.
       “Wow. Even then you had some seriously shaggy tuft on you.” Bobby said. “Your little brother is so cute.”
        “Mom’s little bug.” Will said as he brushed a paw finger over the photo. “He’s obviously my mother’s cub...though I raised him more than my parents did since they were professionals who often went out of town on trips. We’ve been super close, I adore that little snit.”
         Bobby pointed to another picture of a more mature Alex at around twelve or thirteen. “He sure cuts a sweet figure...” Bobby said as he pointed to the naked shot of Alex “glamour posting” for the camera…
           “Hey? You’re not getting “gay-tracted” to my little brother are you?” Will yelped a little as he dropped a paw over the picture.
           “No way Will!” Bobby replied. “Honest! I was just saying that in jest ok?”
           Will giggled a little….”Yeah...little smart humps. He came out of the shower, saw me taking pictures of the house and cut a pose. I couldn’t resist take the shot. He’s going to slay females with his looks when he’s twenty, he’s just so cute.”
        A knock at the front door saved Will from talking further. He got up and opened the door to look upwards at the brooding face of a huge polar bear in a business suit…
       “Are you William Gray?” The bear asked in a low growl.
       “I am.” Will replied.
       “You got a little brother named Alexander?” The bear asked.
       “Yes.” Will replied a little miffed. “And you are?”
       “No care who I am.” The bear replied. “You will be at Delveki’s seafood in Tundra Town tomorrow at noon for a social call. You can bring one friend with you. This is a “no miss” occasion. You don’t show? Maybe something unfortunate happens to your little brother. You call the cops? You call your parents? You call your brother? Maybe something happens before they can show up? Consider this a firm delivery. You agree?”
        Will looked at Bobby...then turned back to the bear. “If you think you can scare me into shutting my maw...”
        “It’s not what “we think” there wolf. The honorable Tall Paulie just wants to talk to you, not threaten you. Do you agree to the terms or not?”
         “You big flucken piece of rat snit...” Bobby snarled as he rose from his chair.
        Will cut a gesture of restraint...”Bobby? Calm down.”
        “I’d heed him there “prissy tail”.” The bear growled. “Being “fag raped” by polar bears doesn’t usually end well…..kapeesh me?”
        Will looked at the bear. “I agree. I’ll be there at noon. If you don’t mind me bringing Bobby here?”
        “We agree then.” The bear replied. “Noon tomorrow. Just keep honest there wolf. And hold the tongue of that “faggot pup” of yours.”
        Bobby lunged and Will caught him as he closed the door with his foot. “Bobby! Calm down!”
        “Calm down?!” Bobby replied huffing. “That flucker just threatened you! “Have me gang raped?” Flucken piece of snit mafia cock suckers...”Bobby went for his phone and Will snatched it…
        “No Bobby!” Will snapped. “Calm down! We’ll meet with this Paulie and see what they want before we do something. I doubt they’ll try anything on me while we’re there…...so chill out?”
         “Will?” Bobby worried. “They’re the mob! They don’t give snit about anything but their own dicks! They threatened your family gawd damn it!”
          “And calling the cops will suddenly make them safer?” Will replied. “Bobby….please? Please….please….control yourself? I also have to think of my boyfriend too so…..please go with me tomorrow and control yourself?”
         Bobby sighed….”Ugh….I think your crazy.”
         “Since when have we wolves not been a little frenetic?” Will replied. “Don’t worry Bobby, everything will be fine.”
End of Chapter 30