Justice League: Zootopia's Flash of Lightning

Chapter 15: Nick vs Sawbones

Nick Wilde cautiously made his way through the
warehouse interior, an arrow knocked to his salvaged bow. During the ZPD's initial offensive they had cut power to the building, but a few emergency lights were active in the darkened corridors, casting an eerie glow on his surroundings. As he silently slipped deeper into Sawbones lair, Nick quietly inspected the bow in his paws. It resembled a
compound bow, however there were levers on the end of each arm, presumably to help store energy, which was then transferred to the arrow by a set of recurved, outboard limbs. Nick was impressed by the construction, his father had been an award winning archer and taught the fox a few things when he was a cub. He had chosen to continue to hone his skill even after he became a street hustler, using it on a few schemes he and Finnick had concocted. He groaned and rolled his shoulder to try and ease his aching muscles. He had been protected by his riot gear
when he hit the crate, but that didn't mean the impact had not been painful. It was most likely adrenaline and willpower that was keeping him on his feet. With the semi-dark no obstacle to his natural night vision, the fox pushed open a door and wandered into an operating theatre. The surgical slab that occupied the centre of the space was illuminated by two bright spotlights, allowing
him to see clearly the sets of restraints that were lying on the surface. On the floor was a drain and Nick could see dried blood on the grill.

A nearby cart had a tray of surgical tools on top, many of which he couldn't identify, but there were clearly not standard issue. What surprised him the most was that there seemed to be a great many rodent scale tools and equipment. A mobile platform was parked by the table, with a second sitting in a charging dock by the wall. Thousands of tiny tools say ready on miniscule trays and the bed itself had a small staircase that ran from the surface to the floor.
Looking up, the fox spied a large rig that hung from the ceiling, it was a spiderweb of platforms and paths, yet another thing designed for rodent use. Silver machinery hung from it, limp and lifeless. Saws and cutters glinted evilly in the light, while needles filled with a silvery liquid sat primed and ready, there was even an industrial laser topping one of the mechanical arms. Nick was to engrossed in his examination that he failed to notice he was not alone. A hyena, covered head to toe in armour plate, clanked out of the shadows. Nick jumped at the sight and quickly knocked and fired an arrow at the predator, only for it to be caught and crushed to dust. Getting the table between them, Nick had a good look at his opponent. The only visible flesh on the hyena was his muzzle and left eye, as the right was a glowing cybernetic. He towered over the fox, easily rivalling Chief Bogo in size. One hand had been replaced with a set of wicked. serrated blades, while the other glowed and crackled with barely contained power.

"I see you found my workshop, Nicholas Wilde," growled the predator.

Nick stood his ground.

"So many mammal have been made better in here, so many cripples, idiots and worthless dregs re-born into something more. Of course it wasn't enough, I needed more space, more technology. Dr Clawdons' laboratory was the perfect place, everything a mammal could need. All I had to do was 'persuade' his wife, I will be paying them both a visit after I deal with you."

"So, you must be Sawbones." replied the fox, curtly.

The hyena laughed like the screech of rusted metal.

"Who else could I be? I'm certainly not that bunny you like to fawn over, how is she doing by the way?"

Nick felt a growl rise in his throat.

"I see I struck a nerve, perhaps Clawdon won't be the only mammal I visit-"

He was cut off as another arrow ricochet off his armor with a 'ping'. The hyena paused, then looked at the impact site. The projectile hadn't done anything except scratch his chestplate. He picked at the mark before examining his finger, almost absentmindedly.