Zootopia Files: Nick and Judy vs. Ableism

   It was a fairly normal Saturday morning at ZPD’s Precinct 1. Everything was pleasant, and only a handful of misdemeanors had been going on so far in the day.

   Then, the relative calm of the day had been broken. When Judy entered, despite being given the entire weekend off, along with Nick, but regardless of a day off, she kicked the door in… and on her face was a look of pure, unadulterated rage. Her face was as red as a fresh tomato, and she muttered obscenities under her breath as she entered.

   “Judy? I thought you and Nick-”

   “Benjie, for your safety, don’t talk to her. She’s… well I’d say she’s upset. But I think that would be a GROSS understatement.” Nick said to Clawhauser as Judy made her way to the ZPD Cyber Warfare room.

   “What happened? And… and why aren’t either of you in uniform?” Clawhauser asked.

   “First it’s our day off, so what’s even the point? Secondly… someone’s been spamming Davies Twitter account with ableist comments.” Nick said.

   “Oh… oh I’m sorry to hear that. I-I mean how could that happen, but there is one thing I have to ask.” Clawhauser asked sympathetically.

   “You have no idea what ableism even is, do you?” Nick asked.

   “No idea! But if it’s got Judy riled up THAT badly, then it’s got to be important to know about.” Clawhauser said.

   “Well to make a long story short it’s basically prejudice against people with… pretty much any disability really. Physical, psychological, neurological and so on like that, and… well this one guy just went absolutely NUTS with insults about Davies autism. I mean I’ve heard some pretty nasty stuff from Finnick over the years… but yeesh.” Nick explained.

   “Oh… and Judy just went to the new Cyber Warfare room to track the account in question and find out who’s responsible.” Clawhauser said, referring to a recently added division of the ZPD.

   “Yeah… but she’s not thinking clearly. I mean the whole thing seemed fishy just from the account that was doing it. A freshly made account from a few days ago, a username that clearly had ‘anonymous’ in it, it just seems to me like someone is being set up as a fall guy. To me at least, Judy on the other paw… well let’s just say she’s just a small nudge in the wrong direction away from tearing out someone’s throat in blind rage.” Nick said with concern for Judy.

   “NICK! I got the IP Address!” Judy said as she stormed out of the Cyber Warfare room.

   “Great… do you know where it actually is, in relation to a physical location?” Nick asked cautiously.

   “Just shut up and get in the car.” Judy said, glaring angrily at Nick.

   “Okay, now is when I put my foot down. I want to nail this guy too. But you’re so angry that you’re not thinking clear-”

   “SHUT THE **** UP FOX!” Judy shrieked as she jumped onto Nick’s shirt, glaring not daggers. But rather serrated claymores covered from tip to guard in Botulinum toxin.

   “Judy! There are children present!” Clawhauser said as he gestured to a small group of children, comprised mainly of bunnies.

   “Mommy, what does-”

   “It’s a very bad word Abigail.” The mother explained.

   “I… I…”

   “Judy, just let me handle this paper trail. You go back to the hotel. Trust me; you’d be helping Davies a lot more at his side. Rather than rampaging across Zootopia in blind rage. Besides, for all we know this guy here could just be a fall guy.” Nick said as Judy started to cry.

   “Just… just take me to Davies.” Judy sobbed, and Nick scoped her up in his arms.

   “You bunnies, so emotional… not always good.” Nick said as he carried her out of the Precinct.

XXXX

   A few hours later, Nick had found the place he was looking for… and was utterly flabbergasted. “Yeah, this guy is definitely a patsy; I simply cannot see a troll living in a place this nice.” Nick said as he stood before the house where the IP address had been tracked to. It looked like a typical house from the 1950’s. Well-kept lawn, white picket fence, and there was even the faint scent of a pie cooling nearby. He knocked on the front door, and a cleanly dressed goat answered.

   “Well I’ll be! My name is Eric Scapeson, what brings a fox to this neck of Zootopia?” Eric asked in a friendly tone.

   “Uh… morning, my name’s Nick and… well here’s the thing-”

   “Oh where are my manners? Come on in Nick. My wife just put on some coffee!” Eric said as he ushered the bewildered Nick inside.

   “Eric, who is this new friend of yours?” A goat woman with a Russian accent asked.

   “Natasha, this is Nick. He just showed up on the mat looking confused.” Eric said.

   “Uh… look just let me ask a question. Do you have any computers?” Nick asked.

   “Of course we do, we have at least three. Why do you ask? Are you with the computer company?” Natasha asked, and then Nick pulled out his usual charm. Realizing he had the perfect excuse to access the Scapesons computers without legal objection.

   “Why yes, now are there any problems with your computers that the company needs to know about?” Nick asked, putting on his trademark grin.

   “Well not to beat around the bush. But our computers have been on the fritz, pop up after pop up! The kind that even if you click the close button they multiply like… no, not even bunnies breed that fast. Point is there almost unusable as it is.” Eric said.

   “Ah, well how long have you had these computers?” Nick asked.

   “Only two weeks. Which just makes the matter even stranger, there is no way that this is normal.” Natasha said.

   “Right, just let me look through your files.” Nick said.

   “Of course Nick! My work computer is up the stairs in my office. Natasha’s is through the door on the left from the bathroom on the ground floor. And our son Robert’s computer is in the basement.” Eric said, and Nick began to do his work.

   Specifically, he plugged a flash drive into the first computer. “Okay Selene, I’m in the first computer.” Nick said over his phone.

   “For the record, while I want to help Judy. I still maintain that this is a gross misuse of police equipment.” Selene said.

   “Perhaps, but you’ll have to take that up to Judy. Specifically, you’ll have to listen to her shrieking like a banshee about how much this whole affair is hurting Davies.” Nick replied.

   “That’s wraith’s that shriek, banshee’s howl. At any rate I’m in Scapesons computer… deleting the virus… and otherwise it’s as clean as a whistle. No sign of the account that was spamming Davies and the IP address are completely different.” Selene said.

   “Well, on to the next computer. Don’t know about you, but there is something about Natasha that rubs me a bit wrong.” Nick said, he then went to the next computer and repeated the process with the flash drive.

   “Nope, nothing to implicate the Scapesons further in this matter… though I find the borsht recipes a bit worrisome to me.” Selene said.

   “Really Selene? How’s borsht worth worrying about?” Nick asked.

   “I’ll explain latter. For now, just get to the last computer. It has to be the one you’re looking for.” Selene said.

   Nick then went down into the basement, and found the last computer… surrounded by empty soda cans. “Yeesh, I knew teenagers could be messy-”

   “Actually Nick, according to city records… Robert Scapeson is twenty-seven, and is in fact a letsplayer.” Selene said.

   “Huh, you don’t say? You’d think he’d have better protection from computer viruses. Really hope this guy doesn’t look like what I assume he does.” Nick said as he turned on the computer, and plugged in the flash drive.

   “Actually, he’s quite handsome. I actually find it hard to believe that he has Downs Syndrome.” Selene said as she went about her work.

   “…excuse me?” Nick asked.

   “Yeah, he looks like a hunky cover model for a hard cover romance novel and-… yep, this is it. The IP address is a perfect match, and is even the computer where the account. ‘theanonymousflatulentgoatmonger113’ was created.” Selene said, then without warning, a hoof grabbed around Nick’s throat.

   “WHAT FOX DO ON COMPUTER?!” A goat in pajama pants yelled.

   “You must be Robert. My names Nick, I’m with the ZPD. I’m alone, which is probably for the best, because after some of the things you said about my partner’s twin brother on the internet. Well… she would have torn out your throat in blind rage.” Nick said, chocking.

   “I… I SORRY! Bad mammal on Furbook said he murder mommy and daddy if I don’t say mean things to Davies! I love his books! And all tie-in stuff with Monty two!” Robert said as he let go of Nick’s throat, and started sobbing in shame.

   “Easy there big guy, just show me the guy whose been harassing you, and I swear on my badge. Your family will be safe.” Nick said.

   “…okay. Let me show you message.” Robert said as he opened the message in question.

   “… Oh you have got to be kidding me.” Nick said in disbelief.

   “That I’m being badgered by a badger?” Robert asked.

   “… Sort of, it’s this SPECIFIC badger that I’m having disbelief about.” Nick said.

XXXX

   An hour or so later, Nick arrived at an apartment in the Rainforest District, he knocked.

   “Whose there?” The resident asked, as peeked a bloodshot eye through the crack.

   “Begin’ your pardon sir. But my name is Stew D. Vick. I’m a mammal interest columnist with the Daily Badger, and Mr. Steven Badgerton. I’m here to interview you.” Nick said with a southern accent, and wearing a trench coat and hat.

   “Oh! You’re with the papers! Just give me a moment.” Badgerton said as he went back inside. A number of locks were loudly unlocked. “Sorry about that,” Badgerton said as he finally unlocked the door in full. “It’s not a particularly good neighborhood, come in, come in! I’d offer you something. But as it stands I’m basically living off of old royalties.” Badgerton explained as Nick walked in. The apartment looked to be even more run down and cramped then Judy’s apartment.

   “Oh I’m sure it’ll be no problem. Now do you have a computer in here?” Nick asked.

   “Why yes Mr. Vick.” Badgerton said.

   “Just asking for clarification sir, now do you have a microphone of some kind on that thing?” Nick said, pointing to the computer.

   “Ah, a nosy reporter, I like that shows some proper journalistic qualities, not many young people have that kind of curiosity… or even independent thought for that matter. They just mindlessly devour any garbage they see.” Badgerton said.

   “True sir, but I must declare that I got to confer with my publisher.” Nick said as he sent a text to Selene. “He’s got a computer AND a microphone, you remember the plan?” The text said.

   “I feel insulted that you even have to ask. Just get the flash drive plugged in, and I’ll manage from my end.” Selene responded.

   “Right, so is the interview starting? Usually I just have a comfy chair but-”

   “Oh I’m certain we’ll both manage Mr. Badgerton.” Nick said as he slyly plugged the flash drive into Badgertons computer. Nick glanced down at his phone, waiting for another text from Selene.

   “I’m in, and I got his laptop microphone and camera turned on, just keep him talking for as long as possible.” Selene texted.

   “And now I believe we can begin.” Nick said as both he and Badgerton sat down, Nick opened a notepad. “Now for the past thirty years, you’ve been entertaining the world with your crime novels. Published through Blackpaw Publishing, but recently you’ve fallen out of favor with Miss Blackpaw.” Nick said, and then a look of rage spread across Badgerton’s face.

   “Two words Stew. Davies. Hopps. That… that ****** just waltz’s in one day. And Anna practically throws me out like yesterday’s trash! And she replaces my book series! The Price of Revenge with… SOME ******* KIDS BOOKS! THERE NOT EVEN THAT WELL DRAWN! I MEAN I GAVE THAT ******* **** THE BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE! BUT ONE BRAIN DEFECTIVE BUNNY JUST COMES IN. AND IT’S LIKE MY WHOLE CAREER NEVER HAPPENED! AND WHATS MORE-”

   Badgerton ranted on like this for almost an entire hour, blaming Davies for his fall from prosperity and fame, for his wife leaving him, and his career as a writer effectively ending. All the while completely ignoring the book that had actually doomed his career and had forced Anna to hire Davies in the first place, 'Mr. Badgerton's Wee Compendium of Facts, Fun and Games’, and completely unaware that over at Precint 1. Selene Samuel was eavesdropping and recording the entire rant.

   “Well, I do believe that I have collected enough notes for me to work with.” Nick said as he glanced at what his notepad. Though in actuality he had only written down. ‘This badger is bug-rutting insane’.

   “Thank… thank you Mr. Vick. Sorry for screaming so much. It’s just… my job was my life! But that-”

   “Yes I heard you the first time. Now if you’ll excuse me, I do have other stories to do a piece or two on. Thank you for your time sir.” Nick said as he left the apartment with the flash drive. He then made a quick call on his phone. “Red-Fox to Stripe Thighs, did you get all that?” Nick asked over the phone.

   “You. Owe me. Big time. Fox. I had to spend nearly an hour listening to that badger rant and scream! My ears can handle it, but still! I heard some venomous things when my sister and I were calves, but that was just childish teasing in hindsight. But… yikes was he is a ball of anger and hate. I’m honestly surprised he didn’t go savage mid-rant and tried to maul you. Also, do NOT call me Stripe Thighs; you can call Judy, and Bogo by dumb nicknames, but not me!” Selene said in irritation.

   “Yes, if it’s any consolation. I was in PERSON for his one mammal show of… I’m thinking of an autobiography of that one politician. I think she was a First Lady and a presidential candidate in the last election. At any rate, we got dirt on him?” Nick said.

   “Yes, we know that he made threats on a goat with Downs Syndrome to try to destroy Davies self-esteem. And… apparently it never occurred to him that lousy book of nonsensical poems and badly put together activities, is what killed his career.” Selene said.

   “Hmm, I think even Bellweather has more self-awareness then he did. Now can you get the word out about this?” Nick asked as he left the apartment.

   “I’m already compiling emails with the sound file attached. I’ll be sending copies to the Mayor’s office, Anna Blackpaw, Robert Scapesons parents, and ZNN. Don’t worry; I’ll make sure that your part in this is kept anonymous.” Selene said.

   “Would that actually help with anything?” Nick asked.

   “Probably not, but with any luck he’ll NEVER know that it was Nick Wilde not… Stew D. Vick? Seriously, THAT was your fake name?” Selene asked in disbelief.

   “What? I almost never use fake names!” Nick said incredulously.

   “Regardless, he’ll never know that it was actually a police officer and not an actual reporter. Here’s hoping you have a more peaceful weekend then you’ve had so far. Now if you’ll excuse me, Sally’s been having some issues with a pig she’s dating. Some swine named Peter Porker keeps ditching her on dates and-”

   “Yeah… I actually know the pig. I know why but… you got to promise to keep it a secret. Believe it or, it’s actually a big secret that only me, Judy, Chief Bogo, and the Mayor and Assistant Mayor know.” Nick said with a surprised look as he began the drive home.

XXXX

   “So… you were right, it wasn’t as straight forward as I thought.” Judy said as both she and Davies were watching cartoons.

   “Yep, Badgerton threatened a goat with Downs Syndrome to write all those horrible things.” Nick said, summarizing the unofficial case he had cracked through the whole day.

   “Hmm… I had a feeling that badger was holding a grudge. To be honest, I didn’t even know he was actually fired. Still… I think he deserves far worse-”

   “Davies, we have to be better than that.” Judy scolded.

   “And coming from miss potty-mouth, bet a lot of innocent little bunny kits will be asking uncomfortable questions about a certain four letter word after this morning.” Nick said.

   “Regardless… I should probably try to talk to Robert. Let him know that there are no hard feelings over him being coerced into being an ableist troll.” Davies said as he went over to his computer. “You know, I should really ask Anna about getting a proper home. If only because this chair is murder to sit in!” Davies said as he sat down at his computer.

   “Nick… I’m sorry about how I acted this morning.” Judy said apologetically.

   “Well to be fair, if it were any siblings of mine. I would have been just as angry.” Nick said.

   “No… no it wasn’t. And… well let’s be honest. It’s been a surprisingly rough week. So in short… I’m going to use the days off I’ve been building up to finally spend some quality time with Davies.” Judy said.

   “…and the Olive Garden tonight, would Davies be okay with that?” Nick asked.

   “Yes, I would! You both make a cute couple, and frankly Judy needs some time off. If only because she’s a workaholic.” Davies said.

   “Ah… so this cartoon is based off of those books Davies wrote?” Nick asked.

   “Yep, very first episode of the series in fact.” Judy asked.

   “Ah huh… why are the penguins riding seals?” Nick asked.