Chapter ten - Back to school

It was the most awkward car drive to work.

Ever.

Nick had picked up Judy first since she lived closer to him. So, when Mark and Nathan jumped in, they immediately felt the tension inside. The fox and the bunny didn't speak at all, they barely greeted the macaques when they entered and their replies to any question were short and automatic. They weren't angry at each other; they had fixed that issue the previous day.

This time, the problem was something else that Mark understood but didn't know how to help them with: Nick was going to become a detective, separating himself from the bunny in terms of work. They probably knew they would see each other after work, on free days and such, but their time enjoying each other at work was coming to an end.

One would think they would want to spend as much time together as possible before that happened but, instead, they weren't talking to each other, making Mark boil in frustration: after the mess caused by Nick jealousy, to let this happen was beyond what he could handle.

After several minutes, they arrived at the ZPD parking, where Nick parked his car and everyone got out, the two mammals on the back visibly faster than they normally would. On their way to the entrance, Judy began to fall behind with her ears droopy. Mark saw then a chance to cheer her up.

The macaque sped up a bit to situate himself by her right side and carefully placed a hand on her left shoulder, in a one-arm hug, smiling at the sudden surprised and embarrassed look of the bunny.

• Hey, Silk. How do you feel? Does it hurt?

She caressed her injured arm with the other hand, as if by talking about it she remembered her pain.- A little bit. The painkillers the doctor gave me are working, but it still stings sometimes.

• Well, as soon as today's training ends, you will have the entire day to rest. You could come to my house, now that I think of it.- Added having another idea.- I don't think you should stay alone while you recover, and I bet my mother will kill me when she finds out you have been shot and are not already under her care.

The slight blush she had because of the embrace became a full version in a matter of a second.- B-but there is no need for that! This is not as severe as it looks like!

• I agree. The doctor was even confident enough to let you go last night instead of this morning so you could come on time, so you must be good enough.- Conceded him, making Judy sigh in relief, which she wouldn't have done if she had seen the very Nick-ish mischievous smile.- So, where do I sleep in your house? The couch?

• WHAT?

The echo of the entrance hall in the precint returned to her ears and reminded her where she was. Mark, very conscious of the look entering that place hugging the bunny would attract, had also released his embrace and just walked by her side.

• Why are you so surprised? I just told you my mother will kill me when she finds out. The only way she will forgive me is by taking care of you. Unless you want her to go to your house every day. Believe me, she would do that.

• Ok, ok! I get it! I will go to your place for a few days.- Said Judy, completely embarrassed by the mental image of Suzie coming to her house every day to check on her.- I'll pick up a few things from home and then go to yours.

• Perfect! She will be very happy.

• And so will I.- Judy's voice didn't have the nervous tone anymore. She sounded a little evil.- If I'm going to be at your place, I'll make you massage my shoulders, since I will be exhausted after a long day with this injured arm.

"And here I thought I was smart enough to convince her to come. She has spent too much time with Nick. Not that I complain."- Thought the monkey admitting defeat by raising his hands.- Everything the ill queen wants.

With a victory smile, Judy walked ahead, visibly in a better mood, which was Mark's intention all along. For a while at least she had forgotten about the whole situation with Nick.

• Slick move, bro.

Looking up, he saw Nathan with a wide grin on his face.

• What do you mean?- Asked him as if he didn't understand.

• Oh, little brother, don't try to hide it from me. Maybe I am the last one in the family to notice, but I end up doing it anyway.

• Don't start you too, Nathan. I don't do that to you.

• That's because I had never been in your position before, thanks for reminding me.- The taller monkey frowned offended, but Mark knew better.

• Then you know what to do: new place, new chances to find a girl for you. Get one so I can NOT do it to you.- He said nudging his brother friendly with the elbow, who pushed him away and both laughed.

The four mammals got into the conference room, big enough to hold a large part of the personnel of the precint comfortably. When there was an important case, like a hostage or a kidnapping situation, it was used as a war room. The boards that now were against the walls would be filled with several photos of suspects, lines linking them with motives or evidence; the tables buzzing with phones ringing or officers checking documents with vital information.

Now there were only officers standing up and conversing with each other. The tables, just as the boards, had been piled against the wall to clear up enough space for everybody to walk around without any obstacle, which, with rhinos and elephants around, was something to be grateful for.

When they got in, all the officers started applauding at them, some even whistled.

• Excellent work yesterday, guys!

• That's how it's done!

• Way to go!

• Wear those bandages with pride, Hopps!

As they understood why everyone was applauding at them, their befuddled minds started working again and responded to their colleagues: Nick with his usual expression and shaking paws, Mark enjoying the attention and fist-bumping with the others, and Judy smiling proudly though a bit nervous.

Nathan stood behind since no-one knew him and he had nothing to do with what had happened. Mark had explained the details from the start of the persecution until Nick and him were allowed to go to the hospital and he was proud of his little brother.

He would not be alone for long, as Mark gestured at him to join them and presented him as his brother to the other officers, telling them he was going to help them during the raid and join the SWAT team shortly after that like he would. The other officers welcomed Nathan to the family and started asking questions, but the door opened again and everyone became quiet.

Chief Bogo came in followed by the most massive and muscular rhino they had ever seen, something to note considering the presence of McHorn in the room, and a normal size raccoon. While the most obvious attribute of the rhino was his size, the raccoon's was his advanced age due to the large amount of silvery hairs around his face and a scar crossing his left eye diagonally from his left temple to his muzzle, rendering said eye blind. But neither of them made him feel maimed or handicapped: while old, he still moved like he was still young, agile and secure, and his white eye made everyone wonder with its rapid movements if it really couldn't see.

• Atten-HUT! - Higgins' voice served as the cue to every officer in the room, who formed in front of Bogo and the other two. That seemed to please the buffalo.

• You all know the reason you are here and not on patrol, so I'll be brief. As we speak, we are gathering and analyzing information on the criminal group related to the shooters arrested yesterday. When that step is complete, we will act. So far, we know there are at least five locations we will have to raid, and the operation must be done in all five places at the same time. If we raid only one, the others will get word of it and dismantle before we can get them. That will be a good opportunity to clean the city completely lost. Right now, the ZPD precint 1 counts with twenty SWAT members. That would be more than enough to raid one big place like a storage building, even two, but not five. If all of them were houses it would be possible to make 4 teams of five, but that still wouldn't be enough and is not the case. We need five teams of, at least, ten members per team. The other districts are adding fifteen more, so we are still fifteen more short. That is why you are here. You are going to receive a crash course in SWAT tactics, equipment, procedure, and training, so you can be as prepared as possible to perform as such during the raid. For that, we have here two instructors specialized in SWAT training.

The rhino took one step forward with his hooves behind his back, eyeing everyone from a height only a giraffe could beat.

• I'm Sergeant Mauler- Presented the massive mammal, with a booming voice clearly used to yell from a long distance away if needed. It would be the stereotypical military camp trainer's voice if he wasn't speaking in a normal tone and not trying to intimidate. Yet.- I will be in charge of the physical training, both to put you in shape and get used quickly to SWAT tactics.

• Gosh, why they always have those names?

For a moment, Judy thought that she had imagined that, so low the whispering was even for her, but a quick look at her left, where Mark and Nathan stood, confirmed that the first had whispered that to his brother, both smiling.

• My name is Commander Lacsar, retired officer of the SOTF and present instructor in SWAT theory training.- Said in an elderly but strong voice that would have been even soothing if it weren't for the energy the raccoon used to speak.

If it had been hard to hear Mark's whisper before, it was easy to perceive the sound of many throats gulping at the same time. Judy had no idea what the SOTF was, though it sounded very important, and the looks of her comrades seemed to confirm it.

• My objective here is to provide you with notions of teamwork, assault procedures, fighting techniques and weapon use that will keep you alive in the coming raid and for the rest of your life.- Continued the elder mammal.- Along with Sergeant Mauler's training, we will give you the tools you need to return alive to your homes after the mission. Also, it will give you a taste of what being a SWAT is. Maybe you will even consider joining permanently.

If he expected some sign of interest to become a SWAT, he didn't show any disappointment when he found none. Even Mark and Nathan, who were already part of that team, were dead serious now.

• For secrecy reasons, to take all of you to the normal training grounds would not be a good idea.- Intervened Chief Bogo.- The theory lessons will be taken in this room and the physical training in the parking lot of the second basement. It's not the ideal place, but it will have to do. I expect only the best from you.

Several of the officers nodded at their boss, who turned to leave the room.- All yours, commander.- Said to the raccoon before leaving with the sergeant behind him.

• Very well. I will admit that this situation is not precisely the most favorable for us.- Started the raccoon to the officers in front of him.- We don't know when the raid will take place, not until all the information is analyzed, checked and double checked. What is clear is that this criminal group is probably going to change locations soon. Even after leaving everything as it was, they are going to figure out the trick and will take measures. My guess would be in less than a week. In that time, I cannot deliver several months' worth of training. However, I can teach you enough so you work as similar to a fully trained team as possible.

The commander walked closer to them and then up and down the room in front of the group. That gave Judy the chance to see him up close. He was a few centimeters shorter than Mark and Nick but taller than the bunny. He kept his hands on his back with a straight posture typical of the military command. His uniform was very similar to Bogo's police uniform, but black and with yellow letters on his back that said "SWAT".

• I never trained anyone that wasn't interested in becoming a SWAT and, even though I am sure your teachers at the academy were hard enough on you, I very much doubt their training is as hard as the one we inflict on our recruits. That is our second disadvantage in this mission: we are on new grounds here. That being said, our work is to protect the citizens of Zootopia. Disbanding this group for good will do just that, at least for a while. I think that goal is enough for all of us to forget that second handicap and give our all to finish this in success. Do you agree?

• Yes, Sir!- Replied everybody in the room.

• Good, good. Then, let's begin. And we will do that with a very basic question for all of you: Do you have any idea of what does the SWAT do?

Delgato raised his paw. Lacsar gestured to him with his head to answer.

• They intervene in the most dangerous situations, those a regular officer shouldn't due to the risk in them. Such as raids to criminal organizations like in this instance, hostages' situations, barricades, terrorist attacks...

• Wrong.- Interrupted the raccoon, raising the volume of his voice to stop the lion.- Those are the means to achieve a goal. Is your work as a police officer described as arresting thieves, printing parking tickets or controlling traffic?

• No, Sir.

• What it is, then?

• We protect the civilian population from anything that may harm them.

• Very correct this time! Now, if that is the work of a police officer, what is the work of a SWAT?

No-one tried to answer this time. The only sound in the room was the pacing of the commander. He stopped in front of Nathan and Mark.

• I understand that you two are already members. Would you mind answering?- Asked gesturing first to the bigger macaque.

• We protect every mammal, including ourselves, from every possible threat and by any possible mean.

• Excellent.- Said the elder mammal resuming his pacing.- Now, the two definitions may look very similar, but there are two major differences. Can anyone tell me what they are?

• It includes those protecting in what they protect?- Tried Fangmeier, though the tigress looked confused.

• Very good. What else?

• "By any possible mean"?- Quoted Andersen, understanding as much as Fangmeier did.

• That is correct. Why are those differences so important? Because they make people go home to their families. It sounds too simple, and I agree, but there is a reason for that. Police officers tend to put themselves in danger in order to protect others. They barge in a house, tranq gun in hand, announcing their presence shouting "ZPD, freeze!" and other things that may end up costing their lives. You are hardwired to do that from training and, on one hand, that is a good thing, it helps to avoid tragedy in many situations, but it also raises mortality in this job too much for my taste.

He stopped again his pacing where he started, looking at them with certain irritation in his eyes, which was very unsettling with that blind eye of his.

• All this looking up at you will break my neck at this rate. Get two of the tables back there and bring them here: one place it where I am and the other over there, so the smaller ones get higher ground too.

The order was followed quickly and soon he was on the table in front of everybody and Judy, Nick, Nathan, and Mark had jumped on the other.

• Ah, Much better! Now, SWAT works completely different. Their main focus is protection, as said before, from both normal citizens and themselves. That is accomplished in two ways: first of all, the gear. That is quite obvious, I suppose. We wear Kevlar vests, protectors, helmets, masks in some cases, shields, which are basically our insignia... Even our most offensive gear is made for protection purposes: Flash and smoke grenades, so our opponents can't shoot at us; tear gas, to buy us vital seconds, or even minutes, to position our forces with lesser resistance; our weapons are designed to carry larger rounds of ammo just to keep the enemy hidden longer, even if the accuracy decreases because of that.

• But SWATs are known as an assault team. Doesn't that mean they are also offensive?- Asked McHorn.

• A shield can be used to bash too, but that doesn't mean your intention is to hurt but to keep the others in line or away from you. We assault homes of suspected criminals and other places, yes, but the criminals we normally face are not common thieves or brawlers that act on the streets. They know the police is looking for them, to arrest them and put them in a jail. So, to hide is the only way they feel secure while doing harm to innocent civilians. To go after them instead of waiting for them to come out it's the safest way to ensure civilians are not going to get hurt, because these people will strike back if given the chance. Also, when we raid a place we have our objective clear, to detain the suspects, but instead of rushing in, look for the suspects and run after them if they escape, we ensure each step we take inside in is safe for those behind us. That makes us slower, sort of speak, than others, but if there is any obstacle or trap in the way, no one gets hurt. We check every corner, stair, door or hole in a room before moving forward. We don't like to be shot from behind just because someone forgot to check inside the closet. That is why we receive tactical training, so we can move as fast as possible inside a hostile territory with the minimal risks.

The memory of how Mark had explored every room of the building, so methodical but quick in movements, came to Judy's mind. She had felt impressed by that.

• Doesn't all that precaution give time to the criminals to escape? I though detaining criminals was the point.

A low growl escaped from Lacsar and his gaze hardened.- I thought we cleared up that protecting lives was the point. What good does arresting five idiots selling drugs do if we lose three officers because of traps and gunfire we didn't expect? There are new criminals each day, outnumbering us by many times, but good officers are very hard to come by and need many years of training. So what if they escape? They got lucky, I can afford that. Next time they will be more careful, but we will be on their tail again. If they manage to run from us again, that is fine too. Every time they escape, they will become more anxious, until they make a mistake and end up pawcuffed behind bars. They need to be lucky many times to escape each time, but we only need to be lucky once to get them. And I'll be damned if I am going to let a shrapnel explosive, an ambush or a hidden idiot behind a door take any good mammal's life just to get them one day sooner.

The sound of bones cracking distracted Judy for a moment. Mark had his hands forming very tight fists, like suppressing something. Looking up at his face she saw anger and... guilt? Nathan, by his brother's left, noticed that too.

• If the room is secure, we move forward; if not, we stay where we are until the thread has been disabled; if it's more than we can handle, we step back.- Continued the commander.- We have the training and we have the equipment. Losing some terrain is a very low price to pay for everybody to go home with their families, and we can always recover it later. I want to make this very clear for all of you: life is the most precious thing in the world. I don't want any of you to risk it unnecessarily, not for a few low-lives, not for completing a mission and not for being heroes. Do you understand?

• Yes, Sir!

The raccoon nodded pleased with their response and softened his expression, but only a little.

• Then, let's move forward. Bring that board. We will go through basic teamwork tactics and then you will practice them with Sergeant Mauler in the basement.

...

When the four mammals left the ZPD building the sun was already going down, as tired as the friends were.

Judy, though she had not taken part in the physical training, had observed the whole thing trying to imagine herself doing the same things. That added to the several hours of the tactics theory exhausted her.

Nick was no better. He had gone through police academy with very good results, but SWAT training was as grueling as that old raccoon has said it would be. His legs barely kept him standing and his arms hurt from raising them as is he was holding a weapon for so long.

Mark and Nathan were also tired, but they were already used to it from so many years on Animolia's SWAT team. Nathan even dared to joke about it being a little easy, but the hard look on the fox telling him to shut up or he would be walking home convinced him not to play with fire.

After several hours of learning many different tactics, communication signals and much more, they went to practice them with Sergeant Mauler. While in the conference room he had controlled his voice, in the basement it echoed so many times and so clearly against the walls that Judy could swear she was able to know where the obstacles were with her ears, like she was some kind of bat.

For the remainder of the day, they practiced in a simulated scenario made with plastic walls forming the internal layer of a house. Since that parking lot was specific for the big vehicles, there was plenty of space to do that. The simulated house was big enough for even McHorn to practice inside, tough Mauler had to oversee everything from outside, something easy for him with his height.

Only after the sergeant was sure they had "started" to get the hang of it, he allowed them to go home, but with the thread of an even harder training the next day.

• Am I glad this day is finally over!- Exclaimed Judy stretching her arm, careful not to tense the other one.- I feel like I've been there for days!

• Wait until you try the combat training.- Commented Mark.- Not even you will be able to sleep ONLY eight hours and feel fresh the next day.

• You are trying to scare us, aren't you?- Asked Nick with fear in his face. When his partner didn't answer, he directed his gaze towards Nathan.- Please, tell me he is.

The bigger macaque shook his head, making the fox groan.

• As soon as I get home, I am going to bed. I doubt I can even drive right now.

• If you want, I can drive.- Offered Nathan.- We have to go to Judy's first anyway.

• Why is that?

• I am staying at their place for a few days.- Explained Judy, looking at Mark while he acted innocently looking away.- Mark though it would be best so they could take care of me while I recover.

The fox and the macaque gazed at each other, sending each other hard looks. That lasted only for a moment and nobody else saw it.

• That is a good idea. I wouldn't like for you to be alone in your house either.- Said Nick acting normal again.

• That is what I though too.- Said Mark.

The group arrived at Nick's car. While Mark helped Judy get in the right backseat, Nick took out the keys and gave them to Nathan.

• Careful with the gearshift, mate. I'll be watching.- Warned the fox gesturing to his eyes and to Nathan and sat in the left back seat, beside Judy, to Mark's dismay, who obviously wanted that place for himself. He hid it though and sat in the copilot's seat.

Since Nathan had never gone before to Judy's building, they gave him directions until they got there. Nick had to admit that the monkey knew how to drive as he never heard any weird noise in the whole trip.

Judy hopped down the car and Mark was about to do the same when Nick's door closed before he had taken off his seatbelt. He had to settle watching the pair go inside the building for Judy's things.

• Careful, brother.- Warned Nathan when the two macaques were alone in the car.- You should let Nick be the only green-eyed one in the car.

• Mind your own business, Nathan, or you will end up blue-eyed.- Replied the smaller monkey, with a playful smile to let him know he was just joking. Nathan's response was to mimic sending him a kiss.

...

Nick and Judy had been several minutes preparing the bunny's bag, but they had barely spoken to one another. The fox felt good by winning Mark into accompanying her, but now that they were alone it was like that morning again.

Mark's word echoed in his mind while helping Judy: to stop being so closed in. He was losing his precious time with her because of it. If Nick wanted to enjoy whatever time he had left working with the bunny, he had to start now.

• Sorry I didn't tell you about applying for detective, Carrots.

Judy stopped gathering her things to listen to his friend, her ears perked up and directed towards him.

• I actually didn't think they would even consider it, being a fox and all. They may not know my past, but I though what I am alone was enough for them to reject me.

• You have been working as an officer for a while now, Nick. Why do you think that?

• Because they are not you, or Mark. I even thought Bogo had doubts about me and only hired me because of you. Not everybody leaves prejudices behind as easily.

• Then why did you apply? If you were so sure, why try it?

• For the same reason I wanted to be a scout as a kid: I wanted to be someone others could trust and help them. I love being an officer, Judy, but to be a detective is kind of the top of fighting crime. After that thing with the scouts, I didn't consider it again; but when Mark told me foxes in Animolia are common in that job... I just had to try.

Judy understood that. Nick's life had been one disappointment after another since he was a kid. She had opened a world for him, and it was obvious he wanted to explore everything it had to offer.

Even if it took him away from her.

No more jokes in the cruiser, sharing anecdotes, working side by side against delinquents, trusting each other...

She leaned against Nick's chest and sobbed. The fox caressed slowly her ears.- You bunnies, so emotional.

• Dumb fox. You always say that.

• I really do, don't I?- Laughed Nick.- Hey, it is not decided yet. They still can say no. And if they accept me, we will still hang out after work. Or I could take my application back, that is also an option.

• No, it is not!- Objected Judy separating from him and looking straight in the eyes with a warning look.- This is a big opportunity for you, Nicholas Wilde. Don't you dare waste it because of me!

• Haha, ok, ok. Understood.

• I want you to promise me something though.

• What is it?

• I want to choose your clothes for your first day.

Silence fell upon them for a few seconds before both mammals started laughing.- Let me guess: you want me to look like a TV show detective, right?

• It would be appropriate, wouldn't it?- Said Judy and with her healthy arm gestured like she was in a TV show.- Once on the other side of the law, now defending it. A fox joining the force to fight the same crime he was part of. With the help of his colleagues, he will show the city what really is under his fur. FOX-COP! Featuring Nicholas Wilde as Detective Wilde. It has a nice ring to it!

Nick had face-palmed during Judy's representation of an 80's TV show, not able to keep himself from laughing further if he kept watching.

• Please, I beg you, do not do that in front of Mark. I wouldn't hear the end of it.

She giggled but didn't promise anything.

Shortly after that, both mammals stepped outside of the building, Nick carrying her bag and got into the waiting car. A quick look from Mark told him that they had solved their problem, and he smiled happily for that.

• Hey, Mark. Have you even seen any detective TV show?- Asked the bunny when they drove away in direction of the macaques' house.