While Nick, Barry and Judy were receiving their next lead, Chief Bogo was in his office reviewing the case file. The buffalo had considered putting on the Gazelle app to provide some background, but decided against it. This case was one of the most unusual the ZPD had ever dealt with, and it needed his full attention. He was interrupted by a knock at the door.

"Come in."

The door was pushed open by Grizzoli who was closely followed by Wolford, the pair snapped to attention in front of their boss.

'"At ease, you're not cadets,' rumbled Bogo. "Now, as you are here I can presume that you finished interrogating our suspect.

"Yes Sir, and he's given up some information about where he's been for the past two years," replied Wolford.  Bogo motioned for him to continue.

"From what he recalls, Spike blacked out after the gas explosion and woke up in what he thought was a hospital, but when we checked that against a patient list from medical facilities in the city and surrounding boroughs, there was no record of a porcupine that matched his description.

"Which means he was probably taken somewhere off the grid," replied Bogo.

"Exactly what we thought, sir," said Grizzoli.
"From what Spike has told us, his spines had been completely burned away, along with most of skin.

"Really, because he certainly doesn't look like a burn
victim." Bogo said.

"Agreed sir, we asked Honey and the lab to test a few skin samples and...... well, the results aren't normal."
Bogo gave the officer a stern look.

"What did they find?"

"That's the thing sir," replied Wolford. "Spikes
enhancements weren't limited to his spines, when Honey tested his skin cells; she found they were a mix of natural and artificial material. She also found they hadn't been grafted on like in traditional surgery, she thinks they might have been sprayed on, like from a can of dye."

"And it didn't stop there," continued Grizzoli. "She re-examined his X-rays and discovered his bones had been altered as well. She said it was like they had been made to grow in ways that reinforced them, making them tougher to break and possibly able to handle to launching system she found in his back muscles."

Chief Bogo leaned back in his chair digesting the
information. Nick had phoned in the information from his contact, which supported the initial confession gleaned by Grizzoli and Wolford. With this new information, it was clear that 'Sawbones' had access to experimental or more likely, illegal, medical technology. It could also mean he would be hard to take down, especially if he had more mammals like Spike.

"Did he say anything else?"

"Yes sir," said Wolford. "Apparently someone spoke to him, he couldn't see what species they were, and he was made an offer, either work for him and live, or refuse and be left to die."

"That might be how he recruits, find a mammal in a
desperate enough situation and offer them a way out."

"Our thoughts exactly," replied Wolford. "But there is one more thing we should mention.

Bogo saw the two grins that the mammals were trying to hide, they had something significant.

"Go on."

"Apparently the bank job was part of a larger operation, Spike didn't know all the details, but he was supposed to meet a group of other mammals close to an address out near the edge of Sahara Square. We did some research and found out that it used to be a medical storage facility.

"The perfect place to hide if you want to enhance a few mammals," concluded Bogo.

"We thought so too sir, but the address is registered to a company affiliated with Mr Big."

That got Bogos attention, he had shared the information Nick uncovered with the two officers so they were aware that Mr Bigs' syndicate had apparently been the target of enhanced mammal attacks.

"So it's more likely that this was going to be another
target," replied Bogo. "Excellent work you two, escort Spike to the holding cells, we may have further questions for him."

As the pair left his office, Bogo picked up his desk phone.

"Clawhauser, get me Agent Percival and send out an alert to the SWAT unit."
________________________________

"You sure this is the place?" asked Barry as the police cruiser pulled into the parking lot.

"Yup," replied Nick, "Why? Something wrong?"

"Not really," he replied. "I'm just having a case of déjà vu."

Zootopia Biolabs was situated on a hilltop just a few hours' drive out of Zootopia. They had to go through a security checkpoint to reach the main building, although they had some difficulty with the stubborn mule that guarded it. When they were eventually allowed access, thanks partly to Nick's persuasive ability, Barry found that, standing proudly in the sunlight, was a copy of S.T.A.R. Labs, although
this one didn't have any damage from a Particle Accelerator Explosion. Making their way inside, Barry saw that the similarities were not just limited to the exterior, as the interior was also identical, albeit with a bit more of an 'animal' theme, much
like how the version on Earth-2 was decorated like
something from early sci-fi. As the group made their way across the lobby, the human attracting a few curious looks from the various mammals, they were approached by a white tiger in a lab coat.

"Welcome to Zootopia Biolabs," he said, offering a paw. "I'm Nathaniel Clawdon, owner and head researcher."

"Officer Judy Hopps, ZPD," replied Judy, shaking the paw.

"This is my partner Nick and our friend Barry."

Nick and Barry also shook the tiger's paw, with the predator lingering a bit on the human.

"Interesting. " he said, studying Barry's appearance,
"You're clearly a mammal, but I'm not familiar with your species. Tell me what do they call you?"

"Uh, the technical term is Homo sapiens, but human works for me," he replied with a nervous grin.

"And those teeth, clearly meant for a herbivore, but that wouldn't explain the presence of those canines..
fascinating."

Barry shot his friends a pleading look as the tiger got
uncomfortably close; Nick was doing his best not to laugh.

"Dr Clawdon," interrupted Judy. "If you don't mind, we came here because we are investigating the theft of rare materials from this facility."

That got the tiger's attention, as he immediately ceased studying Barry and turned to the rabbit.

"I see" he said, notably less enthusiastic than he had been a moment ago.

"And where did you find this out?"

"It's in relation to another case we are working, and we would appreciate any help you can give us."

"I see...lets go to my office, we can talk some more in
private." He said.

Entering a glass lift, Clawdon pressed a button on the panel and the car began to ascend, giving them a good look at the buildings main floor. To Barry, having never got a good look at S.T.A.R. Labs on Earth-2, it was fascinating to look out over something that was so familiar, yet so different.
However, unlike S.T.A.R Labs, this building teemed with life as mammals of all sizes scurried back and forth, he even saw special paths and bridges for rodents.

"This place reminds of home," mused Barry.

"Ah, that must be a truly fascinating location," replied Clawdon.

"It can be," he replied with a grin.

With a gentle 'ping' the lift reached its destination and the group exited on to a veranda that overlooked the labs main floor. Crossing to a door marked with Clawdons name, the group filed inside.

The office was simply furnished, featuring a desk, a set of chairs and a dresser, with some filing cabinets situated along the left hand wall. A picture frame sat on the desk, facing away from the group, while sunlight streamed in from a large window on the opposite wall, and Zootopia could be seen gleaming in the distance. Clawdon moved to sit behind his desk, while Nick and Judy took the two seats in front of it, leaving Barry to stand by the window.

"I hope you don't mind, but I would like to get straight back to business," he said. 'The possible theft of material from the facility is something of the utmost concern to me."

"We understand," replied Judy. "And we thank you for your co-operation.

"Firstly, I must ask is your information accurate? We
typically check each cargo manifest when taking deliveries or sending out equipment."

"You may want to start double checking them," replied Nick. "The ZPD recently foiled a bank heist, and the porcupine leading it had artificial spines, made from materials that we traced to this lab."

He decided to leave out the ZIA's involvement; something about the way the white tiger sat may have been projecting a calm appearance, but Nicks was starting to see a few cracks in Clawdon's facade.

"As I mentioned, we do some work for the medical and cosmetic industry, if he got implants that were from here then I wouldn't be surprised." Clawdon said.

"True," said Judy. "But he was also declared dead two years ago, and before this declaration, there was no indication he had undergone any cosmetic surgery."

"It could have easily been done later as a way to hide his identity." he replied. "Our implants are advanced but they are far from unique in the cosmetics industry."

"True, but these implants were, special."

"Special?"

Nick and Judy shared a look of affirmation.

"Our suspect was able to attack us, by shooting them from his back as a weapon."

Clawdon blinked, and Nick picked up a something in his eyes. The tiger knew something, and they were going to get it.

"Interesting."he said, but the slight waiver in his voice was obvious to someone with Judy's ears.

"We have been approached by military contractors about something similar, but I will tell you what I told them, such implantation is purely theoretical at this stage."

"'Well someone made it practical," she replied. "Our
information strongly indicates that these implants were made with materials from this lab, doctor. If there is anything that you might know, or suspect, please tell us now, or we will have to come back with a warrant."

Barry sat back and watched the two mammals work, it was so surreal. He was witnessing a white tiger in a lab coat, get interrogated, effectively he might add, by a rabbit and a fox in police uniforms. He had thought that he might need to step in and help, but this was their world and their territory, so he left them to it. But he hadn't been completely idle, as
his heightened senses also picked up on each subtle hint of unease from the tiger.

"I'm sure it won't come to that officer," replied Clawdon. "I can assure you that the ZPD will receive my full co-operation in this matter."

"In that case, we will need to see your employee files for the loading dock," replied Judy.

"Certainly, let me get them for you."

Getting up, Clawdon crossed to the dresser and opened up a drawer, reaching inside, he rummaged for a few moments as he searched among the files.
Then Barry saw a glint of something metallic, not giving the tiger a chance to withdraw whatever it was, he was at the predators side and back at the window before anyone could blink. The astonished tiger could only stare as loose papers blew from his desk, meanwhile, Nick and Judy took note of the
item in Barrys hand, a heavy duty dart gun.

"Y...y... you." stuttered Clawdon. "You're the enhanced mammal from the news, you're The Blur.

"Actually it's The Flash," he replied, confidently.

"Now, how about you explain to the nice officers what you were about to do with this?" Barry said.

He dangled the gun from his finger like a toy, and took note of the predator's panicked glance towards the door.

"You do realize that running might not be the best choice?" said Barry.

"He's got a point," replied Nick, coming over to take the gun.

"Right now, you have two choices," said Judy as she
approached the tiger.

"Pulling a weapon on officers of the law is a serious offense, so you can either give up what you know, or we can drag you down to the station for an
interrogation. Either way, we will get what we want; one just involves the possibility of prison."

Clawdon looked frantically between the three individuals, looking for something, anything, he could use to get away. But he was a scientist, not a hardened criminal, and he slumped to the floor in defeat. Judy moved towards the tiger, preparing her handcuffs.

"She's going to die," said Clawdon, in a voice so quiet that even the rabbits ears struggled to pick it up.

"Excuse me?"

"I've failed her and he's going to kill her."

She shared a concerned look with her friends.

"Who's going to die?" she asked.

Clawdon gestured to the photograph on his desk, and Barry went to take a look. Litting the frame, he saw the photograph showed Clawdon and a female white tiger smiling brightly at the camera.

"Is this your wife?" he asked, and the predator nodded in response.

"Her name is Lily, and this lab, my work, all of it was for her."

"What do you mean?" asked Judy, placing a sympathetic paw on his shoulder.

"There was an accident," he replied. "Her legs were
crushed after her car skidded off the roads in the Rainforest District. We were told she would never walk again, but I couldn't accept that."

He slammed a fist onto the floor.

"I had a degree in bioscience and experience in the
prosthetics industry from my work at Zootopia General. I took out a loan and built this lab from the ground up to help her, and others, that suffered from debilitating injuries."

He looked up at Judy, tears brimming in his eyes.

"Within a year I had created, and tested, the prototypes that eventually repaired my wife's legs. I can't tell you how happy she was when she took those first few steps. "But then it all went wrong, so very wrong."

His head fell into his paws.

"One night I came into the lab to find a group of mammals waiting for me, one of them I recognized as a patient of mine, a ram whose skull I had reinforced after a head injury, he had once suggested I could make any mammal into something more with my implants, make them into a weapon. I refused, but this time...this time he showed me an image of Lily with a knife at her throat."

He took a deep breath as he tried to compose himself.

"He said his boss was called 'Sawbones', and if I wanted to see my wife again, I'd give him my research and help them enhance a few "friends."

He looked up at the three mammals, tears flowing down his cheeks.

"Why didn't you report this?" asked Judy. "The ZPD could have helped."

"Because he couldn't risk her safety," replied Barry,
remembering Dr Wells from Earth-2, and how Zoom had taken his daughter. "He doesn't know where she is or who he's dealing with, only that he can kill her at a moment's notice, and he will do anything to keep her safe."

The tiger looked up at the human, and nodded weakly.

"Is there anything else you can tell us?" asked Nick.

"Anything we can use to help find her and stop this
menace?"

"I'm sorry, he only deals with me through proxies, and I don't get much warning before they arrive."

The fox shared a look with his partner.

"Clawdon," said Judy, pulling out a notepad and pen.

"I am giving you my telephone number, if any of those mammals contact you, please, call me."

"It won't make any difference," he replied as she held out the scrap of paper.

"He's made it clear that she can die at any time."

"That was when you were on your own, now you have us on your side. You've seen Barry move; he can be here in seconds."

Clawdon looked up at the human, whose face was set in grim determination.

"We will get her back." said Barry.

"I promise."

The tiger looked up at the three mammals, and felt
something he hadn't felt for months spark in his chest.

Hope.

"Alright," he said, cautiously taking the piece of paper.

"I'll trust you."

"Thank you," replied Judy.

"You best get going, we've been in here a while now and I don't want to risk the staff gossiping.

"Understood," replied Nick, as they headed for the door.

"Thank you for your co-operation doctor."

Exiting into the main building, the three mammals headed for the lift.

"Poor guy," said Nick.

"Don't be too tough on him," replied Barry. "I've had friend who was in a similar situation; it's hard to choose the right course of action when your loved ones are threatened."

"Yeah, I guess I don't know how I would react in that
situation," replied the fox, his gaze wandering over to Judy as she checked her watch.

"We need to get going," she interrupted. "Our meeting with Mr Big is in just over an hour and we need to get back to the city."