Judy Hopps stood motionless, her face twisted into an incredible expression full of the most varied emotions, from surprise to concern.
Kex, having momentarily forgotten about his captive, the local news reporter Mei Darwinov, stood frozen with one ear raised, awaiting orders and slowly digesting everything he had heard.
The reporter, for his part, tried to hide his incredible euphoria, along with the voice recorder.
Only Zerni remained still, watching the door entrusted to him, now completely blocked by metal sheets.
Only the barely audible tapping of his fangs betrayed his agitation.
Nick watched the whole scene from the side.
“Well, guys, it’s fun in the police force,” he said with his characteristic sarcasm.
“No, really, it’s fun.
So what do we do?” “We wait for orders,” Kex replied dryly.
“Agreed,” Zerni supported him.
“And aren’t we the ones in charge here?” Nick clarified, spreading his palms.
“Hopps?” Judy was silent.
“In charge?” Kex repeated threateningly.
“You don’t get to tell us what to do.
A fox — a former con artist who hasn’t even finished the academy yet.
A rookie.
If it weren’t for Bogo’s patronage because of Hopps, you’d still be working traffic control.” “Quiet, guys,” Judy said loudly.
“As I understand it, you’re all under my command, that’s what the chief said.
Or do you want to ask him personally?” Judy held out the radio to the wolves.
Kex stared intently at Zerni.
Neither of the wolves dared to take the radio from Judy’s paws.
“I’ll take him farther away,” Kex said, meaning the unfortunate chameleon.
“Can you manage without me?” “Yeah, just make it quick,” Judy replied to Kex.
When the grumpy and headstrong Kex left with Darwinov, the three remaining operatives in the ambush continued watching the door.
“Kex,” Zerni said quietly, addressing Nick and Judy without taking his eyes off the door, “he’s got a difficult personality.” “We got that,” Nick exhaled.
“So what do we do next?” “We wait for orders.” “We got that,” Nick repeated.
“But what if Bogo really intends to storm the place and blow it up?” “I hope it doesn’t come to that,” Judy reassured Nick.
And herself, too.
“I’m just saying,” Nick persisted, “this building is specially equipped with a security system to prevent anyone from getting in or out.” “What are you getting at?” Zerni interrupted him.
“We have the best specialists.” “Like that negotiator?” “Nick,” Judy cut in.
“What, Judy?
How much explosive will it take to break into the building — as much as it would take to demolish it?” Nick continued.
“And how long will it take to tranquilize the crocodile in the dust after the blast?
He’ll kill all the hostages five times over, if Bogo’s explosion doesn’t kill them all first.” “Listen, fox, Bogo will plan and prepare everything,” the wolf said confidently.
“Yeah, he’s a professional, but right now he’s on edge and could mess things up.” “And what do you suggest?” Zerni couldn’t hold back.
“Get inside,” Nick replied.
“How?
You said it yourself — the building is impenetrable.” “I don’t know, we’ll figure it out.” “If you don’t know, then keep quiet…” “Guys,” Judy intervened.
“At least I’m doing something!” “Guys!” Judy interrupted the arguers again.
“Look!
Follow me.” “What, where?
Stop!” The wolf didn’t have time to shout at the rabbit before she rushed forward, toward the bank building.
“Stop, Judy!” Nick hurried after her.
Only then did Zerni spot a small air vent — the ventilation.
It was at ground level and served as an air duct to the bank’s basement.
Until that moment, like all the doors and windows, it had been blocked, but now a raccoon’s leg was sticking out of it.
Apparently, Judy had noticed him while Zerni was engrossed in his argument with Nick, and she dashed toward him.
Straining and grunting, the raccoon was trying to crawl out.
And it wasn’t a matter of his size — he fit easily into the ventilation.
The problem was the security system.
A small, sturdy door that covered the ventilation passage was, under hydraulic pressure, about to slam shut and cut the poor raccoon in half.
He, for his part, had no intention of being crushed by the security door and was resisting with all his might.
Judy was running at full speed, quickly closing the distance.
She had only a little way to go.
Meanwhile, the raccoon’s rear end emerged.
Bracing his hind legs against the wall, he tried to pull the rest of his body out of the trap.
But despite all his efforts, the security door was pressing down on his body.
The raccoon’s clawed paws scraped desperately against the building’s wall and the asphalt; the mechanism, like a beast from ancient times come to life and sensing blood, tightened its grip ever harder.
The poor raccoon, feeling the hopelessness of the situation, tried to escape with his last strength.
He had already regretted getting into this adventure three times over.
His strength was leaving him, and like an exhausted swimmer trying to reach the shore, he made one final lunge in the hope of salvation.
Under the weight of the pressure, the door pressed down on the poor animal, crushing him even harder in its steel embrace.
He couldn’t even breathe from the pressure.
The raccoon wheezed and was ready to accept his fate.
At that moment, the rabbit’s small paws grabbed the edge of the grate, and Judy pulled it upward with all her might.
The raccoon greedily gasped for air, feeling relief.
But it was only a brief respite.
The hydraulic system seemed programmed for such situations — the more external force was applied to it, the harder it tried to slam shut.
Judy’s fingers were slowly slipping; a little more, and they would lose their grip.
“Nick!” Judy groaned with her last strength, trying to keep the grate from closing completely.
Another moment, another second — and a clawed red paw appeared next to Judy’s fingers.
“I’ve got it!” Nick said, out of breath.
“Pull him out.” Judy instantly moved aside, giving Nick more room.
While Nick held the grate, Judy pulled the raccoon by the paw.
“Help,” the raccoon wheezed, pitifully and a little arrogantly.
“Okay,” Nick replied through gritted teeth.
“A little more…” Judy responded, panting.
The last thing Judy saw before the irreparable happened was the wolf, Zerni, running to help them.
Bracing both paws against the wall, Judy, with Nick’s assistance, yanked the raccoon out of the trap.
But due to the opposing force, she herself flew into the ventilation.
And no matter how hard Nick tried to hold the grate, he couldn’t.
Everything happened in an instant — Judy, Nick, and even the poor raccoon didn’t have time to realize anything.
The security grate slammed shut, “swallowing” Judy and nearly crushing Nick’s fingers.
“Judy!” Nick immediately rushed to the grate.
“I’m fine,” Judy replied from the other side.
“How’s the raccoon?” “The raccoon,” Nick looked around.
“Raccoon?” The one being called, meanwhile, had bolted in fright, running blindly.
“We need him, Nick,” came from behind the grate.
“He might have information.” Judy’s voice seemed a little strained to Nick, but he didn’t pay attention.
He turned around.
The poor, terrified raccoon, screaming furiously, ran in shock, his heels flashing.
“Zerni, stop him, we need him!” Nick shouted.
The wolf’s clawed paw instantly wrapped around the raccoon’s small neck.
Apparently, he was so scared that he didn’t see where he was running and ran straight into Zerni’s paws.
“Got him!” Nick said happily, addressing the grate.
There was no sound in response.