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FIRST SALVO A Zootopia fan fiction by Dan

Rated M+

(c) Zootopia 2016 by Disney Animated Studios (Artist ownership) Ayden Gull from BRO GULLS by Anti_Dev (Artist ownership) "I Will survive" by William Borba 2017 (Artist ownership) Will and Alex Gray, Sheath and Knife by Harmarist (Artist ownership) Anubis and the buried bone by Harmarist (Artist ownership) The K'zin by Lary Niven. (Artist ownership) Don Carnage Disney's TAIL SPIN

Chapter 16 The Growler part 1

ZPD First Precinct 6am March 5,2040

The front foyer was full of officers from both night and day shifts, standing around on the main floor or around the second story balcony above as they waited for Chief Wilde to come out. She was emphatic that everyone needed to be present for the announcement she wanted to make...

Nick had preceded her, finding a place to sit down as standing for a long length of time for him became a difficult thing to do. Old retired Officer Delgato's son Banjo notice Nick sitting on the wall of a decorative small garden and came with a chair..."Here you go Uncle Nick."

"Thank's Banjo." Nick replied. "How's your folks?"

"Still on the Outback Islands." Banjo replied. "I think they're considering having a place there. My mother says she's enjoying it. How you doing?"

"Day by day." Nick replied. "Truth be told...walking itself was becoming a chore to accomplish. Sleep, those edibles Judy made for him and her warm body were welcome pleasures every night now compared to the sharp pains cursing Nick at every turn. "Did it have to be coming on so soon?" He thought as he saw Judy coming down the stairs from the second floor with an officer beside her...

"Morning everyone." Judy began to say. "It took a little coordination but we finally have the whole Precinct here for this special announcement. Actually? It will be two announcements."

Judy gestured to Officer Amy Zorn, the female Cerbal cat. "As you all know? This is Officer Amy Zorn who's been with us a few weeks and currently she's handling traffic enforcement. Apparently? She loved the assignment so much that she requested to handle it for a while until we get another rookie. When Officer Zorn first came into my office as a fresh from the academy wet nose...she didn't take to well to the idea of being a Traffic Enforcement Officer....that's Meter Maid for all you old farts."

"For a long time I have held the Department record for the most parking tickets written in a single day...246 to be exact...by 4pm. Officer Zorn made a bet with me that she could write 247 tickets....before noon. I told her that if she could beat my record....and do it legally?" Judy snorted at Amy then turned back to the podium. "If?.....if she could do it legally? I would get on my paws and knees and kiss her feet. That....WAS.....the deal. Right officer wise tail?"

Amy snickered back. "That's right....Chief big mouth."

Judy cleared her throat..."Fellow officers? After careful verification? I can admit that my record has been broken to pieces quite efficiently. Officer Amy Zorn now holds the record for the most traffic tickets in a single shift....before noon. Two hundred Sixty Seven tickets total!"

The surrounding officers broke out clapping and cheering as Judy held out a shoulder patch embroidered with a red parking ticket and the number 267 in gold above it...

"I cede to the better mammal and a splendid rookie officer. Well done Amy!" Judy said as she puckered her lips...

"You better make them kisses real moist Chief." Amy snickered.

"You....did wash your feet before coming to work?" Judy asked.

"Oh noooooooooo..." Amy giggled back. "They're totally dirty and stinky. Plant them puckers good there Honey Bunny."

Judy got on her paws and knees and kissed both feet as if she was making out with them much to the roaring laughter of the Precinct! After which...Judy returned to the podium and called the rank and file to snap to attention!

"How dare you bunch of farm dirt grazers dare to laugh at your Chief! Judy snapped. "Would some one please wake up my husband so he can hear this next announcement? He's really been slacking off since he retired."

Banjo shook Nick awake as Judy gestured. "Banjo? Bring him up here please?" She asked.

"I can walk you know?" Nick complained as Banjo cradled him like a baby and carried him up to the podium. "Thanks." Nick said as Banjo put him down next to Judy. "Did some one at least catch pictures or videos of my wife kissing dirty cat feet?" Nick asked, which got a lot of chuckles and a shoulder punch from Judy...

"Sigh...." Judy began. "This is a difficult announcement for me to make given how much I love this Department and all you guys and gals who wear the uniform. Time sure did fly by fast as I alluded when I talked about Amy's accomplishment, she is so like me when I first came to "First Prinky" as a quote, un-quote "fresh". Well obviously, and one child later.....I'm not that fresh any more...I'm going to be turning my papers in for retirement a year from today so I can spend every day being mauled by this shifty fox."

Nick snatched the microphone and snickered..."She's a liar. I'm being held prisoner and she has a shock collar around my neck. She's planning to take over the city....help me?"

Judy rubbed Nick's head and kissed him. "Yes....sad to announce but...I really think I've done what I wanted to do....so much....since I was a kitten and there's nothing left to do but turn things over to younger and more capable paws so I can spend the rest of my life with the husband who's been my big rock for over 20 years. It's a year away I know? But.....I am going to miss the hell out of all of you guys and gals....a whole damn lot because....." Judy started to cry and she didn't have to say more. The tenderness of the officers as they came up to kiss and hug her were enough.

Sahara Square 6:30 am Darla and Jackson's apartment March 5,2040

Jackson stopped between cooking and ironing to pick up his smart phone and read the text message....

"Your Mom will retire from the force a year from now. Tell her how much you love her.....Dad."

Jackson brought up his mother's number and text'd....

"Congratulations on your coming retirement Mom...you earned it. I love you very much and always.....xxxxxxxxxxxxxx with lotsa "slobber" Jackie."

Darla came into the kitchen space and gave Jackson a cheek kiss..."Good morning." She said with a snuggle as Jackson reached into his pants pocket, whipped out 40 "zoo-bucks" and planted it in her paw...

"You didn't tell me you were so good with spades?" He snorted.

"You didn't ask." Darla replied. "Too busy fooling around to pay attention again like always." She said as she stood behind him and pulled lightly on his bunny ears. "What are you making?"

"Breaded Clam and Muscle for you and cream carrots, salmon and biscuits for me." Jackson replied as he went back to the stove while Darla got juice from the fridge. "My Mom's retiring a year from now."

"That's good....I mean that it's good for her and your father." Darla said as she leaned against the fridge. "What about your Dad? How's he doing?"

Jackson prepared Darla's plate and sighed..."He says it's starting to get painful when he walks. Tells me not to worry about it, tells me not to tell my mother because she'll start to worry then she'll call the Red Cross and cause a commotion. My mother wouldn't do that unless it got real serious." Jackson prepared his own plate then sat at the kitchen table..."Oh? I finished pressing your uniform. Our orders say we should report by noon today. How's the clam? I did it from an old family friend's recipe."

Darla smiled....it's great. Think you should have been a Mess Specialist and not a "Tronny". So what about Albert, Myler and Gilly?"

Jackson replied. "Gilly reported a week ago and Albert and Myler reported tow days ago. They said in port routine is pretty relaxed, in at 7am and out by 2:30pm unless you have duty. Four section duty with weekend duty. They asked if we looked over our arrival packages because if you haven't done so sufficiently? The ship's Master Chief will use us as chew toys."

Darla nodded back. I read over it when I was back home. I know where my shop is and I'm willing to give everyone a respectful pass but they're all otters, they're all male and I've been keeping myself in shape."

Jackson sighed..."Don't cause a riot on the first day?"

"I'm not intending to cause anything." Darla replied. "They just better keep their male dominance crap to a low level. Oh yeah....ship's going through an up-keep maintenance period so it's going to be a bit of a chaotic mess till they're done...which means there's a lot of work to do."

Jackson looked like he was going to flop off the chair..."I am so excited you know? I just want to get out and do something. Sitting in classes, going through boot camp....just isn't...."there", you know? I'm like....grrrrrrrr....must run in my family? My Mom....every day she's like that. She has this little "thing" she does before work. She jumps in front of the mirror, rubs her badge with her paw, does this "Super Wolf" glory pose....which I always chuckled at...and says..."Gonna make the world a better place." And off she goes at a hundred miles an hour."

Darla smiled at Jackson...."You got your own little "tick" or do you even see it? Before you go out the door? You always do this little "shoulder roll thing" like you're the baddest...."Bunbox"...on the planet."

Jackson smiled...."My mother always wanted me to be confident. She's the outgoing "get it done" side while my dad was the more philosophical, easy going side. One taught me to be aggressive while the other taught me to be "fox-ticullar" in the mind. Sheesh....I'm going to let my breakfast get cold."

Darla love touched Jackson on the nose..."I like the results. So what time are we going to report?"

"I think ten's ok?" Jackson replied. "Gilly said it'll take a week to get fully checked in and settled into the routine. I called my sponsor a few days ago and he sounds like a cool guy. Names Aiden Gull, he's a second class petty officer in ICERM division."

Darla replied. "Mine's second class welder Kipper. He sounds ok...I know..."Please don't start a riot on the first day?"

Jackson leaned over the table and gave Darla a nuzzle kiss on the tip of her snoot. "Mmmm....confidence booster."

"A two by four to the head works better." She giggled.

"So does going back to bed?" Jackson snickered.

ZNN Morning News 6:30 am March 5,2040

"This is the ZNN News minute, I'm Carla Cougar. Preperations continue this morning for the expected public courts martial of former Navy Commander William Callie on charges that he ordered the killing of a crew of a Kzinti fishing vessel last year in the Tundra straits. As expected, the trial has generated passionate views on both sides of the debate about Callie's actions. Yesterday two groups of counter-protestors stood off against each other outside the city hall of justice where the courts martial will be held. Our field correspondent Gary Gnu was in the midst of the demonstrations which stood on the verge of becoming combative...

Gary Gnu: The coming courts martial of Former Navy Commander William Callie drew the impassioned to the court house steps. One side calling Callie a cold blooded murderer who's actions could bring about a general war, the other calling Callie a Zootopian hero who's actions were payback for years of Kzinti aggression at sea...

William Gray: I have someone I deeply care about in the Navy and one of family members wants to join the Fleet Marines! I don't want them killed because some officer decided to get trigger happy on his own!

A Moose: When is enough going to be enough! He did what needs to be done! We need to go over there and bomb the snit out of those (beep)

William Gray: NO WAR FOR ANY REASON!

A Moose: Tuck your tail and go home you piece of snit coward! You're a disgrace to wolves!

Gary Gnu: If it hadn't been for the presence of the ZPD officers, some very big and imposing officers. We might have had a riot on our hands. One only wonders what will happen one way or the other as the courts martial of William Callie nears. This is Gary Gnu for ZNN.

Rain Forest District 6:30am March 5,2040 Home of Gordon and Grace Gray (Gray Wolves)

Alex saw Will on the news and grabbed his smart phone off his bed table....

Text: What the fluck Will? Saw you on the news....what the fluck?"

Alex lay pursing his lips and frowning for a few minutes until Will text'd back.

Text: What's wrong Alex?"

Text: Saw you on the news...."No war?"....what the hell?!"

Text: I don't want us in a war ok? That's just my feelings Alex.

Text: Oh? So you take Mom's side then? You don't want me in the Marines too?!

Text: I didn't say that Alex!

Text: Mom bitched out Uncle Chancy and she's upset I won't change my mind and here you are on television treating Commander Callie like a piece of snit and putting me down too!

Text: Alex...we have laws in Zootopia that have to be obey'd. I'm not putting you down!

Text: Laws? Yeah...like not flucking your little brother up his tail hole huh? How about that law.....mother flucker?!

Text: I'll talk to you when you're not upset.

Text: Yeah....like fluck you will!

Alex threw the smart phone back on the side table and lay frowning and cursing for a few minutes before he got out of bed and snatched the phone up again....

Text: Uncle Chance? We need to talk. I'm flucken pissed. Can I come see you this afternoon?

A few minutes later....Chance replied. "Of course kid. Come over this afternoon and I'll take all the arrows and bullets from your Mom."

Alex got dressed, snatched the Fleet Marine cap off his dresser and went down to get breakfast.

Downtown Zootopia 6:30am March 5,2040 Center of Naval Intelligence (CNI) aka "The Brick"

Rheana Lundgrin (Honey Badger) The Chief of Intelligence, came through the door of the information gathering and dissection department and met Sancho Ricardo (Yeah....it's Rick from Rick and Morty and he's a gray wolf) as he sat at his lap top with another technician beside him...

"Morning Rheana. You are looking especially ravaging today....and a little pissed off in the face which is typical for a honey badger." Ricardo said.

"You want to get fired, don't you?" Rheana snapped.

"Look tuts...you won't "fire" me because I am the best mammal you have, I produce, I make results...."

"He has his snit together." A much younger wolf blurted out which caused Rheana to have a fit...

"Who? Is this child? Why the hell is he in here? In a restricted area?" She demanded to know.

"This...happens to be my number one grandson Morty who just happens to be as smart as his old grandfather and like most of the young kids these days...he's a technical jargon junkie and.....he helped me to break most of the Kzin language because my dear supervisor.....Morty?"

"I have my snit....toooo-gether....boom!" The young tan and brown wolf replied.

Rheana sighed...."I do not know if I should call the authorities or just go right to the hatchet murder. So? Just what is this "shattering development you have for me?"

Rick showed her a piece of paper..."This? Is the first full translation of a Kzinti news broadcast we've deciphered from the radio intercepts we've captured. Supposedly? This comes from none other than the main mammal jamma himself. The Emperor of Kzin. The big cat everybody over there prays too, leaves offerings too, shouts some crazy chant too..."

Morty threw his hands skywards....'BANZAI! BANZAI! BANZAI! Seinaru niku b? o homemasu!"

"What...the hell did he just say?" Rheana asked.

"Oh...." Ricardo replied. "Praise to the holy cock or something. Not important as this from his majesty. Read it Morty. The kid is hooked on phonics like crack."

Morty cleared his throat....

"Watashitachi wa watashitachi no shudai no zan'nin'na satsujin ni fukaku fungai shite imasu. So no y?na k?d? wa h?fuku o hitsuy? to shimasu....."

Ricardo translated....

"We are deeply outraged by the brutal murdering of our subjects. Such actions require retribution."

Morty continued...

"Watashitachi wa watashitachi no shudai o mamori, watashitachi no teki o j?jika ni kakeru y?i ga aru"

Ricardo translated....

"We are prepared to defend our subjects and crucify our enemy."

Rheana shuddered...."Oh my Gawd they're going to attack us!

"Would you please calm down and not piss on my floor?" Ricardo said calmly. Morty? Continue?

Morty continued...

"Shikashi watashitachi no teki wa seijitsu-sa to k?d? no tadashi-sa o shimeshite imasu. Watashitachi no shudai no kono ihan ni taisuru kare no sekinin o shitatameru koto."

Ricardo translated....

"Our enemy however has shown honesty and forthrightness of conduct. admitting his responsibility for this violation of our subjects."

Morty continued...

"Kare no kaiji wa watashitachi no meiyo gensoku ni sotte imasu. Shitagatte, watashitachiha h?fuku o ukenai y? ni meijimasu. Watashitachi wa kekka ni watashitachi no nintai o tamochimasu. Kore ga watashitachi no shudai e no watashitachi no meireidesu."

Ricardo translated....

"His disclosure is in line with our principles of honor. Therefore we command no reprisals be taken. We will keep our patience upon the outcome. This is our command to our subjects."

"And....that's all." Ricardo said.

Rheana thought for a moment..."It's something. At least they believe we're not hiding anything."

Ricardo replied...."Just don't get too cocky there tuts. It's difficult to read them and anything they say. This could just be double talk while they get ready to come at us so...just because we might end up putting Callie on a stake and setting him on fire doesn't mean snit."

9:30am March 5,2040 Sandy Point Naval Installation Sahara Square

After getting registered with the base security office. Jackson and Darla drove across the base to the docks where they got their first look at some of the ships. As they turned a corner past a warehouse, they cam up close and personal with the stern of the Growler...

"Wow...and I thought from a distance it was big." Darla said. Of course to mammals the size of an otter and a Bunny-fox hybrid...the Growler would be a battleship. For size reference...a Zootopian Destroyer is about the side of a U.S. Aegis Cruiser, it had to be so large and so tall to accommodate mammals from rats and mice to Rhinos, Hippos and the occasional elephant who came to do upkeep and maintenance work when the ships were in port.

Darla and Jackson took a moment to absorb what to them was a steel monster bristling with weapons. From the back of the ship they saw the ASROC box launcher that fired both torpedoes and anti-submarine rockets. Behind that was the single barrel eight inch gun turret with the maw of the rifle'd cannon covered by a canvas cap with a silver star embroidered on it. On both the port and starboard sides were a pair of quadruple 40mm Boefer gun mounts used for anti-air and close in fighting. But at the moment the ship itself was covered in all kinds of things from air duct lines to air hoses, electrical lines, welding lines, plywood and scaffolding and the comings and goings of sailors and shipyard workers doing whatever the day required...

"Can I take your bag?" Jackson asked Darla.

"I got it." She replied. "I'm not helpless you know?" She said as she followed Jackson around and down the pier side of the ship where they got a good full view of the length up to where they crossed the brow to get on board...

Jackson stopped at the quarterdeck where he made his first little mistake which the officer of the deck reminded him....

"Hey there shipmate? Remember your training? You're supposed to salute the flag on the stern before you cross the bow? You can put down your sea bag you know?" The officer, a Gazelle, said with a pointing hoof.

"Sorry Sir." Jackson replied. "Just reporting aboard."

"The officer took Jackson and Darla's orders and looked them over. "Ok... Seaman Jackson for ICERM and Seaman Delaware for HREP. Go ahead and stand over here out of the way and I'll have the departments send up your sponsors."

It wasn't long before Darla's sponsor, a light brown male otter, showed up. "Welcome aboard Seaman Delaware. I'm Second class petty officer Kipper. Follow me and we'll get you settled in."

Darla patted Jackson on the arm. "See you after work. I'll meet you at the end of the brow if I don't have duty."

Jackson watched Darla follow the second class into the ship and not soon after a big....a really big in Jackson's eyes....gray and white seagull showed up....

"You must be Seaman Wilde?" The Gull said smiling.

"Yes....Jackson." Jackson said as he put his paw out. "You're Ayden?"

"Yeah...welcome aboard." Ayden said cheerfully. "We'll get you settled into your berthing space before we start going around to the shop and getting you checked in on board. Follow me."

Jackson had only met a few gulls in his time. They were rare in the society, among the smallest numbers in terms of species and they were rarely anywhere except on the beaches of Savanna Central and to see one up close and even more amazing to see one so "gunned out" (built) as Ayden was...was for Jackson, a curiosity as they walked through the compartments...

"So you understand the "bulls eyes" don't you?" Ayden asked.

"Yes." Jackson replied. "Right now we're on the deck below the main deck, the forward frame is 100, We're left of the center line and this is a passageway."

"Cool." Ayden replied. "You shouldn't have a problem getting used to where things are quick. So where you from Jackson? You want me to call you Jackson?"

"Jackie's ok." Jackson replied. "I'm from downtown. I guess you're from Savanna?"

"Yup." Ayden replied as he stopped at a ladder way. "Ok? General Quarters. Where and how do you go?"

"Up and forward, starboard. Down and aft, Port." Jackson replied. "Big mammals on the outboard ladders, medium and small mammals on the inboard ladders."

"Good!" Ayden said. "I like you already!" He and Jackson went down the ladders and entered into a berthing space. "This is your berthing compartment. ICERM Medium and small mammals space "2-80-0-L" " Ayden said as he led Jackson through the maze of three stacked sleeping "racks" until he came to one close to the deck that was tucked away in a corner....

"And here is your rack. You get a "coffin locker"." Ayden said with a gesture. "I already have sheets and pillows laid out of you."

Jackson gave Ayden a questioning look. "Coffin is right. Wow...."

"Space is premium aboard ships Jackie, trust me, even the mice and rodents have racks proportional to this size....no one gets more creature comforts than anyone else." Ayden said. "Take a little time to get your stuff inside, the top of the rack opens up and there's compartments inside for you to put everything. After you're done...I'll take you up to the ICERM shop and we'll start checking you in."

Jackson replied. "Sweet! Thanks Ayden."

"Oh by the way?" Ayden asked. "How are you with really big needles?"

9:30am March 5,2040 The Executive Building Downtown

"That is the first full translation of anything coming from Kzin Mister Mayor." Rheana said as she sat down after handing Mayor Leo the information file...

"A strange and interesting language." Cesar said as he studied the paperwork. "And this is their leader?"

"He is the Imperial sovereign." Rheana replied. "He's a sort of spiritual and lightening point head of state but we surmise that the power is actually in the hands of what's called the Batafuku or a Prime Minister / Dictator at the head of a national congress...I think it's a representative body called "The Diet" The "Batafuku" however holds all the reigns of state but he must answer to his imperial majesty."

Cesar noted one continuous phrase. "They keep referring to Zootopia as their enemy."

"We've been learning that we can't really put words into their mouths a hundred percent Sir." Rheana replied. "It may be used for local consumption purposes, propaganda. My chief intel officer says they use that commonly with almost every nation they trade with. They're very defensive of their culture Sir so they view everyone with suspicion and hostility."

Mayor Leo replied. "And according to Emeritus Mandemous we Zootopians are looked upon with special contempt...perverts to be butchered without mercy."

Rheana sighed..."Sir? Everything we do will involve risk where the Kzinti are concerned but we can not prejudice our justice system to appease any foreign state. We must make sure that Commander Callie is treated with the dignity our laws demand. We must at all cost avoid the look that we made a judgment for political sake even if the result brings the Kzinti down upon us."

Cesar nodded. "Then you must double your efforts to learn as much as possible about their society so we can find a chink in their armor. We have got to make contact with some one. There must be one Kzinti in the whole population that is as fearful of war as we are...they can't all be savage predators. You will try your best?"

Rheana replied. "Always Sir. Absolutely."

10am March 5, 2040 ZNDG 3 Growler Sandy Point Naval Station

After getting his things into his coffin locker, Jackson followed Ayden back up the ladder from the ICERM berthing, down the main passageway going towards the stern of the ship and into the ICERM shop where some "Two Hump Shakur" was playing over a pair of speakers....

"Now let me welcome everybody to the Wild Wild West...A state that's untouchable like Nessy Ness....The track hits your eardrum like a slug to your chest....Pack a vest for your Jimmy in the city of sex...We in that Savanna State where the bomb-ass hay be....The state where you never find a dance floor empty....And pimps be on a mission for them greens......"

Gilly slipped off a chair and walked up giving Jackson a slap on the arm. "Finally showed up?" He said cheerfully. "Did he get the big needle yet?" Gilly asked Ayden.

"Not yet." Ayden said smiling.

"What the hell is "the big needle?" Jackson asked.

"You'll find out soon enough." Ayden said as he showed Jackson around the shop. There were rows of red tool boxes, portable back packs and belt pouches, places set up where Mice and rats were busy doing work on electrical boxes or circuit cards. Obviously Albert already found his nitch, sitting at a mouse sized table with a computer on it with stacks of mouse sized paper which he was grabbing, punching keys, signing and putting into another pile..."

"Hey Albert!" Jackson called out.

"Talk later Jackie!" Albert replied. "I'm in my zone and I don't want to lose it!" Albert spun around in his chair and pointed to Ayden. "Big needle yet PO2?"

Ayden answered. "Nope."

Albert replied. "Sucks to be you Jackie."

Jackson stomped a foot..."What the hell is with this needle thing?!"

"You'll get it soon enough." Ayden said smirking. "Let's see the Chief." Ayden coaxed Jackson to a door and Ayden knocked on it. "Chief? Seaman Wilde is here for check in?"

A reindeer with a blonde head tuft dressed in Khaki opened the door. "Come on in Seaman. Did he get the big needle?"

"Nope." Ayden replied.

"Don't worry. It won't hurt.....much." The reindeer said as he showed Jackson a chair. "I'm ESPC(Electronic Specialist Chief Petty Officer) Fireball, welcome to the Growler and the fleet Wilde. So where you from?"

Jackson replied. "Downtown. And you're probably from Tundra-Town Chief?"

"Good guess." Fireball replied. "I looked at your record in advance. Good performance, good attitude, good drive. I get the feeling you need to be challenged or you'll get board."

"I came to work and learn." Jackson replied.

"Good." Fireball replied. "Because this is a good ship with a good crew with a bust hump Commanding Officer and a driver Master Chief. You'll get what you want for sure. You'll meet the skipper and the master during indoc class. I'm not a hard mammal to get along with so long as you do three things right...

Number 1. You report on time and if you can't report on time? You make it known that you can't and why. Honesty will always get you out of trouble...unless you end up out in town locked up? Then you're screwed because the Master Chief will kill you before you even see the Captain.

Number 2: Clean and neat appearance when you come in, when you show up for your watches and where you live. Wallow muddy pigs on this ship will not be tolerated. If you want to know what being a pet in a pet wash feels like? Be a dirt bag.

Number 3: You meet your training commitments. We hold the record for the fastest rank promotions and training qualification completions fleet wide, Captain is big on expertise and education. You thinking about college while you're here? You run a request chit for a college class and the Captain will approve it. We have a list of classes at Sahara University that are tailored to "our" specialty, some to prepare you for higher rank, and a few electives to make sure that when you leave the fleet you'll have more than one skill set to fall back on.

Fireball leaned forwards in his chair. "I want you to stick to Petty Officer Ayden like glue. By the time he rolls out of here? We're going to see some bigger stripes on those arms of yours. Be an asset to me Wilde, not a pain in my rump and we'll get along just fine. You'll find this crew works hard and parties a little crazy. Don't be part of the "too crazy" bunch ok?"

Jackson perked up. "I'm ready Chief!"

"Spunk on a bunny, I like that....wait a second?" Fireball wondered. "Open your mouth?"

Jackson gave Fireball a nice mouth gape.

"Flat teeth and fangs?" Fireball said. "So you're a hybrid?"

"Part Bunny and Fox Chief." Jackson said proudly. "One part is all legs and cunning, the other is all crafty and ingenious."

Fireball smiled. "Might come on handy if we need a "scrounger". Go on with Petty Officer Ayden and get checked in. And Wilde?"

"Yes Chief?" Jackson replied.

"Don't clench your rump when the big needle comes out. It'll make the shot hurt worse." Fireball snickered.

Jackson came out of the office and saw Ayden waving a piece of paper in his hand. "We'll get this all done by the end of the work day but the first thing we need to do is go to the sick bay to see Doc Shepherd."

Ayden took Jackson to the sick bay where he gave the check in sheet to a female bunny named "Laciter" who was Shepherd's lead assistant...

"Ok Seaman Wilde." Laciter said with a wave. "Follow me into the examination room please?"

Jackson followed the female bunny into the small examination room which was filled with the standard medical equipment and an examination table..."Strip down for me please? This is just a base line examination so we have a record of your condition when you arrived for duty to compare to your departure when you transfer."

Jackson did what he was told and removed all his clothes, allowing Laciter to paw him, take measurements and then the uncomfortable "snap" of a rubber glove caused Jackson to sigh...."let me guess?"

"Trust me Seaman." Laciter replied. "I'm not enthused every time I have to do this so just relax and try not to break the glass if you sing out like Gazelle? At least you're not a bigger mammal....those I really hate to do this too."

Jackson leaned against the examination table and felt the uncomfortable invasion of his tail hole..."While you're in there? See if you can find my baby pacifier? I left it in there somewhere."

Laciter gave him a smack off the head. "I'm done smart hump. Just stay undressed for the Doctor ok?" The female bunny said as she finished her documentation and walked out.

Jackson sat on the exam table and waited for a while until Doctor Shepherd, a Lieutenant Commander (A pig) walked in..."Welcome Mister Wilde. I imagine you've heard a ton of things about "The Big Needle" before you came here?"

"More than I care to wonder about." Jackson replied. "What is it?"

"Huh....all these mammals are lying to you. It's not a big needle at all, just a very important medicine shot which covers rabies, distemper, fleas, ticks and other problems we Mammals tend to pick up during our time in the fleet. I will not lie to you that the shot will make you feel a little sick for a while and you'll feel like your rump has a softball in it but trust me. It's for your own good."

Shepherd gestured to Jackson. "Now please come over here." The Doctor said as he pointed to a round bar that hung down from the ceiling. He pulled out a step box so Jackson could get up to put his paws around the bar...

"Now.....this is very important Seaman Wilde....I need you to lift your left leg to the side and lift it high up. I need to get this needle in the right spot and I can't afford a do over."

"All this just to get a shot?" Jackson asked.

"Come on Seaman Wilde. We have to get this right." Shepherd said. Jackson did what he was asked and listened as the Doctor prepared the shot...

"Hey Doc?" Jackson asked as he practically hung from the bar with nothing on. "What's this shot for.....?" He looked back as he heard Shepherd walking forwards and caught site of the huge needle in his hoof hand...

And just as quick....Jackson fainted off the box he was standing on and landed softly onto the padding covering the deck. With the assistance of Laciter, Shepherd changed out the giant joke needle for a very thin and small butterfly needle and delivered the health shot in a place where if Jackson had not been passed out....he surely would have probably fought like hell not to be shot by any sized needle!

Moments later....Jackson woke up in a chair with Ayden waving his feathered hand before his face. "You alright?" Ayden asked.

"Did he shoot me with that monster needle? I didn't feel it if he did." Jackson stood up and snorted. "I don't feel a softball in my butt?"

Ayden nodded back. "If you didn't then? You're going to feel it by tomorrow. Trust me....the shot's going to put you in bed for at least a day."

Suddenly...Jackson's cell phone chimed with a text message.....

Darla: Jackie? What the hell is this stupid shot with the big needle? Everyone keeps talking about it!"

Ayden looked at the text and smiled. "If I were you? I wouldn't tell her. The shot for females is a lot worse."

Jackson Text'd Darla back....

Jackson: I don't know. Not there yet.

"She is going to absolutely kill me for lying to her." Jackson said as he followed Ayden through the passageways.

"Who's she? Your girl?" Ayden asked.

"Yes." Jackson replied with a smile. "When she told me she'd be on the Growler, I was like "what a relief."

Ayden gestured..."Better be careful about romantic attachments. You'll hear it from the Captain during indoc class. Girlfriend and boyfriend theft is a common thing, so too are the stupid fist fights that break out over jealously spats. You can find yourself in trouble really quick so it's best that on duty, you always be professional with each other and watch out for smooth talkers."

Jackson smiled back. "I was educated by smooth talkers. I was wanting to ask you if all gulls are as built up as you."

"Not too many." Ayden replied. "I've been pushing weights since I was like ten. I grew up a big blockhead thinking my bulk was going to get me places. Now my little brother Bailey? Now there's a gull who's going to be doing big things. He may be a stick next to me but he's got brain muscle. I love him like this..( Ayden crosses his feather fingers) We're super tight."

Ayden looked at his smart phone. "We'll go to lunch then finish up the check in sheet...sound cool?"

"Yeah..." Jackson replied.

Noon March 5, 2040 Rock Island Arsenal Brig

William Callie stood with his arms behind his back brooding as his defense counsel Homer Freizling (A raccoon) explained his situation...

"If you plead guilty Sir? You would be looking at a five year prison sentence with parole for good conduct. If you chose to fight the charges? You would be looking at twenty strait with no parole." Freizling said.

"Guilty for what? For protecting my ship? My crew? Taking on those...to me? It was too much a risk. Given the behavior of their armed forces, the stories we know from history? It was an unacceptable risk."

Homer waved a paw...."Sir? You said there was enemy fire. You reported to the Tujundra that you came under fire yet your own watch standers counter your account of events. In my opinion Commander, your in a position which can not be successfully defended."

"Then at least I will have the public forum to plead my case to the citizens. Those were "their" children under my command and I would not risk their lives nor the life of my ship on the idiotic hope that the Kzinti civilian is any different from the bastards who've been butchering our citizens for the past 80 years without one single reprisal! They are going to come for us sooner or later, they're just biding their damn time. My career be damned but not my country!"

"You'll still have the opportunity to plead your case even if you accept guilt Commander." Freizling yelped. "Why should you rot in prison for twenty years?"

Callie snatched up Freizling and shook him...."Are you my lawyer or not?!" Callie snarled....till he realized he had the poor Raccoon almost in his mouth....

"Sigh....I'm sorry Mister Freizling. I'm watching fifteen years of my career going under water because I refused to give an inch for the safety of my crew and my ship. That's all you'll have to go on."

Freizling patted Callie's knee..."I will make the best of it. Perhaps you're right? Perhaps the citizens will intervene on your behalf?"

1pm March 5, 2040 Camp Quanaco Marine Base Savanna Central

"WHAP!" ...."WHAP! WHAP! WHAP!.....WHAP!"

Alex punched and kicked like Chancy had been teaching him as his uncle stood wearing padded guards and giving his younger nephew an occasional hard face slap to keep him swinging....

"Ok Alex!" Chancy said as he held his arms up and watched as Alex bent down with slobber dripping off his tongue as he panted hard from the work out. "Did that drive the pissy attitude out of you?" Chancy asked as Alex flopped on the floor...

"Yeah....a little" Alex replied. "I needed that. I needed to hit something before I swung on some one. Is my Mom still screaming at you Uncle?"

Chancy sat on the grass..."No. She called me last night to say sorry. We've been like that since we were cubs. Your Mom has always been super emotional, nice one second and a high speed hellion the next. Did she tell you once that I decked your Dad outside the house?"

Alex gasped..."No way!"

"Yeah." Chancy replied. "Your Dad was drunk, I was drunk, your Dad called your Mom a "dumb bitch" and "WHAM!" Knocked out three of his teeth, ended up in a feral four legged fight in the front lawn, got thrown in jail, got separated to different jails after we went at it again. We were young and stupid. When I came back to the house after bail got posted? You Mom laid me out with a haymaker on the living room floor."

Alex sighed..."She should never have screamed at you. It's not going to change anything, I'm going into the Marines. She just has to suck it up just like my pussy ass faggot brother."

Chancy gave Alex a real hard slap in the snoot! "Don't you EVER say that about your older brother! Not like that Alex!"

"You didn't see him on the news Uncle!" Alex replied as he rubbed his snoot. "He was on the news bad mouthing Commander Callie and saying "No war for any reason!" You gonna say that's not being a pussy?"

"When you realize that you have "skin" in the game Alex? You'll hope there's no war. You'll pray to gawd there's no war. You might even feel so scared and worried that the best solution to you is no damn war for any reason. Well you brother has "skin" in the game as much as you do. Will just chooses to react in one way and you in another....nothing wrong with that."

Chancy patted Alex on the shoulder..."As for your mom? She has skin in the game too...like it or not? You are her baby. You still have a face that would look cute to her in a diaper."

"Uncle! I'm almost sixteen for claws and paws sake! I am so sick of being look on as "the family baby" who needs to be coddled and sheltered from a stupid knee scrape! Will treated me like that! How can I make her understand? I really need this...I need to be a Marine to prove to myself that I can do it! That I can take care of myself for once...that.....that I don't need anyone to coddle me.... especially Will! I still can't believe he said all that stuff."

"Do you think Callie was right in what he did?" Chancy asked.

"He said he was protecting his ship and his crew. How do we know those Kzinti wouldn't have gone crazy once they got on board? The only thing big enough to take them on would have been tigers or polar bears..." Alex replied.

"Ok...forget that the ship is loaded with small arms. I asked you if you think Callie did right by violating the law? By possibly lying about an attack that didn't happen? Was that right?" Chancy asked.

"No...." Alex replied. "If he did lie about being attacked then yeah...he was wrong. But still..."

"Alex?" Chancy replied. "Don't go pulling word ninjutsu on me? In the case where Callie may have lied? Then Will has valid complaints. Is he still a coward?"

Alex thought...."No....he's not Uncle."

Chancy smiled and rubbed Alex's head tuft. "I think you need to get out more frustrations. Come on kid...on your feet."

1pm March 5, 2040 ZNDG 3 Growler Sandy Point Naval Station

Ayden stopped in the passage way after checking Jackson in with the ship's records and pay department (Disbursing) looked Jackson in the face..."How are you feeling?"

"Fine." Jackson replied. "Did you say that by tomorrow I'll be in bed?"

"You would be in your rack but since you live out in town? I'll give you the number to call and voice muster with the Chief. Trust me...you are going to feel completely suck hump by the morning."

"So.....this shot covers Rabies, fleas, worms, ring worms, ticks, mites....all that in one shot?" Jackson asked as they walked through the ship.

"Yeah....it just sucks for a day to have the side effects but that's to help your immunity system buck up against our common shipboard allictions. Which reminds me Jackson? Do you like to "Sew the wild oats?"

Jackson replied. "Huh?"

Ayden replied..."When we go to some foreign ports? Are you going to be looking to get laid with strange fur?"

"No." Jackson snorted. "Prostitution is prostitution. It's wrong. Besides, I have a girlfriend. I wouldn't be that stupid or needy."

"Good." Ayden replied. "Stay out of the "drippy dicky unhappy line" after in port visits. Old Doc Shepherd says it gives him great practice cleaning his shotgun and rifle collection."

Jackson wondered..."Drippy dicky?"

"Didn't pay attention in school for sex education? Green leak? The Clap? Rusty faucet? Sexually Transmitted Diseases? Take my advice...don't act like some of these young sailors the first time we go to Gala-Pagos or the Outbacks. "Stumping strange hump" can get you in big trouble. You'll find out that though the Navy is a professional organization? We're not exactly..."morally upstanding" in a few corners."

"I'm not that shocked." Jackson replied as he waved his smart phone. "There's this thing called "Fur Tube" remember?"

"That's another thing." Ayden said. "I'll go over the camera and phone policy with you. There's things you can take pictures of on board and things you can't. That's where we're going next...the security office. Your personal phone will get a ship's serial number and a file scan and no...you can't back out of the scan. You'll also get a ship registered phone for professional use only and onboard communications. You can have porn on your phone but none on the ship phone and it better be tasteful porn and not stuff like "cub porn" or really sick stuff, that will get you in the brig and busted. They'll explain it all to you."

Jackson stopped..."Can I delete the pics of my girl?"

"Go ahead." Ayden replied. "Not going to help you because the file still exists in your phone even if you delete it. Relax though...the mammals in the security office are monitored all the time and if they stray? The penalties on them will be super harsh. She's safe. If a special picture pops up? There's censoring programs that will cover her up."

Ayden stopped at the security door..."Oh yeah...you're going to be piss tested too. You do any stuff?"

"Oh hell no." Jackson replied. "My parents are both cops, I wasn't that stupid. But um....I'm kinda shy when it comes to pissing with people watching."

"Can't help you there brother." Ayden replied. "Just relax. They have to watch to catch cheaters. You should see the ways some try to beat the urinalysis, pretty ingenious....which is why you wear nothing when you do it."

Jackson cringed...."Oh great! Another anal probe?"

"Get used to it." Ayden said sympathetically.

2pm March 5, 2040 Wilde House, Downtown

Judy walked into Nick's study to see him looking over a large set of blueprints for a large plastic model of the Growler he'd bought at "Hoofy Hobby" on his way back home after spending a day at the Precinct...

"That's a nice model." Judy said smiling. "Should keep you busy for a month or two."

Nick giggled...."I got a text from our poor son. He just suffered through a urinalysis screening. Guess we failed a little bit in the boldness department."

Judy shook her head..."Please tell me he didn't piss on some Chief?"

"No....he's fine." Nick replied. "He says he'll probably spend the next twelve hours on a toilet getting all the water he had to drink out of his system. As for the rest of his first day, he's doing good except he had this health shot and the effects are starting to show up. He and Darla are going to spend tomorrow in bed feeling absolutely miserable...then again? They're together so how miserable is that?"

"Did my announcement today make you happy?" Judy asked as she wrapped an arm around Nick's shoulders...

"Every day with you makes me happy." Nick replied. "Boy...that sounded so "Bucky Bunch" didn't it? "Mike? Bobby blew up the gas station down the street again. I'll talk to him Carol. Me and the Misses raised a good bunch of little terrorists."

Judy giggled..."That's not our son."

"No?" Nick replied. "Damn....failed again!"

"Nick!" Judy yelped. "But seriously? What if we did decide to move to Aiden after I retired? Sold the house here and bought Fen Fen's cottage if he'd sell it? Would you like to live there?"

"We'd have to put it up to Fen Fen but I can't see why he'd say no." Nick replied. "So five of your youngest brothers are joining the Fleet Marines?"

"That's what my mother says....oh she is cross with them. They're her last litter and she calls them the "Gang of five" because they were absolute little hell raisers growing up but maybe because she spoiled them to death? Any way...they just up and decided..."Hey! Let's join the Marines and not tell Mom and Dad! Yee haw! That caused all kinds of grief."

"And in the end?" Nick asked.

They won." Judy replied. "Owen's always been able to sweet talk my mother to avoid getting his butt beaten....most of the time. They'll be in basic training by August."

"They took after you." Nick snickered. He then turned and wrapped his arms around Judy. "How about later on? We go to the beach in Savanna Central? Take a bottle of wine, a blanket? We haven't done that in a while?"

"Giggles...." Judy chuckled as she rubbed Nick's snoot..."You are such a romantic little devil."

"All for you my fuzzy chocolate butter cup." Nick replied as he nuzzled and nipped at his wife's neck...."Yum,yum,yum....gonna eat you up!"

2:30pm March 5, 2040 Quanaco Marine Base

Alex was going to kill his uncle. The thought that the older wolf's exposed nut sack was in prime position for a "Pup Warner" field goal was a possible remedy for the place Chancy had put the young wolf in...naked and surrounded by a Lupine meat market of showering "devil dogs"...

"What's wrong Alex?" Chancy asked as he passed a bottle of dog shampoo to the nervous and semi-cowarding "mid-ling". "Get to washing up there kid?"

"I'd like to "wash" you..." Alex snorted....then smiled to the other Marines around him as he took deep breathes and did his best not to "gaze" at anyone's "sausage pack".

"Hey Guns?!" Yelped a Marine down the line of showers. "Who's the bottle feeder?"

Alex sighed and threw a middle paw finger out as he tried to get lathered up so he could get the hell out of dodge...

"Woe! Spunky little guy." The deep gray colored Wolf Marine remarked as he walked over....

"Don't come over here! Fluck!" Alex screamed to himself. "Sheesh dude! Space!" He yelped at the big bulky Wolf looking down on him. "What? Am I cute?" Alex snorted.

Chancy wasn't helping at all. He wrapped his arm around Alex's shoulders and pulled him close to his own soaking wet body..."This is my nephew Alex Gray. He's going to be a Marine..."

"You're going to kiss the floor because I'm getting ready to sock your nuts!" Alex snapped to himself. He quickly put on his best face and waved at the larger wolf..."Hi! You serve with my Unk?"

"Name's Oats Alex....Corperal Wess Oats. I'm a grenadier in Gunny's platoon." Oats put his paw out for Alex to shake and the smaller wolf snickered...

"Well your nuts says you don't measure up." Alex blurted!

Chancy's mouth flew open and he gave Alex a smack off the head! "Watch your mouth you little snit!"

Oats laughed...."OH MY GAWD! (laughter) This kid has a sack of steel! Takes after you for sure Guns!"

"If he lives long enough." Chancy snorted.

Another big wolf came up and offered his paw..."I'm Sargent Victor Snicks kid. I handle the Browning Auto Rifle."

"Well you sure don't handle your pecker." Alex yelped back. "Who's side did you get that weasel from?"

Chancy threatened to give Alex a worse whipping until Snicks waved a paw... "He's cool meat there guns! So tell me Alex? Any idea what you want to strike for in the Corps?"

Alex stood confidently..."I wanna go Raider! Watching them on Fur Tube gives me a flucken rock hard on!"

Chancy looked like he was about to launch to the moon as Alex struck up a conversation with Snicks, Oats and another Corporal in the platoon named Marsh Mayhews. After enduring ten minutes worth of back and forth...Chancy coaxed Alex off to far corner of the shower room...

"Think you're pretty smart hump there?" Chancy snorted.

Alex gestured to his own crotch. "You were trying to test me Unk...see? No hard on? That's why you dragged me in there to begin with? I was so ready to nail your nuts and put you on the floor for trick flucking me like that."

"Just had to see if you could control yourself." Chancy replied. "I'm very pleased."

"Just couldn't find a Will look-a-like huh?" Alex snickered.

Chancy snorted and pointed..."Get yourself dried off? And DON'T tell you mother about this "little test". She found out you showered with a bunch of grown naked wolves and she'll really kick my tail to snit."

"Hmph....none of them were my type any way." Alex said with a chuckle which got him a boot in the butt. "Get moving kid!" Chancy snapped.

Alex grabbed his towel and sat rubbing his head. "So what's next Uncle? Dinner? Let me cook?"

Chancy snorted. "You cook? What? Alpo from an MRE?"

"That really hurt." Alex replied. "I can cook! Just give me the kitchen? How hard can cooking be with a smart phone?"

3:30pm March 5, 2040 Jackson and Darla's apartment

Jackson came through the door and went for the first chair he could sit in. No one was kidding about the effect the medical shot was going to have. A tooth drill would be better at this moment than the hurting joints, the dry mouth, the throbbing temples, the sensation of a temperature and the endless sneezing....

Darla didn't care about anything...she dropped Albert and Myler on the kitchen table and was undressed by the time she entered the bathroom to run the water in the Japanese style Ofuno tub..."Just kill and quarter me already...please?" She moaned as she sat on the toilet holding her head in her hands...."Oh my Gawd Jackie.....this......this sucks."

Jackson laid his head on the kitchen table for a moment and felt Albert giving him a gentle petting..."It just lasts a day. You guys just get in bed and sleep. They gave us the day off to watch over you."

Jackson heard Darla flop into the bath and he stumbled to the bathroom ditching clothing as he hobbled to the doorway..."Got room for me too?" He asked. He stopped to look at a text on his smart phone...

Judy: Hi honey...how you feeling?

Jackson: Like rump...ugh....Mom, don't get this shot!

Judy: Want us to drive over?

Jackson: Nah...we have friends here. XXXXXXXX.....luv you.

Judy: Get some rest.

Darla rested her head on the lip of the ofuno tub..."Are you coming in to console me or what?" She asked.

"I don't know." Jackson replied. "There's not a spot on my body that doesn't hurt right now."

Darla snorted. "Alex Bore was right. Vaccination is a tool of evil from the pit of hell and smokey back rooms. Only a sadist would hit us with so many "cure alls" at once."

Jackson walked up and gave Darla a kiss..."I love it when you complain? You have a complaint face that melts sloths."

"Shut up and get in here?" She snorted back. "I'm in no mood for joking around right now."

Jackson pulled himself up and over the lip and flopped into the hot water... "Woe! That's way too hot!" He snapped as he almost launched himself back out of the tub only to wince from the painful shots to his joints...."Ouch! Ow, ow,ow...."

"Pussy." Darla snickered. "I'm feeling a little better. Remember that I'm just one big muscle so everything hurts!

Jackson wrapped an arm around Darla's shoulders and gave her a kiss..."How was your first day? Besides the rump kicking shot?"

"How could you lie to me?!" Darla yelped!

"I was told the female shots are like ten times worse where they have to give them so I was sworn to silence....otherwise you might have tried to kick some teeth out." Jackson said defensively...."Other than that and the embarrassing piss test...can you believe it?! They had steps on how we had to piss! Steps!"

"You're easy!" Darla snorted. "You don't have a vagina and trust me? You want to talk stupid steps? I don't right now so Shut......the.....fluck.....up?" Darla snatched her head with her paws...."Ugh....head rush pains? Oh Gawd this just sucks!"

Jackson pulled her to his chest..."I can make it better for you...promise."

"You should quit lying while you're ahead." Darla snickered.

3:40pm March 5, 2040 Gilly's apartment

Author's note: If have never seen "Sheath and Knife" with Alex and Will, you can google it or find it on "Yaoihaven" or "my reading manga"

Gilly placed a tall glass of water in front of Will Gray..."You've been wringing your paws over this for weeks Will? It's not going to just resolve itself so you need to bring it out. How else can I be of any help?"

Will wiped his eyes with his paw fingers..."And if I tell you? What then? Will you honestly not leave me Gil? No matter what I say?"

"What the heck have I said now for the past how many weeks?" The bunny said as he threw his arms out to the side. "What is it Will? Are you hard of hearing? I will NOT leave you! I mean...how bad can this be?" Gilly asked as he stood cocking his head to one side..."You don't have to give me a huge speech...."

"Incest." Will chirped out.

Gilly didn't say anything for a moment but then he chirped out...."Oh kay.... I asked for a simple description...Were you? A victim?"

Will shook his head..."My little brother was the victim."

Gilly took a deep breath...."Alex? Wow...." Gilly waited a moment then asked...."How did it happen? I mean....did you force Alex to do it?"

"No....! No....no I would never...never hurt Alex like that! We've always been dead close to each other since he was born, I love him! I love him and I didn't want it to be "this" kind of love...."

Gilly played with his long ears..."How long did it go on?"

"Three years." Will replied. "I tried to stop before it got....Gill? You have to understand....I tried so hard to stop myself...." Will suddenly flopped off his chair. "Oh my gawd I'm gonna be sick..."

Gilly followed the fast breathing wolf to the bathroom where he went prostrate in front of the toilet and lost his lunch..."My chest is so tight...."gasping"...."

"You're having a panic attack Will..." Gilly said calmly as he held Will's shoulders..."Lie down on your back..."

"I'm.....I'm a sick freak." Will yelped.

"Will you please lie down and stop it!" Gilly begged. "Lie down Will!"

Minutes later......

Will sat up with Gilly rubbing his back..."There you go...I'm right here." The bunny said softly over and over until he gave the lightly sobbing wolf a gentle kiss on the neck..."I'm going no where Will....trust me....We'll get through this."

It took a little coaxing but Gilly finally got Will back into the living room where he sat sipping the glass of water and feeling better..."Ugh....that was no pleasant at all." Will said as he rubbed his head.

"Do you want to stop?" Gilly asked.

"No." Will replied. "It's time I got this snit in the open and faced it. You promise you won't leave me? You won't tell anyone?"

Gilly replied. "Well if you're a rabid cub-o-phile rapist? Obviously I will. Are you a rabid cub-o-phile rapist?

"Like fluck I am." Will replied. "No."

Gilly took a seat on the couch and wrapped an arm around Will's arm. "So?...How did this start with Alex? I mean you said you didn't force him into it. How far did it go?"

"Sigh.....anal sex." Will replied. "I don't know when it actually began? I mean, Alex and me are....or maybe once were....tight as a knot? Oh....that sounded sick. Maybe swimming naked together was the trigger point? When he was twelve , I used to home school him a lot and we took a break to go swimming in the lake near the house and we fooled around, pulled each other's swim trunks off, you know....innocent stuff? Then we were sleeping on the grass on the shore together and.....Alex began to grab my junk and snuggle me. I believe it was innocent, I never thought that's what Alex intended to do.... Then I got a hard on..."

Will got off the couch and paced around...."I started to rub his paw on my... I mean I was using him to masterbate me....then I realized..."Oh fluck!" and I threw him off and just blew up at him!"

"Sigh....That's how it started...I started seeing Alex sexually. It just got worse from there. I tried anything....avoiding him only made me upset, started to make him confused then upset then he began to hate me so I tried turning to looking at cub porn on the internet to get off and get Alex out of my head..."

Will started to breath fast again...."And then I left my computer open and Alex found my website....and then I walked in on him in his room and he was naked and had a sharpie stuck up his tail hole...."

Will flopped into a sofa chair and sobbed...."I'm a flucking monster! I'm better off flucken dead!"

Gill leaped off the couch and shook Will hard, which for a bunny on a grown wolf took a little strength...."Cut that snit out right now damn you! LOOK AT ME WILL!"

Will couldn't....he turned his head to the side so Gilly slapped him hard on the snoot! "GAWD DAMN YOU WILLIAM GRAY....LOOK AT ME!"

Will looked at Gilly as the bunny looked at him with tears rolling down his eyes...."Will? Did you rape Alex?"

"I.....I was his brother." Will replied sobbing.

"Did you....rape him?" Gilly asked again.

"No....." Will replied. "No....I didn't force him into it....but he's my little brother Gilly! I'm supposed to protect him from that snit! I'm not supposed to screw my own brother!"

Gill grabbed Will's jowls...."Listen to me? If you didn't force Alex into it or raped him then we'll get through this....I'm going to help you get over this Will because that's what friends do....that's what a lover does for his love. And damn it William Gray? I love you....you gorgeous emotional lump of soft fur!"

Will shook...."You won't leave me?"

"Hell flucken no!" Gilly replied as he slowly pulled the bigger mammal into a hug...."Hell flucken no...you're my prize catch Will. I'd be so stupid to throw you back in the ocean. Besides....a friend of mine always says..."Every life is worth fighting for."

Will sniffled..."Must be one hell of a friend."

"Fuck yeah he is." Gilly replied as he went nose to nose with his upset lupine love...."Mmmm...how about a bubble bath? Does that sound nice?"

"Yes..." Will replied with a light smile.

6pm March 5, 2040 White Horse beach, Savanna Central

Nick wrapped his arm around Judy's and each tried hard to give the other wine from their own glass only to find it difficult because of the size difference between them...they ended up spilling it all over each other with hilarious giggles...

"Hope this comes out of my fur?" Nick said. Judy pushed him onto his back and started to slowly lap her tongue over the grape colored patches on his coat... "This is an interesting way to enjoy wine?" Judy said softly.

"I'll pour the rest of the bottle on me then?" Nick replied as he waved the bottle of Austie Spinotti over Judy's head. "Or?....lemme see what basted wine bunny tastes like huh?"

"Mmmmm...." Judy sounded..."You vicious predator you."

Nick snickered...."I like my bunnies tough and wet."

Judy laid on her husband's chest and played a paw finger over his lips... "Nick? Are you happy?"

"That never concerns me." He replied. "Your happiness is everything to me carrots. You know? I never realized that I never said sorry for calling you a dumb bunny the first time we met....not with any feeling any way."

Judy sighed...."Nick? You don't..."

Nick shooshed Judy with a paw finger to her mouth. "Uh uh....I'm speaking now. I am so very sorry that I called you a dumb bunny and if the goddess Vulpix bestowed any blessings on me in my life? They've been you...my sweet, smart and tough as nails wife, our son and my mom...in that order."

"You put me before your own Mother?" Judy asked sullenly.

Nick sighed deeply...."My mother may have prepared me for life...but my wife made my ability to cut through life's troubles both cleanly and sharply. You... were never a dumb bunny....Judy....and my happiness will never come before yours.....never....."

Judy started to cry as Nick pulled her close...."You're better than any stuffed animal any day..." He said warmly as he reached for the blanket that laid off to the side and gently tucked it around them both..."I'll wake you up when it's time to go home ok?"

Judy smiled back..."Fluck it...wake me up when it's dawn..."

Suddenly....Judy's smart phone went off! She picked it up, looked at the screen, shrugged, dug a hole in the sand next to the blanket and buried the phone.

"Nice move there fido." Nick snickered.

"Shut up and ravage me you stupid fox?" Judy replied snorting.

"Now say you're sorry for calling me stupid." Nick said smirking.

"Truth hurts." Judy replied. "Get over it."

Author's note: Answering a question that was posed by a reader. Does the Zootopian Military have Navy SEALS? Unlike the U.S. Military; Zootopia is careful not to get into over-redundancy within it's military branches. Zootopia has two branches of service, The Navy and the Fleet Marine Force (ZFMF) The fleet Marines have the "Grunts" and the "Raiders" who are "wolf-centric", The Marine artillery corps which is Bunny-heavy with some foxes and the Recon Marines who are like the Navy SEALS who are "Tanuki-centric" with Otters. The Japanese raccoon dogs excel in stealth, deception, thievery and covert warfare while the otters are the Underwater Demolition Specialists, The UDT. The less you have diverse force doing basically the same thing? The less money you have to spend.

Zootopia's military uses drones a lot, both airborne and submarine. The Zootopian Navy's submarine force is all crew-less drones and controlled not from a central location but by a select few individuals who can control the drones from their own smart phones after passing a series of difficult to hack security password gates. The Zootopian subs can deliver Recon Marines or carry six 1000 pound "Long Lance" ship killer torpedoes similar to the U.S. Mark 48 which in its' own right is a devious and nasty weapon capable of following a ship around for miles from the launch point before finally detonating under the keel and blasting it in half!

End of Chapter 16