"Judy," Nick started, as they sat on the train back to Zootopia, Judy staring at it in the distance, clearly anxious. "What is going on? What don't I know? Chief Bogo didn't tell me anything beyond 'it's an emergency' so what did he tell you?" Nick's fur was agitated, and he was clearly very upset.

"Nick, there's something going on in Zootopia. It's been affecting the residents there, but nobody who wasn't there is showing any sort of" Judy paused, very careful with her wording for some reason, "symptoms, so he's calling us in, because we were out of town when it happened."

"Symptoms? Why would the police be called in for an illness? Quarantine, maybe?" Nick paused and his eyes froze. "My mother, she lives downtown. Carrots, we need to check on her!"

"Nick, she's at the station. She saw us on the news a few days back, and figured she'd be able to come to you for help there." As the train came into the city, Nick could see people rioting. Police in full riot gear were suppressing the most violent of the rioters.

"Judy, is she safe?" Nick asked, as they came to a stop, and the doors opened to a fully armed and armored team of S.M.A.S.H. (Strategic Mammal Assault and Security Host) officers posted in the welcoming terminal.

Passengers stepped out and were processed by the officers, being checked for weapons, as well as undergoing tests by a small team of doctors from the nearby St. Lio's Meowtropolitan Hospital. As Nick and Judy stepped off the train, a pair of fully armored S.M.A.S.H. officers approached the pair. The S.M.A.S.H. uniform itself was rather intimidating, consisting of blue fatigues and black ballistic padding. A full helmet covered the entirety of the head, save for a pair of holes in the top that the ears protrude from. The officers carried CLA-W submachine guns in his paws. Unlike most service weapons, the CLA-W loads ballistic shells, rather than tranquilizing darts.

"Officers Judy Hopps, and Nicholas Pyberius Wilde?" The officer asked, his full helmet obscured his species, although a pair of yellow-orange ears stuck out the top of his helm. "We will escort you to the station. You will be briefed on the situation by Police Chief Bogo."

"Woah," Nick looked the two officers up and down, "What's going on so serious you need to break out the whole 'police brutality' kit?" He could feel one of the officers rolling his eyes beneath his helmet, and the other let out a small chuckle.

"Officer Wilde, you will be briefed at the station, away from sensitive ears and possible seditious agents."

-Chief Bogo's Office. 12:47PM-

Officers Wilde and Hopps arrived without incident to the office of Chief Bogo, inside, the Chief was visibly distressed, and in the corner, a white rabbit calmly stood, content to be silent.

"Hopps, Wilde, there's been a situation that both of you need to be aware of. At approximately 8:57am last night, a biological weapon was released in key locations across Zootopia. Presently, our hospitals are overwhelmed, and we're struggling to keep order." His eyes darted to Nick, and he answered the unasked question in Nick's eyes. "Wilde, your mother is showing no symptoms of infection, we have her under surveillance to ensure that remains the case."

"Sir, you mentioned it was a biological weapon, but, that doesn't go into any specifics…" Judy pointed out, speaking up.

"That's correct." The rabbit in the corner spoke up, stepping into the light, his fur was white with black stripes, and was dressed in a rather nice suit. His voice was accented, although it wasn't difficult to understand. "The biological weapon in question appears to have been a series of virus bombs containing a Lyssavirus bonded to a chemical agent that we believe is designed to hasten the effects of the virus."

"Lyssavirus?" Nick asked

"Yes." The rabbit replied, "It's a genus of viruses most noted for containing the species of virus responsible for rabies."

"Rabies?" Judy shook her head, "Isn't it dead!? Vaccines wiped it out over a century ago! How did-"

"Officers, would it be too much trouble to ask that you hold all questions until the end of the briefing?" The rabbit asked, as Judy stopped talking, he continued, "Now, obviously, Rabies itself went extinct long ago. However, it is apparent that using the Night Howler serum, a team of biochemists were able to reintroduce some of the original disease's effects to the Lyssavirus family, and, perhaps most frustratingly, it appears to be nonresponsive to our current vaccination attempts. Unless a vaccine can be found, it is unlikely that this virus will die out naturally, and quarantine efforts are already being made in all districts that report infection. So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, although we suspect there may be a link to Mouscow, still, we're not ruling anyone out, and this could only be the set up for invasion."

"Okay," Nick crossed his arms "Who is this 'we' you keep referring to? The ZPD has no biology division that I'm aware of, and we don't investigate foreign affairs." The rabbit reached into his suit and pulled out an identification card.

"Jack Savage, of the Furderal Intelligence Service." The rabbit's demeanor hadn't lifted "Officers Hopps, and Wilde, you're assigned to be my retinue during this investigation."

"Your…retinue? Why us?" Judy asked.

"For starters, you were out of town when the virus-bomb went off. From our surveillance footage, literally within minutes of the detonations, and so pose no risk of pre-existing infection. In addition, the two of you being the smallest ZPD officers allows for you to keep up with me in case subtlety is required. Finally, Nick, you enable me to gain another perspective on the situation, as well as being knowledgeable about the city in general."

"Another perspective?" Nick's eyebrow raised.

"That of a predator." Jack commented. The humor immediately left Nick's face, and Judy put her hand on his arm to comfort him. "As a creature designed biologically to hunt, and utilize your intelligence in a destructive and aggressive way, you'll help me get some insight into potential ways that infected individuals may utilize cunning and wile."

"I see." Nick's gaze lowered, "I uh, guess I'd better go get my uniform then."

"No need, Wilde." Bogo spoke up, he gave Nick a smile, and it helped to know that at the very least, the idea of his biology assisting in the investigation seemed to exist solely within Jack's mind. "For this one, you and officer Hopps have been issued a custom set of S.M.A.S.H. uniforms, as well as ballistic service weapons, should the unfortunate need for them arise."

"I've matters to attend to now, I'll return for you with our first objective in an hour. I figure that will give you time to discuss this and prepare yourselves." Jack left the office and, as he passed Nick, looked him in the eyes. Nick had seen that look of disgust many times, and he did his best to act as though he hadn't noticed.

"Nick, I…I cannot believe he actually said that to you." Judy's voice was quiet, and angry. "You're not like that." She put her arms around him.

"Officers, you're dismissed. Feel free to use this hour however you wish." Chief Bogo opened the door for them as they left.

"It doesn't bother me. It really doesn't. There will always be people like that. But I have you." Nick stroked Judy's ears softly "You believe in me, and trust me, and know who I really am. So who cares what someone else thinks? I'm spoiled enough already, just to have you, Judy."

"You called me Judy again, Nick."

"Well it's your name!" Nick laughed "You know, that thing that you go by so people can distinguish when they're talking to you?"

"Nick, this is bothering you, isn't it?" Judy held his paw in hers as they walked.

"No, actually. Just, worried for my mother." Nick sighed, and squeezed Judy's paw softly, "I just wish I could see her."

"Hey, I'm sorry I haven't been myself lately Carrots. I'm just a bit overwhelmed is all. Give me a few and I'll be back to being the sly fox you love." Judy turned, gripped Nick by his tie, pulled him close, and passionately pressed her lips to his.

"Oh no. You're my dumb fox, Nick." Judy replied, with a wide smile, "I'll tell you what, we'll get whatever this is dealt with and we'll go right back where we were before all of this, with you teasing me for having feelings for you. Now, let's see where this miniature S.M.A.S.H. gear is."

Nick and Judy made their way to the locker rooms, unable to help but notice the rather large amount of civilians in the department building. On a normal day, there would be very few people, perhaps one or two, but there were dozens, and those that wouldn't fit in seats sat on the floor. As the two closed the locker room doors behind them, they gave each other one last look.

Alrighty, locker number nine, Nick casually swung open his locker, smiling slightly at the S.M.A.S.H. Uniform inside, it fit a bit heavily, but he could tell that it would protect him well. The fabric of the fatigues was bite and stab resistant, and the armoring would stop small arms fire. As Nick put the mask on over his face, his vision was slightly obscured by the lenses. As the muzzleguard touched the edges of his whiskers, he jerked back, shaking. It's not a muzzle, it's not a muzzle, it's not a muzzle… Nick slid it back on and kept his eyes closed I'm fine, see, nothing to worry about. He finished putting the helm on over the mask and grabbed the ballistic firearm out of the locker.

It was perhaps the strangest thing he'd seen, it was clearly a custom miniaturized model of the usual CLA-W. He curled his paws around it and checked the clip, sure enough they weren't sleep darts, but bullets. One hit from this, and a deer or gazelle could die of shock. A wolf or larger would have a chance to recover in a hospital. Under the barrel was a small shotgun, which held a clip of three. Anything he couldn't kill with three shotgun shells, probably wouldn't be killed by a fourth. He'd never had to take a life before, and he didn't relish the thought of it.

This is some insane firepower, Nick's eyes traced the back of it, the shoulder rest was comfortable, and the fire-mode toggled easily enough. With that, he let out a sigh and left the locker room, hoping he wouldn't have to use the weapon. Alright, time to go see what Agent Savage has planned.