Disclaimer: I do not own Zootopia or any of its characters, they all belong to Disney. Rated M for sexual themes.

Fait Accompli is the prequel to this story.

Spreading Out

After eight months they'd finished the survey of the solar system and their two insystem ships were in route to the Oort cloud to rendezvous with one of Peter's FTL capable ones. Judy was excited as she stared out the observation port. In less than a week she was going to visit another star! She heard the door open and turned to see her Fox.

"Nick!" she cried and hopped into his arms.

He hugged his bunny and then gently kissed her. Eventually their kiss ended and she felt her Fox nuzzle her neck. She giggled and then sighed. They sat at the end of the low table and stared into each other's eyes, but hers were invariably drawn back to the stars again.

"Isn't this beautiful?" she said, looking into space. "In just a week we'll have an entirely new perspective on the universe!"

Nick smiled at his bunny, pulled her into his lap, and wrapped his arms around her. Then he put his head between her ears and joined her to look at the stars. They stayed like that for a time until they heard the door open.

"Are we interrupting anything?" Catherine asked and smiled.

"No mom, we're just stargazing. "

"In my time we called that something completely different."

Nick chuckled and his bunny blushed.

"So do you need any help?" Judy asked.

"No, Robert and I have it under control."

They brought in plates and silverware and set the table. Then several large pots were placed in the middle and Catherine put a ladle in each. Next to arrive were Alexander and Lori. He was a large black Leopard and she an auburn haired human.

"How are things goin'?" Judy asked and smiled at her old friend.

He pulled his mate against him and hugged her. She laid her head back on his shoulder and he rubbed his face against hers.

"We are doing quite well," he said and smiled.

"It looks that way," Nick said and chuckled.

"And you and Judy," Lori said and winked at the handsome Fox.

He looked his bunny and then nibbled her ear.

"Mmmm bunny."

They laughed and Judy poked her Fox in the ribs.

Jonathan and Ellie arrived a bit later and sat on the other side of Judy and Nick. He was a human and Ellie was a Cheetah. Jonathan looked at Nick and grinned. He smiled back and then Ellie caught the Fox's eye and mouthed the words 'thank you.' Judy watched all this and raised an eyebrow.

"Nick?"

"He gave me a bit of advice," Jonathan said and hugged his Cheetah, "and everything has worked out quite well."

She looked at her fox and then remembered, but he said nothing.

Then last two arrived. David was a Lion and his mate, Leah, was Tigress who was just starting to show her pregnancy. Robert shut door and sat beside his vixen.

"We'll it looks like everyone made it," Catherine said looked around the room. "I hope you all will enjoy my cooking."

"I haven't heard anyone complain yet," Nick said and winked at the vixen.

They all bowed their heads and Catherine blessed the food.

"I think it's incredible that he appeared on both our worlds," Jonathan said and hugged his mate.

"That's surprised a lot of people," Catherine said and looked at the couple.

"And his message was identical," Judy said.

The Cheetah's purr spilt the air and continued as she turned to kiss him. Everyone watched them for a few moments until Robert cleared his throat.

Jonathan and Ellie looked up and they both blushed.

"Sorry Captain," he said and looked at the Cheetah. "Sometime we …"

"Son, I certainly do understand completely – trust me," he said and smiled, glancing at his vixen. "Everyone here has recently had to adapt to new experiences."

There were knowing smiles and glances around the table.

"Of course that's only one reason I invited everyone tonight," Catherine said.

"Except for our famous Fox and bunny," Alexander said and smiled. "You two have been together, for what, 4 years now, right?"

Nick looked at his bunny and smiled.

"It seems like yesterday I met this naïve beautiful bunny who …"

"Hustled me out of twenty bucks!"

Her Fox chuckled, reached into his pocket, and pulled out a wad of bills. He found a twenty and laid it on the table. Everyone laughed and Judy pounced on him. He joined them and hugged his bunny.

"You're a naughty Fox!"

"And you like it that way."

And that bought another round of laughter.

"So were you and Judy the first mixed species couple?" Jonathan asked.

"They were the first ones who went public."

Everyone looked at Catherine and the vixen smiled.

"Mom?"

"Well before I met your father," she began and chuckled at the memory, "I met a Wolf in high school." She chuckled again at the look her kit's face. "We were friends for a time until one of my younger brothers found us together." She watched Nick's ears turn red and smiled. Then she felt Robert squeeze her hand and she gave him a wink. "We were just talking and he had an arm around me. Then the little snitch told my parents and that was the end of it. Well, we'd better eat before it gets cold."

Catherine opened the first pot and put some rice on her plate and then handing the ladle to Robert. She caught Jonathan's eye and smiled.

"So is that the whole story?" he asked, grinning.

"Of course it isn't," the vixen said and her green eyes twinkled, "but that's just all I'm going to tell."

Everyone roared with laughter – a couple literally.

"So since you two have been together longer than the rest of us could you gave us any advice?" Jonathan asked.

The Rabbit and Fox looked at each other and then laughed.

"Never go to bed angry," Nick said and his bunny blushed again.

Then everyone laughed and laughed harder when Judy swatted him. As they ate everyone continued to complement Catherine on the food. When the pots were scraped clean they lay back on the pillows and relaxed.

"Do you mind if I asked you another question?"

"Jonathan, are you the official interrogator?" Judy asked and grinned.

"Yes, I suppose I am," he said and smiled.

"Well I have a question," Ellie said surprising her mate. "You must have known when you became lovers that you couldn't have kits. So what do you intent to do?"

That one question had actually been on the minds of almost all them, but they'd been reluctant to voice it. Leah glanced at her mate and then felt his hand touch her swollen belly. The Tigress caught Judy's eye and gave her a knowing look. She watched the Rabbit lean back against her Fox and looked up at him.

"Of course we knew, but we loved each other," she said and smiled up at her Fox. "We do want to be parents so I guess we'll have to adopt."

"Would they be Foxes or Rabbits?" Ellie asked.

"Ellie!" Jonathan hissed.

"That's something else we've discussed," Nick said and hugged his bunny a little tighter. "Actually we don't care what kind of animal it is."

"Judy, Nick," Robert said and they looked at him, "along with animal ova we also brought human ova. One could be brought to term."

Judy looked at her Fox and he smiled.

"Thank you, Robert!" she said and her eyes grew watery. "Nick!"

"Alright, get in here," he said, repeating the words he'd said all those years ago. "OK, oh you bunnies, you're so emotional. There we go." She giggled and put her head against his chest. "Deep breath."

He hugged her and a collective 'aw' came from the others.

A few days later all the crew not on duty gathered in the observation bubble to see Peter's ship. It was a bit of a tight fit and Judy felt a hand brush her ear. She turned and saw a human looking down at her.

"Sorry," he said and smiled. "It's just a bit close in here."

"That's OK."

"I'm John," he said and extended a hand.

"Judy Hopps," she said and took it.

"Where's your Fox?"

"Nick's still on duty, but he'll be here pretty soon."

John struggled to his knees and studied her.

"You're quite a handsome Rabbit," he said and reached to touch her, but then pulled his hand back. "Sorry, I didn't mean to …"

"I don't mind."

Then she took his hand and put it on her arm. He blushed and gently petted her fur.

"When I was a kid I use to raise rabbits."

"Raise them?"

"I kept them as pets," he said and she blinked at him. "Of course, they weren't intelligent like you and you're certainly larger than any of them."

She giggled and then her ears came up.

"Nick's here," she said, straining to see between the humans and animals.

He stood, saw a glimpse of red fur, and waving to get Nick's attention.

"I see him," John said.

Nick squeezed through the crowd and Judy hugged her Fox. Others in the crowd, human and animal alike, smiled at the lovers.

"Nick, there's someone I want you to meet," she said turning to the human. "This is John."

John dropped to his knees again and shook hands with the Fox.

"Judy's a very lucky bunny to have a handsome Fox like you for a mate."

Nick smiled immediately took a liking to this the male human. Judy looked at the two and knew they'd hit it off.

"There it is!" came a voice as their ship rounded the small ice world the starship orbited.

Judy turned and her mouth formed an 'O'. She barely noticed her Fox's arm go around her. As they approached the starship grew in size. It was a sphere and a great deal larger than their ship. After ten minutes they came to a stop beside a grey wall that extended to the horizon in all directions. Then a relatively small part of the wall parted and they watched the other ship enter first. After it had disappeared they moved inside beside it to face another wall and then the one behind them closed. They waited five minutes and the one before them opened to reveal a large docking bay.

Judy saw other ships. They were mostly spheres of different sizes, but there were others that resembled darts and ones resembled their ship too. She watched their sister ship settle into a cushion that bowed a bit with its weight. Then a walkway extended from the wall to that ship's main hatch. Their ship passed the other and Judy felt the slight tremor run through their ship as it settled too.

"This is Captain Young," he said over the speaker system. "We shall be moving to the other ship and I want everyone ready to go in one hour. Thank you."

The observation bubble began to empty out until only the three of them remained.

"Are you doing anything after we move to the starship?" Judy asked.

"I thought I might want to have a look around."

"Could we tag along?"

"Sure."

"Then we could have dinner together."

"OK."

"We'll see you later," she said and hugged him.

He returned the hug and lifted her off the floor. She giggled and he hastily set her on her feet.

"Sorry," he said and hurried away.

Nick looked at his bunny and grinned.

"Looks like you've made a conquest."

"No," she said stretching out the word.

Her Fox cocked his head and lifted an eyebrow. She opened her mouth, closed it, and then blushed. He laughed and she swatted him.

"Should I be jealous?"

She growled and turned away. Nick rolled his eyes and then put his arms around his bunny.

"I'm angry with you."

He licked her behind the ear and felt her lean back.

"How angry?"

He nibbled on the same ear and she smiled.

"A little."

His hand slipped under her top and cupped a breast. He gave it a gentle squeeze and she giggled. Then she felt his teeth on the back of her neck.

"Nick!" she hissed. "Not here!"

"I can lock the door."

"Nick, we can't!"

"We could," he said and nibbled an ear. "It even has a privacy lock too."

"Not here!"

Judy rolled her eyes, pushed out of his arms, and headed for the door. She opened it and he followed her back to their soon to be old cabin. He helped her get their luggage out of the closet and watched her begin to pack. Then he sat down behind her and gently put his arms around her. She stopped and laid her head back against his chest.

"Nick, I love you," she said and turned to look at him.

"Are you angry?"

"Yes."

Now he knew she wasn't kidding.

"I'm sorry," he said and held the close. "I love you too."

He felt his bunny sighed and relax against him. They stayed like that for a time.

Just as they finished unpacking both their pads signaled. Judy read the message and looked at Nick.

"Report to the Captain?"

"Yep," he said and then heard her foot tapping the floor.

"I'll bet we're going to get a lecture on fooling around in public areas of the ship!" she said, glaring at her Fox. "Come on!"

"But …"

"Nick!"

"We'd better call John."

Judy sighed.

"I'll call him on the way," she said and took his arm.

They walked in silence, following their pads' directions. After a shuttle ride and another short walk they stood before the door to Robert's office. Judy touched the signal.

"Come," Captain Young said through the speaker and door opened. They entered and he came around his desk. "It's good to see you both. Please have a seat."

The door opened behind him and Catherine entered.

"Mom!" Nick said and she smiled.

Then the vixen hugged her kit.

"Nicky," she said and licked his muzzle.

"Mom," he said stretching out the word.

"You're still my kit and I'm still your mother!" she said and smiled. Then they heard both Judy and Robert chuckle. "Have you told them?"

"No, they just got here."

"Oh," the vixen said and stepped beside her mate.

"Did something happen back home in BunnyBurrow?" Judy asked anxiously.

"No … no," Robert said and looked at Catherine. "This morning Maria was supervising the first transfer of the day from Zootopia and …"

"Is she OK?" Judy asked, now worried for her best friend.

"She's fine," he said and smiled, "but she received a surprise visitor."

Judy looked at her sister, Jill, and then at the other Rabbit being examined by Peter in the other room. According to Peter they were identical! Then she listened to his explanation that this other Rabbit was also Jill from different reality! It just seemed impossible, but she couldn't deny what she saw with her own eyes. After a bit more discussion it was decided to let Maria talk to the other Jill first.

When she and her Jill were ushered into the doctor's office and other Rabbit immediately tried to attack her! Jill stepped in front of her sister.

"Who are you?" the other Rabbit asked.

"I'm Jill."

"I'm Jill!"

"We're both Jill!"

Jill – the new one – stepped back, swayed, and then fainted.

Maria caught her.

Judy watched Peter work on Jill – the new Jill. Damn this is going to be confusing! She thought. Then he explained about the tumors in both Jills and that the new Jill was emotionally unstable. Then how the nanofibers he'd implanted in the new Jill would cure her in a short time and promised to do the same for her sister.

"Until then?" she asked.

"For now I think it would better if you went back to the starship," Peter said to her. Judy turned to her Fox and put her head against his chest. He held her tight and stroked her back. Then he looked at Jill. "For now I think she should stay with you if you don't mind."

They left the room and walked back to the portal. Her Fox kept an arm around her the entire way. When they got back to their cabin she threw herself on their bed and buried her face in the pillow. She felt her Fox carefully lie down beside her and pull her close.

"Nick, she hates me!"

"Fluff, now you heard what Peter said," he said and stoked her back. "She's …"

"Insane!"

"No, she has problems and soon she'll be better."

"I never had anyone hate me before!"

"Now Fluff, I don't think she actually hates you."

"Oh Nick!"

She began to sob against his chest and her Fox did what myriad males had done in this situation from time in memorial - he just held his lover.

Judy felt her Fox touch her arm and turned to see Peter leading both Jills toward them. When they stopped her Fox stepped in front of her.

"Nick, I won't try to hurt Ju … my sister," she said and Judy smiled. "I'd like to tell you what happened before I came here. Peter, this is a bit embarrassing. Could we go somewhere else to talk?"

"Yes," he said and led them to conference room.

Jill sat beside Jillian and Judy and Nick took seats across from them. Peter leaned against the door frame and sat Joe in the chair beside his bunny. Judy listened to story and agreed that it was embarrassing. Then Peter explained about tumor that both Jills had and how he'd cured them.

"Jill," Judy said and both Rabbits look at her.

"I'm Jill," she said and put a hand on her sister's shoulder, "and she's Jillian."

"Oh," Judy said and looked from one rabbit to the other.

"It's impossible to tell you two apart," her Fox said and grinned.

"That'll just make life a little bit more interesting," Joe said, looking at his Jill.

"Dinner's ready," Peter said.

The next day Jill, Joe, and Jillian waited by the portal until the daily transport from Zootopia was complete. Then they were soon pressed into service to carry out cargo with the help of the new colonists.

"They're all Foxes!" Jillian said and several of them looked at her.

"We're all moving here to make a new life!" one Fox said. "We're tired of being treated as second class citizens on that damned planet!"

"My sister just arrived a week ago and this all new to her," Jill said and unconsciously leaned against her Fox.

"Did she grow up on another planet?"

"Actually I did," Jillian said, looking into the Fox's eyes.

Several Foxes stopped and gathered around.

"Are you being a smartass?"

"No, I'm telling you the honest truth," she said, looking around the group.

The Fox stared at her and she sighed. Then she told them her story, leaving out a few of the more embarrassing details. Soon everyone nearby had stopped working to listen.

Maria was running late. She noticed the gathering at the top of the hill and caught only the last part of Jillian's story.

"Jillian, thanks for entertaining everyone," she said, looking at the countdown clock, "but I think we're going to get behind schedule."

"Sorry Maria."

Several of the Foxes looked at the Gazelle.

"Cut the bunny a little slack Gazelle," a Fox said, not recognizing her and Maria frowned. "She's had a hard time."

"Oh Maria's a friend of mine," Jillian said and stood next to her. "She's just got a schedule to keep."

"Plenty of animals like that on the old world too," the Fox said. "It's one of the reasons we came here. To get away from animals who think their schedules are more important than us."

Jillian heard several Fox agree and Maria snort.

"Come on guys let's get the stuff out of the cave before the timer runs out."

"Why should we?"

"Just to show her that you're not just lazy old Foxes and that Rabbits aren't good just for makin' more Rabbits."

That got a laugh and they had the cave cleaned out and loaded the supplies for the starship well before the timer ran out. Jillian winked at the Gazelle and Maria rolled her eyes and walked away shaking her head.

"We showed her," the Fox said and started down the hill. "See ya!"

Other Foxes patted her on the back and expressed similar sentiments as they left. Then Jillian turned and joined the others already waiting in the cave. A few minutes before the portal activated Maria returned and stood the entrance with her hands on her hips.

"So are you just going to stand there or are you going to kick my butt?" Jillian asked and smiled.

"I'm debating."

Jillian laughed and Maria stared at her. Finally she sighed and then hugged the three of them.

"We'll see ya," Jill said and waved.

"Sure," the Gazelle said and then stood just outside the threshold.

She held up a hand and they vanished.

Jillian felt like she'd immediately appeared on the starship, but in actuality it took four seconds in real time. Then she noticed Judy, Nick, and several other humans and animals waiting for them. She stepped out of the portal as did the others.

"Jill!" Judy said and for a moment Jillian thought Judy was calling her.

Then Judy was hugging her doppelganger and Jillian stepped to the side as others moved passed her and started bringing out cargo. She bumped into someone and looked up onto the face of a human.

"Sorry," he said and smiled.

She held up a hand. Then she got out her pad computer and set it up to translate.

"Sorry, but I don't speak your language," she said in Zootopian and the computer translated.

"Oh," he said and then he squatted down to her level. "Are you OK?"

"Yes."

He extended a hand and she took it.

"I'm John."

"Jillian Anne Hopps."

"Jillian, I'm very glad to meet you," he said, still holding her hand. "You're related to Judy, right?"

"Yes, in a way."

Another Judy fan, she thought. Over the last week both humans and animals had told her and Jill that they looked a lot like her famous sister. Then they go on ad nauseam about the things that she and Nick had done.

"You have the same grey and white fur, but you're somewhat taller," he said and smiled again.

"I have all the good genes," she said and chuckled.

He gave her a odd look. Then he reached up with this other hand as if to touch her, but quickly pulled it back and released hers.

"Sorry," he said, blushing and Jillian couldn't help but smile.

"It's OK," she said and took his hand. "I don't mind."

She put his hand on her arm and watched as he felt her fur.

"Jillian," he began and she looked at him. "You know Judy did exactly the same thing when I first met her."

She'd seen other humans with fur on their faces at the market and she reached up and touched his. She closed her eyes and smiled, feeling his hand touch her face and then her ears too.

Somewhat later she looked passed him. Neither of them had noticed that most of the others watching them nor did they notice as everyone had quietly slipped away. Noticing the expression on her face he turned around and saw that they were completely alone.

"Where'd they go!"

Jillian couldn't help herself and chuckled.

"They left us alone," she said and patted his face.

"Why?"

"Because that thought it would be funny."

"Sorry."

"It's not your fault, but it's probably mine," she said and he frowned. "My Judy liked to play tricks on me and I guess this one does too."

"Your Judy?"

"Help me find my cabin and I'll tell you my story."

As they followed the directions from his pad she repeated her story and John carried her bags. After a short walk, an internal shuttle ride, and a second short walk they stood at her door.

"And Jill is your double."

"Yes."

"I mean I believe you," he said and shrugged, "but it really must be …"

He stood there just looking into space.

"Odd … weird … strange … bizarre … unsettling. Yea, I've had all those feelings."

"There could be another me somewhere," he said and looked at the Rabbit.

"So how do I get in?" she asked and smiled.

He tapped on his pad.

"It says you need to enter your birth date – year, month, and day."

She typed in eight numbers appearing in Zootopian script and the door slipped aside.

"That was easy."

"It also says you'll need to enter a new password now and then hit enter."

She smiled and entered eight more numbers. Then it prompted her to do it again to confirm.

"Come on," she said and entered. She looked around and then knew he hadn't moved. "John, aren't you coming in?"

"Well, I…" he began and she watched him blush.

She walked back and took his hand. Somewhat reluctantly he followed and she felt him jump as soon as the door shut.

"Please put my bags on the bed," she said and he did. Then he started backing toward the door. "You don't have to go. Why don't you help me unpack?"

She placed her pad on the dresser and turned up the volume.

"OK," he said as she opened the bags. "I'm sure glad everything is Rabbit sized. Please hand my things one at a time."

Things went well until he reached the middle of her second bag. Then things stopped coming her way. She looked at him and then into the bag. She had to bite her tongue not to laugh. It was her underwear and pajamas. Then she looked at his blushing face and a light bulb went off in her head. She bit her tongue harder and placed the offending undergarments in the bottom drawer. After that things began flowing again.

"All done," she said as she hung her last dress in the closet. "Thanks for helping."

Then she hugged him and he tentative returned it. "John, I won't break."

He held her tighter and she tucked her head under his chin.

"People underestimate bunnies," he said and padded her back. "They are smart, quick, and very affectionate."

"Well, thank you," she said, enjoying his warmth. "How do you know so much about Rabbits?"

"I use to keep them as pets," he said and she looked up at him, "but they weren't intelligent like you."

"Jill and I went to a place where they study animals on the planet."

"They had rabbits?"

"Yes, and other animals, but as you said none of them were intelligent."

He smiled at her, still holding her close.

"I had a doe, but she wasn't a big as you, but she liked me to hold her like this. Her whiskers would tickle my face and she'd rub her face against mine."

"She must have liked you."

"I suppose she did."

His mind just drifted with his memories and continued to hold her.

The next morning he insisted on showing her the way to the mess hall. He touched the signal and the door opened. Jill stepped out of the bathroom and John stared.

"You're naked!"

"I'm wearing a towel for Christ sake!" she said and handed him a brush. "Please brush my fur."

She turned and after a few seconds she felt the brush tentatively touch her.

"You can do it harder than that," she said and smiled. "I'm sure you've brushed bunnies before."

"Of course I have, but you're different."

Yea, I can talk back," she said and then she dropped to all fours. "Does this make it easier?"

Despite himself he just had to laugh. Then he slumped to the floor holding his belly. Jillian stood to face him, putting her hands on her hips. Then her towel slipped and John eyes went wide. Then he covered them.

"John, I can see you peaking through your fingers."

"I'm sorry," he said and tried close his eyes.

She picked up the towel, turned, and put it around her waist.

"Now please brush my back."

They got to the mess hall with only five minutes to spare.

"You're cutting it close, Jillian," the vixen said.

"You're note said 6am."

She looked at the Rabbit and then the human. The vixen smiled and Jillian rolled her eyes.

"This is John."

"You're Judy's friend."

"Yes, ma'am."

Jillian smiled as her pad translated.

"Catherine."

"Yes, Catherine."

"Good," she said and smiled. "Jillian will take your order and then have a seat."

He looked at the menu, ordered, and then found a table. Jillian found the ingredients laid out for the menu and then found an unused stove. Thank God the menu was in both English and Zootopian! Then she wondered how hard it was going to be to learn a new language. Then she took what she needed and started to cook. She'd read and watched videos on the types of foods she's be making.

The pancakes were simple since she'd made them often enough at home. Too bad she didn't have any pecans, she thought. Then she made a few extra for herself and put bread in the toaster. Cooking chicken eggs and bacon was going to be a completely new experience. She knew the few Foxes in BunnyBurrow that raised chickens, but of course, being prey she'd never cooked any herself. She tapped her pad and found a video from the ship's library.

Then she looked at the bacon. There was no red meat on her world – at least none that could be eaten. She found another video and laid the meat on the griddle. It started to sizzle and the smell hit her sensitive nose. It twitched.

The eggs looked simple enough and she put a pat of butter in a pan and let it melt. Then she cracked two eggs and put them in the butter. They started to turn white and looked back at her pad. She waited and then gently flipped them. She liked the smell. Maybe she'd try one herself – well at least the white part.

She finished and felt a presence behind her.

"How'd I do?"

"Ok, but flip the bacon and press it with the spatula."

It sizzled and she put the eggs on a plate. Then after another twenty seconds she put the bacon next to them.

"The smell didn't bother you?" Catherine asked.

"No," she said and looked at the vixen. "It just smells a bit smoky."

The vixen smiled.

"Go on and take that to your human."

"He's not …"

"And take fifteen minutes to have breakfast with him and don't forget the toast."

Jillian sighed.

"Thanks."

She took the food and the vixen's eyes followed after her. Catherine wondered how long it would take. Then she chuckled.

Jillian set the tray on the table and placed John's plate before him.

"Thanks," he said and smiled at her.

She smiled back and sat across from him, taking her plate off the tray.

"No problem," she said and took a bite of a pancake. "How is it?"

"Good," he said and patted her hand. "You can cook for me anytime."

While he took another bite she surreptitiously looked around to see if anyone was looking at them. She squeezed his hand and then took another bite.

"So how your first day so far?" he asked and she made a face. "Is Catherine givin' you a hard time?"

"No, she's fine. I just never cooked meat or eggs!"

"It tastes good," he said and looked at her. "Did it bother you?"

"No," she said and sighed, "everything's just so different."

"You'll get use to it and ask me if you need help," he said and smiled.

"You're a good friend," she said and watched him blush.

They both went back to their food and were quiet for the rest of the time. Jill saw the vixen come out of the kitchen and smiled.

"Back to work!" she said and put her plate on the tray.

"Lunch?" he asked.

"OK," she said and headed toward the vixen.

"You're cutting it …" she began and Jill's wristwatch beeped as she passed the vixen, "close."

The doe went through the kitchen door and giggled. Catherine rolled her eyes and noticed the Jillian's human glaring at her. She sighed and followed the Rabbit into the kitchen.

Breakfast started to slow down about a bit after 9am and then Catherine put her in charge of taking orders. She wondered if this was her idea of punishment or a joke. She couldn't decide, but at least meeting more of the crew was interesting as some of them continued to drift in for the rest of the morning.

The humans always smiled when they saw her and stooped to her level when gave their orders. A few told her that she was cute and she remembered how Judy reacted when someone said that to her and chuckled. Then there were a few who unconsciously (or maybe consciously) touched her fur. They always apologized and that made her chuckle too. The animals pretty much paid her no mind except for the bucks.

First, they had to 'chat her up' using well used lines she heard all her life. Then they would finally order and then they would try again. After the third one she'd made up her mind to simply ignore the next one. The Catherine came out the kitchen and smirked as she walked by. She ignored the vixen and turned back to see a Fox come through the door.

"Joe!" she said and he waved. "You've almost missed breakfast."

"So what ya got left?"

"It's OK just order anything."

He did and Catherine stepped out of kitchen.

"Go ahead and cook it and I'll take the orders."

"So my punishment's over?"

Catherine rolled her eyes. She chuckled and walked into the kitchen.

"Better hurry up," she said over her shoulder, "we'll start the preparations for lunch soon."

"Yes ma'am."

"Catherine!"

"Sorry Catherine, I'm just showing respect for my elders."

The vixen actually turned and growled. Jillian laughed and started cooking.

"Why is Catherine glaring at you every time she comes out of the kitchen?" John asked and she told him the story. He laughed and patted her arm. "I would've loved to've been there."

"Now the entire staff says 'yes ma'am' every time she tells them to do something," she said and giggled. "It must've gotten around the ship too since some of the crew is doing it too – in English and Zootopian."

John laughed again.

"Ma'am is a term of respect in English," he said. "What does it mean in your language?"

"Respected … elder."

She said the two words with a few seconds apart so her pad would translate each of them separately.

"Oh she must hate that."

They both smiled at each other.

"I glad you made it for supper."

"I would've come for lunch, but we were just too busy getting things setup in the biology lab."

"Jill!"

She turned to see Judy and Nick carrying their food.

"Jillian."

"Oops!" Judy said. "I forgot."

"It's OK."

"Can we join you or would we be interrupting?" Nick said and smiled.

"Nick!" Judy said and then smiled at John. "You don't mind, do you?"

"No of course not," she said and took John's hand. He blushed. "Please have a seat."

They sat across from them and started eating. They were quiet for a time and Judy looked at one and then the other and smiled.

"So you're friends now."

Jillian looked at him and smiled.

"Yes."

"John?" Nick said and raised an eyebrow.

John blushed again and looked at Jillian.

"After you all snuck off we talked for a while," she said.

"Really," Nick said.

"Then he helped me carry my things to my cabin."

"and," Nick said, raising an eyebrow.

"We talked a bit more."

Judy stared at John and wondered just how long a human could blush. Then unbidden the memory of she and her Fox making love the first time flashed into her mind and her ears turned red.

"So has Nick been a naughty Fox again?"

Judy turned and smiled.

"Jill!"

"You're havin' a party and didn't invite us?" Jill said.

"Have a seat and I'll get ya anything you like," Jillian said and patted the chair next to her.

Jill accepted her sister's offer and Joe sat next to Nick. The newcomers looked at the menu and Catherine came out of the kitchen. She marched straight toward Jillian.

"Jill," the vixen said and then looked at the doppelgangers.

"Ma'am?" they said in unison.

The next day at 10:05 am the ship entered FTL and twenty minutes later reentered real space a billion miles above the plane of the ecliptic of the nearest star.

"FTL travel completed successfully," the navigator reported and scanned his readouts. "FTL engines showing green and automatically going into standby mode."

Other technicians on the bridge activated the ship's sensors and in other part of the ship the data was analyzed by Peter's subsidiary AIs and the organic crew. Five minutes later communications reported.

"No artificial electromagnetic radiation detected from this system," Ellie reported.

Captain Young turned to the Cheetah.

"So you have found something from outside this system."

"Yes, sir," she said and smiled. "Television and radio broadcasts from home. Of course, they're a bit over three years old."

"Please put one on the main screen."

"The signal quality has degraded some over the three light years, but …"

A TV news reporter showed on the screen.

"Today Officer Judith Laverne Hopps received the ZPD's highest award for her work in uncovering the crimes of Mayors Lionheart and Bellwether. Nicholas Piberius Wilde, who assisted Officer Wilde, will also receive Zootopia's highest civilian award. It's rumored that Nicholas Wilde has applied to the ZPD and will soon start attending the police academy. In other news …"

Ellie dropped the volume and smiled at her Captain.

"Have you found anything else?"

"Not yet, but we've just started scanning other nearby stars," she said and touched her screen. "Sir, astrometrics wished to speak to you."

"Put them on the main screen," Captain Young said and the face of a Deer appeared. "Professor Hirsch, you've found something."

"Eleven planets so far," she said and smiled. "Six gas giants, two asteroid belts, and five rocky worlds - two beyond them toward the Oort cloud, and other three closer in toward the star. One of those is within the 'Goldilocks Zone' as you humans call it."

"You shall take the exploration ships and survey the rest of this system while we'll have a look at that one possibility habitable world."

"Yes sir."

Over the next two hours twenty two ships exited the main ship's docking bay and headed for the other ten planets, asteroid belts, and Oort cloud. As soon as they were away the main ship, recently christened the Dark Star II, fired its insystem engines and set course for the second planet. Automated probes were launched under high acceleration toward their destination which would arrive well ahead of their parent ship. Even at this distance they could observe that the planet had oceans and large parts of the dry land were covered with plant life.

"Nick, just think in thirty hours we'll set foot on a planet circling another star!" she exclaimed and hugged her Fox.

He returned her hug and then kissed his bunny.

"Who knows," he said and smiled, "you might even be first.

"Nick, what did you do?" she asked, her ears coming up.

He only gave her a Foxy grin and then pulled back the sheets and climbed onto bed. She just stood there with hands on her hips and eyed her Fox. Then he held up the sheet and patted the spot beside him. A smile came to her face and she crawled in beside him. He pulled his bunny close and wrapped his arms around her. Then he licked her throat and Judy giggled.

"Have you thought that I might not be I the mood?" Judy said and smirked.

Nick studied his bunny for a moment.

"To be honest with you Judy I can always tell," he said and touched his nose.

She studied her Fox for a moment and then started to blush. As always it started with her ears and then spread to her face, but this time it spread to the rest of her too. Then she covered her face with her ears and her Fox thought her could actually feel the heat coming from her. He could help himself and chuckled.

"It's not funny!"

"Yes, Fluff you 100% correct," he said and smiled. "It's not funny at all."

Then she giggled.

"Nick."

"Yes, Fluff."

"Do you think anyone else can tell?"

"No," he said, stretching out the word. "Only I," He touched his chest," Nicholas Piberius Wilde can tell when my beautiful bunny is in the mood to make love with her extremely handsome Fox."

"Alright, you know you're milking it," she said and they stared at each other.

Then a moment later they were holding each other and laughing like loons. Later they still held each other, tears leaking from their eyes and still giggling once in a while.

"So am I in the mood?"

"Yes, you definitely are," he said and rolled onto his back, taking her with him. He looked up at his bunny and smiled. "But first we need to talk."

He saw the look of surprise on her face and grinned.

"About?"

"Since we are going to be parents," he began and saw his bunny begin to tear up again, "I think we should set the date for our marriage."

"Oh Nick!" she exclaimed and then kissed her Fox.

Their kiss ended and he looked into her eyes. He ran a hand down her back and felt her shiver.

"Secretly I always hoped that we'd prove everyone wrong and have children of our own."

"Me too."

"Certainly we've tried … a lot."

His bunny giggled again.

"Let's try again," she said in her sexy voice and winked at her Fox.

"OK," he said and started to rise.

She pushed him back down and he grinned. Then she reached back and squeezed his sheath. She felt him swell and smiled.

"Judy!" he exclaimed and sucked in a breath.

She continued to smile.

"I can always tell when you're in the mood too," she said and squeezed him again.

He arched his back and his hands slid up her sides and gently squeezed her breasts. Then she slowly impaled herself on him and bit her lip. She felt his hands on her hips. Then her Fox thrust up and she met him.

"Oh God! … Nick … please don't stop … Oh yes!"

They matched each other and he sat up again. Then he licked her throat and felt his bunny's hand on the back of his head pulling him closer. He gently took her throat into his jaws and squeezed. His bunny moaned and he felt the beginnings of a growl building in his chest. As time slipped away all she felt was pleasure and the warmth of her Fox's body.

Later he felt his bunny tighten on him. Then she shuddered and a moment later he released her throat. His growl erupted and joined her in their shared pleasure. Now they were joined in body, soul, and spirit. He lay back and then gently held her in a pleasant exhaustion. Later they slept in each other's arms still entwined in their lovemaking.

Judy felt their shuttle set down and squeezed her Fox's hand.

"I wish we didn't have to wear this armor," she said as unbuckled her restraints and stood.

"It's just until they say it's safe."

"It's just a bit tight."

Nick looked at this bunny and smiled.

"You know Peter explained this armor is actually one of the free form robots."

"Oh that makes me feel a whole lot better!"

He chuckled.

"Come on we have an entire world to explore," he said and put an arm around his bunny.

They and the rest of the security team walked ahead of the scientists and other technicians. The ramp lowered and everyone stopped at the bottom of the ramp except Judy. She continued into the grass that extended to the horizon in all directions. Then she stopped sensing something was amiss and turned. Her Fox was standing there holding a camera and her armor became translucent. Then everyone started to clap and cheer.

First Nick and then Peter stepped off the ramp.

"Judy," Peter said and smiled, "you're the first animal leave your solar system and set foot upon another planet in a different one. Congratulations!"

Judy's blush started at her ears and then worked its way down until she was a light pink from head to toe. Her Fox smiled.

"And everyone back home is watching," he said and winked. "Don't you have anything to say?"

"Nick, you …"

"Remember," he said and pointed to the camera.

Judy sighed and then composed herself.

"I'd like to thank everyone who helped putting this expedition together and wish you could all be here to share this moment with us."

Nick paned the camera around showing the planet and then turned the camera back toward the ship showing the others moving out to begin their work. Soon he felt his bunny behind him.

"Nick."

"Judy, this was my idea," Peter said and touched her shoulder. "Better get to work."

"I think you looked wonderful," Nick said.

"Who can see anything in this armor?"

"Look at your arm."

All she could see was the undersuit that everyone wore under the armor – the really tight formfitting undersuit which shown every curve of her leporine body.

She looked at her Fox and he only smiled.

"Oh! Sweet cheese and crackers!"

They remained in the solar system for forty-seven days and surveyed each of the thirteen planets. Two more planets were found – one orbiting inside the Oort cloud and the other far beyond it. The one habitable planet was found to have the correct atmosphere, no harmful microorganisms, or intelligent life. Once it was then deemed to be suitable for colonization seven portals were placed on different parts of the planet.

Foxes and Rabbits came through all seven gates first from both the homeworld and WildeHopps. As with their first colony all construction was to be done underground. Not having the many convenient caves on this world most of the borrows had to be dug out. Between the Rabbits, foxes, and free form robots the first seven burrows were completed in sixteen days and colonists even started to move in while construction was ongoing.

A second of Peter's FTL ships arrived bringing with it dozens in of insystem ships and several space stations to begin setting up orbital industries and mining of the asteroid belts and Oort cloud.

"John!"

He caught sight of Jillian coming through the crowd as he walked down the shuttle's ramp. He met her halfway and stooped to her level. He held out his hands and she took them. Then he felt a couple of pats on the back from his teammates as they stepped passed the couple. He blushed and Jillian smiled.

"It's almost supper time," she said.

"I need to go by my cabin first," he said and held up his duffle bag.

"Do you want to be alone with me?" she whispered and her pad translated in the same volume.

"Yes," he said and blushed.

"Good," she said and smiled. "And I'll return the favor and help you unpack."

She said that so any others could hear for John benefit.

"OK," he said and she noticed him looking around. "Come on."

They rode the internal shuttle and after a short walk stood at his door. Jillian waited and he looked at her and then the door.

"John, is there a problem?"

"I've never had anyone in my room before," he said and laughed nervously. "It's kinda messy."

"You should've seen Judy's room back home," she said and smiled.

He raised an eyebrow and then he turned back and began to fiddle with keypad. After getting the passcode wrong twice the door finally opened and he quickly ushered her in first. She heard the door shut and John sigh. She turned and smiled.

"John."

"Jillian, I …"

"Is there a problem?"

"Well, I never had a girl in my room before," he said in a rush. "You're safe. I won't … do anything."

Now she understood perfectly.

"Well John, you still haven't had a girl in your room."

He looked at her for a moment and then thumped his forehead. She chuckled.

"I guess I forgot you're a bunny … I mean a Rabbit."

She walked up to him and laid her head against his chest. He gently wrapped his arms around her and lifted her until they were eye to eye.

"I like you, John."

"But I'm human!" he blurted out.

The Rabbit chuckled.

"I've noticed," she said and smile. "I have a feeling that you like me too."

"Yes," he said and blushed furiously. "I missed you so much while I was away." He hugged her tight. "Jillian!"

She rubbed her face against his and then licked his cheek. He held her away and looked at her. Then she leaned forward and touched her lips to his. To John it felt like an electrical shock shot through him. Unconsciously one of his hands slid down her back and found her tail. She gasped and he almost dropped her. Then he stumbled back and landed on his bed.

"I'm sorry!" she said panic stricken. "I didn't mean to!"

"And I don't mind at all," she said, sitting up and smiling down at him. "So what do you want to do now?"

"I … I"

She smiled and then leaned down to kiss him again. Then she felt his hands unconsciously begin explore her body.

"John, I'm not angry with you."

"Really!"

"Yes, really," she said and patted his cheek. "Let's put your stuff away and go have some supper. OK?"

He looked so relieved that she had to chuckle.

Over the next six months they explored eleven star systems and helped establish five new colonies. All in all Robert thought things had gone quite well as he walked into the mess hall. Looking around he saw a few of the crew taking a late supper. His vixen was giving instructions to the night staff and he walked to the back and seated himself not wanting to disturb her. Then he saw Catherine sniff the air and look around until she found him. She smiled and finished with her people. She walked into the kitchen, returned with a tray, and set it on the adjacent table.

"Do you need any help?"

The vixen eyed him and he smiled.

"No, but it nice you asked," she said and squeezed his hand after she set their plates on the table.

"Are you done for the night?"

"Yes," she said and put two pots on the table, "and after supper we can go back to our cabin and you can make mad passionate love to me."

He chuckled.

"I can probably do the passionate part."

"You always do," she said, her green eyes twinkling.

"Always?"

"Always!" she said and smiled.

She uncovered the pots and handed him a serving spoon. He put rice on her plate and then on his. Then she covered the rice with contents of the other one. Robert looked his plate and then at her.

"Chicken curry," she said and covered her rice. "One of my staff showed me how to make it."

"Mom!"

The vixen looked up and saw her son along with his bunny coming across the room.

"Better hurry up the movie starts in forty-five minutes," he said and sniffed the air. "What are you having?"

"Nick, they might want to have dinner alone."

He looked at his bunny and then back to other couple. Then he grinned.

"Sorry, I remember when I first met Fluff here."

"Me too," she said and glared at her Fox.

"You're never going to forget that, are you?"

"Nope!"

He looked at his bunny and smiled.

"I love you," he said and watched her ears turn a bit pinker.

"That won't work forever!"

"It's certainly has worked up to now!"

"Ow!" he said as Judy punched in the ribs.

Robert laughed until he held his sides and tears came to his eyes.

"God, I haven't laughed like that in years!" he said and looked at his vixen. She smiled. "Come on and eat with us."

Catherine went back to the kitchen. She returned with two more plates and another pot.

"Nick!"

"Joe! Jill!" he said and waved then over.

Catherine looked at them and went to get two more plates. Then Nick and Joe pulled over another table. Soon everyone was enjoying Catherine's cooking.

"I told you it was open twenty-four hours," Jillian told John as they came through the mess hall door. "Just find a table and I'll get something for us."

She headed for the kitchen. John turned and saw Judy and the others.

"Judy!" he said and Jillian's ears came up.

She turned and caught up to him just as he reached their table. She looked at the group and smiled.

"So Catherine, you've been cooking again," she said in English and the vixen glared at her. "It smells interesting. Could we try some?"

"Yes," Catherine said and started to rise.

"No … no, you stay here and I'll get some plates," she said and headed for the kitchen.

Catherine heard her giggle as she pushed open the door and sighed.

"Catherine," Robert said and touched her hand, "is there a problem?"

She looked at Robert and smiled.

"For some reason she just pisses me off and I don't know why! And what's worse she knows it!"

"Catherine, do you want me to …," Robert began.

"No, this is my problem."

"Catherine, I think I understand," John said and everyone looked at him. He blushed. "I've gotten to know her very well." Nick snickered and his blush deepened. "Jillian's really smart! She's learned English in only a few months!" He smiled. "She's a really nice bunny." Judy gave a little growl. "But she has a very strong personality and Catherine, to be honest I think the problem is you two are much the same."

The vixen looked at Robert and he smiled. Then she looked at John and her eyes winked.

"Thank you, John," she said and patted the seat beside her. "Come sit over here and sit by me."

When Jillian returned she eyed the vixen and sat beside Robert.

"Jillian, try the vegetable curry," Jill said and passed the pot.

"Thanks," she said in English and filled her plate. "Tastes good! Who made it?"

"I thought Catherine did," John said and looked at the vixen.

"No, she made the chicken curry you're eating."

"Now?"

"Just trust me, I know."

John looked at Catherine and she smiled.

"She's right."

Jillian dipped a little chicken curry onto her plate and sampled it. Everyone just stared at her.

"What?"

"That has meat in it!" Jill said.

"I've had chicken before," she said and chuckled at the surprise looks. "I've had fish and turkey too. I've even tried one of damned bug burgers you predators eat. They're truly nasty! How in God's name can you eat those things?"

"They grow on you," Nick said deadpan.

"Yea, like a wart!" she said and tried a bit more of the chicken curry.

She ate a bit more and then looked at the Captain. Then she smiled.

"So Captain, tell me how an obviously smart fellow like you fell for a vixen's trap?"

Robert looked at his vixen and smiled.

"So did you like the movie?" Jillian asked.

"God, I hope we don't meet anything like that out here!"

"You know you grabbed my arm when that alien came out the guy's chest."

He looked at his bunny and she hugged him. The shuttle stopped and they walked to her room. As always he hesitated at the door.

"John, we've known each other for six months now."

He came in and the door shut behind him.

"It's just that I don't everyone to think we're … we're uh," he said in a rush and then hesitated.

"Making love," Jillian said and smiled.

His ears turned red. She hopped on her bed and patted the spot next to her. He carefully lay down beside her and she snuggled close.

"John, nobody thinks we're making love," she said and gave a little sigh. "Everyone knows that you're a perfect gentleman."

He smiled and hugged her. Then Jillian felt his fingers feeling her fur.

"You wanta brush my fur?" she asked and he smiled. "I'll be back in a minute."

When she returned and out of reflex he almost covered his eyes.

"You know I'm not naked."

"That bathing suit's is so small that you look naked."

Jillian smiled.

"Would it be so bad if I were?"

"Yes, it would," he said and hesitantly reached for her. She hopped into his arms and he hugged her. "Jillian, I … I … I'm in love with you."

"I know," she said and rubbed her face against his. "And I love you too."

He sat on the bed with his bunny on his lap and she leaned up and kissed him. He touched her tail and she moaned. Then she slid a hand under his shirt and felt the naked furless flesh. It tickled and he squirmed and then laughed. She pulled his shirt over his head and he laid back and closed his eyes. Then she her body across his chest. She felt his arms tighten around her and then she kissed him again. Then she felt his erection swell and he froze.

"We can't so this!"

"What?"

"We're not married!"

She smiled.

"We could be."

"You'd marry me!"

"You haven't asked."

He smiled, got off the bed, and went to one knee before her. Then he took her hand and she smiled.

"Jillian Anne Hopps would you marry me?"

"Well let me think about," she said and looked at his expectant face. "Yes."

Three days later the Dark Star II entered FTL and an hour and fifty-four minutes later reentered real space a billion miles above the plane of the ecliptic. This would be the farthest star they'd visited so far.

"FTL travel completed successfully," the navigator reported and scanned his readouts. "FTL engines showing green and automatically going into standby mode."

"Captain, artificial electromagnetic radiation detected!" Ellie reported a few seconds later.

Captain Young spun toward the Cheetah.

"Within this system?"

"Yes sir!"

"From where?"

Ellie worked her console for a few more seconds.

"Across the system, sir!" she said and went back to her console. "It's coming from dozens of sources!"

"My database lists this system as uninhabited," Peter reported. "This must be a colony."

"Could a civilization arose here in the last twenty thousand years?" Robert asked.

"There wasn't any intelligent life here at that time."

Robert turned to the sensor technician.

"Have we been detected?"

"No," Peter said, accessing the ship's full sensor suite.

"Not yet," the tech reported to his Captain and then glaring at the AI.

"Please let me know of anything changes," he said and turned to Peter. "I'd like to speak to you privately."

He rose and Peter followed him of his office. He turned to Peter as soon as the door shut.

"You've told us about this ship's shields, but haven't told us much about this ship's armaments."

"I understand that you are worried about our safety," he said, running diagnostics on the ship offensive and defensive systems. "I can bring in other ships if necessary."

"Warships?"

"They would be more heavily armed and armored and have more shielding."

Robert thought about it for a minute.

"Let's just see how they react to us first."

"There are some more advance probes aboard we could send out."

"First, let's gather more information passively."

For a day and a half they gathered data and soon made several startling discoveries. First, there weren't just one intelligent species in this system, but so far they had found eleven once video signals had been discovered and decoded. Then the humans had recognized two they had contacted in the Milky Way and possibly one other. Then a twelfth was found.

"Robert, I recognize this one from the Andromeda galaxy," he said, pointing to his pad.

"Your creators are from Andromeda!"

"Let's just that they have visited some other galaxies."

Robert just stood there stunned looking at Peter trying to wrap his mind around that revelation and slumped back on his desk.

"How many?"

"Nothing outside the Virgo Supercluster."

"My God!"

Peter smiled.

"It's 110 million light years in diameter!"

"True."

"I was going to ask your advice on contacting these people and you reveal that your people are the Lords of Creation!"

Peter smiled again.

"Now that's a bit of an exaggeration."

Robert rolled his eyes.

"Anyway, I think we should make contact."

"Then simply find the closest ship."

Cargo ship 256 had rotated and just started its deceleration burn to rendezvous with mining station 72 when a truly massive ship simply appeared a thousand miles off its port bow.

"Captain, that ship has matched our velocity and is also decelerating at the same rate we are," the navigator reported.

"Communications, please send a message …" the Captain began.

"Sir," the Communication tech interrupted, "we are receiving a message from that ship."

She looked at the crewmale and then pointed at the main screen. The face that appeared was of a species that was one completely unknown to the Alliance. The face registered recognition when the connection was made and head nodded. It started to speak and he noticed that the language did not match the mouth's movements. Of course she recognized the language since it was her people's.

"Greetings, we represent two worlds 126 light years from here. When you rendezvous with at station we would like to meet with you either on your ship, mine, or the station. Please let us know before we reach it."

"Captain," his first officer said and smiled. "Have you made a decision?"

"I want to see inside of that ship!"

Apparently she wasn't the only one as seven ships launched from the station as they that came to rest relative to it.

"Captain," the Communications Tech said, "we're receiving docking instructions."

"Please forward them to the Navigator's station."

They approached the ship and a section of the hull opened large enough for all their ships to enter simultaneously. They preceded and faced another wall. The one behind them closed and soon the one before them opened. The crew watching the video feed from outside ship gawked at the thirty other ships in the docking bay – some of them much larger than theirs. They were directed to docking cradles, touched down, and as they watched as ramps extended to their external airlocks.

"Captain, there's a breathable atmosphere outside the air lock," the science officer reported. "Since this docking bay is pressurized I wonder why the ramps are enclosed."

"What would you do if you met an unknown species?" the Captain asked.

"Decontamination!" he exclaimed and his superior smiled. "Captain, we must not be completely unknown since they spoke your language."

"I knew there was a good reason I hired you," she said and smiled.

"Crack the hatch," she ordered and his Chief Engineer pressed a red button.

The inner hatch opened and they could see through the external camera someone waiting halfway down the ramp in a full armor.

"Open the outer hatch," she ordered and the person came toward them.

"Please follow me," the voice said in her language.

They entered a room which looked like a shower and another armored person waited for them. The first one turned to them.

"Please remove your clothing and shower."

Living so closely together on their ship for sometimes months at a time none of the crew had a nudity taboo. Also more than half the crew was female and there had been relationships and even a few marriages. The Captain approached the person who'd spoken to them and the helmet became translucent. He (she just had a feeling that this person was male) wasn't the same species as the person she'd spoken to. She smiled and thought he was quite handsome. Also, red was her favorite color. Then the other person stepped closer to the first and her helmet became clear. She didn't look happy.

"When will I meet your Captain?"

"As soon as decontamination is complete you will be taken to … let's just say a waiting area. You'll find it interesting and it'll be maybe an hour or so."

"Thank you," she said and smiled.

Judy watched the Captain walk to one of the showers and then glared at her Fox.

"She was naked!" she said through their personal communications channel.

"Yes, she was," he said and smiled.

"And you looked!"

Nick smirked.

"Fluff, you're 100% correct."

"You horny old Fox!"

"Who's old?"

Once the station crew was processed through decontamination they were all led directly to an internal shuttle. The Captain smiled at the red furred male.

"My name is Abesi," she said and extended a hand.

The pad in his lap translated.

"I'm Nick and this is my fiancée, Judy."

She thought that might be the case.

"So your people have met other species."

"A few," he said and smiled.

"And you're from?"

"A nearby star system."

"Nick, you're being evasive."

"Someone's told me that I'm good at that," he said and glanced at his bunny.

Judy's ears came up and she growled. Absei chuckled.

"Judy, I like do like him," she said and smiled at the Rabbit. "I think you're really lucky to have him. Don't you think we could share?"

"No!"

Nick hugged his bunny and smiled.

"She my bunny and I'm her Fox."

"So finally I got something out of you," she said and smiled. "You're a Fox and she's a bunny."

"I am a Rabbit!"

Fortunately the internal shuttle came to a stop a few moments later and everyone stood. Nick led them to an ordinary looking door and opened it. Then he indicated that the new comers should go first. Almost immediately the line stopped and Nick lifted his bunny into his arms and gently pushed his way in. He found Abesi standing just inside the door staring.

"How?"

"It does look like we're on a planet, doesn't it," he said, gently pulling her aside. "It's a square mile and the trees, grass, and animals are real. The walls and ceiling are all projections."

"Like it?" Judy asked and hopped down.

"Yes!"

The group finally sorted themselves out and started to wonder around.

"Stay in sight of this door!" Abesi bellowed and Nick shut it.

It faded away and became part of the landscape. She made a face at Nick and he smiled.

"How do you …," she began and he touched his pad and it reappeared. "Very funny!"

"You sure you want to share him?" Judy asked.

"Let me think about it."

Judy laughed poked her Fox in the side. He only smiled and put arm around his bunny.

"Nick! Judy!"

"There comes Captain Young!" Judy said and waved. "And most of the crew."

Robert and his vixen and the rest of the crew gathered on one side and Abesi and her people on the other. Nick and his bunny were in the middle.

"Captain Young, his is Captain Abesi."

Robert thumped his chest in the way of Abesi's race and she returned it.

"You know of my people," she said, studying him.

"Yes, they our allies and we even have shared colonies."

"That's imposs … Where are you from?"

"The larger galaxy this one orbits."

"That's 200,000 light years away!" she exclaimed, her eye widening.

"We left our world only seven years ago."

"You're ships are that fast."

"No, it would have taken my ship thirty-five years to reach this galaxy."

"Then how?"

"I have no idea."

She looks at Robert's crew and counted.

"I see a least twenty-six different species in your crew," she said, looking back at Robert. "How many worlds do you represent?"

"Seven – the original world and six colonies."

"We have fifty-two worlds in the alliance – twenty-two homeworlds and thirty colonies. How can you have twenty-five intelligent races on one planet?"

"Currently there are 35,637 intelligent species in the Zootopian system," Peter said and smiled at the expression on Abesi face. "No species has become extinct in the 21,812 years I've been observing the planet."

"And we're just now spreading out," Robert said and smiled.

This story will continue in the upcoming story 'Galactic Republic.'