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Once more, as the chapter title says.
Chapter 7: Hearing Issues and Other Things
Allen William Bogo was feeling upbeat. For 11 years he had battled to keep the budget for his section from being pared back more. After all, the “Complex Overwatch” team hadn’t made any breakthroughs since the sound discovery in 1983. True, they had worked to refine and enhance that item and then given it to a science team to try to work out what might have made it, but that was all. He was really feeling like the lone soldier defending a bridge from a swarm of attackers when he caught a break. It was in the form of a smart-aleck vulpine that, if not for his uniqueness, wouldn’t have had any chance to be considered, let alone selected, for the team.
“Nicholas Piberius Wilde (nicknames: Slick, Sly, Vulpine Phantom): red fox, 30 years old, born and raised in Zootopia. Small time hustler from age 12, departed Zootopia seeking ‘adventure’ in the great wide world at age 16. Ship’s crew mammal for a few years and is thought to have done some smuggling during that time. Disappeared for almost two years then turned up with three mammals who had been kidnapped and held for ransom. The grateful families rewarded him and he disappeared again for several months. Turned up working for a mercenary group as a scout. Once rescued an injured squad mate while under fire. Not known to have killed anyone during his time with them. Rumored to have returned to smuggling, small stuff that was more of an annoyance to the involved authorities rather than a big danger like drugs or weapons. Not known for any mammal trafficking. Another kidnapping rescue with three more to follow over the course of a year. Drops off the ‘radar’ again and then, ten months ago, shows up in New Mexxally to apply for watch mammal job at complex site.
Unique ability; unaffected by fear field that ‘guards’ the complex.
Brought onto team eight months ago. Starts exploring the complex, taking photos as he goes, over the last seven months. Completed explorations of levels one through twenty-two. While those explorations fail to turn up anything significant (other than no bodies or any sign of damage), to date, progress is being shown and there is a small increase in the next budget. Then, on level 23, Wilde makes the first real discovery/breakthrough in the form of Judith L. Hopps encased in some kind of cocoon that holds her in biological stasis for 61 years. Breaks her loose from her prison and manages to get her, in a sane state, to the surface.
That “breakthrough” and the information gleaned from Miss Hopps as a result, was a major reason that Bogo was in good feeling mode. And things got better when, this morning, he received a report that his request for additional funds for the science team who worked up the robot model, whose movements over the floor duplicated the sound on a security tape, were approved. Due to the changes that their new data demanded, the team had requested more funding so they could construct at least three new robots plus for the mods to try on their original model. On top of that, he received other funds to work with. One item in particular had to be, in his view, dealt with and, outside of the science team’s work, it was the most expensive one.
“I’m amazed that they didn’t bulk in the least about it,” he thought. “Damned ‘bean counters’ want to argue over anything and everything these days.”
The intercom cheeped.
“Yes, Miss Howlverson?”
“Doctor Hannover is here, Chief. He says he has something he’d like to discuss with you.”
Bogo knew he didn’t have any appointments for the next couple of hours…
“Send him in, then,” he replied.
One Leonardo Gaines Hannover, a male timber wolf in his early 30s, entered. In one paw, he held a large computer tablet.
“Have a seat, doctor,” the Chief said, indicating a chair by his desk.
The big buffalo waited until he was settled in his seat, then…
“Now, what does our site audiologist want to bring to my attention?” Bogo asked.
“Two hours ago, I completed some hearing tests on Miss Judith Hopps. I think you should see the results,” the lupine said.
After setting up his tablet, the doctor brought up a screen that showed seven traces, left to right, on it. Except for some pretty minor variances, they were all the same.
“I cobbled these up from Miss Hopps’s medical records. They show that her hearing, for a rabbit, is in the excellent range.”
Bogo nodded.
A couple of taps on the screen and another trace appeared. The image was enlarged and that’s when Bogo saw that it wasn’t just one trace, that there were four of them. And the variances in them were less than in the previous ones.
“I had her do the test four times. Now, let me merge the charts.”
He did, and the new traces were more than an inch higher over the old ones.
“Her hearing ability has gone up an amazing, even phenomenal, amount.”
“Looks impressive. How far into the upper range for her species is she?” the Chief asked.
“Sir, that isn’t the range for rabbits, she’s off the scale there. This is the range, the upper range, for bat eared foxes and fennecs,” said the wolf.
Bogo remained silent for a time, processing the data.
“Anything you know that can account for that big of a jump in her hearing ability?” he finally asked.
“In very rare cases, accident or a serious bout with a disease has magnified someone’s hearing. But, as far as we can tell, Miss Hopps has not encountered any such event.”
“Except for her time in that cocoon,” Bogo thought.
“She’s agreed to come back in a week and retake the tests but, I have a feel that they will end up with the same results,” Hannover said.
“Hmmmm, go ahead and write up a report on this but keep it on file for the time being.”
“Yes, sir.
Bogo sensed the wolf’s hesitation.
“Anything else?” Bogo prompted.
“Sir, they are doing a DNA evaluation on Miss Hopps, aren’t they?”
“We obtained blood, saliva, and fur samples when she was brought in from the complex. They were sent out to several labs with the directive to do as accurate a mapping of her genome as possible. Why do you ask?”
“Sir, wolves have pretty good noses for scents.”
Nod of acknowledgement.
“My family has lived in the Tri-Burrows area for a number of generations. Not in Bunnyburrow, where Miss Hopps is from, but I was born and raised in that area. As such I have smelled Maker only knows how many bunnies. So I have their scent pattern locked down, if you will.”
Another nod.
“Sir, there is something different about Hopps’s scent. It’s not bad, jarring, or unpleasant, just…different from any other bunny scent I know of.”
Pause.
“Anything else?” the Chief asked.
“Just one more thing, has Wilde brought up her scent difference to you?”
Head shake.
“Odd, his nose is about as good as mine so I’d have thought he would have noticed it.’
“Hmmmmmmm, he hasn’t had your…intimacy with rabbit scents so he may not have noticed or thought it was odd in any way,” Bogo speculated.
“That’s likely,” Leonardo agreed.
“Doctor, add this observation of yours to your report.”
“Yes sir.”
“Anything else?”
“No sir, that’s all, for now.”
And with that, the wolf picked up his tablet and departed.
Bogo mulled all of this over in his head for several minutes, then, on his screen, brought up an image of Judy that had been taken a few days after she was brought in from the complex. In it, she lay, asleep, on one side with the blanket pulled up to her neck. The expression on her face was peaceful…serene.
“What has that damned thing done to you, Judith?” he asked aloud to himself.
Chapter 7: Hearing Issues and Other Things
Allen William Bogo was feeling upbeat. For 11 years he had battled to keep the budget for his section from being pared back more. After all, the “Complex Overwatch” team hadn’t made any breakthroughs since the sound discovery in 1983. True, they had worked to refine and enhance that item and then given it to a science team to try to work out what might have made it, but that was all. He was really feeling like the lone soldier defending a bridge from a swarm of attackers when he caught a break. It was in the form of a smart-aleck vulpine that, if not for his uniqueness, wouldn’t have had any chance to be considered, let alone selected, for the team.
“Nicholas Piberius Wilde (nicknames: Slick, Sly, Vulpine Phantom): red fox, 30 years old, born and raised in Zootopia. Small time hustler from age 12, departed Zootopia seeking ‘adventure’ in the great wide world at age 16. Ship’s crew mammal for a few years and is thought to have done some smuggling during that time. Disappeared for almost two years then turned up with three mammals who had been kidnapped and held for ransom. The grateful families rewarded him and he disappeared again for several months. Turned up working for a mercenary group as a scout. Once rescued an injured squad mate while under fire. Not known to have killed anyone during his time with them. Rumored to have returned to smuggling, small stuff that was more of an annoyance to the involved authorities rather than a big danger like drugs or weapons. Not known for any mammal trafficking. Another kidnapping rescue with three more to follow over the course of a year. Drops off the ‘radar’ again and then, ten months ago, shows up in New Mexxally to apply for watch mammal job at complex site.
Unique ability; unaffected by fear field that ‘guards’ the complex.
Brought onto team eight months ago. Starts exploring the complex, taking photos as he goes, over the last seven months. Completed explorations of levels one through twenty-two. While those explorations fail to turn up anything significant (other than no bodies or any sign of damage), to date, progress is being shown and there is a small increase in the next budget. Then, on level 23, Wilde makes the first real discovery/breakthrough in the form of Judith L. Hopps encased in some kind of cocoon that holds her in biological stasis for 61 years. Breaks her loose from her prison and manages to get her, in a sane state, to the surface.
That “breakthrough” and the information gleaned from Miss Hopps as a result, was a major reason that Bogo was in good feeling mode. And things got better when, this morning, he received a report that his request for additional funds for the science team who worked up the robot model, whose movements over the floor duplicated the sound on a security tape, were approved. Due to the changes that their new data demanded, the team had requested more funding so they could construct at least three new robots plus for the mods to try on their original model. On top of that, he received other funds to work with. One item in particular had to be, in his view, dealt with and, outside of the science team’s work, it was the most expensive one.
“I’m amazed that they didn’t bulk in the least about it,” he thought. “Damned ‘bean counters’ want to argue over anything and everything these days.”
The intercom cheeped.
“Yes, Miss Howlverson?”
“Doctor Hannover is here, Chief. He says he has something he’d like to discuss with you.”
Bogo knew he didn’t have any appointments for the next couple of hours…
“Send him in, then,” he replied.
One Leonardo Gaines Hannover, a male timber wolf in his early 30s, entered. In one paw, he held a large computer tablet.
“Have a seat, doctor,” the Chief said, indicating a chair by his desk.
The big buffalo waited until he was settled in his seat, then…
“Now, what does our site audiologist want to bring to my attention?” Bogo asked.
“Two hours ago, I completed some hearing tests on Miss Judith Hopps. I think you should see the results,” the lupine said.
After setting up his tablet, the doctor brought up a screen that showed seven traces, left to right, on it. Except for some pretty minor variances, they were all the same.
“I cobbled these up from Miss Hopps’s medical records. They show that her hearing, for a rabbit, is in the excellent range.”
Bogo nodded.
A couple of taps on the screen and another trace appeared. The image was enlarged and that’s when Bogo saw that it wasn’t just one trace, that there were four of them. And the variances in them were less than in the previous ones.
“I had her do the test four times. Now, let me merge the charts.”
He did, and the new traces were more than an inch higher over the old ones.
“Her hearing ability has gone up an amazing, even phenomenal, amount.”
“Looks impressive. How far into the upper range for her species is she?” the Chief asked.
“Sir, that isn’t the range for rabbits, she’s off the scale there. This is the range, the upper range, for bat eared foxes and fennecs,” said the wolf.
Bogo remained silent for a time, processing the data.
“Anything you know that can account for that big of a jump in her hearing ability?” he finally asked.
“In very rare cases, accident or a serious bout with a disease has magnified someone’s hearing. But, as far as we can tell, Miss Hopps has not encountered any such event.”
“Except for her time in that cocoon,” Bogo thought.
“She’s agreed to come back in a week and retake the tests but, I have a feel that they will end up with the same results,” Hannover said.
“Hmmmm, go ahead and write up a report on this but keep it on file for the time being.”
“Yes, sir.
Bogo sensed the wolf’s hesitation.
“Anything else?” Bogo prompted.
“Sir, they are doing a DNA evaluation on Miss Hopps, aren’t they?”
“We obtained blood, saliva, and fur samples when she was brought in from the complex. They were sent out to several labs with the directive to do as accurate a mapping of her genome as possible. Why do you ask?”
“Sir, wolves have pretty good noses for scents.”
Nod of acknowledgement.
“My family has lived in the Tri-Burrows area for a number of generations. Not in Bunnyburrow, where Miss Hopps is from, but I was born and raised in that area. As such I have smelled Maker only knows how many bunnies. So I have their scent pattern locked down, if you will.”
Another nod.
“Sir, there is something different about Hopps’s scent. It’s not bad, jarring, or unpleasant, just…different from any other bunny scent I know of.”
Pause.
“Anything else?” the Chief asked.
“Just one more thing, has Wilde brought up her scent difference to you?”
Head shake.
“Odd, his nose is about as good as mine so I’d have thought he would have noticed it.’
“Hmmmmmmm, he hasn’t had your…intimacy with rabbit scents so he may not have noticed or thought it was odd in any way,” Bogo speculated.
“That’s likely,” Leonardo agreed.
“Doctor, add this observation of yours to your report.”
“Yes sir.”
“Anything else?”
“No sir, that’s all, for now.”
And with that, the wolf picked up his tablet and departed.
Bogo mulled all of this over in his head for several minutes, then, on his screen, brought up an image of Judy that had been taken a few days after she was brought in from the complex. In it, she lay, asleep, on one side with the blanket pulled up to her neck. The expression on her face was peaceful…serene.
“What has that damned thing done to you, Judith?” he asked aloud to himself.
Category Story / All
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 50 x 50px
File Size 57 kB
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