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Judy ran towards the shoplifting panda. "Stop in the name of the law!"
The panda turned to look at her and kept running with a bag containing some fruit. She couldn't catch him because of the vegetation blocking her path that the panda navigated with ease.
"Nick!" Judy shouted while untangling herself from the vegetation. Her partner was just up ahead in the panda's path.
The fox made a pitiful attempt in catching the panda. It was clear that he was not trying.
"What was that?"
"What do you think?" Nick said.
"You let him again away."
"Of course not. I tripped. I'll take care of the paperwork. No need to thank me." Nick feigned innocence. "Not all of us are on steroids."
"Liar."
"So, are you ready to talk about it?"
Judy headed back into the cruiser. Nick followed shortly after. She started driving around, waiting for another chance. This time, she wouldn't fail.
An hour later, another opportunity presented itself. It was her lucky day that another panda was shoplifting. This one had to be under eighteen. Perfect! The second time was the charm, and Judy dropped on top of the unsuspecting panda.
"I can explain," the panda said. "My little sister needs to eat. We don't have any money."
"It's okay, Officer, really," the store owner said.
"Next time, it might not be." Judy started cuffing the panda.
"Too tight. Ow!"
"Save it for the judge," Judy said. "Let's go, thief."
"How will my little sister eat?"
"She won't," Nick said.
The panda began to cry. Judy smiled.
She shoved the panda into the cruiser. Nick didn't even help with any of this.
They headed to the ZPD to drop off the latest criminal. She turned on the sirens so she could drive there fast. A little breach of protocol was insignificant to locking up more scum. What normally took an hour, they made it in half the time.
Nick opted to stay in the cruiser while she guided the panda into the precinct.
"That's the tenth you brought in Judy in two days," Clawhauser said.
"If they stopped breaking the law, I wouldn't need to bring them in," Judy snapped. "I'm way more productive here than in Savannah Central. It's really quite refreshing." She threw the panda into a cell and went on her way.
There was still enough time to catch another panda.
"Have you heard of something called excessive force?" Nick asked upon her arrival.
"Don't worry, that only applies to elephants and rhinos."
"I see. Well, I'm sure you're going to set a new precedent at this rate."
Judy laughed. "That wouldn't happen."
"Just like pandas gaining equal rights."
"Shut up."
"Of course, officer. Good job taking hungry children off the streets."
"They're thieves."
"I never said they weren't."
Judy sat in the cruiser waiting for something to happen. It was only a matter of time until something did.
"So, how young are you wishing for this time?" Nick said.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"How long can you lie to yourself?"
An eight-year-old female giant panda walked out of the store, carrying some chocolates.
Nick and Judy started chasing him. The fox dashed ahead to block off the panda's path.
"Stop in the name of the law," Judy yelled.
This panda did not run. "What can I do for you?"
"Give it to me, thief."
"I did not steal."
"Liar."
"I'm innocent."
"And that's another one, good work, Carrots. No one believes them anyway," Nick said.
Judy started eating the chocolate the panda carried. It was more like a complete meal given the size disparity.
"Eating stolen merchandise. Do you think that they'll place her on the farm or is she too young for that?"
"I'll let you off with a warning."
"I believe we're making progress."
"Mister fox, what's your name?" the giant panda said.
"Wilde, Nick Wilde."
"Thank you."
Nick and Judy headed back to the cruiser.
"That was unexpected," Nick said. "I'm sure she would've stayed somewhere for a few years. If not the farm, I'm sure there are other places."
"The farm shouldn't exist."
"And yet, it does. She might've joined them."
"The judges wouldn't send her there."
"So, do you still have faith? That's more than what I have."
Judy didn't answer.
They headed back to the precinct since it was the end of the day.
"My place or yours?" Nick asked.
"Yours," Judy said.
They headed to Nick's house to spend the night. The drive there didn't take long. Once they were inside, Nick confronted Judy again. "Are you ready to talk now?"
"What's there to talk about?"
"Don't play dense, Carrots. I know what happened recently, but I don't know why you care so much. You can do whatever you need to do in Tundratown."
"You know, the only reason Tundratown remains that way is because of Mr. Big."
"I know. So, what's the problem?"
"You know I have family in Bunnyburrow, don't you?"
"Of course."
"There's like four pandas living there. I get that pandas are on the verge of extinction, frankly, they should be extinct. They need to watch a lot of videos before they even get in the mood. Now, utilizing equality as a guise, everything that applies to them also applies to us. It's absurd. My siblings need to book it to Tundratown for a medical procedure now, and the doctors there aren't as knowledgeable about rabbits."
"And you think arresting pandas for merely existing would help?"
"They're criminals, Nick," Judy said.
"So were the foxes that you happily turned a blind eye to."
"That's different! Foxes just become more radical in the system."
"And pandas might even get sent to the farm. Now, they'll be around for even longer! Great job there."
"What should I do?" Judy asked.
"I don't have all the answers, Carrots, but I know this isn't it. If we're lucky, the Supreme Court might even strike the law down."
"With three new sheep on the court, good luck with that. Dawn Bellwether haunts us even now."
"Let's forget about all this, for now."
Judy enjoyed the loving touches of her fox as they relaxed on the bed.