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) Sheath and Knife by Harmarist
(Artist Ownership) Anubis and the Buried Bone by Harmarist
(c) (Artist Ownership) The Kzinti by Larry 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) Characters From Omaha the Cat Dancer Reed Waller 1994
(Artist Ownership) Jag Damien Tiger from Inkbunny’s Fluffy Puffy
(Artist Ownership) Dean Wilson from Animalolympics 1980
(Artist Ownership) Tanya Mousekovitz from American Tail
(Artist Ownership) Blotasky and Perkins from Cat Shit One by Motofume Kobayashi
The Chipmunks and Chipettes (c) from the 1980‘s cartoon series

Chapter 50
“Barukan no hi no hi!” part 11
(The Day of Vulcan’s Fire)

12:47am
19 October 2040
The Destroyer Growler

     ”KLONG! KLONG! KLONG! KLONG! KLONG!”....

“GENERAL QUARTERS! GENERAL QUARTERS! ALL HANDS MAMMAL YOUR BATTLE STATIONS! ALL HANDS MAMMAL YOUR BATTLE STATIONS! PREPARE TO REPEL BOARDERS! PREPARE TO REPEL BOARDERS! ALL PAWS TO THE ARMORY LOCKERS! ALL PAWS TO THE ARMORY LOCKERS!”

       Jackson had a 357 magnum in one paw and Darla’s paw in another as they scaled a ladder to get top side and came out behind one of the wrecked forty millimeter gun mounts into a night time world bathed in white lights!

       Darla pulled her husband down to the deck and racked the slide on her magnum pistol as larger mammals jumped over them to get what cover they could find....

      “HOLD YOUR FIRE! HOLD YOUR FIRE!” The Captain’s voice boomed out! “NO ONE FIRE UNLESS I ORDER YOU!”

      Jackson looked around and grimaced...”We’re stopped! We’re flucken trapped!” He gasped as he quickly looked over the lip of the armored tub ring that circled a destroyed forty mount to see two large Kzinti submarines sitting not fifty yards to the side of the Growler with their “bows on” to their target. What he couldn’t see was the submarine blocking the Growler’s bow not seventy yards away....with two V-1 rocket bombs on its’ “wet deck” pointing at the ship’s bridge and superstructure.

Note: The Kzinti submarines are of the Japanese I-400 class, Japan’s largest submarines of WWII capable of carrying float planes.

      Commander Winsor looked out from the ruins of Growler’s bridge at the situation as Rudy Dolf came into the compartment and stood behind him....

      “Sir? Those two subs over there are “tubes on” with us....if they fire their torpedoes? We’ll roll over.” Rudy said as he gulped.

       “So why don’t they just get it over with?” Winsor asked. “What are they waiting for?”

       “What do we do Sir?” Rudy asked. “We can’t surrender.”

       “I’ll do what I have to if it buys us time. But there will be no surrender. The crew has obviously made up their mind about that.”

        Down behind the forty gun tub....Darla wrapped a paw in Jackson’s baggy coveralls. “We can’t survive if they fire on us.” She said as she pulled herself close to Jackson’s side...”If we get torpedoed? I’ll get us into the water and we’ll swim for what it’s worth.”

        Jackson sighed...”You can’t pull me all the way... and you can’t swim all the way home...”

        Darla looked at her husband and kissed his forehead....”They won’t have us....I will not let them have our bodies...but I’m not ready to die yet....are you?”

        Jackson clenched his teeth. “Absolutely fricken no! Didn’t die once already so I’m averaging a hundred.” Jackson pulled back the hammer on his magnum...”I want to at least kill one of them for Gilly before I go.”

        Darla rubbed her cheek against Jackson’s...”Time was too short...but with you? No second was wasted my beloved.”

        “Ditto Dar......ditto.” Jackson replied with another kiss.

         Suddenly....a voice deep and growling cracked through the darkness and the flood of lights from the Kzinti submarines...

       “Zootopian warship?! Zootopian warship hail! Do you hear me clearly?!” The voice demanded.

      Commander Winsor grabbed a bull horn, walked out onto the bridge wing and called out...”I am Commander Winsor! Commanding Officer of the Zootopian Naval Destroyer Growler. What do you want?!”

     “Commander?!” The voice snapped back. “I am Chuft Captain Yukiyama Minoru...Commander of his Imperial Majesty’s 4th fleet submarine squadron and Commanding Officer of the attack Submarine Trader’s Claw! We give you deference and honor as befitting warriors who have fought with courage and valor!”

      Winsor snorted to Dolf....”What fricken bull snit. They haven’t shown snit for gawd damned honor!

      Rudy grabbed hold of Winsor’s shoulder....”Just keep talking Sir.

     Winsor held his tongue....”We we’re wondering why you haven’t finished your work Sir? Please continue?” Winsor spoke into his bull horn.

     “Commander? You’re situation is hopeless! We are offering you terms only because you deserve our respect! Rest assured if you attempt to resist us?! All of you will die and all survivors will suffer horrible ends! Do what is right for your crew Commander!”

    Winsor snorted....” We know all too well of your “Terms” Chuft Captain! But please continue? Perhaps you will announce something more “respectful” of myself and my crew that we may be persuaded to sue for peace between you and I?”

     Yukiyama continued....”Our terms are these. To all predator mammals about your ship! We give you our paws in brotherhood and friendship! We the Kzinti have embarked to restore that which is the proper ways of nature and the proper universal course and constant! Brother and Sister predators! Join us in our cause that together we may grow strong again! That the world will return to its’ proper natural ballance! That we all may put an end to this sickening deviant perversion of predators being equal to prey! It is un-natural! It is a wicked perverse construct that is weakening our ancient predatorial bonds and spirit! Join us friends and brothers and you will be lavished with comfort and dignity once again to rein over the weaker mammals as was the intention of divine will!”

      Yukiyama continued....”To all prey mammals aboard this ship! You will be put to death with mercy and swiftness! We honor your courage, your fighting spirit, your warrior devotion! None of you will be eaten nor stored for food nor made our slaves! We do not wish suffering on any of you who have shown such glorious martial spirit! To all aboard this ship! Surrender and you shall have mercy! Resist? And we hope your deaths will honor us but all of you will die and any survivors shall be meat on our tables! You have from the count of ten to decide!”

      Jackson gritted his teeth....”You have our decision already mother flucker....” He looked at Darla and gently kissed her lips...”You sure would have looked so wonderful in that wedding dress...”

      Darla replied with a tearful smile...”You’ve never stopped looking so beautiful to me my love?......never.”

      Jackson hugged her tight...”Some honeymoon. I’m going to protest to Prince Rabbit when I get to heaven.” 

      Yukiyama’s voice cracked out the count down.....

“Ju!” (ten!)

       Commander Winsor boomed out over his bull horn....”READY ACROSS THE SHIP! LOCK AND LOAD ALL WEAPONS!”

       The sounds of pistols, rifles and machine guns being cocked rolled around the Growler’s decks.

“Kyuu!” (Nine!)

      Commander Winsor boomed out over his bull horn....”AIM STEADY! AIM TRUE! DO NOT FIRE UNTIL I COMMAND!”

“Hachi!” (Eight!)

       Commander Winsor boomed out over his bull horn....STEADY AIM! EVERYONE HOLD YOUR FIRE!”

“Shichi!” (Seven!)

“VAAAAAAAAH........BOOOM!”

      Suddenly! The submarine in front of the Growler broke in half over a churning and rising bubble of exploding gases and lit up in a huge ball of fire as it exploded! One of the V-1 rocket bombs blasted off from its launching cradle, flipped over the Growler and crashed aft of the crippled ship with a defining blast!

      Jackson pulled Darla’s head to his chest as he tried to dig himself into the side of the forty mount tub! “HOLY SNIT?! WHAT THE FLUCK?!” He screamed as one of the two submarines floating down the side of the Growler also exploded! Part of the bow flipped through the air and crashed against the Growler’s side as the third submarine joined her other two sisters in flaming hell!

      A Tiger on the Growler stood up and brought his Thompson sub-machine gun to his cheek! “LIGHT THOSE COCK SUCKERS UP!”

      Every piece of small arms that could be brought to bear on the spots where the two Kzinti subs once sat were unleashed over the length of Growler’s exposed deck side as pistols, rifles, grenade launchers and light and heavy machine guns lit up the night with sparks and tracers flying across the space....bouncing off the water and throwing up splashes and showers of metal and body parts until Commander Winsor called the rage of his crew to stop!....

     “ENOUGH! ENOUGH! CEASE FIRE! CEASE FIRE!” Winsor cried out on his bull horn! He then slackened as the crew erupted in cheers and screams of joy and celebration!

     Rudy Dolf however.....had been left catatonic....”What......the hell? Just happened?” He asked. He looked at Commander Winsor with a scowl...”And Sir? Please don’t say this is what you meant by buying time?”

     Winsor sighed...”Apparently? We bought just enough of it Mister Dolf.” The tired Commander said as he point off to the side of the Growler just as a submarine sail was breaking through the surface of the ocean!

    Jackson sat back on his rump shaking his head...”There always has to be the last minute savior in every movie.”

      Darla jumped up, embraced her husband and kissed him back down onto the deck! “Guess you get to see me in that wedding dress after all?! But he could have been a good sport and let the Kzinti get down to one on his count.”

      The crew of the Growler rushed to the side of the ship to see the rabbit who climbed up through the coning tower access hatch of the Zootopian drone attack submarine...”Hi!” Perkins yelped as he waved while Botasky joined him. “We thought you all might want a tow back home?!”

      The Growler’s crew cheered wildly as Commander Winsor joined them on the main deck...

     “A timely assist there Sir!” Winsor replied. “Who are you and what is your vessel?”

     “Commander Perkins of Naval Intelligence Sir! Myself, my Sargent here and our commando team were on our way to Roya Island when the attack on Zootopia started! This is the attack drone Thresher. The submarine that really saved you is the Scorpion on your port side! We can rig up tow cables between both subs to get you all home unless you want to stay out here and kill more Kzinti bastards?!” Perkins yelled.

     Commander Winsor replied....”No. We’ve had enough for one day.By all means Commander? Please take us home?”

3am
19 October 2040
Nick and Judy’s cottage
Aiden Burrough

       Nick was jolted awake and almost hurt himself sitting up as his wife bounced up and down on his legs too excited to say anything! She kept pointing to her smart phone and trying not to totally break down as she waved it nervously in Nick’s face!

      “Mmmm!.....Nick! Nick!....mmmmmm!” Judy was too excited to say anything coherent! Nick sat up to rub his head and pet his wife’s buoyant face.

      “Carrots?! Carrots? What’s wrong? Can you please stop using my lap as a trampoline?” Nick asked as he took the phone and looked at his wife with deep concern. He was almost afraid to swipe the screen open, thinking something terrible had happened....

       Nick paused a moment, then swiped the screen open to the e-mail that was plastered on the screen....

From: The Naval Department family Ombudsman
To: Nicholas and Judy Wilde

Subject: Confirmation on the status of your son, Petty Officer Jackson Wilde assigned ZND Growler as of this date 20 October 2040

Message: The NDFO deeply tenders to you with great joy that your son and ZND Growler survived an intense struggle with the enemy on 19 October 2040. ZND Growler is currently under protection and tow and will arrive at Sandy Point Naval Instalation on the evening of 20 October 2040.

NDFO sends

       Nick screamed and yelped loud enough to wake Fennick and his family as Judy bowled him over crying and screaming with joy! “I TOLD YOU CARROTS! I TOLD YOU HE’D GET THROUGH! THAT’S MY BOY! THAT’S MY BOY!”

        Nick then looked into Judy’s eyes and smiled....”No.....That‘s “our” Son.” Nick said as he started to sob....”Our son......our son...” Nick sat up and wiped his eyes....”Way to go there.......Chance given.”

      Fennick entered the living room seeing Judy and Nick crying...”You two just woke the dead...what gives?”

      Judy turned around...”Our son is coming home. He’s alive...”

      Nick then thought....” Darla? Carrots? What about Darla?”

      Judy stood scratching her head...”Oh....I......I don’t know...I have her parents number but.” Judy checked her cell phone. “The service is still down.” Judy closed her eyes. “We should wait...it would be wrong to tell them that Jackson is alright if they don’t know about their daughter. We’ll just have to wait. The Navy Department wouldn’t tell us anyway since we’re not family.”

September 24, 2020
Destroyer Growler in port
Jackson and Gilly have duty
Midnight

       Jackson winced at the light shining in his face and turned over in his rack with a groan.....

       “Jackson?” Gilly asked softly as he pushed on Jackson’s side. “Jackie?”

       Jackson turned around to see Gilly sitting by his rack shining a flashlight in his face...”Gill? This better be official stuff because I’m a real bastard when some one flashes a light in my puss at “oh dark frith” damn it.”

        Gilly waved some index cards in his paw...”I just forgot. Here’s all the information ok? You need to give a copy to Darla too. Where’s yours at?”

        “Mmmffff! My green book in my coveralls Gilly....couldn’t you have waited till the morning?”

        “I could be dead in the next five minutes Jackie, same with you. I just want us to have all this now before snit hits the fan. You never know when right?” Gilly asked. “It makes me feel good ok?”

          “I know.” Jackson said as he lay rubbing his head tuft and tried to focus on the index cards...”Um? This is quite a number of contacts Gill?”

        “I have to cover as many as I can before we go on a long cruise. What if something bad happens to Zootopia?” Gilly asked. “I don’t want Will to suffer waiting for day after day to find out if anything happened to me you know?”

        Jackson watched as Gilly ripped pages out of his green note book. “You sure you and Darla don’t want to add to this list?”

       “That’s enough I think.” Jackson replied. “Now I got the four to eight watch coming up and I want to get some sleep.”

      Gilly waved a paw...”Hey? Let me take you and Darla out to dinner and a movie? I’ll spot for it.”

      “You did that last week?” Jackson replied.

     “And I’ll do it again.” Gilly replied. “Or? Or we could get a hot plate, a cooler of grub, go to the beach and have a boiler plate party? Double date?”

      Jackson thought....”All right. Now can I get back to sleep?” He begged.

      Gilly petted Jackson’s head tuft...”Sure. sure....sorry Jackie, you sleep good ok?”

      Jackson gave Gilly a smile and poked his chest...”Stop screwing around and study. Less “Pred n Prey” and more books. Tell that boyfriend of yours that you need a stripe and a crow on your shoulder.”

      Gilly giggled...”Try telling a horny wolf anything.”

      “Well? Make an effort at least?” Jackson snickered. “Now shoo!”

2am
19 October 2040
The Destroyer Growler
ICERM Shop

      Jackson sat looking at the photo copy of the index cards he kept in his shop locker just in case...

     He was going to start “balling” as he looked at Gilly’s shop locker. At some point...it was going to be cleaned out. The lock would get cut off, some cardboard boxes would be set on the work table and one by one the things of a life would be pulled out, recorded and double watched as they were put into the boxes to be sealed for turn over to hopefully Will Gray...if Jackson could convince the Skipper to support him. Jackson doubted the family would take them....after all...Gilly was a worthless “faggot” in their eyes. The thought of being unloved by his own family in death made Jackson pissed...

    Chief Fireball looked up from his desk as he toiled over the paperwork to see Jackson at his door looking upset. “Come on in and sit down Wilde.” Fireball said with a gesture.

    “Chief? Can I empty Gilly’s locker?” Jackson asked. “I really don’t want anyone in CAT (Casualty Assist) near it.”

     “Can you handle it?” Fireball asked. 

      “It’s not a question of handle Chief.” Jackson replied. “It’s of honor and respect. I don’t want anyone distant, cold and impersonal handling Gilly’s things...you know...there could be deeply personal stuff that... you understand I hope?....”

      Fireball nodded. “Of course. I’ll get you the boxes, sealing tape and the documents but how are you feeling? You’ve been through quite a mess of snit.”

     “Fell like it too.” Jackson replied. “I’m just....spent I guess. Upset. Tired...” Jackson wiped his eyes...”I’m sorry Chief.”

     Fireball bent forward....”Would you like some...personal time with your wife?”

     Jackson looked up....”Huh?”

     “I asked...” Fireball said smiling. “Would you like some personal time with your wife? As in?” Fireball pointed. “Fan room time?”

     Jackson smirked...”Chief? That’s a little against regulations?”

     “I don’t give a fluck?” Chief Fireball replied. “You need therapeutic treatment for depression, stress, combat fatigue and you need emotional stability because I need you to be the lead bunny on your tip toes....therefore? You and a certain otter are going to be assigned to cleaning the fan room. Or? I could call up a gang of foxes from the machinery spaces to come up here and throw you in there by force? Choose?”

      Jackson shrugged. “I.....guess I should go clean the fan room? But Chief? I don’t want you to get in trouble for this!”

     “Are you going to disrespect me and disobey my orders?” Fireball snapped “You have until 8am to get that fan room spotless you disobedient “flunny” or so help me? I will pull off my anchors, snatch you off your feet, take you to the fantail and blister that silly no fluff tail butt to hell!” Fireball snorted. “Now go? and get the comforter and pillow out of the cleaning gear locker!”

       “What are those doing?” Jackson asked.

       “Shut up before I write you up for being insubordinate you little bastard!” Fireball snapped with a pointing hoof finger! “Go!”

         Fireball snatched his phone on his desk...”Chief Debase? Chief Fireball of ISERM...I have a big crack in my fan room and I need Petty Officer Wilde up to my office like yesterday to fix it. It’s a big gaping hole and crack which may take a few hours to fix.”

        Fireball put the phone down and called in a fox...”Kettlecorn!”

        The red English fox popped tall at the officer door. “Yes Chief?”

        “Petty Officer Wilde will be assisting a welder in the fan room until 8am. You are to stand watch at the door. No one else goes in and Petty Officer Wilde is not to come out unless he needs to piss. No matter what noises you hear in there? Do not open the door! Understand?” Fireball said smiling and blinking an eye....

        “Oh?” Kettlecorn replied. “Giving them a hotel suite huh?”

        “No.” Fireball replied. “They are cleaning the fan room and that’s all. That......is......all.....right Kettlecorn? No matter who asks you what’s taking place in that fan room? Your words will be “Cleaning operations” and nothing more....GOT IT?!”

        “Yes....just cleaning it out Chief.” Kettlecorn replied.

        “Hup too it there fox.” Fireball ordered. 

2am
19 October 2020
Rattle Back Company under Captain Oakley
Carnifax Station

        Nori, Ori, Stenowa and Buster jumped from the back of the Deuce truck with Gideon and Travis as owen and Powen came up with Captain Oakley....

       “You alright Mister Gray?” Owen asked the big fox...

       “Oh sure.” Gideon replied. “Gottah have a little excitement every now and then. As I told your brothers...the old truck was sort of at the end of being kept up so...they put her out of her misery in spectacular fashion.”

       “You call it spectacular?” Travis snorted. “Damn truck almost fell on my skUll.”

       Owen noted Ori rubbing his behind...”And just what’s your problem Ori?”

      “Nothin Owen.” Ori replied.

      “He shot his stupid little mouth off again like usual and earned my hot displeasure, that’s what he did you miscreant little bunny bastard.” Gideon snorted at Ori. “You need to use more discipline on him Owen Hopps.”

       “He wishes.” Owen snorted. “Any way? All of you get something to eat and drink because we’re being sent to the city center. Command isn’t worried about invasion now as much as a second strike wave. The company is going to help with rescue, recovery and wounded evacuation to the West. Some good news also came over the radio for what it’s worth. Jackson’s ship’s been found. She’s messed up but still afloat. Don’t know about him yet though.”

        Owen then looked at Nori. “Dori’s fine. He’s in City Center now working mass casualty and triage.”

        Nori looked as if a weight had been lifted...”Thank Frith...” He said with a tired smile.

         “And there’s no damn sappers.” Owen snorted. “The rumor mill is causing all kinds of problems in town. Three tigers have been shot dead by stupid idiots. We might have to enforce Martial Law if it comes to it. The assistant mayor is now the acting mayor, she’ll be sworn in officially in a few hours.”

3am
19 October 2040
The Destroyer Growler
ICERM Shop’s air condition fan room

“Fanny”

“Fanton”

“Aircon”

“Connie”

“Froomy”

     “What? Are you doing?” Darla asked her husband as she lay on his chest enjoying a soft nipple between her lips...

     “Coming up with a name for our first born.” Jackson replied. “They always say your first born should be named after the place they were conceived so.....”

      Darla giggled “Fan room Steadley Wilde”

      “We’d be murder victims for sure.” Jackson said as he gently rolled Darla onto her back. “I still feel guilty.”

      “Gilly would slap the snit out of you.” Darla replied. “What else would you do? Work till you had a heart attack? Cried in your bed and not talked to me? What? I’m here...take it out on me.”

      Jackson sighed...”I would have preferred a better setting...a pool? a nice hotel room?...”

      Darla snatched him by his jowls....”Well? You’re not getting what you want.....save me. Now?...Stop the stupid angst and ravage me? Or do I have to crank up the Mustalde and go honey badger on your self pity’ing butt?”

      Jackson dove his head down and deeply Frenched Darla’s mouth...”Mmmmmmmm.....now that’s more like it!” The female otter sounded as she wrapped her legs around her husband’s hips....”Don’t spare anything Jackie? huh......get it all out and inside me you hot hare n fox hunk!”

      Outside the fan room hatch...Kettlecorn was not only trying to keep from hearing the noisy commotion inside....he was fighting to keep himself from ripping the front of his coveralls open as the sounds of two mammals engaged in dripping hot intercourse rang off his sensitive ears...

     “Hey Ketty?” Kettlecorn’s friend, a female arctic fox named Janice, waved as she walked into ICERM and up to the fan room door. “Weren’t you going to be assigned to work on the battery packs to get us power?” She asked.

     “The chief told me to stay here.” Kettlecorn replied as he moved back closer to the fan room door....which got Janice’s attention....

     “What’s up in there?” The female fox asked.

    “Just a welder doing some repairs?” Kettlecorn replied.

    Janice could hear the “commotion” clear enough and snickered at what was actually going on....

    “Ugh! Ugh! Ugh! Jackie! Ugh! Yes! Ugh! uhhhhhhh.....fluck me!.....Mmmmmm....Tie your knot in me! Ugh! Ugh!....”

      “Must be a real extensive repair huh?” Janice asked. “Must involve a ton of tweeks and calibrations huh?” She said almost giggling...

     “Damn it Janice!” Kettlecorn snapped. “It’s enough I have to stand here and hear the whole fricken thing going down with you looking at me like that!”

       “AH! AH! AH!....JACKIE!.......AH! AH!....”WHAM!” ”WHAM!” OH YEAH! OH YEAH! MAKE ME! MAKE ME CLIMB THE WALL! YES! GRRRRRRR....SLAM ME WITH YOUR STIFF YOU HOT LONG EARED FREAK! UH!.....UH!.......UH!

      “You have a nice tent going there Kettlecorn.” Janice snickered.

      “WILL YOU GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE PLEASE?!” Kettlecorn yelled! Which......suddenly got the attention of more mammals who wondered what was going on...
    
      “Oh......fluck me to tears?” The poor English red fox yelped as he fell against the fan room hatch.

3am
19 October 2040
Downtown Zootopia
The Flying Leaf Financial building

       It had taken Tony Toponi hours to get down to the first floor of the damaged financial building where he sat in the middle of the lobby on a piece of concrete debris sobbing over watching his friends fall out a window to their sure deaths...

      (crying) Miei amici! Il mio gruppo! (crying) Il mio amorevole amorevole Fievel, (crying louder) la gioia della mia vita, il calore nel mio letto, ti ho ucciso tutti! Vorrei essere morto! (crying)

       Tony ripped his shirt off in grief and despair, pounding the floor with his fisted paw....”WHY?! WHY DID YOU TAKE MY FRIENDS?! WHY DID YOU TAKE MY BELOVED! CURSE YOU GAWD! CURSE YOU TO HELL!” until the sound of clapping paws caused him to look up!

       “Bravo! Bravo! Melodramatic piss head!” Fievel snapped as he stood with Pixy, Dixey and his sister Tanya. “Rodents n gents? I give the Oscar for overblown theatrics to Tony Toponi!”

      Tony ran to Fievel and scooped him off the floor! “Fievel! L'amore della mia vita! (kisses) il calore del mio letto! (More kisses) la mia amata compagna!” (Too many kisses)

      ‘DAMN IT TONE TONE! DROP ME!” Fievel commanded! When Tony put him down, the young mouse slapped him hard! “What’s the heck you?!” Fievel snapped!

      “Easy killer?” Tony yelped back. “Sheesh! Can’t I express my gratitude that you isn’t dead and dead? What the heck happened after you all tumbled off that window sill?”

       “We crashed into the front seat of ZPD patrol car, what else?” Fievel snorted. “My butt still hurts from the cavity search! Had to be an elephant gawd damn it!”

       Everyone gave Fievel a stink eye look. “Ok.....ok......ok.....we landed in a trash can full of trash bags, I was trying to spice things up a bit ok? Sheesh....no end less glamorous than a stinky trash can.”

       Tony stood tall pulling on his half torn up shirt...”But none the less we are fit and firm after our brush with catastrophic indemnity of which yours truly skillfully guided us out of.”

       Fievel climbed atop a pile of debris....”Oh boy the bull snit is really starting to flow now. So what do we do Tone Tone? Our home is gone! Our life is ruined!”

       Tony waved a paw....”First rule of thumbs my beloved little mouse.” Tony said smiling. “First? A mode of transport. Second? A place to live. Third? Sustenance.” Tony turned to Pixy and Dixey...”You two look around and snag us a vehicle huh?”

      Dixey gestured back. “Kindly look around boss? I don’t think we should risk driving anywhere right now? I don’t know about you but I know the bigger mammals are not going to give much of a damn to looking down at their feet. Me? I’d like ta live a little you know?”

      Pixy agreed...”With everything a mess boss? We should stick to staying as close to the side of the walks or the roads as much as possible, at least till we come across a mammal willing to take us in?”

     “Rabbits have always been kind to us!” Fievel said cheerfully. “We should look for a rabbit to take us all in, just for a little while.”

      While Pixy, Dixie and Fievel talked options...Tony walked over to where Tanya had found a seat to sit down....

      “You? Ah.........You alright Tanya?” Tony asked.

       “I guess you could call breathing alright.” Tanya replied.

       “I just wanted to express my deep concern for your well being.” Tony said as he sat down. “I know deep inside you must be worried about your two suiters huh? I just want you to know that Tony Toponi’s here to comfort your needs.” Tony said with a smile. “I’m sure everything will turn out good. And if you can’t find any employment? My door’s always open.”

       “You never let a good crisis go to waste, do you Tony?! Do you, you insensitive ugly rat!” Tanya snapped.

        Tony tried to follow Tanya as she cursed and stormed away from him. “Tanya?! Seriously here! I’m really, honestly concerned for your safety and well being! I know you’re worried sick about your two “bows” believe me?....”

        Tanya turned around and jammed a paw finger in Tony’s rostral! “OW! OW! OW! THAT HURTS TANYA!”

        “If you keep chasing after me to join your criminal group of thugs Tony Toponi? I’ll do worse than make you scream ouch! Now lay off me!” Tanya screeched loudly as she pushed Tony back onto his butt! She turned to her little brother with a scowl on her face...”You keep him off my back Fievel! Filthy scoundrel of a garbage picking mouse!”

         Tony smiled as Tanya stomped out of the building. “She likes me. She just hasn’t let it out yet.” Tony said confidently.

         “Illusions of grand ure as always Tone Tone?” Fievel snickered as he picked Tony off the floor. “So let her chill a little bit before we all figure out what to do? Pixy and Dixey should go and see if they can find us some transportation so we can find a rabbit that will take us all in.”

         “You are fixated on finding a rabbit.” Tony asked Fievel. “I don’t care what mammal we find so long as we have “sleeps n eats” Philly. Go get yer sister kid and let’s get going.”

4am
19 October 2040
The Destroyer Growler
ICERM Shop’s air condition fan room

        Jackson knocked on the hatch and Kettlecorn opened it to see the fox/bunny wrapped in a sheet...

       “Hi Kets?” Jackson said softly. “Think you can get us some bottled water?”

       “Oh sure.” Kettlecorn snorted back. “I’ll just walk on over to the fridge and leave the door unguarded. Sheesh....why don’t I just give you two a radio so you can broadcast a live porn show all over the boat?!”

       “We couldn’t help it.” Jackson replied. “We were deep in the throws of post marriage bliss and passion.” 

       “Socks work?” Kettlecorn said with a frown. “The sheets could have worked? Your paw could have worked?”

        Jackson showed off his teeth wounded paw wrapped in a strip of torn up bed sheet. “Otters have very sharp teeth you know?”
  
       “Oh for Vulpex in.....wait!” Kettlecorn ran to the shop fridge, pulled out two water bottles and came back....trying to avoid the looks of the others as they flashed Jackson victory signs or winks and hanging tongues...

        “Thanks Kets.” Jackson said.

        The two mammals were silent until Jackson tapped Kettlecorn’s shoulder...”Did you get a hard on?”

        “Yeah....I did! I thank you for the embarrassment?!” The red fox yelped. The laughs and chuckles of the others in the compartment didn’t help him...”Ugh....(shaking head)....Please Jackson? Please tell me you’re done?”

         Jackson looked back inside the fan room then shook his head. “Uh?......nope.”

         Kettlecorn snorted at him....”Then will you please? Please? Keep it quiet in there?!”

         Jackson giggled....”We’ll........try.....just for you.” And closed the hatch.

        A few minutes later....

        “AH! AH! AH! OH JACKSON! UGH! UGH! UGH GAWD OF THE SEAS YOU LONG EARED STUD! WRECK MY PUSSY! AH! AH! AH!

         Kettlecorn screamed...."GAWDESS VULPEX DAMN IT YOU TWO CRAZY MAMMALS! KNOCK IT THE FLUCK OFF!”

         “KETTLECORN!” Came the scream of Chief Fireball from his office. “GET YOUR BUSHY TAILED BUTT IN FRONT OF MY DESK RIGHT NOW!”

          Inside the fan room....Darla and Jackson were curled up in a comfort blanket laughing their tails off!

         “OH JACKSON! YOUR PENIS IS A GIFT FROM THE GAWDS! AAAAAAAAAAH!” (Laughter) Maybe this was the wrong place to have sex?”

        “You think?!” Jackson replied as he pushed Darla back onto her back and rolled his lips over hers in passionate love...”Mmmm....I actually feel....better? Though still?....I want you with me when I clean out Gilly’s locker. I also.....have to talk to the skipper about the arrangements to tell Will. If anyone should tell him? His parents should.”

         Darla rubbed Jackson’s face gently...”But not right now ok? We still have a few hours...and this time I think we can be a little less crazy?”

         Jackson cocked his head and smirked. “Who the fluck are we kidding?”

         “Yeah.....” Darla replied wrapping her arms around her husband’s neck. “Absolute failure huh?” She said as she pulled him towards her face...”Come and wreck my pussy again you delicious stud muffin.”

          “Spectacular Funny Box Foxhopper to you there Mrs. Wilde.” Jackson giggled.

          “Way over blown in grandizement aren’t we sport?” Darla asked.
     
4:30am
19 October 2040
Rattle Back Company under Captain Oakley
Arriving in the Downtown center at “First Prinky”

         Owen waved his cell phone to the rest of the brothers...”Guys! Guys! Just got a text from Judy? Jackson’s all right!”

          Relief washed over the Hopps brothers, even more so Nori when he caught sight of Dori sitting down with some of his medical class mates by a Red Cross table with food and coffee. The big rabbit wasted no time in vaulting over the side of the truck bed and colliding with his favorite brother in a crash that sent Dori’s coffee flying!

          “OOF!” Dori sounded as he flopped onto his back being squeezed in a tight loving hug....”Hey Bear Bear!” He said joyfully!

          “I was in a panic the whole damn time!” Nori almost sobbed as he hugged his brother tight....”You ok Dori? You didn’t get hurt any where?” Nori voiced worried.

          “You see any bandages on me?” Dori replied as he adjusted his glasses on his snoot and pulled a bag of waffers from a pocket...” Want em Bear Bear?”

          All the rest of the brothers came walking up as Nori chow’d on the bag of waffers like they were crack cocaine...

          “We just got word from Judy that Jackson’s alright.” Owen said as he shook Dori’s paw...”So are you a doctor yet?” Owen asked.

         “I’m not even half through the basics.” Dori replied. “All I have is level three nurse care and “wham” out here in the thick of it.”

         Ori stood scratching his head...”It looked bad from a distance.”

        “Worse in the face.” Dori replied. He pulled a piece of metal from his pocket. “Look what these rockets were carrying owen?

          Powen took the spiked object and looked at it...”Looks like a cow stopper jack.” He said calmly. “It’s got honed edges.”

          So as to prove a point...”Ori wasn’t watching how he took the bladed jack and yelped! “OUCH! DAMN THING!” He cried as he shook his paw and dropped the Jack....”Damn thing sliced my finger?”

         Dori whipped a band aid out of his pocket...”Should test to see if you could get an infection from it.” Dori snorted. “I don’t put it past these sick bastards to put something on these things. We found them all over the place...found what they did to more than a few mammals.”

         Captain Oakley walked up. “I guess the level of their brutality needs no explanation.” Oakley said sternly. “I just heard some news on Z.O.O. radio....un-confirmed but...on the Outbacks there’s claim of a massacre at an orphanage. Seems the Kzinti found some of the young mammals hidden with some older ones who ran the home.....they.....be-headed some of the......elders? They threw some of the young ones in the air and caught them on bayonets.”

          No one said anything.....till Owen spoke up....”It’s not confirmed like you said Sir? Could just be wild stories? We’ve been hearing so much hyper bull snit all night.”

          Nori snatched the object up from the ground....”Oh? And this is bull snit too? What does this do going at a hundred miles an hour?! Their fricken animals bro! This is the weapon of a fricken animal with no damn mammality in their heart!” Nori threw the thing on the ground. “Bull flucken snit in hell we all need to wake the fluck up!”

         “Bear, bear?” Dori asked softly. “Calm down brother...”
 
         “Calm down?” Nori replied. “Door Door? You’ve been up close and personal with this snit! Don’t tell me to calm down? How many Zootopians have you seen ripped apart?! Screaming for their kin folk?!Dying with stuff like that?! that tore them into bloody meat chunks? Those? Those dirty flucken cats want us all dead! What? Are we going to just go over there and say...”Hi....please? please don’t kill any more of us please?”.....oh no......oh no these muther fluckers need to die “Door, Door”...every....filthy....rotten.....drity...feline piece of snit must.....die!”

         Dori looked at Nori with a worried face which caused his brother to slacken and sit on the ground....”Sigh.....Sorry Dori....I needed to get that out....the day has sucked bad and I’m tired.”

         Not that every one else didn’t share the same feelings in certain ways at certain levels. Dori sat next to Nori and nuzzled him closely...”I’d better get medical training done so I can join your outfit. Some one has to control your big quick tempered butt.” Dori said as he pulled Nori’s head onto his shoulder and rubbed his chin over Nori’s head tuft...”It’s ok Nori...” Dori whispered.

         Captain Oakley found the closeness between the two brothers....a little “queer”....”Sargent Owen?” Oakley asked Owen as he gestured...”They’re not?”

         Owen almost laughed himself off his feet....”Oh? Oh my Frith in? Do you think Captain?” Owen turned to his other brothers. “Powen? Ori? Did you hear this?”

        Powen walked up to Captain Oakley...”No Sir....it’s a long story? But no....they’re not.....”that strange”.....with each other. Our Maw likes to say that those two came out “joined at the paw grip”, they’ve been close their whole life, can’t separate em long at all....specially Nori from Dori, you try to keep them apart too long and Nori becomes a grumpy impossible to live with trouble causing bastard.”

        Ori smirked...”And my butt suffers the wrath...but they don’t keep them apart long enough for me to get my fill damn it!”

        Oakley looked at Ori like he was crazy then at Owen....”You brothers are some...bizarre bunnies Sargent.”

        Owen snorted back. “Don’t separate us Sir. We may be “bizarre” but as a family? We’ll kick tail, get the names and grab miles. Trust me on that fact. One brood....one fight.....one family.”

        Captain Oakley snorted. “Then perhaps Corperal Dori Hopps should get his medical training done so we can snatch him up for our company before someone else grabs him.”

        “Hmph....” Powen snorted. “Let the dumb bastards try it.” He said calmly.

        “All that being as is?” Oakley said. “We have to join up with the ZPD and help in recovery and security so grab some coffee and carrot cake while you can....we’ll all buddy up and move out in thirty minutes.”
  
 6am
19 October 2040
The Destroyer Growler
ICERM Shop

(Taken from Jackson Wilde’s future book Growl Steel Lady Growl)

      What if you were asked to clean a locker of some one you never knew? You were told to go through their personal things and place them in boxes because that mammal had passed away. What could those things which you found and handled tell you about a life? In my case, in my wife’s case....we knew our friend well. For us? Such guess work would only apply to those things we might never have seen before.

       We knew that Gilly came from a large March Hare family in Bunny Borough. We knew he started off life with a mean streak on his shoulder, having to act tough and play a bully to hide his own insecure existence because if his family ever found out he was gay?....which they eventually did.....he might have ended up dead.

       Our first meeting, myself and Gills, wasn’t pleasant. In boot camp he called me a “half breed bitch” who’s mother was a “dirty fox flucking slut” and what came out of her “foul tick infested pussy" was a “snit smelling abomination”. Yes.....He said all that under his breath.

     Gilly forgot, however, that I was rabbit side dominant and my ears worked very well. But he also didn’t know that I had much of my upbringing under a “mafia don” and that characters such as Gilly were more useful as allies than enemies. So....as with my big lovable Wolf dog hybrid friend Yuki in high school...I turned Gilly from being a “hater” to a deeply dearest friend and yes....we were indeed deep in our friendship....but as Gilly would say even when slobbering drunk? 

      “Not! Not! Not! In a gay way.”

     You know some one is important to you?....when you have to cut the lock on their locker because they.....not you.....ended up dying. It took a bit.....in long minutes.....to turn the handle on that door.

      The first things you see are the two hanging sets of Navy coveralls. We always had two sets in our lockers...a crisp brand new clean pair for special occasions and a dirty, dingy, often very rank smelling set of “use-ables” for doing dirty work about the ship. Darla and I stopped to just give the used pair a good smell...I know?....weeeeeeeird?! but...there’s those smells you don’t want to forget of your old friend. The fur talc softener and freshener Gilly used was “Amber Vanilla” then there was his own unique rabbit scent, all of that still permeated the fabric beyond the dingy stuff of daily cleaning and hard work. I stopped to look at the inside of the used pair and found some clumps of his fur...which I took for Dar and myself. I put them in an envelope before putting the two pairs of coveralls in one of the boxes.

      The next thing...was the rubber band bound stack of drink coasters. Gilly loved the clubs in Sahara Square and he loved collecting their drinking coasters. We’d go with friends, with our ship mates, with our dates, we’d go with just ourselves...him and I....and we would get crazy and torn up with good times and way too many nutty memories.

      The “Inferno" could put together the most awesome dance runs that would last two to three hours worth of awesome dance floor songs! Who needed Navy physical training with that length of exertion? And it was more fun too.

       The “Club Indigo" made the best bunny mix drinks in all Zootopia with sweet juices like the “Hazelnut passion" and the “Rum Volcano". “Hazelnut passion" was always put into this huge tankard for multiple rabbits with twisty straws and we’d always get into silly fights over who drank the most.

       The “Rhythm Shore" made the best rabbit paw finger platters in the whole world! You could spend all night nibbling on that selection and never completely clean the platter.

       We sometimes found ourselves passed out in the rent-a-rooms above the “Mellon Smash” club where we laughed ourselves silly in blind drunken stupidity laying on the floor. You always seem to have good conversations while your smashed off your gourd but you can never remember the subject.

      Next was all the rubber bands that littered the bottom of the locker. Gilly was never without rubber bands, he had them on both wrists... sometimes on both ankles. He always thought they’d be needed somewhere along his travels and often we’d stop at some shop or office and he’d finger fire them at mammals or try to score points by shooting them into the coffee cups of Chiefs and Officers. He got the Executive Officer once...she walked around the ship all day with a blue rubber band wrapped through her teeth. That was fun.

      At the back of the locker on the bottom were a row of books Gilly had gotten from the service-mammal’s center by the ship’s pier. Guess why they were all “Bunny Quest” graphic novel books? Because they told of a tribe of ancient mythical midget rabbits....who rode wolves. Gilly was hitched to a wolf...go figure. In one of the books, Gilly had stashed love letters he received from William Gray...we chose to respect their privacy.

     Of course....Will was all over the place. Pictures on the back of the locker door...the smell of Will’s fur softener “Jade Palace” along with his flea and ticks powder smell hung inside the locker space.

      A picture of Gilly happily riding on Will’s broad shoulders, perhaps on Lion’s Gate beach. He was so happy and so hopeful about the future. I think Will did more for him than I could have.

      Another picture of them lounging together on a couch. Will’s snoot gently nuzzling Gilly’s neck while the gray wolf wrapped his arms around Gill’s body. Their faces locked to each other in adoring love.

      Another picture of Gill and Will, Me and Darla on a double date at the “Indigo”. Darla and me trying to see if our heads could fit in Will’s jaws while Gilly’s blowing in Will’s big ear.

      I paused for a moment....I have to write a letter to Will and it’s not coming to me at all. How do you put into words your feelings so they comfort and not cause further hurt? Darla gently nuzzles me on and the task continues....

     We decide the “Indigo” picture will stay with us.

     Two ship’s ball caps with Gilly’s name on the back. Two formal award folders containing a pair of “Meritorious commendations” for high performance quality works-mammal-ship. Gilly was proud of those.

     A box tucked in the back corner of the locker? I grab it, open it and a spring loaded hacky sack ball flies into my snoot! I stumble backwards, trip over a chair and fall on my ass! Everyone in the shop breaks out laughing!

     “You fricken wise ass!” I snort. Darla’s laughing her tail off! Gill probably had that thing placed there for months or more, a sort of last laugh he’d get on me he probably hoped would never get used. I laugh and then I lose it. Darla comes to pick me up as does some of the others in the shop....

     I leave.....I come back.....I lose it again....I leave.....I come back. We finish up. 

     The last thing I pull out is a stuffy animal key chain still in it’s sealed baggy....a wolf stuffy of course. Will gave Gilly that before we sailed into the snit storm, he just didn’t want to take it out and get it all covered in crap. I place it into the pocket of the clean pair of coveralls.

     I stop to look at the name tag on the locker door. I took it out of the holder and placed it in the box. Darla closes and seals the two boxes while I spray and wipe out the empty locker with cleaner...

     Spray and wipe...soon the smells that Gilly may have enjoyed every morning when he came into work to remind him of why he worked so hard....were gone....replaced by an antiseptic nothingness. Soon there would be another name....another set of uniforms....some one else’s trinkets, photos and things and at some point the same thing would happen to my own locker. Only....I’ll be cleaning out my own so there won’t be any lingering hurt left behind.

      And I guess....if we want to get deep in philosophy about all this...this is how normal life goes. There’s always going to be some one at some point to fill a previously emptied locker. And the new occupant might never wonder about the mammal who previously occupied it. 

8am
19 October 2040
The University of Zootopia
Downtown Campus
Emergency young mammal care compound

      Gazelle came up to the table where Bailey Gull was working on his lap top while others in his college class attended to several young mammals who had been found all over the city....in some cases alone, in others...in great sadness. Many of them had become orphaned in the mad rush to escape or when their parents and family members were slaughtered by the rockets.

     What else was Gazelle going to do? Stay in her basement? Flee like everyone else? The situation called for rocks of stability to calm the population and give genuine hope in an hour of despair. So it was when she came walking through the front gates of the campus and turned chaos into something everyone could focus efforts towards...

     “I have this little one.” Gazelle said as she stood in front of Bailey.

     “Did they tag him or her?” Bailey asked as he gestured.

      Gazelle passed the information tag to Bailey and he began to make an information profile page....”What’s the sex?”

     “Tiger female.” Gazelle replied as she placed the little cub on the table and dangled a feather toy for her to play with as a distraction. “She was found in the street on Koala Ave.” Gazelle said. “The guess on the card is that she was left behind in the rush to evacuate.” Gazelle frowned with contempt...”What is it with some mammals?! It’s always been suggested that they take some way to ensure that their children can be quickly found! Why don’t they “chip” or “tag” or do something for their child’s best interest?! This little one is about the two hundredth cub without any way to locate other family. ”

      Bailey shook his head. “I don’t know Miss Gazelle....some mammals are very opposed to any sort of tracking or marking, they fear it’s too much intrusion into private life. You can’t force mammals to see the value of anything until they get hit right in the face.”

      Bailey turned to his Tanuki class mate Ekosa. “Echo? Can you describe this one to me so I can finish the furbook page?”

      “Yeah dude.” The Tanuki replied. “Sure glad to see you Miss Gazelle.” Ekosa said with a wave as he started to look over the giggling Tiger cub...”Judging by the teeth? She’s maybe nine or ten months old? Uh.....all these yellow tiger cubs look almost the same Bail?”

       “The....stripes around the head are unique from family to family.” Bailey replied. “Also the stripes around the legs are like dashes in Morse code? Get their widths and give me the numbers.”

       Bailey felt his smart phone buzz and stopped his work to check the text message....

Dad: Bailey...this.....please come home as soon as you can? Please? (PDF)

Bailey tapped on the enclosed “PDF” File....

To: Mister Donald L. Gull
From: Chief of Naval Operations, Zootopian Navy.
CC: Fleet Casualty Reporting and Recording Center
CC: Fleet Casualty Response Team

Subject: Confirmation of casualty report regarding Petty Officer First Class Arden L. Gull, Zootopian Navy, Assigned aboard ZND Growler.

It is with great regret and deepest sympathy that we inform you Sir that  your son, Petty Officer First Class Arden L. Gull, was killed in action with the enemy on October 18, 2040. On behalf of the Navy and the nation, we extend to you our collective sorrow for your irreplaceable loss. Reports indicate that your son heroically gave his life without reserve to save his shipmates and his ship. You have my deepest sympathy.

For a greatfull and sorrowing nation
The Chief of Naval Operations tenders

Bailey tried to stand up from his chair but flopped to the ground hyper-ventilating then screaming at the phone....

“Bail?” Ekosa sounded as he went to his friend....”Bail?”

“No!” Bailey screamed. “NO!.......ARDEN?!........ARDEN?!”

Gazelle dropped to her knees and took hold of Bailey’s feather hand...”What? What’s happened?” She asked as she softly petted Bailey’s head as he sobbed....

“Mmmm......my......my.......my brother Arden’s dead! My brother’s dead!” Bailey tried to stumble to his feet...”I gotta go home....I gotta go home, I gotta go home....”

Ekosa grabbed him by a wing...”Bail? Bail you can’t drive like this mammal, you’ll get yourself killed.....stop....”

“My brother.....Arden......Arden....” Bailey sobbed as he fell into Ekosa’s arms....”My brother! No.....not my brother......please?!”

Ekosa gestured for a nearby giraffe....”YO! GRANT?!”

“Yeah Ekosa?” Grant the giraffe replied as he walked up...”What’s wrong with Bailey?”

“He just got a letter from the Navy.....his brother’s dead.” Ekosa replied. “I’m taking him home to Savanna Beach, can you handle things at the table and finish up with that tiger cub?”

    “Sure....” Grant replied as he bent his head down to give the sobbing Bailey a kiss....”Bailey? I am so sorry dude.”

     Gazelle suddenly walked up. “Ekosa? I will take him home.”

     Ekosa looked at Bailey and lightly pushed him into Gazelle’s arms. “Thank you.” He said to her. “Maybe you’re what he would need most right now. He and his brother were very close.”

8am
19 October 2040
Rain Forest District
Home of Harold and Valerie Gray (Gray Wolves)

      Knowing that his sons were alright for the moment gave Harold the peace to continue with the currents needs of life...like fixing that rain gutter in the front of the house that Valerie had been on his back now for two weeks. “But? There’s a war on Val?” Harold said when they first got up.

    “You’re going to know what a war “is” if you don’t get that fixed.” Valerie snarled back. “And don’t weasel out of it by trying to claim you’re going to “save” our boys, I’m sure Will and Alex will take care of themselves without you and we’re all safe right now where we’re staying put so get to doing something and stay out from under my feet.”

     And so the dark battleship gray fur colored wolf came out of his tool shed growling and struggling with his tools and a ladder as he walked to the front of the house. It was then that he saw the blue car slowly pulling up in front of the house with the words “Naval Department” in white on the driver’s door.

      “Huh?” Harold sounded as he watched the naval officer, a Red Deer, climb from the car. “Am I being recalled?” The retired Chief Petty Officer wondered as he put the ladder he was holding down and watched the officer approach him....

     “Mister Harold Gray?” The deer asked.
 
    “Good morning Lieutenant.” Harold replied as he walked up to shake the deer’s hoof hand. “Wasn’t expecting a visit this morning given all that’s going on.”

      “Sir? Do you have a son named William?” The deer asked.

     “Yes.” Harold replied. “But he’s not in the service.”

      The Lieutenant gestured to the house. “May we go inside Sir? This matter....must be private.”

      Harold gestured himself...”Is? Is my son in trouble? I know he’s a little vocal against...”

      “No Sir. He’s not in any trouble.” The Lieutenant replied. “But the subject of my visit pertains to your son directly.”

       Harold walked into the living room with the Lieutenant. “Val?” He called for his wife. “Val? Come in here please?”

      Valorie came into the living room...”Lieutenant? This is my wife Valerie. Valerie? This is....Sir?”

      “Casteele Sir. Lieutenant Allan Casteele from the Casualty Assistance Team office.”

       Harold and Valerie gave the deer questioning looks. “Casualty? Sir? Our sons just text’d us both this morning....I don’t understand....” Harold said.

      “You see.....Mister and Misses Gray....normally, the family of the deceased service mammal would be contacted first and then they would contact those who are not members of the family. In this case however, special requests were made given that the deceased was planning to marry your son William.”

      Valerie cupped her paw over her mouth....”Oh no....”

      “Your son’s fiance....Electrical Specialist Seaman Gilly....was killed in action with the enemy aboard the Destroyer Growler on 18 October 2040.”

      The Lieutenant pulled a pair of envelopes from his uniform coat. “These letters are for your son. One from the Commanding Officer of the Destroyer Growler, the other from a friend of Seaman Gilly. It was thought that you personally should inform your son of his loss. The Navy Department tenders to him its deepest sympathy.”

      Harold took hold of the letters and looked at Valerie....”I guess? I guess that drain will have to wait a little longer.” He then turned to the Lieutenant....”Please express our appreciation for this concern for our son Sir?”

     The Lieutenant gave a slight bow....”Mister and Misses Gray?”

     Harold and Valerie looked at the deer.

     “I wish your son’s efforts for peace had paid off. He’s a wonderful wolf and doesn’t deserve this.” The deer said. “I wish things never came to this.”

     Harold nodded back. “Thank you Sir. That sentiment would be nice for him to hear right now.”

9am
19 October 2040
Chuck and Omaha’s Apartment

     Alex came running into the kitchen where Will and Chuck were talking over coffee...

     WILL! WILL WE GOT CELL PHONE SERVICE BACK! DAD’S ON MY PHONE!” Alex yelped and waved his tail madly as he waved his phone in Will’s face....

     “Hey?.....hey, calm down Alex?” Will said. “Dad?! Can you hear us?!”

      “Yes.” Harold replied. “You don’t know how great we feel right now you two! Alex? Is Tina all right?”

       “She’s right here Dad.” Alex replied. “You guys didn’t get anything?”

       “So far nothing.” Harold replied. “Where did you boys end up?”

      “We’re at a friends place in East Zootopia City. Downtown is a wreck. They hit that, Savanna, Tundra Town and Sahara.” Will replied.

      “Well sit tight.” Harold said. “I’m going to try and come there with the truck and take you and your friends back to Rain Forest. It should be safer for you.”

        Will looked at everyone else....”Dad? The news says the Growler was in a fight and that it’s coming back to Sahara later today...”

         “And I promise I’ll take you myself when it does.” Harold replied. “But the news also says a second attack is still likely and getting you and your brother back here with us has your mother in fits. Don’t argue with me son....I’m coming to pick you both up.”

        Will sighed....”If mom’s that upset Dad? Then Alex and I won’t press our luck. I just want to be there when Gilly comes home.”

         Harold swallowed....”I know son....I promise I’ll take you there. I’ll see you when I get to the city.”

End of Chapter 50