Nick wove his car in and out of the early morning traffic, Judy in the passenger seat beside him, watching the world go by. The vulpine took a moment to steal a glance of her from over his shades, taking in the beautiful bunny beside him and wondering how he had gotten this lucky. Judy, sensed his eyes on her and returned his gaze with a smile.

"Eyes on the road slick," she directed.

"Surely you can't begrudge me a chance to admire my girlfriend?" he questioned.

"Only if it isn't in a moving vehicle," she countered, gently pushing his muzzle forwards. "I'd hate to give you a ticket for distracted driving."

"Would you arrest me, Officer Hopps?" he teased.

"You just want me to put you in handcuffs. Now, eyes on the road." She said.

Nick grinned at the rabbit, before reluctantly returning his gaze back to the road. However, as he turned off the main road and towards the ZPD, they were soon caught up in a line of almost stationary traffic.

"This is unusual," questioned Judy. "Roadworks maybe?"

"I don't think so," replied Nick. "Give me a moment."

Lowering the window, he leaned out and turned his gaze upwards.

"Hey up there!" he called. "Can you see what's going on?"

The car next to them was designed for Giraffes and was extremely tall to accommodate their long neck. The giraffe who drove this vehicle also had his head out of a window and was squinting at something ahead of the line of cars when Nick cried out.

Looking down, he spied the fox officer.

"There's some kind of road block, I can't quite see what it is. It looks like a big block of..ice? But that can't be right, can it?"

"Anything's possible these days my friend," he replied.

"Thanks for the help."

"Ice?" questioned Judy, as Nick pulled back into the
vehicle.

"Looks that way Carrots," he confirmed.

They had to wait another ten minutes before they were able to see the obstruction clearly. Sure enough, behind a police cordon, surrounded by officers and engineers was a gigantic slab of ice. As they passed Judy was able to see that inside it was an armoured car, most likely the target of the attack.

Nick slowed as they neared the edge of the cordon,
dropping the window once again to address a warthog in ZPD uniform.

"Hey there Ed, things going okay?"

Ed Hamm turned at the sound of the vulpines voice and wandered over to the cordons edge.

"Morning Wilde, morning Hopps," he greeted, Judy leaning in so she could see their fellow officer.

"Good Morning Ed, how's Cheets doing today?" she asked.

"He's doing much better, thanks for asking. Though I'm afraid it's going to be a while longer before he can return to duty. Dumb cheetah, I told him not to tackle that electric guy, but then again, I might not be here if he hadn't."

He sighed heavily and ran a hoof over his snout.

"These enhanced mammals, they ain't natural." He said.

"Speaking of 'ain't natural', I take it this was one of theirs, enquired Nick, pointing at the slab of ice.

"This thing? Witnesses are saying it was a Polar Bear in some kind of space suit with a freeze ray of all things. Emptied the van completely, took over a million dollars in diamonds." He told them.

"That's a lot of ice," whistled Wilde.

"No kidding. Although looks like he left us plenty in return." Hamm, smirked a little at the quip.

Like them or not, Nick was always able to get a smile out of most mammals. Although Bogo was one exception, Nick theorized a smile might just crack the buffalos face, given how steely his expressions were.

"I think we best move along," said Judy. "We need to get to roll call.

"Fair enough, nice talking to you."

Hamm waved them onwards, and the rest of the drive was in silence.
_______________________________

The ZPD was a hive of activity by the time Nick's car
pulled into its usual space. Not that it hasn't always been busy at Precinct One, but ever since the enhanced mammals had appeared everything had become a lot more frantic. The car park alone was constantly filled with a mix of officers, civilians, specialists and journalists looking for the next big story.

It didn't get any better once the pair pushed their way inside, the lobby was packed with mammals of all species, shapes and sizes, each one after something from Zootopia's finest. Clawhauser still managed the front desk, the cheerful cheetah somehow managing to see each mammal with a
smile. In front of him sat a small box of doughnuts, ever since he had lost to Barry in their eating contest the cheetah had cut down on his snacking portions, although it hasn't stopped him from enjoying his morning pastries.

Exchanging a wave, Nick and Judy made their way towards the bullpen. As they passed the precincts memorial wall, Judy paused. Every station had a memorial to their fallen, and Precinct One was no exception, When Judy arrived there was only a handful of names, but since the enhanced mammals had appeared a lot more had been added, most
from the Enhanced Mammal Task Force.

Nick's paw came to rest on her shoulder, and she reached up to lay her own on top of his.

"So many..." she whispered.

"I know," he replied.

They stood there for a moment in quiet respect for the fallen. No matter what happened, she refused to call the task force a Suicide Squad, those mammals gave their lives to protect the city, their sacrifice shouldn't be tarnished by a grim nickname.

Continuing to the Bullpen, they pushed open the doors to enter the usual controlled chaos, making their way through the baying officers to their shared seat at the front moments before Chief Bogo entered to the usual cacophony of whooping, hollering and table thumping.

"All right, settle down," said Bogo.
But, as always, they kept with the odd tradition of showing respect by making as much noise as possible.

"SHUT IT!" barked the buffalo in mock severity.

"Come on Chief, we know you love the attention," snarked Nick, earning a few chuckles from the crowd.

"Maybe you'd like to see what happens if you keep my attention Wilde?" Bogo retorted before turning to his clipboard.

"How's this Saturday?" he quipped, earning a few chuckles from the crowd.

Bogo just growled.

"Alright," he began. "As you all know, these enhanced mammals have been giving the ZPD real problems."

He paused to massage his temples, recent events had been giving him even more headaches than usual.

"Therefore, as so many officers have been injured we will be assisting at other precincts in addition to our own duties." He said.

"Therefore, as so many officers have been injured we will be assisting at other precincts in addition to our own duties. Officer Higgins,"

The Hippo he addressed stood to attention.

You will be assisting Precinct Four with a case, Detectives Murdoch and Watts will meet you at the city morgue."

He passed a file to the officer, who headed for the door.

"Fangmayer, Wolford, Precinct two, undercover work, their chief will give you full details."

The Tigress and Wolf pair accepted the file and made their exit.

"Trunkaby, Grizzoli, your assisting with a frozen armoured car thats blocking the route to the city centre."

Francine plucked the file from Bogo's fingers with her trunk.

"Hopps, Wilde, I've got two assignments for you today. The ZPD is doing some PR at a school in the meadowlands, you two will be on hand to assist the speaker. Then you'll be heading to Zootopia Biolabs to help with tonight's event.

"That's the particle accelerator debut, isn't it chief?" asked Judy.

"Correct Hopps, Doctor Clawdon has requested additional security and specifically asked for you two."

He stooped to hand the file to Nick as he and Judy
approached the podium.

"You are to head there after afternoon patrol following the PR event. Dismissed."

Saluting their chief, both mammals left the bullpen and headed for the precinct motor pool, while Judy flipped open the file and skimmed its contents.

"I hope Clawdon isn't careless with this," she mused.

"Barry already gave us an idea of what happens when one of these things explode, we already have enough problems." She said.

"I'm sure the good doctor has tightened every nut, bolt and screw, Carrots. The last thing he wants is his very expensive laboratory exploding when he flips a switch, said Nick, pushing open the double doors to the precinct motor pool.

The pairs nostrils were immediately hit with the strong smell of oil, grease and engine fumes as they stepped towards their vehicle. The ZPD's motor pool was a cross between parking lot and mechanics workshop, cruisers, jeeps and patrol cars sat idle in a series of bays, although Nick saw a few pulling out as officers took their assigned vehicles. Heading to their modified cruiser, the pair hopped inside,
Judy at the wheel.

"Hey Carrots, can we make a stop before going to the
school?" asked Nick.

"We don't have a lot of time to get over there, is it
important?" replied Judy.

"Don't worry fluff, it's on the way. I just need to pick up something from Finn.

"Ah," realised Judy. "That shouldn't be a problem, slick."
    ________________________________

A few minutes later, the cruiser pulled to a stop outside Finnick's new business. Stepping out, Nicks eyes were drawn up to the sign that had been spray painted onto the side of an otherwise plain brick building.

'FINNS KUSTOM AUTOs'.

The fox was glad his former hustling partner had finally gotten off the streets. Truthfully, he had been worried for the fennick when he had joined the ZPD, as he could no longer look out for him. Even if the diminutive vulpine could bite like a shark and swing that bat of his like a professional baseballer, he never liked the fact his best friend was still living out of his van. So when he heard about his new auto shop, the fox had been overjoyed.

Making their way through the open garage doors, the pair overheard three voices, apparently engaged in a heated argument. Pushing aside a plastic curtain, they saw an otter, a rabbit and a raccoon. The former was clearly trying to play peacemaker, while the latter pair were at each other's throats.

"Why do you do this Jackie?" groaned the otter. She was wearing a set of greasy, blue overalls with Finnicks logo printed on the back, a series of hand tools stuck out the pockets.

"Hey! It's not my fault Rocky keeps that plant of his in the workshop!" retorted the rabbit, his coat was a light grey, though Judy picked up on a slight tinge of blue throughout his fur. Like the otter he wore a grubby set of overalls, but he also had a set of red lensed goggles strapped to his head.

"I have to monitor his development!" snarled the raccoon, like the others, he was wearing a set of overalls, these were orange rather than blue but they still had Finnicks logo on the back. In his arms was a potted bonsai tree, although the pot was stained with a thick, black fluid.

"It's a plant, they don't have genders!" argued Jackie.

"Says you!"

That's enough!" barked the otter. "Rocky, take your plant to the break room and clean it up, then put it on the window and leave it there! Jackie, do NOT water it with engine oil again or its my boot up your ass! Now get back to work!"

Suitably chastised, the pair left. Massaging her temples, the otter finally took notice of Nick
and Judy.

"Ah, hello. Sorry you had to see that. I swear that working with those two is like living with a pair of toddlers."

"How do think I feel Lylla, I work with this guy all day?" replied Judy, dryly.

"You wound me fluff," swooned Nick. "I am the epitome of maturity.

"Immaturity more like," countered Lylla.

"Finn, I'm being picked on by your lead mechanic!" cried Nick in mock upset.

"If she keeps it up I might give her a raise," replied the fennick, emerging from his office.

"That's it, I'm going into exile!" Nick said.

The three laughed at Nick's theatrics as he threw up his arms dramatically.

"Lylla, would you mind seeing to that 'Big' order in the back," instructed Finnick. "I got to talk with the fuzz for a moment.

"Sure thing boss," replied the otter, making her exit a moment later.

Finnick then lead the two officers to his small, and very untidy, office. There were stacks of papers, car parts and spray cans on just about every available surface. The wallpaper was peeling and the ceiling fan was missing an arm. Off to one side was a mini fridge with a hot plate balanced on top, while a blanket and pillows were strewn over a moth eaten couch.

"Still waiting on those decorators I see," quipped Nick.

"You know me Wilde, I like things rustic." He said.

Opening a drawer on his desk, the fennick produced a brown envelope and passed it to Nick.

"That's all the info I got on enhanced mammal activities. Just so you know, my informants have said that a few of them have been disappearing lately." He said.

"Disappearing?" enquired Judy.

"Yeah, just flat out vanishing, no clues as to where. But I'll say this, the ones that vanished are all predators, so far."

The two officers shared a look, recalling how predators were targeted with Nighthowler by the former mayor.

"Thanks for the tip Finn," replied Nick, slipping the
envelope into his shirt.

"You doing alright these days? Informants compensation aside, running a business is a big
step up from paw grooming."

"It was an adjustment Nick, but things are going well. Don't have enough for place yet but it suits me down to the ground."

"What about those 'Big' orders? asked Judy. "Fru Fru told me that her father had you working on his limo's, surely he'd pay you more than enough."

The Fennick shook his head.

"He's generous, but I've still got to pay my employee's cottontail," replied Finn. "Those three are worth every penny with what they can do with a vehicle. Plus this place runs up a lot of bills for materials alone."

"What exactly do you do with Bigs cars?" asked Nick.

"Those things are usually kept running by his own staff."

"I do more than keep them going Nicky boy, follow me."

Leaving the office, Finnick led the officers into the back of his shop. Up on a lift was the sleek, black shape of one of Mr Bigs limousines, the vehicle had it's doors open, while the insides had been meticulously removed and stacked neatly along the garage wall. Lylla stood on a small mammal scissor lift, sparks flying to the floor as she welded sheets of metal to the exposed inside of a door. Flipping up her welders mask, she checked the work she'd
done before taking another sheet and continuing on.

"You're reinforcing them," realised Judy.

"You got it," said Finn. "Didn't start with Big, he heard about it from another client of mine. Seems a lot of mammals want their cars bomb proof these days, but if the carjacker can make fireballs with his fists then I suppose you'd pay anything to keep him out."

"Aren't you worried that Big could get you to put weapons on his vehicles?" Nick asked.

The desert fox shook his head.

"I made it clear when Big approached me that I wasn't going to put guns on those things. We just reinforce them. was surprised he asked me if I'm honest, but I guess our work speaks for itself. I'd say Big is trying to keep this work off his 'official' books. I suppose that's what happens when your enemies can get mammals with superpowers on side. Although these days I hear he's now got a few on his
own payroll."

"Just don't get back into old habits," chastised Nick.

"You've worked hard to get where you are and I'd hate anything happen to you." He said.

"Aww, didn't know you cared." cooed Finnick,
sarcastically.

"But you can relax, I've got my girl keeping
me on the straight and narrow. You know she's the one that helped me get set up after all."

"Speaking of which, when do we meet this mystery
girlfriend of yours?" Nick asked.

"She'll come around when she's ready, I told you she is a very private individual."

"Nick," interrupted Judy, tapping his arm. "We have to go."

She showed him her watch, they were behind schedule.

"Okay Carrots, sorry to cut this short Finn." Nick said.

"It's always nice to see you," finished Judy.

"Yeah yeah, get out of here before I get all sappy," replied the Fennick. "Take care out there, you two."

"Don't worry buddy," replied Nick. "We've always got each others back.

With a final farewell, the two returned to their cruiser, Judy pushing the envelope into the glove box as she took the wheel.

"We'll get that to Bogo after the PR event," she said.

"No arguments here," replied Nick. "Now let's go
encourage some kids to make the world a better place."