Chapter twelve - Know your enemy

In the beginning of times, when mammals where still savage in nature but evolution had already given them certain intelligence, they believed in superior beings that guarded them in some way. Simple beliefs, such as a spirit of the river, of the rain or the sun. In their imagination, they were represented either with the same appearance as themselves or of creatures benevolent to them.

Ages passed and though predator still feasted on prey, believes changed. Each species had one all-mighty deity to be revered, still shaped as the very animals that prayed them for favors, those being a good hunt or a safe return depending on the side.

Then came the time where predators and prey became a single community, trying to better themselves and forget the hate and savage behavior of their ancestors. At some point, a new religion raised, with a shape-less being that benefited everyone who walked the right path, one of acceptance and mutual respect.

In present times, religion has been reduced to a small part of the population due to advance of science and the teachings of respect and cooperation coming from parents and logic rather than from an invisible creature.

While none of the four friends believed in the existence of any deity, be the modern one, any of the most ancient or any other for that matter, they all were thanking to whatever cosmic force had granted them an easy day on their training.

Instead of several hours of theory memorizing protocols, assault, defense and retreat tactics and then another few more hours of physical training until exhaustion or Sergeant Mauler found it acceptable, whichever came first, they were at the shooting practice room with both instructors present. Lined up along the wall were many different kind of protective gear and accessories, tools, grenades and many different weapons, including, to Judy's shock, bullet based ones. The tables they were exposed on were higher for the big mammals and lower for the smaller ones, like Judy and the rest. Of course, the equipment was also their size.

At the other side of the room, where the targets were usually placed hanging from rails on the ceiling, were many big vertical black bags. Some were against the back wall, other in the middle and a few were so close to the shooting cubicles that could be touched if you stretched enough.

Both the instructors were in the room: Lacsar with his usual attire and Sergeant Mauler fully geared with the SWAT suit, protectors and many other accessories. If with his normal uniform he already was imposing, now the gigantic rhino looked like he could perfectly take one of the hideouts by himself.

It seemed that, instead of running around the basement, running simulations or practicing fighting moves, they were going to learn about the different equipment the SWAT used in their operations. Even if it still implied practicing and learning, it had to be easier than what they had to do the past three days.

• Now that you are all here, I bet you understand what this is all about.- Started Commander Lacsar, getting instantly the attention of the room, and walking along the tables as he spoke.- What you see on the tables is the equipment that SWAT teams use depending on the situation: Kevlar vest, knee protectors, gloves special for each situation, helmets, riot suits, shields, mini and big rams, rappel gear for extraction and rescue missions, gas masks, light sources and a large etcetera. Here is only a fraction of the full list of tools whose function is to protect us and the innocent civilians. Then we have our weaponry, such as flash grenades, tear gas, close-combat weapons like batons or knifes, the standard issue dart gun that you already use, the tactical issue that you WILL use, dart rifles, TASER guns and a few more.

The raccoon stopped in front of the tables showing the lethal weapons, making a pause to let the officers take a good look.- Also, you may have noticed that there are fire weapons here. As an old saying goes, "If you know yourself and know your enemy, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles". We know our equipment, but theirs is not so commonly known. Sure, the basis is clear: they pull the trigger, the bullet comes out and pierces our bodies, sometimes making holes on our internal organs, some others causing death. That is about as much as the common population, and many present here, knows. These are here to change that. I am not saying you will be using them, nor that I want you to get comfy around them. I want you to know what they are, how do they work, anything that might help you face them, if and when the time comes, and not become a corpse in the process. Remember, these weapons are the very reason why we still use Kevlar vests and reinforced shields after so many years of the GD07.

While a couple of the officers nodded in understanding, the rest seemed confused at the mention of such thing. However, the commander did not explain it and just grabbed one of the pistols on the table, pulled the slide once and shot the nearest of the bags, one that was inside a cubicle and that Judy and the others didn't see. The sound, while they expected it to be loud, the surprise and the echo of the room made everyone jump and even take a step back. After the initial surprise, they saw the hole made on the bag. It was enough for Nick to plug a finger inside.

• As you can see, the bullet is so fast it cannot be seen through its flight to the target, so there is close to zero time for dodging it, unlike it happens with darts. It can penetrate very hard hides, go through the organs it finds in its way and lodge itself inside one of them. Sometimes it even has enough strength to make an exit hole on the other side of the body, creating another wound the blood can escape through.

The raccoon got close to the bag and pulled the zipper on one side to reveal the contents of it. A transparent block of some kind of plastic product made possible to see the trajectory of the bullet, now resting in its insides.

• This bags are made to mimic the consistency and resistance of skin, while the interior does the same with muscles, organs and such. This model simulates the body consistency of medium-sized mammals, such as lions or tigers. The bullet has reached deep into the "body", potentially damaging a few organs on its path. And this is one of the "little ones".

After closing the bag, he left the gun on the table, grabbed another, considerably bigger and more dangerous looking and pulled the trigger. The shot was way louder than anything the officers in the room had heard before, and the recoil made the Commander lose balance for a moment. The resulting hole not only was way bigger than the previous one, but the bullet had gone completely through the bag and exited on the other side, making another hole on the separation of the cubicle and ending its flight on the floor.

• This one is, thankfully, not as common as the other gun, but you don't want to find one pointing at you. If you get shot on your torso or abdomen with this, chances of survival are very slim. And, yet again, it's not the worst of all. This are "easy" to avoid being a victim of. The trajectory is straight, so by standing out of their way at all moment you usually remain safe.

That gun returned to its former place, only to be replaced by another kind of weapon neither Nick or Judy had seen before: looking like two thumb-wide pipes attached to a stock, it was about one head shorter than the raccoon. At least, the version for small mammals, that is.

Lacsar positioned it against his right shoulder, the right leg behind him for support, and shot it against the bag.

Almost as loud as the second gun from before, this shot left many of the presents shocked: not one but several holes had appeared on the bag, and none of them had exits on the other side.

• This one is a shotgun. It is a short to medium-ranged nightmare. You can see that the barrels are wider than that of a gun. That is because it does not fire a bullet, it fires several little metal pieces called "pellets". Its purpose is to cause as much damage as possible on whatever it is in front of it, be it a living being or even a wall, in which case chances are that whatever is behind it will get hit too. The pellets don't fly all straight in the same direction, they spread in a wide angle. At long distances, it's hard to hit anything; at short distances... it's hard to tell anyone how it feels to be shot with it.

While he deposited the weapon on the table, no one dared to speak. They all understood the danger of fire weapons way before this demonstration, but this had showed them HOW dangerous they were. Nick looked briefly at Mark and Nathan, two veteran SWAT members that had probably faced criminals with such weapons. He couldn't but admire theirs and other SWATs like Grizzoli or Rhinowitz's courage.

• Later on, you will grab them, touch them, examine them as you please. Don't worry, there is no ammo left. We only order a very small amount of them so the recruits can see, just like you did, the effects of these weapons, and there aren't made anymore until next time.

• But there IS someone still making them. Isn't that illegal?- Asked McHorn.

• It is.- Replied Sergeant Mauler behind them, speaking for the first time that day.- That is why the only company manufacturing them is the same one that makes the tranq darts and weapons for us. It has the permission of City Hall to make them only for instances like this one. It is a way of not forgetting what we are up against. The same happens with these fire weapons, they are the only "legal" ones in Zootopia.

• So, all the weapons and ammunition used by the criminals out there are made by themselves. But don't dismiss them as "possibly faulty" or "handcrafted".- Continued the commander.- If we recently got word of five places inside the city where there might be armed criminals, one must understand that it is only the tip of the iceberg. Chances are that there are hidden places in the city or the outskirts where criminal organizations craft weapons as precise as these ones. They don't have the luxury of building industrial mounting systems, which is in our favor, but still there are too many weapons around.

The instructors let a few moments of silence to fell on the officers so the reality of the world could sink in. As Chief Bogo said once to Judy, "The world has always been broken. That's why it needs good cops". In some way or another, every police officer realizes that at some point. This was a taste of how broken it was.

• Now, let's get some training done.- Said Lacsar in a stronger tone, to wake up everyone from their thinking. He came closer to the table with the SWAT weaponry.- The weapon you are mostly going to use is the rifle. That one over there is a TR-15, ideal for operations in short to medium range, more specifically inside houses or similar structures as a means to provide cover and support. The other one at its right is the SR-4, more fitted for target suppression. Contrary to normal tranq guns you have used so far, instead of a compressed air-propelled dart they use hardened spheres with tranquilizers and propelled with highly compressed air. Their size is much smaller than the common dart, which allows us to store them in a compartment called "clip"...- he pressed a button on the side of the weapon and a compartment detached from the underside of the rifle, revealing a lot of small seed-like spheres inside organized in a row.- ...and continually shoot them until we need to reload. The spheres can reach about the same distances as darts can, but they are harder to see and dodge due to the speed and being so small. Instead of being injected, the tranquilizer is absorbed by the skin when released on impact. It takes more impacts than a normal gun to affect a mammal, but you don't need to reload every time you shot, no matter if you hit your target or not. That is a great advantage.

• Now, you will have turns trying them on the bags at different distances. That way you will see how the rifles work and get used to them.- Mauler got the center stage this time in front of two cubicles with a few boxes at one side containing those "clips".- After you have tried them, inspect the protection gear and try some on if you want. I will explain its uses beyond the simple defensive ones.

While Lacsar and Mauler started giving turns to their comrades, Judy turned to Mark and Nathan with confusion on her face.

• What is that GD07 he mentioned before? I don't recall that from the academy.

Nick, who also didn't understand it, showed the same interest on the subject as his friend.

• Well, it's not exactly required for the job to know about it.- Said Mark to both partners.- It is a part of the world's history, needed for an historian, a teacher or something like that, but not exactly required for a police officer. Do you remember what I explained about the SOTF?

Judy nodded. She had asked about it the first night she stayed in Mark's home after Lacsar's introductory speech. The SOTF as short for "Special Operations Tactical Force", an elite military squad that took very dangerous missions both inside and outside the country. Rescue, counter-terrorism, infiltration, reconnaissance, hostage extraction... They handled anything the normal military couldn't. Commander Lacsar seemed to have been a commanding officer of that squad.

Of course, that was back in the time the nations still had wars going on, about forty or fifty years ago. Now, while wars where a thing of the past, the squad still existed but only just in case something important happened, the same reason why Zootopia still had an army, albeit very reduced compared to those times.

• Even after the nations declared global peace, there were many groups that opposed it.- Continued explaining mark.- They were menacing to start another war by themselves so, in order to avoid that, all nations signed a series of laws that applied to all of them. They were called "Global Decrees", GD for short. They were meant to ensure that the peace between nations could not be endangered and for citizens to live safe. One of those decrees, the seventh, hence GD07, was that no weapon designed with lethal potential, be it with defensive or offensive purposes, could be manufactured, traded or used. The GD is the reason the only fire weapons that exist right now are those the criminals use and the ones you see here. All others were destroyed and their manufacturing process got classified.

• And the military and security forces got stuck with tranq guns while those groups still had fire weapons?- Asked the fox.- How did they took care of those extremists?

• Those groups ended disbanding by themselves.- Answered Nathan this time.- the GDs had a secondary effect of the populations. Since they ensured their safety to the point of allowing them to believe in real and pacific lives, anyone that could take that away from them, even if their reasons were at some point akin to their beliefs, they were completely rejected. Without support of their people and no more weapons at their disposal, they were forced to surrender.

• Wow. And to think all that happened when my parents were little.- Said Judy, impressed by all that happening in a world she had believed for so long to be peaceful, despite the hate against some species.

• Our father was skeptical about how long the GDs would last. The reason he became an officer was to be able to protect his family in case all started again.- Said Nathan, looking at how Fangmeyer and Higgins were shooting at their targets.- Good thing he was wrong.

After what they had heard, Nick and Judy had to agree with that.

• I would like to know how is it that there are still fire weapons around if the method to make them is classified.- Wondered the fox, grinning slightly when Fangmeyer missed a shot and she reacted very offended.

• There were people that knew guns inside out by heart. If any of them happened to be on the wrong side of the law, he or she could perfectly give the information to others. Maybe even sell the method for a lot of money.- Guessed Mark.

• Hopps, Wilde, your turn!- Lacsar's voice called for the pair and they got into the cubicles. Before entering, the raccoon stopped Judy, looking concerned.

• How is your wound? You think you are capable of using a rifle?

The bunny flexed her injured arm a few times. Just as that morning, it hurt but not very much. At least for a while, she should be able to hold the gun.

• I think so, Sir. I am ready to try.

The commander nodded, pleased to see her determination. The calling of one of the other officers asking to make some question about the equipment left him with the dilemma of how to help without leaving Judy alone. Gazing over the monkeys solved the problem.

• Rhesus, come and help hopps. Instruct her how to aim with this kind of weapon until I am back.

• Yes, Sir.- Responded Mark who walked to her friend, not without a nudge from his brother and hearing a throaty giggle from him.

Judy was already grabbing the weapon and feeling its weight on her paws. She expected it to be heavier than the tranq gun she had been using, but she feared that it would be more than she could lift for long periods of time.

• Everything ok?- Asked the macaque behind her. She stubbornly nodded and tried to accommodate it against her body.

Mark observed her position and started correcting it.- Turn your body a little more, offer your side to your objective. That way you will be harder to hit. Bend your knees a little and position your right leg behind for support. The stock must be against the shoulder, directly where you feel the articulation. If you press it against the claviculae, you might crack it with the recoils. The shoulder can handle it better.

She tried doing it, but she was having more than one problem at the moment: her injured arm didn't feel as strong as she though it would be. It didn't hurt more than normal, but the four days of not using it at all had left it somewhat weak. Also, having in her hands that rifle had her imagining herself in a mission as a SWAT. The problem was, unlike when Mark had commented her to become one, the image was not as appealing.

She was imagining herself shooting those tranq pellets to faceless mammals who where shooting many more bullets at her than her at them. She had faced armed mammals before, she had even been shot and it was ok, but now she suddenly realized, as if all this time she had been blinded by the prospect of "acting" like a SWAT, that the criminals she was going to face were way more dangerous. A simple gun would probably be the least of her worries during the raid.

The bunny had faced even five thieves at the same time by herself, either unarmed or with a knife at much. All of them were normally of her line of vision, allowing her do dodge easily. Now, it would be different: they would be hidden, lurking in a corner, behind something... and all armed and very willing to kill without hesitation. And if things went badly...

Judy shook her head, trying to push all those feelings away. She was a police office, she had trained a lot to get there, worked hard to be recognized as something more than a bunny. This was a more dangerous mission than what she was used to. So what? It's not like she was going to face it alone. There will be many other friends with her, protecting her as much as she will protect them. They were training hard for this situation. It was not risk-free, but being an police officer wasn't anyway.

Still, she couldn't help trembling while holding the rifle and trying to aim to the bag in front of her.

Out of nowhere, Judy felt Mark lean against her in a sort of embrace, manually making the changes and helping her hold the weapon high.

• Aim with both eyes, not with one as much as you feel like doing so. With one you make the line between you and the target, the other helps correcting how high or low you are aiming with the end of the rifle. Use your left hand to move it around and hold the weight while the right one is relaxed on the trigger. If you tense up, it will be hard to stop shooting and you may also shoot unintentionally.

Judy was hearing the instructions and trying to move as he was explaining, but her mind was more focused on the fact that she was in his arms. Nick had hugged her before in a similar manner, and had also share some hugs with the monkey, but it felt very different the way he was doing now, like completely covering her frame with his toned body. His hands, obviously even for the bunny, were covering hers to teach her how to move, but the touch sent shivers down her spine. Since he had stated clearly his intentions to her and they had dated once, feeling him over her like that made her nervous.

• Are you thinking about our next date?

Judy's ear shot up in surprise as she pulled the trigger by accident and the weapons shot a one of the pellets and missed the target, her face completely red.

• W-what? Why would I be thinking of that now?- Asked in a low voice, not wanting the other officers to hear them.

• I didn't mean if you were thinking about it NOW, but in general.- Replied him, his face not changing at all, except for a hint of a grin on the right corner of his mouth.- Except for this morning, we haven't been alone much lately. Seemed a good moment to ask a simple question for me.

• Well, it is not. I don't want the whole precint to know about this.

• I see. I suppose you are right. And there isn't much to talk about, now that I think about it. I could just invite you to that restaurant again. You seemed to like it.

Another missed shot and a groan from the bunny.- We already agreed that we would go to another place and that I would invite you. You gave me your word of it.

• Oh, that's right. I forgot about that.

Judy didn't believe that even for a moment, and it showed by the incredulous smile in her face.- Sure you did.

• Then, what do you have in mind?- Insisted the monkey.- Do you know a good place we could go?

• Mark, stop. This is not the place.- Asked her starting to feel some annoyance building up inside of her.

• Sorry, Silk. I just wanted to help.

• Well, you are not helping.

• I disagree.- Said Mark with confidence. The bunny turned her head to look at him, not understanding. He was smiling, although his eyes showed a sad understanding.- You stopped trembling a moment ago.

Judy looked at her hands holding the rifle. He was right. He wasn't even placing his hands on hers anymore, he only kept them close without making contact, allowing her to move freely.

Mark had distracted her from her personal turmoil, at least temporarily. He had noticed it.

Had he felt the same at some point? Was that the reason he was able to detect her distress?

• Commander! May I have a word with you, Sir?

Judy focused again on her whereabouts, finding Mark talking with the old raccoon.

• Go ahead.

• Officer Hopps seems to have had a problem while lifting the rifle. I ask permission to go to the infirmary and check the stitches.

• Granted. Return as soon as you are done.- Replied the commander. With a nod, Mark turned and gestured to Judy to follow him. The bunny did so, not understanding what was that about.

Once outside, they were headed for the infirmary, until the macaque opened the door leading to the common office, where the desk of all the officers were. Since everybody was either doing patrol or at the training, the room was empty.

• Why did you bring me here, Mark?- Asked Judy.

• You said it yourself: that was not the place.

That did not help her understand.- What do you mean? Wait, you want to speak NOW and HERE about the date? Is that what you brought me here for?

• No, Judy. That wasn't the place for you to have a breakdown.

"So, he knows."- Thought Judy.- You took me out of the room so I could freak out in peace?

• Yes, that's it.- Mark was not smiling now. He was dead serious, though also calm.- What are you afraid of, Judy?

• I am not...

• What are you afraid of?- Repeated the monkey, his tone not changing in the slightest.

The bunny hesitated. She understood that the intentions of her partner were to help her, but she felt that all that was unnecessary.

• Look, I thank you for what you are trying to do, really, but I am ok.- Tried to assure him, but his expression didn't change.

• I just lied to a Commander. You think I would do that if you were ok?

• No, you wouldn't, I know.- Admitted Judy avoiding his eyes.- Let's just forget about this, ok? We still have a lot of training to do and I am too far behind to miss even more.

She started walking to the door until Mark's voice stopped her.

• If whatever you are terrified of, whatever you were imagining back there, happens during the raid, I won't be able to help you like I can now. You will have to deal with it face to face and with any consequences that come with it. If you freeze with a gun aiming at you, if you doubt on firing your tranq rifle, if you don't move out of the way in time, someone might get hurt. Maybe even killed.

Judy heard him walking towards her, stopping close enough of her place a hand on her shoulder.- You were there for me when I was low because of my mother. Let me be here for you now, let me help you.

The paw she had on the doorknob, ready to open the door, left it. The bunny turned to face her friend, letting him see how scared she was.

• I don't know what happened, Mark. I was just fine until I took that rifle and tried to aim with it. I started to imagine myself in the middle of the mission, bullets flying around, shouting, me in a hall and criminals about to shoot directly! I-it was like... not understanding how serious this really was until I had that gun in my paws! Like I've been stupidly blind this whole time!- Judy began pacing up and down, speaking fast, trying to get it all out, and pulling her ears from time to time while Mark stood there in silence.- Suddenly I realized that this was not a common intervention where the criminals run away from us or face us but we kick their buts easily, but a situation where the criminals kill you, in cold blood, without any regret or second thought! How stupid have I been for not to figure the severity of it the moment Bogo told us! He even asked your brother to give us a hand, took measures unheard of for this raid and even assigned the real SWAT members to patrol our shifts so we could be trained!

The monkey said nothing, allowing her to say everything she needed

• And now, after three days of watching you train and finally being able to joining you, when I get to prepare myself to be part of the team and help the city, I become afraid of going! I am a police officer, I know what risks are involved in this job! I could die persecuting a thief too, or a car can hit me or many other things! Why am I afraid of dying now? I wanted to become an officer knowing that possibility existed, trained accepting that it might happen! I accepted the badge with that in my mind! Every day I went out patrolling I knew there was danger! I was on top of a train at full speed, with Bellwether's minions wanting to kill me and Nick and another train was coming from the opposite direction! How can I be so scared right now?

Judy leaned against the wall and let herself fall to the ground, suddenly feeling week. She wanted to just stay there and cry, she was about to, but at the same time she felt lighter, like she had lifted a weigh she didn't knew was there.

Mark sat close beside her and embraced her frame with his long right arm, pulling her against him.- Judy, you are one of the bravest woman I have ever met, that that list includes my own mother. You are scared, that is final. It is normal to be scared. I am too, and probably everyone inside this building is.

• I don't see them freaking out like I just did.- Interrupted her with her head resting against his shoulder.

• You have been a couple of minutes rambling with barely enough time to breath. Will you let me talk for a moment?- Complained the monkey, which made Judy giggle a bit.- So, as I was saying, everyone is scared. But each one has its own way to deal with fear, just as you do. You are impulsive, the moment there is a situation...- He snapped his fingers in front of her.- ... you just hit the gas against the floor and face it. You don't usually give yourself enough time to think of how dangerous a situation is until it's over, and by then there is no point in thinking about it.

• Are you calling me reckless?- Accused the bunny raising her head to look at him, but found him gazing at her and desisted.- Sorry, go on.

• You know there are risks in this job, so you don't give fear time to get a hold of you before it's over. This time, you are given time to get used to the idea of this raid and what it entails. You knew it is way harder and more dangerous than what you normally do, but you were still in "off" mode. The moment you picked up the rifle, it became real to you and fear caught you. You are afraid of dying or that anybody gets killed. That is normal, healthy even. It keeps us alert when we are on work, but we must be careful not to let it control what we do.

• "The only thing we must fear is fear itself".- Recited Judy, remembering herself saying those exact words.- I can believe I said that to my parents when I came to Zootopia and I have not applied it to myself.

• I am going to let that interruption pass since it actually helped with my point, but don't get used to it.- Judy hit softly the chest of the macaque with her fist, accepting the joke.- The important question right now is if you still want to come to the raid.

• What do you mean?- Asked Judy, shocked by what she heard.

• If you think you will freeze there, if you won't be able to perform, you must know it before you go. There is people that will depend on your abilities and support. If you are there but just stand on the spot, rooted like a tree, you get everyone else in danger, and let's not forget that you become an easy target.

• You want me to drop out of this?- Believing that she had understand what he meant, Judy stood up, releasing herself from his arm, and faced him, anger very clear in her eyes.- You want to abandon my responsibility as an officer?

• To be honest, as Mark, your friend...- He was going to add something else, but decided to change it in the last moment.-... and someone who cares about you, I do want you to drop out, yes.

Judy looked at him outraged, feeling betrayed by someone she trusted. She had never expected him to say something like that.

• I want you safe, I want you never to get hurt.- Continued Mark, unaffected by how his friend was looking at him.- But as Mark Rhesus, still a SWAT and, even if it seems contradictory, also as your friend, I want you to come with us. I want you beside me, covering my back, because I trust you. But I need to be sure you are indeed going to cover my back. You understand.

All the anger had dissipated in a moment. He was right. She knew he trusted her, that was the very reason they were in that room instead of Mark simply reporting her as unsuited for the mission. He wanted Judy there, on her first SWAT mission.

• There is no shame in dropping out if you think you can't do it. Not everyone can. But if you come, we are all with you. Not only Nick, Nathan and me, but also all the other officers. If there is danger, we will get you out. You are not alone in this.

Judy smiled, relieved at hearing that. She hugged Mark, very thankful for what he had done for her.

• How did you know what to say in this cases?

• Well, it's what my father did for me when I freaked out before my first mission.

• He did?- Asked the bunny, separating from him a bit.

• Of course! I said it before, I get scared too. He had to pull me apart and ease my mind as I just did. I wasn't there, but I think Nathan had the same talk too. We all get scared, all SWAT do. We are not superheroes.

After a few more seconds, Judy let Mark go and went for the door, this time with a big smile.- Let's go back before Commander Lacsar sends someone after us. We have some training to do.

"And also some thinking, as it turns out."- Though The bunny for herself.

...

Both mammals returned to the shooting practice room and found all the officers in silence around one cubicle. In it, Nick was aiming at a regular target on the very back of the room with a sniper rifle. A second later, they heard the weapon fire the dart and the projectile hit almost the very center of the target, where there were already a handful of dart already. Everyone started talking amazed.

• Very impressive, officer Wilde. It seems you are a fox of hidden talents.- Lacsar's voice came from the front row. Ironically, with his size, he was the one hidden behind everyone from the sight of Judy and Mark.

• Thank you, Sir.- Said Nick in return, sounding flustered, and proud, at the words of the commander.

• Your role in this endeavor seems clear. I expect your best effort when the time comes.-

• You will have it, Sir!

The raccoon left the overly proud fox in the cubicle to assign the next ones to try shooting at the target with the SWAT gear. Some of the officers were waiting to try again, now fully equipped with all the protectors, to see the difference in comfort and freedom of movements.

While Judy jumped over a table to sit on the edge, and unbeknownst to the bunny, Mark walked to the fox and, in low voice, talked to him. The conversation was brief, however, and Nick went to leave the rifle on the table before walking towards Judy. Mark stayed near the cubicles by his brother side.

• Hey, Carrots. You ok?

• Yes, I am. What was all that about?- Asked her, curious about what she had seen.

• Well, after you left I shot a few times and I hit the same section of the bag several times. Lacsar and Mauler saw it and offered me to try the sniper rifle, to see how much of a shooter I was. As it turns out, I am a good sniper.- Said gesturing like holding the weapon in his paws and with a happy look on his face.

• That is great! That may help you on this mission.

• Maybe, but not so much if I end up being a detective. I don't know any that go around with a sniper rifle around.

• You don't know any detectives, period.- Joked the bunny.

• You had to ruin that for me, didn't you?- Replied him feigning annoyance, something he knew wouldn't fool Judy. A second later, his expression turned more serious.- Are you really ok?

She turned her eyes towards Mark, who had his back facing her.

• No, not really.- Finally answered her, letting a sigh escape her.- I'm better now, but still...

The fox didn't question anything else. He just took her paw in his to show his support and presence and smiled, his way of assuring her "Everything will be ok".

Judy smiled back, unable to express how much she appreciated that, and let her head rest against his shoulder. Luckily for them, no one was looking in their direction, although neither of them would have cared at that moment if anyone did, so that moment only belonged to them.

Until the sound of the door opening put them on alert, that is.

Chief Bogo entered the room, carrying several documents in his hooves and with a very evident look of worry on his face.

That was immediately noticed by both instructors and went to him.

• We've got a problem. A big one.- Said the buffalo, catching the other officers' attention. He handled the documents to Lacsar so he could check them.- We have finished deciphering our findings in the storehouse, and the officers I instructed to check the places have confirmed it: We have to act today.